Everyone needs a wife

...but not the kind of wife I am!

So far project Cook-A-Lot has been a complete failure. Unless you all will accept that it just has simply been put "on hold" for the moment. The meals every day since I last posted have all provided by my "wife," Kyle. It seems as though we have swapped roles for the time being, which I absolutely love. Remember, any meal that I don't cook, I love? Well I've been lovin' a lot of meals lately.

So what caused the drastic change from gung-ho in the kitchen to not?

My yard.

Yes, that blessed place that I have silently cursed under my breath for the last 2 years has been the sole recipient of my time, love and attention. Fortunately my kids don't mind and they have enjoyed the great weather with me.

After 3 1/2 days of non-stop rain, I decided the ground would probably be moist enough to start some clearing and weeding without too much hassle. I ordered 7 yards of mulch and went to town. It has now reached the point of an obsessive-complusive disorder/addiction. Once I managed to tear myself away from the 4 walls of my house, I have mastered the art of focusing my energy and efforts on the outside, and the outside only. Yes, the inside has suffered, but not too terribly so, since my children have been playing outside as I work. I know Kyle is chuckling to himself ---"I told you so. Having a big yard is wonderful!" --- but for the record, I'm not saying I'm loving my life right now. I have enjoyed the feeling of accomplishment I have felt with the yard though. I am not ready to be grateful that we bought a tiny house on a huge piece of property, but I guess that's how the pioneers did it. Right? Didn't Laura Ingalls Wilder play on acres and acres of land growing up while living in her tiny mud house dug out of a hill? Yeah, just call me Laura! Except I have not let my kids play catch with a pig's bladder. Yet.

Not that any of my readers are truly interested in what one has to do with 1.24 acres of land but here is my run down. We've cleared our fenced in "garden" now that the day lilies have bit the dust. We've rototilled around our driveway and I have even re-done the flagstone "pavers" up to our front door. With the exception of Monday when the mulch was delivered I have been in the yard working at 9am. I usually come inside around 4 for a quick break with water and maybe a bite to eat. Then around 8 or 9 I call it a day. Occasional errands to the grocery store, pick up or drop off for pre-school, and trips to Home Depot and Menards-- oh yeah, and book club, have been my "down time" --- I am pooped! The strange thing about yard work is how therapeutic it can be. I've worked through a lot of frustration and anxiety out there. I can get used to not being inside. Ever. But that only works if I have a man to fold my laundry, cook my dinner, and put my children down for bed and naps. Oh wait, I do!

Yes, in between "work" (though I remain skeptical at what he does while he's there beyond finding funny videos to watch) and working out, Kyle has fed me, the kids, and put them to bed. In addition, he has folded 6 loads of laundry. What a man!

So, my dear friends, perhaps next week will be the week when I break out those mad cooking skills. In the mean time, I'll be spreading mulch. I may not have anything on Rachel Ray for the moment, but Master Gardeners, look out!