Another blog, another day. So it is with almost everything in my life. I wish that life were more exciting, and yet, I thrive on routine and predictability. When I say exciting, I mean exciting in the way that it would be to, say, go to Paris, then Greece, then Vienna.... I'm looking for a life like this picture. Exciting color and a good dose of pattern. Nice. Summer is the time to be living the good life. It's relaxing to a fault. Too much relaxation and no structure make me go crazy. I am not one of those women who thrive because of my O.C.D. tendencies. I know, I know, my house would be cleaner, our clothes would be lined up more perfectly and all of my meals would be on time and whole grained and filled with nutritious items that a two year old would beg for. (Ha, ha, ha.)My life is not run by the clock, rather a predictable rhythm that varies from hour to hour, but not so much from day to day.
Ironically, the greatest happiness I have in my life are the very things that bring with them a sense of chaos and disorder. Those four little beings who seem to be the bearer of Murphy's Law, albeit with a smile and a hug. The day ends well when I can say that I handled whatever came my way with a normal voice. In other words, losing my temper or raising my voice out of sheer frustration are equal to the failing of a day, a day gone bad, strike that one out and bring in a fresh one 'cause I'm playing the denial game and it's goin' strong. Speaking to the kids with respect and love amount to more than scrubbing the floor (again) or cleaning the toilet (again) or wiping greasy fingerprints off of windows (yes, again). Summer tries my patience. It's hard for the kids, though they won't admit it, because they also thrive of predictability and routine.
I am also not one of the thousands of women out there who either care that this is ever read by anyone, or hope to make millions of dollars by sharing the wisdom I have gleaned over the years. I am not The Meanest Mom, or An Angel named Fie Fie. I am a person who has reached the greatest goal I have had in life four times over. They have names. E., J., L., and LR. LR is my baby and 13 months old. While I am in mourning over passing the days of having a baby in the house, I also feel like life is really beginning now. E. is going into second grade and since the last two years were spent at a Private Christian School in a somewhat sheltered-from-the-world existence, I am gearing up to have the birds and the bees talk with her. The Talk is complicated by the cringing fact that I will have to, eventually, answer and explain how homosexuals want to be married and have babies but they don't have those parts.
For the record, I am a firm advocate of equal rights, no matter what your sexual preference, color, religion etc. I want to hear more about the GLBT community pushing for Civil Union Laws, like those found in Europe. Civil Union Laws would give them rights to having insurance, hospital visitation, tax filing privileges etc. I don't believe that the constitution of the US needs to be revised by changing the definition of marriage. I hate that so much of the above issue is the GLBT community shoving their sexual pref. out into public, along with a demand that we shake our heads yes and give them a pat on the back telling them that whatever they are doing sexually is normal and okay. For instance, the "Kiss-In" that has been staged at various parts of the country. Is this really about equal rights, or is it about two guys right to bring each other to orgasm in public; something that wouldn't be tolerated by the public if they were straight either.
I called this blog Good Family Living because I plan on using it to make a record of the ways that I make my house a home while living on a school-teachers budget. Recipes, short-cuts and the option to vent once in a while about anything and everything will find a way onto these pages. While I would love to have the ability to jet off to far-off places, just for fun - I can't complain because the life I have, though simple and sometimes monotonous, is a good life. Just a reminder...my motivation for writing these things down is four-fold. Their names are E., J., L., and LR.
Last night I made my Grandma's recipe for Minestrone Soup as part of an effort to use up one of the half-dozen zucchini sitting on my counter. I was remembering the first time that I made this as a newly-wed. After asking my Mom for the recipe, I was somewhat put off by the ingredients. Plowing forward I followed the recipe and it was perfect! Just like I remembered. So if the addition of Bean with Bacon Soup makes you raise your eyebrows...trust me, it's good.
Maurine's Minestrone Soup
Mix the following ingredients in large stock pot.
12 cups of beef stock. (broth)
4 cups of water
Bring Liquid to a Boil then add:
1 lb. dry macaroni
2 cups sliced carrots
1 cup chopped green onions
1 teaspoon dried sweet basil
1 can Campbell's Bean with Bacon soup. undiluted
1 8oz. can tomato sauce
Boil for 15 minutes, then add
1 medium-large Zucchini sliced,then halved or quartered. (depending on preference and size of squash.
Boil for 15 more minutes.
Serve hot, topped with grated Parmesan Cheese.
