The Simple Life
By Sheryl Simons
It is not how much we have, but how much we enjoy, that makes happiness
Simple Pot Roast
I was at the grocery store the other day, and there was a sale on roast beef. Now who doesn’t like a nice pot roast once in a while? However, it was already late afternoon, so no time to put a roast in the oven or crockpot, right? But then I remembered my pressure cooker. Barely more than a half hour and there could be a nice roast beef dinner on the table.
We peeled some potatoes and carrots while the roast was searing on each side. Put 2 cups water in the pan, then dump in the vegetables, and, of course lots of onions and some onion soup mix. Put the lid on tight, and put on the pressure valve. Now, I wanted to make sure was doing it right, and exactly how long to cook it, so I looked around for my manual. No dice. So, turning my laptop on within about a minute and a half, I had the recipe. I did a quick Google search for ‘pot roast recipe pressure cooker’. That’s why I love the Internet. Google is like having a worldwide encyclopedia at your fingertips. You can search points of interest in Tibet, learn how to play a game, or find directions to build just about anything. I’d probably go without morning coffee, but not my Internet. You can find more than you want to know in no time!
The first recipe I found was exactly what I was looking for. Two cups of water was the right amount, and it suggested 40 minutes. I set the timer, and quicker than it takes to watch the evening news, we were eating the most delicious, fall- apart pot roast you can imagine! Now even if I hadn’t had the Internet, I had guessed right. But I think 40 minutes was too long, so next time I will try 35. Tomorrow’s dinner will be stew from the leftovers.
Now, I’m not suggesting that you run out and get a pressure cooker. That would be easy, but not so simple. Just hang on until you are at a yard sale next spring, or visit a second-hand store. That’s where I got mine, for a couple bucks. Now when you think after work meal, most Americans think fast food and unhealthy, or all day in the crock-pot.
Crockpot is a great alternative, too. When you get it all in the crock-pot the night before, (put it in the fridge!) all you have to do in the morning is plug it in. Pull out a salad bag and you’ve got a nice healthy meal. You can do a pot roast, stew, pea or any soup, even lasagna, etc.
But don’t forget about trying a pressure cooker. Chicken, beef, pork, anything that takes a long time, can cook up in no time, even stew in 15 minutes or less.
I’m all for decluttering, and getting rid of all you don’t need, but if you have the discipline to go to yard sales and not buy what you don’t need, you can really find some great deals. Books for a quarter, sets of dishes for $5 (I haven’t bought a new set of dishes in 30 years, but I love changing sets), dressers for $10, and one of my favorites, a corner hutch for $40, that is really cute. Why pay full price? But I go to a lot of yard sales where I leave with nothing, and that makes me happy, too. I know I didn’t buy something that I don’t need. The fun is in the hunt, but only if it’s useful. (If you just have to dust it, it’s not useful!)
* * *
Yes, You can be too Rich!
We stopped to see some cars for sale at a home. When we’d been there, the house was lovely, the landscaping superb. This time, it was all in a shambles. Oh, it was still a nice home, but there was so much “stuff”, that it seemed there was no room to put it all. Things lay here, there, everywhere. Where once there was a lovely estate, there was now a jumbled mess. There were several used vehicles that she mentioned needed a part. There were boats, snowmobiles, campers, and all sorts of toys, but nothing put away – and they were still buying more, telling us of what they were getting soon.
It isn’t that they don’t have the money. They could have easily hired a couple students to rake the leaves off the lawn, trim the hedges, and weed the bushes around the buildings. But it hadn’t been done. Instead of having things put in their place, as it had been last time we were there, everything was askew. Broken lawn mowers, snow blowers, and tools seemed to set where they’d broken. There seemed no reason, except that life had just gotten too busy. They told of all the “clubs” they were in, and all the activities they “had” to participate in. All I could think of was their things controlled them. They were not in control. The indoor swimming pool area was littered with toys, and “stuff”, while the pool filter needed repair! Pools, while nice, require a lot of maintenance. Find out before your purchase how many hours a week it will take. Maybe you can’t afford the time. Don’t let things get away from you. Take care of them when they need taking care of, and when you spend money, remember the time it takes to repair, and take care of things. Things need to be winterized, and kept up. If you don’t have the time, you will have to hire someone to do it for you – unless you decide not to take care of them, and then you might as well not buy them in the first place.
* * *
Foot Fungus Treatment: Rub your feet with hydrogen peroxide and let it dry on there. Reported to work well - better job than tree tea oil.
Brown Recluse BiteRecently a lady was bitten by a brown recluse spider, and didn't realize it for about a week. At that time it had grown too large to use a Band-Aid on it. She started researching herbal remedies for bug bites. Mostly Lavender or Tree Tea Oil was recommended. She decided to use both. She put a generous amount on some gauze and put tape on to hold it in place and changed it usually once a day. The next week she could hardly even find the spot!! She never had to go to the hospital.
Shelling Pecans
Put the unshelled pecans in a big pan, like a Dutch oven. Cover them with water, add a dash of salt. Bring them to a boil. Let boil 10 minutes, drain in a colander until cool. They will shell easily and whole.
* * *
"The best years of your life are the ones in which you decide your problems are your own. You do not blame them on your mother, the ecology, or the president. You realize that you control your own destiny." ~~ Albert Ellis
We may pass violets looking for roses. We may pass contentment looking for victory. ~~Bern Williams
"Each today, well-lived, makes yesterday a dream of happiness and each tomorrow a vision of hope. Look, therefore, to this one day, for it and it alone is life.”~unknown
Keeping it Simple,
Sheryl
Please contact me with recipes, questions, comments and simple living ideas that work for you. Email: thesimple_life@yahoo.com
Join the online newsletter to print recipes and look up previous columns:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thesimple_life/
Monday, January 15, 2007
Monday, January 8, 2007
Simple Parenting in Rough Times
The Simple Life
By Sheryl Simons
“The happier you are with the simple things, the easier it is to be happy.”
* * *
Simplicity, clarity, singleness: these are the attributes that give our lives power and vividness and joy. ~~Richard Halloway
* * *
Simple Parenting
Being a parent isn’t easy. Why does the most important job we do not come with an instruction manual? And none of us have a perfect example to learn by. Our kids see our strengths and weaknesses up close and way too personally, sometimes. Being a parent often means being a good actor. When we have a rough day, it’s our job to keep on going and not fall apart. Don’t worry about kids not seeing real life. They see it. But they need to see us being strong. That’s what gives them strength. That’s what we have friends for. When everything goes wrong, the dog bites the cat, and the car gets a flat, and we are late for work, they need to see us handling our troubles with the dignity of an adult, not the tantrums of a child.
Through the worst of times, it’s hard to show our kids we are strong on the outside, when we are falling apart on the inside. My friend Kate was a single mom, raising two kids alone. Then there were layoffs. She didn’t know how she was going to pay her mortgage, or put the next meal on the table. But you know what? Every time I saw her with the kids, she was as chipper as could be. I realized she was determined to get by and not let the kids know how she was suffering. She decided they didn’t need reminding of how rough things were.
Her kids were there, so she could have dumped all her awful feelings on them, but she realized it wouldn’t make her feel better, or make any of her problems go away. When she needed to talk, she found an adult friend or counselor. Not that we have to lock all our feelings inside, but finding healthy outlets, like running, or punching a pillow works.
They moved, she worked wherever she could until she found a good position again. The kids never seemed to let it faze them. They grew into strong people because they learned from her example, not from seeing her fall apart. She also showed that she had faith in God to see them through. She said it often - “We have faith. What kind of faith is it, when you only trust God in the easy times?” They survived, and eventually, things got easier. Then Kate was often heard to say, “See how things worked out? Things are better than before, and I love my new job.” She actually had a better house, too, because the payments were lower and it was more affordable.
During the worst of times, Kate could still let her kids have friends over, she could still bake cookies, she could let her kids live a normal life, and that’s exactly what she did. Instead of buying pizza, they had homemade pizza night, and had fun making it together. She learned where all the thrift stores were, and found what she needed there. “Never let ‘em see you sweat”, doesn’t just apply to Hollywood, does it?
* * *
One generation plants the trees; another gets the shade.
If you bungle raising your children, I don't think whatever else you do well matters very much.~~ Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them. ~~ James Baldwin
* * *
Greasy Stains For greasy spots on clothing from something spilled while eating, simply apply baby powder or cornstarch to the grease spot, and let it sit over night. Launder it the next day and the grease is gone. The powder or cornstarch absorbs the grease spot and takes it out.
SIMPLE APPLE BREADIngredients:2 c sugar1 c canola oil4 eggs2 t vanilla1/4 c sour milk (add 1 teaspoon vinegar/lemon juice in milk)1 teaspoon soda4 cups flour1 teaspoon salt4 cups chopped apples1 cup walnuts (optional) Mix together all ingredients. Divide batter between two greased loaf pans. Bake for 1 hour at 350 degrees (You might have to bake theloaves for 10 or 15 minutes more until they feel set when tapped). Note: Batter will be stiff.
Keeping it Simple,
Sheryl
Please share recipes, questions, comments and simple living ideas that work for you. Email: thesimple_life@yahoo.com Join the online newsletter to print recipes and look up previous columns: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thesimple_life/
By Sheryl Simons
“The happier you are with the simple things, the easier it is to be happy.”
* * *
Simplicity, clarity, singleness: these are the attributes that give our lives power and vividness and joy. ~~Richard Halloway
* * *
Simple Parenting
Being a parent isn’t easy. Why does the most important job we do not come with an instruction manual? And none of us have a perfect example to learn by. Our kids see our strengths and weaknesses up close and way too personally, sometimes. Being a parent often means being a good actor. When we have a rough day, it’s our job to keep on going and not fall apart. Don’t worry about kids not seeing real life. They see it. But they need to see us being strong. That’s what gives them strength. That’s what we have friends for. When everything goes wrong, the dog bites the cat, and the car gets a flat, and we are late for work, they need to see us handling our troubles with the dignity of an adult, not the tantrums of a child.
Through the worst of times, it’s hard to show our kids we are strong on the outside, when we are falling apart on the inside. My friend Kate was a single mom, raising two kids alone. Then there were layoffs. She didn’t know how she was going to pay her mortgage, or put the next meal on the table. But you know what? Every time I saw her with the kids, she was as chipper as could be. I realized she was determined to get by and not let the kids know how she was suffering. She decided they didn’t need reminding of how rough things were.
Her kids were there, so she could have dumped all her awful feelings on them, but she realized it wouldn’t make her feel better, or make any of her problems go away. When she needed to talk, she found an adult friend or counselor. Not that we have to lock all our feelings inside, but finding healthy outlets, like running, or punching a pillow works.
They moved, she worked wherever she could until she found a good position again. The kids never seemed to let it faze them. They grew into strong people because they learned from her example, not from seeing her fall apart. She also showed that she had faith in God to see them through. She said it often - “We have faith. What kind of faith is it, when you only trust God in the easy times?” They survived, and eventually, things got easier. Then Kate was often heard to say, “See how things worked out? Things are better than before, and I love my new job.” She actually had a better house, too, because the payments were lower and it was more affordable.
During the worst of times, Kate could still let her kids have friends over, she could still bake cookies, she could let her kids live a normal life, and that’s exactly what she did. Instead of buying pizza, they had homemade pizza night, and had fun making it together. She learned where all the thrift stores were, and found what she needed there. “Never let ‘em see you sweat”, doesn’t just apply to Hollywood, does it?
* * *
One generation plants the trees; another gets the shade.
If you bungle raising your children, I don't think whatever else you do well matters very much.~~ Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them. ~~ James Baldwin
* * *
Greasy Stains For greasy spots on clothing from something spilled while eating, simply apply baby powder or cornstarch to the grease spot, and let it sit over night. Launder it the next day and the grease is gone. The powder or cornstarch absorbs the grease spot and takes it out.
SIMPLE APPLE BREADIngredients:2 c sugar1 c canola oil4 eggs2 t vanilla1/4 c sour milk (add 1 teaspoon vinegar/lemon juice in milk)1 teaspoon soda4 cups flour1 teaspoon salt4 cups chopped apples1 cup walnuts (optional) Mix together all ingredients. Divide batter between two greased loaf pans. Bake for 1 hour at 350 degrees (You might have to bake theloaves for 10 or 15 minutes more until they feel set when tapped). Note: Batter will be stiff.
Keeping it Simple,
Sheryl
Please share recipes, questions, comments and simple living ideas that work for you. Email: thesimple_life@yahoo.com Join the online newsletter to print recipes and look up previous columns: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thesimple_life/
Sunday, December 31, 2006
Peace in the New Year
The Simple Life
By Sheryl Simons
It is not how much we have, but how much we enjoy, that makes happiness
Peace in the New Year
Two days ago, Saddam Hussein was put to death. In this day and age – our progress of voice command computers, cell phones with cameras, automatic faucets - it is still the dogs and children we cannot control, that and insane dictators. The thought that the United Nations would not become involved with a man bent on destroying his own countrymen, is unthinkable.
When it became known that the former Iraquian dictator had reached his conclusion, Northern Michigan neighbors, who had fled Iraq with only the clothes on their backs, wept in relief. They felt that their homeland would never had progressed toward peace, even with the daily violence that we all deplore, had it not been for the invasion of peace-seeking troops. They are so thankful for the “Western Interference”, which they see as the only possibility that democracy could ever take root. They are discouraged by the ongoing violence, but hopeful that with continued help of self-sacrifice that has been shown to them, that one day Iraq may one day see peaceful streets.
I hope that the dreams for their birth-land comes true. Iraq is a Hatfields and McCoys gone bad. Where did the violence start? Who hit first? Memories of violence cannot be erased. When will the bleeding cease? Who will turn the first new leaf? How many generations will it take to soothe the wounds of the hearts? Forgiveness is the only answer for Iraq, just as it is for us. We can forgive, even when we will never forget.
A newscast recently showed a neighborhood in Bagdad that managed to survive the violence. They were Sunnis and Shiites living in peace, working to protect each other from the violence that threatened their little corner. They are friends, and love each other as neighbors should. We should be so lucky.
I hear of neighborhood skirmishes that shouldn’t be taking place. One farmer jumping another farmers lease. Kids not treating parents with respect. People taking advantage because they “could”.
Life is not fair. But just think if we as humans decided to live in peace. If we quit being in a hurry (which seems to cause much strife), and let others go first, treat each other with brotherly love and kindness, our world would indeed be a different place. We talk of peace in Iraq, yet teach our children that taking advantage is just “good business”. Peace must start at home, before we will ever have peace in our world. A well known business (Home Depot), has a motto, “Improve Everything We Touch”. Talk about home improvement! World peace starts at home. Next time you feel like yelling at the kids, give them a hug, take a time out. Give yourself a break. Take a deep breath. Talk to each other without raising your voice. Life is stressful enough. Don’t let it in your house. Try love – it really does work!
In this new year, may we all pray for peace, but even more, lets all improve everything we touch by setting an example for our children by doing the right thing, even if it is “old fashioned”! Pray for peace people everyone! Every life deserves to be lived in peace.
* * *
Simple Apple Spice Cake
2 c flour, 1 t cinnamon, 1 t nutmeg, 1 t allspice,1/2 t salt, 1 c butter, marg. or oil, 1 ½ c brown sugar, 4 eggs ,1 t baking soda, 1 T warm water,1 t vanilla, 3 apples - peeled, cored and chopped,1/2 c raisins, 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar for dusting
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Butter a 10 inch tube pan. Cover raisins with warm water, let soak for 10 minutes and then drain. Whisk together flour, spices, and salt. Set aside.
Cream together butter or margarine and sugar. Mix in eggs and vanilla. Stir together soda and 1 T warm water, and mix into the sugar mixture. Stir in flour mixture, apples, and strained raisins until well blended. Pour batter into prepared pan.
Bake for approximately 1 hour, or until a tester comes out clean. If baking in a 9 X 13Cool in pan, cut baking time to 35 to 45 minutes. Once cool, shake pan to loosen cake. Turn onto plate, and dust with confectioners' sugar.
* * *
The world is a looking glass, and gives back to every man the reflection of his own face. Frown at it and it will in turn look sourly upon you; laugh at it and with it, and it is a jolly kind companion. ~~William Makepeace Thackeray
You can learn many things from children. How much patience you have, for instance.~~Franklin P. Jones
Keeping it Simple,
Sheryl
Please contact Sheryl with recipes, questions, comments and simple living ideas that work for you. Email: thesimple_life@yahoo.com
Join the online newsletter to print recipes and look up previous columns:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thesimple_life/
By Sheryl Simons
It is not how much we have, but how much we enjoy, that makes happiness
Peace in the New Year
Two days ago, Saddam Hussein was put to death. In this day and age – our progress of voice command computers, cell phones with cameras, automatic faucets - it is still the dogs and children we cannot control, that and insane dictators. The thought that the United Nations would not become involved with a man bent on destroying his own countrymen, is unthinkable.
When it became known that the former Iraquian dictator had reached his conclusion, Northern Michigan neighbors, who had fled Iraq with only the clothes on their backs, wept in relief. They felt that their homeland would never had progressed toward peace, even with the daily violence that we all deplore, had it not been for the invasion of peace-seeking troops. They are so thankful for the “Western Interference”, which they see as the only possibility that democracy could ever take root. They are discouraged by the ongoing violence, but hopeful that with continued help of self-sacrifice that has been shown to them, that one day Iraq may one day see peaceful streets.
I hope that the dreams for their birth-land comes true. Iraq is a Hatfields and McCoys gone bad. Where did the violence start? Who hit first? Memories of violence cannot be erased. When will the bleeding cease? Who will turn the first new leaf? How many generations will it take to soothe the wounds of the hearts? Forgiveness is the only answer for Iraq, just as it is for us. We can forgive, even when we will never forget.
A newscast recently showed a neighborhood in Bagdad that managed to survive the violence. They were Sunnis and Shiites living in peace, working to protect each other from the violence that threatened their little corner. They are friends, and love each other as neighbors should. We should be so lucky.
I hear of neighborhood skirmishes that shouldn’t be taking place. One farmer jumping another farmers lease. Kids not treating parents with respect. People taking advantage because they “could”.
Life is not fair. But just think if we as humans decided to live in peace. If we quit being in a hurry (which seems to cause much strife), and let others go first, treat each other with brotherly love and kindness, our world would indeed be a different place. We talk of peace in Iraq, yet teach our children that taking advantage is just “good business”. Peace must start at home, before we will ever have peace in our world. A well known business (Home Depot), has a motto, “Improve Everything We Touch”. Talk about home improvement! World peace starts at home. Next time you feel like yelling at the kids, give them a hug, take a time out. Give yourself a break. Take a deep breath. Talk to each other without raising your voice. Life is stressful enough. Don’t let it in your house. Try love – it really does work!
In this new year, may we all pray for peace, but even more, lets all improve everything we touch by setting an example for our children by doing the right thing, even if it is “old fashioned”! Pray for peace people everyone! Every life deserves to be lived in peace.
* * *
Simple Apple Spice Cake
2 c flour, 1 t cinnamon, 1 t nutmeg, 1 t allspice,1/2 t salt, 1 c butter, marg. or oil, 1 ½ c brown sugar, 4 eggs ,1 t baking soda, 1 T warm water,1 t vanilla, 3 apples - peeled, cored and chopped,1/2 c raisins, 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar for dusting
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Butter a 10 inch tube pan. Cover raisins with warm water, let soak for 10 minutes and then drain. Whisk together flour, spices, and salt. Set aside.
Cream together butter or margarine and sugar. Mix in eggs and vanilla. Stir together soda and 1 T warm water, and mix into the sugar mixture. Stir in flour mixture, apples, and strained raisins until well blended. Pour batter into prepared pan.
Bake for approximately 1 hour, or until a tester comes out clean. If baking in a 9 X 13Cool in pan, cut baking time to 35 to 45 minutes. Once cool, shake pan to loosen cake. Turn onto plate, and dust with confectioners' sugar.
* * *
The world is a looking glass, and gives back to every man the reflection of his own face. Frown at it and it will in turn look sourly upon you; laugh at it and with it, and it is a jolly kind companion. ~~William Makepeace Thackeray
You can learn many things from children. How much patience you have, for instance.~~Franklin P. Jones
Keeping it Simple,
Sheryl
Please contact Sheryl with recipes, questions, comments and simple living ideas that work for you. Email: thesimple_life@yahoo.com
Join the online newsletter to print recipes and look up previous columns:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thesimple_life/
Simple Living in the New Year
The Simple Life
By Sheryl Simons
It is not how much we have, but how much we enjoy, that makes happiness
SIMPLE LIVING IN THE NEW YEAR
Doesn’t life seem to get more complicated sometimes? Relationships are complicated – with some people, we have to be careful what we say. Jobs are complicated, we have to be careful how we act. To me, it seems it’s great to be home. It’s one of the few places you can just be yourself and relax and not have to be or act in a certain way. Everyone needs a place to feel loved and accepted, just the way they are. "If people sat outside and looked at the stars each night, I'll bet they'd live a lot differently." ~~ Calvin of the "Calvin and Hobbes" comic strip. Most people long for simplicity. A man named Tom enjoyed the simple things of life. He traveled, sometimes taking jobs at ranches, national parks and resorts. His brother, thinking he should get a "real" job often sent him photos of himself enjoying the so-called "good life." He labeled his snapshots "My new jacuzzi" or "My new car." Then Tom responded with a photo of his own. He sent his brother a large poster with a breathtaking view of Wyoming's mountainous scenery. On the back was Tom's message: "My back yard." His brother’s photos stopped arriving. "The Good Life" is not defined by things, but by the pure simplicity of having a safe place to be yourself and enjoy the beauty around you. One morning as I left for work, several Bald Eagles soared right above my back door. They were so close, gliding under the big white cloud hanging low above the yard. That was one of the most awesome moments of my life.
I recently hit a deer while driving home from work. The damage was minimal to the deer, as he trotted off but now there is a small ding in the hood. Even though it was barely noticeable, could I live with it the way it was? I realized that if I invested the money in my vanity (which was exactly all it was), I could hit another deer anyway. No, the only dent was in my thoughts. The people who love me don’t care what I drive. I was disappointed, but I let go of the dent. My car runs great, gets really good mileage, and is dependable. It’s transportation – which is what it is meant to be. The ½ mile of gravel road, before I get to the pavement, leaves my car looking like I was mud bogging during rainy spells, but it gets me where I need to go. I am thankful for my little friend. If I keep taking good care of her, she may last me a good many years more. What’s one little ding? I have a few myself. John Burroughs (1837-1921) put it like this: "To find the universal elements enough; to find the air and the water exhilarating; to be refreshed by a morning walk or an evening saunter...to be thrilled by the stars at night; to be elated over a bird's nest or a wildflower in spring -- these are some of the rewards of the simple life." Those of us who have learned to appreciate the beauty around us, do livedifferently. The difference is this: when we value simplicity, we have really learned to live. May this be the motto for your New Year!
* * *
The world is a looking glass, and gives back to every man the reflection of his own face. Frown at it and it will in turn look sourly upon you; laugh at it and with it, and it is a jolly kind companion. ~William Makepeace Thackeray
* * *
Simple Muffin Mix
3 c Flour,
3 c Whole Wheat Flour,
1 c Sugar,
1 c Instant Dry Milk,
1/4 cup Baking Powder,
2 t Salt,
2 T Cinnamon,
1/2 t Cloves
Spoon flour into measuring cup; level off. In large bowl, combine allingredients; blend well. Store in airtight container in a cool, dry place. Makes about 8 cups mix. For gift giving, measure 2 cups mix, and place in airtight container orzipper- topped storage bag. Be sure to include recipe for Holiday Muffins. A pint jar is the perfect size for giving this mix as a gift. To decorate, cut a 9 inch-diameter circle from fabric of your choice. Center fabric over lid and secure with a rubber band. Tie on raffia or ribbon bow to cover the rubber band. Attach card with the following directions:
HOLIDAY MUFFINS 2 cups Simple Muffin Mix, 2/3 cup water, 1 egg, slightly beaten, 1/4 cup oilHeat oven to 400 deg. Line 2 muffin cups with paper baking cups. In mediumbowl, place muffin mix, water, egg and oil; stir until dry ingredients are justmoistened. DO NOT OVER MIX. Fill prepared muffin cups approximately 1/2 full. Bake at 400 degrees F for 10 to 15 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Immediately remove from pan. Serve warm. Yield: 12 muffins. 1/2 cup miniature chocolate chips or 1/2 cup pecan pieces can be added to batter.
Keeping it Simple,
Sheryl
Please contact Sheryl with recipes, questions, comments and simple living ideas that work for you. Email: thesimple_life@yahoo.com
Join the online newsletter to print recipes and look up previous columns:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thesimple_life/
By Sheryl Simons
It is not how much we have, but how much we enjoy, that makes happiness
SIMPLE LIVING IN THE NEW YEAR
Doesn’t life seem to get more complicated sometimes? Relationships are complicated – with some people, we have to be careful what we say. Jobs are complicated, we have to be careful how we act. To me, it seems it’s great to be home. It’s one of the few places you can just be yourself and relax and not have to be or act in a certain way. Everyone needs a place to feel loved and accepted, just the way they are. "If people sat outside and looked at the stars each night, I'll bet they'd live a lot differently." ~~ Calvin of the "Calvin and Hobbes" comic strip. Most people long for simplicity. A man named Tom enjoyed the simple things of life. He traveled, sometimes taking jobs at ranches, national parks and resorts. His brother, thinking he should get a "real" job often sent him photos of himself enjoying the so-called "good life." He labeled his snapshots "My new jacuzzi" or "My new car." Then Tom responded with a photo of his own. He sent his brother a large poster with a breathtaking view of Wyoming's mountainous scenery. On the back was Tom's message: "My back yard." His brother’s photos stopped arriving. "The Good Life" is not defined by things, but by the pure simplicity of having a safe place to be yourself and enjoy the beauty around you. One morning as I left for work, several Bald Eagles soared right above my back door. They were so close, gliding under the big white cloud hanging low above the yard. That was one of the most awesome moments of my life.
I recently hit a deer while driving home from work. The damage was minimal to the deer, as he trotted off but now there is a small ding in the hood. Even though it was barely noticeable, could I live with it the way it was? I realized that if I invested the money in my vanity (which was exactly all it was), I could hit another deer anyway. No, the only dent was in my thoughts. The people who love me don’t care what I drive. I was disappointed, but I let go of the dent. My car runs great, gets really good mileage, and is dependable. It’s transportation – which is what it is meant to be. The ½ mile of gravel road, before I get to the pavement, leaves my car looking like I was mud bogging during rainy spells, but it gets me where I need to go. I am thankful for my little friend. If I keep taking good care of her, she may last me a good many years more. What’s one little ding? I have a few myself. John Burroughs (1837-1921) put it like this: "To find the universal elements enough; to find the air and the water exhilarating; to be refreshed by a morning walk or an evening saunter...to be thrilled by the stars at night; to be elated over a bird's nest or a wildflower in spring -- these are some of the rewards of the simple life." Those of us who have learned to appreciate the beauty around us, do livedifferently. The difference is this: when we value simplicity, we have really learned to live. May this be the motto for your New Year!
* * *
The world is a looking glass, and gives back to every man the reflection of his own face. Frown at it and it will in turn look sourly upon you; laugh at it and with it, and it is a jolly kind companion. ~William Makepeace Thackeray
* * *
Simple Muffin Mix
3 c Flour,
3 c Whole Wheat Flour,
1 c Sugar,
1 c Instant Dry Milk,
1/4 cup Baking Powder,
2 t Salt,
2 T Cinnamon,
1/2 t Cloves
Spoon flour into measuring cup; level off. In large bowl, combine allingredients; blend well. Store in airtight container in a cool, dry place. Makes about 8 cups mix. For gift giving, measure 2 cups mix, and place in airtight container orzipper- topped storage bag. Be sure to include recipe for Holiday Muffins. A pint jar is the perfect size for giving this mix as a gift. To decorate, cut a 9 inch-diameter circle from fabric of your choice. Center fabric over lid and secure with a rubber band. Tie on raffia or ribbon bow to cover the rubber band. Attach card with the following directions:
HOLIDAY MUFFINS 2 cups Simple Muffin Mix, 2/3 cup water, 1 egg, slightly beaten, 1/4 cup oilHeat oven to 400 deg. Line 2 muffin cups with paper baking cups. In mediumbowl, place muffin mix, water, egg and oil; stir until dry ingredients are justmoistened. DO NOT OVER MIX. Fill prepared muffin cups approximately 1/2 full. Bake at 400 degrees F for 10 to 15 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Immediately remove from pan. Serve warm. Yield: 12 muffins. 1/2 cup miniature chocolate chips or 1/2 cup pecan pieces can be added to batter.
Keeping it Simple,
Sheryl
Please contact Sheryl with recipes, questions, comments and simple living ideas that work for you. Email: thesimple_life@yahoo.com
Join the online newsletter to print recipes and look up previous columns:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thesimple_life/
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Simple Happiness
The Simple Life
By Sheryl Simons
“The happier you are with the simple things, the easier it is to be happy.”
Happiness. How do you define it? This time of year, we all think about being happy and making others happy. The bad rap of “selfishness” that has been given to us Americans, may be true, but I’m not really sure we have thought long and hard about what really makes us happy. Someone recently said, “Christmas is a funny time of year, it’s somebody named Jesus birthday, but we buy gifts for everyone else, and we eat candy out of old socks that we hang on the wall.” It’s all in how we look at things, isn’t it?
Happiness is like that. We buy what we think will make us happy, big houses, big shiny vehicles, but then the bills come rolling in and we pay bitterly to squeeze out pennies together to pay for the big shiny items, that soon lose their “new” smell. We begin to resent that monthly payment. And we should. But then money is tight, and we are soon caught in the cycle of spend, slave, spend, slave. We have spent until we are locked in jobs we don’t love, paying money we barely have. And, now we are fighting each other, the person we love the most, about which bills to pay!
The Oprah show recently reported that most Americans are 3 payments from being homeless. I’m not surprised. I know someone who lost their home because they kept buying new vehicles, refinanced their home to pay all the interest they owed, and ended up not being able to sell the home.
The bank tells us we can safely take out a loan for one third our income. Then we buy furniture, and we need a vehicle, of course. Pretty soon we are struggling to keep our heads above water, but then someone gets sick, or there is a lay-off where unemployment only pays a portion of our income, or maybe we get fired and can’t get unemployment at all. How do we pay the bills now? And so we put our cars and houses up for sale, but we owe more than they are worth now. Tough place to be in.
What if we’d bought a house we could afford in the first place? What if we left a much bigger margin between our paychecks and our bills? We might then consider getting a job we love, or as another simple-living advocate says, aim to work 20 to 30 hours a week, instead of two people working full time in a family. Find ways to save money instead of spend. Buy a good used car, and save money for repairs.
Most of us find that happiness is not in “new”, but in life. It’s in rolling on the floor with the grandkids, making cookies, building sand castles and watching the waves cover them and wash them away. Joy is in a good belly laugh at a clean joke, a tear at a thought provoking movie on a rainy afternoon, or a walk along the path in the woods that only animals use.
I find it amazing that we buy gadgets for our kids that take them away from us, rather than bring us together. We buy games that put them in their own lands, rather than games that we all play together (and are much cheaper). Why? Is it because we are really too busy and want to keep them out of our hair? Just because the other kids have playland XX, doesn’t mean your kids have to. They will survive childhood. Encourage them to go outside and play, make things with wood, build forts, rather than sit and stare at an electronic screen for hours on end. Lead by example. Don’t just buy everything. Need a bird feeder? Build one. Need a cake? Bake one. Need cookies for a school party? Do it together. Happiness is in the here and now, take it for all it’s worth, it doesn’t last forever.
* * *
I used to buy lunch meat and maybe not use it all in time, but now I buy several kinds and put them in small bags, just enough for a sandwich. Stored in a plastic container in the freezer, I can grab just enough for a day or two. If I make my sandwich or salad with frozen meat, it thaws by lunchtime, and I don’t even need to refrigerate my lunch. I can have more variety this way, as well. It’s also a great idea to have a cupboard just for lunch. Keep bread, sandwich bags, snacks, cookies, and fruit, so it’s easy to throw a lunch together .
* * *
Those who love deeply never grow old; they may die of old age, but they die young. ~~ A.W. Pinero"You must feel love within, before you can share it." ~~ Denis Waitley"If you judge people, you have no time to love them." ~~ Mother Teresa
Simple Cracker Dips
If you have cream cheese, you have a great dip. You can open the cream cheese on a plate. Cover with a topping. Jalapeno jelly, strawberry jelly, (or any kind) salsa, cocktail sauce and diced shrimp or crab meat, or chopped ham, onions, and cheddar cheese. No need for mixing, and serve with crackers or veggies.
Keeping it Simple,
Sheryl
Please share recipes, questions, comments and simple living ideas that work for you. Email: thesimple_life@yahoo.com Join the online newsletter to print recipes and look up previous columns: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thesimple_life/
By Sheryl Simons
“The happier you are with the simple things, the easier it is to be happy.”
Happiness. How do you define it? This time of year, we all think about being happy and making others happy. The bad rap of “selfishness” that has been given to us Americans, may be true, but I’m not really sure we have thought long and hard about what really makes us happy. Someone recently said, “Christmas is a funny time of year, it’s somebody named Jesus birthday, but we buy gifts for everyone else, and we eat candy out of old socks that we hang on the wall.” It’s all in how we look at things, isn’t it?
Happiness is like that. We buy what we think will make us happy, big houses, big shiny vehicles, but then the bills come rolling in and we pay bitterly to squeeze out pennies together to pay for the big shiny items, that soon lose their “new” smell. We begin to resent that monthly payment. And we should. But then money is tight, and we are soon caught in the cycle of spend, slave, spend, slave. We have spent until we are locked in jobs we don’t love, paying money we barely have. And, now we are fighting each other, the person we love the most, about which bills to pay!
The Oprah show recently reported that most Americans are 3 payments from being homeless. I’m not surprised. I know someone who lost their home because they kept buying new vehicles, refinanced their home to pay all the interest they owed, and ended up not being able to sell the home.
The bank tells us we can safely take out a loan for one third our income. Then we buy furniture, and we need a vehicle, of course. Pretty soon we are struggling to keep our heads above water, but then someone gets sick, or there is a lay-off where unemployment only pays a portion of our income, or maybe we get fired and can’t get unemployment at all. How do we pay the bills now? And so we put our cars and houses up for sale, but we owe more than they are worth now. Tough place to be in.
What if we’d bought a house we could afford in the first place? What if we left a much bigger margin between our paychecks and our bills? We might then consider getting a job we love, or as another simple-living advocate says, aim to work 20 to 30 hours a week, instead of two people working full time in a family. Find ways to save money instead of spend. Buy a good used car, and save money for repairs.
Most of us find that happiness is not in “new”, but in life. It’s in rolling on the floor with the grandkids, making cookies, building sand castles and watching the waves cover them and wash them away. Joy is in a good belly laugh at a clean joke, a tear at a thought provoking movie on a rainy afternoon, or a walk along the path in the woods that only animals use.
I find it amazing that we buy gadgets for our kids that take them away from us, rather than bring us together. We buy games that put them in their own lands, rather than games that we all play together (and are much cheaper). Why? Is it because we are really too busy and want to keep them out of our hair? Just because the other kids have playland XX, doesn’t mean your kids have to. They will survive childhood. Encourage them to go outside and play, make things with wood, build forts, rather than sit and stare at an electronic screen for hours on end. Lead by example. Don’t just buy everything. Need a bird feeder? Build one. Need a cake? Bake one. Need cookies for a school party? Do it together. Happiness is in the here and now, take it for all it’s worth, it doesn’t last forever.
* * *
I used to buy lunch meat and maybe not use it all in time, but now I buy several kinds and put them in small bags, just enough for a sandwich. Stored in a plastic container in the freezer, I can grab just enough for a day or two. If I make my sandwich or salad with frozen meat, it thaws by lunchtime, and I don’t even need to refrigerate my lunch. I can have more variety this way, as well. It’s also a great idea to have a cupboard just for lunch. Keep bread, sandwich bags, snacks, cookies, and fruit, so it’s easy to throw a lunch together .
* * *
Those who love deeply never grow old; they may die of old age, but they die young. ~~ A.W. Pinero"You must feel love within, before you can share it." ~~ Denis Waitley"If you judge people, you have no time to love them." ~~ Mother Teresa
Simple Cracker Dips
If you have cream cheese, you have a great dip. You can open the cream cheese on a plate. Cover with a topping. Jalapeno jelly, strawberry jelly, (or any kind) salsa, cocktail sauce and diced shrimp or crab meat, or chopped ham, onions, and cheddar cheese. No need for mixing, and serve with crackers or veggies.
Keeping it Simple,
Sheryl
Please share recipes, questions, comments and simple living ideas that work for you. Email: thesimple_life@yahoo.com Join the online newsletter to print recipes and look up previous columns: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thesimple_life/
Monday, December 11, 2006
Christmas Torture!
The Simple Life
By Sheryl Simons
“The happier you are with the simple things, the easier it is to be happy.”
Simple Christmas
I can remember when I was a child, making a list of Christmas gifts I’d like, sometime around Thanksgiving. Mostly the items on the list came from the Sears toy catalog, mailed to homes in November. If you’ve never seen a Sears Toy Catalog, imagine the toy castle of the world where each page was filled with unimaginably magical items, such as toy electric guitars, games, and the electrical gadgets of the time, such as the game “Operation” where you had to remove a body part carefully with small tweezers without setting off the buzzer if you so much as touched the metal around the edges. One of my friends had that game, that’s how I know. Another friend had an Easy Bake oven, which baked very small cakes and cookies from the heat of a light bulb. I guess my parents thought that baking in our regular oven was practice enough.
One thing I can thank my parents for, (I think) was not making a big deal about Santa Clause. We never truly believed in Santa, which would have only meant one more let down when we realized the truth. Our family put the emphasis on Jesus amazing birth, and we still read the real Christmas story every year sandwiched between dinner and gifts.
The suspense of waiting all that time to see what would actually appear was awful. I knew nothing of Chinese torture, but Christmas torture couldn’t have been any less severe. However, as good as the gifts were, they were mostly gifts like sweaters, new pants – you know mostly things I needed rather than wanted with something fun like a beautiful pair of ice skates I received one year. My parents had a slightly different view of Christmas, than the children in our family. ‘Practical’ was the key word. Practical had a lot to do with not owing money after Christmas. (Smart idea, but not to a kid!)
‘Practical’ was a hated word to any child. Even if my parents had stumbled across a winning lottery ticket, (if it had existed back then) they wouldn’t have bought us everything we wanted, because it wouldn’t be “good for us”. “It wouldn’t be good for you” was a key phrase in our household, as it was in most families I knew at the time. If it sounds like a conspiracy, it was. No, my parents were definitely not alone in their parenting philosophies of what was “good” for us.
As a kid it seemed as if what was good for us, was an infinitely smaller range than what was not good for us. It was not good for us to be out after the streetlights came on, or to have a Saturday of freedom without chores. It was good for us to eat our vegetables, not be at a friend’s home unless a parent was home, and wait an hour after eating before swimming. I can actually remember swimming after only a half-hour after lunch once, and wondering if I might just die, and when the hour passed thinking I had cheated death. I was still alive! (My mother and aunt had probably gotten tired of us asking if an hour was up every five minutes, and took the risk of losing us all just to have some peace and quiet.) None of us even got stomach cramps. Not too long ago they debunked that theory for good. Good thing. Now my grandkids will be able to swim right after eating – but don’t go past your waist for an hour!
When my kids were little, I hate to admit, I became a part of the conspiracy – but with a new twist. It would save my kids the terrible torture of Christmas – I would hide the Christmas Catalog! (Hey, I couldn’t eliminate Christmas, but I did what I could!) I did it every year. Once when it came in the mail, they saw it before I could hide it. It mysteriously disappeared as soon as I could get my slippery little hands on it. I remember one of them looking all over for it, but I was a good hider of things. To this day, I don’t know if it helped to hide the catalog, but I did my best to spare them. There were still TV ads to torture them!
* * *
Christmas is not in tinsel and lights and outward show. The secret lies in an inner glow. It's lighting a fire inside the heart. Good will and joy a vital part. It's higher thought and a greater plan. It's glorious dream in the soul of man. ~Wilfred A. Peterson
The word did not become a philosophy, a theory, or a concept to be discussed, debated, or pondered. But the word became a person to be followed, enjoyed, and loved. – Roy Lessin
SIMPLE CROCKPOT BROWNIE PUDDING1 pkg chocolate cake mix1 pkg instant chocolate pudding mix (4 serving size)1 pint sour cream¾ cup oil4 eggs1 cup water1 cup chocolate chips 1 cup pecans, toasted and choppedSpray crockpot. Mix all ingredients and pour into crockpot. Cook on low setting for 5 hours. Serve with vanilla ice cream.
Please share recipes, questions, comments and simple living ideas that work for you. Email: thesimple_life@yahoo.com Join the online newsletter to print recipes and look up previous columns: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thesimple_life/
By Sheryl Simons
“The happier you are with the simple things, the easier it is to be happy.”
Simple Christmas
I can remember when I was a child, making a list of Christmas gifts I’d like, sometime around Thanksgiving. Mostly the items on the list came from the Sears toy catalog, mailed to homes in November. If you’ve never seen a Sears Toy Catalog, imagine the toy castle of the world where each page was filled with unimaginably magical items, such as toy electric guitars, games, and the electrical gadgets of the time, such as the game “Operation” where you had to remove a body part carefully with small tweezers without setting off the buzzer if you so much as touched the metal around the edges. One of my friends had that game, that’s how I know. Another friend had an Easy Bake oven, which baked very small cakes and cookies from the heat of a light bulb. I guess my parents thought that baking in our regular oven was practice enough.
One thing I can thank my parents for, (I think) was not making a big deal about Santa Clause. We never truly believed in Santa, which would have only meant one more let down when we realized the truth. Our family put the emphasis on Jesus amazing birth, and we still read the real Christmas story every year sandwiched between dinner and gifts.
The suspense of waiting all that time to see what would actually appear was awful. I knew nothing of Chinese torture, but Christmas torture couldn’t have been any less severe. However, as good as the gifts were, they were mostly gifts like sweaters, new pants – you know mostly things I needed rather than wanted with something fun like a beautiful pair of ice skates I received one year. My parents had a slightly different view of Christmas, than the children in our family. ‘Practical’ was the key word. Practical had a lot to do with not owing money after Christmas. (Smart idea, but not to a kid!)
‘Practical’ was a hated word to any child. Even if my parents had stumbled across a winning lottery ticket, (if it had existed back then) they wouldn’t have bought us everything we wanted, because it wouldn’t be “good for us”. “It wouldn’t be good for you” was a key phrase in our household, as it was in most families I knew at the time. If it sounds like a conspiracy, it was. No, my parents were definitely not alone in their parenting philosophies of what was “good” for us.
As a kid it seemed as if what was good for us, was an infinitely smaller range than what was not good for us. It was not good for us to be out after the streetlights came on, or to have a Saturday of freedom without chores. It was good for us to eat our vegetables, not be at a friend’s home unless a parent was home, and wait an hour after eating before swimming. I can actually remember swimming after only a half-hour after lunch once, and wondering if I might just die, and when the hour passed thinking I had cheated death. I was still alive! (My mother and aunt had probably gotten tired of us asking if an hour was up every five minutes, and took the risk of losing us all just to have some peace and quiet.) None of us even got stomach cramps. Not too long ago they debunked that theory for good. Good thing. Now my grandkids will be able to swim right after eating – but don’t go past your waist for an hour!
When my kids were little, I hate to admit, I became a part of the conspiracy – but with a new twist. It would save my kids the terrible torture of Christmas – I would hide the Christmas Catalog! (Hey, I couldn’t eliminate Christmas, but I did what I could!) I did it every year. Once when it came in the mail, they saw it before I could hide it. It mysteriously disappeared as soon as I could get my slippery little hands on it. I remember one of them looking all over for it, but I was a good hider of things. To this day, I don’t know if it helped to hide the catalog, but I did my best to spare them. There were still TV ads to torture them!
* * *
Christmas is not in tinsel and lights and outward show. The secret lies in an inner glow. It's lighting a fire inside the heart. Good will and joy a vital part. It's higher thought and a greater plan. It's glorious dream in the soul of man. ~Wilfred A. Peterson
The word did not become a philosophy, a theory, or a concept to be discussed, debated, or pondered. But the word became a person to be followed, enjoyed, and loved. – Roy Lessin
SIMPLE CROCKPOT BROWNIE PUDDING1 pkg chocolate cake mix1 pkg instant chocolate pudding mix (4 serving size)1 pint sour cream¾ cup oil4 eggs1 cup water1 cup chocolate chips 1 cup pecans, toasted and choppedSpray crockpot. Mix all ingredients and pour into crockpot. Cook on low setting for 5 hours. Serve with vanilla ice cream.
Please share recipes, questions, comments and simple living ideas that work for you. Email: thesimple_life@yahoo.com Join the online newsletter to print recipes and look up previous columns: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thesimple_life/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)