Monday, June 24, 2013
Samples to try...The Mary Kay Look
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
I am Proud to be a Homemaker!
I would like to take a second to expound further on my frustrations expressed on Facebook this morning. Maybe an explanation of what set me off is in order first.
This morning I was talking to a friend of mine at Publix and another of their acquaintances joined us. After a round of introductions the new comer asked, “So, what do you do?” That was the first thing that started to put a wrinkle in my mood, but I will get to that in a minute. I responded to her question with, “Oh, I am a homemaker.” Her response is one that I have gotten many times over the last few years… “Oh… That’s nice…So!.” For the rest of the time she was standing there I may as well have been a 2 year old child. The whole tone of this woman’s responses to my comments and statements to me went from “we are equals” to “you aren’t worth my time”.
First, I would like address the points of this whole incident that irked me. When you meet a total stranger in an impromptu social situation where the goal of the other party obviously isn’t to net work (i.e. the store, parking lots, banks, bathrooms, my favorite- Starbucks) it is never appropriate to ask about their career. I don’t care if you are pretty sure they are the CEO of a company that you have been dying to interview with, it isn’t appropriate. Most people when they are off the clock don’t want to think about work, they are trying to get the “other stuff” done so they can go home, have a cocktail/beer and relax.
The next thing that bothered me was the way she went through the cycle. “Oh”- as in I am so sorry for you. “That’s nice…”- I guess you don’t have the skills for a “real job”, I feel sorry for your husband. “So!”- let me change the subject so you don’t know that right now I am feeling sorry for your lack of abilities.- I guess you didn’t hear about the feminist revolution, maybe if I tell you about it you will join me in the real world.
Then we have the tone change. This one is not as concrete as the others. You know how when you walk up to someone and ask them about their day and their response is “My dog died”, “My mother is in the hospital” or on a happier note “I’m pregnant” and the tone of the conversation changes instantly? That is what happened today, only her reaction was more akin to me saying “I am mentally handicapped and only have about a 2 year olds understanding of the world.”
Before I set into my rant I would like to make it clear that I am not judging the hard working mothers and wives who work outside of the house. I am just asking for a little understanding and respect for the mothers and wives who make the choice to stay at home also. Let us also not forget the handful of fully capable fathers and husbands who are homemakers too.
I have made a choice to stay at home. It has taken me a long time to adjust to being a stay at home spouse. I don’t have children I am raising, so when I first started trying my hands at being home it was boring and I found myself walking around the house staring at the walls until my husband would get home. I took some part time jobs that turned into full time jobs with time and after a while we found that it wasn’t working for us time management wise or financially.
Once I became a stay at home spouse there was someone home to plan meals, cook the meals, run the errands, take care of the house, to make our house a home- a sanctuary. It gave us the freedom to take the time we were both here and enjoy each other’s company, not scurry around like chickens with our heads cut off trying to get things done we couldn’t get done during the work week. Our weekends were our own for the most part and it has been nice. Not to mention always having clean underwear is a huge plus! We have been able to arrest our free time from work time and are a happier, healthier couple for it.
The funny thing is; it is the women who look at being a homemaker with such disgust and distain; the guys who have been rude enough to ask think it is really cool and lament not knowing more women willing to work at home. I understand that women’s liberation put women out in the work force and made us “harder and more competitive” but seriously, I do more in the first 4 hours that I am awake most days of the week than most of these pampered prats do in a week. I don’t get “sick days”, I don’t have anyone who can cover my shift, there isn’t anyone here who is capable of picking up the pieces if I drop the ball. My husband is a saint, but that doesn’t mean he has any clue about what goes on around our house while he is at work. He is at work he can’t cover my shift. When I take a day off it means that the food fairy is coming over and dropping take out on my dinning room table.
I just really wanted to explain, why it annoys me when people ask me, “What do you do?” I am not ashamed of my choice to stay home, but I am sick of the pitying condescension that comes my way every time I answer with, “I am a homemaker.”
This morning I was talking to a friend of mine at Publix and another of their acquaintances joined us. After a round of introductions the new comer asked, “So, what do you do?” That was the first thing that started to put a wrinkle in my mood, but I will get to that in a minute. I responded to her question with, “Oh, I am a homemaker.” Her response is one that I have gotten many times over the last few years… “Oh… That’s nice…So!
First, I would like address the points of this whole incident that irked me. When you meet a total stranger in an impromptu social situation where the goal of the other party obviously isn’t to net work (i.e. the store, parking lots, banks, bathrooms, my favorite- Starbucks) it is never appropriate to ask about their career. I don’t care if you are pretty sure they are the CEO of a company that you have been dying to interview with, it isn’t appropriate. Most people when they are off the clock don’t want to think about work, they are trying to get the “other stuff” done so they can go home, have a cocktail/beer and relax.
The next thing that bothered me was the way she went through the cycle. “Oh”- as in I am so sorry for you. “That’s nice…”- I guess you don’t have the skills for a “real job”, I feel sorry for your husband. “So!”- let me change the subject so you don’t know that right now I am feeling sorry for your lack of abilities.
Then we have the tone change. This one is not as concrete as the others. You know how when you walk up to someone and ask them about their day and their response is “My dog died”, “My mother is in the hospital” or on a happier note “I’m pregnant” and the tone of the conversation changes instantly? That is what happened today, only her reaction was more akin to me saying “I am mentally handicapped and only have about a 2 year olds understanding of the world.”
Before I set into my rant I would like to make it clear that I am not judging the hard working mothers and wives who work outside of the house. I am just asking for a little understanding and respect for the mothers and wives who make the choice to stay at home also. Let us also not forget the handful of fully capable fathers and husbands who are homemakers too.
I have made a choice to stay at home. It has taken me a long time to adjust to being a stay at home spouse. I don’t have children I am raising, so when I first started trying my hands at being home it was boring and I found myself walking around the house staring at the walls until my husband would get home. I took some part time jobs that turned into full time jobs with time and after a while we found that it wasn’t working for us time management wise or financially.
Once I became a stay at home spouse there was someone home to plan meals, cook the meals, run the errands, take care of the house, to make our house a home- a sanctuary. It gave us the freedom to take the time we were both here and enjoy each other’s company, not scurry around like chickens with our heads cut off trying to get things done we couldn’t get done during the work week. Our weekends were our own for the most part and it has been nice. Not to mention always having clean underwear is a huge plus! We have been able to arrest our free time from work time and are a happier, healthier couple for it.
The funny thing is; it is the women who look at being a homemaker with such disgust and distain; the guys who have been rude enough to ask think it is really cool and lament not knowing more women willing to work at home. I understand that women’s liberation put women out in the work force and made us “harder and more competitive” but seriously, I do more in the first 4 hours that I am awake most days of the week than most of these pampered prats do in a week. I don’t get “sick days”, I don’t have anyone who can cover my shift, there isn’t anyone here who is capable of picking up the pieces if I drop the ball. My husband is a saint, but that doesn’t mean he has any clue about what goes on around our house while he is at work. He is at work he can’t cover my shift. When I take a day off it means that the food fairy is coming over and dropping take out on my dinning room table.
I just really wanted to explain, why it annoys me when people ask me, “What do you do?” I am not ashamed of my choice to stay home, but I am sick of the pitying condescension that comes my way every time I answer with, “I am a homemaker.”
Monday, April 25, 2011
Easter Dress
As many of you know, I dread shopping for clothes. The cycle of looking at things on the rack; thinking they are wonderful; the heartbreak of finding they don't fit at all and make me look like a bloated whale; followed by tears and self loathing for letting myself get so out of shape... Yeah... Well every year for Easter and for Christmas I put myself through this cycle in order to A) find new clothes that fit and B) to find something to wear aside from my black skirt and a cardigan.
This year I hit gold. So the picture isn't great, I had my step-son take the picture right before we left for mass. I saw the dress and I told it that it was going to be mine, it was going to look good on me and it was going to mass on my body.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Changes to this blog...
To the few of you who still read my blog,
As you will noticed, I have made some changes to my blog. It has come to my attention that I am now being "blog stalked" so, I just left the most recent posts up, as they offer no real information about me and my family. In an attempt to maintain my relationships with my crafting friends, I haven't removed my whole blog, just the stuff that may give any outsiders information about the goings on in the Penny Household.
If the attempts are not ceased by the person/people annoying myself or my husband I will be forced to permanently remove my blog and rely solely on other forms of communication with you all. Those of you who wish to be in further contact with me, should the unthinkable occur, please email me and let me know and I will give you further information on how to get into contact with me.
I am sorry that this has occurred and I hope to be back soon to a more regular cycle of posting and communicating with you all. You have all saved me from the life of the "Lone Crafter", helped me with my problems as I was learning to knit, solved my issues in finding good patterns, many of us met while swapping gifts during exchanges, bore with me as I tried less successful attempts at handicrafts and even boosted my morale while I was taking apart or frogging one project or another.
Thank You,
Carrie
As you will noticed, I have made some changes to my blog. It has come to my attention that I am now being "blog stalked" so, I just left the most recent posts up, as they offer no real information about me and my family. In an attempt to maintain my relationships with my crafting friends, I haven't removed my whole blog, just the stuff that may give any outsiders information about the goings on in the Penny Household.
If the attempts are not ceased by the person/people annoying myself or my husband I will be forced to permanently remove my blog and rely solely on other forms of communication with you all. Those of you who wish to be in further contact with me, should the unthinkable occur, please email me and let me know and I will give you further information on how to get into contact with me.
I am sorry that this has occurred and I hope to be back soon to a more regular cycle of posting and communicating with you all. You have all saved me from the life of the "Lone Crafter", helped me with my problems as I was learning to knit, solved my issues in finding good patterns, many of us met while swapping gifts during exchanges, bore with me as I tried less successful attempts at handicrafts and even boosted my morale while I was taking apart or frogging one project or another.
Thank You,
Carrie
Friday, January 28, 2011
More Knitting and Crochet Pictures
Well guys, two post in a week! I know that a lot of these aren't finished yet, but I wanted to share. Some of the pictures are bad, but they do still show what I have been working on in the last few months. Also please forgive my bed, Eddie (the long hair cat) was being playful right before I took the pictures.
This is my newest WIP
Basic Top Down Socks
I made these in North Carolina State's colors for my Dad's Christmas gift this year
I used a basic hat pattern after I made the headband from the pattern.
I made the cat just because I liked it but it doesn't really work with the tissue cover.
I had to make changes. I didn't want to have a hot water bottle get a hole in it and not be able to get it back out with out cutting my knitting.
I still need to block and weave, but I love the colors and the simple stitch pattern.
I have to put the brown boarder on still and get a wood stretcher to hang it on, but I love the way it looks knitted. This is my first real intarsia FO so far. LOVED IT! I think I am going to add some duplicate stitch with floss to add dimension too.
I still need to do the boarder, but I love the colors even after knitting it.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Drunken Sweet Potatoes
Over the years I have had people asking for this recipe, I thought this might be the time to share it. Patty, if you see this, I hope you get the chance to make it!
Drunken Sweet Potatoes
5 pounds sweet potatoes
½ cup chopped pecans
¼ cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon margarine or butter
¼ cup Irish cream liqueur, orange liqueur, praline liqueur or milk
2 tablespoons brown sugar
¾ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice-I add a little extra cinnamon too
½ teaspoon salt
Wash, peel and dice the sweet potatoes. Either steam them in a steamer basket or in steamer microwave bags (you can bake them, but it adds an hour and a half to the cooking time and not much flavor). Mash by hand or beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Stir in liqueur or milk, the 2 tablespoons margarine or butter, brown sugar, pumpkin pie spice and salt. Beat until fluffy. Spread mixture in a lightly greased 2-quart rectangular baking dish.
Meanwhile, cook and stir pecans, granulated sugar, and the 1-tablespoon margarine or butter in a small heavy skillet over medium heat for 6 to 8 minutes or until sugar melts and turns golden brown. (Don’t overcook) Remove from heat and spread nut mixture on a greased baking sheet or foil; separate into clusters. Cool completely and chop into small pieces with a knife; set aside.
Just before baking, sprinkle with candied pecans. Bake uncovered, for 30 minutes or until heated through
Drunken Sweet Potatoes
5 pounds sweet potatoes
½ cup chopped pecans
¼ cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon margarine or butter
¼ cup Irish cream liqueur, orange liqueur, praline liqueur or milk
2 tablespoons brown sugar
¾ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice-I add a little extra cinnamon too
½ teaspoon salt
Wash, peel and dice the sweet potatoes. Either steam them in a steamer basket or in steamer microwave bags (you can bake them, but it adds an hour and a half to the cooking time and not much flavor). Mash by hand or beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Stir in liqueur or milk, the 2 tablespoons margarine or butter, brown sugar, pumpkin pie spice and salt. Beat until fluffy. Spread mixture in a lightly greased 2-quart rectangular baking dish.
Meanwhile, cook and stir pecans, granulated sugar, and the 1-tablespoon margarine or butter in a small heavy skillet over medium heat for 6 to 8 minutes or until sugar melts and turns golden brown. (Don’t overcook) Remove from heat and spread nut mixture on a greased baking sheet or foil; separate into clusters. Cool completely and chop into small pieces with a knife; set aside.
Just before baking, sprinkle with candied pecans. Bake uncovered, for 30 minutes or until heated through
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