10.26.2011
10.20.2011
diy
I had hoped that this post would begin differently. Mr. Beeton and I had been keeping our fingers crossed that a magnificent windfall was coming our way. But, alas, it didn't work out, so now we are back to square one.
You may have read some of my past posts about the challenges that we face in our galley-style kitchen. When we bought our house, my one major reservation was with the kitchen (no, not with the stained carpet in the basement, the paint splattered baseboards, or the marred hardwood floors). Four doors, literally no cabinet space, poor lighting. But, I watch enough HGTV to believe in possibilities, and I had seen enough renovated houses in this neighborhood to know that my dream kitchen was possible - even if it is tens of thousands of dollars out of our reach. I'd live with what I had until we could do more.
But it's been frustrating. Majorly frustrating. I feel like every time I cook in that room I end up shouting, "I hate this kitchen!" So, when A&E put out a casting call for a webisode of their program Fix This Kitchen, Mr. Beeton applied.
And, guess what? They wrote him back.
You see, to be chosen for the show, you not only have to have a terrible kitchen (check) but you also have to express an interest of food (check). Mr. Beeton thought my teaching, reading, writing about kitchen culture (as Sherrie Inness calls it) was enough to make us a perfect match. Apparently, his introductory email, which highlighted these connections, was compelling enough that they wanted to see pictures, which we promptly sent along with a narrative. And, then, those pictures were compelling enough that they wanted to see a video. It was supposed to be no less than five minutes long and no more than ten minutes long. They also wanted us to fill out a questionnaire and sign a million release forms, which made us really, really hopeful. This is what we came up with:
We thought our cooking show would put us over the top, and we had a few nail-biting days (especially because Mr. Beeton's email got all screwy with a University wide conversion!). But, we heard from them the other day, and we were not selected. We're both pretty bummed, but now we are rolling up our sleeves and getting to work on some of the easy cosmetic makeovers we had planned before we dared to dream. We'll keep you posted on how it works out.
Keep sweeping, Martha
Watched Horrible Bosses.
You may have read some of my past posts about the challenges that we face in our galley-style kitchen. When we bought our house, my one major reservation was with the kitchen (no, not with the stained carpet in the basement, the paint splattered baseboards, or the marred hardwood floors). Four doors, literally no cabinet space, poor lighting. But, I watch enough HGTV to believe in possibilities, and I had seen enough renovated houses in this neighborhood to know that my dream kitchen was possible - even if it is tens of thousands of dollars out of our reach. I'd live with what I had until we could do more.
But it's been frustrating. Majorly frustrating. I feel like every time I cook in that room I end up shouting, "I hate this kitchen!" So, when A&E put out a casting call for a webisode of their program Fix This Kitchen, Mr. Beeton applied.
And, guess what? They wrote him back.
You see, to be chosen for the show, you not only have to have a terrible kitchen (check) but you also have to express an interest of food (check). Mr. Beeton thought my teaching, reading, writing about kitchen culture (as Sherrie Inness calls it) was enough to make us a perfect match. Apparently, his introductory email, which highlighted these connections, was compelling enough that they wanted to see pictures, which we promptly sent along with a narrative. And, then, those pictures were compelling enough that they wanted to see a video. It was supposed to be no less than five minutes long and no more than ten minutes long. They also wanted us to fill out a questionnaire and sign a million release forms, which made us really, really hopeful. This is what we came up with:
We thought our cooking show would put us over the top, and we had a few nail-biting days (especially because Mr. Beeton's email got all screwy with a University wide conversion!). But, we heard from them the other day, and we were not selected. We're both pretty bummed, but now we are rolling up our sleeves and getting to work on some of the easy cosmetic makeovers we had planned before we dared to dream. We'll keep you posted on how it works out.
Keep sweeping, Martha
Watched Horrible Bosses.
10.14.2011
"a place where we ache to go again"
Lately, I've noticed that when Friday hits I forget that's it's actually Friday - the start of the weekend, a night to unwind. Our days around here have always been much less structured than other people's days (one of the luxuries of being in academia), but with Baby Beeton, they have taken on this eerily similar quality. One day runs into the next with feedings, playtime, naps, and nightly bedtime battles. Not much marks the difference between a Tuesday and a Wednesday.
Tonight, I decided we needed to do something, anything, to kick off the weekend, a small attempt to reclaim just a little bit of our old life. It's been heavily raining the last few days, but around 2:30 pm today, the clouds broke, and the sun was shining. The heavy humidity lifted as well, and it felt the way a day in October should feel. We packed up Baby Beeton and Ella and headed to Glen Echo Park - which began as a National Chautauqua Assembly in 1891 (read up on the Chautauqua movement - it's fascinating!) and served as an amusement park until 1968.
Now, there are a host of little buildings devoted to various arts, a ballroom, a playground, and the old carousel. They have all sorts of good stuff - especially in the summer - like puppet shows and concerts, and today we saw a wedding with the reception all laid out in the old bumper car area.
We walked around for a while, gawked at the bride, and swung on the swings. We were even able to get dinner from the concession stand and eat it out on the picnic benches.
But, perhaps the best part of the whole day was in the parking lot when we pushed Baby Beeton really fast in the stroller and heard his first squeal of delight - genuine laughter! Of course, we made him do it over and over again. I'd say that that's a pretty good way to get the weekend started.
Keep sweeping (or swinging), Martha
Tonight, I decided we needed to do something, anything, to kick off the weekend, a small attempt to reclaim just a little bit of our old life. It's been heavily raining the last few days, but around 2:30 pm today, the clouds broke, and the sun was shining. The heavy humidity lifted as well, and it felt the way a day in October should feel. We packed up Baby Beeton and Ella and headed to Glen Echo Park - which began as a National Chautauqua Assembly in 1891 (read up on the Chautauqua movement - it's fascinating!) and served as an amusement park until 1968.
Now, there are a host of little buildings devoted to various arts, a ballroom, a playground, and the old carousel. They have all sorts of good stuff - especially in the summer - like puppet shows and concerts, and today we saw a wedding with the reception all laid out in the old bumper car area.
We walked around for a while, gawked at the bride, and swung on the swings. We were even able to get dinner from the concession stand and eat it out on the picnic benches.
But, perhaps the best part of the whole day was in the parking lot when we pushed Baby Beeton really fast in the stroller and heard his first squeal of delight - genuine laughter! Of course, we made him do it over and over again. I'd say that that's a pretty good way to get the weekend started.
Keep sweeping (or swinging), Martha
10.06.2011
100 days of...
Yesterday, at the Takoma Mamas group, one of the group members brought all these amazingly beautiful and yummy treats (I had this little puff ball thingy that melted in my mouth and exploded with the most delicious flavor) to celebrate her baby's 100 day birthday. In Korea, she explained, the 100 day celebration is incredibly important because it means that the baby has overcome some of the most difficult, early day obstacles and should be on the road to good health and happiness! On the day of the celebration, the family is to share with as many people as possible these special treats. The more people who eat; the more good fortune for the child.
It made me curious as to when Baby Beeton's 100 day celebration would be. Turns out it would have been on September 7th, if I calculated correctly, Grammy and Papa Beeton's wedding anniversary! What a coincidence. I have to say that can only mean good fortune.
Keep sweeping, Martha
Finished reading Little Children by Tom Perrotta (I do not recommend reading this book if you have just had a child or are in any way experiencing any kind of marital strife at the time of reading. Of course, it you don't have a degree in Women's Studies or a penchant for Patrick Wilson-types, you'll be fine.)
It made me curious as to when Baby Beeton's 100 day celebration would be. Turns out it would have been on September 7th, if I calculated correctly, Grammy and Papa Beeton's wedding anniversary! What a coincidence. I have to say that can only mean good fortune.
Keep sweeping, Martha
Finished reading Little Children by Tom Perrotta (I do not recommend reading this book if you have just had a child or are in any way experiencing any kind of marital strife at the time of reading. Of course, it you don't have a degree in Women's Studies or a penchant for Patrick Wilson-types, you'll be fine.)
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