Our "Home Sweet Home"

1.      Comfortable – By this I mean you would definitely NOT find our house in the pages of any House and Home type magazine. Our house has that “lived-in” feeling like faded blue jeans or flannel pj’s…comfy and cozy.

2.      Peaceful – I’m talking about the outside. Our house is on a ravine above a popular hiking trail which runs parallel to a creek. Huge evergreen trees are all around and the sound of rushing water can be heard at most times of the year. Perhaps not as picturesque and tranquil as it sounds yet compared to inside (you can read my Saturday Seven via Satellite post for an explanation)...definitely peaceful. 

3.      Entertaining – I really enjoy entertaining (when I have the energy *sigh*). When I was in my 30’s I would sweat for weeks pouring over the menu, cleaning the house and setting a Martha Stewart table. At 51 the only sweating comes from my hot flashes. Don’t be surprised if you end up being the guinea pig for a new recipe, you’ll be lucky if I pull out the vacuum, and the table cloth may be flipped over just before you arrive (why wash it if I’ve only used one side? Am I right??? C’mon ladies…fess up.)  With “maturity” comes the realization it is not so much about appearances and more about spending quality time with family and good friends.

4.      Nurturing – Not in the way that one might think. In our case, we are talking dust bunnies. Not quite as bad as the tumbleweeds seen in old western movies but I’m working on it.

5.      Green – G is big on this one. He makes sure we do our part by supplying everyone with sweaters, slippers and extra blankets in the winter – no need to turn up the thermostat past 68 degrees F is there?!?  Showers are just long enough to rinse out the shampoo…did I mention he has no hair?  Lights are only on in rooms that are occupied therefore G and I tag team when we go to bed.

6.      Multi-purpose – While our house may be seen as disorganized or cluttered, I like to go with multi-purpose. There are several areas in the house where you will find a potpourri of items at your fingertips. For example, our dining room table serves as a desk and wrapping station at Christmas while the chairs are great for damp dry laundry. The living room has an area I use to store my reusable/eco-friendly (you’re welcome) grocery bins, patio chairs in the summertime and seasonal sports equipment.

7.      Prepared – As in we have enough cans of cream of mushroom soup, corn, stewed tomatoes and bags of dried pasta to last us an eternity should any natural disaster occur. Yes I realize you need some form of heat to make a meal out of these items but really…after an earthquake I’m gonna want to make a casserole!  Gimme a break!

Given “Riley World” is such a big part of our lives, how could I not include a couple autism-specific ones.

8.      Autism-friendly –Behaviours typically thought to be “odd or as being badly-behaved” do not exist in our house. We like to think everyone has “unique or misunderstood personality traits”. Wow…that sounded almost intellectual! This is not to say that our house is a free-for-all. As a matter of fact it is quite the opposite. Rules and boundaries are big in our house and work well in Riley World. Having “special needs” is not synonymous with being treated “special” therefore being respectful of others and good manners are expected.

9.      Predictable – Riley has a visual schedule on the fridge that he has used since time began. If it’s not on the schedule…it does not exist and therefore will not happen. Conversely if things are on the schedule they WILL happen barring the total annihilation of mankind. Thank goodness for the “something different” card which allows for a little flexibility.

  

Last by no means least…

10.  Welcoming - Just have to make sure Riley’s picked up from school before quenching my thirst so anytime after 4pm feel free to pop in for a glass of wine.  Here’s to Stasha’s Monday Listicles!