Last weekend, Jeff took the older kids white water rafting in West Virginia for 4 days with a big group of aunts, uncles and cousins. I stayed back with Patrick for an enjoyable quiet (but hot!) weekend filled with playing trains, planes and automobiles…and baseball. We had lots of one-on-one time, let me tell you. I took him to the toy store for a very special treat and thought I’d be buying more than a $5 sword and a replacement baseball glove. That’s it-he wasn’t interested in anything else. He falls asleep with both in his arms every night. He couldn’t be cuter if he tried. He can’t say his S’s…he replaces them with D’s. The other day I asked him a question and he said, “Dure, Mom.” He tries to sound old like his siblings and instead he sounds so darn adorable.
I also bought two Thomas the Train DVD’s because I had a little project going that might take up some of my time, and knew that I needed to buy myself an hour here or there.
I always seem to do projects when Jeff is gone. I don’t know why I do this. He teases me about it. I always buy something new too. I don’t know why I do that either, because we don’t have the type of relationship where I have to hide shopping bags, or sneak around with secret money. I think it’s just because I feel really motivated, like I have some time crunch, to get this goal (whatever the goal might be) to all completed before he walks in the door. Or in this case, when they walk in the door…all 5 of them.
This year it was the kitchen. A top to bottom scrub down, complete with a paint job. That was a snap decision…when I drove by Sherwin Williams they had a big sign out front with a 40% off all paint sale going on just that very weekend. I ended up giving the walls a fresh coat of paint (after Patrick was asleep-I worked till 1 in the a.m.), using my very favorite living room color. (By the way, there is this great new paint color blog called Favorite Paint Colors, that shows REAL rooms-not the fake decorating magazine kind-my living room color is on therehere.)
I touched up all the trim. I washed the windows inside and out. I cleaned the cabinets and made them look like new. I cleaned out the fridge and freezer so you couldn’t tell it had ever been used. I was a man on a mission except insert woman.
So what did I buy new? Shiny lovely pots and pans. Aren’t they beautiful? Nothing fancy. I think fancy is overrated anymore, don’t you? These are Grandma-old-fashioned Farberware I found at Kohls. Patrick helped me pick them out. I love them. I have opened the cabinets just to make sure they are still there several times. And to admire their shininess. Shininess is not overrated.
I also bought new rugs. I have always wanted nice wool rugs but couldn’t bite the bullet knowing it would probably cost me close to $1000. I found this incredible deal by chance at Overstock.com. I don’t even know how I came upon that site but 3 beautiful thick wool rugs that look just like the one in my foyer that I spent a bundle on, cost me under $200 for all. All of them together. Not each. Together. Sum total. Jackpot!
I did take a chance that the color wouldn’t be accurate, but I got lucky and it works perfect with the walls. I also wanted them to co-ordinate with our dog Sammy and as you can see below, they were spot on. (You know I’m kidding right? I just have to make sure.) Please don’t think, “Oh that poor dog, he looks so sad.” I swear to you he looks as pitiful as possible on purpose whenever I take his picture.
Anyways, it was so nice to have a little time with Patrick, to have time to start and complete a project, to feel some accomplishment- to have some of my effort last more than 3 minutes. You all know how that is, I know you do. I love that. I love being home, I love making my home look nice. I loved having a chance to miss my older kids and husband, and have them miss me. They had so much fun, and what they say is true-absence makes the heart grow fonder.
I love how content you were to stay at home with your little one when everyone else went off to have fun. Sometimes it is just so much more relaxing to stay at home, enjoy the quiet, and accomplish something. And- my mom has those exact pots and I love the little black knobs on top, they just seem so practical.
What a great, productive weekend! I'm with you. I also seem to get a heck of a lot more done whenever my hubby is away for the weekend (or even just the night). I don't mind him going away so much because I know I always have ome project or other to work on.
I love this post because… (1) I ALWAYS get more done when my husband is out of town and we joke about it all the time, and (2) I have spent this week deep-cleaning and re-organizing my kitchen top to bottom (although I am pregnant and it's 115 degrees here, no joke, so I am moving slower than you!), (3) I bought a new pan (which, honestly, probably cost more than your whole set, because I DO love really fancy cookware, but it has lasted me over 10 years and this is the first time I have added to the set that I got for our wedding back then), and (4) I just ordered a new rug for our living room from Overstock.
My 3 teenagers have gone to stay with my mother in France for FOUR weeks. At first I thought it would kill me…the longest I've spent away from them is 5 days. But then I realised it was a good time to spend quality time with my 3 year old (who, btw, pronounces his words just like Patrick), and to give me a chance to miss them too. Sometimes you just need that break don't you?
Wow! I am so impressed!! You got all that done in ONE WEEKEND?? WOW!
I have been thinking I need some yellow somewhere in our house…just not sure where yet 😉
Sarah you are amazing! You have totally motivated me to do the same here – I just need to have my husband and kids invite themselves to my in-laws for a month, oops-few days, to try and do the same here. I love having the time to myself to start AND finish a project! Right now it's going through the kitchen cabinets one by one. After that it's on to my knitting/crocheting/n'point stash -oyyy!
Also-a book for you: "A Slender Thread" by Katharine Davis – wonderful!
Your weekend sounds delightful to me. I also get into project mode when my husband is out of town. This usually immediately follows purchase mode. I've also done the pots and pans. Nothing like new pots and pans to motivate one to scrub the kitchen from top to bottom?! Still, I think you should get extra credit for painting it too!
that's so funny you posted this. My husband took my 2 oldest camping and rafting this weekend and I scurried around with the 2 little ones and got some of my projects that I have been saving on Pinterest finished. Its amazing what you can get done with 4 people out of the house (my brother also lives with us)
Wow, what a beautiful kitchen!
I do the same thing! When hubs is away I get all my projects finished. I don't know why that is…
So funny that all the comments are on how much we can get done without the husband home. I've decided that if mine had a long weekend away every two months – it would be perfect…horror of horrors, I know. But 14 years and 7 children later, I'm okay saying that I love feeding them cold cereal for dinner and they think I'm the greatest b/c of it…which simply would not fly with my hard-working meat-needing husband. And absence does make the heart grow fonder!
And it looks like you have at least 3 inches between your faucet and the wall behind. I despise the tight squeeze between mine and dream of a larger space to make cleaning a bit easier.
Shiny indeed! Excellent work woman.
Thanks also for the tip on Overstock. I am in need of a new rug and didn't think to check there.
Thank you for this post!! I have been needing to deep clean my kitchen ALL week, and have put it off. Today, right now I'm doing it!
Thanks for sharing! I can totally relate to doing projects when the family is gone. My husband is taking a one week golf trip soon and I'm chomping at the bit, it just me and my paintbrush. Your kitchen looks great and squeaky clean and of course that little munchkin of a doggie just looks like a bundle of cuddles.
You always have such wonderful ideas. If I had the time / money / patience, there is no telling how beautiful my home could be.
I love following your blog. Especially had a wonderful laugh yesterday at your "debt ceiling" post – isn't that the truth. Give it to a mom / home manager and she'll fix it right up!!
Thank you for all that you do.
Alison
http://www.AtTheEndOfTheDrive.blogspot.com
Nice, Sarah! Lovely sentiments, as always! Congrats on the great buys (including the sword and glove)! Kitchen looks brand new and I love your dog 🙂 (my cat always manages to look thoroughly disgusted, rather than cute, whenever I snap his picture)
My mother has been using that same set of Farberware for 45 years! When I was getting married the "in" thing was to register for Calphalon. I bucked the trend and got my big Farberware set for a steal with a coupon at Macy's. It's still as good as new 13 years later!
I have that exact set of pots that I got when I married 15 years ago. It is all I have ever owned or needed. Yeah for you!
Hi Sarah – I love this post! I love cleaning and I also apparently love reading about others cleaning, too. Who knew? I was wondering if you could share how you do your deep cleaning and what products you use? I hope this doesn't sound like a strange question (or you may have already written about that?), but I sometimes find myself wondering if I just push dirt around my house with the products I use. One of my friends cleans her home with just vinegar and water – and it's clean! Can you share your secrets if you have a chance? I think it's safe to say you know how to keep a clean house.
Thank you in advance!
My mom surprised me this weekend with two spankin' new skillets from Wal-Mart! 🙂 They are crazy royal blue (she let Calvin pick the color) but I am still in love, because I can make pancakes and scrambled eggs again.
My mom surprised me this weekend with two spankin' new skillets from Wal Mart! They are crazy royal blue (she let Calvin pick the color) but I'm still in love because they were free AND I can now make pancakes again!
I do the exact same thing! I love working on things start to finish through a few hours. Not worrying about a mess, fixing any meals, or any other distractions. Hubster gets very overwhelmed by projects like that!