da Vinci Code... Simplicity

Turning off the Water

Today is truing off the water day.  I mean that literally and figuratively.  DH was up and out the door early to meet his uncle a the family cabins to turn off the water for the season.  The cabins can still be used, but the outdoor privy and lugging your own water will be a requirement.  There are loads of lovely days ahead for hiking and getting the canoes out, mind you some waterproof and line boots necessary to hop out and pull theme back to shore. They could wait longer into fall, but here has already been frost just north of us and it wont be long for a hard overnight freeze.  With it spotty who will be up there, it is just safer to have the water off entirely than risking the freezing pipes. 

 Money has been pouring through our hands in the last week, and that my friends, leads me to the other faucet.  High School should;t be any ore expensive than previous grades, but the fees are higher, and the involvement DD#2 has is greater. Yearbooks were more than double the middle school years, and pre buying in the fall fall meant a 10% discount. She tried out for an made the school show choir so this comes with an activity fee, and payments for  dresses, "spirit wear", and competitions.  She also needs a $20 food fee for the full day rehearsal days. The first payment was due on her orchestra trip as well this past week. Added to these were our Renaissance Festival day yesterday (worth every penny), and pulling together our vacation spending money for mid month, and let's not forget Christmas is a mere three months away.  The faucet needs to be off today, and just a glass full at a time the rest of the month. 

There are bright spots though.  October is a three paycheck month.  For 25 years we have been living with twice monthly pay periods for both of us, not the every other week time frame that gives the twice year extra check.  We have been living the same as if twice a month is all we would see.  While not a "bonus" as my regular checks have had a significant dip from my previous job, the dollars are kicking into the checkbook at an opportune time. Additionally, I've been managing my food stocks, health and beauty needs, and clothing needs very well thanks to all the advice and guidance I've gleaned from the Internet, and going back to my own frugal and simplistic roots. 

I'm not sure what DH will do for meals. Perhaps they'll stop at a bar and catch the football game and have a beer and a burger.  He didn't join us yesterday, and it won't cost much as deals are plenty during game days, and he isn't a much of a drinker. Besides, guy bonding is good.  His uncle, being only a few years older and with us having kids that grew up together, is as much a friend as a relative. Me and DD#2 will have a quiet and productive day, though I'm still lounging under bed covers at 9:30 and she is still fast asleep. She has homework and some housework and I have housework, cooking and week planning to do.  Despite the fall temperatures being for real, the days have been so sunny and perfect for a good long hike later with pup. I've got supplies to do a big crock pot mock lasagna for supper, which will yield some leftovers for the week and lunches.  I've got beans and bacon to do up a hearty soup. Our own brunch will be simple like muffins and eggs. no money spent. 

While we won't be cold turkey on spending the rest of October, or the rest of the year for that matter, we will be pacing ourselves slowly and methodically. We have incurred more expenses than we are accustomed to with the additional activities for our daughter. She is helping to earn where she can towards these extras and some of the expense will take the place of gifts. These are experiences though that will last her a lifetime, not more stuff to clutter her bedroom, therefore fit our spending priorities. So for now, simple, frugal, minimalist living will continue to be the family motto. 

Minimizing not Marginalizing

I've decided I hate stuff. I know how George Carlin felt as I try little by little to purge the stuff from my home.  Because unfortunately in recent years my home hasn't felt that way.  It has felt like a storage shed, one in which I just move the stuff amongst the shelving units and floor space. I have gotten on the frugality and simplicity bandwagon, at least philosophically, if not quite there physically. I am starting action, and vow I will not get despondent at slow progress.  

For when I close my eyes, I can see cozy uncluttered rooms on the horizon.  I see an organized kitchen with the just the pots, pans, appliance, and utensils I use. I see a closet with clothes that I truly love and feel comfortable and confident in, even if I rotate relatively few items. I see a retirement at least 1/2 a decade earlier than my peers, not because I struck it rich, but because I was planful and intentional with where my money went. I see a calendar only with experiences and with people that bring me joy, including volunteering to organizations that forward causes and actions I believe in. I don't see my kind of frugality as doing more with less, but doing more because of less. It's a nice vision. 

I've made my Must List this week, and so far so good in implementation, though it has only been a couple days. A few successes include:

• Cooking and planning meals ahead for the week, including extra's to pack for lunch with the vegetable servings
• Two small bags of clothing items that never fit me well, so I rarely wore them, bagged to be dropped off
• Formalized outline on book, plus short list of blog topics
• Scheduled walking date with friend V and friend L on two different nights, so double tick
• Cleaned both bathrooms to the grout
• Resisted binge watch of Grace and Frankie on Netflix even though I really wanted to

Check out any YouTube video for a taste of Mr. Carlin's take on "stuff." Warning, some versions, this one included, are a little saltier than others, and apologies in advance. For those that don't appreciate the "sh" word, cover your ears.  I find it a very appropriate replacement to the word "stuff.". 

Minimalism: The Must List

While I know I would be an utter failure at total minimalism, I am quite impressed with the efforts others have done at downsizing their possessions, homes, and lifestyle in order to gain more freedom of time, flexibility, and peace of mind. I am exploring some of the  steps to becoming a minimalist.  The Minimalists bloggers Josh and Ryan have a strategy that would take 21 days to redo a lifetime of  consumerism.  I can buy into some of it, particularly day 1 and creating a Must List.  A must list , as the writers say, puts concrete validation to the lists of shoulds humans have in their head.  I should walk more.  No, I must walk more if I am to keep my knees healthy, and have more energy in my overall day.  I should spend less time watching show after show on Netflx.  No, I must watch fewer hours of Netflix and any other video or television device, if I am to have enough time in a day to accomplish things that will give me greater satisfaction.   So here is my Must List. I have broke down into areas of concentration for more focus.These are all highly doable.

Health
1.  Must walk pup every morning before going to work
2.  Must pack lunch that includes fruit and vegetable daily
3.  Must do core and strengthening exercises 4 days per week
4.   Must fill and drink my water bottle twice at work (this is an easy one) and drink equivalent amount of water at home (not an easy one)

Organization
 5.  Must tackle part or all of a room a night for decluttering
6.  Must stay on top of daily household tasks-dishes, laundry, bathroom
Time Management
7.  Must limit TV/Netflix/YouTube (unless for research) to not more than 2 hours per day (this is probably still excessive)
8.  Must read 3 times per week for fun

Money Management
9.  Must set up E-Bay and  Pay-Pal account (why not try and make some money when I declutter)

Social Connectedness
 10. Must meet a friend at least one time per week
 11. Must schedule planned extended family time on both sides of family monthly





Advancing my skills/growth
 12. Must blog at least 4 times per week
 13.  Must continue the Writers Closet monthly short story
 14.  Must research and work on my book 10 hours minimally per week 
 15.  Must keep building my business brand (new venture) and web platform

Ah, ha.  I snuck something new in there.  I have been working on a new side project-a new venture with a few family, friends and former colleagues, that is so new in start-up, we can't even call it infancy stage. The goal is to launch by my 50th birthday the end of November. The thought of doing this would not have even been possible had I not made the job change 5 months ago. While slow to build, it is exactly the kind of small enterprise that will fit in well with a focus on simplicity, and all the categories above. I'm a little too full of teasers right now, so will say no more until it is ready to go. 

6 Weeks of Summer

Friday I shared that this weekend was the town festival.  I haven't partaken in a lot of activities, but did get DD#2 and friends down to the carnival, and I heard some good music.  DD won a goldfish, so she is now the proud parent of Fernando. We still had a bowl and other assorted fish items from our last attempt at goldfish, so a quick clean and his home was ready. I wandered the craft fair, located this year on the grounds of the one historic old "mansion" in town. I didn't buy any crafts, but did walk out with a jar of dry rub for pork and chicken, two Bloody Mary seasoning mixes, and two bottles of unique sauce/marinade. One was garlic and herb and the other rhubarb and barbecue. My family loves to use interesting sauces and it was a local family owned company so despite the $32 for all, I didn't feel bad about paying so much. No kettle corn this year-the vendor was no longer the former Amish vendors with their big open fire kettle, but a much more modern looking regular popcorn maker. They also were only selling in huge bags, and I like to just get a small bag.

 Both Friday and Saturday night were live band tent dances at a bar and grill less than 1/2 mile from us if you cut through the ponds. This means we can sit on our deck and actually hear the concert in full.  Several neighbors were out listening last night.  I decided I was not in the mood to be eaten by mosquito's, so we didn't head to the river for Fireworks. Friday were natural fireworks with lightning and severe thunderstorms throughout our whole region.  Not much sleep was had Friday night, so it was early to bed anyway last night. We haven't decided if we are driving to the Lake this morning yet. Rivertown Days marks the halfway point of the 12 week school summer vacation. 

I've read in multiple places it takes 21 days for something to become embedded into a person's routine.  That could be exercising, eating better, cooking breakfast, decluttering, or any other new discipline or bad habit  a person tries to break. With six weeks left of the unofficial Minnesota summer, that gives me two 21 day cycles to draw upon.  I have many posts noodling in my head and will slowly subject them all to you, but to give you a preview, I've been reading The Minimalists 21 Day Journey as my launching spot. I've never been great at following such disciplined practices as outlined here, but I think the general concepts, if even followed partly, should be a good addition to my aim for more simplicity in my life. Today's tackle will be my Must List.; more tomorrow on that.

Here are a few pictures of the old mansion which housed the craft fair. It was very sunny and I was wearing sun glasses, so apologies for the less than stellar shots. The mansion is built in a Gothic style.  I've been inside, and for all it's size, it is not very ornate, and actually a bit depressing. It was almost like once the house was done, no one took anytime to put any heart or personality into the interior. It is true to how the family lived there, which was not many years because the story is the woman of the house, from the hustle and bustle of the eastern United States, never liked Minnesota and considered it temporary. The grounds though, are lovely, with a preview of fall bounty to come.
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Savor the Ordinary

I wrote a few weeks back about not waiting for the weekends to create moments to look forward to. My point was too many  times in my life I have dragged my sorry behind from day to day, until reaching the Thank God It's Friday moment of the weekend. I don't want that life.  I wonder though if what I was trying to convey would be misconstrued.  There should be times in life that should be celebrated and highlighted as grand and once or rarely in a lifetime experiences, and other days, the joy should be in the ordinary. Sometimes things go too far in tryng to make everyday momentous.  

I was recently reminded of this after seeing high school prom pictures held over the weekend, of my friends daughter. In this same group was another friend sharing pictures of the middle school formal dance. In all honesty, I had to look twice at which was the high school and which was the middle school event. Now, 7th and 8th graders are holding expectations for the perfect night, and wearing the perfect dress and make up. Fortunately, I have three kids that are fly under the radar kind of kids.  Each DD went to the middle school dance when they were that age, though DD#2 passed this year, but each wore a dress from their own closet. They had stories about $200 dresses, never to be worn again. High school prom used to be an event you waited for until you were a junior or senior in high school, but now apparently, this event is dubbed the middle school prom.

The middle school formal resembles what I remember my high school prom being like. The girls bought  a pretty dress, the guys wore a suit, you did the grand march thing, caught some dinner, and attended the dance. I had heard there was the "anti glam" movement for prom for a few years where it was actually uncool to come in a tux, and the girls had dress swapping or shopping at second hand store parties.  From what I saw and heard, that trend is gone. Now the guys are expected to have over the top invitations that meet some new social order. Even the invite needs to be an occasion. Limousines are the norm, and flower and photography rival wedding costs. How many kids sat out because they just couldn't afford to participate at this level, and didn't think they could otherwise.

I am probably sounding scrooge like, and yes, it is about the money, at least in part. More so, it is about building up expectations for young people that real life just can't possibly sustain. It pleases me to learn that the divorce rate is going down, but how many young couples have you met that seem to have put more thought into the wedding as an event, as opposed to the wedding as the start to their life as a new family. When the bridal showers, and the bachelorette and bachelor parties end, and the big day is over, there is real life with dirty dishes, mounds of laundry, and bills to pay.

But, just like we can set ourselves up for unsustainable expectations, we can also plant the seeds for daily gratitude and life fulfillment. We can have an evening bon fire and invite the middle school crowd over, even splurging on a pizza or two. We can glorify the beauty of a simple second hand dress, and nice shirt and hand me down tie, as elegant prom wear.  We can invite the newly married couple over for a simple supper or dessert and show how romantic a night at home can be. We can instill a sense with young people, and each other that yes, there are big events in life and enjoy them fully, but always remember, the adventure is yet to come when the balloons and glitter go away.  It's called ordinary life.

Simplicity with a Bit of Lush

A big crock of chicken noodle soup accompanied by drop biscuits for lunch and I am a happy gal.  I do like to try and lush up these simple fairs once and a while, and pretend I've elevated my table to a little French bistro or a an Italian café. I've been looking up "mock" recipes to get some ideas on how others are getting more of the taste of  five star dining on both a budget and also a realistic time frame.  Here are a few tips I have recently discovered.

Garlic-even if it is just garlic powder, adds so much flavor to quick breads and drop biscuits. No matter what I am making, lately I've been adding a touch. Even if the garlic flavor isn't noticed, it changes the  original flavor just enough to increase flavor. We often end with more noodles than sauce when we make pasta dishes. Garlic mixed with olive oil and a good vinegar, and then tossed through leftover pasta makes a nice little cold pasta salad, perfect to take among for lunch with some canned tuna. Better yet, mix some of the tuna in, serve over some greens, for a lush salad that won't remotely resemble the summer potluck salad my great aunt brought out each 4th of July.

Dried herbs-of course having fresh right outside your door would be better, and I plan to do some container pots once it warms up, but having a pantry full of thyme, oregano, basil, parsley, and even premixed like Italian seasoning, added to meats, sauces, gravies, or soups brings a unique flavor profile beyond your supermarket staples.

Browning meat with an onion-why I haven't been doing this forever, I do not know.  The "oniony" taste mellows, but the extra caramelization and flavor seared into the meet elevates the simplest  cuts to higher taste.  I did a flash frozen chicken breast yesterday morning  for the soup, and the extra earthiness the browning of the onion and chicken together had made the hubby think I had bought a chicken stock from our local deli. The broth tasted so much richer, even though I used mostly stock cubes, adding the then diced browned chicken and onions, along with using a little water to get every bit of browned juice and onion from the fry pan. I have posted a lot of pictures of soup, but this might be the best batch I've ever made.

Savory jams and jellies/fruit jams and jellies used as ingredients- The last time we went for dinner at the wine  bar of which we have a membership, I ordered the grilled cheese.  This was no ordinary grilled cheese. Smothered between the bread and cheese was a tomato jam that made my mouth water. On our trip to the UK, the cheese toasties had an onion marmalade on them-quite tasty. I tried to do the same at home using the pepper jelly I had made last fall from the gift banana peppers, and wouldn't you know, it was equally as delicious. The combination of sweetness from the jelly sugars with the earthiness of the vegetable, blended with the nuttiness of the cheese was incredible. I've used that jam, along with some peppered apple chutney, to cook and serve alongside pork chops, pork tenderloins and chicken.  At this same wine bar outing, hubby had a turkey burger with a lingonberry jam and mayonnaise spread. I have since played with mixing jams and jelly's with mayonnaise, barbecue, or ketchup for sandwich spreads and dipping sauces and we have had some delicious combinations.

I could add more, and think I will over time.  I'm not at all a food snob, but I do appreciate a well prepared meal, and the care and artistry that  quality chef's can put in their dishes. If I can elevate our simple fair with a few  ingredients used in intentional ways, I am all for that.  I would love to hear your ideas on how you Ramsey up your dinner table and lunch boxes.

I am down to my last jar of pepper jelly, with lot's of ideas.

Simple Things on a Stressful Day

It has been one of those weeks.  We all have them.  Yesterday was the crème de la crème of  challenging.  It was another 11 hour day in the office, rushing to try and get to my women's volleyball night, even though it was an 8:30 game.  On the drive there, I thought I am either going to be so "on" and play better than I have in along time, or have an athletic break down on the court.  It was the latter.  I think I might have successfully passed one ball from the back row in each of the three games.  I was called twice on double hits-which I called myself on long before the whistle blew. It didn't matter though.  This is all for fun, and it was fun.  It was simple; it was honest, and it was gals out for a night of a little exercise, but mostly to stop and have a beer, a glass of wine, or just any cold drink, and let the rest of the day fizzle in the past. 


I was at a long meeting yesterday.  The focus was to start preparations to launch a deep and vast statewide program expansion.The funding is tight. The timelines are tight. The challenges are many.  There was collective optimism, but more than a few twinges of doubt and apprehension.  Two things were good about this meeting-and both were really simple things.  Frist, the meeting organizer arranged a very nice lunch-healthy and yummy, and enjoyed in a collegially atmosphere. Catered lunches are not the norm in my world, and  it was much appreciated by all. Never underestimate the power of food.  Secondly, the meeting facilitator and host, ended the meeting with  making sure there was a concrete list of  items that needed more time and attention, and tentative timelines and persons to start that stage.  Simple-acknowledge where the challenges lie, and develop a plan to act on them. Some of the stress bubbles seemed to float out the door with us as we left.  I love meetings done with good facilitation, that lead to good ideas and decision making. I've been trying to apply that principle in other areas of my life, so it was good to see it in action.


I needed some humor this week.  I love to laugh, and when I do, I  feel like I am almost releasing toxins from my body.  It is that therapeutic for me.  I was a little wound  up the other night with worry about work, the potential changes coming soon, my family, just everything, so found an episode of Black Books, the comedian Dylan Moran's sitcom.  I knew I had to watch my favorite-the one where Bernard and Manny write a children's book, and Fran has an attempt at a girls weekend.  If you have never seen the show-I highly recommend it for just simple, mostly non- offensive humor.  


I guess I could sum up my recipe for distressing as friends, food, momentum, and laughter.  I'll have a second helping today, please.

We Now Resume Normal Programming

Today starts the first day of the resumption of our households normal programming.  While technically today is sill the weekend, I find Sundays set the tone for the rest of the week.  How organized is the calendar for the week?  Does everyone have clean laundry for the week, or will I need to get a few loads done before nightfall. Is there adequate food reserves for breakfast, and supper, and quick things that can be brought along for lunches, or for DH to warm up on a quick lunch trip home?  Normalizing might will feel particularly onerous as I haven't worked a full week in the office since the week of December 1st. Between medical days and holidays, I've either had full days off or worked from home, slipping that load in the washer or filling and running the dishwasher were easily accomplished between rest,work, and socializing.

I honestly though am looking forward to resumption of normal.  I'm approaching 2015 as an open book.  I have decided that I will strive to fly under the radar at work.  I will not let my professional standards slip, but I  am not going to waste energy and induce stress trying to uphold standards that others  do not share.  I will be ethical, diligent, but subtle in how I let issues surface, or will just go about my job correcting quietly when needed.  I want the 2015 focus to be on my family, friends, and home, and truly remember that the job is my means to my ends, not the end itself. An opportunity is still on the horizon, but so far in comparing each facet, I would be giving up so much more than just a reduction of salary.  I'll have a few weeks still to decide as things came to a screeching halt the end of December.

It is Sunday, and while soup will feature prominently on our winter menus, I have a batch of both bean and wild rice soup frozen, as well as assorted chunky variety's of canned soup, purchased at very low prices, which make for an easy to grab lunch as I am heading out the door. Because we have so much soup on hand, I'm not making a batch today.  Instead I will putter through my pantry and freezer and use up stocks so I can do a very thorough clean before refilling. We will dine today, and leftovers for later in the week, on delicious crockpot au gratin potatoes.  I tweaked a bit today to use what I had on hand, but it's a basic recipe.  I clean 6-8 russet potatoes, and leaving the skin on, I slice in discs about 1/4 inch thick.  Separately I mix a can of cream of something soup, 3/4 of a can of milk, and about 1/2 cup grated cheese.  This is where I switched it up and used 1/2 an envelope of cheese powder from boxed mac and cheese, and added another couple tablespoons of milk.  I only had pepper jack cheese in the house, which I didn't think would be a good fit for the potatoes.  We rarely eat mac and cheese any more that DD#2 is out of the house, so I'll use the other  half packet and the macaroni in a tuna hot dish for tomorrow night. I pour about 1/3 of the sauce in the bottom of the crock pot after spraying with cooking spray.  I layer the slices, adding a little more salt and pepper between layers.  Then I top the whole thing with the remaining sauce.  Cook on high for about  2 1/2-3 hours depending on how big a cooker is used.  I hope they taste as good with the powdered cheese as they have with cheddar or Colby-jack.  I have broccoli to steam in the microwave, and maybe will cook up some bacon slices as well. 

Eating more healthy is a priority for the year, and unfortunately I've still got a lot of the instant and prepackaged convenience foods in the pantry.  I will try and use them up as sides, and as ingredients.  It doesn't seem right to donate poor quality food to food shelves, and I can't justify the waste of throwing, so I will use in more moderation until they are used up.  I'm getting really good inspiration on many blogs of home chefs that do just that.  All things in moderation.

DH and I have to work the closing clean-up shift at a basketball tournament tonight but while it is hard work, it is also social and kind of fun hanging with other parents doing their shift.  I used to be on the board, but now am just a regular old parent volunteer, so it feels like no work at all compared to past years. DD#2 still has some lingering homework as she had missed a few days before break, but other than these two commitments, Sunday will be spent getting organized for the week. Who else is back to normalizing starting tomorrow?  Are you dreading or do you have a little positive anticipation as I do?  Here's to a peaceful and simplistic 2015.

"Write it on your heart that every day is the best day of the year." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Simple Gifts

Good Saturday morning and I hope today finds you all well.  We had a brown, brown, brown, Christmas, but nature seems to be doing a little catch-up and we woke to a beautiful white landscape. DH is doing the shoveling before he heads into the store and pup is quite annoyed because he wants to be out there with him.  He has a wandering spirit, so never a good idea to let him out when you can't give him your full attention. He'll get a good play later.

Today I will get a little housework done, and tidy up the remnants of gifts.  We'll keep the tree up until Thursday perhaps, but I did so little other decorating we'll be in full January mode by weeks end. While putting things to right, I'll try and pack up the old, remembering my rule of one thing in and two things out.  It was a lovely and generous Christmas; generous in spirit in that much thought went into so many of the gifts my family received. Here are a few favorites:

• Let It Snow door knob hanging, colored by our seven year old God son who was just beaming watching me open.  He picked it out, completed, wrapped, and labeled it himself.
• The World, an ornament sketched by DD#2 that captures our love for and longing to keep traveling the globe.
• Hooded high school sweatshirt, picked out for me by my sister so I can enjoy DD#2s cross country meets in warmth, and in school colors.
• New release book that DD#2 would never have expected from her grand parents because they don't generally understand her taste in reading, but sought out for her by Grandma, after remembering the name from an earlier fall conversation. 
• Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus pieces, for a future full nativity set, given to her by her God parents, my brother and SIL.  She'll get pieces added each year, until my brother completes the gift by making her a stable.  He had made my mother and his wife each one 40 years ago.
• Collage photo from DS and DD#1 of candid's from various projects they've worked on, made and ordered online from Walgreens so I could just pick up locally.  We and the grandparents received copies.  The two of them don't have two nickels between them, but this gift was creative and priceless.
• Time to slow down, hold a baby or two, laugh with family, break bread, play with toys, and remember those we love, who are not able to be with us.

It will soon be 2015.  I still worry about consistent employment prospects for my older kids, especially as the window for deferment on their student loans has passed.  Health challenges are not over, and  my job doesn't appear to be lessening the grip of stress anytime soon. Despite this, I am going to charge into the New Year, reframing the tough situations into opportunities, look for ways to release the baggage and clutter, and fully embrace the simple gifts that have the most meaning.  How about you?  How are you shaping your mindset as we close 2014?

Just Your Basic Chicken Noodle Soup

 

 It's Sunday, and though I'm still moving slower, I can still chop vegetables with the best of them.  I had some frozen bread dough too so decided today, in knowing we will be eating overly rich dishes later in the week, seemed a perfect day to make a big pot of home style chicken noodle and some fresh baked bread. 

Home style Chicken Noodle soup-the easy way

1 large chicken boneless skinless chicken breast
1 1/2 cups sliced carrot
1 cup celery
1 onion
10 stock cubes
2 tsp ground black pepper
2 tsp garlic powder
8 oz. (half bag) wide egg noodles
10 cups cold water

Simmer chicken breast in 2 cups of water along with vegetables until chicken is cooked through.  Remove chicken and dice into cubes  If you like more meat, cook 2 breasts.  Add the water, stock cubes,  pepper, and garlic, along with the chicken pieces back to the pot.  Simmer until the vegetables are tender. Add the egg noodles, bring to a boil, then turn down to low.  The soup is ready to serve when the noodles are tender. 

I know this is barely home made, and for those that need to watch sodium, the stock cubes might need to be reduced.  With all the ingredients purchased on sale, or at low cost, I can make this pot for $4.00 plus less than $2.00 for the two loaves of bread, and have two meals for three people, with little more time than opening a couple cans of Campbell's Chunky soup, and buying one pound loaves in the bakery department. The house smelt wonderful too.

I made it to church today.  I was a little nervous about the up and downs and the times of prolonged standing, but I did just fine.  DD#2 sang in her teen choir, which might be the last time for a while because we are losing her director and a replacement has yet to be found.  Even if the church hires soon, there is no guarantee  that person will have the same passion and patience to work with teen musicians as the former director who actually added the teen ensemble above and beyond his regular duties. The kids sang four songs,  including one of my favorite Christmas carols, Go Tell it on the Mountain. Most of the songs they do are contemporary but this was old school caroling, though with an electric and bass guitar, and a keyboard jamming as accompaniment for a delightful twist.

I'm getting a few presents wrapped and put under the tree.   I haven't tackled baking or candy yet, and at this stage may not at all before Wednesday, but I am resigned to accomplish just what I can. The Minnesota Vikings lost a close game, again, but other than that, it was a pretty good December Sunday.



While not strictly home made, the rising and baking dough made the house smell wonderful.

Glam for the Low Maintenance

I'm not a slave to fashion-no one would ever put me in the fashionista category, but I don't think I would be a nominee for What Not to Wear either.  I like to look clean, neat, and appropriately dressed, but don't have the knowledge and probably wouldn't care if I did, to wear the latest designer styles or follow makeup trends.   I don't throw money at name brand products when the less expensive off brand does the trick, but I have a few favorites products I cling to.  I love a nice apricot facial scrub, and let it do double duty as an elbow and knee exfoliator.  I can get out the door, from shower to hair coiffed in fifteen minutes, so am thrifty with time as well.  That last bit was ingrained since childhood as I had so many siblings, and a one bathroom house, I  had to learn to be fast.  This extended into my adult hood, with college roommates, and marrying a man that seems to need considerably more grooming time.  As the kids got older, I also had to compete with teenagers for the bathroom as well.

So where am I going with this?  As I get older, I'm finding my  scraped back, get out the door routine might be fine for every day, but when it comes to going out with friends and my husband at night, I'd like to look a bit more put together, as opposed to thrown together.   I know Facebook is at least one part exaggeration, and another part choice photography, but so many of my friends and acquaintances seemed to have blossomed in their empty nester years, and I still look like the car pool lane mom of three. I don't mean they look like jet setters, magazine models, or presidential candidates, but they look self-assured and confident. A couple friends look like the stylish grandmas I hope to be someday; playing it cool with their young grandkids, sporting jeans and just the right tops.  A work friend can wear scarves like no one I know.  She doesn't have an extensive work wardrobe, but has scarves by the dozen, and mixes and matches them depending on her day, or color she wants to accent. 

My one claim to middle years self-confidence is my relatively wrinkle free and spot free complexion.  I wasn't one for sun bathing as a teen, and was usually wearing a cap of some sort when I was out in the sun.  Perhaps my lack of convoluted beauty routine helped-less scrubbing and pulling on my skin.  For makeup though, even when I took the time, it was nothing more than a little foundation, blush, and mascara.  Lip stick and eye shadows kind of scare me as I picture that I will look like one of those carnival caricature drawings.

 Here is my plea for help. What do you focus on for those special nights out?  What have you added to your day routine that has helped you perk up your self-confidence?  What are you go to "glam" products?   Do you have signature clothes pieces that help you feel like you are making your own statement?  Please join in the conversation. I love the idea of using vintage and repurposed items-old things worn in new ways, so those of you who have done a makeover with your own closet, I want to learn from you.  Blog pages you rely on are appreciated.

Sunshine and Soup

Last nights cocktails have wore off and despite not having to get anything done, decided to not be a total slug.  It is sunny and bright outside, but deceiving.  It's a nippy 40 degrees out there.  Perfect fall soup weather.  I have an easy bean soup throw together.  I can't really call it a recipe.  It's easy but cooks a long time as I often don't plan enough ahead to presoak and soften the beans.  Here it is.

Simple Bean Soup
2 small or 1 large onion, about 1 cup
2 large or bunch of baby carrots, sliced but still with size, about a cup
2-3 stalks celery cut in bites, again, you guessed it about a cup
At this point you can add other veg you might have like peppers, turnips or parsnips, even a little squash.
Cook onion until soft in a TBSP or so of butter, add carrots and celery, cook all until a little caramelly in color, add salt and pepper, about 1 tsp. each to flavor veggies.  Add 1 lb. dried navy beans that you have washed and gone through. Add 12 cups of water, and turn heat on high until boiling.  For additional flavor, add bullion cubes or powder, no more than 1 per cup of water, or any other flavoring you like such as  Italian seasoning, garlic, onion powder etc.instead of bullion if you are concerned with salt,.Flavoring ratio is generally 1/2 tsp. per cup, of water depending on dried or fresh.  Start lighter and add as you want more flavor.  The beans with the vegetables alone are a nice flavor I find, but I do like to doctor it up a bit.

Once on a high boil, you can cover and turn down to a simmer for about 90 minutes, or transfer to a slow cooker set on high and just leave until the beans are soft.  Depending on how hot your cooker gets, this could be 4-6 hours. For the simmering method, I turn off and just let sit covered about an hour, and then check for softness of the beans.  Of course you can add meat, or simmer the whole time with a ham bone with some remnants still on as those will fall off and add a nice touch-remove bone before serving.  My older daughter is a vegetarian, so when she is around, we skip the meat additions, but I  love making with a reserved ham bone the best.


While still simmering, I took a bit of video by mistake-can't you almost smell it? We'll get two meals for the four of us, or one meal, and freeze 4 portions for work lunches. I didn't calculate the cost for the batch, but I'd estimate under $4.50, to get 8 hearty servings. I was going to double as I had ingredients to do so, but worried my pot wasn't big enough and would bubble over. In hind sight 1 1/2 batch size would have been good, then two meals and lunch's.  This is old school for so many of you, but for those that think home made soup is tough, it really is just throwing things you like together with broth, and seasoning to taste.

 

We love baseball, hot dogs, apple pie and Chevrolet

There is an old car commercial with a catchy tune.  "We love baseball, hotdogs, apple pie and Chevrolet" so it goes. It is a summer kind of tune, but I think about it in the fall as well.  Baseball season has moved into playoff mode, and sadly, our Twins are once again done.  I'm not a huge baseball fan, games get a little long, but I am a die hard Twins fan.  Next year boys.  I have a sister who is a fanatic.  No doubt she'll have the season analyzed and know just what the General Manager needs to do in the off season and if he would just listen, 2015 could be the year. 

As for the hot dogs and apple pie part, fall in the north is a great time for fire pits and roasting a hot dog on a stick, and following it up with a great big  slice of pie, made from apples picked earlier in the day. You can buy little pie tin roasters and make apple pies over the fire using bread and pie filling and do both fire side.  As the playoffs get started, an interesting thing you can see as night gets earlier and earlier is folks pulling out their TV's, loading a portable fire pit with wood, and combing the three together.  I got a great smell last night on my walk, lit up from the glow from the fires going in drive ways and off patios in my little neighborhood.  

I have a friend from high school that manages a farm household, with all the extra hands needed for harvesting.  She has her own supply of apples from trees on her farm.  Here is just a glimpse of her hard work keeping the boys (and girls) nourished and happy. The picture on the heading is also hers-talented in the kitchen and with a camera I'd say.

Deliciousness from the kitchen of Chris "Chicky" Ries Otte

I'm not sure if I'll be able to fit picking apples into the weekend, but we have a little store of them in the refrigerator, so will come up with something, and I know there are hotdogs ready to be thawed from the freezer.  Tonight is supposed to be dry and cool-perfect.  I don't think we'll be pulling the TV outside, but supper will be done and done.  The thing about the commercial jingle and its staying power in our heads after all these years, is that it emotes a feeling of hominess and belonging.  These simple things can bind us as a country, a community, a neighborhood, and a family.  I'll take that, in my Chevy Malibu, wearing a Twins cap,  to the bank.

Slices of Life

Regretfully, I have shirked my post a day In September self commitment in a big way.  Since I've not touched this site since Sunday, I'll catch you up on my success and misses in intentional and simple living. 

Sunday-After letting the hubby's family know my son would not make it home for the family wedding, I braced for fall out over disappointment in not getting a family picture  You see my immediate family has a reputation, unfounded, of disrupting the plans that my husbands siblings or mother make.  On more than a single occasion, one of them has thought out how a situation should play out and then are gobsmacked when we throw a curve.  This time though, we had honestly thought all five in our family would be at the wedding, and the full family picture would actually work.  I stressed over getting the response, and guess what?  While disappointed, of course all were ecstatic for my son in landing a great opportunity and position on a film crew. I'm trying to mask my own disappointment but part of why I am trying to venture into writing, is hopefully raise a bit of extra money to be able to go to my kids, or vice versa when the timing works. What a blessing that I have kids that feel confident in following an open road, yet know they are welcome back any time. We also bought an apple pie on Sunday-I know we should have made it, but for $3.99, couldn't resist the Cub bakery version.

Monday-Work was "meh", but I've decided I just need to work to mitigate any potential bad decisions, and hopefully contribute to a new structure that will be if not better, at least healthy. Bombshell though-a manager of the most complex of all the programs in my division gave her notice.  I am overwhelmingly happy for her to have the new job, as besides respecting her work, she is a really great colleague and friend.  My head is spinning to think about how to fill the hole in the short and long term.  What's that saying though, when a door closes, a window opens?  Let's hope it opens really wide and really fast.  On the blessing side-made a killer penne pasta and peppers with red sauce for supper.  Delicious!
 
Tuesday- Finally a few clues health wise as to my perpetual malaise.  More to come, and more waiting.  Daughter #2 shaved a bit of time off her run at the cross country meet, though missed soccer.  She is going to have to decide which sport in future seasons-two at once does not work.

Wednesday-After two weeks in a row shut out of any wins in volleyball, we finally won 2 of 3 games.  I moved more these games, even landed a few good hits, and know I will feel it on Thursday!  I have confirmation that my muscles do work, but creakiness is setting in before the lights are even out. To take an ibuprofen or not?

Thursday-Oh yes, I feel every stretch, every strain, and every reach from last night. There is a blessing of ergo dynamic cars seats and lumbar support, to help my discomfort driving to work.

To wrap up, episodes of Miranda are now on Acorn TV.  If you have never seem Miranda Hart, she is silly, sweet, clumsy, and all things I have felt about myself over my life. Don't take any similarities to a great extent, it is a British farce after all.

How to describe this week? It had more drama than I needed, and was pretty contrary to simple and intentional living. However, while it felt like a week to just get through, tomorrow is Friday and the weekend is here. There was no farm market produce this week, but the remnants from the three peppers bought at Trader Joe's two weeks go and about to turn bad cooked up just as nicely. I didn't take a long walk or bike ride in the country, but had daily walks in the neighborhood with our curious dog, who thinks walks with me is the highlight of his day. Both my husband and I got to talk with our son before he hit the road, and heard how happy he is doing his thing. It's great to remember this wasn't my whole pie of life, just a few tiny little slices from a very large pie-actually slivers at that.

Revelling in Luxury

My daughter and I had the excellent fortune to not only get a reservation for Saturday night in the beautiful Mayflower Renaissance Hotel, right off the Farragut North Metro stop, under budget through an Orbitz booking, we got there before 1:00 p.m. and they had a room ready and let us check-in early. Looking at the regular rates, my family has spent about that much on a small suite room for all 5 of us for a week in Florida. While not quite record breaking heat, it hit 94 and the humidity was so thick in Washington D.C., we were pretty drenched from sweat just in the walk from earlier hotel, through the metro stops, and to this one. We had thought we were going to just leave our bags to explore the Dupont Circle neighborhood, but the extra two hours, meant we could cool down, clean-up, and look human again before heading out. While our room was one of those tucked back off several hallways, we opened the door to complete luxury. Marble floors, a bathroom with double sinks and brass and porcelain handles, two fluffy queen beds, a sitting area, coffee amenities, and windows all around. Now the view was the inside area-tops of maintenance buildings and boilers. We ignored the view, but concentrated on getting the lovely light through the windows.



Ours was in a disposable cup but just as nice!

We did pull ourselves out the door, but the heat and humidity, lost us. Despite stepping in and out of several book stores, boutiques, and a couple name stores, and a patient wait for a couple Frappuccino’s at Starbucks, we headed back to the room for another relaxation break. Speaking of Starbucks, we would have much rather found somewhere more local, but I was surprised that we really didn't pass anything remotely independent, with the exception of the crowded coffee room in the book stores. Yet, there were three Starbucks in our 10 block walk, each backed almost out the doors with customers. I was disappointed that the streets and the little green space that surrounds the Dupont Circle wasn't crowded with city life-everyone appeared to be in Starbucks. Last year on this same business trip, I had a few hours to kill before having to be at the airport and spent them reading on a park bench, surrounded by people, barely being able to see the grass because of all the locals lounging on blankets and elbows. Even those that live regularly in warm weather have to succumb to the heat and humidity. We were greeted in the hotel lobby with a complimentary honey Jim beam and lemonade and an assortment of candy. It was a nice little touch on the afternoon.

Yum, tiki masala and na'an.

We ate at an uncrowded Indian restaurant; for the first 20 minutes, we were the only dinner customers. The food was delicious, and I can attest to anyone that doesn’t think vegetarian cooking will be hearty enough to meet their appetite, they only needed to see me waddling away from the table, having left food still uneaten. Spinach paneer, tiki masala, vegetable fritters, na'an, and sambosa's-I'm still full this monring. We got a brief reprieve from the humidity, as during dinner, the weather finally broke and it rained hard for about 45 minutes. We had a nice walk back to the hotel, though ended up walking a bit further, stopping for a beer that we both really were too full to enjoy. We were ready to call it a night, and headed back to the hotel, called home, and enjoyed the comfort of the room.

I'm sharing our day because in much of the reading I do about simple living, or decluttering your life, the impression is often left that simplicity means you should no longer or never enjoy some finer things in life. A little guilt steeps into the phrases used, and stories shared about how when the writer experienced something of luxury and splendor, they had to justify it as for a good cause, or they were a guest of a spend thrift friend that didn't get it, or when they arrived home, they would pay a toll by eating nothing but oatmeal for breakfast for a week. Simplicity should not be martyrdom. I do want to streamline everyday living, but not to taut a higher than thou zen like existence, but to better appreciate what I have, and who I spend my time with. This hotel and that dinner is not my normal life. I also have not had 24 hours of together time with my daughter in over a year-so that needed to be celebrated. The little splurging we've done was planned for, and we'll be back tomorrow in our norms. Today will be a last day of museums, snacking on street corner pretzels, and packing a couple granola bars to go with our complimentary beverage for the flight home. But for now, I'm going to kick back with all four pillows on my bed, sip my coffee, with real cream, and enjoy my morning.