Monday, August 3, 2009

Blueberry Buckle


For the last five days all we have done is unpack and put things away. Well I say "we" simply because those times I allow Josh to help are few and far between. Because let's face it: if he puts it away I'll probably want to rearrange it. He knows this, and therefore sticks to the mancave or boxes of random things from his house that we need to find places for. He's very kind in letting this be my project. Lord knows I need it.

So yesterday afternoon we cruise around Liberty trying to learn more about it as it will be our home for the next few years and at the grocery store are blueberries on sale for an ungodly cheap price. So instead of making chocolate chip or banana nugget cookies I opt for a Blueberry Buckle.
Buckles, if you aren't aware, are this fantastic fruity coffee cake, basically. The bottom is a sweet (but not too sweet) dense cake, and the top has fruit and a sort of brown sugar streusel. Fantastic. By the time my brother, sister-in-law, mother, and niece waltzed in around 5:30pm it was bubbling in the oven and smelling up the entire house. I rule.

Josh, however, pretty much upstaged me with the main course: Wild Alaskan Salmon poached in soy, garlic and onion, served over rice. Wow. I can't even describe how good it was. Not to mention how fun it is to see him cook in the kitchen. Martha Hitler didn't come out once in me last night, as he commanded that room almost better than I do.

So today as he heads off to Toronto for three days I've decided to have a piece of buckle for breakfast (along with my first coffee in the new house) and attack some more boxes before going to work. Clod, of course, has opted to lay around the air conditioning vent and make piles of my shoes.

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Stress and a new backsplash.

Last night when I got off work I was completely stressed to the core. I didn't know what was going on moving-wise because Josh was doing all of it while I was at work. I didn't know where my dog was. I want this move to be over so I can stop living out of boxes. On top of all of that it is pouring down rain and I hate driving in rain because of my wreck.

But I walked in the door last night and Josh seemed to have it under control. Minus the water not being on everything was working out fine. We slept in the new house, Clod is liking his new surroundings, and Josh even promised he'd put the bed on a frame soon and let me change the backsplash in the kitchen. (Thank goodness he hates it too.)

So although I woke up again this morning stressed out, I know tonight everything else will get moved... and I can finally start the process of "living" in this new space. And that will help me breathe easier.

Not to mention my mom took me to Lowe's today to check out ideas for the new backsplash and I found exactly what I was going to do. 

Monday, July 27, 2009

Utilities.

Last night Josh calls me from Anchorage telling me that he'd like me to turn on the utilities to the new house today. Not a problem. Happy to do it. He gives me his social security number and this morning I start making calls. And am stopped within about 15 minutes.

Yeah, turns out they aren't real keen on letting other people use your social to start service. And since I won't turn them on in my name (is it my house? no... I'm a renter, it's in my lease) I emailed him the companies numbers so he could finish the job I started.

Not sure if he's pissed about it or not. But his name is on the house, it should probably be on all the utilities too. I can't imagine this being a problem. It takes probably 10 minutes out of his day. But I know he's busy and stressed and just fresh off the plane from 10 days in Alaska... so I have a feeling this might strike him wrong and he'll get angry.

Basically I failed at my first task as homemaker. And I work tonight so I'm going to miss the first truck load of moving in. This day is not starting out the way it should.

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Tomorrow.

The fascinating part about tomorrow is that I'm pretty sure it's the day I become an adult.

The day I stop drinking milk out of the carton and putting it back in the fridge before anyone notices. The day I stop borrowing Q-tips from my roommate because I've run out and I know he always has backups. The day I stop opening the dishwasher, grabbing the cup I want out of all the clean dishes, but not unloading the whole bin. 

The day I stop having roommates and move in with someone for the first time... and it's just us.

Which, I swear, is honestly the least of my worries. When it comes to Josh and I... I harbor absolutely no insecurities. No concerns that we're going to get on each others nerves or that he's going to leave me. Or that I notice he squeezes the toothpaste from the wrong direction so I call it quits. No, with him I'm all in.

But instead of doing that whole renting an apartment together thing... he bought a house. A house where I'm his first (and hopefully only) tenant. We're signing a lease (as I have no legal rights to anything in this situation... i.e. vows or a ring), combining all our furniture and art, and trying to figure out a balance. 

For I'm a libra and am constantly seeking balance. (Yes, I'm full of crap and like astrology.)

But this opens up a new chapter to me. Instead of this odd career seeking, opportunistic, self-absorbed, hedonistic, people-be-damned attitude I used to have... I write grocery lists. I think about how long the dog is home by himself during the day, the last time the sheets in the spare room were washed, which dishes I should use when guests come over. I wear aprons, bake at least twice a week, and love the smell of Febreze and fabric softener. And the scariest part: I like taking care of someone. Thus a new Abigail has been born: homemaker.

So this blog is dedicated to my new found housewifery. Trying to finish my book while keeping hospital corners on all the beds. Can I do it? We'll see.

Might have to start drinking the milk out of the carton again.