08 May 2008

happy mother’s day & what not to do on 4 hours of sleep •


I wish I had a photograph to show you. The kitchen was too dark, too hot and too cramped. And I was just too teed off, anyway. 

Last night I woke up at 1:00 a.m., and did not fall asleep again until the birds started chirping their sweet little heads off around 5:00 a.m. I woke up to an empty coffeepot, no coffee in the house...zippo. One hour left for me to get ready for work. My sweet husband (my crazed look would have scared anyone out of the house) was sent off to the local coffeehouse for some caffeinated brew. I threw together a bag lunch, grabbed my cup and went off to the shop. After a day of extremely boring work (why, of all days today?!) I headed home to what I refer to as the “Second Shift”. 

Facing a pantry of very slim pickings for dinner, I managed to find two lonely cans of tuna. I did have some leftover dough in the refrigerator from the last Slug that I had made. Aha! Tuna salad on rolls with broiled cheese on top—dinner for the non-vegetarians, straight cheese rolls for the veggies. After dinner, I faced a new dilemma; I had forgotten to make bread earlier. The little darlings did not have any to make their sandwiches with! Being a mom, and always ready to fly by the seat of my pants, I decided to bake some pb&j muffins. Of course there is no jam, no jelly. Aha! I have a jar of apple butter in my refrigerator! I should have stopped there. But I didn’t. I eyed the soybeans soaking in the corner, ready and waiting to be processed. I’m a mom! I can do four things at once if I have to, right? After all, I could probably make soy milk with my eyes closed by now!

In the space of a half-hour, I was juggling two emergency loads of laundry (we have a band concert tomorrow, mommy!) two batches of soy milk, and a muffin recipe. Meanwhile, the oven had been preheated very nicely, thank you. Crowding the counter with the soy milk machine, two muffins tins, measuring cups, measuring spoons, etc., I diligently carried on. One batch of soy milk down, cooling on the stove. One muffin recipe half done, waiting for the rest of the liquid ingredients. I measured out the oil and poured it in. I measured out the peanut butter, and in it plopped. I began to stir. Hmmm...seems a little...OH  *%$!!!#@!!* You all know what I did—

My beautiful batch of soy milk was now swimming with oil and peanut butter. It was now 9:00 p.m. I am sweating, the muffins still need to be baked, and the soy milk machine is beeping at me. I want to throw everything (and I mean EVERYTHING) in the sink and go to bed. You all know I didn’t. Visions of my mother flashed through my head. She is standing at the kitchen counter, in the middle of August. Steam is rising from the canner on the stove. It is well past midnight, but when produce needs to be processed, it doesn’t wait. She has six children to feed, nothing is wasted.

I scooped out the peanut butter and added it to the correct mixing bowl. The soy milk, alas, could not be saved. I finished up the muffins and put them in to bake. I made the second batch of soy milk and put the okara in the refrigerator. I put the last load in the dryer. 

Happy Mother’s Day to all those mommies out there who never give up!

13 comments:

kat said...

oh what a night! I'm not usually this bad but I 'm the one who doesn't always read the right spices & will add cumin instead of curry...yikes.

Unknown said...

I have had similar mishaps! Too funny!

Happy Mom's Day from one tough cookie to another!!

grace said...

when i have days like that, i like to take the nearest bowl of cream cheese frosting or guacamole or raspberry ice cream or black bean soup and just wallow in self-pity. good for you for sticking it out!

Helene said...

I can't say I relate on the particular level since I am a mom but I admire your tenacity and strength. Go mom! Have a grest Mother's Day!

Emily said...

What a rough day! I feel for you.
You made it, though!

Lidian said...

Oh Toontz, I feel your pain! - What a terrible 2nd shift...Happy mother's day to you, and may it be filled with cappuccinos and takeout!

Elle said...

What a day! You deserve a break--I hope you get it on Mother's Day!

toontz said...

Kat-Have you ever mixed up sugar and salt? I have! lol

Prudence-Happy Mother’s day to you, too.

Grace-There is not too much that cream cheese frosting won’t cure, I agree.

Tartelette-Thank you, you are a dear.

Emiline-Yes, I made it-though not too crazy about facing the soy milk maker again.

Lidian-Yes, the perfect day!

Elle-Thank you!

Marija said...

Happy Mother's Day!
I am tagging you with a Silly Tag :)
Check my blog for it

My Sweet & Saucy said...

What a story! Hope you can take a break and relax soon! Happy (late) Mother's Day!

Thistlemoon said...

That is some story! But I think you made the best of it and came out shining!

Judy@nofearentertaining said...

Tough day! I have a bread machine that I use almost daily to make bread, pizza dough and pasta!

Happy belated Mother's Day to you!

toontz said...

Marja-
Loved the silly tag!

Melody-
I had a wonderful (no mishaps) Mother’s Day, thank you!

Jenn-
You are so sweet, but the only thing shining in that kitchen that night was my face from the sweat!

Thank you Judy!