Taking a page from the Christmas Book

[cybermathwitch]

To some degree or another, it is still hardwired into our cultural DNA that this time of year (Fall) is a time for preparing for winter, nesting, and community. 

 

Over the summer, the Housecleaning Co-Op some of us did was, overall, a resounding success... but with changing schedules, stress-levels, job requirements and daylight to nighttime ratio, it's not a workable solution right now.  That said, the idea for something a little more flexible, organic, and less specific came to mind... based loosely on the "Christmas Wish Lists" that float around blogs during the holidays.

 

We all have different skill sets.  We all have different things we're good at.  Also, one man's trash is another man's treasure, so to speak.  So here's the idea.  Post a list of your Needs.  It can be anything from ideas to assistance to items to basic company.  Then, peruse everyone else's blogs, and see if they've posted a Need that you may be able to fulfill.  No pressure, no requirements - just assistance if it's possible.  Feel free to repost and refine your lists as you need to throughout the fall and keep checking on other people's lists. 

 

To start:

 

1. I Need to have more shelves and storage space arranged.  I don't know what supplies I'll need or how to do it - I just know where I want shelves and approximately what size shelves I want.  Nothing as fancy as building cabinets or anything, just basic stuff.

 

2. Company in the evenings, to help keep my energy up and keep me on task while I work on getting my home cleaner and more organized.

 

3. Simple recipes that involve a negligible to mild amount of cooking so that I am better equipped to handle dinner-making responsibilities now that my husband is working nights.

 

4. I'm currently very allergic to our couch.  It's got several years of set-in allergens that using the carpet/upholstery cleaner hasn't really helped with much.  Right now we can't afford a new couch, so suggestions as to how to minimize the allergens would be appreciated.

Comments

Help with 3 and 4

[(Anonymous)]

Sorry to be anonymous...I'm kathrynsknitting on Ravelry...

Have you tried a steam cleaner on your couch? My friend has one of these and cleans all sorts of non-washable things very efficiently. If you haven't you could perhaps hire one.

And for dinner...One Pan Salmon

All you do is put 2 salmon steaks (nice thick ones) into an shallow oven dish with some olive oil. Surround them with some small tomatoes - about 6 each if they're those lovely little ones and if they're big ones just cut them in half. Scatter some black olives around and decorate the top of the salmon with strips of anchovies (from a tin), a little more olive oil and then cook it for 15 - 20 mins in a hot oven.

We have freshly cooked green beans and spinach with it but my daughter actually cooks oven chips and frozen beans in the same pan as the salmon and it seems to be fine and is completely all in one pan.

There are lots of other simple tasty meals that I cook but it's before breakfast here and my mind is blank!