Time Management: A Picture Essay

Finally, I have arrived at the lighted end of the tunnel.  For at least three weeks, I'll be working only one job, leaving at least some of my weeknights free.  Which is a good thing, because I'll be better able to enjoy my chock-full weekends! 

Still...there should be more time to stop and smell the flowers.

balloon flowers (which don't have a smell, but are still worth stopping to see)

This weekend, we're having a dear friend from "down Mobile way" stop in for an overnight visit.  She's recently retired, and spending most of her summers driving around the country to visit her children and grandchildren.  I told her she's having the retirement I dream of!  This week she's driving up to the northeast to meet two teen granddaughters and fly them off to London.

Isn't she a cool Grandma??

volunteer yarrow and black-eyed susans decorating our patio: side benefits to no-chemical lawn "care?"

Next weekend, Miss Chef is hosting a birthday party for me!  I honestly didn't really want a big party, but when you turn 40, people want to make a big deal out of it.  Maybe I can serve enough sangria to convince them I'm only 35??

Is my youth withering like the pea vines?  Hark, there is new growth in there...where did those beans come from??

Oh, I see.

And the weekend after that, my parents will arrive for a visit.  They were part of the impetus behind the party, but had a once-in-a-decade family reunion up north to attend.  So they'll stop by here on their way back.  It will probably work out better that way; it seems every time they come we have some big event underway.  This time we might just hang out and can tomatoes!

sungold cherries

This was all sounding a bit stressful to me, with everything else we had going on: overtime, volunteering at the farmers' market, keeping up with the garden...

from left to right: bean "teepee," 3 kinds of peppers, boxwood basil, 3 kinds of tomatoes..and a healthy sprinkling of weeds!  Notice Miss Chef already found time to yank out the broccoli plants?

But we have finally taken a step to make our lives easier.  Well, Miss Chef has.  She got a recommendation, made the call, and signed us up with a housecleaning service!  I had resisted the idea for a long while, partly because of the cost (we're already paying one neighbor to feed & walk Rosie one day a week, and another neighbor to mow the lawn), but mostly out of guilt.  I mean, c'mon, can't we manage to at least keep our own house clean?

But honestly...no.  Not with two jobs each.  Even with one full-time job, I've come to the conclusion that the whole stay-at-home-wife ideal of a sparkling-clean house is unhealthily unrealistic.  How much does it really matter if there's dust on the bookshelves?  I'd rather spend my free time bonding with my wife and dog, and growing and cooking healthier food.

a miniature forest of feathery carrot fronds--now if only the roots would DO something!

And...maybe hanging out with my blog friends a little.

Is there time for walkies in there??

I hope you have enjoyed this close-up look at our little corner of paradise.  Please don't leave without enjoying dessert!

blackberries coming ripe, a handful at a time...nom, nom, nom!

Happy weekend, y'all!