This site is an archive of ChiotsRun.com. For the latest information about Susy and her adventrures, visit the Cultivate Simple site.
Thank you for all your support over the years!

Dinner for One

November 28th, 2011

Today is the first official day of gun season for deer here in Ohio. That means Mr Chiots set off yesterday morning to meet my dad at the family hunting cabin so they could be in the woods at the break of dawn this morning. That means I’ll be eating alone all week long. I spent all day Saturday cooking up a few pots of soup for him to take. With the leftovers I won’t even have to worry about cooking this week, a few quit minutes on the stove and dinner for one will be served.

It doesn’t really bother me to be alone, I’m an introvert so I rather relish it. It’s actually perfect that it happens to be this week because I have a ton of work to catch up on from being sick and the holidays last week. Not having Mr Chiots around means that I’ll be able to dedicate all of my time to working and to finishing up the last few garden chores of the year. I’m hoping I’ll even have a few minutes to spare to get a few pages read in my newest book: Elements of Garden Design!

Do you enjoy time alone or do you like to have people around?

19 Comments to “Dinner for One”
  1. B ryan N. on November 28, 2011 at 6:46 am

    I’m a loner big crowds and social functions make me nervous.My wifes family is all from New Jersey so when she goes for visits I relish the time alone.Like you I get lots of stuff done and just enjoy being alone for a few days.

    Reply to B ryan N.'s comment

  2. Sofie Dittmann on November 28, 2011 at 7:55 am

    Both. :) It depends on the mood I am in, and whether I am “hunting” w/ my camera.

    Reply to Sofie Dittmann's comment

  3. Jennifer Fisk on November 28, 2011 at 8:08 am

    I have been living without a human for the last 10 years but with multiple German Shepherds and kittys, I’m not alone. I love it when my kids come but I’m always glad to return to my normal routine.
    Enjoy your week of doing what you want.

    Reply to Jennifer Fisk's comment

    • Susy on November 28, 2011 at 9:12 am

      So true, I’ve still got 4 cats and dog around to keep me from relaxing too much!

      Reply to Susy's comment

  4. daisy on November 28, 2011 at 8:59 am

    I definitely cherish the time I get to spend alone. Doesn’t happen often. One of my favorite times is when I’m driving to work listening to a book on tape.
    Enjoy your soup and your solitude!

    Reply to daisy's comment

  5. Victoria on November 28, 2011 at 9:34 am

    The quiet sounds nice…I only get that feeling of being alone when I travel for work. Are there any meals that you for yourself that you seldom cook when the Mister is around? My grand solo meal is peanut butter toast…mmmm.

    Reply to Victoria's comment

  6. Allison on November 28, 2011 at 9:41 am

    I LOVE when my husband goes hunting! It is like I get a mini vacation all to myself :):)

    Reply to Allison's comment

  7. Diane on November 28, 2011 at 10:33 am

    Another introvert here, and I absolutely have to have time by myself. Without it I get resentful and tense. I have a 5-year-old grandson who is the opposite. The minute he discovers he is in a room by himself, he starts calling for people. He’s not scared; he just wants/needs a constant audience. These traits show up early.

    Reply to Diane's comment

  8. goatpod2 on November 28, 2011 at 10:50 am

    I don’t mind being around people especially if it’s family and people that I’m comfortable with.

    Amy

    Reply to goatpod2's comment

  9. MAYBELLINE on November 28, 2011 at 11:33 am

    Serious?
    Alone is my preferred state.

    Reply to MAYBELLINE's comment

  10. Tee on November 28, 2011 at 11:34 am

    I do love time alone… I love how I tidy something and it stays that way…however with 7 kids…sigh.. I am rarely alone… And then when I am left completely alone I rarely know what to do with myself…
    Somehow when I do steal away I feel more appreciative.
    Enjoy the tidy solitude..
    T

    Reply to Tee's comment

  11. kristin @ going country on November 28, 2011 at 12:52 pm

    I LOOOVE being alone. Never happens anymore, though, thanks to a husband who works at home, a toddler, and the resident MiL.

    Reply to kristin @ going country's comment

  12. Melanie W on November 28, 2011 at 1:14 pm

    Definitely an introvert here, too! I love people but I need time to rest and recover from time to time. This weekend was a perfect example: busy, full day with wonderful family on Thursday, followed by a day mostly to myself doing things around the house (I love those days!), followed by a full day with wonderful family on Saturday, followed by a busy Sunday morning.

    On Sunday afternoon, rather than going with my husband and some friends to see a movie, I opted to stay home by myself, soaking in the last few beautiful warm rays of the sun and catching up on some reading. I was feeling guilty and anti-social, but my wonderful husband validated my feeling that I needed some down time and convinced me that everyone would understand (which they did!).

    Without that quiet afternoon, I would have come in this morning to the office feeling like I hadn’t had any time off at all!

    Reply to Melanie W's comment

  13. KimH on November 28, 2011 at 1:47 pm

    Add me to the inverted list.. I love being alone and its a rare day that Im truly lonely. I’ve always been that way and I can almost always find something to amuse me & my interest.

    When in high school, I’d stay home, reading, riding motorcycles, or messing around our ranch, and then after about 4 or so months, I’d go to town to see what everyone was up to. I’d hang out in town for a month or two and then it was time to go be antisocial again.. :) I enjoyed it but it sure had others confused. ;)

    I love people & I truly am a people person, but I am also a true introvert & need my space & time, even from family.

    I have a weekly “Me night” when m’honey is gone to one of his groups meetings, and I’ve told the kids (they’re all adults these days) that our house is off limits.. 2 live with us right now, but they have to vacate the premisis on my “my night”, at least for 3 hours.. haha.. I have to guard my time & silence jealously, or they’ll just steamroller me

    I think of the 5 kids & m’honey, Im the only introvert..

    I guess I’ve always been like that though.. My kindergarden report card says “Kim spends too much time reading, needs to spend time with other children.” Haha.. should have known then. ;)

    Reply to KimH's comment

    • KimH on November 28, 2011 at 1:48 pm

      Btw.. that dinner photo up there looks pretty yummy to me!

      Reply to KimH's comment

      • Susy on November 28, 2011 at 11:32 pm

        It was delicious!

        to Susy's comment

  14. gabe on November 28, 2011 at 4:17 pm

    I think I count one vote for ‘not alone’ and many more for ‘alone,’ so I’d hate to break that trend. I too enjoy having time alone (I don’t do well in crowds)- it’s funny for me how ‘loud’ silence can be after a day’s worth of background noise. With a wife, toddler, and crazy dog, heading home after work doesn’t typically provide many opportunities for alone time, but I do like spending time with family too :) Getting away usually just consists of heading outside to work on the latest project, which is fine – I like solitude, but I do like knowing that there’s someone around for companionship, just in case…

    Reply to gabe's comment

  15. Jennelle on November 29, 2011 at 12:35 pm

    Last week was the start of gun buck season here in WV, so I was home alone, too, while the hubs was out with his family hunting. He didn’t get any last week, but there’s still doe season and muzzle loader season. I’ve got my fingers crossed for him, since we used the end of last year’s deer burger a few weeks ago. Last week, I made a big pot of anasazi beans and cornbread, since he doesn’t really like beans and cornbread. They were so tasty, even better the longer they’re leftover. I usually really look forward to being home alone for a night or two, but after 4 days, I was ready for him to come home. Good luck in the woods, Mr.Chiots!

    Reply to Jennelle's comment

  16. Heather on November 29, 2011 at 3:32 pm

    I definitely need my alone time. I love spending time with my husband, but I also really appreciate being able to get things done, or not done, depending on my mood!

    Reply to Heather's comment

About

This is a daily journal of my efforts to cultivate a more simple life, through local eating, gardening and so many other things. We used to live in a small suburban neighborhood Ohio but moved to 153 acres in Liberty, Maine in 2012.

Admin
Read previous post:
Quote of the Day: Nigel Slater

The seed catalogs have become an annual source of inspiration, information, and temptation. Winter afternoons are often spent thumbing through...

Close