Thoroughly Modern Mommy

Yesterday I wore a long, brown skirt (you know, the crinkly kind that travels well), a pony tail, and no makeup. I cleaned the whole house, put laundry away, homeschooled Finn, and made dinner, all in that skirt looking a bit shiny-cheeked. I felt like a pioneer mother, out on the prairie somewhere. Any minute the AC was going to go out, and I would have handled it like a pro. I was ready to go out and kill my own chicken for dinner (hardly, cough cough). It was a bit amusing to think that way. Anyone who really knows me also knows that I am absolutely not meant to be a pioneer. I would bring my hairdryer camping if I knew there would be a plug (actually Wes's car DOES have a three-pronged plug, so looks like I'm all set). It's not that I'm high-maintenance. I can definitely adapt. I just like to feel clean and coiffed. And I enjoy garbage disposals, dishwashers, hot (and I mean HOT) showers, and fluffy towels straight from the dryer. But sometimes I get this wild hair (no, not the grays that are starting to make an appearance), and I want to do something...pioneer-ish. (Come on, didn't you ever play school, department store, grocery store, library, and PIONEER when you were little?) And that usually means I want to bake or grow something. I have very inconsistent luck with both. At best. And I also forget to water things (often, cough cough). We don't have a real backyard right now. So I bought this Topsy-Turvy tomato plant contraption when I moved in. And both seasons, this is what has come of it: (I made it extra large so you can see every teeny tomato.)

That's just 3 short of the entire yield this year! Pretty pathetic, albeit cute. (Guess what—I don't even really like tomatoes all that much. I just keep thinking I HAVE to grow them! I have to prove it to the tomatoes of the world that I can make them bend to my will.) So rather than trying to force tomatoes to grow where they just don't want to grow, I am going to stick to flowers (but then again there is that watering problem...). What this tells me every season is that we each have our own talents. I am a modern girl, born in modern times, with modern talents. I should probably pay closer attention to that...And maybe buy some succulents.

Sometimes I am asked how I "do it all." And I am here to assure you that I DO NOT do it all. I catch toast on fire in my oven, I leave loads of wet laundry in the washer overnight only to have to rewash again the next day (Wes loves this one), I don't dust my floorboards, or make my bed most days, and I don't have a green thumb. I am a big fan of recognizing what we are good at, and just going for it. Of course I love finding inspiration in the talents of others, and seeing if it's a good fit for me. And I can always cultivate the "less talented" parts of myself at any time. But I know it's also good for me to persist with what I am good at right now, and not dwell on the fact that I don't sew charming clothes for my children, or cook an entire meal from scratch every evening, or sing well, or play an instrument with any precision. Or grow a successful tomato plant. Ever. Therefore, I think I'll stick to this: (up in the shop soon)

What are your talents? I'd love to know! Post a link in the comments, and include a link to any one of your blog posts showcasing your talent(s). I'll link to them in a special post.