Ann Leach

Sometimes when people say they're spending a day at home, it sounds like they've received a prison sentence.  For me, I quite enjoy it.  It's relaxing.  I get to work on various projects.  Dare I say it?  It's a perfect day for me.  Today's day included doing creative activities like - Emptying a powdered milk tin can and making plans to reuse it as a yarn tin.  I can keep the ball I am currently working from in it so I'm neither chasing it across the floor as it rolls away nor untangling it from the other balls I've set aside for the project.  Win! Baking up some homemade granola - oatmeal, nuts, butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon.  Yum! Sewing a couple of pillowcases a client has ordered. The more I am getting back into a sewing groove, the more and more I am enjoying it!  Fun! Dusting off an old and tasty recipe that I had forgotten I have - Rotel Chicken Spaghetti.  Yum! Baking bread - I used the last pi...

A small voice calls out of the darkness... "Mom." I come rushing up out of my own darkness, formulate an answer, and call back.. "Yes." The small voice sends out a plea... "I can't find my blanket." I send reassurance... "I'm coming." I tell myself - don't go back to sleep - and then fumble with the covers as I sit up on the side of the bed and reach for my glasses. Not that they will help much in the pitch black of the house at this pre-dawn hour, but I put them on anyway. Walk gently around the bed being careful not to bump into it and wake the sleeping husband. And then count the steps before reaching the brick step.  There it is.  Two steps up and across to the bedroom door. No way around it.  The light has to be turned on. "Close your eyes." I say to the small person, owner of the small voice. *click* No worries. She's still asleep. All the blankets are on the floor. I arrange all the blankets back over her.  Tuck...

So I was plodding along, going about my daily routines and life was pretty good.  Then suddenly wham!  By adding one new activity to my daily routines, swimming at the Y, all my routines are thrown way out of whack and I can't keep up with even the simple things. What is the best day for grocery shopping?  What about the bank? the laundromat? the fabric store? I know.  You're looking at this and thinking, what's the big deal?  It's just swimming at the Y.  Just go do it. Well, it's not that easy.  At least not for me.  Scheduling is hard for me. Even just changing an already established schedule is hard. It's really really hard!! And I'll tell ya why.  It's a big deal because of the long-term side effects of TBI* from a car wreck that happened 28 years ago!! So, why share this? It's because if you know someone who had a head injury at any point in their lifetime, and at times they struggle with what seem to you to be the simplest of t...

Rise and Shine Made breakfast and packed a lunch for husband Dropped husband at work and laundry at the laundromat.  Made a deposit at the bank, then picked up the laundry.  Went to the Y for a swim while daughter played in the children's room. Home for lunch, some down time involving Gilmore Girls and crochet. A quiet afternoon of napping, reading, and playing Clue.  Chatted with a client about a new project. Picked up husband.  Made supper.  Read story to daughter and tucked her into bed.  And now some end of the day down time- crochet and Numb3rs. It's 8:10pm.  I could go to bed now. Completed cotton dish cloths and a nylon scrubbie Today's meals: Breakfast:  toast with pb and a glass of milk Lunch: tuna salad and crackers, glass of milk Supper:  potato soup, tossed salad Snack:  apple & pb Day 1 of swimming:  8 laps in 20 minutes

It's the beginning of the month and so the perfect time for refocusing myself to a meal planning.  Are you a meal planner?  Do you tend to make the same comfort foods?  Or do you enjoy new foods for every meal? I like the simplicity of making the same foods over and over again.  I know it sounds boring, but it works for me.  And I do change up the seasonings and add in new recipes so I think it's a good mix. As a homemaker, I think meal planning (and preparing) is my biggest challenge.  Off-the-cuff cooking rarely works for me, so a plan is a must.  But sitting down and writing out a plan is just-so-hard!  (I know.  Poor me, right?) So, here we go for November: Breakfast cocoa & toast & fruit fruit & yogurt (homemade) & granola (homemade) BLT & egg & cheese (stole this one from Bob Evans) cold cereal or granola & milk & fruit Light meal egg salad sandwich tuna salad sandwich leftovers ham & cheese sandwic...

It's nice to have a project at hand when I have a few minutes to sit and relax.  For me, it's crochet, at least right now.  Here are some of the projects I've completed recently. Dishcloths Infinity scarf Trivet Doll's blanket Market bag I love my crochet hobby and cash business.  It's relaxing and enjoyable to me. Thanks! Today, I am thankful for my supportive and understanding husband.