Her: Being domestic

To some it may seem cliché, or backwards, but I really, really enjoy being domestic. By domestic, I mostly mean cooking, baking, sewing, and other activities that in the past were associated with being a housewife (notice I didn't include cleaning in that list...HAHA). Doing these activities give me great satisfaction and fulfillment.

This week, I've baked 2 batches of cookies and 1 batch of muffins.  In addition, to go with dinner tonight, I whipped up a batch of bannock (a quick flatbread). Tomorrow, I will be canning peaches with 2 friends. I am grateful that I have the time to do these things. It's not only about the satisfaction I get from cooking and baking - it's also about being able to eat healthier and knowing exactly what goes into your food. There is just WAY too much processed food out there today (case in point, the ready to eat frozen PB&J sandwich, Uncrustables... when did it get too hard to slap peanut butter and jam on 2 slices of bread?!)

I actually didn't start baking a lot until after I moved out. I had no need to, actually, because I grew up with parents who were amazing cooks. I know I'm really lucky to have had these role models, because many people nowadays don't even know how to boil water on the stove. To quote a friend, being domestic is truly a dying art. The rising obesity rates are certainly related to this "grab and go" society we've created, where people eat out more than they go to the grocery store. I believe a resurgence of such domestic activities could really help society in the long run.

Slow down and make some cookies!