When You Do Things …

… things get done!

 

{Little “Lazer” – as he is nicknamed – is getting so big and just enjoying this lovely summer of ours.}

 

I read that statement somewhere last night and thought – aha! Amen and amen! So boldly practical and so true!

I also recall hearing lovely advice from a mother of nine a few years ago – when I had four children or so. I asked her how she handles everything, gets everything done.

 

Her reply …

“If you see something that needs to be done, just do it.”

 

If a drawer is messy and needs cleaning, make time to clean it.
Pick up the stray toy before you step on it.
Keep floors clean.
Weedy pathways don’t weed themselves, nor do garden beds.
Help or instruct your child to clean under the bed when you find out they have been stuffing their (clean) laundry there for the past week.
Put laundry away as soon as it is cleaned.
Prep or make dinner in the morning.
Get stuff done.

 

Now as a mom of soon-to-be-eight, I think that is wonderful advice!

Just do things. Everyday.

Granted, there are times when you can’t just stop life and clean out the junk drawer or throw aside your schedule to tackle the untidy basement. And there are days your children desperately need you to put aside that to-do list and focus on their needs at hand. But many times, these projects can be accomplished together – mother and child or as a family.
If something needs doing, and it bugs you enough, you’ll get it done.

When you do things, things get done.

There are some pesky projects on my to-do list before baby arrives. Projects that are not as enjoyable as, let’s say, canning. 🙂 {Yes, canning is enjoyable!}

It always seems to be the same list before a baby shows up – tidy up the pantry, clean up the Provision Room, organize the two closets we have in our house (I am so glad we don’t have more for the simple reason of organizing them constantly!) two bedrooms that need fresh painting, and yes, Lord willing, tidying up the basement … oh, and let’s not forget homeschool planning and cleaning up the school room with new markers, paints, glue sticks, etc. {but who am I kidding? That part is fun indeed!}. There’s more to do but I am keeping my goals low as I don’t have much time left before baby arrives.

The garden is starting to pick up a bit now so there is the canning and produce to preserve, as well. August will certainly fly by.

{See this lovely stove picture below? My father in law spotted it for sale locally for a great deal and told my husband about it. Abby promptly purchased the used propane stove which was an answer to prayers! As you know, I cook with wood only so it can be quite, well, HOT, for the summer months of cooking. This propane stove answered my prayers! Abby set it up just outside my kitchen door on our back patio (my summer kitchen) and I can cook and bake and can away all while being outside. What a treat!}

This morning, before the girls came for breakfast, I was able to hang out the laundry and clean out one kitchen cupboard that has generally been very untidy and unorganized for quite a while. Later, I was able to clean out all my dresser drawers, fill a bag with clothes for the thrift store and tidy up my closet.

The girls and I also picked two bushels of green and yellows beans this morning before the rain fell and we worked together on our peach canning.

 

Peaches, of course, take priority as they ripen ever so quickly.

And this was a quieter day. It was good to listen to the rain fall, the stillness of the animals before the storm, to just sit and wipe down the many amber jars of peaches that are ready for the Provision Room for another year.

It’s challenging, indeed, to stay on top of everything – gardening, cleaning, organizing, home school preparations, meal cooking and canning, parenting… There are definitely some projects that fall to the wayside and areas of the house that really need a good clean up. I will get to them – as I get to them. I’m doing things, things are getting done and that is good, I think. Progress.

If we do one or two things per day on our list, it won’t take long to cross most of the projects out.

On to canning peaches … I have heard from some of you you have started your peaches. I am grateful for the girls’ help. Sometimes it is faster and quieter to do it myself, but I do want them to learn how to can and put up and help out in the kitchen. Thankfully, we do all our work in our outdoor summer kitchen – we listen to stories on CD while we work and that helps with the children’s willing attitude.

 

We made peach jam, canned peach slices and made peach pie filling.

{And may I tell you a secret? We do not peel our peaches. It saves a lot of time and energy. My mom does not either. When you can them, the skin just slides off anyways… so if you are not fussy … you can save a big step in the canning process …}

 

Here is the recipe for the peach pie filling – it is from Canning Granny:

16-20  approximate cups of sliced peaches

4-6 cups of sugar (I always just taste and see how sweet the filling is – canning recipes call for a lot of sugar – you be the judge in this one)

1 Tbsp. Nutmeg (Optional)

1 Tbsp. Cinnamon (Optional)

5-6 cups Water

 2 cups Lemon Juice

3 cups ClearJel

If desired, blanch and peel peaches. Quarter and remove pits from peaches.
Combine water, spices, sugar and ClearJel in a large, heavy pan and slowly bring to a boil, stirring continuously until it begins to thicken.

Add lemon juice and then fold in peaches and bring up to simmer.

Simmer for 5- 10 minutes until peaches begin to soften and then can immediately.

Can using hot pack method with 1″ of headspace. Processing with a water bath boiling for 30 minutes for quart jars.

 

 

 

 

What would you like to get done this week?