Saturday, January 9, 2010

Life in My World—January

January is usually known as the fearful month of diets, budgets, organizing, and resolutions. Not so in my world—January is for relaxing and enjoying. January is the month of low-expectations. Cars, garages, and windows are supposed to be dirty. There are no yard or garden duties, tax-deadlines, gift-giving holidays, or flies in January. January is made for frugal luxuries like wearing sweaters, reading books, taking naps, cooking stew, taking an institute class, and fun projects. Here is what is up this week:

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1. Grinding wheat. We have a few dinosaurs in our kitchen. One of them is Grandma’s wheat grinder and the other is a 1970-something-microwave (that pancake turner on top of the microwave is part of it. The door won’t close without it). I like clear cupboards, so the wheat grinder stays a few months and then when it drives me nuts, I put it away and buy wheat flour for awhile. Then I pull it back out and use it again. It’s out this week. Usually I make white bread for Calvin and wheat bread for me. We compromised a few weeks ago and are eating half and half until he’s fully converted.


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This morning I made five loaves of bread, a batch of cracker jacks, and pigs in a blanket.

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2. Dusting. Someone missed.


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3. Listening. Ande gave me this Susan Boyle CD for Christmas. I love the way Miss Boyle sings from so many genres. “Amazing Grace,” “How Great Thou Art,” “Daydream Believer,” "I Dreamed a Dream"--they're all beautiful.




4. Going. Tonight Jon Schmidt is giving a concert. I took Calvin and the kids to a piano concert a loooong time ago and none of them have forgotten it. It really was bad. Really bad. So when I asked Calvin if he wanted to go to this concert with me he said, “Not only no, but h- - - - no.” I promised him Jon Schmidt is completely different from the other pianist we went to and even played this for him:





I waited a few more days and asked him again. Same answer. I called my friend, Lynn, and she is going with me. I’m excited and am even taking a nap this afternoon so I won’t miss any of it.



5. Laundry. Our washer died. Completely. I feel so blessed, however. We knew it was going and, acknowledging that it might be a bit selfish, prayed that the washer would keep working while everyone was here. No lie. It died on THE LAST LOAD of the vacation. It was Ande’s. She had to hand wring her Levis, but everyone else’s laundry was done. We got a new one this week. Calvin had to lay a new floor for it and it looks/works so nice. Our dishwasher also broke, but with just Calvin and me I don’t mind washing the dishes. A leg broke off our table, too. For now we've propped it up with a stool.


Do you enjoy January?
Any appliances die at your house recently?
Would you have liked to go to the concert?

15 comments:

Tiffany Fackrell said...

I love january because it starts out with my birthday on the first, and I love birthdays!! Also we had to get a new fridge right before christmas. it sorta stunk because they are expensive, but I really do like it!! Also I would LOVE that concert. David took me to a Jim Brickman concert after we were engaged and I LOVED it!! Hopefully he wasn't your bad experience because I LOVE him and own a lot of his CD's!!!

Enjoy the concert!

Carolyn said...

I love (!)Jon Schmidt concerts. There was one here on campus my freshman year and I went. I wasn't very excited about it because I went to a piano concert once when I was younger and fell asleep from boredom. It was bad. But, his was entertaining the entire time!

Unknown said...

January is a two-faced month for me. I usually look forward to relaxing, but forget about art show applications, the beginnings of taxes, and the ever-present desire to change my eating habits. I'm getting a better start this year, though. None of the above have changed, but somehow my attitude toward them is more laid-back. We'll see how long it lasts . . .

Alisa said...

I try and enjoy January. I really do. But its so hard without sunshine. And its just so cold.

I would LOVE to have gone to the concert. I hope for a full report!

Our dishwasher is going out. It washes the dishes some of the time. And the knob broke so we have to pull pliers out and turn it just so, to get it to turn on. I think that handwashing is cleaning them much better. The drinking glasses especially. But it does take a while to get it done for a family of 6. It is nice when there is help. Not so nice when I am the one left to do them.

I love your story about your wheat grinder and how you want it put away every now and then.

Susan said...

January would be immensely better is a) it wasn't so cold, and b) the sun was out a little more.

And that's all I have to say about that.

Jill said...

I think your take on January is absolutely brilliant and should be published worldwide to help everyone who succumbs to the post-Christmas let down and gray winter blahs in January! I may need to borrow your first paragraph and quote you on my blog because I think your views here are so inspiring!

I'm so glad your washer made it to the last load while the kids were all home, what a blessing. It must be super nice to have a huge new one though too, I'd be giddy.

Lucy said...

Your January attitude is so refreshing! I love the idea of letting cars be dirty and of course I love the thought of devoting the month to reading books:)

With all your broken (and old) appliances, you remind me of my mother-in-law, who I adore. I can't help but wonder what magic you saints are made of. I don't think I could stand for it. If I'm going to be doing laundry, I'm going to have a nice washer. Same with a dishwasher. Same with pretty much anything that should, and does, make my menial tasks better. But, I'll have to re-think that again as I've pretty much accepted that if I can model your behavior, I'll have it made:)

Deidra said...

The Louvre has dust bunnies, too. I took a picture of them yesterday.

michelle said...

I hate it when appliances die. They just don't last like they used to. And it's not like we have a fund for new appliances, so it's never a convenient time. I like your take on it, though, at least the timing was good!

I totally would have wanted to go to the concert with you!

I can't wait to try out my new wheat grinder. It is huge, however, so I'm still not sure where to store it...

I enjoy January. I like new beginnings, relaxing, and reading books!!

Haley Krumblis said...
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Haley Krumblis said...

I would have to say January is not my favorite, but I am optimistic that when we move from ALASKA I will LOVE January! Currently it is -35....I know on days like this we are suppose to be thankful and happily head to church, but oh how these days are the hardest! I do love the sweats, book, and HOT baths in January......

tina said...

I love your January. I am really not into "resolutions" although I feel like I should be - I just don't like to do what everyone else is doing!

Julie said...

Becka has been playing Jon Schmidt songs for awhile and they are BEAUTIFUL! I would have happily gone to the concert with you! Lynn was very lucky I wasn't there! I hope it was wonderful! I'm also glad for your new washer. You needed/deserved that. Enjoy! There's nothing like a new washer that holds a zillion towels to make your day brighter.

Becky said...

I love January and I loved everything about this post...I smiled through it all! Wish I had time to comment on all the other posts I've missed but the baby's fussing upstairs....

Mindy said...

Jane, our washing machine went out too! In fact, we bought the same machine. Well, yours has a few more bells and whistles. OUrs died after our company left as well. This one is SO quiet, though, I love it!