Today, when I was doing research for my term paper, I found an old note I had written a couple of years ago.
I thought id post it before I threw out the note, so here it is.
So small
so fragile
Will you be dead tomorrow
Are you in pain my dear
is that why you are sleeping
are you walking tomorrow
are you hungry today
why are you so silent
It's a bad and silly poem, but i wrote what was running through my head.
If I remember correctly I was sitting in bed in the middle of the night watching my husband sleep. The same day I had been at the hospital visiting my friends newborn baby. He had nearly died, and the image of him laying there was somewhat haunting me. It was also during one of the more difficult periods of my husbands depression and I was always wondering if he would come home to me.
Thankfully those days are behind us now, and we are again happy and smiling.
Nov 19, 2010
Nov 12, 2010
Hapiness and Sorrow, a heavy couple of weeks.
Today we buried my grandmother, the last of my grand parents. She was supposed to celebrate her 88th birthday in a few days, but 2 weeks ago she had a stroke and ended up in the hospital. I flew down to visit her and when I got back up north, her health started deteriorating rapidly and this wednesday she died in her bed at the care center.
She was the last of the real, true housemothers of my family, and we will all miss her very much. She was always all about work, never letting her hands fall idle. She knitted, embroidered, wove, croched, cooked and cleaned, and she loved it. When we were children she would baby-sit us and she would keep us busy by teaching us how to bake, weave, knit or anything else productive. When we wanted to run around and just be noisy, she would either let us be noisy while doing something usefull like getting fire wood or she would send us outside to play.
One day I hope I can be as good a housewife as she... one day.
On a happier note: 5 weeks ago one of our cats disappeared. She had not been seen since, but wednesday noon I got a text-message from one of our neighboroughs saying that we should take a look in the paper. A cat had been found and the vet was looking for her owners.
My husband called them and described her to them , and they told him that he should come over and take a look. And lo and behold! It was our sweet cat! She had been trapped in the remote-heating machinery room at the hospital for 5 weeks, and when the people from the electric company whent to plug a leak (the same one that probably had been keeping her alive for 5 weeks) she came stumbling out, dehydrated and skinny as h***. They shipped her of to the vet immediatly and a news reporter picked up the story the same day, and the next day we found out.
She has been without food and proper drink for so long that her liver and intestines had all but shut completely down. We got her back yesturday and I was shocked to see the shape she was in.
She used to weigh about 4kg, now she is barely 1.8kg and nothing but skin and bones, but from todays blood tests and liver tests she is healing. The friend who is cat-sitting her sendt us a picture and a status report telling us that she's is doing better.
Here is a picture of our baby Aibast II taken today.
She was the last of the real, true housemothers of my family, and we will all miss her very much. She was always all about work, never letting her hands fall idle. She knitted, embroidered, wove, croched, cooked and cleaned, and she loved it. When we were children she would baby-sit us and she would keep us busy by teaching us how to bake, weave, knit or anything else productive. When we wanted to run around and just be noisy, she would either let us be noisy while doing something usefull like getting fire wood or she would send us outside to play.
One day I hope I can be as good a housewife as she... one day.
On a happier note: 5 weeks ago one of our cats disappeared. She had not been seen since, but wednesday noon I got a text-message from one of our neighboroughs saying that we should take a look in the paper. A cat had been found and the vet was looking for her owners.
My husband called them and described her to them , and they told him that he should come over and take a look. And lo and behold! It was our sweet cat! She had been trapped in the remote-heating machinery room at the hospital for 5 weeks, and when the people from the electric company whent to plug a leak (the same one that probably had been keeping her alive for 5 weeks) she came stumbling out, dehydrated and skinny as h***. They shipped her of to the vet immediatly and a news reporter picked up the story the same day, and the next day we found out.
She has been without food and proper drink for so long that her liver and intestines had all but shut completely down. We got her back yesturday and I was shocked to see the shape she was in.
She used to weigh about 4kg, now she is barely 1.8kg and nothing but skin and bones, but from todays blood tests and liver tests she is healing. The friend who is cat-sitting her sendt us a picture and a status report telling us that she's is doing better.
Here is a picture of our baby Aibast II taken today.
Nov 2, 2010
24 Long hours
I am utterly exhausted! I have been traveling for 24 hours, and it has certainly taken it's toll on me.
Last tuesday my grandmother collapsed and broke her pelvis 2 places and suffered a stroke. We don't really know came first: the fall or the stroke, but she was very ill. My mother called me and told me that I should consider going back south to see her... possible for the last time. She is 88 years old and has a bad heart, so the possibility that she won't recover is quite high, so I jumped on the internett and bought a plane ticket.
So since wednesday I have been on the west coast staying with my parents. I also got to go to the baptism of my newest niece. She is so cute! And she has the same hair as me - red! I also visited my best friends and my in-laws.
It was a great trip all in all... untill yesturday. I was flying down to Oslo to fly back to Tromsø around 4pm yesturday, but the weather here (in Tromsø) was extremely windy so they closed the airport. We waited for 2 hours on the plane before they told us we would not be able to leave for Tromsø that night. We got new tickets for 6:30 this morning and a hotel room for the night. The hotel room was nice, but I had big problems falling asleep, so I only got 2 hours of sleep before I had to get up and leave for the airport at 4 am.
I checked in, got to the gate and sat down with my computer to read a litle for my term paper due this week. After about 10 minutes a message came up on the screen that we would get more info at 7:15 - 45 minutes after original departure. And the message was that with the cross-winds at Tromsø Airport they would not be flying us there at that time. Yeay! I though... another long wait!! Really not what I wanted.
Around 7:30 we was told that we would be leaving a litle after 8. So we boarded and thought that now we would finally get to go to Tromsø... but alas. After 20 minutes the captain told us that he could not land in Tromsø, but we would be flying to Bardufoss (about 130 kilometers from Tromsø) and land there. From there we would go by buss. And so we did... And I arrived in Tromsø hungry as h***, thirsty and sleepy a litle over 24 hours after I left from my mothers.
So now that I'm finally fed and have slept am hour or so, I am finally in good spirit again ^^.
Have you ever been un-intentionally travelled for a whole day before?
Last tuesday my grandmother collapsed and broke her pelvis 2 places and suffered a stroke. We don't really know came first: the fall or the stroke, but she was very ill. My mother called me and told me that I should consider going back south to see her... possible for the last time. She is 88 years old and has a bad heart, so the possibility that she won't recover is quite high, so I jumped on the internett and bought a plane ticket.
So since wednesday I have been on the west coast staying with my parents. I also got to go to the baptism of my newest niece. She is so cute! And she has the same hair as me - red! I also visited my best friends and my in-laws.
It was a great trip all in all... untill yesturday. I was flying down to Oslo to fly back to Tromsø around 4pm yesturday, but the weather here (in Tromsø) was extremely windy so they closed the airport. We waited for 2 hours on the plane before they told us we would not be able to leave for Tromsø that night. We got new tickets for 6:30 this morning and a hotel room for the night. The hotel room was nice, but I had big problems falling asleep, so I only got 2 hours of sleep before I had to get up and leave for the airport at 4 am.
I checked in, got to the gate and sat down with my computer to read a litle for my term paper due this week. After about 10 minutes a message came up on the screen that we would get more info at 7:15 - 45 minutes after original departure. And the message was that with the cross-winds at Tromsø Airport they would not be flying us there at that time. Yeay! I though... another long wait!! Really not what I wanted.
Around 7:30 we was told that we would be leaving a litle after 8. So we boarded and thought that now we would finally get to go to Tromsø... but alas. After 20 minutes the captain told us that he could not land in Tromsø, but we would be flying to Bardufoss (about 130 kilometers from Tromsø) and land there. From there we would go by buss. And so we did... And I arrived in Tromsø hungry as h***, thirsty and sleepy a litle over 24 hours after I left from my mothers.
So now that I'm finally fed and have slept am hour or so, I am finally in good spirit again ^^.
Have you ever been un-intentionally travelled for a whole day before?
Oct 20, 2010
Etiquette: What to do when invited to a party.
As I promised here is a litle post on What to do when invited to a party.
These days etiquette is not something you learn in school like one used to. Not here at least. I was so lucky that once a year my parents were invited to a national meeting of the machine entrepeneurs sosciety of Norway, and my father is a highly respected man in that circle and was chairman for many years. So me and my sisters were expected to behave properly and have good manners. I used to think manners and etiquette was boring, stiff and unneccesary, but I have come to appreciate and expect it. In my oppinion etiquette is something everyone should learn.
Sep 28, 2010
On good manners.
This year, for m birthday, my husband had invited some friends over for a party. "Come at 6" he had said, so at a litle over 5 I was still dresses in my undies and was walking to the bathroom to put my pair of corsets on when there was a knock on the door, followed shortly by the entrance of two of our friends and their baby.
I was so embarrased, and not only for my own sake! For me, it's the hight of rudeness to arrive early for a party. Ok, 5 minutes is alright, but when you arrive an hour ahead of time! It's just not done! It's not only rude, but very inconciderate. There I, the hostess, was in my undies. No make-up on, hair un-done and food stil on the stove. I just have to ask myself: "what were they thinking?"
The excuse was that their baby was just perfect for traveling and going away just then. That she was fed, awake and happy. For me, that is still no excuse for rudeness and bad behaviour. Ofcourse, it was convenient for them to go at that moment with her being serene. I can understand that, but they did not even concider that they might be rude arriving an hour early.
The same evening there was also another episode of bad etiquette: one of the guests that was invited had rsvp'd yes, but did not show. When we texted her later she told that her son was a bit ill so she had decided to stay home instead. And that is totally understandable, no argument there, however when you decide not to go... pick up the phone and send a message, or call, to tell the host or hostess that you're not coming after all. It's just the right thing to do!
So in light of this I have decided to write a small series of posts about etiquette and manners... starting with: What to do when you are invited!
Sep 20, 2010
Balancing school and being housewife
Today is a typical day for me this semester. I got up at 10 (waaay too late for my taste, but recently I've been having trouble sleeping), got dressed, ate breakfast, packed a light lunch and left for the University Library, stayed until they closed at 8... picked up a few books to read and note at home.... and here I am. It's now 8:30pm and I'm tired... exhausted even... and now I'm supposed to cook supper (and preferably a healthy one), do the dishes and do the laundry... And I need to take a shower... *Phew*!
As you can see: It's a hectic life these days.
My new way of life is totally different from what it was a year ago. Then I studied moderatly to litle and got only half way decent grades. This summer, when I was at the field work course, I met a fellow student that got straight A's last semester. She gave me all her study secrets, and woilla! Here I am, studying from 8am to 8pm whenever I can.
But then, last week the clutter took over. The house was a mess! I was dreading getting home each day because it was so ... well... cluttered! On top of that, my birthday was last week and we were getting house guests. *sigh* Just the shear preasure got me so down my husband barely dared speak to me. Poor man, I was a mean wife a few days last week.
My birthday wish this year? It was to wake up to a clean and tidy home. And after helping out a bit myself, on my birthday morning I woke to find most of the house in tip- top order. Clever husband of mine!
So, to the point, after having survived "the revenge of the clutter" I have decided to try and get some order in the daily schedule too. I have to get some time to clean and cook AND relax in between all the studying!
As you can see: It's a hectic life these days.
My new way of life is totally different from what it was a year ago. Then I studied moderatly to litle and got only half way decent grades. This summer, when I was at the field work course, I met a fellow student that got straight A's last semester. She gave me all her study secrets, and woilla! Here I am, studying from 8am to 8pm whenever I can.
But then, last week the clutter took over. The house was a mess! I was dreading getting home each day because it was so ... well... cluttered! On top of that, my birthday was last week and we were getting house guests. *sigh* Just the shear preasure got me so down my husband barely dared speak to me. Poor man, I was a mean wife a few days last week.
My birthday wish this year? It was to wake up to a clean and tidy home. And after helping out a bit myself, on my birthday morning I woke to find most of the house in tip- top order. Clever husband of mine!
So, to the point, after having survived "the revenge of the clutter" I have decided to try and get some order in the daily schedule too. I have to get some time to clean and cook AND relax in between all the studying!
Aug 30, 2010
Tip of the Week: Old socks.
"What? Old socks?" you might think. Well, so did I when my mother-in-law told me to keep all my old socks.
This was this summer when I was sorting through all my old clothes to give away or throw out. But here is what she told me I could do with them.
Shining shoes:
This is a tip my husband knew about too. Apparantly they used it in the military to shine their army boots.
If you keep a few socks with your shoe shining stuff, you will always have a polishing cloth ready. Ofcourse, try to choose the fine woven cotton ones for this purpose.
Polishing bronze, silver etc.
This I actually had heard before. Keep some old, clean socks with the bronze or silver (or whatever) polish. Then when you need to polish your silver, you can use a sock to apply the polish, and you can use it to get that perfect shine. And when you are done you can just throw the sock away. No need to have dirty rags around that you need to boil or wash again and again.
Cleaning rags:
My mother-in-law insisted that socks make exelent cleaning rags... I trust her on that. Never tried it myself. But here too you have the advantage that you can just throw the sock in the garbage as soon as your done.'
Getting rid of bad odour in shoes:
put some litterbox sand in an old sock and put it in your shoe. Will get that smell out reall quick.
If you have any other ideas, please contribute ^^
This was this summer when I was sorting through all my old clothes to give away or throw out. But here is what she told me I could do with them.
Shining shoes:
This is a tip my husband knew about too. Apparantly they used it in the military to shine their army boots.
If you keep a few socks with your shoe shining stuff, you will always have a polishing cloth ready. Ofcourse, try to choose the fine woven cotton ones for this purpose.
Polishing bronze, silver etc.
This I actually had heard before. Keep some old, clean socks with the bronze or silver (or whatever) polish. Then when you need to polish your silver, you can use a sock to apply the polish, and you can use it to get that perfect shine. And when you are done you can just throw the sock away. No need to have dirty rags around that you need to boil or wash again and again.
Cleaning rags:
My mother-in-law insisted that socks make exelent cleaning rags... I trust her on that. Never tried it myself. But here too you have the advantage that you can just throw the sock in the garbage as soon as your done.'
Getting rid of bad odour in shoes:
put some litterbox sand in an old sock and put it in your shoe. Will get that smell out reall quick.
If you have any other ideas, please contribute ^^
Labels:
tip of the week
Aug 16, 2010
Holidays are over!
It has been a long and busy holiday for me this year. After the finals were over I went south to my birthplace and stayed at my parents's. I was going to use the first week to clean out our old house and put it up for sale, but it took me the whole 4 weeks I had down there to clean it out!
After longing to get back up here for a couple of weeks I packed the car, convinced my friend Steven to drive with me and take a weeks holiday here, started driving to pick him up ... I got about 6 miles before my car broke down. Lucky for me, I was soon picked up by Steven in his car and we towed my wreck back to my dad's shop. After waiting 6 hours for a prognonsis the message was clear: the engine was bust! *sigh* Luckily Mom and Dad decided to lend me a car (since Steven was driving with me, he could drive it back south too) and packed it to the brim and started driving again.
This time we got as far as 620 miles from home before something else happened. I had been getting gradually sicker the whole evening and night, and after having to stop a few times so I could stretch and try to throw up, I started throwing up and passing out uncontrollable. Steven got me to the closest doctor and I was rushed to the closest hospital for an appendectomy.
That was 5 weeks ago, the last 4 weeks I have been a small place in the middle of nowhere on an excavation course.
So as you can see, it has beena busy summer, but now I am back and fit for fight, and with lots of new tips and posts to post. So I hope you will enjoy them, and welcome back to a new school term.
Lots of love.
Anibah
After longing to get back up here for a couple of weeks I packed the car, convinced my friend Steven to drive with me and take a weeks holiday here, started driving to pick him up ... I got about 6 miles before my car broke down. Lucky for me, I was soon picked up by Steven in his car and we towed my wreck back to my dad's shop. After waiting 6 hours for a prognonsis the message was clear: the engine was bust! *sigh* Luckily Mom and Dad decided to lend me a car (since Steven was driving with me, he could drive it back south too) and packed it to the brim and started driving again.
This time we got as far as 620 miles from home before something else happened. I had been getting gradually sicker the whole evening and night, and after having to stop a few times so I could stretch and try to throw up, I started throwing up and passing out uncontrollable. Steven got me to the closest doctor and I was rushed to the closest hospital for an appendectomy.
That was 5 weeks ago, the last 4 weeks I have been a small place in the middle of nowhere on an excavation course.
So as you can see, it has beena busy summer, but now I am back and fit for fight, and with lots of new tips and posts to post. So I hope you will enjoy them, and welcome back to a new school term.
Lots of love.
Anibah
Jun 2, 2010
Finally finals are done!
The past few weeks I have been so busy I have not even had time to update my blog. Yesturday I had my last finals for this term. I was so stressed out before I delivered the paper that I had spontaneous nose bleeds.
Typical me when I get under a lot of pressure...
In a few days I go down south to my parents for summer break, so then I'll probably get a lot of new tips for keeping house and whatnot :) I am getting really homesick right now, and can hardly wait until the safety course is over on Friday!
But right now I'm out on an exploraitional trip with my class... We are looking at stone- and iron age remnants
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Typical me when I get under a lot of pressure...
In a few days I go down south to my parents for summer break, so then I'll probably get a lot of new tips for keeping house and whatnot :) I am getting really homesick right now, and can hardly wait until the safety course is over on Friday!
But right now I'm out on an exploraitional trip with my class... We are looking at stone- and iron age remnants
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
May 14, 2010
A nice relaxing vacation
Yesturday we whent to our friends's cabin/house to spend the weekend and the national day of independence. The two geese over were blocking the way out there and we had to stop to let them pass.
The weather here is wonderful! And it's so nice to relax and not think about housework for a while.
The cats are also here. Right now they are outside chasing seaguls.
May 11, 2010
Tip of the week: storing minced meat
Thanks to my mother-in-law for teaching my husband this tip so he could teach it to me. :)
Have you ever made taco or some other dinner and ended up with a small piece of minced meat leftover? I have, and it's really annoying when you nead some minced meat and have to thaw a whole bunch of small pieces. It takes forever to thaw them, so instead of tossing them out, or just putting them in a bag and putting it in the freezer take the meat (and only the meat) into a plastic bag and press it flat. Just squeeze it until you have a flat piece of meat about 1/2 inch thick. Then put it in the freezer. When you need minced meat now you can break of what you nead or you can take several of these "discs" out and thaw them. It only takes a minute.
Labels:
tip of the week
Writing into the night.
This Tuesday (today or tomorrow... it just turned Tuesday here) I have a paper due. I have been uterly lazy this week and postponed the reading to the final days... I now regret it.
I end up doing the same thing every time we have an assignment! I always get distracted by something else entirely and the studying gets put in second line, or third... And now I am chained to my desk. Tea at my side, pens, papers, books, glasses, eye drops and painkillers for my back. I am learning ^^. The paper is now due in 11 hours and I have only finished 1 of 4 to 6 pages. *sigh*.
And to top the whole thing off... Tomorrow we get the exam papers. We have one week to write 10 pages of first rate material on a subject still unknown. It freaks me out just thinking about it!
Oh well, time to get back to work.
Sleep tight everyone. Dream nice dreams for me, and rest in the knowledge that while you sleep I toil on.
I end up doing the same thing every time we have an assignment! I always get distracted by something else entirely and the studying gets put in second line, or third... And now I am chained to my desk. Tea at my side, pens, papers, books, glasses, eye drops and painkillers for my back. I am learning ^^. The paper is now due in 11 hours and I have only finished 1 of 4 to 6 pages. *sigh*.
And to top the whole thing off... Tomorrow we get the exam papers. We have one week to write 10 pages of first rate material on a subject still unknown. It freaks me out just thinking about it!
Oh well, time to get back to work.
Sleep tight everyone. Dream nice dreams for me, and rest in the knowledge that while you sleep I toil on.
May 4, 2010
Garden Project: Miniature kitchen garden. Part One
It's almost that time of year again. That time when the snow melts, flowers pop up and the trees start budding.
Fresh herbs are hard to get in the store, and the vegetables are less tasty than they were 4-5 months ago. So what do you do when spring comes calling and you find yourself in a small apartment with no garden to tend. Well you make your own indoors miniature garden 'course!
The first thing first: Planning the garden - getting what you need.
Seeds, pots, gravel, soil, tools. What do I need?
Well, earlier I found a picture of a light bulb terrarium and thought that would be something I'd like to try. And also I found some beautiful pictures of some miniature gardens. And naturally no miniature garden would be complete without a miniature tree like a bonsai tree.
The Light Bulb Terrarium
This image is from thehipsterho.me
There are a lot of good tutorials on how to make these out there, and as soon as a light bulb goes out here I'll see if I can use it for a terrarium. I'll also see if I can find some nice vanity bulbs when I'm shopping next week.
The next thing: The miniature garden.
Oh I have lots and lots of ideas for this, but I'll have to limit myself a little bit. I also have to narrow down to what i have need for.
I use some herbs very often, so they should be the first ones i grow. Some of these are Oregano, Dill, Basil, Parsley and Rosemary. I have decided on getting small and individual pots for each herb and have them standing on trays in the window over my kitchen counter.
Fresh herbs are hard to get in the store, and the vegetables are less tasty than they were 4-5 months ago. So what do you do when spring comes calling and you find yourself in a small apartment with no garden to tend. Well you make your own indoors miniature garden 'course!
The first thing first: Planning the garden - getting what you need.
Seeds, pots, gravel, soil, tools. What do I need?
Well, earlier I found a picture of a light bulb terrarium and thought that would be something I'd like to try. And also I found some beautiful pictures of some miniature gardens. And naturally no miniature garden would be complete without a miniature tree like a bonsai tree.
The Light Bulb Terrarium
There are a lot of good tutorials on how to make these out there, and as soon as a light bulb goes out here I'll see if I can use it for a terrarium. I'll also see if I can find some nice vanity bulbs when I'm shopping next week.
The next thing: The miniature garden.
Oh I have lots and lots of ideas for this, but I'll have to limit myself a little bit. I also have to narrow down to what i have need for.
I use some herbs very often, so they should be the first ones i grow. Some of these are Oregano, Dill, Basil, Parsley and Rosemary. I have decided on getting small and individual pots for each herb and have them standing on trays in the window over my kitchen counter.
Labels:
Gardening,
miniature gardening
Tip of the week: portioning meats
When I go shopping I often find "family packs" of chicken breasts and meats that are for sale. And that is perfect for being frugal. You get more for less, and it lasts longer that way.
The problem with big packages of food is that when you only need 2 pieces of chicken and you take the pack out of the freezer, and lo and behold, they are all frozen into a big lump of chicken. It's the same with fish, lamb, pork etc. If you have bought pre-cut meat spend a few minutes when you get the meat home to re-package it into freezer safe packaging. I use Freeze foil and plastic bags, or luch-pack paper and plastic bags.
Always start with wrapping the meat in something that protect it from damage and keeps moist in. Baking paper or lunch-pack paper (it's a norwegian thing) will do nicely, but ideally you want "freezing foil". It's a metallic foil with a plastic layer on one side. Ours is blue on one side.
You wrap the meat with the plastic in against the meat, and then you place it in a plastic bag and close it properly with either a rubber band, a knot or masking tape. I prefer masking tape, 'cause then I can write the contents of the pack and when it was wrapped on the outside of the bag, easy to read for later.
Just always remember to mark the bags properly so you don't have to rummage through all of them when looking for something specific.'
The problem with big packages of food is that when you only need 2 pieces of chicken and you take the pack out of the freezer, and lo and behold, they are all frozen into a big lump of chicken. It's the same with fish, lamb, pork etc. If you have bought pre-cut meat spend a few minutes when you get the meat home to re-package it into freezer safe packaging. I use Freeze foil and plastic bags, or luch-pack paper and plastic bags.
Always start with wrapping the meat in something that protect it from damage and keeps moist in. Baking paper or lunch-pack paper (it's a norwegian thing) will do nicely, but ideally you want "freezing foil". It's a metallic foil with a plastic layer on one side. Ours is blue on one side.
You wrap the meat with the plastic in against the meat, and then you place it in a plastic bag and close it properly with either a rubber band, a knot or masking tape. I prefer masking tape, 'cause then I can write the contents of the pack and when it was wrapped on the outside of the bag, easy to read for later.
Just always remember to mark the bags properly so you don't have to rummage through all of them when looking for something specific.'
Labels:
tip of the week
May 2, 2010
Lazy spell over.
The last week I've been incredible lazy. I've relaxed and done everything but work. My husband have been in Italy on a choir competition and today he comes home. The house is a mess, I am a mess and I'm all out of energy... What do I do? I put on my "house cleaning music"!
My mother always played the same CD when we were doing the saturday-cleaning. It was a cd of hits from the 50's and 60's and unfortunately I no longer can find my copy of that disc. But I do remember some of the songs, and thanks to spotify I can put them on the stereo on full volume, cleaning away. :)
It seems like it's so much easier to do housework when you have some speedy music to listen to, so this will be my tip-of-the-week: Music to the work.
Here are the songs I have right now on my playlist:
Pretty Woman - Roy Orbison
Rockin' Robin - Bobby Day
Sixteen Candles - The Crests
Stand By Me - Ben E. King
Born To Hand Jive - Sha Na Na
Rock And Roll Is Here To Stay -Danny & The Juniors
Rock Around The Clock Tonight - Bill Haley & The Comets
Diamons Are A Girls Best Friend (Swing Cat Mix) - Marilyn Monroe !I have the original version too!
Hit The Road Jack - Ray Charles
These are not all on the cd in discussion, but I do know for certain that Pretty Woman, Stand By Me and Rockin' Robin are on it.
My Mother has promised to call me after she gets home from her hike to give me the names of all the songs so I can find them and make myself another record.
Do you have music that you listen to when you clean?
Labels:
keeping house,
music,
musings,
tip of the week
Apr 17, 2010
Exams are closing in, and tip of the week
This week and the next are exam-study weeks. I wake early each day to read and write notes for my exam thursday 22nd. It's going to be hectic and stressfull, and on top of that my husband goes to Venezia that same day...
I'm looking foreward to the week bein over!
Here's this weeks "Tip of the Week": Plants
This simple litle item is the joy of my house lately. Since I moved I haven't had any plants in the house, and it's been a bit dull and "life less" somehow, so when we went to the store and I saw these small, cheap plants there I bought them. They now sit on my livingroom divider and spreads happiness. One of my plants are still just buds so I get the pleasure of seeing it bloom soon.
Since it's spring now and the sun is returning, the snow is smelting, the air is warming up it's just absolutely wonderfull to bring a little piece of the spring inside too. And on top of that they help out cleaning the air inside ^^
So go out buy one and feel the effect. And remember to take good care of them and they will bring joy a long time.
I'm looking foreward to the week bein over!
Here's this weeks "Tip of the Week": Plants
This simple litle item is the joy of my house lately. Since I moved I haven't had any plants in the house, and it's been a bit dull and "life less" somehow, so when we went to the store and I saw these small, cheap plants there I bought them. They now sit on my livingroom divider and spreads happiness. One of my plants are still just buds so I get the pleasure of seeing it bloom soon.
Since it's spring now and the sun is returning, the snow is smelting, the air is warming up it's just absolutely wonderfull to bring a little piece of the spring inside too. And on top of that they help out cleaning the air inside ^^
So go out buy one and feel the effect. And remember to take good care of them and they will bring joy a long time.
Labels:
exams,
musings,
tip of the week
Apr 14, 2010
Looking at cars
Today we took the car to get a new key. The old one stopped working, and we have been missing the car... It's embarrasing to have to hitch a ride with all my friends all the time when I have a car standing in the parking lot.
So while we were waiting for the key to be made, we went about looking at the cars there... and my, oh my how many wonderfull cars there were!
My heart fell for this lovely black Mercedes E220. It was just the right size. Not too tall, not too low. It's a 5 seat, 5 doors beauty. And it looks really really classy. The luggage room is big enough to fit a baby carriage and it is a really safe car for both adults and children. It is absolutely full of gadgets and gizmos, like automated parking and everything!
Here's and image I took with my cell. *DROOL*
So while we were waiting for the key to be made, we went about looking at the cars there... and my, oh my how many wonderfull cars there were!
My heart fell for this lovely black Mercedes E220. It was just the right size. Not too tall, not too low. It's a 5 seat, 5 doors beauty. And it looks really really classy. The luggage room is big enough to fit a baby carriage and it is a really safe car for both adults and children. It is absolutely full of gadgets and gizmos, like automated parking and everything!
Here's and image I took with my cell. *DROOL*
It's allowed to dream.... is it not?
Anyways... the thing I noticed afterwards was that most of the discusions we had about size was about if it would fit a baby carriage ^^. Says a lot :)...
Labels:
musings
Apr 13, 2010
To be married to depression
To be married to depression
Last night I was reading in my husbands blog and came over an old post (one that I have read before many times). It was about him wanting to take his own life.
4 years ago my husband developed serious manic depression. This was a thing that had been lurking under the surface for years but first bubbled up after we got married and got into serious money problems.
When we got married my husband was working as a phone salesman. Right after we married the company declared themself bankrupt and refused to pay the money they owned their employers. This set us back 60 000 NOK (about 6 600£ or 10 000$). When you first get behind with that much, it's really hard to get back on your feet. Luckily our parents could help us a bit. But still it took us a long time to get all the bills from the wedding payed. And on top of that, he had lost his job.
Now I don't fully understand what happened to him, and why he became so ill, but the fact is that he did. He started getting more and more depressed and at it didn't help that we lived in the same house as his parents. We argued more and more, went to bed angry from time to time, and he started to take the car and leave when we fought. And all the time I didn't know what was going on with him. All I saw was that he was changing right in front of me, and I didn't like the change. It was hard on me to see him change so. We had just married... we were supposed to be happy, weren't we? We weren't supposed to be arguing every day, and he wasn't supposed to change!
Luckily I have my best friend, lets call her C. She was there for both of us in all this. But most of all she was there for my husband. She listned to him when he couldn't tell me how he felt, and when he started talking about how he saw himself dead she sendt him to the doctor to get help. And all this time all I saw was that he was changing. He never told me about any of this until he started getting help. I knew that he was depressed. I could see it on him. But I never knew how bad it was until he finally told me. And let me tell you, it broke my heart! It is painfull to know that the love of your life is hurting. That he wants to take his own life and leave this world... leave you.
I didn't understand him. So I started thinking it all was my fault. That I was the reason he was so depressed. That all the arguing drove him to depression, so I started giving in. Whenever there was something, I gave in. I gave up somehow. I put on a brave face and tried to not feel all the hurt. Tried to be brave for him.
I could tell that if I was smiling he was in a better place. I thought that if I held him tight and told him I loved him enough times, he would be all better. Sadly it didn't work that way.
He started therapy once a week and things changed again.... Luckily I could talk to my friend too. She told me things about that she thought I should know about my husbands depression, and she helped me understand how, and why my husband changed the way he did. But I could not fully understand. The whole period he was in therapy is kinda blurry for me. I have my own things to struggle with, and when I get really down I forget. It's a coping mechanism.
The things I do remember are when he told me about how he felt, how he had been at the worst, the fact that I was not by a long shot the first person he told, that he had been hiding things from me, the long nights of waiting for him to come home, being afraid that he would never come home, that this was the night he couldn't cope.... It's a really difficult state to be in.
During the worst periods I walked around in constant total terror. I was afraid every time I couldn't reach my husband on the phone. Every time he didn't come home when I thought he would. Whenever he had been to therapy and didn't come straight home. I spendt most my time waiting for him to come home safe. And when he did come home late, I was angry. I can look back now and say that I was so angry because I was so scared, but I know that all that I did was make things harder for my husband. It took a long time to figgure that out... to look beyond what I felt was happening to me and grab a hold of myself and look at what was happening to him.
So how did I deal with it? I didn't. I got depressed myself. The difference was that now I had noone to go to for support. A sad consequense of him going to therapy was that he became very self centered. This was a thing my best friend, who have been going to therapy since she was a teenager, told me was very normal. This was very difficult for me. Suddenly everything in my world was all about him. My life was buildt up around him in a way that excluded me almost completely. And all I could do was accept it. I could no longer go to my husband for help when I was down. I couldn't go to him to get help when I needed it because he was no longer there. He had all but disappeared from me. He was no longer the man I so fell in love with, and the constant threat of loosing him made me cry myself to sleep many a night. I stopped completely to go to bed with him. I stayed up all night and slept until noon. I rather slept on the couch than go to bed at a normal time with him. I felt like a total failure.
In 2008 he was declared healthy by the therapist. He was "happy" again. Still I didn't believe it. I couldn't. I still saw the same white color in his cheeks, the empty look in his eyes and the feelingless smile he put on. And I still held up the mask. The "I'm happy, everything is fine, everything is perfectly normal" mask. It is amazing how a smile can help keep people from asking questions...
It seemed too good to be true that he was healthy again, and I was right. Not long after he started getting depressed again. It took nothing to get him down, and I had to weight everything I did and said against how his day was. I took hand of all the echonomy, I took hand of food, house, pets, husband and on top of that trying to get a job. It was tough. I whent everyday worring if we would make it through this month and at the same time I could not have a bad day. I had to keep the mask up so not to make my husband worse. The only thing that I had to comfort me was my cat Pharao.
2009 came and that spring we leaped on a spur and applied to schools. I came in and last autumn I moved north. Hubby was supposed to be back south just a litle while and clear out the house for sale. A while became months and soon it was christmas. While I thirved alone here and became much my old self. Independent, strong and believed in myself for the first time in years, my husband suffered down there alone. He didn't have me to help him. He had to take over the echonomy again, and on top of that the best friend suffered now from a serious case of social angst. She still does. So now he could not go to her either. So we decided that even if the house was not by a long shot cleared and ready for sale, he should move up here.
So in January he moved in with me up here in the north and things were looking great! Things Are great! Yes, I still have my mask on some days, but those days are fewer and fewer, and even if my husband still has to go to therapy I now know that he is better. I have stopped being afraid of him killing or hurting himself. Now, if he doesn't come home as planned the only thing I'm afraid of is that he has been hit by a car and is in the hospital. Since I got the faith in myself back I stopped believing he was going to sleep around too. Even though sometimes I have a relaps and wonder... When I moved I took along one of our kittens, and he was something for me to hold on to when I was feeling lonely and depressed. He soon started picking up on how I was feeling and started coming to my comfort when I needed it. Just as Pharao had done. He probably saved me more than once.
To all those out there that are in the same position that I am in/was in: Hang in there! It gets better. Remember that nothing gets better without first getting worse, "the darkest hours of night is right before dawn". You are alowed to feel and to look out for yourself, and if you can I recomend getting a pet. They are great help. They are someone you can talk to that will listen forever and will not think badly of you. They love you as long as you treat them good, and if you get them as young ones they often learn to pick up on how you are feeling (the cat my husband had with him from south is an example of how they don't pick up on your feelings if they are not used to you. She has no clue on when to scurry and when to cuddle... but she's still cute... and she's learning ^^).
Last night I was reading in my husbands blog and came over an old post (one that I have read before many times). It was about him wanting to take his own life.
4 years ago my husband developed serious manic depression. This was a thing that had been lurking under the surface for years but first bubbled up after we got married and got into serious money problems.
When we got married my husband was working as a phone salesman. Right after we married the company declared themself bankrupt and refused to pay the money they owned their employers. This set us back 60 000 NOK (about 6 600£ or 10 000$). When you first get behind with that much, it's really hard to get back on your feet. Luckily our parents could help us a bit. But still it took us a long time to get all the bills from the wedding payed. And on top of that, he had lost his job.
Now I don't fully understand what happened to him, and why he became so ill, but the fact is that he did. He started getting more and more depressed and at it didn't help that we lived in the same house as his parents. We argued more and more, went to bed angry from time to time, and he started to take the car and leave when we fought. And all the time I didn't know what was going on with him. All I saw was that he was changing right in front of me, and I didn't like the change. It was hard on me to see him change so. We had just married... we were supposed to be happy, weren't we? We weren't supposed to be arguing every day, and he wasn't supposed to change!
Luckily I have my best friend, lets call her C. She was there for both of us in all this. But most of all she was there for my husband. She listned to him when he couldn't tell me how he felt, and when he started talking about how he saw himself dead she sendt him to the doctor to get help. And all this time all I saw was that he was changing. He never told me about any of this until he started getting help. I knew that he was depressed. I could see it on him. But I never knew how bad it was until he finally told me. And let me tell you, it broke my heart! It is painfull to know that the love of your life is hurting. That he wants to take his own life and leave this world... leave you.
I didn't understand him. So I started thinking it all was my fault. That I was the reason he was so depressed. That all the arguing drove him to depression, so I started giving in. Whenever there was something, I gave in. I gave up somehow. I put on a brave face and tried to not feel all the hurt. Tried to be brave for him.
I could tell that if I was smiling he was in a better place. I thought that if I held him tight and told him I loved him enough times, he would be all better. Sadly it didn't work that way.
He started therapy once a week and things changed again.... Luckily I could talk to my friend too. She told me things about that she thought I should know about my husbands depression, and she helped me understand how, and why my husband changed the way he did. But I could not fully understand. The whole period he was in therapy is kinda blurry for me. I have my own things to struggle with, and when I get really down I forget. It's a coping mechanism.
The things I do remember are when he told me about how he felt, how he had been at the worst, the fact that I was not by a long shot the first person he told, that he had been hiding things from me, the long nights of waiting for him to come home, being afraid that he would never come home, that this was the night he couldn't cope.... It's a really difficult state to be in.
During the worst periods I walked around in constant total terror. I was afraid every time I couldn't reach my husband on the phone. Every time he didn't come home when I thought he would. Whenever he had been to therapy and didn't come straight home. I spendt most my time waiting for him to come home safe. And when he did come home late, I was angry. I can look back now and say that I was so angry because I was so scared, but I know that all that I did was make things harder for my husband. It took a long time to figgure that out... to look beyond what I felt was happening to me and grab a hold of myself and look at what was happening to him.
So how did I deal with it? I didn't. I got depressed myself. The difference was that now I had noone to go to for support. A sad consequense of him going to therapy was that he became very self centered. This was a thing my best friend, who have been going to therapy since she was a teenager, told me was very normal. This was very difficult for me. Suddenly everything in my world was all about him. My life was buildt up around him in a way that excluded me almost completely. And all I could do was accept it. I could no longer go to my husband for help when I was down. I couldn't go to him to get help when I needed it because he was no longer there. He had all but disappeared from me. He was no longer the man I so fell in love with, and the constant threat of loosing him made me cry myself to sleep many a night. I stopped completely to go to bed with him. I stayed up all night and slept until noon. I rather slept on the couch than go to bed at a normal time with him. I felt like a total failure.
In 2008 he was declared healthy by the therapist. He was "happy" again. Still I didn't believe it. I couldn't. I still saw the same white color in his cheeks, the empty look in his eyes and the feelingless smile he put on. And I still held up the mask. The "I'm happy, everything is fine, everything is perfectly normal" mask. It is amazing how a smile can help keep people from asking questions...
It seemed too good to be true that he was healthy again, and I was right. Not long after he started getting depressed again. It took nothing to get him down, and I had to weight everything I did and said against how his day was. I took hand of all the echonomy, I took hand of food, house, pets, husband and on top of that trying to get a job. It was tough. I whent everyday worring if we would make it through this month and at the same time I could not have a bad day. I had to keep the mask up so not to make my husband worse. The only thing that I had to comfort me was my cat Pharao.
This time things got a litle better though. I made him go seek help again as soon as I saw the first signs of depression again. He never got too deep and started doing better again sooner. Also, now I knew how to be and Not be around him. I held up a happy face as long as i mustered (ofcourse around my periods I was a raging typhoon). Then suddenly my cat Pharao disappeared, ( I knew that he would not come back. I think he whent off to die. He was 8 years old after all...), and my world fell apart. With nothing to hold on to I struggled to keep my mask on and I spendt many nights crying again... After a while though my husband could hold me in his arms again and comfort me. I slowly got someone to hold on to again.
2009 came and that spring we leaped on a spur and applied to schools. I came in and last autumn I moved north. Hubby was supposed to be back south just a litle while and clear out the house for sale. A while became months and soon it was christmas. While I thirved alone here and became much my old self. Independent, strong and believed in myself for the first time in years, my husband suffered down there alone. He didn't have me to help him. He had to take over the echonomy again, and on top of that the best friend suffered now from a serious case of social angst. She still does. So now he could not go to her either. So we decided that even if the house was not by a long shot cleared and ready for sale, he should move up here.
So in January he moved in with me up here in the north and things were looking great! Things Are great! Yes, I still have my mask on some days, but those days are fewer and fewer, and even if my husband still has to go to therapy I now know that he is better. I have stopped being afraid of him killing or hurting himself. Now, if he doesn't come home as planned the only thing I'm afraid of is that he has been hit by a car and is in the hospital. Since I got the faith in myself back I stopped believing he was going to sleep around too. Even though sometimes I have a relaps and wonder... When I moved I took along one of our kittens, and he was something for me to hold on to when I was feeling lonely and depressed. He soon started picking up on how I was feeling and started coming to my comfort when I needed it. Just as Pharao had done. He probably saved me more than once.
To all those out there that are in the same position that I am in/was in: Hang in there! It gets better. Remember that nothing gets better without first getting worse, "the darkest hours of night is right before dawn". You are alowed to feel and to look out for yourself, and if you can I recomend getting a pet. They are great help. They are someone you can talk to that will listen forever and will not think badly of you. They love you as long as you treat them good, and if you get them as young ones they often learn to pick up on how you are feeling (the cat my husband had with him from south is an example of how they don't pick up on your feelings if they are not used to you. She has no clue on when to scurry and when to cuddle... but she's still cute... and she's learning ^^).
Our two cats now: AiBast II (or "lille Bast" as I call her) and Mithmin Begolas, or Begolas for short. Begolas is mine and AiBast II is my hubbys.
Labels:
depression,
marriage,
musings
Apr 12, 2010
Next projects: Baby Wrap Bodice
So, I delivered the blanket to my friend and she was very happy about it. I also offered to make anything else she wanted, since I've found that reading and knitting goes well together... that is, as long as the instructions aren't too difficult.
So she browsed some of the knitting and crocheting books and pamphlets and chose a cozy baby wrapping bodice. She wanted it in black ofcourse, so now I need to go buy some more black yarn. :)
All this baby stuff is making me want for babies myself! ARGH!
So she browsed some of the knitting and crocheting books and pamphlets and chose a cozy baby wrapping bodice. She wanted it in black ofcourse, so now I need to go buy some more black yarn. :)
All this baby stuff is making me want for babies myself! ARGH!
Labels:
Baby equipment,
Gothic baby,
home made,
knitting
Baby blanket done.
For a while now I've been working on a blanket for my firends baby. She's expecting this summer, and I know she's getting a summer blanket from her mother, so I made her a winter blanket to keep in her carriage for winter. I'm just off to deliver it to her, and thought I'd just pop up some images of it here. Btw.... she's also a goth :)
Labels:
Baby equipment,
home made,
knitting
Redesigning the blog layout
Hello. It's been a hectic couple of weeks. Today I started something I've wanted to do since I began this blog: making a layout for the page. The one I have now is only temporary until I get it all done, so please be patient with me ^^.
Apr 9, 2010
Wardrobe ideas. A gothic housewifes "fashion show"! Part One: 1800's Victorian
As a goth I LOVE dark and gloomy, black glothing. However it's hard to be creative when it comes to clothing, so here are some ideas for a different wardrobe for the gothic housewife with a taste for the different. Enjoy :)
Part One: The 1800's
Starting out we will look back to the 1800's. This was an era of corsets, fancy dresses and dainty women. Here are some really nice pieces I wish to someday make for my wardrobe (and wear on a day to day basis).
First we have the dressing gown. A delicate piece of hand work. Flanell and silk, layers of fabric to help you keep warm and dry after stepping out of bed or bath. Can be made in any color, but why not choose a bright one? Goths are not all about black and dreary :) Imagine this one in bright deep purple, or in blood red silk! Simply divine.
Next we have the under garments. Now there are two crushial items you'll need to make your gown sit right; A pair of corsets and a chemise or other undergarment similar in function to a chemise.
To get your skirts to hang beautyfully you need an under skirt. These are found in many different versions. For the late half of the 1800's you have this kind of under skirt. If it is not to be shown, then it can be simple and plain, but if it is to be under an over skirt that does not go full length, it has to be decorated in some sort. Either by a simple thing as making out a fabulous fabric or by adding rouches, ruffles, ribbons etc.
Over to over skirts. Now there are many different over skirts. Beautyfully draped over the hips and back. Find one that appeals to you.
Next to a skirt you'll need at least one jacket or bodice of some sort. Take a look at some of these fashion plates from the 1800's and get inspiration. Click the image to see a bigger version.
Part One: The 1800's
Starting out we will look back to the 1800's. This was an era of corsets, fancy dresses and dainty women. Here are some really nice pieces I wish to someday make for my wardrobe (and wear on a day to day basis).
First we have the dressing gown. A delicate piece of hand work. Flanell and silk, layers of fabric to help you keep warm and dry after stepping out of bed or bath. Can be made in any color, but why not choose a bright one? Goths are not all about black and dreary :) Imagine this one in bright deep purple, or in blood red silk! Simply divine.
Next we have the under garments. Now there are two crushial items you'll need to make your gown sit right; A pair of corsets and a chemise or other undergarment similar in function to a chemise.
To get your skirts to hang beautyfully you need an under skirt. These are found in many different versions. For the late half of the 1800's you have this kind of under skirt. If it is not to be shown, then it can be simple and plain, but if it is to be under an over skirt that does not go full length, it has to be decorated in some sort. Either by a simple thing as making out a fabulous fabric or by adding rouches, ruffles, ribbons etc.
Over to over skirts. Now there are many different over skirts. Beautyfully draped over the hips and back. Find one that appeals to you.
Next to a skirt you'll need at least one jacket or bodice of some sort. Take a look at some of these fashion plates from the 1800's and get inspiration. Click the image to see a bigger version.
Labels:
Gothic clothing,
victorian clothing,
Wardrobe Ideas
Tip of the week: white tooth paste.
I'm back from easter hollidays, and have a Tip of The Week for the easter week.
Ordinary white, non-gel, tooth paste.
Long ago someone told me I could use tooth paste to clean my nails when they got a yellow-ish tint and I thought they were crazy! Well, they were not. If your nails are dirty or have gotten dis-coloured try washing them with a little tooth paste. It works wonders!
The same can be said for your iron and the chrome. If you put a dab of paste on a cloth and rub it on, then rinse, you will get a totally new and shiny result. Try it and you'll see.
Here are some images of my sink faucets before and after a clean with tooth paste.
Before is on the left. Sorry about bad images... they were taken on me cell phone. Before i washed the faucets and sink, i whiped quickly over with a moist cloth, like I do every day. You can clearly see the difference in how shiny it is though. And yes, it it two different pictures ^^.
On top of that it removed any hint of bad smells and odors. Another plus indeed, now my sink smells minty fresh.
You can also use it to clean your iron, treat zits and bug bites, clean the carpet, and much more probably.
Ordinary white, non-gel, tooth paste.
Long ago someone told me I could use tooth paste to clean my nails when they got a yellow-ish tint and I thought they were crazy! Well, they were not. If your nails are dirty or have gotten dis-coloured try washing them with a little tooth paste. It works wonders!
The same can be said for your iron and the chrome. If you put a dab of paste on a cloth and rub it on, then rinse, you will get a totally new and shiny result. Try it and you'll see.
Here are some images of my sink faucets before and after a clean with tooth paste.
Before is on the left. Sorry about bad images... they were taken on me cell phone. Before i washed the faucets and sink, i whiped quickly over with a moist cloth, like I do every day. You can clearly see the difference in how shiny it is though. And yes, it it two different pictures ^^.On top of that it removed any hint of bad smells and odors. Another plus indeed, now my sink smells minty fresh.
You can also use it to clean your iron, treat zits and bug bites, clean the carpet, and much more probably.
Labels:
tip of the week
Mar 26, 2010
Tip of the week: resealable bags.
If you're anything like me you have small items and such laying around that are too small to keep in a drawer or a box. The perfect thing then are resealable bags.
You can get them anywhere and they are really usefull. I somethimes order beeds and needles from hobby stores and they usually send them in small resealable bags. After I have used the contents I put the bags in my desk drawer, and whenever I need a bag for something I take go there to find one. And, again, when I'm doen using it I put it back.
Here are some things I use my bags for regurarly:
You can get them anywhere and they are really usefull. I somethimes order beeds and needles from hobby stores and they usually send them in small resealable bags. After I have used the contents I put the bags in my desk drawer, and whenever I need a bag for something I take go there to find one. And, again, when I'm doen using it I put it back.
Here are some things I use my bags for regurarly:
- Keeping postage stamps in before sending them in to Tubfrim (an organization that collects and resells old p.stamps to help TB children).
- Sorting beeds and buttons by colour.
- Keeping little scraps of paper for my scrapbooking (yes i scrapbook.... goths can scrapbook too!)
- Storing leaves for freeze drying.
- Keeping small bolts and screws so they don't disappear on you (my hubby's tip).
- If you got a small bag of spice, lock them in a grip-seal bag to keep them fresh.
- Use them to store lengths of ribbon. It keeps them ordered and neat.
Labels:
tip of the week
Mar 17, 2010
Tip of the week
Every week I'll try delivering a tip about keeping house in some way. I'll also introduce some items that can help you out with the task at hand.
This week: Making ready to go away.
This weekend my husband and me are going away for a family weekend with my family down south. We're going to be gone for 5 days, and this requires some planning on our part. We have 2 cats so I need to find someone to take care of them. And I also need to make the house ready for us leaving and staying away for that time. I have a sort of routine for making us and the house ready for vacations and here it is.
If we are going away for a long time I reserve a whole day for making ready, or I divide the work over a couple of days if my days a particularly busy. Today I have the whole day though, and we are leaving first thing tomorrow.
I start out by eating a good breakfast, since cleaning the whole house often takes a lot out of you. :)
After breakfast I gather up any dirty dishes and clean them. I don't have a dish washer yet, so this is done by hand. I always rinse them in near-to-boiling water and set them to dry when they've been cleaned.
While the dishes are drying I take any kitchen towels that are dirty and toss them into the sink in the bathroom to wash. This is an easy way to do a small amount of laundry in a short amount of time.
After popping the towels in wash I attack the oven, the benches and the tables: Tidy, clean, whipe.
And remember - Put everything in it's propper place, less it ends up as more mess. I also make sure there are no unpayed bills lying around somewhere. This is a thing I've learned the hard way. For the longest time i never knew where the bills were or even if they were payed. Most of the time they were not. Now I always know where my bills are and I pay them as soon as I can. And as soon as they are payed I note date and time on the papers and put them in a designated ring binder.
Then I take an hour break. Mabe use the time to study a bit, or to eat lunch while watching an episode of True Blood that I've recorded earlier.
After the break there's folding to do, and more tidying. Everything that's lying around have to be put in its right place. Even if I am to use it later. As I go I bring a wet cloth with me and whipes of every shelf, nook and crannie that I can find. Sockets, picture frames, ledges and window sills also get a once-over.
Then it's hanging the laundry, taking out the trash, shaking out the carpets, dusting of the telly and vacuuming and cleaning the floors.
After that it's mostly decorating. Like finding and laying out new table cloths, airing the linens and then making the bed and airing out all the rooms for an hour or so.
Last, but not least, before we leave in the morning I unplug ALL electrical items/appliances that does not need to be in. That includes the oven, the TV and the computer. This makes sure that if there is a electrical charge there is no way my electrical appliances will get ruined... or worse... catch on fire.
Having problem finding a place for everything? Here's a cheap but good tip. Get some of these from IKEA. They are relatively cheap, they can be packed flat when you don't need them anymore, and they can hold a lot of different things. I use them for receipts, magazine articles, all my hobby stuffs and my sewing accessoiries.
This week: Making ready to go away.
This weekend my husband and me are going away for a family weekend with my family down south. We're going to be gone for 5 days, and this requires some planning on our part. We have 2 cats so I need to find someone to take care of them. And I also need to make the house ready for us leaving and staying away for that time. I have a sort of routine for making us and the house ready for vacations and here it is.
If we are going away for a long time I reserve a whole day for making ready, or I divide the work over a couple of days if my days a particularly busy. Today I have the whole day though, and we are leaving first thing tomorrow.
I start out by eating a good breakfast, since cleaning the whole house often takes a lot out of you. :)
After breakfast I gather up any dirty dishes and clean them. I don't have a dish washer yet, so this is done by hand. I always rinse them in near-to-boiling water and set them to dry when they've been cleaned.
While the dishes are drying I take any kitchen towels that are dirty and toss them into the sink in the bathroom to wash. This is an easy way to do a small amount of laundry in a short amount of time.
After popping the towels in wash I attack the oven, the benches and the tables: Tidy, clean, whipe.
And remember - Put everything in it's propper place, less it ends up as more mess. I also make sure there are no unpayed bills lying around somewhere. This is a thing I've learned the hard way. For the longest time i never knew where the bills were or even if they were payed. Most of the time they were not. Now I always know where my bills are and I pay them as soon as I can. And as soon as they are payed I note date and time on the papers and put them in a designated ring binder.
Then I take an hour break. Mabe use the time to study a bit, or to eat lunch while watching an episode of True Blood that I've recorded earlier.
After the break there's folding to do, and more tidying. Everything that's lying around have to be put in its right place. Even if I am to use it later. As I go I bring a wet cloth with me and whipes of every shelf, nook and crannie that I can find. Sockets, picture frames, ledges and window sills also get a once-over.
Then it's hanging the laundry, taking out the trash, shaking out the carpets, dusting of the telly and vacuuming and cleaning the floors.
After that it's mostly decorating. Like finding and laying out new table cloths, airing the linens and then making the bed and airing out all the rooms for an hour or so.
Last, but not least, before we leave in the morning I unplug ALL electrical items/appliances that does not need to be in. That includes the oven, the TV and the computer. This makes sure that if there is a electrical charge there is no way my electrical appliances will get ruined... or worse... catch on fire.
Having problem finding a place for everything? Here's a cheap but good tip. Get some of these from IKEA. They are relatively cheap, they can be packed flat when you don't need them anymore, and they can hold a lot of different things. I use them for receipts, magazine articles, all my hobby stuffs and my sewing accessoiries.
Labels:
cleaning,
tip of the week
Mar 16, 2010
I've gone crazy: a week of white foods
For the next two weeks , from new moon to full moon, I'm doing a food project: to eat only white food. This morning I ate egg whites. My husband got the yolkes for his lunch noodles :). I ran into a small snafoo though... what do i make for food for two weeks that are only white? And this weekend I'm going south for a meeting/ weekend with my family at a resort, and how am I going to keep to the all-white diet then?
I figured I'd make a shopping list for the two weeks today, so at least I'll have only white foods when I'm home.
Any ideas anyone?
I figured I'd make a shopping list for the two weeks today, so at least I'll have only white foods when I'm home.
Any ideas anyone?
Mar 11, 2010
Sleepy, exhausted and pleased!
Right now I am contemplating if I'm going to go to the Inside I concert at 8pm or if I'm going to get some well deserved sleep. It's a difficult choice i tell you! Although the bed is calling louder and louder, and sounding sweeter and sweeter... especially since the cats seem hellbent on making me fall asleep with their purring and cuddling. It's their evil plan to conquer the planet by cuddliness I tell you!
Well, anyways. It's nearly dinnertime now so I have to go do the dishes and cook dinner first of all. *shuffling the cat of my lap* Having Chicken Crisps today. My lovely husband bought them last night for me to eat while writing the paper during the night, but I never got to eat them. So I'm going to have them for dinner instead. Lucky me. :)
Labels:
school
Mar 9, 2010
School catching up to me... :(
It's really late. I'm about to get ready to go to bed. In the back of my head something is telling me to stop and think...then it dawns on me. I have a paper due tomorrow! So i rush around looking up the right information. Downloads the paper from the school website and opens a empty document on my computer. I check the due time, 12 hours 34 minutes left, ok... this I can do.... then I look at the assignment. It's based on an article. OK, so where is the article? Not in the booklet i bought at semester start... that's for sure... and not in a book I've got either. Oh no! I never bought it! They didn't have it yet when i bought the books for this semester, and I never went back to check if I had missed something! How incredible stupid of me!!!
*sitting down by the desk*
Oh my... what am I to do? I'm thinking of writing the alumnus to tell him what has happened, and hope for him to allow me to deliver it later this week.
On a lighter note:
I got a new vacuum cleaner today! Yeay! I have not been so exited about a house holding tool for ages. But just look at it!
It's an Electrolux Ergorapido 2-in-1, and I absolutely LOVE it! I also had a visitor over today and I made Nasi Gorang, or fried rice, for dinner and got praises for it. And what house wife does not enjoy getting prais for a well done meal?
Anyways. Now I have to write that mail and hope for the best.
*sitting down by the desk*
Oh my... what am I to do? I'm thinking of writing the alumnus to tell him what has happened, and hope for him to allow me to deliver it later this week.
On a lighter note:
I got a new vacuum cleaner today! Yeay! I have not been so exited about a house holding tool for ages. But just look at it!
Anyways. Now I have to write that mail and hope for the best.
Labels:
school,
tools of the trade
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