I have been working along side my beloved sister since last Wednesday all day long getting Mom's house in pristine show shape. Walls have been washed and painted, Cabinets have been lined. Ceramic tile floors have been scoured. The unfinished part of the basement has been swabbed. Every single surface is clean and shiny
The nicest thing about an empty house is that her rooms look huge. The worst thing is that every speck of dust shows.
Today was the steam clean the kitchen floor day, and now the main floor is perfect. The only thing left in the basement room is to defrost the freezer in the little kitchenette fridge. I am saving that task for tomorrow when I will go armed with a hair dryer.
We are tired of taking care of the house and working there. Ou hope is for a quick sale to someone who will love it as much as Mom did.
Since I have been working virtually non-stop there, I quit cooking. I should feel embarrassed, but I just don't, because every evening I am tired, dirty, paint encrusted, achy__just name your fatigue poison, it would apply I am sure.
This was planned and followed for 2 whole days:
1. Salvage meal, Sausage, sautéed cabbage, augratin potatoes, rosemary garlic biscuits
2. Salvage meal, Philly cheesesteak casserole, brussels sprouts,salad
3. Salvage meal, taco salad
4. Grilled burgers, fixings, caulitato salad
5. Salvage dinner, peas, okra, mac and cheese, coleslaw
6. Moroccan chicken, rice or caulirice, broccoli, salad,
7. Takeout
I managed to salvage a couple of the freezer thaws this week before the work fest started. Then it was take out. (I tossed the remaining salvaged food. I just did not care enough to try to save it.)
This is what really happened:
Monday:
Smoked sausage, sautéed cabbage, new potatoes, mixed greens (salvaged)
Tuesday:
Lady peas, air fried okra, Mac and cheese, cornbread (salvaged)
Wednesday:
Beef and pork bulgogi from Pho Pho
Thursday:
Chicken, green beans, coleslaw from Jacks
Friday:
Chicken kubidah, rice, grilled tomato, pickles from Taboon Noon O Kabob
Saturday:
Steak, mixed greens, sautéed mushrooms (TheHub grilled)
Sunday:
Cuban rice bowl or Chicken burrito bowl (Both TJ's frozen entrees, both equally unappealing )
I don't even know or care what we are going to have this week.
1. something
2. something different
3. something edible
4. takeout
5. anything
6. takeout again
7. something else
This is one plan I might actually be able to follow!
Have a great week on plan, going off plan, or with no plan at all!
I'm not getting a house ready to sell(not yet at least)and I still don't have a meal plan anyway for the coming week. Can I borrow yours? lolz
ReplyDeleteYes I will let you use mine without fear of copyright infringement!
DeleteHopefully it will sell quickly. Glad you're almost done. Take care.
ReplyDeleteFingers crossed!
DeleteIt sounds like a most excellent decision to me. I hope the house is sold quickly and your energy and mojo return. And yes, why is it that cleaning is such a filthy job.
ReplyDeleteThings like mopping the cement floors in the unfinished part of the basement took forever, and it was not a clean job'
DeleteSometimes we just have to let our expectations of meals slide a little just to get through a period of time. I’ve been feeling bad for slacking a little as far as cooking, but I’m just in a season of life that I have to show myself a little grace. And remind myself it won’t last forever. Good luck selling the house quickly!
ReplyDeleteI am not felling bad about letting our meals go. We have both been extremely busy and have takeout options all around us.
DeleteI've already changed mine around due to the hubs craving for burgers, real burgers not sliders, last night and a rogue shop. Oh well. I remember when we were caring for our parents and then after my dad passed away, we did a lot of take out and the kid ate PB and J's a lot. If we ate it was successful.
ReplyDeleteSuccessful dining is subjective and as long as we et I call it a success, even if we just eat cheese and crackers.
DeleteSo glad you are almost done at your mom's house and happy that your sister has been there working with you. When it comes to the food or the menu plan sometimes you just have to say chuck it! (see what I did there lol ;). I vote for take out all week!
ReplyDeleteI am glad we are almost done too, Martha. I think I might start using the term chuck it!
DeleteThat last plan is the one I could follow!
ReplyDeleteIt might be the best meal plan yet.
DeleteOoh, I like this meal plan! I think I can make it work for me! I haven't been making meal plans, lately, myself, and have been doing a version of 'something, something different' for a couple of weeks, already!
ReplyDeleteI do hope that the cleaning in your Mom's house is coming to an end and the house sells quickly! I hear that it is a seller's market, right now!
It is ending today after I defrost the little fridge in the basement kitchenette! Hurrah!
DeleteGood luck with the sale of the house. Your sister and you have put in enormous elbow grease into it. I am roasting a chicken today. I also cooked celery roots and quince in olive oil with a splash of orange juice. These will keep me fed for the rest of the week.
ReplyDeleteOh that sounds really good!
DeleteWe have worked a lot there, but just getting the house emptied looks months. As soon as we have hers sold I am going to begin intense decluttering and getting rid of so many of the unnecessary things I have here.
ReplyDeleteThis meal plan might become my plan forever!
ReplyDeleteSometimes it's just necessary to have down time from cooking. You and your sister have some heroic work to do!
ReplyDeletebest... mae at maefood.blogspot.com
I am just ready to have some down time from everything!
DeleteYour plan for this week looks a lot like mine. :)
ReplyDeleteFrom the sounds of the work that has been done at your mom's it won't be a hard sell. Good luck!
I hope it will not be a hard sell but who knows?
DeleteHey when you are working that hard peanut butter and jelly is just fine or send the man for take out.
ReplyDeleteYep, I agree. He is a crappy cook but an excellent meal procurer!
DeleteI agree with my friend Kim right above!
ReplyDeleteWhen you are working that hard, takeout is a lifesaver!!!!!!!
It is, isn't it!
DeletePreparing a house to show is a big job. It's nice that you can do the work with your sister. You certainly shouldn't feel bad about not cooking.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
I really don't feel bad about it at all. In fact I could not care less about what we do or don't do for dinner right now.
Delete