Monday, May 26, 2008

Garden vs. Suppers

My husband has given me the talk already ... in fact, I think I've gotten it twice, maybe three times. It's 5:30 p.m. and the family is getting restless.

"Dear, I know you love your garden and tending to it and looking at it. But you're neglecting some things - like suppers."

My first reaction is defensive-mode. What do you mean? I always fix something for the girls. Ramen noodles, chicken noodle soup, salads - and on a good night - fishsticks! The kids are outside, the teenager is gone and somtimes I postpone that whole idea of "dinner."

But I know what he's getting at. My husband has an absent wife on most nights from 5:30-7:00 p.m. Once I get in the door from work, I quickly don my garden gear: baggy shorts, ratty T-shirt and my knock-off Crocs. I strap on my iPod or radio headset and listen to the Twins game while I go about my business of weeding, introspection and frustration.

"I'll do better," I tell him.

But I've heard the girls fuss a little more too.

"Mom, aren't we going to eat"?

"You love that garden more than me!"

"I'm going to eat at the neighbor's house."

My sister used to tell me that I needed a wife. I think she's right - I'm now ready for one. And if you find one for me, tell her to put the roast in the oven .... I gotta move this iris before the Twins game comes on.

4 comments:

Melanie Chopay said...

Beth, this is an easy one. You need a sun dial in your garden to tell time. This way you'll remember to go in and cook supper. I tell my husband that I'll come in and make supper as soon as I can't see the sun dial anymore. It works for me :-)

If your family eats meat you should try to plan lots of BBQ meals so you can at least putter around while cooking. I make macaroni salad or pasta salads in advance and then throw burgers or hot dogs on the grill. Sometimes we have chicken but that's more work.

I've made chicken cutlets earlier in the week for dinner and cooked a double portion. You can put them in the fridge and then at another dinner we have a big salad with cut up chicken cutlets on top.

Connie said...

My crockpot gets used more in the spring. So nice to come in to a cooked meal after working in the garden!

garden girl said...

Maybe that's why my dear husband is the cook in the family! He cooks, I clean up. It works out perfectly.

Beth said...

My husband has officially thrown in the towel and is no longer buggin me. Pizza Hut anyone??!?