CHAOS

I guess you're familiar with CHAOS aka Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome? You know, the times when your house is a total mess? When you haven't cleaned properly for weeks and piles of laundry are about to take over the washing room? Every day I realize I'm not Superwoman. I don't like to clean although I would love to live in a Spic & Span house. I bookmark tips and tricks on Pinterest although I never get to try them. There are so many cleaning products in the house and they make me feel good looking at them. I dream of a spotless kitchen and it would be great to sit on a furfree couch. But hey! We have kids and we have pets. We run busy lives and we are not spending most of our lives outdoors. In fact, I spend quite some time inside the house, doing other chores than cleaning. I love to cook and yes, flour may dust my kitchen cabinets while I'm kneading bread dough. I stopped apologizing for it some time ago. Take it or leave it. You're all welcome here and I love having you over. The girls can bring friends along and sleepovers get served breakfast if they get up early enough. I like the smell of oven casseroles late at night, while the lights are dimmed and the TV has been turned off. I see some dust on my cupboards and I know both fridges could do with a decent clean up, but I prefer to go through my recipes and find more inspiration for the upcoming week. I just realized I don't have many cookbooks for vegetarians. I have one, my youngest daughter surprised me with last Christmas. It's a wonderful book with great recipes and ditto pictures. Do you think she was already preparing a vegetarian lifestyle back then? Or maybe she just wanted to surprise me with a cookbook that didn't talk about meat too much, since I'm not that much of a meatlover anyway. I went grocery shopping this week and I bought meat for 1 week. The amount was pathetic. Just for my husband, who was used to eating 3 pieces of meat per meal before he met me. He went down to just 1 piece of meat nowadays. I'm sure he'll never never never ever become a vegetarian, but there's no need to. As long as he respects our menu too. So far so good!

At your service

It's been over a year since we first discovered some unwanted puddles of water in our house. To be more specific, we would find moisture under the doormat in our hallway. We had no idea where the water came from, but we were not happy with the situation at all. At that time, we had an Italian student staying with us for a couple of months and we didn't feel like breaking up floors to find the leak during her stay. So we waited and tried to figure out what had gone wrong underneath those tiles.

Winter came and the days got colder and shorter. The moisture was still there and we had problems with our heating. Looking into contacting our insurance company, we hoped they would come up with an answer in where the leak was and how we could fix it without renovating the whole house. They sent their "best" employee en he walked around the house for over 1 hour, listening to the sound of running water in his headphones. We were a bit startled about the whole procedure, but he ensured us that was the best method available. He pointed out towards the tile where the water would pile up and smiled when he said: the leak is definitely underneath this tile! Hmhm... wow.

The insurance company agreed with his statement and they reimbursed us for the cost of replacing that one tile and having the leak fixed. The thing was: we couldn't find a plumber right away, to do the job. So some more months went by. In September, we decided the problem had to be fixed by the time we had to turn on the heating again. So finally this plumber stopped by to take a look. My husband had already opened the flooring and guess what: no leak... Apparently, the water problem was not caused by a leak in the pipes, but by an overflowing basement in the neighbor's house.. Bummer!

We turned on the heating to prepare ourselves for colder nights. Problem! the pressure kept falling down and the heating wasn't working correctly. So we called the plumber again and he gave us some ideas on what could be wrong. Guess what: a leak in the heating pipes.. There we go again, we thought, but we didn't give up. My uncle is a handy man and he thought along with us and the plumber. Does it come as a surprise to you, that my husband was the one who eventually found the leak? It was in our bathroom and it looked pretty bad. So we now not only had open flooring in the hallway, but in our bathroom as well. Thank goodness the plumber stopped by to fix the leak and turn the heating back on. Mystery solved. For now. We hope..

Something has changed within me

That's what you must have thought, when you asked your daddy if he could help you repaint your room. You wanted a fresh start, a new slate to write on. Both of you have been working for a whole week, meaning you had to get up early in the morning. That's a big issue for you, since you hate getting up early. But you did, without moaning or complaining. No time to fuss around in the bathroom or blow dry your hair, because your daddy was waiting for you to sand the walls. It was a good thing, the interaction between you and your father. Quality time with a good ending, because that room deserves some credit now! It's completely what you wanted. All white and clean and spotless. I'm sure you will enjoy your room a whole lot more now. It will bring you positive thoughts and happy moments.

Your daddy is a good lad. I can no longer count the number of times he went up those stairs all the way to the attic, bringing in paint and brushes and helping you make those walls white. I know how much he wanted to spend some time outside in the sun, to celebrate his holidays. But he loves you and he found it as important to give you the room you wanted.

Enjoy this fresh start cutie. I saw your eyes shine today. But your boyfriend coming over today, will probably have helped as well..

Nothin' much

Photo by Lana Joos

Grmbl grmbl.. the monotonous sound of the Kenwood kneading the dough of two buttermilk breads, is comforting. I'm home alone. Monday is my favorite day to roam around the house and get some chores done. Around 8 AM, I made the white carpet in the backyard grind with my rubber boots, while I was stumbling  all the way back there, to feed the chickens and refresh their (frozen) water. Only one peeked through the entrance, but decided not to come out. It's freezing cold and the air is fresh. I love the smell of this early morning. Rebba is too lazy to come out of her cosy bed and join me. Or maybe it's because she is startled I am going out this early to feed the chickens? Inthe wouldn't want to miss a play in the backyard, but it's not going to happen this morning.

By 9:30 AM the towels will be ready to be put into the dryer. I love plenty of warm, soft towels to dry me off when I come out of my shower. I keep my fingers crossed there will be hot water this morning. We have had some problems with the water heater lately. Hubby has installed a new one and he's still working on getting it to operate properly. We have hot water in the kitchen but the bathroom is still a problem. Thank goodness for warm water in the kitchen sink. It's almost nostalgic..

There's not much on my to do list today. I'm thinking about what I can serve my family for dinner tonight. I'm sure Hubby would like black pudding with mash and home made chunky apple sauce, but that's not something the three of us crave. So I need to find a second option for the rest of the family. The mash will serve us all. Maybe some home made burgers and the best onion sauce we call "klittesaus" to go with it? I have carrots and celery and leeks and Chinese cabbage in my fridge as well and there are ripe tomatoes (as far as you can ripen them in wintertime) sitting in a bowl in the kitchen. The grocery list on my BB is getting completed as my mind drifts off to certain recipes. Maybe this afternoon, I could clean out my pantry and feed my family for the rest of the month with pantry staples? I know there's plenty of food in the freezer that could do with a defrost. That is quite a challenge I guess, making a menu with pantry staples. I'll think about it..

What are you doing this for?

Sometimes I get really irritated. To others, for no reason. To me, for many reasons. Maybe I cannot always point out the reasons, but they are there. Having a household of 4 people, 2 dogs and a cat (I'm not mentioning the fish, the turtles, the chickens - I guess I just mentioned them nevertheless), there are always a lot of chores to be done. A three story house and a large garden need maintenance if you want to keep it clean and tidy. We all have a role in it. I'm so lucky to have a husband who is helping out as much as possible. He takes a big part of the housekeeping on his shoulders. So many things need to be done around the house and the TO DO LIST is growing by the day.. I don't know when all of the chores will come to an end, because things keep piling up. I promised myself I would have some more time to myself, but it's not working. the ME TIME LIST got lost somewhere..
I keep adding things to the To Do List and the list is getting longer day by day. I can cross off some things, but new things get added faster than I can cross them off. I'm irritated. I AM IRRITATED! I.A.M.I.R.R.I.T.A.T.E.D. !

The never ending fatigue

I'm at the end of my rope.. really.. I'm so damn tired that my eyes sting and I want to do nothing else but sleep. I shouldn't be tired after a night rest of 8 hours, but I am. I don't wake up to go to the bathroom at night, so that can't be the problem. During the day, I would really love to take a nap. Sometimes my eye lids are so heavy, I want to lay down my head and sleep. But I don't give in. No naps during the day, unless my BG are so out of range that there is no other option. The thing is, being that tired is not very helpful in getting things done. I don't seem to get anywhere. There's so much work around the house and I can do so little. I work no more than 10 hours a week but nevertheless, our house needs to be cleaned and I'm not getting there. I feel so much pressure, so many chores that await me, that I'm losing it. I'm having a hard time focusing and I no longer feel like a woman (aren't women supposed to be able to do a zillion things at the same time? well, I can't...). My muscles and joints hurt. My back aches and my knee tells me to slow down. The shoulders could do with a massage and my neck screams for a therma care blanket. If only my blood glucose would work with me instead of against me. That would be helpful too... 

Second hand

Sometimes your house starts to live a life of its own. It fills up with things nobody wants but which are too good to be thrown away. You keep stacking away toys and books and clothes in all different sizes (but your own size) and your rooms are just filled with piles up till the ceiling. Hate it when that happens..
But what do you do to prevent it? I hear you have to throw something out whenever you buy something new. But hey, come on! I couldn't throw out a pair of shoes whenever I buy a new pair! could you??? So no, I'm not going to get rid of any shoes. Or maybe the 7 pair of sneakers that I never wear? They just sit there, in case I might feel the irresistible urge to start to run - something that is obviously not going to happen, ever!
I could get rid of those. The best deal would be, if I could trade them for something I could use. High heels for instance. That would be a good idea! But the thing is: I don't know anyone who has the exact same shoe size as mine, willing to trade high heels for sneakers.. So I guess I'm stuck with 7 pairs of runners for the rest of my life, staring at me as if they want to say: you are so lazy..
Of course I could take photographs of my shoes and sell them on the Internet. That's an option as well. There are some more items that could be sold that way: toys, books, stuffed animals, dolls, clothes that are worn but not worn-out. A whole room could be filled with things that need to go.
At the end of October, there is this jumble sale in our village. I could rent some space and sit there all day, waiting for some victims to stop by and buy some stuff. If only I would be interested in doing something like that. I don't like to visit jumble sales, imagine me sitting there and making a complete fool of myself.
If I wanted to get rid of the junk, I needed to come up with another solution..
I asked around a bit and apparently, there are some people who are interested in freeing our house of the clutter. They are willing to come over and liberate us from whatever we no longer need. I'm so excited about this whole thing! Finally a clutter free house! Can't wait!

Sit back and enjoy the ride

About three years ago, I took care of a young lady, pregnant with her first child. At the age of 6, her life changed completely when she got sick. The diagnosis said Friedreich's Ataxia. It was not a very hopeful diagnosis, certainly not if you get it at such a young age.. I got interested in this condition and searched the Internet to get more information. That's how I met Paula and Tom Hook from La Porte, Indiana. United States, exactly. They have three wonderful girls. Two of them have FA, just like Jody. They got diagnosed as adults, meaning the disease won't progress at the same speed. Paula and I have kept in touch over the years and every now and then we mail and tell each other more about what keeps us going. On several occasions, she has invited me and my family to spend our holiday at their ranch. That sounded so appealing! Unfortunately we have not been able to go see them yet. One day... one day...

You had a dream from the day you turned 12. You promised yourself, that one day, you would go to the United States. I recognized that feeling, because I shared that same dream. We discussed this dream on several occasions. It was hard for you to believe that dream would come true. Until the plans started to get more concrete. I introduced you to Paula on Facebook. The two of you got acquainted and you liked each other. You told her about your dream and your wish to improve your English. You were looking for a job in exchange for room and board. There's always work on a ranch... and there's plenty of space for you to stay. If you know what I mean..

You're leaving July 10th and you won't be coming home till August 6th. It will be your first trip abroad, your first flight, your first time away from home on your own. You will love it. All excited and hyper, you will get on that plane. Your heart will be pounding way too fast, just like mine did 20 years ago on my way to Portland, Oregon. It will be an experience of a lifetime. You are lucky this family will welcome you into their home. They are lucky to have you over and experience a wonderful time with you.

Sit back and enjoy the ride. Open your ears and eyes and let all of your senses indulge the United States. It's not a coincidence you ended up with the Hook family.. before you know it, you will be "hooked" to the States.. Keep us informed, okay? We expect no less than 1 blog a day, to hear all about your adventure.

A roof over your head

I'm so proud of you! Last night, you invited me to a picnic in your backyard. That is, your future back yard, behind the house you and your husband are building. The sun was out till late that night and your husband had improvised a table for us to sit at. I guess sitting on a picnic blanket was not really possible, but we did enjoy the food. There were side dishes and even dessert. And of course good conversations. We have a lot of fun together but at the same time, we can discuss serious stuff too. Building your own house is not a piece of cake. It's hard work and sticking to the budget is a true challenge. But the two of you will get there. And one day, your baby son will say: my daddy helped the contractor build our house..

Photo Lana Joos

That same little boy will be coming over today. I have the honor to look after him for a couple of hours. He's such a cutie! I love his personality. Always full of mischief but not in a bad way. He's just vivid and active and pleasant to be around. I'm sure we'll have fun together. The girls haven't seen him for a long time. He's very welcome here and we love him.

Spring clean

I have this urge to clean house.. Unbelievable and so not me, I admit. But still, my kitchen cabinets could use some soapy water and I want to sort out the inventory of the cupboards. Cabinet by cabinet, I empty the contents and wash down the shelves. Some cabinets take more time than others, depending on what's in them. The one with the cook books is a total disaster. I pick up my books, go through them, sit down and start wandering off.. I loose track of time and the soap water is cold where it used to be hot when I started the chore. The oven is preheating and chocolate chip cookies find their spot on the baking tray. The house smells of vanilla and toasted nuts and chocolate and my mind is drifting off.. The house will get cleaned, I promise. My head needs to be dusted out as well.. Let's see what my priority is..

Nothing new under the moon

Things are going the way they are going. Nothing spectacular happening. Just the usual daily household, you know what it's like. No real excitement. A bit of cleaning, some dusting, maybe some baking as a distraction. There are no particular outings planned or excitement to look forward to. Just me and the dogs, at home, relaxing and getting some chores done. Life can't always be as exciting, right?

Repeat

As a mom I have to say things over and over again. Mostly unpleasant things like chores and curfews and homework and cleaning up bedrooms and picking up wet towels. I guess that's part of being a parent and having teenagers around. And then again, I realize how fortunate I am. Our girls are responsible and they are not that obnoxious that they fight us or refuse to do things. Okay, they talk back every now and then and they have an opinion of their own, but that's part of growing up, right? Something I like to repeat over and over again, is that they are loved and wanted. Isn't that more important than nagging about their imperfections? So sweethearts, bear with me if I nag about your cluttered room. Just see it as things moms just have to nag about. I love you girls xx

Home

When I think of home, I think of a place, where there's love overflowing..  A place where you feel safe, nurtured and cared for. A place you never have to fear and a place you can always come back to. A safe haven, a place full of joy and laughter, but also a place where tears are allowed to roll down your cheeks. A comfort zone, a cosy chair, like gloves that fit well. Aren't we all entitled to a loving home? A home where you can be whoever you are, without fear, without being ridiculed. A warm home, full of caring people and shoulders to lean on. Strong arms to hold you, nice words when you're feeling down and thumbs pointing up when you did great. Someone to kiss goodnight and to hold you tight whenever you feel the need.. What more can one wish for..

Gastrosexuality

Yes, it's your turn! There are actually men who are no chefs but who love to cook and impress. And yes, I know a few and it's great talking to them. No matter how young or old they are, each one has his own particular talent and I love to discuss food and recipes with them. Maybe we should start a cooking group, that is if they would allow women as well... Although, when I think of it.. I might not allow other women in the group and keep those gastrosexual men all to myself!

Hubby is not gastrosexual at all and maybe that's beneficial. I wouldn't like to give up my kitchen. I have no idea what it feels like if your partner decides what's cooking. I have always been the cook around this house and I believe it's my job to feed the crew. It would be kinda awkward to let hubby cook and just grab a seat and wait at the table.. So not al men have to be gastrosexual, please. But every now and then, it feels great if a man tries to please you with his cooking talent! I'll happily stand next to you and sip my glass of Chardonnay.

Walk of shame pants

I started digging in my dressing because I was looking for my special Trinny & Susannah shapewear dress. I lost it some time ago and since it was pretty expensive, I really wanted to retrieve it.
Going through my things, I found a pair of walk of shame pants. I have no idea when or why I bought those. All I could say was: what was I thinking? Honestly... those pants were just so not done. I can't even imagine I even wore those. Maybe as sleepwear, but still..

I have big plastic bin bags sitting in a drawer. They store clothes that definitely need to go. The walk of shame pants might get a second life somewhere else. I can't bring them to the second hand shop, that is just too embarrassing. Maybe I should just rip them apart and use them as rags to wax the car with. If only I would wax my car..

The rhythm of life

Life is coming back to normal. The whippets are laying side by side on the couch, their bodies wrapped in blankets for the cosy feeling it gives them. The radio is on and for now, that's the only sound in the house, besides my tapping on the notebook. I have a lunch meeting today with my friend aka sister-in-law and I'm looking forward to that. Haven't seen her since we got back from the States and I would like to thank her and her partner for taking care of our house during our absence.

Hubby has gone back to work after his 1 month vacation. I can remember how that feels like.. all of a sudden you have to focus on work again and hop onto that crazy rollercoaster. No time for a nice cup of coffee with a home made cookie, no time to sit outside in the sun or mow the lawn if you really want to feel like doing something. But then again, his job is very interesting and daring.

I have planned some housework for the upcoming week. Some chores have to be done and I prefer doing them when I'm all by myself. The whippets will spend some time by themselves in their outside kennel and enjoy the last sunbeams of this summer.

Let's pick out a summer outfit and put on those high heels. The car has been washed and cleaned and my favorite Glee CD will lighten up the ride. See you in a while!

Burst the bubble

This is it.. our vacation has come to an end.. We have a couple of more days before the girls have to go back to school, but nevertheless, the end of August will be there before we know it.

We packed last night and we were sad but happy at the same time. It's been a great vacation and we have had tons of fun. I asked the girls if they wanted to come back here and the smile on their face said it all. Eva hopes to be come back in the Spring of 2012. We'll see..

The apartment looks empty, now everything is cleaned up and packed. It won't be long before our friends will take a plane over here and spend their vacation at the resort. I'm sure they will have a great time too!

I'm not really looking forward to the flight. It's not that I don't like to fly, but once I'm ready to go home, I want to get there as fast as possible. We have a night flight this time, but I already know I won't be able to sleep. There's just not enough space and I'm not even that tall! Airplane seats are not comfortable, period. The staff does their best at serving us goodies and drinks, but there's not much more they can do, is there?

I can't wait to pick up the pets. We did miss them! We were happy our brother-in-law and his girlfriend took care of our house while we were here in Florida. It was too long for the dogs and the cat to stay at home by themselves, so we need to pick them up at their hotels. It's good to hear that they had a good time as well. Little Inthe will jump all over us and probably lick us to death, while Rebba will just crawl up in bed and sleep for days. She'll be worn out from taking care of Inthe. Arthur will look great, since he didn't have the opportunity to play outside in the backyard. His fur will be shiny and dirt free. We'll have to keep a close eye on him in the first days to come, so he doesn't wander off too far.

Grandma and grandpa can't wait to hear from us. We have called them a couple of times so they knew we were okay. They wanted to make sure the girls were not kidnapped and nothing bad had happened to them, and we could reassure them. We'll be home soon. We'll be home..

Chat 'n Chew

Going out for dinner is always a pleasure, especially in good company. It's something we really like to do: having a chat over a well presented plate of delicious food. The clock ticks away time, but we don't keep an eye on it. Because good times are not supposed to end.

There's this show on TV, called Dinner Date. A single person tries to find his ideal date. Five candidates make their own personal 3 course meal in the hope the single person will pick them. Without having seen anything but the menus, the single person gets to choose 3 favorite dates. He then gets invited into their homes for a romantic dinner date. Some can cook, others are wonderful hosts and sometimes there's no click at all.
At the end of the week, the single person gets to pick his favorite date, based on the cooking skills, the romance and the overall impression of the night. All 3 candidates are supposed to dress up for a night out, but only one gets the chance for a second date, in a romantic restaurant. The other 2 get TV dinners delivered to their houses.

What a great concept! It seems like a lovely way to meet new people. Maybe people should do this in real life too! It would be a challenge. I suppose married people don't do dinner dates?

Joy oh joy

It's amazing how much joy you bring into my life. I always look forward to getting up in the morning, so we can have our cuddles. It's like we haven't seen one another for a year or two! All the excitement when you see me! You jump all over me and the look in your eyes is touching. So we cuddle on the couch and we kiss and embrace each other. The moment you and your friend lie down again, is another moment of joy. Because I know how happy the two of you are.. You are best friends and I fear the day we'll have to let go of one of you. The other will be devastated. You cling like Siamese twins, always on top of each other and like shadows you move around the house.

Whippets are my favorite dog breed. They are so clever and sweet and loving. We're buddies and I'm so happy Rebba and Inthe came to live with us. They picked us as their people family and we don't regret their choice. From the love they give us, I can tell they are happy too.. They are part of our family..

Helicopter moms and Free range dads

As you know, we have two beautiful young teen daughters. Well, young, they are not that young anymore. The oldest is turning a sweet 16 soon and her sister will be 14 in no time. They are no longer considered children, meaning they can sit with the adults at family parties and have grown up meals.

Growing up comes with responsibilities and doing chores and taking good care of yourself. We trust our children in that manner, that they will behave and do what's appropriate. Meaning I'm no helicopter mom, breathing in their necks and chasing them in whatever they do. They have a certain amount of freedom, the kind of freedom they can handle. The oldest has more freedom but also more responsibilities. The youngest needs more guidance and steering before she comes to her responsibilities, but she's learning. She's more the typical teenager than her sister. But that's okay, it's part of growing up.

Their father used to be more of a free range dad. He's not that strict and more willing to give in, but lately I have come to realize he has changed somehow. He interferes more in the education of the girls and they listen to his advice. He's so patient - so much more than I am - and good at letting them know the rules. He may not be as consistent as I am - the girls know I mean what I say and I'll persevere in what we have agreed on - but that's okay too. Whenever the girls trip over an issue, the issues aren't that big they can't be solved. They are just minor problems, often not worth mentioning.

Both the girls are pretty independent. They have learned how to cook a simple meal, how to mop floors or iron shirts and sheets. That's what I wanted for them: independence. I want to make sure they will be able to live by themselves before they decide to live with a partner. That's why I'm a big fan of letting them live apart when they decide to go to college. And yes, the girls agree. They like their independence. They like the fact that they can be by themselves for a while, without mom or dad constantly stepping in.

I'm leaving for Orlando, Florida this week. The girls will be at home with their dad, but at the same time, they will spend some time alone when he's at work. That doesn't worry me at all, because I know they are capable of doing so. They will cook and clean up their mess and take care of the pets. I'm proud of them..