Someone thinks I have it together?!

When I told my husband that I had been asked to join this little project he initially said,  ’Wow, Honey, that’s great!’ Then he walked out of the room, giggling and muttering something about the blind leading the blind.  Ok, so maybe I’ve got a way to go on this balancing home and work thing.

My name is Judy.  I’ve been married to my wonderful guy for 23 years.  We have three energetic children who will be attending 3 different schools next fall (high school, junior high and elementary) and one very large dog.  In late April 2009 we purchased an acreage just out of town with a barn, pole building and a run-down house.  We are still discovering how much of a ‘fixer-upper’ we have gotten ourselves into. We are trying to get the house to the point where we can comfortably and safely live in it.  At the same time, we are trying to pack and move out there bits at a time and get our current home ready to put on the market.  I keep house, garden, do lots of cooking from scratch and preserve our excess produce.  I love to sew, quilt and have been vainly trying to find time to learn to knit. 

I also work full time as an Occupational Therapist at a major hospital.  I work 7:30 to 4:00 M-F and one Saturday a month.

Before you think I’m another Wonder Woman, able to do it all, let me tell you:  I’m not.  There have been mistakes, arguments about priorities and tears of frustration along the way.  It’s really hard to balance working full time outside the house and working ‘full time’ in the home.  I sometimes get resentful that I have so many demands placed on me, but then I look at my family and remember why I do all of this.  Because, as frustrating and chaotic as it can be, I really do love it.  I love being able to provide my family and friends with a place where they can feel comfortable and loved.

Things have been a bit more interesting since my husband was laid off his job with a publishing firm at the end of December, but he has been doing some freelance work from home and has had the time to work on our new house.  We have always had a very flexible approach to roles in the home.  When the children were small, I worked and he stayed at home with them.  We decided that he could work and it would almost cover the cost of child care or he could stay at home.  We haven’t regretted that decision even though it has meant that for most of our married life, I have been the primary breadwinner.  For us, homemaking is a shared experience, although I still pride myself on being ‘in charge’ of the house.

Things have been a bit wild lately but I’ve definitely learned a lot in my life that has helped me preserve my sanity through all of this.  I’m honored to have been asked to share what I have learned and I’m really excited to learn what others have to offer here. I could definitely use some pointers!

If you want to follow more of our ‘homesteading’ adventure, you can find me at My Freezer is Full.  Although I’m in the process of trying to get our freezer NOT so full so we have less to move. It’s amazing how much food is in one of those things….

Greetings from Annette

I am excited to be part of this group – Homemakers Who Work.  There are so many of us that it is about time we organized!  =)  First a little sum-pin, sum-pin about me.  In 2003 my two daughters, Mason (the cat) and I moved to an 1890’s farmhouse on .5 acres in Bath county.  Raised as city girls, adjusting to a rural lifestyle has been an interesting journey – something I write about here .  Our journey has picked up a few, much needed additions along the way: my boyfriend Ronnie and Odis, our Jack Russell mix.  Ronnie has been great about teaching my girls and I the ins-and-outs of rural country living and is very familiar with the Who’s Who of Bath county – something important to know when the girls begin dating.

While learning to live a more steady, slow lifestyle I also work as an independent P&C (property & casualty) insurance agent during the day and wait tables/bar tend part time at the Grist Mill.  My daughters are teens, doing well in school and constantly involved in school activities.  You may ask “how do you find time to do anything fun – for yourself?”  Ah, now that is the challenge and an ‘activity’ that is in constant flux.  There are so many things to do, enjoy, see, experience, take pictures of, etc that I often overextend myself (and who doesn’t?). 

For me, homemaking is having a home that family and friends know they are welcomed and can relax and unwind.  I am not an immaculate housekeeper, so don’t look at me looking for the Wonder Woman bustier.  LOL  Now that would be a funny sight!  Anyway, having a safe haven for not only ourselves but also our children and their friends is important.  We work to maintain that atmosphere. 

I look forward to meeting everyone and including you in my journey.  Come walk with me.