Our nanny is leaving us in October and so we are looking at our childcare options. We are interviewing a woman next week who also speaks Spanish and wants some flexibility in her schedule. So maybe we’ll put our son in preschool two or three mornings a week and have a nanny the rest of the time. Or maybe I’ll just work part-time the days we have him in preschool and full time the two days we have a nanny.

There are so many factors to consider: finances, the impact it will have on my business if I cut back (which circles back around to finances), whether or not my son is ready for out-of-home care, and of course, whether or not I’m ready to have him go! I work from home now and get to see him as much as I want. Although truthfully, the nanny takes him out for hours and hours every day so I’d probably “see” him just as much.

We’ve been touring preschools in the area, trying to find one that can continue his Spanish language instruction. There are precious few that offer that. The two closest to us are both new (one’s been in business for one year and the other is starting this fall), so they don’t have much of a track record. Should that be a concern?

I know every parent struggles with finding good childcare and worries about whether or not they’re doing the right thing so I suspect I’m in good company.

On another random note, t-shirts are on sale everywhere right now. I know that summer will be over soon (well, maybe not so soon here in Atlanta) but I like to stock up on t-shirts for the winter. I think t-shirts layered over a long-sleeved shirt look really cute and are perfect for our milder climate. So I plan to stock up (buy one size up to allow room for the shirt underneath) on some cute tees now.

Now that we’re more or less settled in the house, we’ve started to cook more. We have a perfect kitchen to cook in and a new grill; it’s been fun to break them in. What’s not been fun about the new house? Cleaning. Too many bathrooms (we tried to get the builder to get rid of one of them but the architect insisted and we caved). Fortunately for us, my husband hates to dust and I like to. But I HATE, HATE, HATE to clean floors and he doesn’t mind that at all. That just leaves the bathrooms (mostly me) and the dishes (always him).

No plans yet for the weekend. What about you?

The guys at FunnyorDie thought it’d be fun/wicked/awesome (!) to send Jewel out to a karaoke bar to sing her own songs.  She’s such a good sport and still seems so down-to-earth. I watched the video while eating breakfast this morning. Now, off to get some work done!

Enjoy:

That Old Spice Guy was on Ellen and I’m sorry, but he is just TOO funny and cute. I love the ads; one of the few TV commercials to break out of the clutter in recent history. Also one of the few spots that my hubby and I don’t fast forward through.

“Honey, all my girls are good cooks. Therefore, I won’t allow you to become the exception. Love, MamMa” (Christmas, 1986)

So reads the inscription in my Better Homes and Garden cook book. My grandmother, an English teacher, had a way with words. So it was that when we found ourselves with some great ground beef and a downpour (not grilling weather), I said, “hey, let’s make a meatloaf.” The last time I tried, I used a recipe I found online from that Southern fried cook, Paula Deen. Made it. Didn’t like it. It was too . . . mushy. And didn’t use catsup! I wanted a basic meatloaf recipe and MamMa’s cookbook provided one.

It was yummy. I’ll add green pepper next time, but otherwise, perfect. My husband loved it. My friend, Vesatee, is sitting here at the table with me chowing down on some leftovers.

I have a friend, Ruthie, who used to work with me. Our office had a little cafe with a cook named James. Every now and then, he made meatloaf and Ruthie and I swooned. “Is it Meatloaf Monday?” we’d inquire giddily as we ran to the cafe. James’ meatloaf was the good ‘ol basic kind.

What is it about meatloaf? By the time I reached high school, I hated it, along with some of my mom’s other standards, like fried chicken. Once I hit my 30′s, though, I ached for some good ‘ol fried chicken, or Mom’s pot roast, or meatloaf. Incidentally, it’s times like these that I miss her. It’ s always the little things, isn’t it? I really wish I had her pot roast recipe. Lipton’s onion soup mix and all.

Christopher hung our wind chimes the other night. I’m typing in our breakfast nook looking at them, dangling, beautiful and still. It’s hot. No breeze. There are nests that look like gigantic spider webs far, far up in our trees (maybe 50 feet). Not sure if we call a tree company or pest control or just not bother at all. But then I have images of spiders dropping one by one onto the yard, or the house. Or maybe it’s not spiders but some flying insects. Whatever. It’s gross.

My dad, sister and nephew came for a visit last week. Hunter was slow to warm up, as he always is, but by the end of the visit he was happily going to Pop Pop – especially since Pop Pop indulged him in many walks “abide” (outside). My son loves to be outdoors.

But not me. Especially not with 95 degree heat, no breeze and mysterious critters growing in my trees. No thank you very much.