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.