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Madly spinning electric meter
Much laundry being washed and dried today. I am using the dryer for the first time since the Thanksgiving flood. Had I planned things out a little better, I could have washed and dried without the dryer, but today is here and the lad needs clean clothes to take to his Dad’s house for the next couple of days. My electric meter reading tomorrow morning is going to be ghastly. Nevertheless, I readily admit that the convenience of a dryer is really, really nice once in a while. It sort of feels like living in the lap of luxury for a day. That bears thinking about.
This morning the lad and I cleaned house. And sorted the recycling and dragged trash bags outside—the ones from our room swapping exercise. He washed the dishes from his party last night. And we dragged in a goodly supply of wood. I think that just about takes care of necessary chores. It was very nice having his help, though he did say that half the work was a result of his being here. He’s not into rinsing a cup or glass out and reusing it. Nor is he much for rinsing a dish before the food dries to it. When one does the dishes by hand a few times, one begins to appreciate what rinsing a cup, mug, or dish out means in terms of future work. Washing the dishes by hand this afternoon was a learning experience for him, I do believe.
Even though we hustled right along with the chores, it was fun. We had a good time. I’m soaking these moments up, naturally. They’ll be over for a while after next weekend. He will be at his Dad’s house until Wednesday, so that leaves two more days here at home before I take him back to school. Most of that time will involve more laundry and packing. He’s beginning to look forward to it and, in some regards, so am I. I love having him home, but my normal routine has been upended for the last month and a half. I’m sure that I’ll wander around the house acutely feeling the absence of his presence for a couple of days, but that does seem to pass much more quickly each time he leaves. It surely has been a terrific vacation, though. Can’t believe it is nearly gone.
I can’t believe it is almost over either. It always seem that something (me being sick,back etc...) keeps me from being able to see him on winter break!
My boys would never rinse a glass or dish. Now that they’ve moved out and have to care for themselves, they come home and do rinse dishes, telling us how helpful that is and acting as though they are the first person ever to have thought of doing such a thing.
How does your wood pile stack up?
http://www.alastairheseltine.com/installations.htm
When one does the dishes by hand a few times, one begins to appreciate what rinsing a cup, mug, or dish out means in terms of future work.
Even when using a dishwasher. My sister has a belief (rooted in magic, I think) that a dishwasher will remove all food from plates so there’s no need to rinse before putting them into the machine.
Well, maybe her dishwasher. Not mine. When we have a holiday meal over here and she or her kids clean up, I have to go back, pull the plates out, and rinse before I turn the thing on, otherwise I get a mess as a result.
Time does fly, J. If you are up to it, we still have Thursday and Friday left. It would be a nice diversion to have you pop through the door because I figure by that time my stomach will feel like it’s full of lead weights. Always seem to happen the day or two before he leaves.
Pablo, nothing teaches like experience. Or as my mother used to say, “You’d make things so much easier for yourself if you’d listen to advice. But no, you have to learn things the hard way.” ;)
Linkmeister, my dishwasher seems able to handle the stuck on food nicely, too. However, sometimes the food grinder doesn’t do a very good job. It only takes once to have a chunk of something get stuck in the outflow hose to learn the value of rinsing the dishes a bit before loading the dishwasher. Last year I had to have the dishwasher disconnected and pulled out of the cabinet and turned upside down to get a little wad out of the hose. Not something I’d want to do more than once. I rinse now on the occasions when I use the dishwasher. Oh, and all labels come off jars and cans before washing, too. That seems like common sense, but it escaped me for a good long time. As my mother used to tell me.... 
Margaret...that is gorgeous! Absolutely beautiful. But who would hire an installation like that if they intended to burn the wood? That would seem so tragic! But it’s inspiring. My neighbors would love me if my woodpile looked like that!!
There are a few other installations shown, too. A couple of them might actually be doable. It would be kind of fun to try. If I had the energy left to play around with it after stacking the rest of the wood.
Pablo, I see one installation that would be just perfect for Lake Marguerite! It’s under the link that Margaret posted. Gosh, I could so see something like that.