I'm a Happy Homemaker?

Almost forgot to take off my apron.

That even sounds weird typing it.

I remember my mom and grandmothers and all the ladies in the family wearing aprons, especially for holiday dinners. Of course, that's because they were usually wearing dresses (and heels and jewelry) that they tried to keep clean. Cooking, serving, doing dishes...make sure you've got an apron on!

I'm sure I wore one as a youngster, on occasion, too. I think I've recently seen a photo of us making homemade Christmas cookies. Flour? Frosting? Don't get any on your clothes!

But as an adult, I rarely feel the need to wear one. Either I'm wearing clothes that can handle a little hand wiping, or I'm just not doing anything...in the kitchen. (I'm not really much of a cook. Some might call that an understatement.)

But today I put it on while I washed a sinkful of dishes (the ones that don't go in the dishwasher). I left it on as my teen son and I made an apple pie from scratch. (Well, we used ready-made refrigerated crusts, but peeled and sliced actual apples!) Then I kept wearing it as I got some chicken breasts ready for the oven and as I cleaned up the kitchen after dinner.

It must be some sort of nostalgia thing. I just feel like one of the "grown-up women" when I put on an apron. Like a traditional wife and mother. Like playing "dress-up."

Last year I did take a few aprons off my mom's hands. The old-fashioned kind that tie around the waist, nice gingham checks, a little embroidery, even a tiny pocket (for what, I'm not sure). Just like Grandma used to wear.

Today, however, I used one I've had for ages, more utilitarian, with a particular adult beverage brand name featured prominently--a freebie from working in a beer tent years ago. Don't want to rush into this domestic goddess role too completely too quickly.

Kall it Kismet!

(No, that's not a typo in the heading. I'm just fond of alliteration.)

Yesterday I commented on Twitter how quiet I'd been lately. Not tweeting too much (or updating my Facebook status much either, for that matter). A editor friend responded, asking if perhaps I was so busy working that I hadn't time to tweet! I replied that sadly, that was not the case.

Mere moments later, I received a call about a potential freelance gig for next week (another read-through of the project I worked on in November). Cool!

Meanwhile, my Twitter buddy gave me a shout-out along the lines of, "If you need a proofreader, contact ProofingSandy!" Within about an hour, I'd picked up nine new followers. I promise to try to tweet enough to keep them interested!

Though I'm not personally familiar with this friend's editing work, I know her style and her personality. She's intelligent and hard-working. I respect her and her work. Clearly, so do other people. I knew she was influential, and people look to her for information and/or recommendations. Her mention of my name got a few people to check out my profile and decide I might be worth their time.

If you need a proofreader, please contact me. If you need an experienced and highly skilled copyeditor, please contact me...and I'll direct you to her.

Divine intervention that the phone rang right after we tweeted each other? Coincidence that I gained followers shortly thereafter? Perhaps. Or maybe it's just the power that is...Katharine. Thank you!

Do you have a good-luck charm in your life?

Getting Into the Christmas Mood

So here we are. Christmas is done, the New Year's celebrations are over. This week I'll probably take down the tree. (It's artificial, so it's not too time-sensitive.) There's a wreath out front, and some lights in the upstairs windows. I've promised myself I'll put everything back where it belongs and not just in a heap in the basement.

But wait a minute. I don't remember really having that super-duper Christmas spirit. Naturally, part of that is due to the loss of my father. I couldn't get motivated to do a lot of my last-minute high-pressure shopping and decorating that usually get me psyched. But I should have already been jolly well before then anyway.

I think it's due, in part, to the fact that I'm not going to a job every day. In past years, I've decorated my office. Some may call it cheesy. I call it personal style. And if it made my colleagues chuckle, then my work there was done. I've got about two dozen sets of Christmas earrings. Santa trolls, miniature ornaments, jingly bells...a different daily pair for several weeks leading up to the holiday. Add a few seasonal sweatshirts for the final countdown and I'm a regular ghost of Christmas present. But this year, most of the earrings went unworn. Just couldn't see wearing them if I wasn't leaving the house. It didn't help, either, that the local radio station that used to play Christmas music 24/7 starting at Thanksgiving changed formats. I played a few CDs at home, but I didn't have that guaranteed Jingle Bell Rock fix every time I got into the car.

This may mean that I need to make a resolution for the new year. Regardless of my daily schedule and location, I must try to do what I like to do for holidays. I honestly enjoy sprucing things up as the seasons change and holidays approach. I've got window clings and and decorative flags and earrings for just about every celebratory occasion. Why not use them? If they make me smile, that might make my family smile. And although my motives are far from being altruistic, the chance to spread a little cheer is a bonus.

I missed the boat a bit last year. But gosh darn it...I'm going to adorn, bedeck, and festoon my personal space like crazy whenever I can in 2011.

Anybody know where I can get a stuffed groundhog in the next few weeks? Shadow is optional...