Still too close for comfort to its geeky cousin "Monday" to let yourself relax, yet still to far from its super cool friend "Friday" to get very excited. You're just sort of stuck there, high-centered and spinning your wheels, trying to figure out which direction to go in.
And can we take a second to talk about the horrific pronunciation of it? We pronounce it "Whens-day" when it's spelled like "Wed-nez-day". Did someone misspell it at the beginning of it all? Mispronounce it? Neither? Then why doesn't someone do something so we can either spell it like it sounds or say it like it looks??! Sometimes I hate you, English.
I shouldn't be complaining. Today was grandma day. Always a good day in my book. I started off the day helping out with some bookwork at the mill, which is also where a truck driver may or may not have witnessed a little PDA. Should've warned him that's what happens when married people work together. Then I made a wicked tomato/avocado grilled cheese for lunch and it was delicious.
Oh, I guess I haven't mentioned it yet but I am going to be trying out my hand at some of the secretarial work for my dear Hubs. There's going to be a little bit of a learning curve, but I'm looking forward to it, and then after I'm his full-time secretary maybe I'll be just a fraction closer to being as cool as my mom.
Now I'm at home catching up on some online things and meal planning before the girls get home. It recently occurred to me that I could save myself a whole lot of turmoil and mental anguish if I would just prepare a bunch of meals ahead of time for the crockpot. I don't love to cook. I do it, and Randy likes it, but I don't love it, and I'm not sure if I ever will. But I think admitting that is the first step. It lets you get the secret self-shaming out of the way and get on to the practical solution part of it. So tell me, how did non-Betty Crocker housewives survive before Pinterest?!
I know, it's not really a new concept and so I don't know WHY I haven't tried this before!! I've got my shopping list all written up and I'm excited to give it a try. And now it's your turn.....what do you like to do to get yourself past the hum-drum of Wednesday? Family date night? Movie? Day at the park? And what are some of your favorite recipes? My favorites are usually something you can through in a crockpot, so I'll ALWAYS take more suggestions along those lines! It's o.k. if it's not crockpotable, just make sure it's fairly easy. Ha.
Also, if you could tell a 20-something version of yourself 3 pieces of advice about CANNING, what would they be?
It happens every year about this time.....everyone around me is canning up a storm like a reincarnated Mrs. Ingalls Wilder, and I'm sitting on the sidelines wondering if I'll be subject to a public lynching if I go to the store and buy a can of pie filling.
So help me out here. Any tips, tricks or reassurances that I don't need to do any canning are most welcome. Those of you that want to tell me about how I should preserve all produce in sight can refrain from commenting. Just kidding.
Or am I..........
1. that sandwich looks wicked awesome!
ReplyDelete2. mad props for helping the hubs out! you will love and hate it all in the same day at times. promise. this is 7 months of experience speaking here ;)
3. this is one of my favorite crockpot meals. so yum and easy. we often eat it with rice or quinoa
http://pinterest.com/pin/272608583665794699/
4.I would have no guilt about not canning. Is it really worth it if your going to be all stressed out and grumpy after its all said and done?
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ReplyDeleteI do agree, Wednesdays feel strange and not one of my favorite days! ;)
ReplyDeleteI have to be as cool as Janene and number my comments :)
ReplyDelete1. Wednesdays are a weird day for me because it's David's first day back at work and so basically a Monday. Kind of sad. I did just read something recently about the reason for the spelling of 'Wednesday.' I can't remember what it said, but I do remember finding it mildly interesting. Just not interesting enough to remember, apparently.
2. Easy and yummy recipe: http://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2012/01/buttermilk-roast-chicken/#comments. It's basically a 'put it all in a bag and then cook it later' recipe and that is my favorite kind.
3. I love canning!!! I don't know what it is, but it gives me like a drug high. Seriously. I think it's because it's sort of like freezer meals...any canning I do now makes a meal easier later. And working hard now to make something easier later? Best thing ever.
4. You don't have to do any canning if you don't want to. There are no rules about it or anything. :)
Actually you're sitting on the sidelines blogging
ReplyDeleteI absolutely loved this post! Loved your honesty. I was raised in Central America, lived their basically all my life. In a country where you can't grow a garden, and where we are rice, beans and the only meat was chicken. and guess what?, I married an American. Not only an American... But a Mennonite one! One that loves meat and potatoes, one who's mother is one of those "reincarnated mrs. Ingalls!" What was I thinking?! After 5 years, I can truly say I'm enjoying cooking finally. But I will say, planning my meals ahead is what has saved me! It took me a long time Tom Lear how to use beef.. Or any other kind of meat. The first two years I felt like an utter failure as a wife. And to this day I will admit, I do not enjoy gardening. In fact, I really hate it. I'm grateful I live close to wonderful produce stands, etc... And I'm beginning to master canning. But honestly, it's not what so many women hype it up to be! For so long I felt judged and criticized by others... Still do at times. As If your somehow less of a woman or a wife. Your not alone in this department. Trust me. And guess what, your still a wonderful wife and mother!! I know I don't know you in person, but your blog blesses me so much...do what works for you and your husband. And god bless you richly as you mother those precious daughters of yours. It's mothers like you that inspire me anwd enrich my life! -Vanessa
ReplyDeleteHi Shelley- I don't know a thing about canning. But I do use the crock pot fairly frequently, especially to make shredded chicken which I then use for everything from tacos and enchiladas to sandwiches. Super versatile. This recipe is a great one: http://pinterest.com/pin/124693483405377842/
ReplyDeleteBTW, you have such a lovely family!
Another great post! Thank you again for always being so honest and sharing your life.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to ask, okay, I'm not really sorry...could you please do a review post of your freezer crock-pot meals? I see all these ideas on pinterest, but I never try them for fear of hating them. I love to cook and I love the ease of the crockpot I just haven't been able to find a cohesive mix of the two that I like.
Canning...I feel exactly the same way as you do! I have never actually canned anything, but I have eaten a lot of canned stuff (and love it!), but yet I still find myself feeling guilty for not canning. every. year.
6 good comments out of 7 is something to be proud of. Mom
ReplyDeleteMy theory on canning and freezing is this. If I want to, do it. If not, don't. I planted one little pepper plant in my flower bed this year. A yellow banana pepper, it looked so cute at the greenhouse in the spring. Then, I felt a little overwhelmed a few months later when there were nice peppers staring at me. I have about 5 pints canned and sitting on my counter and it was a fun little accomplishment, but I might think twice before buying the cute little plants next year.
ReplyDeleteThe thing about canning and freezing...i dislike canning especially the actual putting cans in a pressure cooker part. It scares me to death, but give me a bunch of children to organize into a Bible study or facts to teach at a youth conference I am there. I've started doing the basics and a lot of the basics and I think every year I have someone tell me what I should be doing more or less of and I ignore it...for the most part. My favorite quick meal is to get a roast or chicken in the oven throw some seasonings and veggies in with them and put it on low and I have a whole meal in the roasting pan. It's fun to try different veggies and see what you can come up with. But that's my goto meal when I want something simple that I can prepare ahead of time, and my family loves it. --LaDonna
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