A-Z of Homemaking

This is on allybea's blog and I couldn't resist the temptation of joining in! I hope you will all have a go and leave a note to say so, and then I will come and find out all about your preferences.

A ~Aprons--y/n If y, what does your fav. look like? Yes; my practical ones are full length and dark blue, but Nancy sent me the most beautiful red gingham checked 1950s apron from America. That really IS something special. There should be a blog about it in July too.

B ~ Baking--Favorite thing to bake? Apple Dappy, or Francis' 6 egg chocolate cake or roulade . . .

C ~ Clothes line? Yup - plus we have two Betty Maid pulley airers in the kitchen for wet days and the socks and knickers get draped over the Hergom stove.

D ~ Donuts--Have you ever made them? Nope, mainly because you have to chuck the fat away after doing them as they make it messy.

E ~ Everyday--One homemaking thing you do everyday? Washing up! In summer, the first thing we do is open the front door and it stays that way all summer. Now autumn has arrived early and it's time to shut it again . . .

F ~ Freezer--Do you have a separate deep freeze? Yes, a small upright one in the larder downstairs, plus a tall larder fridge in the Back Place, and another small one as part of the fridge.

G ~ Garbage Disposer? Nope.

H ~ Handbook--What is your favourite homemaking resource? The interneet, and a selection of books on country recipes, home-made this and that.

I ~ Ironing--Love it or Hate it? Or hate it but love the results? I used to really hate it, but now will happily iron if I haven't got anything better to do! Usually have the radio on or an old weepy movie on tv.

J ~ Junk Drawer--y/n? Where is it? I think I probably have one in every room in the house . . .

K ~ Kitchen--color and decorating scheme. Typical farmhouse kitchen with yellow walls, massive beams, inglenook with a black and brass Hergom stove, jugs hanging from the beams, and dried flowers from the garden, plus various bits of copper and brass and old horse bits. Old dresser (nothing special) but dressed with some of my china collection. Collection of Cottageware china on shelf over bay window. Collection of Portmeirion china on shelf over kitchen window. Belfast sink and Victorian wooden drainer. Huge wooden kitchen table and various cats about the place . . .

L ~ Love--what is your favorite part of homemaking? Cooking - especially baking.

M ~ Mop--y/n? Yes

N ~ Nylons, machine or hand wash? Very rarely wear them, but stockings when I do, and hand washed.

O ~ Oven--do you use the window or open the oven to check? Yes, damnty thing is a fan oven and ALWAYS runs too hot, so I have to turn it lower and check.

P ~ Pizza--What do you put on yours? All sorts - last night it was a choice of either mince pizza or a ham/choritzo topping with cheese. Sometimes do seafood (with LOTS of anchovies) or ratatoutille.

Q ~ Quiet--What do you do during the day when you get a quiet moment? Pick up my sewing/craft work or open a book or magazine.

R ~ Recipe Card Box--y/n? What does it look like? Yes, I have a couple of old card index systems from when I was first married (dark blue and maroon boxes) and a big envolope of recipes taken from magazines, plus a posh hand-made paper notebook for our favourite recipes, as I have so many books I sometimes forget which one I found the latest favourite recipe in!

S ~Style of house--What style is your house? Detached Welsh farmhouse with stone and rubble walls three feet thick. Lots of beams and spiders . . .

T ~ Tablecloths or Placemats? Tablecloth, but only on Special Occasions. Wooden table, wiped down rest of year.

U ~ Under the kitchen sink--organized or toxic wasteland? Recently re- organised, non-toxic as a rule but some bleach lurks there!

V ~ Vacuum--How many times per week? Vacuum, but only a couple of times a week - frantic clean up if guests due!

W ~ Wash--How many loads of laundry do you do per week? 7 -8

X's--Do you keep a daily list of things to do that you cross off? Very rarely - I have a mental list which works quite well, as the jobs not done still stare me in the face!

Y ~ Yard--y/n? Who does what? Outside jobs (unless chain-sawing wood or strimming grass) all have my name on them. Even the mattocking . . .

ZZZ's--what is your last homemaking task for the day before going to bed? Locking the door after letting dog/cats out/in.

Thanks allybea.........http://www.allybea.blogspot.com/