- I made miso soup for lunch. I've never made my own miso soup before, but it's something I've always wanted to try; so, this afternoon (while I was shivering and tired and desperate for a little comfort) I pulled out tofu and vegetables and borrowed miso and dried anchovies (for the broth) from a neighbor. The soup bubbled on the stove, which helped warm up the apartment, and I cooked rice, and in the end our lunch was delicious. The girls each had two bowls of soup and we all came away from the table feeling nourished.
- While I was borrowing things, I also borrowed some Korean tea. I told my neighbor I thought the girls were coming down with colds and she sent me home with some Honey Citron tea jelly, which is a traditional Korean cold remedy; so, the girls and I spent the afternoon sipping hot tea in our cold house, and it really did make everyone feel better.
- I couldn't borrow a space heater from the housing office because they were closed for Veteran's Day (and I couldn't go shopping for one because the girls are sick and it was cold and rainy), so I borrowed a small heater from the aforementioned lovely neighbor; it didn't work very well though. The instructions were all in Japanese and even though I turned it on and felt the heat coming out I'm not sure if I had the fan blowing as hard as possible. The space heater really only warmed up the area immediately in front of the space heater, so I turned on the oven. Call it wasteful, but we were really cold. I closed off the back of the apartment and let the oven warm up the front rooms and honestly it was kind of cheerful. The soup was bubbling on the stove and the tea kettle was singing and the oven was warming up the house, and isn't it nice when warmth and nourishment are emanating from the kitchen?
- The back of the house is still cold though. I put the small space heater in Katherine's room and tucked both the girls into her bed under a pile of extra blankets. I hope the warmth will soothe them. I hope they'll sleep well and wake up happy. I hope tomorrow will be better.
Do you ever have one of those days where you feel like your life is suddenly just a complete disaster? If so, where do you go for comfort? What makes you feel grateful?
Oh yes, I totally have those days. My husband has had chronic pain issues for the past four years, so I often feel like my happiness is contingent upon his health and his mood. I'm working on that.
ReplyDeleteYou shared from a place that was real, and I appreciate that. Even more, I appreciate the sacrifice your family is making for all the rest of us. Bless you.
What are those people thinking not having the heat on in your building!! Don't they know it's mid-November?! I'm pretty outraged that they're letting you freeze, but I'm proud of you for holding things together and making a cozy day out of it. Will you make some miso soup for me sometime? I always hear that it's delicious, but the anchovies scare me!
ReplyDeleteyes, i absolutely have those moments. let's just say my mom called the other day and i couldn't stop myself from crying as i answered the phone. sigh. for the first time in many years we live close enough to each other that she drove over for a visit last night. so that is nice. but under normal circumstances, i don't know how i get myself out of funks. i guess...i just muddle through. keep busy. make a plan for the day. see people. do all the things i don't want to do, actually. hang in there, emily.
ReplyDeleteI wish I lived next door because then I would run and get you a heater. I am sorry you kiddo's aren't feeling so well and it is cold.
ReplyDeleteA glass of wine. A quick scan through friends' blogs. Some kind of frivolous, fun activity with the kids. A ride or walk to the park (weather permitting). Any way to just step outside myself and stop taking my own self so seriously.
ReplyDeleteI hope you're feeling warmer now. This post definitely was.
Mom: You don't have to use anchovies in your miso soup broth if they freak you out. I actually think the anchovy base is more Korean than Japanese, but I like the flavor. Making the basic broth is incredibly easy. If you can find miso (bean paste) at the store all you have to do is mix a few spoonfuls of it into a pot of boiling water. Then (if you're using dried anchovies, take them out!) add chunks of tofu and/or noodles along with seaweed and whatever vegetables you have on hand. There are lots of good recipes on-line if you need more direction; but honestly, I really like just the basic broth. It's total comfort food -- and healthy!
ReplyDeleteHi--this is probably too late--but when I have those days (and I often do) I try to set time limits for everything. As in: I'm going to concentrate on X thing for X amount of time. Sometimes when everything feels overwhelming it helps to narrow the focus and just do one thing, however small, for a set amount of time. And then the next...
ReplyDeleteI hope you're all better and warmer by now. Can I ship you a space heater? Just say the word...
You are not negative and whiny. You are appropriately reaching out to your support system at a time of need.
ReplyDeleteYou have an amazing ability to turn things around and make the best of any situation. You are a world class mother and your girls are learning from you to adapt and cope in healthy ways with whatever life throws at them.
Siobhan's offer goes for me, too. Say the word and I will send you a space heater tomorrow. Seriously.
Siobhan and Aunt Donna: Thank so much for the space heater offers! We're fine though. After Friday's freakishly cold weather we had two gorgeous days in a row (today it was actually hot!) and we're all feeling much better.
ReplyDeleteI'm planning to ask the housing office for a space heater tomorrow morning though. The temperatures are about to drop again and this time I want to be prepared. Warming your hands over the stove might be fun in an emergency, but it's not a permanent solution.
And thank you *all* for your supportive comments. You guys are amazing!