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/
Sunday, December 31, 2006
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!
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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.
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