We butchered the 35 meat chickens last Sat. and I took some pictures and will try to post them next week. This week has been jam packed. It has been such a glorious week. I subbed every day but Wed. and today will be at Bells’ Elementary school for the first time. I can’t wait to go in and experience a new school, both excited and nervous about the new adventure.
Saturday’s butchering job started at 6:00 and we wrapped up close to 4:00, pretty good for us for all those birds. Sunday started the canning process and gradually sticking chickens in the freezer so as to not overload it. Since I had some soup meat left over from last year I canned chicken legs & thighs and breast on the bone for main course meats. If school subbing keeps up, I’ll need the ‘fast food’ these meats will provide for our meals. I also did two canner loads of broth, one on Sunday and one after school on Monday - long day, that day. I froze the cooked meat (from making the broth) for later easy meals. The dogs loved having the cooked til soft neck bones for a special treat.
Despite rain every day we were able to go outside for recess twice this week - always a blessing for me as well as the kids who have been cooped up too long with muddy weather. Monday I had 2nd grade, Tuesday Kindergarten, Thursday 5th grade and Friday 3rd. grade. I had the full range of the elementary school spectrum. Kindergarten class is always easier academically but 5th grade was easier behavior wise. The teachers are the best, leaving great lesson plans and plenty of work for the kids to do - running out of work or things to do is a sub’s nightmare.
When I lined the Kindergarten up for a restroom break I asked them, “What do we do in the hallway?” The answer should have been, “Be quiet,” instead the answer I received was, “Don’t let Mr. Sears (principal) catch you!” From a Kindergartener!
5th grade was Science class and we talked about cells and used an instrument similar to a microscope to look a various slides. As I barely remember my own elementary science classes, and we never even saw a microscope or a slide, I really enjoyed the lesson. The kids seemed to enjoy it as well and maybe even learned a little. I told them Anton Van Leewenhoec was credited with developing the microscope, but it was probably really his wife that discovered it. All I got was dead pan stares - 5th grade sense of human is not very developed.
Since poor John survived on left overs Monday and Tuesday, on Wednesday, I figured I’d better fix that last chicken in the fridge. I fixed oven fried chicken - not as good as pan fried but I had some bread crumbs to use up. And because I had the oven on the for the chicken I bakes some peanut butter cookies and an apple pie, too.
Wednesday was a long day, too. Grocery shopping in the morning, coming home separating all the bulk items, mixing up a meat loaf to freeze for later baking, making salad and veggie snacks for lunches, cleaning the apples and making an apple pie to go with the chicken dinner (gee, wonder why I can’t lose weight???). It seemed like I didn’t get out of the kitchen most of the day.
I loved it. I love being a housewife. I love being John’s wife. I don’t blame some women for not loving being a wife - after all, they’re not married to John.
A preacher friend used to say the pendulum always swings back - for every high, there’s a low. I guess that’s partly what Solomon was saying when he said for everything there is a season - a time to laugh, a time to cry; a time to build and a time to tear down, etc. (paraphrased). This week has been a very good week and I suppose there will be other weeks that won’t be quite as good but for this time it just don’t get any better than this! Especially as it definitely feels like fall today - cool and wet, temps in the 50’s and I’ve got a great new book, Carley’s Song (sequel to The Remember Box.) Nope, don’t get any better than this!
October 12, 2009 at 06:31 am
Glad to hear you’re subbing at Bells Elementary. I have two grandkids that attend there and would love for them to have the experience of being in your class!
I’m glad to hear you are busy, happy and enjoying all of God’s bounties!
FF