Cleaning the Dry Porch

December 4, 2o12

I know you're probably wondering what cleaning my old dry porch has to do with Shortbread.  Well, in one way nothing in another everything.  The dry porch is full of memories . . . when my husband Jim died 7 years ago it remained functional, but you know the old story it started COLLECTING!  You could say the porch was a lot like me.  It served a purpose but sort of held on to things, because they might prove useful some time in the future.  Not anymore!  It is time to sort through and evaluate what still serves a purpose and what must be discarded.  

   

I want you to know that I am going back and forth as I write this passage . . . cleaning for a few and then returning to this task.  It's easier that way.  I've actually been working on re-organizing and cleaning this area for a couple of weeks.  I think that when I first started I was afraid of what I might find if I looked too hard.  The porch is not large ~ maybe 12'x24', but it packs a wallop in what it contains!  Food Products, Serving Containers, A Full Size Frig, Chest Freezer, Gardening Supplies you catch my drift.  And of course everything is too important to part with (yeah right!)  

I filled the big garbage can up and had to pile my bagged garbage and old paint cans next to the darn thing!  Thank God tomorrow is garbage day!  Six hours into today's project and although I'm not completely finished at least I can look at my dry porch and feel a sense of accomplishment!  BTW for anyone with any sense it is also the cocktail hour!  Red wine and a box pizza anyone?

December 5, 2012

The garbage man came and collected yesterday's trash ~ but guess what I've already filled the darned trash can up again.  I've been assessing the dry porch today trying to figure out where to put my packaging supplies for my shortbread, tarts and cookies.  It'll probably take a few more days of strategizing before I get this part of the equation figured out but boy does it feel AND look so much better!

In conclusion of today's blog I just want to say that now I feel like I can get back to the thing I really love to do which is cook & bake!  Today, although I haven't managed any cookies or tarts yet I have made a Killer Hungarian Goulash and an Amazing Phuket Pork Curry! Nummy!