Housewife Confidential

Goodbye friend

Kat — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:00:36 +0000

I recall one of those tedious emails that went round offices back in the day when I worked in one. It was a musing on friends, ending in a call to send it on and return it to its sender to show that you had a lasting friendship. Misery guts that I am I don’t think I ever did so. Ho hum, what was I saying? Oh yes, this email thing talked about friends and one line stuck in my head: some people are in your life for a reason, some just for a season. That’s all I remember and I know at the time I felt odd about it. I’m the kind of person who, while I find it hard to express how I feel, cares deeply for her friends. I don’t like it when friendships end, when people move on. It cuts me right to my heart and takes me a long time to get over it. Sadly, I am a right pain in the arse and not easy to get on with. So more often than not, people have just had enough of my peculiar ways.

Recently it seems one of my friends has gone by the way side. As you can imagine I am very sad about this, it was with a heavy heart I accepted the inevitable. As I was thinking of what letting go of this meant for me, that reason/season line popped into my head. Today, as I cut a virtual connection, I thought not about the sadness of ending but about the season we had enjoyed together.

We became friends shortly after becoming mothers. I reached out to you and you responded. Gradually we spent more and more time together. Taking our daughters to baby classes, exchanging ideas, moaning about our day to day irritations. Our babies turned into toddlers, we conspired over our second pregnancies. We spent so many long days together and shared so much. Our tastes and interests seemed so similar. You knew my children better than some family and they loved you so much. I would have done anything for you and your children. You were interested and interesting, company which was always welcome. After my second child arrived you were one of the two people I told my blackest thoughts to. Thoughts I could only write down and never managed to banish. I thought you understood what it did to me.

Now as our children blossom and you bloom it seems our season has come to an end. If you had asked me where I saw this ending I would have told you we’d be trading granny tips and rolling our eyes at how our daughters raised their children. I did not realise that in the heat of the moment, what I said to you would spell the end. I am so sorry for this and wish it could be taken back. But even if it could be taken back I wonder if that would matter? Perhaps it was an inevitable catalyst which brought out resentments long seated.

Our season together was such a beautiful time in my life. I have never been more happy than I have been as a Mama and I treasure the times we shared. I wish light and love for you and your family. I will never stop hoping that we might find another season together some day.

Bat Watching

Kat — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 20:00:09 +0000

Last year we noticed that we had bats roosting in the small space above the children’s room. We counted about 20 at most emerging for the night’s feeding. It seemed to be a short lived roost and they moved on after a week or two. So when we heard the telltale chatter and saw bat poo on the back step we knew our temporary residents had returned for a second year. It would seem they liked it so much that they told their friends as we counted 80 emerging in the space of just half an hour. We have some friends who can identify bats but sadly they were away so we will have to wait until next to find out exactly who is roosting in our rafters. Let’s hope they don’t increase their numbers four fold again, I can’t imagine the mess from 320 bats!

Laundry Can Wait

Kat — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 17:00:51 +0000

{always time for}

Kat — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 17:00:47 +0000

I will always have time to read a book to you.

(Lines That Wiggle)

The WI and me

Kat — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 21:00:30 +0000

I have been meaning to tell you about my recent foray into the Women’s Institute. One day when I was messing about online I stumbled across the site for a new WI in our village. Set up with a younger outlook and after seeing one of the next meetings was to be an Indian cookery demonstration I signed up on a whim.

It was with some trepidation that I set of for the village hall for my first meeting. I had obviously left it a little late as the seats were all but full. I slotted myself in at the back and clung to my iPhone as if it were a life line. The plan for the evening was that the chef would demonstrate how to make pakoras, a chicken curry and a vegetable curry then hand out samples to the meeting. Crucially, the samples were to have been pre-cooked and kept warm in the hall oven. You have guessed of course that the chef cooked for 60 odd women from scratch. And it took a loooong time.

It took on a more amusing tone as the organisers became more and more flustered by the amount of time it was taking. Luckily my neighbour took pity on me and chatted as we watched and waited. The pakoras were ready quite quickly and absolutely delicious (I may have embarrassed myself by having thirds).

When the curry was finally ready I gobbled down a cup like I had been starved all night, well it was very difficult waiting… I’m not entirely sure what I made of the WI. It may have a younger membership than the existing WI but they were still a good decade my senior in most cases. I also kind of want the traditional crafts to be revitalised rather than cast aside completely. So I’m not sure what I’ll make of future meetings but I’m pretty sure these guys won’t be back.

If only I could show you their faces!

oh my

Kat — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 20:30:17 +0000

Nothing like new baby toes to make you all melty.

Mama Needs New Shoes

Kat — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 19:00:50 +0000

I have not bought a pair of shoes since I became a Mama three years ago and I’m sure I am not alone in this phenomenon. Of late, however, my small selection of shoes has been looking rather shabby. When I saw my buddy Gigi rocking a pair of what appeared to be Bensimons but were actually a third of the price I shamelessly stole her style. Twice.

Salad Days

Kat — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 15:56:07 +0000

Our enthusiasm for the garden is still strong since we began sorting it out in the Spring. We did go for a ready to plant garden from Rocket Gardens (although they were out of rocket so will have to plant my own!). They sent a sample garden to give to a friend, ours was very gratefully received and my friend is already talking about ordering her own next year so job done I’d say! An evening of planting and our raised beds were nearly full and a month or so down the line they are spilling over with luscious green yumminess. So now when I ask what they would like with supper there are cries of, ‘Salad, salad!’ and some very eager helpers when it comes to harvesting our bounty.

We spent some time making our own pasta for ravioli. I am slightly spoiled as I have a pasta making attachment on my Kitchen Aid so there was no real elbow work from me. My trusty helpers were there alongside me each standing on a stool (although I’m inclined to think Monty would be better off in a FunPod).

Although cooking with Mama is undoubtedly thrilling they wandered off to the garden before long. I spied them raiding the strawberries which is of course exactly what they are there for.

I’m figuring that all things considered there is more than enough room for the odd one of these on a hot day…

Solstice

Kat — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 21:00:56 +0000

I spent the longest day at a trade show which really does make it the longest day. When I got home Milla insisted we make our sun to celebrate the solstice. Milla informs me it looks more like a star and so got a short explanation on stars, suns and distance.

Belated Solstice blessings to you all x

Ribbon in her Hair

Kat — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 20:00:47 +0000

Recently Milla has started to search out ribbons from my sewing box. She has developed a liking for having a bow tied on her head. Today she picked out the ribbon Saints & Pinners use to wrap their yummy fabric in. It went very well with the dress I made for her birthday and I have a feeling the ribbon is going to be adopted as part of her ‘look’.

On the subject of Saints & Pinners they have chosen Milla’s dress to be featured on their Make This section which is such a great honour. Thank you!