Ah, yes, date nights. I remember those days. Back when my husband and I lived in town and had no children. Fast forward to reality, though … 53 acres and two kids. Date nights are nearly nonexistent now. Especially date nights that require leaving the house.
But that doesn’t mean date nights can’t still be fun! You just have to get a little more creative. And you can also get some of those things checked off the to-do list!
1. Brew beer or make wine together! A few years ago, my husband started making wine, and beer followed closely after. It’s a fun project to bottle up the beer or wine after the kids go to bed. Not only do we plan the garden seasonally, but my husband plans his libations accordingly. He makes sure to have a white wine bottled for summer and red for the winter. And after you’re done bottling, you can enjoy a glass of wine together!
2. Shell dried beans. Hear me out on this one — dried beans are the lazy gardener’s best friend. You spend some time planting in the early summer and then you spend some time shelling them later in the season. No canning, freezing, or drying required! So, grab a glass of that homemade wine and chat about your homestead plans with your spouse.
3. Weed the garden. Yes, another menial chore that can be made fun when done together. Playing in the dirt is therapeutic to me, and it helps to have somebody around to talk to. My husband does the grunt work with the hoe, and I do the finesse work around the plants. Date night and a free manicure!
4. Preserve the harvest. Have a plethora of beets? Pickle ‘em! Too many tomatoes? Make some salsa, or hot sauce, or just plain tomato sauce. The job doesn’t necessarily go quicker with two people, but once you get a rhythm down, it can be really fun. And when you pop open that jar of beets or salsa, you can be taken back to that summer night of canning in the kitchen!
5. Put the chickens up and go for a walk! Around the yard, of course, and be sure to talk about your hopes and dreams for the space for the future. Or, lay down in the yard and look at the stars. Or sit down and watch the sunset!
See, there are ways to sneak in a “date night” and still be productive!
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