Three Years of Home-Ec Goodness

Heather says: I can’t believe I wrote this morning’s post and completely forgot to mention that today marks the third anniversary of Home-Ec101.com. A lot has been covered in that time, but what amazes me is how much there is to learn and share. There is so much more I want to cover, like household … Read more

Sunday Confessional: This Is How It Ends

retrochick.JPGIvy says:

My grandmother passed away at about 5 this morning. We’re sad that she’s no longer here on earth, but we rejoice since we know her name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life and we will see her again one day in Heaven. As always, she was the polar opposite of my other grandmother and wound down very slowly, being off all ther tubes and IVs for the past 15 days. My confession: I’m relieved. This means things can get back to normal. A new normal, yes. One without my grandma. But one where everybody isn’t stretched so thin and we’re not all tired and somewhat angry. I feel the slightest bit bad that I feel relieved, but even as my tears fall for my lost grandmother, I know that she was one of the most practical people I have known and she would totally understand my relief.

And it’s a nice thought that she’s back to the grandma I have always known, not the hollow shell of herself that she had become these last few years because of dementia. She is no longer with us here on earth, but now I have both of my grandmas up in Heaven, looking down and keeping watch for me. That part feels good.

If I had been keeping up with my personal blog, I would give her a eulogy of sorts there, but since I haven’t posted there in more than a year, it feels false and wrong to do that there. So, I’ll do it here. Click if you want to read on.

Read more

Bits and Bobs

Ivy says: Several things on tap this morning, so you get one of those catch-all posts. First, a gigantic THANK YOU to all the comments on my “A Side Helping Of Transparency” posts. I am so glad for all the sympathetic and understanding comments. Home Eccers are the very, very best and I love you … Read more

Seriously, he looked at me like I had 2 heads

Ivy says:

This is part story time and part ask the audience. Let me tell you about my teeth, internets. Between my heredity, TMJ, not having dental insurance for most of my adult life, and my love for Dr. Pepper, I have terrible teeth. Several years ago, my TMJ and a couple of bad teeth pushed my pain level to something I couldn’t stand and I went to an oral surgeon and had a ton of teeth removed. Now the only molars I have left on my bottom jaw are bad, and I’ve got to decide what to do. Crap.

Now, I have dental insurance that doesn’t cover much, but some is better than none. And I have some money saved. But to completely fix my teeth with root canals and implants as so many dentists insist on, I don’t have that kind of money. The local dental school has a 5 month waiting list and isn’t even putting people on the waiting list right now. And there is a local dental charity, but we make slightly too much money for it, and we have dental insurance. Rats.

So, with all that said, I gathered my resolve and headed to a local dentist today, determined to make it work- get the dental care I needed and not go into debt for it. The way I figure, I could get partial dentures on the bottom until I can eventually afford implants. You know, not get into debt, do it a piece at a time as I can afford it. That sounds fairly reasonable, right?

Apparently not.

(Click on over to read the rest)

Read more

Reader Appreciation Day 2008

Heather says: It is rare that we jump on blogging bandwagons or at least I would like believe it of Home Ec 101, but here we go. Today is Reader Appreciation Day  2008.  Home Ec 101 would not be a growing and vibrant community without its readers.  Your comments, questions, and suggestions have been invaluable … Read more