A good book and a hearty meal

Recently, I’ve been trying to do a better job of balancing my work life and my home life — which is hard, since I work at home, and since the Internet never closes. I’ve been making new rules about my laptop (must stay in the office!) and my phone (no email on the weekends!). I’m also searching for ways to really throw myself into the home part of my life.

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Our dining room is nearly finished; we’re just missing a few details and then we’re done. Every time I come down the stairs and turn the corner into the foyer, I’m struck by how much I love this room, and by how peaceful and welcoming it finally is. We’ve been looking for some way to fill up the table during the day, so that it’s not just a big empty space; I’ve been gathering things from around the house, to see what we have that might look right there.

This weekend, I started pulling out books. Remember books? From back before the Internet? Some of THESE books actually DO predate the internet. By quite a few years, in fact.

I love my books, but I feel like I read so little, because there’s never time. For the past few days, instead of watching television at night or surfing the internet, I’ve been climbing into bed with a book (right now, it’s Wuthering Heights and Coraline). I love the exercise of turning the pages and falling into the story, even if it’s a story I’ve read (and read and read and read) before.

I am also thinking about the whole idea of dinner — of that time when we all sit at the table and fall into conversation. Our life here is so busy, with work and school and basketball and all the other things that need to get done in a day. It’s so easy to give up on dinner, on that meal, on the food, and to opt for a pizza or take out. And I’m not a great cook — I don’t find cooking relaxing, especially after a long day.

I know I’m not the only one.

There’s real value in a proper meal, though — not just in terms of nutrition and conversation, but in the act of stepping away from work and making the effort to do something only for home.

Every day this week, I’m cooking something new from Kraft’s iFood Assistant — last night, it was the Beef Noodle Bowl, which simple and incredibly delicious (verdict: my husband and ONE of my children loved it — guess which child). Sirloin steak and vegetables cooked in a sesame sauce and tossed with linguini — it was the perfect Sunday night meal. We ate it sitting at the dining room table, which was lovely and special (although Charlie came to dinner in his Mr. Incredible costume, with a funky headband on, but at least he ate the noodles).