Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Tuesday's Tip of the Day & True Confessions

Slow Cooker Season is upon us. Here is a pic of my Vegetarian Chili from yesterday. There are not too many household chores that are worse than scrubbing the cooked-on-food from the sides of your crock pot.

About a year ago, I discovered the liners...

They are so easy to use and makes the clean up a dream.
And now for my true confessions...
Last spring, after we had passed inspection and were approved as a suitable host family for a foreign exchange student, I wanted to make her room perfect.


This involved removing Amy's possessions from her closet, two dressers, and desk drawers.
And where was I going to store these precious keepsakes?


Well...this was my problem...this was our garage...for two winters, one of our cars has been parked outside...
How did this happen??
I can tell you it didn't happen overnight. It may have started in about 1999, when we moved my mom from her 5 bedroom farmhouse into her two room townhouse in town...We loaded our vehicle and a trailer...and brought it here to store it for her...plus, every time we visit her, she sends home a few more of her cherished possessions.
Then there are the boxes of our daughters' toys and school memoirs...from kindergarten to college...
Then there are the tubs of crafts and crafting supplies...
In the spring of 2007, the flood forced us, and nearly everyone else in town, to take everything out of the lower level of their home...By now...both cars are parked outside the garage.
Sooo...I knew it was time for me to do something about this...because I couldn't wait for Oprah to have me on her show...









This task pretty much consumed my entire month of July...and yesterday...for the first time in years...

7 comments:

kadler said...

Ooh, looks great!

Suzanne said...

You win the prize this week for the best new idea I've picked up from a blog -- crock pot liners. Seriously, why haven't I heard of these?

Wow. You deserve a medal for the garage transformation. It is so easy to keep accumulating, isn't it? If it was just our "stuff" it wouldn't be so hard to make a clean sweep every now and then, but when it's everyone elses, it makes it tough. What a great job you did! I'm happy you have those cars in before the snow hits -- makes it much easier getting out in the morning with a clear windshield!

Kat S. said...

Congratulations! A job well done! Isn't it funny how this garage encroachment seems to happen to so many, me included. I think it is a disease that creeps up on us over time and then it's too late! The cars have to live outside and we continue to pile things in what used to be their space so long ago. You took the giant step to the cure and I'll bet it feels great!

Busy Bee Suz said...

I love your crock pot tip!!!
Congrats on getting the garage back...love your comment about Oprah!!!

Oklahoma Granny said...

Around here they call me the "queen of the crock pots" because I have several and I love everyone. (I just saw a new buffet-type crock pot the other day that has 3 medium crock pots on it. Gotta have one sometime.) I've never used the liners but have always wondered if they worked well. Thanks for the tip. Fab job on the garage! Your vehicles will love staying indoors this winter.

Lori in South Dakota said...

congratulations--that was an enormous amount of effort and sorting!

Valley Primitives Gift Shoppe said...

WOO HOO Natalie! That's an accomplishment, and I bet it feels great!!
Kim

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