As the title suggests, this is my farewell message to 2022. In some ways, it has been a very good year, in others, not so much.
January started with us facing an unknown future as Mr. Barr had been diagnosed with cancer back in November. The 'Big C' still strikes fear into the hearts of many and while we were confident the disease was caught at its early stages, we had lots of long talks about what do we do now. This led to us purchasing a condo so Mr. B. didn't have so much yard work to take care of.
February had Mr. B's treatments start. I don't know what hurt the most, the biopsy he had in November which determined he had cancer, or the doctors injecting him with the nanobeads the radiation needed to stick (in order to kill those nasty C cells all around). The radiation treatment itself, ten in total, was quick and painless. My poor boy... :(
March stormed in and not only did Mr. B have cancer treatments, but also a hernia operation. During all this, we put our house up for sale and were constantly on the go while it was active on the market, and people viewed the house. BTW - you can check out this YouTube video if you'd like to see where we lived.
House sold!
April, May, June. -- I hate packing and going through things to determine 'what will we keep', 'what will we give away'? Ugh.
July - we are in the new condo, without my wall unit oven and microwave. Delays due to Covid. I think I hate that phrase, don't you? Fortunately, we have our cooktop, slow cooker, and BBQ. Sounds good, right. Live like that for months on end. It begins to wear on you. Subway has become my friend.
September - heave a heartfelt sigh - my oven unit arrived and I can bake! Cook! Microwave! Wait. What? What do you mean the oven door latch is broken and I cannot use my shiny new oven?
October - the oven is fixed in time for Canadian Thanksgiving, which is ironic because I have a countertop roasting pan I use for the big bird. Still, I can go back to baking bread, cakes, and cookies, and have meatloaf whenever I want. Oh, in case you are wondering, during this month we discover the cancer is gone, but Mr. B. has to see his doctor every six months for the next two years, and then if still not there, every three. His hernia operation was also successful, so we truly were thankful this year.
November is a special month for us. Not only is it Mr. B's birthday month but also our anniversary month. This year we celebrated 39 years of wedded bliss. We often joke, when asked how many years we've been happily married, either one of us will reply with, "Happily? I'd say about five." Humour is what has kept us close, along with our love and friendship.
Last, but not least, December. Looking back over this year there were struggles, but that's life. What struck me more than once was how the hand of God was on our lives. In ways, we could not even imagine until we looked back and saw how it could have been worse, yet wasn't. How things 'fell' into place for us to find a condo, sell our home, beat cancer, and be content and happy.
We are blessed.
I wish you and yours a Happy New Year and a wonderful 2023.
I recently joined a group called 'The Vintage Housewife'. It's all about embracing the lifestyle associated with women from the 1950's era. For me, being a vintage housewife isn't about slaving in the kitchen or tottering beneath a heavy armload of laundry. It's about cultivating a lifestyle of grace, friendliness, manners, efficiency, style, and nurturing my family. These are all adjectives that come to mind when I think of a 1950's wife/mom. Years ago, I read a book by Emily Barnes called MORE HOURS IN YOUR DAY. I'd always been a fairly organized person, but for me, cleaning sometimes meant I shoved things behind closed doors to make the 'surface' look tidy. And the underlying mess hidden within the walls of my house mirrored the tangled mess my life had become.
As I read Mrs. Barnes' book, I began a method of gaining control. For me, I absolutely love making lists and Things To Do cards. I bought some index cards and a box to store them. I labeled the dividers into Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Quarterly, Bi-Annual, Annual, Storage, and Recipes. A specific task was written on the card and placed behind the appropriate label. Here is a sample of my Weekly Task Cards.
MONDAY
-Change bed linens
-Laundry
10:00 Moms Who Care Prayer Group
TUESDAY
-Ironing
1:00 Prayer with Kelly
WEDNESDAY
-vacuuming
-dusting
-wash floors
7:30 Home Fellowship
THURSDAY
-grocery shopping
-baking
-water plants
FRIDAY
-banking
-paperwork for business (submit orders)
SATURDAY
-menu plan
-make ahead meals
SUNDAY
The Lord's Day
Enjoy Fellowship
10:30 - 12:30 Church
12:30 - 2:30 Lunch!
My boys each had their own list of chores which had to be completed Saturday morning before they could go and play with their friends. Hubby took care of the outside of the house and any repairs needed. Obviously, when he was away on deployment the outside of the house fell to me, but I didn't mind because when he was home he often helped with my 'inside' chores. And he brought me coffee in bed, which he still does to this day if he's up before me. How I love that man!
Over the years the list has been revised. Most of our clothes don't require ironing, so that has become of thing of the past and I no longer sell Tupperware, so I don't have to submit orders. Please note: This does not preclude me from continuing to buy Tupperware. *snicker* I'm also retired so I'm home all the time, which makes it easy to get my household tasks done in a more leisurely fashion.
However, homemaking and the vintage lifestyle is so much more than cleaning and daily tasks. It about creating a safe haven for your family. A place where they know they can relax and find peace after a hard day of work or school. Homemaking is a loving act of service. I'm telling my family they have value in my life and they are important to me.
My last Healthier Lifestyle post was September 13, 2018 and looking back it seems as though my body was telling me something is not right. A few short weeks after this, during a routine Pap Test, my gynecologist discovered a mass near/on my uterus. This resulted in a flurry of tests and ultrasounds, ending up with a visit to a specialist. I had, at that time, an ovarian cyst that was 11cm x 14cm x 9cm. For my American friends that translates into 4.5 inches x 5.5 inches x 3.5 inches. Just think of a really big grapefruit.
Surgery was successful although I was in surgery longer than anticipated because they found some hardened masses behind the uterus. All tests have come back and there was no cancer in anything. Praise the Lord! My recovery was swift and I didn't have to take any painkillers. I must confess, I have an extremely high pain tolerance and I also knew God had me in the palm of His hands. I trust Him for everything.
So, this healthy eating is still on the go. I've lost close to twenty pounds since I started. My pants were falling off me and I had to break down and buy some clothes. Part of this lifestyle is making as much as I can in my own kitchen and my latest craze is home made bread.
I baked the loaf shown above this morning. The recipe is super easy and I'm using my Kitchen Aid mixer/dough hook to do the kneading. Believe it or not, that was hard for me to do because I've always made my bread by hand. Once I took the plunge I slapped my own wrist for waiting so long.
Here is the recipe with some brief instructions. As always, check your flour to water ratio as the dough is kneaded. Everybody has different temperatures/humidity and other factors in their kitchen that change how the dough comes together.
1.5 cups
warm water (almost hot to the touch) 110F
2 tsp
active dry yeast
2 Tbsp
sugar
4 cups
flour
2 Tbsp
softened butter
2 Tbsp
dried milk powder
1 tsp
salt
Blend (Level 1 on your mixer) all
of the above. You really want to
watch how this dough comes together. If the sides of the
bowl start coming clean, you know you have the right amount of flour. If it's sticky or
wet, or sticking to the bottom center, you have to add a bit more flour
Stop the mixer.
The dough
should be slightly sticky but you don't want it to
stick to your fingers
Set mixer to Level 2
and set your timer for five minutes.
Take dough out of
bowl and shape into a ball.
Coat the bowl with olive oil. Place the dough ball inside, making sure the dough ball is covered lightly with some of the olive oil.
Cover. Let rise for one
hour in a warm protected place (I put mine in the microwave).
Dough should double in size. Gently punch down to release any air bubbles.
DO NOT KNEAD THE DOUGH!!!
Roll it out of bowl. Shape and fit into
bread pan and let rise for about a half hour (2" above bread pan) While the dough rises in the bread pan, preheat oven to 350F
Bake 25 - 35 minutes
(depending on your oven - I baked mine for 30 minutes)
For a soft top -
spread butter on the crust while fresh (hot) from the oven.
Have you heard of this? Now, before you raise your suffragette bra in the air as a rallying cry, I'm not here to say women belong only in the kitchen and has no place in the boardroom. Women should go/do what makes them feel fulfilled.
The list below was taken from a 1950's Home Economics textbook intended for High School girls in preparation for married life. Apparently Snopes has discredited this claim, but I've read this in a few places and watched some YouTube programs (circa 1950's) which spout the same ideals. So... I think it's quite authentic.
Here is the list:
Have dinner ready: Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal — on time. This is a way of letting him know that you have been thinking about him, and are concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they come home and the prospects of a good meal are part of the warm welcome needed.
Prepare yourself: Take 15 minutes to rest so you will be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your makeup, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh looking. He has just been with a lot of work-weary people. Be a little gay and a little more interesting. His boring day may need a lift.
Clear away the clutter. Make one last trip through the main part of the house just before your husband arrives, gathering up school books, toys, paper, etc. Then run a dust cloth over the tables. Your husband will feel he has reached a haven of rest and order, and it will give you a lift, too.
Prepare the children: Take a few minutes to wash the children’s hands and faces if they are small, comb their hair, and if necessary, change their clothes. They are little treasures and he would like to see them playing the part.
Minimize the noise: At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of washer, dryer, dishwasher or vacuum. Try to encourage the children to be quiet. Be happy to see him. Greet him with a warm smile and be glad to see him.
Some Don’ts: Don’t greet him with problems or complaints. Don’t complain if he’s late for dinner. Count this as minor compared with what he might have gone through that day.
Make him comfortable: Have him lean back in a comfortable chair or suggest he lie down in the bedroom. Have a cool or warm drink ready for him. Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes. Speak in a low, soft, soothing and pleasant voice. Allow him to relax and unwind.
Listen to him: You may have a dozen things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the time. Let him talk first.
Make the evening his: Never complain if he does not take you out to dinner or to other places of entertainment; instead, try to understand his world of strain and pressure, his need to be home and relax.
The goal: Try to make your home a place of peace and order where your husband can relax.
No. 6 was my bug-a-boo early in our marriage.
My husband was with the Air Force, now retired and flying commercial aircraft. When the boys were little and he'd call home, I'd launch into a diatribe of what they'd done, how tired I was, etc., etc.. His frustration levels grew along with mine because, as a guy, he wanted to 'fix' my problems and couldn't. He was not physically there. He finally asked me to NOT tell him my issues. Not that he didn't care, but that he couldn't help. I learned early to bite my tongue and take care of things and keep things pleasant. He didn't need to worry about the family back home. Keep in mind, when in the military he was gone for weeks/months at a time.
Even now, with commercial aviation, he's away / out of country for days. When he arrives home, I greet him at the door with a smile and kiss (not because of the list above but because I want him to know I'm glad he's finally home). I DO offer him a drink. Sometimes it's just a coffee as he's flown all night and it's 0600 in the morning, and sometimes it's a nice cool glass of wine, and we enjoy it on the front porch together.
Do I HAVE to do all this? Short answer: No
Do I WANT to do all this? Short answer: Yes
I truly want my husband to know that I treasure him. He is my best friend, lover and loved one. He was with me before we had children and he is by my side now that they are married and gone. And the one thing I've noticed, after 37+ years of marriage.... The more I show him how much I love him, the more he shows me how much he loves me. It's a mutual admiration society in the Barr household.
There just might be something about those 1950's housewives and their quaint ways that strike a chord during these turbulent times.
Hubby and I don't "celebrate" Valentine's Day. It's just not what we do. I think it's because we say 'I love you' every day. The only exception being when he's away on a trip, and even then he usually FaceTime's me, or sends a text.
With hubby having served in the military and being away (anywhere from three weeks to months at at time, AND losing many, many friends during that time) we make sure to always say I love you. You truly do not know from one minute to the next if you will still walk this earth.
The biggest tragedy we faced was in 1985 when two Hercules crashed mid-air. We lost ten friends in a split second. The part that sent shivers running up and down my spine was the fact hubby was invited to join them. It was a three plane formation (rare for Herc's), but he'd just returned from a search and rescue mission and was bagged. All he wanted to do was go home and catch some zzzzz's. Other friends and family were not so lucky.
This is why every day is Valentine's day in our house and why I urge you to always hug someone you love. You just don't know...
I started buying Tupperware in the early '80's. Hubby was posted to Edmonton, Alberta and one of my neighbours who also lived in PMQ's (Private Married Quarters for those of you uninitiated in the military lifestyle) invited me to a Tupperware party.
Modular Mates had just been introduced by Tupperware, and I was hooked. Being that we moved every two or three years, MM's became my saving grace as 1) they kept my food fresh and I didn't have to throw out a ton of food prior to a move, and 2) they packed up really easy. I called them Lego for adults.
As you can see, I LOVE my Tupperware. These are actual photos from my own pantry, fridge and cupboards. There are tons more, but I truly don't have the space in this blog for everything. If I were to recommend ANY piece of Tupperware - it would be the Modular Mates. Organization and freshness are unparalleled with this produce.
When it comes to shopping, a quick glance tells me which containers need to be filled. Also, I never have organization problems because even if the container is empty (or near empty) its space is always secure. No more pushing around bags and boxes to make space.
In my fridge, I put as much as I can into Tupperware Fridge Smarts. Vegetables and fruits thrive in these container. I can't begin to tell you how many times I had to throw out strawberries and raspberries because they'd gone mushy. Our fridges are designed to remove any moisture from within and when you have a carton or bag of milk, you slowly lose your 'freshness' daily. Something as simple as transferring your milk, or juice to a handy slim line pitcher maintains freshness. You'll see that I have chocolate and regular milk in mine.
Next week I might show you my cooking products from Tupperware. Yes, I know. I have a problem. Deal with it.
What is better on a hot summer's day than homemade ice cream? I have a wonderful Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker, which I use regularly and store all my ice cream in my medium deep Freeze It, but sometimes I want something different and I've now found it.
I made Strawberry Ice Cream using my Tupperware Power Chef Premium System. Most videographers that I watched used the Tupperware Quick Chef Pro, but I don't have one (yet) so I improvised and it worked out quite well.
I started making the ice cream around 2:00 pm and by 2:20 I was finished. All that was left was for the ice cream to harden a bit so it could be scooped out, however if you love soft ice cream, then you can eat it right away. It did scoop out, but was a little slushy in the bowl.
Once supper was complete, I scooped out some ice cream and hubby enjoyed a refreshing taste of strawberries on a hot summer's eve.
First, let me state - I AM NOT A TUPPERWARE CONSULTANT. I don't sell Tupperware (although I did in the early '80's) but I use it and I'm kinda in love with a few of their gadgets. I thought I start posting pictures/ recipes / tips for how to use Tupperware for good... lol
Today, I'm posting pictures and a recipe of something I made today using my new Tupperware Microwave Pressure Cooker. This is only the second time using it - the first was a chicken teriyaki meal (YUM).
Do you have any plans? Romantic dinner? Movie night? Long soak in the tub with loads of bubbles and a good book?
Top Gun and I are watching horrible movies on TV. We're clicking on movies we've never seen before, or heard about and they are absolutely horrendous. We should have stuck with the tried and true. The ones we've seen a gazillion times, but still love.
Is there a movie you watch again and again without tiring of it? Care to share?
Mine is Pride and Prejudice - all versions (except the one with Greer Garson and Laurence Olivier) *shudder* Sad thing is - Top Gun won't watch this with me. I have to wait until he's away, (which is about four nights a week), before I can camp on the couch with my Doritos and watch Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth spar verbally.
8:12 am
Middle cat walks up my body, kneads my stomach for ten minutes, then settles down to sleep.
I am wide awake and can't move.
8:20 am
Middle cat still sleeping soundly, Eldest cat begins to chirp from en-suite bathroom for water. She will only drink running water.
Thinking of water makes me want to pee.
9:00 am
Have woken Middle cat, gave water to Eldest cat and performed all morning functions.
Hard to believe because I haven't had a coffee yet.
9:05 am
Stumble downstairs and make coffee
Middle and Youngest cat have gathered around my feet. They are starving and will die if not fed.
9:15 am
At my desk. Cats are fed, I have a nice hot coffee and am working on next great break-out novel.
11:30 am
Eldest cat chirps again. It has been three hours since she drank and is wasting away on my bathroom counter. I pick her up (she's quite arthritic), carry her downstairs and make sure she goes potty.
While there, I clean the litter. Middle and Youngest wait until I'm done, then proceed to use the clean litter.....
11:45 am
Make myself lunch. All three cats gather around my feet. They are starving and will die if not fed.
12:30 pm
At my desk. Cats are fed, I have a nice hot coffee and am still working on the next break-out novel.
3:00 pm
Frustrated because I can't win any games on my social app, I take my empty coffee cup downstairs.
Middle and Youngest cat gather around my feet. They are starving and will die if not fed.
5:30 pm
Top Gun is finally home from wherever he was flying to this time. Drops his suitcase, has a shower and then asks me if the cats have been fed. All three cats have gathered at his feet. They are starving and will die if not fed.
I love old movies, especially those from the 30's and 40's. Because special effects were not used as much you had to rely on dialogue, and good acting to carry the story. Movies with legendary couples: Hepburn and Tracy, Bogart and Bacall, Gable and Lombard. Absolute gems.
Youngest told me the other day he loves old movies too, but his idea for old is anything in the late 70's, early 80's. I hit him over the head.
Okay, I didn't really, but I wanted to....
My ultimate all-time favorite is 'Gone With the Wind', released in 1939. Captain Rhett Butler is the quintessential, alpha male who is not fooled by the young beauty, Katie 'Scarlet' O'Hara. He has her number the first minute he lays eyes on her, but that doesn't stop him from wanting her.
Scarlet is not the heroine you would find in today's love stories. She was manipulative, cunning and secretive, but when push came to shove, she showed she had a rod of steel beneath her soft, velvet gloves.
I also enjoy the parody Carol Burnett did called 'Went With the Wind'. When she came traipsing down the stairs, with a curtain rod over her shoulders, I laughed until I cried. And the line she delivered, "I saw it in the window and couldn't resist it.", has gone down as one of the great classics.
What's your go-to movie? Any favorites you watch over and over and over again? Like Pride and Prejudice? Steel Magnolias? Top Gun (had to throw that one in there because I loved this movie so much when it first came out)
....I don't really like dogs. I know, I know. Almost everyone I am acquainted with has one, or two and sometimes three, but...they're just not me. I AM a cat person, always have been. I broke down once under peer pressure, when I was twenty, and got a miniature husky. I called him Digger.
If you're my age, you would remember 'Digger the Dog' commercial theme song.
Digger the Dog
Digger he goes with you
When you explore
Just pull his leash
Go for a walk
He's your dog, for sure
I had Digger for almost two months, but we both knew it wouldn't work, so I found a nice family for him and stuck with cats.
My latest fur buddies are Bridgette, McKenzie and another we adopted when our son moved in, Beau. All are good kitties, but Jimminy Crickets - the food we go through. The fur. The litter box!
Time for a little 'Throwback Thursday' and take you back to 1988....
First, as a Canadian, we were pretty pumped about the Winter Olympics being held in Calgary. Our own Elizabeth Manning - Canada's Sweetheart - took silver, and who could forget the Iran-Contra affair. I remember watching Ollie North standing tall, giving his testimony and members of the panel not hiding their contempt of him. Who had the last laugh there? And who can forget the crash of the new Airbus doing a demonstration flight in France. Thank goodness they worked the bugs out of that one, because my own little Top Gun flies the Airbus, and I kind of like him in one piece, thank you very much.
But, my best memory is of my cousin's wedding. She got married on Saltspring Island, B.C., a quaint, pretty place. She had the photographer take a portrait of everyone who attended. Below is the Barr family, circa 1988. Those two little boys are all grown, with children of their own - but they'll always be 'my boys'.
This past weekend my eldest son married the love of his life. Instead of waxing poetic, I thought I'd post pictures and let them speak for themselves. Most of these photos were taken by family as we posed for the 'official' photographer.
I give you.... Mr. & Mrs. Barr
The man said, "This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother, and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh."
Genesis 2:23-24
Proud Mama Barr dancing with her grown-up baby boy.
This year Mother's Day will be bittersweet. My children and grandchildren will give me loads of hugs and kisses, and my husband has already given me a gift (a beautiful outdoor arrangement in a heart shaped planter). But this is the first year my mother will not hear me say, verbally, "Happy Mother's Day, Mum".
She passed away April 6 and this will be the first of firsts for me this year. The next is her birthday in May. I can't be too sad, she had a wonderful life and went to be with our Lord in her sleep.
In honor of my mother, Marjorie May McFadyen-Danielson, I wish you a blessed day. May your words always be kind. May you have a loved one by your side and may your home be filled with family and friends.
