This summer seems to be going by in a flash. My sorry little petunias have come into their own, and actually look quite nice in their pots. Will miracles never cease? Having black thumbs is quite the challenge, but there is a couple of plants that grow to spite my toxic attention! The herbs are flourishing as well, and I have been afforded the luxury of using mint and basil in huge handfuls. I am going to try to keep these over the winter, since they are such a valuable addition to our meals.
So, today I have great plans to bake. A batch of matrimonial squares (date squares in some circles) tops the list, because they will keep well through the weekend. I will go grocery shopping tomorrow to pick up the odds and ends that I need to prepare our meals throughout the week. I am counting on the weather being good, and making most of our meat on the barbeque. I want to spend as much time with the family as I can. Time goes so quickly and I am sure our little one has grown leaps and bounds since we saw them last.
It is nice to stay home in the air conditioning and attend to a lot of jobs I have been putting off for far too long. I tackled the china cupboard in the kitchen last week, as well as cleaning out the pantry. Every register cover in the house has been cleaned, and every vent well vacuumed. Bit by bit, I am getting back on track after being "out of the saddle" for far too long!
There are a few purchases I have made in my life that I will never regret, and Tupperware ModularMates happens to be one of them. All I have to do is pull everything out and put them back like Lego blocks! I can always find things easily without frustration. Yep. It they are good things! Of course, using my label maker is just icing on the cake.
Simplify, simplify, simplify - but always keeping in mind the words of Albert Einstein, “as simple as possible, but no simpler.”
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Sunday, July 8, 2012
Menu Plan July 11 - July 17
Wednesday
11
Housekeeping Day
Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
Veggie
Tray and Dip
Bake Squares for coming week
Thursday 12
Chocolate cake with whipped cream frosting
Baked Rotini & Sauce
Tossed Salad
Friday 13
Baked Chicken with
Julia's Rice Salad
Green Cole Slaw
(Make Deviled Eggs for Pete)
Saturday
14
Salmon Steaks
& Quinoa Tabbouleh
Yoghurt cucumber dill sauce
Sunday 15
Home Made Pizza
&
Tossed
Salad
Monday 16
Hamburgers
Leftover Salads
Tuesday 17
Leftovers
Monday, July 2, 2012
While I am on a roll -
I thought it would be a good idea to keep track of household chores, so when the ladies come in, I will know what has, and has not been done from visit to vist. It will take me working every day for two weeks in between visits just to do the things that need my personal touch, and let them get on with the things I can not do! Many hands make light work, but it also could get confusing if I don't keep track of whose hands did what! And by publishing them here? I won't lose them in the next crash...and you KNOW there will always be a computer crash waiting to happen!
So here we go:
Clean behind stove, wall and floor
Stove exterior, stove top, knobs
Behind Refrigerator, underneath coils (vacuum)
Refrigerator wipe out inside, clean shelves, baskets and bins
Freezer, clean shelves, walls and basket
outside/top
clean micro, inside, outside, shelf
Small appliances, cannisters, utensil rack and holder
Backsplash
Clean tops of cabinets and replace waxed paper
Clean cupboard faces
Clean Pantry
Clean cupboard interiors
Cupboard drawers, clean and straighten
Under sink trash, big can
Dishwasher front
patio door track
vent hood, filter
light fixtures
Dust and straighten wire shelving
Clean china cupboard and contents
Wash baseboards
Wash floors, change scatter mat
Wash shower curtains
Clean trash cans, toilet brushes, plunger
straighten drawers and cabinets
Towels/ storage
clean medicine boxes in hall closet
throw away all expired and unused items
clean shower, tub, toilet, sink
scrub, finish floor
Clean register covers
Clean minis, window sill
Replace curtains register vents.
Tidy drawers
Polish furniture
Dust all surfaces of furniture with Pledge
Clean all items on furniture: lamps, alarm clock, mirror, jewellery boxes.
Lighting fixtures
Dust baseboards
Remake beds, turning mattress
Vacuum rooms thoroughly
Clean Venetian blinds, window ledges (office and family room)
Vacuum furniture
Wipe down leather chairs and desk
Dust
Vacuum all floors
Wipe down appliances, folding table
Neaten pantry items
Neaten cleaning items, clean open shelves
Vacuum floors
Wash tiles
So here we go:
KITCHEN
Self Clean oven, then wipe clean interior and racksClean behind stove, wall and floor
Stove exterior, stove top, knobs
Behind Refrigerator, underneath coils (vacuum)
Refrigerator wipe out inside, clean shelves, baskets and bins
Freezer, clean shelves, walls and basket
outside/top
clean micro, inside, outside, shelf
Small appliances, cannisters, utensil rack and holder
Backsplash
Clean tops of cabinets and replace waxed paper
Clean cupboard faces
Clean Pantry
Clean cupboard interiors
Cupboard drawers, clean and straighten
Under sink trash, big can
Dishwasher front
patio door track
vent hood, filter
light fixtures
Dust and straighten wire shelving
Clean china cupboard and contents
Wash baseboards
Wash floors, change scatter mat
Living/Dining Room/Front Entrance
Clean front & garage door thresholds
Clean front & garage doors inside and out
Clean mailbox, lighting fixtures
Straighten front hall closet, clean floor of closet
Clean mirrored doors
Remove and wash living room curtains
dust blinds, window sills
Wipe clean leather furniture
Dust lamps, shades
Polish coffee table and stereo table
Clean glass in Buffet shelves, straighten china cupboard drawers and lower shelves
Polish chairs and buffet
Vacuum - moving furniture out
Clean front & garage doors inside and out
Clean mailbox, lighting fixtures
Straighten front hall closet, clean floor of closet
Clean mirrored doors
Remove and wash living room curtains
dust blinds, window sills
Wipe clean leather furniture
Dust lamps, shades
Polish coffee table and stereo table
Clean glass in Buffet shelves, straighten china cupboard drawers and lower shelves
Polish chairs and buffet
Vacuum - moving furniture out
Bathrooms (3)
Wash shower curtains
Clean trash cans, toilet brushes, plunger
straighten drawers and cabinets
Towels/ storage
clean medicine boxes in hall closet
throw away all expired and unused items
clean shower, tub, toilet, sink
scrub, finish floor
Master Bedroom/Guest Room/My Office .
Wash curtains, mattress pads and dust ruffles.Clean register covers
Clean minis, window sill
Replace curtains register vents.
Tidy drawers
Polish furniture
Dust all surfaces of furniture with Pledge
Clean all items on furniture: lamps, alarm clock, mirror, jewellery boxes.
Lighting fixtures
Dust baseboards
Remake beds, turning mattress
Vacuum rooms thoroughly
Family Room /Laundry /Storage Room/ Rick’s Office
Clean Venetian blinds, window ledges (office and family room)Vacuum furniture
Wipe down leather chairs and desk
Dust
Vacuum all floors
Laundry and Storage
Empty Central vac bag, change furnace filterWipe down appliances, folding table
Neaten pantry items
Neaten cleaning items, clean open shelves
Vacuum floors
Wash tiles
I am getting there...
The planning is done...all I have to do now, is actually get up and do it!
Menu for this coming week:
Thursday 5
*make squares for kid’s visit
Tuesday 10
Menu for this coming week:
Wednesday
4
Oven Roasted Chicken Breast
Greek Salad
Thursday 5
Spaghetti & Corn Pasta
Friday 6
Haddock & Potatoes
Higgelty Piggelty Cream Sauce
potatoes
Saturday 7
Steak
& Caesar Salad
Sunday 8
leftovers
Monday 9
(9-12)
Fruit and cottage Cheese
*make squares for kid’s visit
Oatmeal peanut butter bars, Date Squares
Tuesday 10
Frig Gleanings
Salads to prepare for kid’s visit:
Sauerkraut, Julia’s Rice Salad, Bean Salad, Cole Slaw
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Being the technological genius that I am not...
I actually found two comments that I had not published! Thank you, thank you for spending time time to give me feedback...very good tips by the way. Chicken Chalet sauce in a packet? WHO KNEW????? And the velcro dot tip, well. Sheer genius.
So, now. What I have been doing with myself. General feeling of malais is finally coming to an end, and I have regained the will to live. I hate it when they mess with my meds...I was so useless for the last couple of months, that I actually didn't attempt to clean the closet once! Now though, I am back on track with the old pills, and the two months of my life were wasted for what? Ah well. I found out the other pills just didn't work either!
Today is the beginning of a brand new month. There have been a few happy changes. We have engaged a housekeeping company, that provide two maids for two hours twice a month. I find there are a few things that I can not do, and Rick is too tired to do, so it is best to get the two to do! Light fixtures, blinds, that sort of thing. Last Wednesday was the first visit, and these little women were all over the neglected bits of the kitchen. I thought I had been doing well keeping up, but they found every one of my dirty little secrets! Things lurking on the kickplate, and cooking goo up on the trim on top of the cupboards...all the sheets of waxed paper have been replaced on the top of the cupboards, and the trim scrubbed. A major accomplishment for me, since for some reason, climbing on counter tops to scrub has never been one of my long suits. Behind the stove, the wall sparkles. I think this is going to work out very well! This coming visit, we will focus on the living and dining room...that will include the front door threshold as well, something that has been bugging me of late!
All in good time...within a few visits, things should be back to normal. I am working in tandem throughout the weeks between visits, and have things like curtains and rugs to prepare for the cleaning day's finale.
This getting old really bites! It would be so much easier to do things myself, but where the heart is willing the body is weak.
I have made menu plans for the next three weeks. There are some gaps, but the most important week is done. The kids are coming down mid July, and I want to have the majority of preparation done so there will be lots of play time with the little one. Make ahead salads, and things roasted in the oven will take care of the majority of meals. Easy prep, and easy clean up is the order of the day. I am quite pleased with this particular week, because it includes treats!
Want a peek?
Thursday 12
Chocolate cake with whipped cream frosting
Friday 13
*chicken
for Lunch on Sunday
Tuesday 17
Leftovers
So, now. What I have been doing with myself. General feeling of malais is finally coming to an end, and I have regained the will to live. I hate it when they mess with my meds...I was so useless for the last couple of months, that I actually didn't attempt to clean the closet once! Now though, I am back on track with the old pills, and the two months of my life were wasted for what? Ah well. I found out the other pills just didn't work either!
Today is the beginning of a brand new month. There have been a few happy changes. We have engaged a housekeeping company, that provide two maids for two hours twice a month. I find there are a few things that I can not do, and Rick is too tired to do, so it is best to get the two to do! Light fixtures, blinds, that sort of thing. Last Wednesday was the first visit, and these little women were all over the neglected bits of the kitchen. I thought I had been doing well keeping up, but they found every one of my dirty little secrets! Things lurking on the kickplate, and cooking goo up on the trim on top of the cupboards...all the sheets of waxed paper have been replaced on the top of the cupboards, and the trim scrubbed. A major accomplishment for me, since for some reason, climbing on counter tops to scrub has never been one of my long suits. Behind the stove, the wall sparkles. I think this is going to work out very well! This coming visit, we will focus on the living and dining room...that will include the front door threshold as well, something that has been bugging me of late!
All in good time...within a few visits, things should be back to normal. I am working in tandem throughout the weeks between visits, and have things like curtains and rugs to prepare for the cleaning day's finale.
This getting old really bites! It would be so much easier to do things myself, but where the heart is willing the body is weak.
I have made menu plans for the next three weeks. There are some gaps, but the most important week is done. The kids are coming down mid July, and I want to have the majority of preparation done so there will be lots of play time with the little one. Make ahead salads, and things roasted in the oven will take care of the majority of meals. Easy prep, and easy clean up is the order of the day. I am quite pleased with this particular week, because it includes treats!
Want a peek?
Wednesday 11
(Housekeeper’s Visit)
Dinner for one: Veggie Tray and Dip
(The sad secret is, that I will just be lazy and munch the same thing for all meals through the day, maybe adding a cheese sandwich if I get the urge for something more solid!)
(things made the week before: date squares, peanut butter chocolate chews)
Thursday 12
Peter, Glenda & Giselle Arrive
Chocolate cake with whipped cream frosting
Red Wine Oven Roasted Beef & Vegetables
(*makes enough meat for lunch on Friday)
potatoes/veg
Friday 13
Baked Chicken with
Julia's rice salad
Cole Slaw
(Make Deviled Eggs for Pete)
*roast beef for lunch on Saturday
Saturday 14
Salmon Steaks
& Tabouleh
Yogurt cucumber sauce
*chicken
for Lunch on Sunday
Sunday 15
Home Made Pizza
&
Tossed Salad
Monday 16
All on our own, again.....sniff....
Hamburgers
Leftover Salads
Tuesday 17
Leftovers
The menu for the days between now and then is still up in the air. I imagine it will be much the same as every other week. Simple, simple, simple.
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