A Martha Stewart Kind of Day

It's funny that I think of Martha Stewart as the "Superwoman" of this century. For many years I've been reading her magazines and watching her on tv but always thought that I'd never be as creative or as passionate about my own home as she is, but today I had a Martha Stewart kind of day. I don't often have them. They are simple but packed with acomplishment. They are days that have you thinking, "I am a good homemaker!" They are days in which your "crazy" is suppressed and you can easily put your best food forward (even though I think that we all know that Martha Stewart is a little crazy herself).

It started at 4:30 this morning when I woke up for a run with a friend. I was prompt and on time. I perfectly parked my car along the side of the street less than 6 inches from the curb. That is a huge success for me! I got home and as the boys started to get up, I finished another 2 miles on the treadmill. I started my dinner....yeah, my dinner....by boiling down a fryer for some homemade chicken stock. I used some herbs from my garden outside to make it even tastier. My son loves my homemade chicken soup and dumplings. A very healthy choice and budget-friendly too.

As I waited for the fridge repair man, I weeded the vegetable garden and sprayed the plants for insects. I even planted some sunflowers against the wall and harvested carrot seeds that I planted into our planter beds.

My middle son and I made early preparations for tomorrow's start to school by taking medication to the elementary school and an immunization card to the middle school. We picked up the little guy at a friend's house and then went home so I could prune the rose bush in the front yard in my floppy straw hat.

I was so proud of myself for holding off my children from tv until 4 PM. They fought all afternoon, but I remained calm. I completed my half of the carpool to soccer practice and then finished my soup by chopping the chicken and vegetables to add to the stock. I even saved the breast (I managed to pull it out in one piece so it was in the shape of a heart) for a chicken casserole that I will make later in the week (because my meals are planned out for the next 5 days).

At a time when I usually nap, I was folding laundry and cleaning up the little boys' room. I wasn't bitter about it. I just do a better job than they do. I balanced the soccer team's check book and even cuddled a little with my little guy. (He's a little aprehensive about his first day of kindergarten).

If someone were to ask me what I did today, I really wouldn't have anything much to tell them. It was a meaningful day spent at home tending to the simple things that get lost in the hustle and bustle of life. I would tell them, though, that I brushed my teeth 5 times. I guess that's as many times as I went to the bathroom today also. I don't know why, but I felt the urge to. Maybe that isn't so Martha-Stewart-y, but I must be getting enough liquids. Hooray!