Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Prairie Grl Stuck

I must admit, I am in panic mode.  This is my last week before I head back to my teaching gig.  While I have gotten a lot accomplished this summer, I haven't gotten a lot accomplished.

Accomplished:  
Clean grout.   See "Prairie Eydie Gets Her Turn
Interviewing Prairie Sherry", August 13.

Actually, this is just what we completed at the cabin.
There is much, much more...


Not Accomplished:







For those who know me well, this is entirely out of character.  I am the woman who spends the first two weeks of every summer cleaning the house from top to bottom.  This includes removing floor and wall registers and washing them.  This summer was different. Today I looked under the kitchen sink and decided that I really should probably investigate that strange smell that has been growing since June...then I forgot about it.  

I am in an uncomfortable place.  I sort tomatoes today and Friday. On Saturday I work at the farmers' market.  This leaves me Thursday and Sunday to get this house in order--this life in order. This probably won't happen.  I have been busily scheduling social events for those days. I have to see The Butler with a friend.  I really must have that final cup of coffee at that little coffee house I discovered.  I am certain that Eydie and I need one more working lunch at Mickey's.  

The only other time I recall going into a school year in this state was the summer I fell in love.  Love makes a messy house seem OK.   Actually love made lots of messes seem OK, and I am not talking about something as minor as a fungus growing under the sink. I am not feeling so OK.

Another reason why I am feeling a little more than stuck is that I have a daughter leaving for her first year in college.  I have been through the kid-in-college thing, but the first one lived at home as she entered the hallowed halls of upper academia.  This is my first time packing up a sweet young thing to throw her out into the big, bad world.  Rather than clean, I find myself roaming through Target buying her energy bars, and waste baskets, and laundry soap.  And I am thinking that perhaps I should run out and buy some condoms. Condoms would be a very good idea.  That idea popped into my head at 2 AM and wouldn't leave. These are the thoughts that keep me up at night and hold my vacuum hostage during the day.

I leave for the farm in just two hours.  I suppose I could investigate that smell before I leave, but I might uncover more than I can handle.  I think I may have learned something from the grout fiasco. Sometimes ignorance is bliss.

Here is a good procrastination recipe.  Make these instead of cleaning a cupboard or sorting through that pile of papers.    

Different-But-Really-Good Lemon Bars

1 cup butter 
1 cup sugar
2 cups flour 
1 1/4 cup old fashioned oatmeal

Cream the butter and sugar.  Add the flour and oatmeal.  The results will be crumbly.  Pat 2/3's into a greased 9X13 pan.  Set aside the rest.

Juice of 3 lemons
Zest of 2 lemons
Zest of 1 orange  
1 (14 oz)  can of sweetened condensed milk.  

Combine all and pour over crust.  Top with remaining crumbs. Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes until golden.  Slice into squares when cool.

Prairie Sherry

2 comments:

  1. Welcome to my world! I found it wasn't really a bad place once once I figured out that I deserved a break--now I'm most always on break! ;)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Intelligent and wise woman, this is why I count you among my friends.

    ReplyDelete