Living Lemons: Monday Blessings and Tour de Kitchen

I never used to look forward to Mondays, don't know many people who do. I live for them these days. Working Saturdays changes weekends a bit for me. I love it, busiest day in the salon, but I miss having Saturdays off. Sundays for our family are filled with big breakfasts, Church, family time and a few little things. Mondays give me a chance to breath. The house is quiet, not filled with guitar playing or the sound of drumming echoing from the garage (God bless my stepson). It is my day to throw a hat on, not even attempt make-up and brushing teeth is optional until lunchtime. O and I head out to do groceries sometime after breakfast and a few cups of coffee for me. A few weeks ago my DH suggested that I try shopping at one store only. It might be easier, he thought, than running between 3, sometimes 4 stores chasing the good deals and all coupons worth $1. I was not a believer. I am now a convert after doing it 3 weeks in a row. This particular store, to remain nameless, 'cuz I bet you WON'T guess which one it is, I really don't like supporting. Convenience and low prices win this one. I love that it is easy to get EVERYTHING in one store. Feminine products, butter, mascara, air filters, fresh veggies. Ahhhhh. Chalk one up for my DH. I love you bb.

Where is the blessing in Mondays for me? In the shopping itself, saving money for our family, buying good, wholesome products that will soon be turned into yummy meals. The blessing is then weaved through to the room where that all happens. O usually falls asleep on the way home so I carry her to her crib. All 30 lbs and size 5 diaper of her. She sleeps peacefully and I put away the groceries. I love this time. The doors are open, breeze coming through to wash the overnight air out. The fridge gets cleaned out, tupperware gets a bath and ready for the new ingredients of this week, counter tops get a plentiful cleaning with 409, fresh towels are put out and all is well in the land of perfect. I receive the blessing of time to prepare this sacred space (it is that to me), and become ready to bless, in turn, my family for the week.

Today, when I had finished in said kitchen, I sat down to write this very blog. O woke up with soaked sheets and a diaper 3x it's normal size. Whoops. After, she snuggled on my lap with her milk while I typed with one hand the last few words, getting ready to publish. She wanted to add her own touch - as she often does - by pushing a few letters herself. In a flash. The. Screen. Was. Empty. I have no idea what she pushed, it all happened so fast. So, I'm stealing time while she is awake to get this done, take two. It's only fair. She is amusing herself, running back and forth between the coffee table (which never has coffee on it), and the cabinet next to my chair. She is tagging the cabinet as if to say "I made it!" and then runs back to tag the coffee-less table. Quite funny. Now she is sitting by the open front door, tearing tiny papers into tinier pieces. No doubt, some receipts from my wallet that she always seems to find. Amusing. Adorable.

Now for the Tour de Kitchen . . .after I had everything cleaned and put away, I took notice of how good it all looked and here are a few things that I thought were photo-worthy.

Our Lady of Lourdes guards our faucet and reminds me

that there are greater purposes in doing dishes if I

choose to be open to them.

This angel, from a collection I have, made her way to the kitchen

by way of a teeny girl with HUGE brown eyes. She now sits

on our stove next to my fav red tea kettle and watches over the pork

roast I have thawing for tomorrow night's dinner

This poor jar has been empty for over a week. It usually holds a delish blend of cinneman/cinnoman/cinomen and sugar. I'll get around to it I suppose.