Marmie's thoughts

summer thoughts

2010-08-18T10:46:00.000-07:00

Summer brings a different pace to life-perhaps a hold over from childhood summer vacations. It's always pretty busy, but the activities seem different than the rest of the year. It is often a time to reflect, relax, recharge, and re-energize.

This summer has been a time to reorganize. We've moved into a new home. I'm not currently working at an outside job full time, so I've had time to organize and reflect. It is so nice to be able to pare things down and create a comfortable environment in our new home. I've taken a few bags and boxes of things to Goodwill as I realize they are no longer necessary in our lives. That is very freeing. My sister will inherit a couple of items that belonged to our grandmother. I've had them since I was a child and am now passing them on.

With fewer outside demands, the inner demands are taking over. I have time to practice music again and find that my singing range has returned (which I greatly appreciate). I have time to cook and am enjoying experimenting in the kitchen. I think my husband is mostly enjoying the experiments. I have more time for him, which we both appreciate.

Part of this reflecting process is a commitment to simplifying my life. I have always been very driven and am trying to disengage that to just enjoy the journey of each day. It is a big change but is very refreshing.

All too soon, summer will end but I hope the journey continues.

Fathers and family events

2010-06-21T20:25:00.000-07:00

Father's Day is a time to reflect on our families. My father died a number of years ago. As we have significant events in our lives, I miss him. Most of the time I can 'pretend' that he's just away, but I do miss sharing events with him.

I'm grateful for the wonderful fathers around me. I see them in many places, including my extended family. Fathers are so important to the healthy development of children. They provide role models; they help boys understand how best to treat and respect women.

In our family, we have sons-in-law who are very involved in rearing their children. We have a grandson who is following in his father's footsteps as a very engaged father. These are men who are not afraid to nurture. These are the men who show us what fathers should be.

On family events

2010-06-07T09:45:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, in Prescott, Arizona, the Arizona Golf Association and Antelope Hills Golf Course hosted the 51st Father-Son tournament. Pictures are here. Fathers, sons, and grandsons play 36 holes of golf together over the course of two days. For the AGA and the volunteers and staff at Antelope Hills, they are very long days. But it was so rewarding to participate.

Some teams have been playing together in the tournament for over 30 years. This is a family tradition, handed down from generation to generation. Golf, in and of itself, can be a wonderful experience (or, if you play like I do, it may be quite frustrating.) But what is so fabulous about this weekend is the annual ritual of getting together for two days (or three if they come up early for a practice round), visiting, having fun, and being together. Most of them started out as Arizona residents, but now many of them come in from other places to see their family and play. And it is not just the fathers and sons. Whole families come out. In some cases, mom and/or grandma rides around with them as play. In others, they join for the meal after the round but visit Prescott for one of its many amenities.

It is so easy for families to draw apart. We live in a very fast paced world. I have lived only 1.5 years near my folks since I became an adult. They were in California; I was in Vermont, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Arizona and Utah. While my sisters stayed in California, I am not unique as a highly mobile family member. My daughter has lived in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Utah and Tennessee. With so much mobility, a tradition such as the Father-Son tournament helps draw the family together. While many of us get together for the holidays, there is often an underlying tension and expectations that also join us. This was less evident at the tournament.

It was fun seeing so many teams wear matching shirts, shorts, hats, complete outfits, etc. A father might play with all 3 of his sons, and those sons might be also playing with 1 or 2 of their sons. I meet so many wonderful people having a great time, even if they didn't play as well as they would have liked.

The volunteers also contributed to the atmosphere: helping keep score in the large family groups, replenishing the water jugs (we had a record high 97 Sunday), managing the check-in process, rangering, managing carts, and generally making it a great experience.

While a formal tournament might not be the thing for all families, it is great to hold a family reunion around an annual event that the whole family can enjoy.

Education Revolution

2010-05-25T18:22:00.000-07:00

I feel strongly about learning, about maximizing our potential and developing our talents. Over the years, I have earned money from almost everything I had lessons in as a child. That was never the expectation, but it happened. My parents' expectation was that I would keep busy, stay out of trouble, and have some fun.

I love learning and continue to learn new things all the time. As my job opportunities have changed, I have developed new skills to meet the changing situation. I have worked in information technology for many years, in part because it is constantly changing. I have mastered hundreds of software programs. Because of my passion for learning, I have also consistently provided an opportunity for others to learn. For some of my jobs, it was a formal portion of the job for me to teach. For others, it was an information addition. I love learning the ins and outs of technology and then figuring out how best to apply that to business or personal situations to maximize effectiveness.

At TED, Sir Ken Robinson talks about the need for a revolution in education. I strongly support his argument. Reasoning like this was why I wanted to homeschool my daughter. I felt I could help her develop her talents and satisfy her curiosity and at the same time help her learn. She is doing something similar with her children.

Many people feel that learning ends with a diploma. I feel that a diploma is simply a recognition that you've learned how to learn. I continue to study languages, learn new software programs, new recipes to cook, new skills, new piano pieces, etc. all the time. I believe we are here to learn and love to share what I've learned with others.

Support the education revolution, learn something new and share it.

The Dilbert World

2010-05-21T08:35:00.000-07:00

Does the world that Scott Adams shows in Dilbert resonate with you? I considered this as I read these thoughts in a leadership post. Why is this so funny?

I've spent over 20 years dong information technology jobs. I've done support, training, lots of administration, project management, just about everything there is. I've worked in large and smaller IT environments. Before that, I worked in other departments. All resembled some elements found in Dilbert. When I took one of my management courses, a Dilbert cartoon started each class. We've all seen situations like the ones Scott Adams depicts. We can relate and know the situations are ridiculous. This is one reason it is funny.

Any time process replaces people, you see situations like Dilbert highlights. I watched "Guarding Tess" the other day. At the end, when she leaves the hospital, she must be in the wheelchair. Why? It is policy. Of course, it usually makes sense that someone leaving the hospital be careful, but not everyone needs to be in a wheelchair. However, it is policy. Bureaucracies replace judgement with policy. Zero tolerance policies are a good example. Most of us realize that children punished in these situations are often punished wrongly, but policy is followed. Are we better for it?

Are we safer because a child is expelled for bringing a toy to school? Are our children safer because a child is expelled for taking their medication? There is more gun violence in schools than ever before in history and we've certainly not won the war on drugs. We no longer teach people to exercise judgement, we teach them to follow a policy. Since there are no exceptions, they become ridiculous. Scott Adams could move from the world of business to any other setting that requires we follow policy mindlessly and document more of the ridiculous situations he satirizes.

What can we as individuals do to combat the Dilbert world? Think. Ponder. Don't accept. This is a form of radicalism, isn't it? Many people are afraid to think for themselves. The holderkin people that Mercedes Lackey shows in her novel, Arrow's of the Queen, have women that would be unable to think for themselves. It isn't allowed. Talia finds it novel that she will now have to think for herself and determine her own direction. Many of us have given away our right to decide, to think, and set a direction for ourselves. We've wandered into our current situation and just continue to wander. Socrates told us that the unexamined life is not worth living. Many of us live the unexamined life because it is just easier.

It is easier to let our parents choose what we will do with our lives. Or, our first job determines what we will do. We do not decide in advance. We cannot select a major in college, so it takes 5 or more years to get a degree to do what? Well, we're not sure, so we drift.

If our lives were examined, if we had made active, instead of passive choices, what would our lives look like? If more of us did this, our lives would, in general, look less like Dilbert. What if more of us were living mindfully, like the Little Homestead in the City? Would we not be using our resources more wisely, and would our lives not be richer in the important things?

I have tried to apply these thoughts over the years, with greater and lesser degrees of success. As my husband and I recently spent some time examining our lives, we made some changes. The world would consider them to be misguided changes as they decrease our income. However, they will increase our quality of life, and that is far more important than income. We continue to make mindful changes to simplify and enhance our lives. This is the challenge of the Dilbert world.

Spring ups and downs

2010-05-10T08:28:00.000-07:00

I love watching the buds on trees, the greening of the grass, the early bulbs. Spring is simply glorious. Then comes the hay fever. I've lived in many parts of the US, and have had different degrees of reaction. This year, now in Prescott, has been up and down. As the wind has picked up though, my allergies have responded by exploding. And I hate allergy meds. Oh well, it is a small price to pay for so much beauty.

Normally, by this time, I would be working in my garden, with much in and much ready to go in. This year, my gardening is indoors. We are in temporary housing as we go through our relocation to Prescott. The good news is, the house we've selected has some wonderful space for gardening. The bad news is, we won't be in until sometime in June. I may be able to do some summer and fall crops. So for now, I have my rosemary, aloe, and a very old cherry tomato plant as well as my normal houseplants to care for.

Gardening is such a wonderful process. It takes time-to plant, nurture, and see the seeds sprout. Then more time until you can enjoy the harvest. For shrubs and trees, I generally plant very young plants which means it takes a few years until you get the bounty and enjoyment. There is a beautiful lilac starting to bloom in our chosen house. It is about 8 feet tall. The lilac in the house we've left is about 2 feet tall and will not bloom for a few more years. For me, gardening is a long range project. The yard is a project in process that takes many years to complete. It is an act of faith. It is an investment in the future.

If you cannot plant, at least get out and enjoy the gardens around you. A walk in a park, or through a neighborhood, can be very refreshing. Nature is a great stress reliever.

thoughts on mothers

2010-05-09T08:02:00.001-07:00

I have a wonderful mother. Not only has she always loved us, she has expanded beyond our immediate family to include others in our extended family. There were the young men my father befriended who shared his interest with cars. There were our boyfriends and husbands. There were close friends who were only children and didn't have extended family. Our family extends far beyond those she gave birth to or the families my parents were born into. Thanks, Mom, for a great example.

I have lots of other honorary mothers in my life as well. There are many women who nurtured me, particularly when I lived far from my own mom and needed motherly advice, like when my daughter was young. Most of these women are members of my church family. A few were friends I encountered along the way. I'm grateful for their friendship and examples.

Now, I have another generation of mothers in my life: my daughter, step-daughter, and step-granddaughter. These women are also good examples. The youngest are dealing with the challenges of new babies. My step-daughter is dealing with the challenge of children leaving home. They all are doing a wonderful job of being moms.

To all the women out there who nurture us, thanks. Thanks for your love, patience and caring. What would we do without these wonderful women?

Back again and musing on growth

2010-05-06T13:09:00.000-07:00

I started this blog when life was changing, then it got crazy and I ran out of time for blogging. I started a new, very demanding job that I loved. It has been one of the most rewarding things I have ever done. then life threw us a curve ball, and my good husband was enticed out of retirement back to a job he left 29 years ago. The opportunity was too good to miss, so I am now between jobs, we're searching for a new house, and we've moved to Prescott, Arizona.

There is a saying that if you do not learn from history, you are doomed to repeat it. Do we learn from history? Do I? I know that when I follow my gut, intuition, or promptings of the Spirit, the end result is always better than if I do not. I recently read Blink,by Malcom Gladwell. This is about understanding our intuition and how to enhance it and really use it successfully. There is much food for thought there. We have become so focused on the rational, the scientific, and the logical, that we discount the intuitive and emotional perceptions. I'm not great at being in tune with my emotions, but the more I learn, the more I realize that they have great power to help us lead a more meaningful life.

I re-read lots of my novels. I do this because I enjoy the characters. I re-read some of the non-fiction, but in that case, it is because I expect my reactions to the insights to have changed as I have grown. What does it say about us if we do not grow and change? I do not want to be a stagnant pool. I regularly read Scriptures because the teachings apply to me differently as I grow. What I understood at twenty is different than later. I hope I have more depth and can see more application. Much of the fiction I read teaches me of the ability each of us has to be heroic. We can make difficult choices because they are right, but not easy, because of our honor and integrity (I like epic fantasy). Is it harder to save the world (think Lord of the Rings) or to take a stand that is unpopular politically? Is it harder to face a board of directors or a child that cannot be comforted?

I loved my job. It mattered. I love my husband. He matters more than the job. I have no regrets for choosing something important to him over the job I loved. My relationship with him is lasting and that with the job is very short-term. I am currently enjoying my leisure time. I have more time to read, to cook, to ponder. This is a great blessing. Whether or not I return to paid employment or continue to take short consulting opportunities, this latest change has provided an opportunity to re-assess and the time to ponder that assessment.

Life is a great test. I will continue to study my options and work toward growth. I hope to simplify my life with these current changes by more focus on my family. I also hope to be able to continue these musings here in this blog.

Harvest musings

2008-10-05T09:12:00.000-07:00

As the cooler weather approaches, I always think a lot about preparing for winter. With all the economic difficulties going on, this had been an even stronger urge this year. Last week I made rose hip jelly. Yesterday I made mint jelly. I also dried a number of herbs from the garden. We've been picking tomatoes and carrots almost daily for the past few weeks. Soups are a big menu item again. I think these are all comfort types of activities.

Rose hips are beautiful remnants of the roses that once graced the plants. This was the first time I've tried making this jelly and it turned out very well. What fun to make this beautiful food.

Cider time is here again. Go to a cider mill if you have a chance and partake of freshly pressed apple cider. Take some home to make hot mulled cider. Cider always indicates autumn to me right along with the crisper air.

Hello again

2008-09-13T14:10:00.001-07:00

It has been a long, busy summer which isn't an excuse for not blogging. I'm sorry. After I started my new job and new business, I just ran out of extra energy for this. Now I'm more accustomed to this schedule and will take up writing again.

I love Jane Austen. There is a wonderful Jane Austen community online. You can access many very interesting writers from http://www.austenarium.com. There are wonderful alternatives and sequels for Persuasion. Beware though, these stories can be addictive. Some of the online versions are now coming out as standard books, so you can read them that way too.

My garden took most of my spare time this summer. We've enjoyed lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. Now that cooler weather is here, we're mixing those into the casseroles that autumn brings. While the garden is still growing strong, I find I keep killing rosemary plants. I love rosemary and want it fresh but have a black thumb. So far, I've managed to kill 4 in the past year. I bought another one today and hope to have better luck.

Menus and thoughts

2008-06-14T04:49:00.000-07:00

Spring is such a wonderful time of year. I love seeing the flowers in bloom. Here is Utah, we've had rain in the valley and everything is lush. This is set against a backdrop of snow topped mountains. Our rain meant fresh powder around us. I am awed by the beauty and drama of it-and I'll share if I ever get a digital camera.

Today is Flag Day. There are lots of things wrong with the United States, just as there are with any country. But there are so many more things right-things we aspire to even if we do not always succeed with the execution. Our ideals of justice and equity, diversity, and fairness would make our world so much better if adhered to. I fly the flag proudly today to remind me how blessed I am to live here.

Tomorrow is Father's day, so most of the menus this week are at my husband's choosing. Luckily, he is willing to eat leftovers even then. And I still get to pick lots of things from the garden.

Sunday
Pot roast with carrots and new potatoes
Gravy
Chard
Bread pudding with strawberries and chocolate chips
Monday
Hot open faced roast beef sandwiches
Mashed potatoes
Green salad
Tuesday
Bisquick easy beef pot pie
Broccoli salad
Wednesday
Chicken stir fry
Brown rice
Thursday
French bread pizzas-one pepperoni, one veggie
Green salad
Friday
Hamburgers
Chips
Saturday
Grilled salmon
Grilled veggies

Menus 6/8-6/14

2008-06-07T10:35:00.000-07:00

Spring is here and it's nice to take advantage of it. Much of this comes from my garden this week. It's so exciting to pick asparagus and strawberries at the same time as lettuce, chard, and spinach. Peas will be coming soon.

Sunday
Baked chicken with asparagus
Green salad
Fresh strawberries
Monday
American chop suey
Green salad
Tuesday
Calzones
Green beans
Wednesday
Chicken vegetable soup
Thursday
Tuna macaroni salad
Friday
Cream of broccoli soup
Multi-grain rolls
Saturday
Salad greens with strawberries, pralines, feta, and grapes

Menus 6/1-6/7

2008-05-31T05:36:00.000-07:00

Sunday
Baked chicken in mushroom sauce
Asparagus
Whole wheat rolls
Easy strawberry shortcake
Monday
Chili verde
Green salad
Tuesday
Leftover baked chicken
Three bean salad
Wednesday
Leftover chili verde
Green salad
Thursday
Gypsy salad on chard and romaine
Friday
Hot dogs in buns
Baked beans
Green salad
Saturday
Apple pancakes
Chicken sausages
Fruit salad

Mushroom sauce: place 1/4 c olive oil in saucepan. Add 1/4 c flour and stir well. Add 1 can chicken broth and stir until smooth. Cook stirring continually over low heat until thick. Add 1/2 milk or cream, 1 4oz can mushroom pieces, chopped parsley (2Tbsp fresh or 2tsp dried). Serve over baked chicken.

Gypsy salad:
2 c diced turkey ham
2 c diced cheddar or other cheese
2 c diced dill pickles
2 c diced tomatoes
Mix all together with about 2 Tbsp prepared mustard and 1 Tbsp mayonnaise. Adjust the mustard and mayonnaise dressing to taste.

Easy strawberry shortcake: Mash 4 cups strawberries and mix with 1/2 c sugar. Serve over slices of Angel food cake.

Sorry I've been gone

2008-05-31T05:24:00.000-07:00

A lot has happened in my life since I last posted. I started working in a new position with much longer days. It is a challenging and very rewarding position, but I haven't had long commutes in many years. It took a while for my body to adjust! In spite of that, I absolutely love my new job.

Now it is more imperative that I plan the meals well-so I'll be picking that up here again.

Also, while I was interviewing and starting the new job, I also started a new business. That seriously decreased any available time for fun things like reading and blogging. You can see my new business at Home Learning Coach. It is designed to help parents promote learning in their homes. I create weekly activities designed for families to do together. Sometimes they are focused on specific cultural activities, sometimes on sports, sometimes on service. I hope you will take a look. The activities are designed for families with children between the ages of about 4 and 16. There are often books or stories to read as well.

Spring is truly here and it has been fun and challenging to get the garden planted with everything else that is going on. However, my chard from last year survived the winter and it has been pleasant to use. We've picked some asparagus as well. Lettuce and peas are up. Warmer weather things like tomatoes are in. Unfortunately, the weeds are doing well too, so I must keep after them.

I've been reading some books by Alexander McCall Smith while riding the bus to work. I love the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series. Precious Ramotswe is such a wonderful character. I have also become a fan of Isabel Dalhousie. It is so fun to read mysteries that are really mysteries-puzzles to solve-rather than murder mysteries and who-dun-its. When I was a child and became a mystery fan, I liked the puzzle solving. Most adult mysteries involve murder and these are a refreshing change. His characters are quite fun and the puzzles engaging. I highly recommend these.

True sportsmanship

2008-04-04T10:09:00.000-07:00

At this time when we're looking at the final 4 for NCAA basketball, it is a good time to think about what sportsmanship is. Ostensibly, this is why we have sports as part of education-because of what it can teach us. Unfortunately, many of the things it teaches are negative due to choices of some coaches and athletes. Then there are those who teach just the opposite.

I read the weekly commentaries at Character Counts (http://charactercounts.org/michael/). One of the recent commentaries really moved me-about Olympian Eugenio Monti, http://charactercounts.org/michael/2008/04/the_essence_of_sportsmanship_5.html. This is what is true sportsmanship. How rare it is and how wonderful.

I participated in sports until just a few years ago (age caught up with me) and did my best to be a good sport and teammate. It isn't always easy, but it is always worth it.

March activities

2008-03-22T09:40:00.000-07:00

March is a great time for spring activities. It may be too early to get outside into the garden, but it is not too early to start seeds indoors for planting later. This is a great thing to do with the family-but you must make sure to maintain them until you get them planted out, probably in May for me. We're planting tomatoes inside, peas outside this week.

When was the last time you flew a kite? March is often very windy, particularly as storm fronts are going through. If you have a large school field or track area, or a great park, how about taking a little time to fly a kite with your family? You could purchase one, watch Mary Poppins as the end is about flying kites together and taking that time, then put it together as a family and go fly it. What a fun way to spend a Saturday. Much better than cleaning the house.

Menu plan Marcxh 23-29

2008-03-22T09:32:00.000-07:00

Sunday
Turkey ham
Oven roasted potatoes
Spinach casserole
Brownies
Monday
Fried leftover ham
Mashed sweet potatoes
Green beans
Tuesday
Baked beans-beanwiches
Green salad
Wednesday
Favorite soup
Sandwiches
Thursday
Broiled shrimp kabobs
Brown rice
Friday
Broiled chicken breast
Cabbage and apple cole slaw
Saturday
Grilled tuna and apple sandwiches
Green salad

Beanwiches: Toast English muffins. Top with mustard, then heated baked beans, then grated cheddar cheese. Place under broiler for about 5 minutes until cheese melts.

Shrimp kabobs: Use moderately large cooked shrimp. Place shrimp and desired vegetables such as tomatoes, mushrooms, pearl onions (I can't eat these), green peppers, zucchini or yellow squash chunks into bowl with a couple of tablespoons of canola oil, a couple of teaspoons of teriyaki sauce, a teaspoon of powdered garlic, 1/2 teaspoon of ginger and stir well. Thread on kabob skewers. Broil about 5 minutes.

Menu plan March 16-22

2008-03-17T10:02:00.000-07:00

Sunday
Baked fish
Oven fried french fries
Green beans
Monday
Easy corned beef and cabbage
Irish soda bread
Tuesday
Quick pizza
Wednesday
Macaroni and cheese
Green salad
Thursday
Easy vegetable soup
Friday
Leftover macaroni and cheese
Broccoli
Saturday
Hot dogs
Green salad

Easy corned beef and cabbage: Buy a chunk of prepared corned beef from your deli-about 1/4 pound per person. Chop potatoes and carrots, about 1/2 potato and 1 carrot per person, and boil until tender, about 20 minutes. Add finely chopped cabbage, (you can use prepared cold slaw mix) about 1/4 cup per person, and cook additional 10 minutes. During this 10 minutes, slice corned beef and heat in microwave.

Irish soda bread-there are lots of recipes, here's a good one http://www.landolakes.com/mealIdeas/ViewRecipe.cfm?RecipeID=9989

Easy vegetable soup: (for 4) To 16 oz can tomato sauce, add one can water in saucepan. Add 2 cups mixed frozen vegetables and 1 Tablespoon instant beef bullion. Bring to boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer about 5 minutes until veggies are tender.

Menus March 9-15

2008-03-09T07:58:00.000-07:00

Sunday
Easy seafood 'newburg'
Pastry shells
Broccoli
Molasses cookies
Monday
Oven fried chicken
Oven fried yam french fries
Green salad
Tuesday
Baked fish with lemons
Peas
Citrus fruit salad
Wednesday
Left over fried chicken
Green beans
Carrots
Thursday
Leftover fish
Waldorf salad
Friday
Hamburgers
Saturday
Broiled cheese sandwiches
Tomato soup

Easy seafood newburg: (Serve 4) Combine 1 can cream of shrimp soup, 1 cup sour cream, 8 oz cooked or canned seafood (clams, lobster, shrimp, crab, cooked fish) and heat through. Serve over rice, pastry shells, noodles.

Jane Austen- Austenarium site

2008-03-07T13:06:00.000-08:00

I love reading Jane Austen novels. (I like the movies too, but most leave a lot out). She had such insight into character. I recently read a new novel (None but you) that tells the story of Persuasion from Frederick Wentworth's point of view. I loved it and can't wait for volume 2 to be published. Then I discovered the draft for volumes 1 and 2 online at Austenarium. She indicates that the published book may differ from the web draft, but at least I now have a finished story to read. I will buy the new volume once it is available.

This site also tells the Persuasion story with alternatives-what if Frederick had married Louisa? What if he had gone to Edward's first instead of to see his sister.There is also a story focused on Elizabeth-and she becomes much more human in that one than she is in the original. She starts out bad but improves. When I read through all these, I felt as if I had spent a great deal of time with Persuasion and feared I would begin speaking like a Jane Austen character. I preceded all of this be re-reading Persuasion once again. Shortly thereafter, Masterpiece began broadcasting their new productions of Jane Austen videos. Their Persuasion is a adaptation, but it does leave out a lot. However, I will admit that I cannot really get enough of all of these. This sure was a completely different kind of life than the one I live. I think I would have been as unhappy as Anne in Bath of that era, but I don't know that I would have preferred the country. Perhaps with enough good books, I would have enjoyed either.

Happy reading.

Menu planning March 2-8

2008-02-29T08:45:00.000-08:00

Sunday
Roast turkey breast
Mashed potatoes and gravy
Green beans
Oatmeal cookies
Monday
Stir fried beef and veggies
Brown rice
Tuesday
Turkey, pineapple salad
Peas
Wednesday
Broiled fish
Carrots
Broccoli
Thursday
Turkey vegetable soup
French bread
Friday
Reuben sandwiches
Saturday
Pizza

Turkey pineapple salad: Mix turkey chunks, chopped celery, chopped pecans, chopped green olives, pineapple chunks. Mix mayo or plain yogurt with a pinch of curry powder, salt and pepper and mix with salad. To serve: place lettuce leaf or two on each plate. Top with salad. Top each salad with a pineapple slice.

Garden dreams

2008-02-29T08:36:00.000-08:00

As we get near the end of winter, this is a great time to plan your garden. Garden catalogs arrive daily and have lots of inspiration. When I was about 5, my pre-school class planted a garden, including spinach. We cared for it, harvested it, cooked it and ate it. Amazingly, I loved it. Only my dad and I ate it at home, but from then on, I was a fan. Dad and I started having a garden every year when I was about 9. We always planted radishes, which were fun to grow, but I never cared for them or turnips or beets. However, I did learn to love all types of summer squash.

Because of this love of gardening, I love the garden catalogs. I vary the annual vegetables each year, but also grow: asparagus, strawberries, blueberries, currants, raspberries, grapes, apples, peaches, cherries, plums, and herbs in my yard. I have harvested the asparagus, strawberries, currants, raspberries, apples, peaches and herbs, while the other fruit has yet to yield anything other than beauty. We had a bumper crop of chard and squash last summer. My husband has decided he doesn't care for chard, so I probably won't plant that again, but I'm dreaming of what will go in come May.

If you start seeds now, you will have tomato plants, eggplant, peppers, etc for transplanting to the garden at the right time in the snowbelt regions of the US. I've done that some years, and it is very fun to do with your kids.

Don't make everything utilitarian. We need flowers too as food for the soul. I grow old fashioned rugosa roses, as they make nice rose hips for tea and the flowers are edible and taste nice. I also grow carnations and lilacs as I love the flowers. Hyacinths have the most amazing fragrance, and I try to buy some in bloom each year. I then plant them and they return again and again.

What are your garden dreams?

Menu Planning February 10-16

2008-02-08T09:29:00.000-08:00

Sunday
Spaghetti
Garlic bread
Green salad
Apple crisp
Monday
Stir fried veggies and chicken
Brown minute rice
Tuesday
Leftover spaghetti
Caesar salad
Wednesday
Chicken stew
Multi-grain rolls
Thursday
Zucchini and tomato frittata (or omelet)
Sourdough toast
Friday
Leftover chicken stew
Saturday
Cream of tomato soup
Grilled shrimp with spinach salad

Early February Activity

2008-02-03T07:03:00.000-08:00

This is a great time to make some valentines. Remember how fun it was when you were young to make special valentines for your family or friends? It still is. If you have kids, plan to spend an evening with scissors, paper, glue, stickers, crayons and make some special valentines for some of the special people in your life.

Even if you don't make your own, Valentines Day is a nice time to remember those who are special in your life. I send cards to my family members to remind them how important they are. The younger members especially enjoy getting cards. I send them through regular mail, not email, so they have something to open. They get very excited about receiving mail.

It is also fun to decorate for Valentines Day. We have our red and white table cloth in the dining area. I also usually put a few other decorations around to remind us of love in all its forms. It is also nice to focus on something besides all the snow we've been getting this winter! I'm getting ready to go shovel again.

Menu Planning February 3-9

2008-02-03T06:58:00.000-08:00

Sunday
Boneless pork chops baked in creamed corn
Spinach
Apple blueberry crisp
Monday
Stir fried vegetables and pork
Tuesday
Split pea soup
Whole grain rolls
Wednesday
Broiled fish fillets
Broccoli
Thursday
Left-over split pea soup and rolls
Friday
Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato and Avocado sandwiches
Tomato soup
Saturday
Cream of mushroom soup
Corned beef on rye sandwiches

Puzzles

2008-01-25T14:11:00.000-08:00

Winter is a great time to do family jigsaw puzzles. When we were small, we used to 'help' my mother do the large 1000 piece puzzles. I'm sure we weren't much help, but we had a lot of fun together. My family did the same. It is even better when the puzzles show places you might like to visit or have visited. You can discuss these at the same time you are doing the puzzle. If your children are younger, do not limit yourself to puzzles the kids can do by themselves. If they are at least 5, they will have fun trying to help you with yours. You might want to start with medium difficulty, 250 piece puzzles and work on up to the more challenging.

Puzzles bring lots of benefits, both to kids and adults. The challenge to deciphering is a great skill to develop. Many adults cannot see the larger picture from smaller pieces, and this is important on the job. Puzzles can help you think this way. Puzzles challenge your perceptions. They can keep your brain growing as you age and ward off some of the mental challenges that can accompany aging. They can be a great interactive family time.

If you are already great at puzzles, you might try alternate solving methods. I prefer to do the edge first and work my way in. This seems the easiest. To challenge myself, I will try to go from the top down. If there are lots of trees and shrubs, this is hard for me as I have trouble distinguishing the greens and darker colors. I do better with the blues in the sky! Might be why I rarely wear green:) You can assign different parts of the puzzle to different people. You can start in the middle and work out, finishing with the edges.

I have a portable puzzle surface my daughter gave me a few years ago. It is a large piece of felt that rolls around a large tube. This way, I can get the puzzle out of the way when I need the table-and keep the pieces away from my cats. My mother has a slightly different surface that is like a large portfolio that closes over the puzzle to keep it in place. These surfaces allow you to take lots of time to work on the puzzle as it will not be in the way. This can be good if you limit the puzzle times to snowy/rainy days or evenings without television, perhaps with nice music in the background.

Happy puzzling.

Menus January 27-February 2

2008-01-25T13:52:00.000-08:00

Sunday
Stewed chicken
Multi-grain bread
Apples brulee
Monday
Hot chicken salad
Peas
Tuesday
Winter soup
Multi-grain bread
Wednesday
Kielbasa
Sauerkraut
Thursday
Broccoli-cheddar soup
Rolls
Friday
Grilled tilapia
Spinach
Saturday
Pizza

Stewed chicken-allows you to make a fryer nice and juicy
Cut desired vegetables into chunks-potatoes, carrots, turnips, parsnips, rutabagas whatever you like. Place in slow cooker. Add 2 cups water. Rinse chicken and add to slow cooker. Mix sage, thyme, rosemary, turmeric and rub into chicken. (about 1 tsp each, more or less). Add salt and pepper. Cook on low about 6 hours. Carefully remove chicken (it will probably fall off the bone) and place on platter. Remove vegetables. Pour liquid into saucepan. Mix 2 Tbsp flour or cornstarch with 1/2 cup water and add to liquid. Bring to a boil to make a pan gravy.

Apples brulee: Coarsely chop 1/3 apple per person. Mix with 2 Tbsp vanilla yogurt per person. Add 1 Tbsp chopped walnuts per person and mix well. Divide between ramekins or brulee dishes. Sprinkle with brown sugar. Grill until sugar crystalizes or use brulee torch. Refrigerate until ready to serve if made ahead.

Bone stock: Take bones from chicken and return them to the slow cooker. Cover with water. Add a stalk of celery (and onion if you like it). Add 2 Tbsp vinegar. Cook on low for 12-24 hours. Carefully separate any meat from the bones and discard the bones and celery. Use as stock for the winter soup.

Winter soup: Add chicken broth to stock to make 12 c. Add 1 cinnamon stick, 4 peppercorns, 3 whole cloves to stock. Chop 4 potatoes and 1/2 head cabbage and add to stock. Simmer 1/2 hour. Add 28 oz can diced tomatoes and simmer additional 30 minutes. You can put all but tomatoes into slow cooker in the morning and add the tomatoes 30 min before dinner. Remove the spices and add 2 Tbsp vinegar.

Hot chicken salad: Use about 2c leftover chicken. If you don't have enough leftover, you can use canned. Chop 1 stalk celery and 1 green apple. Add about 2 Tbsp mayonnaise and 1 c shredded cheddar cheese. Place in casserole dish and microwave for about 8 min, until heated through and cheese melter or bake about 350 for about 35-45 min.

Rituals

2008-01-19T09:40:00.000-08:00

I went to tea with some dear friends yesterday. We had a wonderful time visiting with each other and enjoying the delecacies that were part of the activity. I had a delicious vanilla tea, some wonderful finger sandwiches, tarts, scones, and conversation. Although Steph enjoys tea and the associated amenities frequently, I am usually limited to enjoying only the herbal tea. Our lives are so busy doing, the we seldom take the time to just be in the moment and enjoy, as we did during our tea. We met at the Bellagio, in Las Vegas and we were so focused on the moment that we missed the excitement as Bill Clinton and entourage went right past us. (He was there for the caucuses today in Nevada). It's funny we missed him, but wonderful how focused we were on each other.

All this got me thinking about rituals. We get so focused on the busy that rituals can help us focus on the now. Afternoon tea is a great way to relax, unwind, and get a second wind for the rest of the day. If you live in cold country, it is a nice way to warm up. I don't drink regular teas, but there are lots of wonderful herbal teas to enjoy. However, I don't usually take the time to have a lovely display, biscuits or scones or a treat to enjoy with it. I think now that this is a shame and would enhance the moment. I plan to add that to my afternoon as often as possible now, making sure that my treat is at least a little healthier than those I enjoyed yesterday. Such indulgence would not be good for my arteries or waistline on a regular basis.

New Victorian Mysteries

2008-01-19T09:29:00.000-08:00

I've been traveling and needed to get something to read while I've been out. I tried out 2 books by Tasha Alexander, And Only to Deceive followed by A Poisoned Season. I love the protagonist, a Victorian woman who doesn't fit easily within the structures of society. She manages to solve quite complicated mysteries in both books. You get a good feel for the restrictions Victorian society imposed on women and how difficult it was to get beyond those. These are a different side of the same picture that Anne Perry presents in her Thomas Pitt mysteries. I love those too.

I re-read most of my books as I enjoy the company of the characters in those books. Emily, the protagonist of these two books, is a woman I would love to know. These are probably good reads for a book club as there are lots of things to consider about the place of women, the changing roles of women, making choices, how critical society can be, etc in these books. I will probably read them again in the next month and wish the 3rd was coming out before next summer. If you have teenage daughters, these would be great to read with them. Tweens would probably be good too, if they are at the point of really taking a look a their world. It would be good for young men, but they are really geared toward a female sensibility. Men would benefit by thinking about how they still might be treating women in their lives as the women in these books are treated by society.

Menus for January 20-26

2008-01-19T09:15:00.000-08:00

Sunday
Baked smothered chicken breasts
Tortilla chips
Refried beans
Green salad
Monday
Chicken enchilada casserole with leftover chicken
Green salad
Tuesday
Tomato soup
Grilled cheese sandwiches
Wednesday
Broccoli cheese soup
Green salad
Thursday
Chili with corn chips
Green salad
Friday
English muffin pizzas
Saturday
Hamburgers

Baked smothered chicken breasts: 2 boneless chicken breasts per person
Cheddar cheese, jack cheese, cilantro, diced green chilies, diced jalapenos, 1 whole avocado per person-diced , diced tomatoes, chopped black olives, sour cream, salsa
Arrange chicken breasts in baking pan. Cover with shredded cheddar cheese and jack cheese mixed with cilantro, chilies and jalapenos. Bake 350 for 1 hour. Top with diced tomatoes, olives and avocado and return to oven for 10 minutes. Serve topped with salsa and sour cream.

Chicken enchilada casserole: Slice chicken breasts from smothered chicken into bite sized pieces. Mix chicken and toppings from smothered chicken with torn strips of tortilla-either flour or corn- and green enchilada sauce. Place in casserole dish and top with more shredded cheese, sour cream and salsa. Bake 350 for 45 minutes

Thought provoking reading

2008-01-12T09:01:00.000-08:00

I've been reading a very interesting book about the various stages of life we pass through: The Human Odyssey, Navigating the Twelve Stages of Life by Thomas Armstrong. He examines the important physical, intellectual and psychological stages we pass through. This comes at a good time for me as I'm at a crossroads offering me new opportunities.

In each stage of life, we encounter opportunities for growth. We can either learn from them and progress, learn to avoid them and stagnate, or not learn and continue to repeat our experiences. In the past few years, I've had opportunities for growth in many different areas. Now, I'm facing some difficult or exciting choices, depending on how you look at them.

I invested quite some time getting a Master's Degree so I could make more serious contributions in the workplace. Do I continue down that same path? I am competitive enough that this is very enticing. I am passionate about learning, about learning that is practical. I home-schooled so that I could put what my daughter was learning in context and it would be practical. Should I switch career paths and become an assistant for home schoolers? I've been asked to start tutoring again-that was my first job during high school. I have an aptitude for figuring out the best way to convey the teachings in math for different types of learners. If I go into assisting home schoolers, it is a risky business. I can tutor parents on how to help teach their kids, do the teaching with them, do it for them, or tutor their kids in specific areas. I know there is a market for this, and I know how technology can assist that. Another option is to resurrect the technology business I used to have. I used to provide technical assistance, like the Geek Squad, but targeted to small businesses. I would teach them how best to use the software and hardware they had for their businesses.

Which dream do I follow-the more practical or the more passionate? How much risk do I dare take? This book has helped me examine the choices I've made in the past, usually the lower risk, although deciding to drop out of corporate life to home school was higher risk financially. As I am applying for jobs that look interesting, I'm pondering these questions. It's challenging having all these choices.

How would you choose?

Menu planning January 13-19

2008-01-12T08:53:00.000-08:00

Sunday
Baked fish
Glazed carrots
Green beans almondine
Pear crisp
Monday
Chicken stew
Rolls
Tuesday
Baked beans
Green salad
Wednesday
Add veggies and noodles to the chicken stew and turn into chicken casserole
Thursday
Beanwiches
Friday
Vegetable soup
Ham sandwiches
Saturday
Grilled chicken salad

Beanwiches: Toast English muffins or hamburger buns. Pile with baked beans. Top with shredded cheddar cheese. Broil until beans heat through and cheese melts. If the beans are quite cold, warm them first. For those who like a little more 'bite', add a hearty mustard to the rolls before adding the beans.

Grilled chicken salad: Grill boneless chicken. Add to a plate of salad greens, tomatoes, olives, feta cheese, cucumbers (and onions if you like them). Drizzle with balsamic vinaigrette and olive oil.

Little House in the Big Woods-part 2

2008-01-12T08:48:00.000-08:00

If you are reading this together like I suggested, maybe you are wondering what things mentioned in the story you can cook together with you kids. These are the things I would try:

Make the pancake men like Ma did. Try serving them with molasses instead of syrup as they often did. This can really spark a discussion about the changes in our foods over the years.
Try making candy out of maple syrup as they did at the dance/party/sugaring off. Good time to talk about the different sweeteners we use as compared to those they used.
Try hasty pudding with maple syrup. Not a favorite of mine. I don't consider hasty pudding a dessert no matter what topping it has. To me, it is just cornmeal mush.
Try churning butter-maybe shaking a jar of cream until it churns. We did it that way for my girl scout troop. There are lots of other ways, though.

These different cooking activities can help us better appreciate the many conveniences we have. It is easier to buy than make-as evidenced from how much more expensive maple syrup is now.

Have fun!

Winter reading

2008-01-05T08:33:00.000-08:00

With stormy weather around due to winter, this can be a good time to read together as a family. If you have kids under 10, you might try reading "Little House in the Big Woods" by Laura Ingalls Wilder together. Most of your readers will be able to take turns, which increases the fun and improves reading skills.

As you go through the chapters, take some time to contrast their life style with yours. Act out some of the activities. Try making some of the foods mentioned. At a minimum, it gets us away from technology as a constant companion and we might find that we can have fun together. After reading the chapter where Pa is telling stories from his childhood, why not try to do the same? My daughter always loved stories from my childhood and I'm sure yours will too.

Once we discovered the Little House books, my sisters and I acted them out constantly. We were often pioneers, living in a little cabin (often the living room as it had a fireplace). You're not too old to play these with the kids-having them direct you in the story line. Encourage them too. Becoming more aware of the possibilities of imagination can help us promote those skills-and this might encourage innovation in later life as well.

Another benefit is to see how labor intensive daily life was. It is much easier for us to clean the house-we don't usually have to make the soap first-or do laundry. Have your kids try washing something like jeans in the kitchen sink. (They scour the sink well). The washing isn't too hard, unless they are very dirty, but the wringing out is quite difficult. Hanging them to dry will also take a long time. Activities like this can help us appreciate our many blessings and be fun to do together. A side benefit might be a little greater care not to make our clothes so dirty, but that isn't too likely.

Menu January 6-12

2008-01-05T08:27:00.000-08:00

Sunday
Penne with tomato cream sauce and veggies
Green salad
Italian bread
Chocolate pudding
Monday
Vegetable soup
Italian bread
Tuesday
Leftover penne
Green salad
Wednesday
Chicken stew with dumplings
Thursday
Leftover vegetable soup
Friday
Leftover chicken stew
Saturday
Grilled tuna sandwiches
Cabbage apple slaw

Preparing for New Year

2007-12-29T05:39:00.000-08:00

After Christmas, and perhaps after-Christmas shopping, it is good to take stock of exactly where we are. We have done some weeding and have a large box full of items to donate. These are gently used clothes and other items that would be useful in some other household. Making some space in the closets and drawers is a nice way to start the new year.

I also want to make some space in my inner world as well. I've been doing housecleaning there as well. In reviewing some of my goals for 2007, I see where I've made nice progress, other places where I need more work. I don't make specific resolutions to change, but instead set goals for growth where I would like to see improvement. Many years ago, I set a goal to work out almost daily. It is now habit, but as I review, I recommit to this important health goal. I set goals to read uplifting thoughts daily and am selecting from among my many 'thoughts for the day' books to choose the two for the upcoming year. One will be from a favorite author that died in 2007, Madeleine L'Engle. This start and end to my day help keep me posted on the positive and uplifting when it would be easy to look at the negative all around me.

Think about the evening rituals in your family. One we have is to pray together as a family. This helps us to think about the needs in our family and voice our love and support for each other. Reading aloud a chapter together in an engaging book is a great evening ritual-it brings more closeness than watching tv together, promotes literacy, and reading aloud is a great skill to have. Children are more inclined to read if their parents do.

Make an effort to allow unstructured free time for your children-and let them direct you in playing with them. Most of us allow our imagination to wither away as we get older. There are treasures there if we will allow them to surface. This is a great evening activity, maybe right after dinner for an hour or so. One game that our grandkids love is making huge piles of all the cushions on our couches. They like being hidden in them, stacking them to push them over, and building houses with them.

Envision the world you would like to create within your home and then set achievable goals to build that world. I wish you the happiest of new years, filled with love and satisfaction.

Menus December 29-January 5

2007-12-29T05:34:00.000-08:00

Sunday
Oven barbecued chicken
Baked sweet potatoes
Broccoli
Pear cobbler
Monday
Vegetable soup
French bread
Tuesday
Ham
Black eyed peas
Spinach
Wednesday
Pasta with cheese sauce, vegetables, and ham
Thursday
Bean soup with ham
Rolls
Friday
Leftover bean soup
Green salad
Saturday
Tomato soup
Broiled ham sandwiches

Preparing for Christams

2007-12-16T07:05:00.000-08:00

One thing about with kids is that there are usually already too many toys around-and then we give them more. This is a great time of year to go through old toys with our kids and have them select ones they no longer play with to donate. If your kids are old enough, this is great to do with them to help them understand about those less fortunate, about how fortunate they are, about the joy of giving, and about sharing. An added benefit is the space it clears for the new things they will be getting for the holidays.

When I was a child, we had 2 trees in the house-1 for the living/family room, 1 for the kids. The main tree had some glass ornaments and we could not touch. Our tree had only non-breakable ornaments, was about 2 feet tall, and we could decorate it ourselves. I'm sure it never looked like a decorator had been involved, but we sure enjoyed it. I've usually had 2 trees as well. Lately however, I'm back to just the smaller tree. Now I have lots of extra ornaments to pass on to the rest of the family. I have quite a collection, as usually each year we got a special new ornament with the date on it. These are great memories to pass on through the family.

Menu plans Dec 16-22

2007-12-16T07:00:00.000-08:00

Sunday
Baked fish
Baked potatoes
Broccoli
Pudding
Monday
Homemade chili
Cornbread
Green salad
Tuesday
Cream of tomato soup
Broiled cheese sandwiches
Vegetable sticks-carrots, celery, broccoli
Wednesday
Leftover chili
Thursday
Chicken soup
French bread
Green salad
Friday
Broiled tuna sandwiches
Green salad
Saturday
Oven fried chicken
Oven fried french fries
Green salad

More December activities

2007-12-08T09:08:00.000-08:00

Create a wreath with your family. You can buy an undecorated real or artificial wreath, or buy a wreath frame and gather your own greens. Wire them onto the wreath frame.

Themed wreath

A fun project is to have each family member create a custom personalized wreath. Spend some time at the craft store to pick up items that represent the interests of each family member: sports, flowers, books, music, bikes, cars, hobbies, etc. Each family members attaches their interests to their wreaths. Or create one master themed wreath for the family that represents all the hobbies of family members for the front door. Add a large Christmas bow. These can be a great conversation piece with visitors to your house as they will probably notice a wreath full of miniature cars or motorcycles.

Christmas crafts

An alternative to the hobby themed wreath is a more traditional wreath. At the craft store, or from your yard, pick up holly, mistletoe, poinsettia, pine cone, berry picks and various bows, bells, and other ornaments. Attach these to the wreath with craft wire.

With spray adhesive and glitter, you can make very fancy pine cones-either for a centerpiece or for your wreaths. Spray the adhesive on the tips of the pine cones, then shake glitter over the (over a large piece of newspaper). Attache a wire at the base, or loop fishing line around the base and tie to create a loop for hanging the cone. You can attach ribbons or bows at the end to make the hanging even more festive. Even little children can decorate this way-and it comes out looking very nice.

For even less trouble, pick up a pretty holiday basket. Line with Christmas-themed paper. Fill with pine cones of various sizes. Insert a couple of holly, poinsettia, and mistletoe picks. Instant centerpiece.

With careful packing at the end of the season, these can all be re-used and can become part of your Christmas traditions.

Menus Dec 9-15

2007-12-08T09:04:00.000-08:00

Sunday
Tarragon chicken (make extra for Tuesday)
Broccoli
Brown rice
Cranberry bread pudding with orange sauce
Monday
Tuna casserole
Green salad
Tuesday
Hot chicken salad with leftover chicken
Green beans
Whole wheat rolls
Wednesday
Leftover tuna casserole
Green salad with pears and blue cheese
Thursday
Split pea soup
French bread
Friday
Chili on Fritos topped with cheese
Green salad
Saturday
Leftover split pea soup

Start of December activity

2007-12-01T16:32:00.001-08:00

A great activity for the 24 days leading up to Christmas which will allow you to help focus on a giving spirit. Take a couple of pieces of yellow construction paper. Cut into strips just long and wide enough to contain a short sentence. Create a 'haystack' next to where you will be setting up your creche (if you have one). If you have a larger set, you will be creating hay for the baby Jesus to lie on. If not, you will be creating hay to cover the ground in the stable and surrounding areas.

Each time a family member performs some act of service, write it on a piece of hay and place it in the manger or creche. By Christmas Eve, you should have moved all the hay into the manger or creche, creating a nice soft place for Jesus to be born. Christmas morning, read all the acts of service in the hay-these are your family's gifts to Jesus for Christmas.

If your family enjoys this, you may want to save the haystacks to review again, perhaps next Thanksgiving, as blessings your family has shared. This will also help you get in the right frame of mind for the service for next Christmas.

Menu planning Dec 2-8

2007-12-01T16:26:00.000-08:00

Sunday
Roast chicken with potatoes and carrots
Green salad
Banana cream pie
Monday
Cheesy potato soup
Green salad
French bread
Tuesday
Chicken pot pie using leftover chicken and veggies from Sunday
Wednesday
White bean and sausage soup
Thursday
Oriental chicken salad
Friday
Leftover soup
Saturday
Tuna and rice casserole

White bean and sausage soup:
2 cans white northern beans, drained and rinsed
Smoked sausage, sliced into bite sized pieces
1 Quart broth
About 3 leaves of chard, chopped

Mix together beans, sausage and broth in slow cooker. Cook on low all day, about 8 hours. 30 minutes before serving, add chard.

End of November activities

2007-11-26T07:14:00.000-08:00

Many of my next posts will be about activities and thoughts on Christmas as this is important to me at this time of year. This week is a great time to plan your Christmas activities. I often get out the collection of advent calendars to prepare for December. I also put away the fall decorations and start bringing out the Christmas and winter ones.

Create your own advent calendar. In each square for the 24 days leading up to Christmas, put in an activity for your family. This itself is a great family activity. Things you might want to include in your calendar: carol singing with friends at a nursing home; secret Santa gift/food delivery; volunteering at a food bank; baking cookies; cookie exchange with friends; sorting through old toys and clothes, then donating them; watching your favorite Christmas movies together; lights and decorations outside the house; lights and decorations inside the house; getting a tree; viewing Christmas lights and decorations together; Christmas party; Christmas services at church; addressing Christmas cards.

With such a calendar, you can more easily see which days might be hectic and have low key meals on those days. In addition, you can fit everything in a little better when you know when to expect it. If your kids have special activities at school, parties or concerts, these can be the family activities as well. Share the load with other families and friends which decreases the burden on you and builds your network of friends and love.

Menu planning November 25-December 1

2007-11-23T09:50:00.000-08:00

Sunday
Roast chicken and root vegetables (make broth out of the carcase)
Broccoli
Apple pie
Monday
Turkey vegetable soup using broth from last week's turkey
French bread
Tuesday
Chicken stew using Sunday's leftovers and broth, adding celery and peas
Green salad
Crackers
Wednesday
Chili on brown rice topped with cheddar cheese
Green salad
Thursday
Sloppy Joes using leftover chili
Fruit salad
Friday
Macaroni and cheese
Green beans
Saturday
Pizza

Thanksgiving thoughts

2007-11-20T08:48:00.000-08:00

For me, Thanksgiving week is a time for counting blessings. I live in such abundance. My garden produced an enormous amount of vegetables, many of which are in the freezer for use throughout the winter. I have a wonderful family: children, grandchildren, cousins, aunts, uncles, mother, sisters, neices, and more extended family. We're mostly friends and love and support one another. I have a special and wonderful husband. I have a comfortable home, comfortable income, challenging and rewarding career. I have great friends, many opportunities to provide service, and the ability to provide that service. I'm blessed with excellent health, a good mind, a love of reading and lots of books to read. I'm grateful for my talents and strengths for the opportunities they bring to serve, and for my weaknesses for the opportunities they bring to grow. I feel blessed to live in the United States and to have traveled within the states this year and to other wonderful countries in the past. I'm grateful to speak languages other than English for the appreciation of the beauties of language and of the other cultures it has brought me. Most especially, I'm grateful for my faith and the foundation that religion provides in my life.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving season.

Thanksgiving week activities

2007-11-20T08:36:00.001-08:00

This is a great time of year to look at the numerous blessings we enjoy. We live in a time of such abundance. As you prepare for the Thanksgiving holiday, if you are in the US, spend some time reflecting on this abundance. Read the fall chapters of Little House in the Big Woods, by Laura Ingalls Wilder. They have so much prep work just to make it through winter in tact. Discuss with your kids how different it is today. Did you have a garden this year? Have you been to a farmer's market? I think we're more grateful for our food and other blessings when we know how much work goes into creating them.

Create Thanksgiving cards to share with your loved ones. You can use the traditional drawing a turkey by outlining a hand or perhaps cards showing the things your family is grateful for. Creating a centerpiece of harvest items can be a great reminder.

Contrast our current Thanksgiving activities with those of the past. Read the Thanksgiving chapter in Farmer Boy, also by Laura Ingalls Wilder, or in Eight Cousins, by Louisa May Alcott. They had a feast and had to work very hard to create it. Have the whole family help in some of the holiday cooking preparations-maybe in making pies.

Have older children do some online research to find out what was served at the first Thanksgiving in Massachusetts. It sure is different than we normally serve now, unless you normally include such seafood as eels. If you live in New England, this is a great week to visit Plymouth. The Mayflower was tiny-imagine spending weeks in such close quarters. The plantation settlement was pretty small as well. Even our smallest houses today are huge compared to these homes.

Although they didn't spend the day watching Football or shopping, games were included in this first Thanksgiving. That's another area older kids might enjoy learning about. It wasn't just spectator sports, most of the men were involved.

Delayed menus November 19-25

2007-11-20T08:28:00.000-08:00

Things have been crazy, so this is somewhat delayed.

Sunday
Salmon-make at least 2 extra servings
Artichokes
Potatoes au gratin
Pumpkin chocolate chip cookies
Monday
Salmon noodle casserole (like your favorite tuna casserole, but use Salmon)
Green salad
Tuesday
Hot and sour soup
Wednesday
Quick tomato soup
Grilled cheese sandwiches
Thursday (whatever your traditional dishes are)
Turkey (make broth out of leftover bones) and gravy
Roasted potatoes
Mashed yams
Green bean casserole
Pumpkin pie
Friday
Hot turkey sandwiches
Leftover veggies
Saturday
Turkey enchilada casserole
Green salad

Veteran's day 2007

2007-11-12T09:46:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was Veteran's day, with today our official celebration so people get a Monday holiday. Our flag flew yesterday, before it rained. It is flying today. I'm wearing a pin commemorating the flag. What I find very sad is that there are no other flags flying in my neighborhood.

Many years ago, we lived in a small town in Massachusetts where there was a local parade for Veteran's day. Girl scouts, boy scouts, junior high and high school bands all marched in the parade. We ended up a at the cemetery where a bugler played taps. Most of the houses flew the flag. There were many veterans there. We could concretely thank them for their sacrifice. What about today? For my company, it isn't a holiday. It is work as usual. How sad that we've become a society that does not value the sacrifices that made the society possible.

This is a great day to spend reflecting on our citizenship. Watch a patriotic movie with your kids. Talk about sacrifices that our vets make. Fly your flag.

November 11-17 menu planning

2007-11-10T05:18:00.000-08:00

Sunday
Pork roast
Pan roasted potatoes and carrots
Spinach salad
Oatmeal and apple cookies
Monday
Hot pork and gravy sandwiches
Mashed potatoes
Slice tomatoes
Tuesday
Vegetable soup using rest of leftover pork
French bread
Wednesday
French bread pizza
Green salad
Thursday
Canned salmon (instead of tuna) casserole with veggies
Green salad
Friday
Squash bisque
Crackers
Green salad
Saturday
Leftover salmon casserole
Leftover squash bisque

Squash bisque:
3 Tbsp butter or oil
1 small carrot grated
2 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed
2 acorn squash, peeled and cubed
6 cups chicken stock
1 cup milk
salt and pepper

In frying pan, melt butter or add oil; saute carrot until tender, about 5 minutes. Add carrots, potatoes, squash and chicken stock to your slow cooker and cover. Cook over low at least 3 hours, but may be all day if needed. Puree about 1.5 cups per time in the blender or run through a ricer. Add back into a large saucepan. Add the milk and salt and pepper to taste. Heat on medium heat until hot and ready to serve.

For flavor variations: add 1 apple to the squash and potatoes, then a dash or two of cinnamon to the seasonings.
Add a dash of curry or garlic to the seasoning

Activities suggestions for the week

2007-11-05T12:52:00.000-08:00

If you live in an area with pretty fall leaf colors, take some time with your kids to gather bouquets of leaves. You can use them like flowers in a vase. You can preserve them two ways: cover them with clear contact paper, then cut an outline just outside the leaf so the contact paper can stick to itself, or use waxed paper for more economical solution. Use 2 sheets slightly larger than the leaf, put leaf between them, iron with a warm iron. Then trim like the contact paper.

You can use these preserved leaves to create a centerpiece, as window decals with light adhesive, or you can hang them from a tree as ornaments. You can write things you are thankful for on the leaves as an additional reminder of why we celebrate Thanksgiving. This is a great month to look for blessings, things to be thankful for, everywhere and talk about how wonderful life is.

Kids can help with leaf raking, particularly if you make piles of leaves for jumping into. If you have some fun, and finish up with some hot spiced cider, you have created memories and helped clean up your yard. You can add the leaves to your compost, particularly if you can shred them first, and help your kids understand about rebuilding the soil.

For smaller kids, this is a great week to make some home-made Thanksgiving decorations. The favorite turkey made by tracing the hand and coloring is always good, particularly with creative coloring.

Dinner menus November 4-10

2007-11-02T09:26:00.000-07:00

Sunday
Oven fried chicken
Mashed winter squash-pick your favorite
Chicken gravy
Peas
Pumpkin spice cake
Monday
Tuna casserole
Green salad
Tuesday
Vegetable strata or quiche
Carrots
Wednesday
Left over casserole
Green beans
Thursday
Chicken vegetable soup-cook mixed veggies in chicken broth
French bread
Salad
Friday
Stir fried vegetables
Brown rice
Saturday
Deli sandwiches-make your own
Include favorite sandwich meats, cheeses and a variety of toppings

US Education System

2007-10-31T16:14:00.000-07:00

Here is an interesting article about the US educational system. It explains why I home-schooled. I feel our system is designed for non-automated factory, military or the prison but does not fit children to work well in a collaborative environment, which is what much of industry is today. Now I know why we are set up as we are. We're lucky we're as successful as we are when we are "trained" this way. When your well meaning friends and relatives tell you it is unfair to your children to keep them out of school, send them this link. It might change their minds.

Halloween week activity suggestions

2007-10-29T12:18:00.001-07:00

Besides eating a lot of candy and maybe working on costumes, it can be hard to know what kinds of activities are good this week for our kids. This is a great week to read about Ichabod Crane and the legend of sleepy hollow by Washington Irving. You can read aloud together as a family and see where some of the images we currently use for Halloween come from. You might also want to do a little research with your kids about where the customs come from-and how different they are in other countries. There are very religious origins for Halloween as well as some not so obvious. It can be a very fun research project.

Even if you already have a jack-o-lantern on the porch, you might want to visit a pumpkin patch for an additional pumpkin you don't carve. It can serve as a harvest decoration for Thanksgiving. Picking your own helps our kids connect a little better with nature.

Another connection opportunity available for those with nearby apple orchards is a visit to a cider mill. Watching them press apples is a wonderful fall experience. If that isn't possible, you can still connect to the apple harvest by making some caramel apples as a family activity. It can be fun, messy and a great treat.

Have a happy Halloween.

Dinner Menus for October 28-November 3

2007-10-28T10:23:00.000-07:00

Sunday
Green salad with pears, pomegranate, Gorgonzola and balsamic vinaigrette
Manhattan fish chowder
Parmesan bread sticks
Apple crisp
Monday
Oven fried chicken
Mashed sweet potatoes
Broccoli
Tuesday
Left over chowder
Crackers
Green salad
Wednesday
Homemade quick tomato soup
Grilled cheese sandwiches
Green salad
Thursday
Sweet and sour pork and veggies (replace 1/2 the recipe pork with mixed chinese veggies instead-cheaper and healthier)
Brown rice
Friday
Cream of chicken and veggie soup-add 1/2 cup vegetables to canned cream of chicken soup
Crackers
Waldorf salad
Saturday
French bread pizza
Green salad

Recipe guidelines

I'll give recipes for some of our favorties. I cannot eat onions, so if you like them, feel free to add them. I strive for 5-9 fruit and veggie servings per day. We try to get fish at least twice per week and eat relatively little read meet. Once cold weather sets in, we have soups and stews often. I work full time outside the home, so I do as much prep work as possible on the weekends. Our weeday meals tend to be quick and easy.

The chowder for Sunday is:

Place everything in the slow cooker as follows:

2 15.5 oz cans crushed tomato (cheaper at my grocer than the larger cans)
6 cans water
3 diced potatoes
2 diced carrots
2 diced stalks celery
2 diced cloves garlic
bay leaf
salt and pepper

Let cook on low for 4-6 hours, depending on how busy your day is. Then add

3/4 to 1 and 1/2 pounds mild white fish
1 cup chopped chard or spinach or other greens you like to cook

Let cook an additional hour. With about 5 minutes left, add one can clams.

Apple crisp

Spray baking pan with non stick spray. I used 2 qt today, but you can use any size. Fill pan about 3/4 full with diced apples. Top liberally with butter (about 1/2 cup). Cover that with about 1/2 cup sugar (or to taste after you have tried this a few times). Sprinkle with apple pie spice. Mix topping-equal parts brown sugar, butter, flour, and raw oats. Today, I used 1 cup of each. Use a pastry cutter to mix them all together and cut in the butter. Sprinkle over the apples. Bake 375 for 45 minutes. We top with whipped cream, vanilla ice cream, or nothing, depending on mood.

Homemade quick tomato soup

Add one 16 oz can of tomato sauce to saucepan. Add one can water. Sprinkle with instant chicken or beef boulliion (about 1 tsp) and salt. Heat and serve as standard tomato soup. Alternatives: Add chili powder, cumin, oregano and 1 Tablespoon salsa to make tex-mex. or Add basil, oregano, garlic, parsley to make Italian.

Waldorf salad

Dice a 2 pears and 2 apples into a bowl. Add 1 Tablespoon lemon juice and stir to coat the fruit. It is nice if they are different colors and flavors. Add 1 cup of seedless grapes, halved. Add 1/4 cup chopped nuts. Coat with about 2 Tablespoons mayonnaise or to taste. Serve over salad greens.

Introduction

2007-10-28T07:36:00.000-07:00

I've had some great guides helping me get to this point in my life. Since they were so much help to me, I'd like to use this blog to pass that help along. I expect to regularly write about the mundane-such as menu planning for the upcoming week, recipes, great activities to do with kids, and things like that-to more uplifting topics.

With rising prices at the grocery store and often little time or inclination to make great food easily, I would like to share ideas we've found helpful for saving money and calories and eating healthy. I collect cookbooks and recipes and am a great experimenter. I also work outside the home full time, so I need to be able to have simple meals for the end of the workday. I expect to share these about once per week, probably Thursday or Friday as I plan menus for the next week.

I home schooled for quite a while and loved it. I gathered lots of great ideas for enriching and fun activities with our kids even if they are not home schooled. Kids who go to school outside the home still learn more than we realize at home. I'll try to share ideas and activities at the beginning of the week so if you want to use them, you can plan how they might fit in with your current plans.

Reading is my escape and relaxation. It seems I read all the time and my house shows it even though I do borrow books from the library. I'll share some of what I'm reading and why I enjoy the books I do. Most will be of the escape variety, but some are a little deeper.

I also love to garden and combine that with my love of cooking. I won't write much about the garden in winter, but expect to read about that regularly the rest of the year.

I look forward to your participation, comments, questions and suggestions. I'd like this to be the kind of ongoing conversation I have with family and friends.
Marmie