The Kitchen: A Woman's Domain

I was reading an article on the History Channel's website (I know, weird, heh?) the other day about the history of the kitchen. It spoke about medieval  kitchens and even all the way back to the open-atrium type kitchens in the days of the Roman Empires. After reading through it, no matter the time period, kind of kitchen or even what was kept near the kitchen, there was always one common factor - it was always the woman's domain.

Thinking about this, I see it is true in my experience as well. When I picture my Granny, I see her in the kitchen, fixing a huge dinner for her family. My mom is the same way. I believe her love language is cooking for others. Kitchens are where mothers take care of their families. It's where memories are made cooking with little ones, and most of all, being in a kitchen relates a lot to nurturing - which is what mamas do best.

Where am I going with this? Well, of all the rooms in our new house, I'm most excited about the kitchen. Notice I said "the kitchen" not "my kitchen." Yes, I do most of the cooking, but Heath loves to cook and is a really good cook (thank you, Ann). So will it be "my domain?" I guess we'll just have to see. ;)

Here's a few sneak peeks of our kitchen:

Me checking out the under-the-cabinet lighting - how cool!

I'm super excited about all the space. If you were ever a visitor on Covington Street, you know we had an itsy-bitsy kitchen. No more running into each other in this kitchen!

My domain or not, Heath and I purposely planned the kitchen and family room to be open and inviting because we love to have friends over to enjoy all the blessings of life with.

You're welcome in my domain any time.

Because he asked

It's no big news that we've had plenty of rain this spring. It's probably no shock either that all this rain has made quite a few rain puddles here and there. And if you've read this blog for any time at all, you know that Cash loves puddles, and both the boys love water.


So it should come to no surprise to you that Cash asked to play in a puddle that he found in the neighbor's yard. If you know how I raise my boys, you should also know that I said, "Sure."


We did wait, though, until Heath came home because I knew he would get a kick out of it, too.

Go figure. Cash was a little hesitant, but B got right in and walked around.

He also splashed in the water with his hands (thus the completely soaked shirt).

Walking back and forth through the water, they had a blast.

It really wasn't dark outside, but my flash made it look dark.

Because I wouldn't dare have my kids outside playing in a puddle when it's dark. Or would I?

Yes, this is blurry, but it shows how fast they were running back and forth through the rain puddle.

Cash really kicked up his feet.

Here B is splashing in the water - love that grin!

Playing in a muddy rain puddle just before dark might not have been what you would do with your kids, but it's the kind of stuff I like doing with mine. They are only this age once, and because he asked, I agreed. Plus, it was bath night anyway. :)

My school year

Today is the last day for students in the school system where I taught for six years. Students have grins stretched from ear to ear awaiting that last bell, and I'm sure my teacher friends do as well. They've had 173 days of lesson plans, technology-integrated activities, test preparation, counseling sweet children, and long faculty meetings.


It makes me wonder - What has the past school year been like for me? 


I've completely mastered the grilled cheese and become an expert at hiding vegetables like broccoli and carrots in smoothies.


I've helped my lil' man become completely potty-trained while juggling an infant in the other arm.


I've answered questions like, "Why can't you lay an egg, mommy?" and "How long til dessert?"


I witnessed first hand the first time B sat up and his first steps.


I watched more than my share of Elmo, Thomas, Mickey and Little Einsteins.


I taught Cash to pedal his tricycle and identify all his letters.


I've packed an entire house and moved thirty minutes down the road.


I've wiped noses, hugged sick little bodies, and kissed boo-boos.


I've learned to repeat, "Love is patient, love is kind," when my patience is running thin.


I've finished loads of laundry and sinks full of dishes all while remembering snack time, lunch time and nap time.


I've come to appreciate what my mom did for my sister and I more than I ever thought I would.


I've fallen in love again and again with my husband, who works so hard so I can stay home with our two boys.


I've learned more than I could ever teach in a school year.

Chip and Dale relocation project

For about a month now, my dad has been setting up his squirrel trap in the backyard. Don't get excited - this is a very humane trap. It doesn't harm the squirrel (or whatever decides to make its way into the cage).

You see, at my parents' house, there is an over-abundance of squirrels. They are everywhere, and they are into everything! So dad tries to catch them to relocate them (a friend takes them to Edmonson County - I won't say what he does with them there).

It was working really well, until ground squirrels started getting in on the bait (sunflower seeds). Dad would get excited about catching another squirrel when he saw the door of the trap down, but would soon discover that a ground squirrel was inside instead. This wasn't a horrible thing since we have a huge population of ground squirrels that have been making holes in the yard.

Cash started getting interested in this new hobby of Grandad's, and he got very excited every time Grandad caught a "chipmunk," as he calls them. "We caught Chip!" 

We've caught and released a total of nine ground squirrels - two Chips and three Dales. The other four did not get named, but I could take a guess as to what their names would have been.

Where do we release them? Well, it depends really. Most of them are "getting smarter," and others are around town depending on where errands were being run.

I'm sure we'll continue catching and release these little guys as long as they're interested in the sunflower seeds.

Plantin' time

Remember my Mother's Day wish? Heath had a neighbor friend plow up a patch for me a little garden. This past Saturday we planted a few of our favorite things. With the help of an awesome hubby and two little dirt-lovin' helpers, we got it all done before the rain came (sort of).

I'm trying to get as many truck pictures in as I can before Heath has to give it up for a car (one of the down-sides of being a project manager).

Little man got a little impatient while Heath was tilling it one more time. He wanted to get in that dirt.

Baylen just enjoyed watching Daddy work (and chewing on his finger).

 

What a hard workin' guy!

And what a cutie!

jalapeno and habanero peppers, lots of tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, and bell peppers

and some mammoth sunflowers

Hopefully, I won't be completely clueless about this gardening thing and we'll get some (in Cash's words) "healfy foods to eat."

Wordless Wednesday

That bottom lip

I've heard people say, "Don't trip over that lip."

I've heard people say, "You can shovel dirt with that lip."

But never have I seen a face so cute when the bottom lip is stuck out this far.

This face is just too, too cute, and to answer your question, he was told no.