Porch Chatting - of Kitchens, Clutter and the Fall

I'm so glad to be able to join you again, Patrice. These past couple of weeks have been really hectic, so it's nice for me to kick off my shoes, and have a swing and a chat on your porch. I'm busy with some translation work just now, and that's why my blog posts have been less frequent over the past while. How come deadlines can seem years away one month, and then, all of a sudden, they're on top of you? Ah, such is life, I guess.


Anyway, on to your questions, Patrice.




1. Would you rather cook or clean house?


Oh, cook, any day! Our kitchen actually seldom stops cooking. The upside of that is that it feels the way a family kitchen ought to feel; but the downside is that our kitchen never, ever looks tidy. The worktop is always full. It may have baking ingredients, bowls and whisks on it, whilst at the same time holding chopping boards and vegetables, waiting to be made into soup. 


And then there are books because so much of our homeschooling takes place at the kitchen table. And papers, because there may be unopened, or unanswered mail; newspapers that are partly read, but being kept because 'I want to read that interesting article later' (later may mean a whole week away, and by then, my eye may have taken notice of another half-dozen 'interesting articles', all waiting to be read later).


And then there may be bits and bobs that the Builder has left on my worktop. Bits of tools that may, or may not, be valuable. Either way, I cannot throw them out, lest I chuck away 'twenty quids worth' of thing. And so I have to leave them, often buried under the aforementioned newspapers, afraid to move them to a 'safer place' for fear of never finding them again.


One day, I say to myself. One day, this will be tidy. I will actually clear up after a meal, and it will be tidy for a whole few hours until the next meal begins. And then I realise that this day will probably come when my kids have flown the nest. And then I quickly place that thought well and truly in the recesses of my mind, and I suddenly grow to love my clutter.


Er, Patrice.... What was the question again?


Oh yes, cook or clean? Yep, answer is cook. 




2. Who do you resemble in your family?


Oh dear. I am so like my Mum. I actually have some of Dad's characteristics too (quite a number, really), but I am growing more and more like my Mum. I even catch myself with certain expressions, and I realise, 'Anne, that was completely Mum'. It's okay until the Builder has to live with the fact that his wife is turning into his mother-in-law. These are not pleasant thoughts for the poor guy...


I have my Mum's height (okay, lack of height) and her mannerisms. But many of my interests would be more like my Dad's - history, politics, football. 


Catherine and I were in town a few weeks ago, and we met a couple who Mum and Dad have known since they were young. Catherine had never met them, and I wasn't sure whether they'd recognize me - I hadn't seen them for years and years. When I spoke to the lady, I said, 'Do you remember me?'. 


'Oh, Anne, yes of course. And even if we didn't, you're as like your mother!'. She then turned to look at Catherine and said, 'This is definitely your daughter. She's as like your Mum too'.


I almost had to pick Catherine off the ground. She can just about live with being told she's like her Mum constantly. But like her Granny! To 16 year olds, grannies are old. OLD! How can I be like Granny?!


Never mind, she didn't get our height, so she can claim something from her Daddy.




3. Have you tried e-books yet?


No, I haven't. I guess I will sometime, but I cannot imagine loving them like I love books. Reading off a screen is fine for short articles, or stories, but a whole book? Mmmm... that doesn't appeal to me, to be honest.


4. Do you collect anything?


You mean apart from clutter? Nope.


5. What's your favourite Fall tradition?


Well, we don't do the Fall like you do it across the Pond. I would love it if we did, but as you know, our seasons just don't behave like yours do. We have no 'fall colours' around us, so it just doesn't have the same feel to it for us. However, one of the homeschooling families get us altogether for Reformation Day every October. You can read about last year's day here. That's a great day for us, and there is so much work put into the day. Us mums normally learn more than the kids!

Here's a photo of our cast from last year.

We also have our Bonfire Night in November. Again, you can read about last year's here.

Just one of the photos from last year's Bonfire post

Although these days have nothing to do with the Fall, as such, they do fall in our Autumn, so maybe they can count. 


It would be absolutely wonderful to be in Canada or in some of your states for the Fall. One day, Builder... maybe one day!