The Front Porch Swing

[perchie.girl]

I used to try to jump in and help at my sisters when we visit. One sis loves to have me visit because we get so much done in her house while I am there, just chat and clean. Two of my other sisters, not really glad for the help.

I also had a friend sit me down in her kitchen and explained that she is just such a control freak that it drives her nuts to have anyone help her because she has to go back and check that everything is done just the way she has to have it. And I mean anyone, her own kids included. One Christmas, after everyone left in the evening, she found herself emptying the cupboards and washing all the dishes because she found one glass with a spot of lipstick on it. And she couldn't stop until everything in the cupboard was washed, dried and put away. Even the stuff she hadn't used in over 5 years.

So, I now ask if I can help. If they say no, then I ask if I can keep them company while they work.

I have a friend who has Waterford China that she inherited from one of her grandmas. Denise had some dinner guests and when it was time to clear the table one woman jumped right in and gave her a hand... By the time she was done she had chipped two plates and a cup. Now Denise is a very gracious woman and didnt point them out to her friend. But she was in tears after they left.

Needless to say she rarely brings out the good china after that.... After that she would always say Oh no dear I have it all under control You just come in and sit and chat with me and I will be done soon.

LOL my plates for get togethers are ALL disposable.... My goal is to have one cheap table cloth Gather all the edges together and Whoosh off to the trash.

deb "Whos only given two parties in her life outside of Birthday parties"

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote:
Thats why if I were able to build a house there would be a single great room with a kitchen in the Command position.... LOL. My house now has a mini great room. the kitchen is about 10 by 10 and the living room is 10 x 10 and the dining room is 10 x 10 and the entry way/entertainment area is 6 x 10... no walls between.... though I want to put in a bar prep area where I can sit and eat and just put my dish down on the counter next to the sink when I am done. I am all for the least steps possible....

deb

 

[perchie.girl]

I'm taking my cats to Wisconsin over the 4th of July. DH has to deal with them by himself until I can move there permanently. I will miss the fuzzy little boogers, but not so much during the summer months though. They are definitely my cats, if I am around he does not exist.

OHGawd I am thinkin of noting but cat puns right now.... forgive me...

. I love cats.... cant have em.

deb

 

[Triple Willow]

What about a friend that drops by for a visit then helps their self to washing your dishes without asking...? I wonder how they would feel if I cleaned their toilet when I drop by their house. lol

 

[Beekissed]

What about a friend that drops by for a visit then helps their self to washing your dishes without asking...? I wonder how they would feel if I cleaned their toilet when I drop by their house. lol

Yeah....that's a no go. Unless I'm deathly ill and they've stopped by to visit my deathbed, they can't go cleaning up my house when they drop by for a visit.

Though, I must say, I've visited homes where it was clear there wasn't a clean dish in the house and the dishes were piled high and I was just itching to start washing dishes and cleaning the kitchen...especially if it looked like the dishes were not freshly dirtied and that maybe this person was a tad overwhelmed in their lives and could maybe use some help. But....still...that's crossing some boundaries unless you are really, really, really good friends and know they would welcome the interference.

 

[Triple Willow]

Ditto

...did you see my kitchen yesterday or sumpin? LOL

 

[Triple Willow]

I am wanting to buy a vacuum sealer for freezing meat birds. Do you guys have any suggestions on what kind to buy?

 

[lazy gardener]

My mom used to walk into my house and grab the broom. When first married, i took it as a sign that she didn't think my house keeping was up to par. (it's not, but that's an other story!) Over time, i came to realize that that was her love language: Acts of service. If you want a good read, check out "The Five Love Languages" by Gary Chapman. It's a great read about understanding how folks perceive and express love.
Any how, I digress... After a while, i accepted it as her way of helping out. If she were alive today, i'd love to hand her my broom!

If I could design the perfect kitchen, it would be all stainless steel, with a huge drain in the middle of the floor, and a high pressure hose with optional soap. After a meal, i could have folks clear out, and just hose everything down, including the plates and silverware. Single step clean up! Oh, and i'd invite young children to stay for the clean up. They could get the hose as well, take care of the evening showers, and get their clothes clean at the same time. For that matter, the dog could stay if i had one!!

 

[jmoeller]

I am wanting to buy a vacuum sealer for freezing meat birds. Do you guys have any suggestions on what kind to buy?

I have your standard food saver vac sealer. It works well for regular size packages. I don't know about real large items. I love the attachment to vacuum seal canning jars. I can ( vacuum seal) lettuce salads all the time and they last for ever. The kids love it.

 

[Tomtommom]

I wish we had a picture of my mom. I was in the 4th grade at the time and living in Charlottesville, VA. Mom wanted to color her hair and Dad decided he would save money and help her do it at home. Hey, she agreed to it. Anyway, he somehow turned her hair green. From then on, she went to a beauty shop. My siblings and I loved that green hair!

Ken is a mechanical engineer and can handle mechanical engines, etc. very well. Just don't give him a pair of scissors. We hadn't been married very long when I was wanting to get my hair cut. He wanted to do it. I still had 'stars' in my eyes and told him 'yes'. He had me get in the shower and hang my head upside down. Now I am beginning to have doubts but too late to back. He was so proud of his handiwork. He still doesn't know that I went to the beauty shop the next day to get it straightened up. One side was longer than the other and there were places that the hair was very short. He can't understand why I won't let him cut my hair any more.

Lisa

I cut all the guys' hair. Clippers for hubby and step-son and scissors for Thomas. I just sit down with Thomas, grab a lock, cut off whatever seems right and move to another bit. No rhyme or reason to it.. he looks good with his messy 'do'. I know he would NEVER let someone in a salon touch him. Often I get 4-5 snips in and that's it for the day.. but I keep it looking decent.

I trim my own hair here and there if there's a spot where it keep tangling.. that usually means split ends. I'm really frugal and don't like much fuss so I get a $10 hair cut every two years or so

It looks fine in my opinion and that's what matters.

I have a friend who has Waterford China that she inherited from one of her grandmas. Denise had some dinner guests and when it was time to clear the table one woman jumped right in and gave her a hand... By the time she was done she had chipped two plates and a cup. Now Denise is a very gracious woman and didnt point them out to her friend. But she was in tears after they left.

Needless to say she rarely brings out the good china after that.... After that she would always say Oh no dear I have it all under control You just come in and sit and chat with me and I will be done soon.

LOL my plates for get togethers are ALL disposable.... My goal is to have one cheap table cloth Gather all the edges together and Whoosh off to the trash.

deb "Whos only given two parties in her life outside of Birthday parties"

Aww, I would have been upset too, something like that is so important. Then again, not sure if I would use such precious china.

We have plates with a million and one chips haha Got some good china too, boxed up in my shed... we'll use it once my kitchen gets redone.. eventually.

Thats why if I were able to build a house there would be a single great room with a kitchen in the Command position.... LOL. My house now has a mini great room. the kitchen is about 10 by 10 and the living room is 10 x 10 and the dining room is 10 x 10 and the entry way/entertainment area is 6 x 10... no walls between.... though I want to put in a bar prep area where I can sit and eat and just put my dish down on the counter next to the sink when I am done. I am all for the least steps possible....

deb

I would live in my kitchen! Now it's too small for more than two people in there... I love being in the kitchen. Old pic.. there's a dryer now where that table is

It's pretty cramped.

My mom used to walk into my house and grab the broom. When first married, i took it as a sign that she didn't think my house keeping was up to par. (it's not, but that's an other story!) Over time, i came to realize that that was her love language: Acts of service. If you want a good read, check out "The Five Love Languages" by Gary Chapman. It's a great read about understanding how folks perceive and express love.
Any how, I digress... After a while, i accepted it as her way of helping out. If she were alive today, i'd love to hand her my broom!

If I could design the perfect kitchen, it would be all stainless steel, with a huge drain in the middle of the floor, and a high pressure hose with optional soap. After a meal, i could have folks clear out, and just hose everything down, including the plates and silverware. Single step clean up! Oh, and i'd invite young children to stay for the clean up. They could get the hose as well, take care of the evening showers, and get their clothes clean at the same time. For that matter, the dog could stay if i had one!!

Interesting about those love languages, I want to read that.

I've worked in restaurant kitchens, so has hubby.... We totally have been tempted to go with utility!

Three compartment sink and everything.

But honestly, I will settle for a kitchen with a breakfast nook and a usable pantry. Oh, and cabinets that can close!