It is a lovely, very cold, sunshiny day. There is an ad on tv for a New England company selling a four-foot stuffed teddy bear for Valentine’s Day. It is directed at men. No, men. A four foot stuffed bear? Where would I put it? How long would I be expected to keep it hanging around? How would I clean it when it got dirty because the cat thought it was great for sleeping and clawing on? Please, take me out for a lovely meal, and maybe a nice bunch of seasonal flowers, or some heart-shaped iced cookies (yum, cookies). But a four-foot stuffed bear? Thank you, no.

I found this picture on a blog I recently rediscovered. Here: A Year From Oak Cottage It has autoplay music, so be warned. Very homey, kind of religious (not my thing), but lovely pictures. Anyway, the picture. Look at the smiling woman. I would not be smiling in any of these. I am not Suzie Homemaker. I am good with dirt. As in gardening. Housework, not so much. Plotting ways to escape is what I’d be doing. Let me put on my pretty dress and my apron and mop the floor. I couldn’t be happier. Or more brainwashed. Oi. Sorry, women/men who love mopping the floors. I am not one of you. Also, I don’t do dresses.

I had a very good day yesterday. I cleaned out and reorganized the frig shelves and contents, and then I did the freezer. Yay, me. It is a slow process, organizing, and when I go through a not-so-good period, things get messed up again, because I just stash things in the first handy spot. It’s very satisfying to actually Get Things Done, though. I am trying to get the kitchen into a state where if I am able to cook, I can get at the things I need without having to move and replace other things first. Lots of open shelves where the pots and pans could be set out and easily accessible would be wonderful, but I have a tiny kitchen that is crowded with two people in it at the same time. Not a lot of storage or counter space. I’m working on getting it optimal, though. I have done before, but again, it gets messed up when I am not doing well. Then, a friend ‘reorganized it’ for me, and forgot to consider my limitations in placing things. I appreciate the help, though. Always. I have very good friends. I am fortunate in that.

Found this picture of a larder on the above-mentioned blog. I could live with it:

In my dreams.