Pantry & Freezer Cleaning

Just before it is time to start harvesting in the garden

I like to give my pantry and freezer a thorough cleaning.

This is pretty much an all day job but it is the best time to do it

as the freezer and pantry are at their lowest stocked points.

I start the day by unplugging the freezer 

and taking everything out and putting it in baskets.

I try to put like things together,

breads in one basket, veggies in another, meat in another, etc.

When I am done taking everything out

I leave the freezer and head over to start on the pantry.

I start by taking everything off one section and

wiping it down with a mild bleach solution.

While the one set of shelves is drying

I start taking things off the next section of shelving.

It is always handy to have a large garbage can nearby

to throw out any old items or packaging.

When I am about half done working my way around the pantry

it is usually time to head back to the freezer.

Once all the chunks of ice have fallen down

I scoop them out with a shovel.

I'm short and it's the easiest way for me to get them out - lol :)

I then wipe down the freezer with a very mild bleach solution,

rinse it and dry it.

As I put things back into the freezer I make a list of everything going in

with the quantity of each item.

When I am all finished I put the master sheets on top of the freezer

and as an item is added or removed I change the total on the sheet.

Once everything is all back in looking neat and tidy

it's time to plug it back in, shut the lid

and wipe down the outside.

Now it's all ready for the veggies that I will be freezing.

Then it's back to the pantry to finish the last half.

For some reason this side always seems to go a little quicker

but I don't mind.  By this time I just want to be done.

When the shelves are done I give the floor a good wipe down as well

and change and update any shelf labels that need it.

It's a wonderful feeling to have it done

and seeing those clean, empty shelves

just waiting for the canning from the garden.

~Finding the amazing in the simple~

Thanks so much for stopping by!



Welcome Home!

After being away at school for the past eight months

my daughter has come home for the summer.

To welcome her home I did a special

"Welcome Home" tablescape.

I used her favorite colors - orange and pink.

The vase she picked out from Michaels on a previous visit home.

The flowers I found at Dollarama

as well as the clear frames and stickers

which I used for the welcome home sign.

These wonderful woven placements I found at JYSK

and were the perfect color.

I layered them and just tucked under the ends

on the pink placement to allow

the orange placement to accent.

And added some houses

to complement the theme of home

which I found at the local thrift store.

I used simple white dishes

to allow the pink and oranges to shine.

The napkin and napkin ring are both from Pier 1 Imports.

And the tealight holders were from Dollarama.

The glasses I bought at a clearance sale from Stokes last year.

I just love the pattern on them.

I added a few pink daisies,

which are my daughters favorite flowers.

And my "Welcome Home" tablescape was complete.

Unfortunately I didn't get a picture of the look on her face when she saw it.

She absolutely loved it!

And that's what I love about tablescaping -

seeing the joy it brings others :)

I am joining...

Kathleen at Cuisine Kathleen for Let's Dish

Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday

The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays

Doing Something Special

 Before Christmas I was focusing on doing something special for my hubby each day.  When I began I had my plan all laid out.  Day 1 I would do this, Day 2 I would do that, etc.  Each day I  would complete my "task",  check it off my list and move on with my day.  Then, one morning, I woke up and realized that I didn't have anything special on my list for hubby and I didn't want to just repeat what I had recently done.  That was the day I quit thinking and planning (a good thing in this case) and began listening.

Because I didn't have my plan and I still wanted to do something special for hubby I really began to listen to what he was saying and asking myself, "how can I help him?"  And, as I started to listen I found plenty of opportunities to do special things for him.  Taking a couple of minutes to sweep up the basement while he was trying to finish it up, making him a honey-lemon tea when he mentioned his throat was a little scratchy, making a fresh cake so it was still warm when he got home from work at 9 pm, and the list goes on and on.

As I began to listen I didn't stop after one thing in a day.  It became my own challenge to myself to see what else I could find as I listened - my own personal treasure hunt.

As I watched and listened I began to appreciate hubby so much more.  Instead of taking for granted the things he does I became more aware of all the little things he does for me and the family and I began to value him more.  So, what began as doing something nice for hubby so he'd appreciate me more became an eye-opener for me and changed my attitude toward him. 

"The best portion of a good man's life - his little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and love."

~William Woodsworth~

Idle Hands

Whenever I read a book set in the past or a book based on the Amish I'm always struck by the fact that the majority of time their social time is also working time.  Barn raising, quilting bees, helping neighbors and friends with the canning or getting together to bake.  Even their sitting down time seems to be productive with mending, stitching or knitting.  It makes me think about how much our modern society has changed.  Idleness seems to be a given today and it's so very easy for me to be idle.  But I don't want to be a woman who "eats the bread of idleness" so what can I do to change my idleness into productivity?

First, I guess I need to identiy my idle times.  Watching TV and surfing the net are probably the two main areas where I am idle.  First TV.  Is it realistic to eliminate TV watching all together?  I don't think it would work very well in our home beause there are certain shows that we watch together as a family.  However, I can use the time to be productive.  I could work on a small craft or on my x-stitch while we're watching.  I need to make some tags for Christmas gifts - what a perfect time to do it.  What about surfing the net?  I usually end up doing that during school time while my daughter is reading or working but I need to stay close by if she needs help.  Why can't I work on my recipe book or scrapbook some pictures?  Right now the biggest hindrance to that is the state of the room.  So, why don't I use that time and start to clean and organize it a bit at a time?  I spend alot of time in that room each day so why don't I make it a room that is lovely to be in?

I am sure as I become more watchful about being idle I will find many more places that I can improve on.  But for now I've got  a place to start.  I want to honor God and bless my family with my work and as I strive toward that goal I know God will be faithfull.

She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.

(Proverbs 31:27)

Building A Home

They've been building a new home across the street.  Watching them put it up has made me think about how I am to "build my home".  In order to begin, I need a stong, firm foundation - Christ.  With that firm foundation the house will stand tall and strong through the storms.  I watched as they put in the foundation.  It took time, effort and plain old hard work.  It didn't happen all in one day.  Am I putting time, effort and work into my foundation?

Next came the building.  I again watched as day after day, wind, rain or shine, hot or cold, the men worked diligently and faithfully to build the house.  They were there at the crack of dawn and stayed until late at night.  Am I being that diligent in building my own home?  Am I up in the morning and working throughout the day into the evening?  Do I work no matter what the the mood of the moment is?  Am I being faithful in my building?

Then came the windows, doors and shingles to protect the home not only from the elements but intruders as well.  Am I sepnding time teaching and training my children?  Am I diligent in keeping my own thoughts and actions pure?  Do I protect my family and take care of what intrudes into our home through books, TV, computers and conversations?  Windows and doors are a big investment.  Am I investing in mine?

Finally, the house was built and then came the interior work.  Interesting thought that the interior work can't begin until the foundation is poured and the walls, roof and windows are done.  Do I try to do interior work while there are holes in my walls or cracks in my foundation?  I need to be diligent and faithful in my time with God. 

Unfortunately, I don't get to see the interior of thise house - maybe at some time in the future, but not right now.  However, the planning that went into it - types of floors, cabinets, lighting, paint, floor layout, etc.obviously was planned for in detail and ahead of time.  Can you image the painter showing up and the colors still hadn't been decided upon?  I may not see the inside of the home but I do see the results of the time they took in planning and preparing.  The busyness of the people coming and going gives evidence to their preparation beforehand, everything organized and planned.  What about me?  Am I organized and have I planned ahead?  What does the evidence show about my interior work?  Does my family benefit from my planning?

Now, the house is built and the interior is completed and the family has moved in.  They could stop there.  They could enjoy their new home.  But they continue on to the finishing details, the siding, the landscaping, etc. It's all those final details that make the house a home.  Am I putting on the finishing details?  Am I reaching out to others and sharing God's love .  Am I using my home, built on a firm foundation to share God's love with those around me?

As I look at the new home across the street may I daily be reminded of the lessons I've learned on home building.

"Every wise woman builds her house."

(Proverbs 14:1a)



Priorities

All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

(2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Priorities.  I've already cut back on a lot of my outside activities in order to focus on keeping my family and home - making them a priority.  I used to go and do things or say "yes" to things without really thinking about it.  The resulting consequence of that was that when I got done with all of my "outside" activities I was too tired to focus on my "home" activities.  Now, I'm finding out what my limitations are and that I can't do everything.  There are days my family needs me more than other days and if I am going to be there for them I have to say "no" to other things.  It's about finding a balance and its about having a well-maintained schedule/organizer.  With a well maintained oraganized I can better plan and anticipate my family's needs.  Like yesterday, there was a one day job fair and my daughter wanted me to go with her.  She ended up dropping off eight resumes and we had some good mother/daughter time.  Hubby and son went home and had some father/son time on the Wii (love the basement room I finished).  But I knew I couldn't get home and then turn right around and head back out again for small group night.  If I did, I would be too physically exhausted for today which was full.  So, it calls for some sacrifices but the benefits I see in our family far outweight any sacrifice and make it so worthwhile.  Yes, I do wish I had more physical energy but right now the key is to know my limitations and work within them.  I can't have it all,

but I can choose to have what is best.

Basement Room - Part 1

Well, the craziness has begun.  My dear hubby has started his first set of night shifts and starts off with five in a row.  Normally he would work 3 days, 3 off, 3 nights, 3 off, etc. but start up always requires a few extra. 

With this change to our schedule, it has sent my thoughts back to the reason of being a "keeper of the home" which is to respect and honor your husband.  Honestly, sometimes keeping the house is much, much easier.  I have been noticing however, that when I change my focus from "my home" to "honor and respect" that is changes some of my priorities throughout the day.

On that thought, my goal over this week and next is to make a spot where hubby can go when he is transitioning onto night shifts.  That way he won't have to worry about disturbing the rest of the family who are trying to sleep and it will be more comfortable for him.  It will also serve as a temporary family room for us until we complete the main family room.  So, not only will it benefit dear hubby, it will benefit the whole family as well.

I got a really good start on the room today.  I was very surprised how much I was able to accomplish in such a short time.  The room was being used as a storage room so I had to shift some things around.  Thankfully dear hubby and I got the garage cleaned out this summer so some of the storage items can now go out there. So, here's what the room looked like before I began.

 

After about a half hour of work you can definately see some progress.

I definately made progress as I continued to work although it's not as noticeable in the pictures.

 

 

I also got part of the closet cleaned out and hope to finish the rest of the closet area tomorrow.  Once that is done alot of the books, etc will be put into the drawers.  There is really not a lot left to get put away.

 

Along the way I have also been decluttering.  I have two big bags full of give away items.  One of those bags is mostly winter items and it's a perfect time a year to donate those items to charity.  I did run into a bit of a problem along the way though.  I came across 3 old, very old, gaming systems that I figured we could just give away.  However, I thought I had better check with hubby and son first.  Well, they think that we definately need to keep them.  Out of the box I packed up with the hopes of giving it all away, they only figured two items out of the box could be given away.  Why we can't give it all away since we have two brand new gaming systems is beyond me but I agreed to put the box in the closet and we would discuss it again at a later date.  I really was hoping I could have eliminated one more box of items.



(What I was hoping to give away)

(What I actually get to give away)

After working in the basement I headed outside to cover my tomato and pepper plants because of a risk of frost tonight and I couldn't resist taking a few evening pictures of our vine growing along the garage.

It is getting late so I will be heading down to do a bit of x-stitching and have a cup of tea before I call it a night.

"No matter what you've done for yourself or humanity, if you can't look back on having given love and attention to your own family, what have you really accomplished?"

(Elbert Hubbard)