Saturday, June 18, 2011

How I {don't} Do It All


Click on the picture to read the captions.

While I do try to keep up with the housework, continually staying on top of it and keeping everything cleaned up, washed up, folded up, put up... does not put food in our freezers, pantry or bellies. So, many times I turn my focus to the garden instead of the housework.

I do enough to squeak by, and some days I really DO housework and get an area cleaned up like it should be. But for the sake of keepin' it real, this is what my kitchen looks like today. And yesterday. And maybe the day before. Except for the banana peels - they weren't there Thursday.

I know many of you look at my garden pictures and say "I don't know how you do it all". Well, here ya go! My secret: I don't.

Now, I know some of you would never be able to stand the clutter. Sometimes I can't either. Today at lunch I was frustrated because I had to shove some stuff around to make a clear spot to put together a sandwich. That means it's time to get the kitchen cleaned up again :) And I won't work in the garden this afternoon (I hope to at least go pick squash and zucchini this evening), but nothing is super pressing out there today.

This is a season of my life. One where my time is cheaper than our money. It's easier for me to let the housework fall behind than to try and squeeze produce out of our grocery budget for another year. I would make it work if I needed to, but I don't need to. And I'm enjoying my garden :) And not minding the clutter. Too badly. Most of the time.

Just another Real Housewife Reveal :)

6 comments:

Cate @ Liberal Simplicity said... [Reply to comment]

I love this post, Miriam! People ask me how I do it all, too, and I have the same answer: I don't! I make time for the things which are most important to me at any given time and leave the rest. Sometimes that means paying more attention to cleaning, sometimes that mean paying more attention to time with my family, sometimes that means paying more attention to yardwork or home repairs. Seasons of our lives change. Thanks for the reminder that behind the women we think are "doing it all," there's sometimes a very messy kitchen. :-) You should see mine right now!

Sally said... [Reply to comment]

You're a gem! It takes bravery to put up a post like this. I should even it out with a picture of my pathetic garden (I could barely keep from crying as I put up tomato cages today), but I don't think I'm brave enough. You're wise to know this is a season and to live at peace doing what is most important to you and your situation.

Amy said... [Reply to comment]

I am a fairly new follower of your blog. I just had to comment and let you know how much I loved the honesty of this post! It is so encouraging to see that others let things go sometimes to take care of needs that are more pressing. Especially timely for me this week as our garden is producing, we have been working on some remodeling projects... and VBS starts today!

Kristina said... [Reply to comment]

thank you, thank you, thank you!!! I dont feel so bad now that I know someone else had a cluttered kitchen!! There are days that I could spent the whole day just cleaning the kitchen and I am perfectly happy, but lately my mind has been on sewing and I just dont care about the kitchen!! I love that I have a dish washer, we at least have clean dishes! :)

Courtney said... [Reply to comment]

Thank you :) I needed that :)

Unknown said... [Reply to comment]

Hey, that's what my kitchen looks like right now. Only in white. My days right now are being filled with canning and there just isn't much time to do other things.

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