Friday 9 January 2015

On being a domestical goddess

I made both a treacle tart and a carrot cake the other afternoon.  The biggest boy asked me why.   I said, "Because I'm a domestic goddess".  I asked him if this was not so.  I had to press him a little but eventually he agreed I was.  Later, when he couldn't find the book he was reading and I was too busy to instantly drop everything and look for it he said, "You're not a domestic goddess".  It hurt I can tell you.  He is a fairweather giver of compliments.  Well, not even that if I'm honest, I did pretty much make him say it.  But this morning when we were getting ready to go to school, the littlest boy, who always loves to butter people up, said out of the blue, "You're a domestical goddess".  Oh that dear little man.  Of course I'm not at all, I just really like treacle tart and carrot cake, and I get a bit panicky when everyone around me is eating healthily for the New Year.  But I'll take my compliments any way I can get them.  


Now that everyone is back at school, it's just me and the Christmas presents.  We had huge fun with these two games, and I've had a bit of a declutter this week, getting rid of some of the more babyish games.


This was another Christmas gift, a puzzle globe.  Boys like to learn quite competitively I find, so we have lots of conversations that start, "What's the capital of ...?" and "How many American states can you name that begin with 'M'?"  (There are eight, don't ask me to name them though).


Although I haven't made any New Year's resolutions as such, I do have a vague desire to be more organised and in control (I do every year).  I've been going through photos and putting them in albums along with a little journalling.  We all like to look back through the photo books and laugh at the little details that we might otherwise have forgotten.


I put other odd things in as well, a Christmas card or two, a drawing, a note that one of the children may have left me...


I really can't imagine how much food is required to feed teenagers, it's hard to keep up with smaller people.  Although the biggest boy now has one foot that is bigger than mine.  Only one mind you.  I have a feeling one day I will be the shortest in this family.

The weather is wild and woolly today, and I haven't been to the allotment for ages.  Inside the chilli plant has buds though.


I bought it for 50p from the local garden shop at the end of the season.  I have a plan to keep it through the winter and have chillies earlier in the season than I would if I grew a new plant from seed.  They are always so slow to mature, it's almost autumn before there are any decent fruits on them.  Although it does seem a bit early for buds.  I'll let you know how I get on.  Bearing in mind that I am a domestical goddess, I shouldn't think there will be a problem at all.

44 comments:

  1. We pulled out our old Labyrinth game from when the kids were younger and played it over the Christmas holidays. It's a great game!

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  2. Carrot cake and treacle tart in one afternoon? - You certainly seem like a Domestic Goddess to me! I know what you mean about the new year healthy eating, although I have just received a letter from my GP - I need to go for a routine cardiovascular risk assessment appointment, complete with blood tests! Maybe I shouldn't be polishing off all that Christmas cheese and chocolate this week! Good luck with the chilli plant - we bought ours at The Eden Project a few years ago and it keeps us well supplied with chillies - I have a little bag in the freezer for when I can't keep up with them. I think it must thrive on neglect! Have a good and domestically godly weekend! x

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  3. I think that you are a wonderful domestical goddess!! Anyone who can bake two things in one afternoon has to be as far as I am concerned!! I don't imagine that you included the picture of teddy and the cookbook just for me, but I do love it so very very very much!!!!! Sometimes a picture just really touches your heart and this one touched mine. I hope that teddy enjoys his cooking and finds some yummy things to make. I recommend the sweetcorn fritters and the pineapple upside down cake as being especially good. I hope that you have a good weekend and find lots of goddess like things to do so that your little would be gods realise just how wonderful you are! And your bigger god too! xx

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  4. I can confirm that is almost impossible to keep teenage boys fed. although no wonder your boys need a lot of food, they seem to have a lot of arms and legs!

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  5. I love the little note 'Can I have FOOD please? !! I have a box of pictures and notes which my girls did when they were little and it is such fun to look back through them from time to time. One special favourite is a card which eldest daughter wrote to me when she was about 8 I think. It was for Valentine's day and she had decorated it beautifully and then written 'You are absolutely worthless' !!!! I think (or hope!) she meant 'priceless'!

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  6. HAHAHAHA how cute he called you a domestic goddess... looks like you gave yourself a nice new name :) I so badly want to start making my own little photo journal but I must be the laziest person alive.

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  7. Well I am now the smallest in my family and I decided last week that it was cheaper to buy second son a train ticket to visit friends for the weekend than to feed him at home!!! It's funny but every so often children will say something which shows they do realise just how much you do and how great they think you are, they just don't say it when you are expecting it! I used to play Coppitt when I was a child, "cough cough" years ago - loved it. Have a good weekend
    Caz xx

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  8. I want carrot cake and treacle tart now. "Domestical goddess", I love that. Angus is also a huge giver of random compliments, because he knows they make us all more indulgent towards him. He's only five, what will he be like in the future?! Happy weekend to you dear CJ, and thank you for all your lovely comments on my blog and for being such a good blogging friend and all round lovely person. xx

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  9. Lovely! I so enjoyed reading this. Your family sounds a lot like ours :o)

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  10. Maybe you can also be a chilli goddess. I am also fan of carrot cake but not as much treacle tart.

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  11. I love the little note from your boy with the person with four arms and legs! Kids are hilarious and those little notes are such lovely things to keep. I have many of these notes stashed myself. Carrot cake and treacle tart both sound very yummy too. Hope you have a lovely weekend :O)x

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  12. I have only one boy left smaller than me and at the rate he is growing that won't be for very long! My teenagers' appetites vary a lot (just as their moods); if they like what I made they want seconds (and thirds), but if they don't, I have loads left over. There is no second guessing either what they will like or not, so I have had to find ways to deal with unexpected leftovers...

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  13. A delightful post which certainly had me smiling, and I especially like the first picture. Have a good weekend. Flighty xx

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  14. LOL I must NOT be a domestic goddess. I have to admit. My chili plants look a little bit rugged right now. I went to the home store and bought them some fresh soil and a good fertilizer. But, I think they really just need a bit more of my attention.

    I love the picture of the bear reading a book. Maybe you can have HIM make you more cake and treacle. :-)

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  15. You are such a character! That's a good thing. You always make me smile. I think you ARE a domestical goddess for sure. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  16. Domestical goddess. Brilliant :) I'd like that accolade.
    x

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  17. I haven't done any baking for home yet, still working our way through the Christmas goodies!! I think Sunday lunch deserves a sticky toffee pud though, some comfort food in this blustery weather. I love carrot cake and I love board games and, like you, compliments any which way they come!! xx

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  18. I have always thought you seemed like a domestic goddess, even from way over here. Your chili plant looks great! I envy your green thumb, you really have a knack. That note left for you is absolutely hilarious. I actually guffawed when I scrolled down and saw it. Stop starving those boys, will you? :)

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  19. Oh I love this, what a brilliant first paragraph!

    xxx

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  20. Boys and food ... don't get me started!

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  21. Hey CJ,
    I bought a square brownie tin from Sainsburys today. It was in the sale. The boys have been moaning that I haven't baked for a while (hello, Christmas?). Ad I'm really sorry to report, but teenage boys will eat your carpets if there aren't enough carbs and unhealthy treats in the cupboards. The sugar evaporates on contact with their digestive system, and they are therefore never, EVER full. It's just as well that you are already a domestical goddess, lovely girl ;))
    Leanne xx

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  22. I think you're a domestical goddess! Look at all the fresh food you're able to grow for your family! I can't even cook:) This is such a sweet post, and I love the bear reading the recipe book. Hope you have a wonderful weekend, CJ!

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  23. Loving that you are getting a head start on your chili plant! It looks like it is ready to burst! And your little guy sounds like a bean I know....I will take the compliments when I can get them too. Though if you ask me you are a domestic goddess for sure! And look at you go with the photo organizing! I need to do that....such a great idea to journal along as you go! Wishing you a wonderful weekend friend! Nicole xo

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  24. That drawing with the capital F O O D made me laugh out loud. Being the domestic goddess I am not, I haven't the first idea how to make carrot cake, even though it's my favorite kind. I strive to be half the domestic goddess you are someday. Happy weekend CJ! I'm having a nice time this Friday afternoon catching up on your blog.

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  25. Pretty cute! Sounds like a great afternoon of baking, your home must have smelt divine. You will have 3 teen age boys, we need to start up a fund for you pronto. I think you'll need a farm not an allotment. You will truly be a domestical goddess for..... Quite sometime! Have a great weekend!!

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  26. Oh how I love treacle tart, you are a domestic goddess in my book. Very,very soon & I mean a matter of months I shall be the shortest person in my family. I already have the smallest feet!

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  27. Oh I reckon that chilli plant will be fine, as long as you keep it warm. It is big enough to survive OK.

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  28. Oh I love your bear reading the cook book! I had today down as an allotment day but am feeling a little bit too cosy at the moment - the sun is nice and bright but the wind is whipping up a bit! The chilli plant looks fine - hope of things to come! Jane x

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  29. It's ages since I made carrot cake yet it's one of my favourites, I have to confess that I've never made treacle tart so you're definitely a domestic goddess to my way of thinking. I don't know either of those games, but both Daniel and Eleanor used to get a new board game every Christmas. We've still got loads and they still get played. Like you, I still get photos printed out even though we're in the digital age. Looking at them on a pc just isn't the same as going through an album.

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  30. It is scary when you suddenly become the shortest in the family (take it from me!), but I still demand respect, especially when it comes to food and teenagers! They do eat you out of house and home so enjoy your 'little' ones tantrums while you can :-) I read your blog earlier and as soon as I saw those two words, treacle and tart, that was it! I went straight down to my local butcher whose wife makes them and brought one home with me. Very sickly, but my word, if anyone can make one of those they are truly a domestic goddess!! Take care my lovely xx

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  31. I am now shorter than Sam, which he points out with relish several times a day. He equals height to relative intelligence but I am holding the fort just fine for now even though I have done nothing to change the world (a major failure on my behalf apparently). I swear he eats his own bodyweight in food everyday and I am amazed that he is not a fat blob. I grew up with the Labyrinth game and we have it now, it is an old favourite. I am not much of a domestic goddess, I like to eat cake but not bake them. Have a wonderful weekend. Cx

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  32. I do love all of your posts, you Domestical Goddess you. I especially love hearing about those fantastic boys of yours.
    One of my favorite lines Kevin said to me when he was quite young was, "I love you gladly!" That's one to remember..as well as the time I went to tuck them in bed and as I left the room I hear this whisper from Brendan..."Kev, do you like Mom?"
    "No, she's a witch." (Oh, snort..that still makes me laugh.)
    Wishing you Divine Domestical Dreams this weekend.

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  33. It's SO lovely to see the little shoots/buds on your chilli plant CJ-full of hope.
    You are a domestical goddess in my book too. TWO puddings in one day?
    *awards you crocheted medal*
    xx

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  34. Oh, good luck with the chillies! We usually do pretty well with them - a word of warning though: if you dry them out and blitz (for dried chilli flakes) use them VERY sparingly. I've hidden our jar at the back of the cupboard. It could do with a skull and crossbones on the label.
    I'm slightly envious of your organisational prowess, making albums and journalling. I can't face the huge box of loose photos hiding in the wardrobe. Your cooking sounds wonderful too. Carrot cake's my absolute favourite :)
    S x

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  35. Yum, I love carrot cake. Just been up to Cley on the coast birdwatching with my friend's 9 year old, she got a pair of binoculars for Christmas. It was too cold and windy to walk around but good from the hides (and CAKE in the visitor centre).
    Hoping my chilli plant and maybe even the sweet peppers might pull through the winter. They're looking a bit dead though, not as healthy as yours.

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  36. Minnesota... Montana, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, Milwaukee (is Milwaukee a state?)Mississippi and..... er, well. Perhaps I need a cool globe like that. And I LOVE the idea of being a Domestical Goddess!

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  37. Hi CJ, found you via countryside tales, must abmit to enjoying your blog immensely.

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  38. It's so sweet when children learn new phrases like 'domestic goddess'. It would be funny if he uses it in the wrong context, like to a friend or male relative!
    I've got lots of photo albums that I kept up to date when the children were younger, see-through sleeves in ring binders and I also put their artwork and handmade cards in them too. We all love to have a look through them from time to time and there's always something in them that surprises me or I'd forgotten about. I still find it amazing that my 3 little boys are grown men now and remember very well the point when each of them began to catch up in size with me. You will most definitely be the shortest in the family one day! :)
    Jess x

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  39. I have that Winnie the Pooh cookbook. Feel sure I bought it when I was at teacher training college 40+ years ago, still use it for some recipes. Also had Coppit as a child and that is in our loft having been much loved by my children and now waiting for the next generation to use it. L Anne x

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  40. My younger son used to call me 'mummy problem solver'. Not quite a domestic goddess but not bad.

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  41. Your photo albums sound lovely, I like the idea of including some drawings too. I must get some photos printed soon.
    Do you print half size pictures for your project life? Do you know of anywhere on line or do you print at home. I might have to invest in a home printer so its easier to keep up to date. xx

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  42. We got that labyrinth game too. Very good. The 7 year old was spectacularly good at planning ahead and beat us all hands down
    Jillxo

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  43. Oo, treacle tart, I haven't had that in ages! Anyone who makes two cakes in one afternoon is definitely a domestical goddess in my eyes!

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  44. Do they still teach them the 'Supermum you're wonderful' song in primary schools, my school going girls taught it to my home schooled boys and they all used to try and butter me up with it, still do on occasions. In case you don't know it the second line is 'And very underpaid'. ;o)

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