Suzy Homemaker and I have an agreement - she stays out of my way, and I sure as heck don't get in hers. I made it crystal clear to my handsome hubby, long before I walked down the aisle, that if he wanted "that" kind of girl, he might want to keep looking. I don't bake just because. I cook to survive. And cleaning is a four-letter-word uttered once a week, when the music is blasting and I've reached the end of my procrastination limit. (Or I have no choice but to empty the dishwasher because there are no more forks.)
But every once in a while I get this unexplainable itch to go all domestic or something. The "change" often happens when I'm overcome with love for my hubby (hey, we've been married less than a year, so I can stay sappy for a few months yet) - after all, he's made indescribable changes for me.
While love is the catalyst for my heart-shaped banana bread (pictured above - yes, I made that. I know, I'm still patting myself on the back), I've discovered, begrudgingly, that Suzy might be on to something after all. Baking can be kind of therapeutic. It isn't quite the cure for all that ails you, but I've learned today that it can help you work through hurt. Betrayal. Frustration. Even sadness.
I began my day with a monumental "to-do" list, tacking on the things I knew would lift my spirits. Like reading (OMG, I'm totally obsessed with Kelley Armstrong this week), working out (marathon training, here I come), and writing. But it wasn't those traditional perk-me-ups that have lightened my heart today, but rather the apple crumble I made for my husband's desert, or the banana bread I baked for his lunch tomorrow.
By the time I dug out the vacuum cleaner and the windex, I'd already begun posting love notes around the house.
My home smells like fresh baked goods. And air freshener. Laundry soap. And candles.
It smells like home.
And here, in the safety of its (clean) embrace, I can deal with the crap of the outside world.
PS - Don't get too excited, Suzy. I suspect tomorrow you'll go back to being a bitch :-)
The Book In My Bag Today: Bitten, Kelley Armstrong
Heh heh! I whole-heartedly agree with you!
ReplyDeleteSometimes it's the little things that bring me back to a place of joy and gratitude, too. It's pretty hard to believe everything's gone wrong when your home smells like banana bread.
ReplyDeleteI love banana bread!
ReplyDeleteBanana bread makes it ALL better. AND, my banana bread was a hit! So much so, I'll be feeding my husband's whole crew next week. LOL Doesn't get more domestic than that, huh?
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