Fire Station 15's Favorite

I need to finish blogging about our trip.  I've been meaning to since we've been back.  But my mind is in other places.  So, for now,  I'll just let my mind be.  Someday I'll finish up my travel notes and daily life will be interspersed with snippets from Italy.

But not today.  Today I'm thinking about my Grandmother.  I've got a little project in mind and asked my mother to send some of my Grandmother's handwritten recipes.  They arrived this afternoon.

My favorite recipe is one written on plain paper.  It's a recipe for green bean casserole, the kind found in just about every household on Thanksgiving; two cans of string beans, a can of cream of mushroom soup, a 1/4 can water chestnuts and a can of french fried onions.

I remember this recipe well.  My grandmother made it, my mother made it, I make it.  I've altered it a bit.  I add a squeeze of lemon (I think my mom does too) and I use the whole can of water chestnuts.

But what touched me today was not the recipe itself but the title "Station 15's Favorite."  You see my Grandfather was a fireman.  I suspect he spent many a Thanksgiving serving his community. And I can just picture my Grandmother delivering her casserole to the firehouse; a little something special for the men working the holiday.

I, too, had to work on Thanksgiving.  And I realize that, though our service is different, I am following in my Grandfather's footsteps with my holiday schedule.

At my Grandparent's house we always celebrated Thanksgiving on the Saturday after the actual day.  My Grandfather was retired by that time so I don't really know why Thanksgiving was scheduled as such.  But I do know it was special; family, food, gathering.  The day didn't matter.  The act did.

This recipe reminded me of two things.  First -- it is gratifying to serve.  Though I might moan and groan, working the holiday is good for our community.  Pets do not get sick on schedule and they need medical care.  I'm glad I was there to help them.

And second --Thanksgiving is important.  Gathering friends and family.  Taking time to be grateful and enjoy each other's company.  Solidifying memories for generations to come.  The day doesn't matter.  The gathering does.

This year our Thanksgiving was quiet.  The five of us around our table (a rarity indeed).  And yes -- I served green bean casserole.  I'm glad I took the time to cook and to gather my family. My Grandparents were at the table with us, their spirits wrapped up in green beans and soup.  You see it's not just a simple casserole.  It's family and community.  It's the past, present and future.  It's everything there ever was and everything ever to be.

Oh the humble green bean.

Happy Thanksgiving!

xo.

In Fact It's Rather Good

Things I'm loving today:

• Purging which started yesterday with my daughter's room and continued today with my closet.  I daresay it feels better to expunge than to buy.  This, me thinks, is a very good thing. 
• Coffee with coworkers.  I may not always like my job but I most definitely like the people I work with.  For this I am immensely grateful. 
• Knitting and frogging and knitting some more.  
• Crock pot Beef Stroganoff
• Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Cackling, clucking and chattering chickens
• A box of beautiful eggs; luscious greens and browns.  Oh my!
• Loads and loads of laundry done and put away
• Good reads (The Map of Time, In Praise of Slowness, The Piano Teacher).  
• The library, as always, without which I do not know what I would do.  Yes indeed some government programs are well worthwhile (and that's all I'm going to say about politics).  
• Walking Little to school whilst discussing Michael Pollan's In Defense of Food. 
• An empty house where things stayed put (for a few hours at least).  

Things I'm hoping for today:

• A productive yet minimally stressful night at work
• A respite to read and/or knit
• A mama who stays solid and upright and has no vertigo

As you can see I have sufficiently recovered from yesterday.  I read this post and was reminded to look on the bright side.  Three years have passed since that post.  I am still standing.  My husband is no longer working nights (amen!).  We have somehow managed to get from there to here.  And here might be frustrating but, through the right lens, it isn't all bad.  In fact it's rather good.  

xo.  

Things I'm Loving Today

The epitome of summer is fresh flowers from the garden.  They are sweet, frugal and born from years of tending.  I can't even begin to tell you how happy they make me.  These flowers are but one of many things I am loving today.  

Today I am loving:

• My cutting garden
• A clean living room
• A quiet house
• The gentle cluck of a chicken as she lays an egg
• Nights off work
• Air conditioning
• Blueberries straight off the vine
• Chores systematically checked off the list
• Naps and sleeping in
• Fresh baked bread

And now off to have that nap.  

xo.  

Today

Today:

     * I fluffed the chicken coop and gave them new pine shavings.  My hands still smell like pine and I 

        like it. 

     * The chickens layed five eggs (not bad for seven biddies).

     * I got three new books from the library; fuel for the fire. 

     * I really want to get a goat or two and am completely bummed they are not allowed in the city.  Oh

        sweet little five (or ten) acres where are you?

     * I started reading this book and am ready to take over the empty lot next to us. 

     * I'm also heavily fantasizing about these practical and relatively inexpensive hoop houses.  I've

        wanted one for more than a year now.  That ought to tell me something.  

     * I also spent some time on practical matters.  I did a load of laundry and a load of dishes.  I love 

        my homemade laundry soap in its vintage glass jar.  Just looking at it makes me happy.  

     * And I finally got the gist of this baby blanket pattern.  Not sure why it took me so long as its not

        terribly difficult.  I guess I was previously too distracted.  Happy to have my knitting mojo back. 

Now I need to put down my book and make dinner.  I'm excited to cook but not ready to stop reading.   I suppose I should be grateful for such a dilemma.  

xo. 

Today

Song of the day: The Tallest Man on Earth "Troubles Will Be Gone"

xo. 

Things I'm Loving Today

Things I'm loving today:

• Seeing old friends and their beautiful bellies (can you say glow?)
• An afternoon coffee date with the hubby
• These amazing walls that shelter me from the cold and wind
• Great stories written by people I know
• Great stories written by people I don't know
• New stories whirling around in my head (now to get them out of my head)
• My camera phone (oh how I love my camera phone)
• Moustaches  laying about the house
• Health, health, amazing health (no ringing, no vertigo, no dizziness -- knock on wood)
• Glorious time off work (i.e. time to develop normal sleep patterns)
• An upcoming, albeit short, road trip to a place I've never been. 

xo

Things I'm Loving Today

It snowed quite a bit overnight last night.  So much so that the schools should've been closed.  The streets were slick and hazardous.  This morning I safely shuttled the older two to school then came back to get Little.  Little wasn't happy.  She thought her class project, an Archimedes Screw, was too large.  She was mortified to bring it to school.  And what does a mortified eight-year-old do?  Especially when said child's mother refuses to get a hack saw and make her project smaller?

That child cries.  No.  Scratch that.  She screams.  All the way to school on icy roads.  Now granted her  school is only a mile away.  But a screaming mile is oh so much further than a singing mile.  Just sayin'.

There are also two busy intersections on the way to school, one of which a frazzled Mama, skidding across the ice, went straight through without stopping (though a very serious attempt was made).  Thankfully this skid occurred at just the right time and an accident did not occur.  Things could have been much different.

Did a brush with death stop the temper tantrum?  Oh no.  Not in the least.  Little was kicked out of the car at school -- sent off bawling into the snow storm.  Yes.  This morning started off well.

As it turns out there were several Archimedes Screws of nearly the same design and size.  The fuss was all for naught.

The remainder of my day was spent nesting; cleaning, baking and cooking.  Oh yes.  And I shoveled the walk.  'Tis one of the fringe benefits of a snow storm -- an upper arm workout.

Despite our fragile start to the morning I find myself quite grateful.

Here's what I'm loving today:

• An anonymous neighbor who plowed our sidewalk (thus cutting my shoveling time in half)
• Fresh baked bread
• Winter soups and stews
• Sour beer
• Edwardian Farm to accompany me on the treadmill
• The wherewithal to get on the treadmill after shoveling snow
• Sore muscles borne from hard work
• Kittens who play in the snow
• Near (and thankful) misses while navigating icy roads
• Indoor tulips that hint of spring (even if it's in the 20's tonight)
• Snow ever so slowly sliding from the chicken coop roof
• Three eggs (two brown and one green) despite the auspicious weather
• Hot hot showers
• Thrifted winter boots

xo. 

Today

xo.

Today

xo. 

Things I'm loving today

Things I'm loving today:

• Valentine's cups from Starbucks (yes I went just for the cup and I *love* that it celebrates all types of love from motherly love to the love of a friend to a sweetheart's love.  This day is for *all* of us, each and every one).
• Special cookies for special people (dough is made and in the fridge).
• Felted acorn necklaces completed and ready for the 2/3 Valentine's party.
• A kitchen that's not *too* dirty after three loads of dishes.
• Leftovers for dinner (yes, I know, not romantic but I'm working tonight).
• A great book in progress and another waiting at the library.
• Boys who ride bikes and fish all morning then play lacrosse all afternoon.
• A husband who gets up early, makes coffee and gets the big kids off to school while I snuggle and snooze with Little. 
• Sales in the shop just when an extra little bump is needed (thank you Universe!)
• Downton Abbey online - perfect entertainment while felting acorns.
• And, finally, little and not so little girls who spent the weekend cleaning their room (it's about time!!)

Today, on this day of love, I give all of mine to you.  

xo.  

Today

xo.

Things I'm Loving Today

Mug from the fabulous Illuminary

It's been a weekend of night shifts.  One more night to go then I'll have some precious time off.  I've taken to drinking tea at work.  Too much coffee makes me nauseous.  My mug was made by the fabulous Illuminary.  It contains a quote from Salvador Dali "Take me. I am the drug."  Seems fitting as I'm drinking my nightly elixer.

Things I'm loving today:

• Peppermint tea
• My bed and comforter
• A labrador with which to sleep the day away
• Hearing in my left ear (a temporary respite I'm sure but a welcome one nonetheless)
• Balance that is spot on (again temporary but welcome)
• Super bowl knitting (I'm working on this)
• Precious time off
• Sales in the shop
• Family travel fantasies (that might, just might, come true)
• Downton Abbey (what gorgeous setting and light.  Makes me want an Edwardian hair style.)

Okay now off to bed.  Have a wonderful day!

xo. 

Things I'm Loving Today

Things I'm loving today:

❖ "Caleb's Crossing" on my iphone (makes housework go that much faster)
❖  Iphoneography
❖  Chickens who finally lay eggs (it's about time)
❖  Upcycled burlap curtains (old coffee bags)
❖  Ideas for pillows floating in my head (with accompanying bumble bee embroidery)
❖  Sunflowers to brighten the kitchen
❖  Kitchen experiments (sweet and spicy sundried tomato cream pasta)
❖  Feedly as my new blog reader
❖  Seeing some of my bees today (they're alive!)
❖  A sweet young lady who loves Doctor Who

xo

Grateful

Phew! The whirlwind of halloween is over.  I never quite finished those slipcovers.  And you know what?  They're not getting done today either.  I have to work tonight and have given myself permission to laze the day away.

This morning there was quite a frost on the car and as I went out (fully clad in pajamas) to warm it up I found myself grateful.  Very grateful for all the simple things in life.

I am grateful for:

• A heated home
• Getting the garbage to the curb before the garbage truck came
• The HUGE load of dishes Mr. Peculiar did last night
• Precious children who love to snuggle
• Coffee ready to go at the push of a button
• Left over pumpkin chocolate chip cookies
• Left over pumpkin soup for dinner (aka no cooking before work)
• Pumpkins carved by my children while I was sewing away
• Funny not so spidery spider webs hung by the boy
• Creative costumes put together without Mama's help (oi they are getting so big!)
• Mama as a red head --- funny

These are the best days ...

This fall has been gorgeous.  Atypically warm.  Comfortable.  Every time I go outside I am mesmerized by the golds, deeps reds and oranges.  The trees simply glow.

Today I took advantage and walked Little home from school.  I was hoping for a fantastic stroll, mother and daughter hand in hand, chatting happily.  Instead Little marched twenty steps in front of me.  She was in a huff because I wouldn't let her stop to do homework.  Seriously.  What a bugger!

Now I'm sitting in my favorite chair and knitting.  See that delectable yarn?  It's turning into a scarf.  A little something just for me.  Something to celebrate the season.

And those pumpkins?  Homemade too.  Homemade and super easy.  If you are going to the pumpkin patch pick up a few extra stems and make a few of your own.  I filled mine with lentils and bird seed foregoing the polyfill.  I really like their weight.  They are sturdy, substantial.

And the flowers?  All from my garden.  You wouldn't know it to look at it.  There is definitely work to be done.  Dead heading and weeding and trimming.  But amongst all the mess -- simple beauty.

Tonight we're having left overs (either that or eggs on toast or ham and egg cups -- I can't decide).  I am trying to be frugal and stretch the budget.  To compensate for spending in other areas (cough cough yarn store cough).

In the oven are homegrown tomatoes -- roasting to perfection.  On the table beside me?  Iced coffee, the ghetto version made at home.

In other words -- today is a good day.  I'm happy to be at home.  To be off work.  To putter.  These are the best days.

xo.

In Gratitude

This weekend we took a trip to the big city -- Portland. We were after something special, something exciting. And because we haven't been anywhere for a while we decided to make a true weekend of it and spend the night.

Now, though the weekend was good, my children exhibited some untoward behavior. Specifically begging, whining and moaning. They wanted gelato but we insisted on eating real food first. After dinner we settled on Baskin and Robbins as the gelato bar was across town. Ice cream served. Problem solved. Only it wasn't.

The next morning after hot chocolate, donuts, candy bars *and* pancakes with MnM's the girls once again asked for gelato. After all their wish had not been granted the day before. And they were hungry (can you say protein starved?). The answer to gelato? No, No and NO!

Clearly we'd already overindulged on sweets. The girls were acting up. The sugar trend had to stop.

Tears ensued. I got angry. If you can not appreciate the things you have, the things you've been given, then you do not deserve any more treats -- ever!

And I meant it. Their lack of appreciation, their ingratitude, made me want to cut them off completely; strip down their rooms, allow them a mattress, a single outfit and bread and butter on a tray. What right did they have to beg? To cry? They have so much. They have been given so much.

I was sitting high and mighty in the driver's seat, having just laid down the law, when it hit me. I, too, am culpable. Why in the world would the Universe want to grant me anything when all I do is moan about what I don't have? Why indeed.

Because you see, though I have dreams, fantasies, I have a great life. And, truth-be-told, I don't always appreciate it. So I'm working on tempering my dreams with a healthy dose of grateful reality. I can not shut off desire (at least not at this juncture) but I can foster appreciation.

So today I drove through the farmlands of the Hood River Valley. I marveled at the gorgeous red barns, the fields of pear, the bee boxes and the chickens. I marveled at it all and then I came home and marveled at what is.

My girls clucking in the backyard. The labradork. My happy, healthy, albeit argumentative children. Mr. Peculiar. My house. My yard. Coffee. Gainful employment. All the beautiful things that I more oft than not forget to appreciate.

So thank you. Thank you Universe for all I have been given and all the things to come. Indeed I am one lucky girl.

Silver Lining

At 2:17 pm I wake to the alarm and stumble out of bed. I weave around the dog, over correct and run into the wall as I make my way to the bathroom. This is my “I haven’t gotten enough sleep” routine whether at home or at work. Up, stumble, pee, brush hair, wipe drool and attempt to function. I’d been asleep an hour. Add that to the nap I got at work the night before and I’m running somewhere between three and a half to four hours sleep. I’ve worked five out of the last six nights.

Today is a transition day. An attempt to switch from night to day. My husband is sleeping on the couch. He's all but embroidered a “Do Not Disturb” sign on his shirt. He too worked overnight the last two nights. The story told in our house is that I do better with little sleep. I can handle it. So he will sleep and I will pick the kids up from school.

I try not to be resentful. It’s the easy thing to do. I flash to the conversation we had this morning. My husband wants to quit his job. He hates it. Well, he doesn’t hate the job so much as the management. He naively thinks employment utopia exists. He wants the perfect job; excellent hours, good pay, no stress, flawless management. My response? Get real. Every job sucks. And I can't earn enough money to support our family on my own.

"But," I say, "there are things we can do now to decrease our expenses so that maybe, maybe in the future only one of us has to work."

"Yeah right" he says, "B. S. We’re screwed. We’ve screwed ourselves."

Yeah dude - we’re screwed because you can’t retire at forty-two. We’re screwed because I refuse work to the bone to support EVERYONE and take on 70% of the household responsibility.

He’d counter that argument. He does dishes and laundry. He babysits. He thinks I don’t notice the things he does. I’m pretty sure he doesn’t notice the things I do.

I leave the house and drive through Starbucks for an iced coffee. It’s my second purchased beverage of the day. I begin to catalogue the list of sins recently committed ... buying coffee - TWICE. Having lunch at the crepe restaurant. Not exercising for the past two days. Sleeping while my youngest watched television. Not being a stay-at-home mom. Not earning enough money to fully support our family. The dirty house. The junk in my car. And on and on in perpetuity.

And then I stop. I have to stop. This list making is getting me nowhere. Clearly the mother-of-the-year committee will pass me by but so will child protective services.

It is what it is. Nothing more and nothing less.

My mind quiets and I notice the aspen leaves fluttering in the breeze. Each leaf is cupped like the hand of a beauty contestant; waving at me, saying Hello! Look what sits before you. I may be a simple tree, residing between a strip mall and the road but I AM GLORIOUS.

And then I see the cumulus clouds gathering around the periphery of town; stacks of fluffy white portending afternoon thunder. I want to dive in and breaststroke through the gossamer mounds. Pull, kick, glide. Pull, kick, glide. I’d poke my head out the pinnacle, grin at the sun and dive back down for more.

At this point I find myself at the school. I become overwhelmingly grateful for my son. He’s clean cut, intelligent, caring, well-liked and handsome to boot. I am incredibly incredibly lucky to have such wonderful children. Perfect? No way. But incredible - definitely.

As we leave a high school student allows five, FIVE, cars to pull out in front of him which significantly alleviates traffic. I wave in thanks and this kid gives me such a big and genuine grin that it brings tears to my eyes (did I mention I was tired?).

Now it’s my turn to pay-it-forward. I let a woman in the round about. She, too, gives me a huge smile and waves. Life is not so bad.

And so it goes. I will continue to stumble through the remainder of my day and will continue to make lists, happy lists, grateful lists. Tonight I will sleep, in my own bed, for an entire night. It will be divine. And tomorrow? Tomorrow will be even better.

Here I sit in this very spot at my kitchen table, which is now clean. Sprays of light are dancing through the back door. I'm dreaming of french doors in my bedroom to capture this same light; perhaps someday. Someday the day will come when I'll get my doors and my backyard pizza oven and the wide plank wood floors and all the other accouterments I fantasize about. But today is not that day. Today I'm content to sit at my clean table, with my working laptop and favorite tea. Today I'll let the light cavort about me and dream of things to come.

+++++++++

Look up to see more of that gorgeous light . . . it was definitely time for a new header.  

Click here to see Donna's wonderful heart photo.

Tomorrow I'll post a frugal pizza recipe. Right now I'm checking off items on my chore list. One by one they are getting done. Happy Friday!

Learning Gratefulness

Housing prices continue to fall. Household expenses are increasing while annual income is decreasing. This economic recession continues it’s negative spiral with no end in sight. And there is no better time to be grateful. What? Grateful? Absolutely!

Now is the time to appreciate all that we do have - from the roof over our heads to the scent of a fresh-peeled orange. Given the right framework most lives are truly abundant.

“When you are grateful fear disappears and abundance appears”

Anthony Robbins

Abundance is not the possession of material objects. Instead abundance is a state of mind, a meditation of daily gratitude. And this meditation can make you happy. A 2003 study* by Emmons and McCullough showed that .. “the gratitude-outlook groups exhibited heightened well-being.” These groups were more optimistic about their future, felt better about their lives and exercised more; all a direct result of gratitude.

Furthermore a 2008 study* by Froh, Sefick and Emmons showed adolescents who practiced gratefulness had ... “enhanced optimism, [and] life satisfaction.” Is this not what every parent wants?

But here’s the problem. My children do not practice daily gratitude. They do not see the abundance before them. Rather each day arrives with a litany of complaints (could mom’s cooking be any more boring!).

This morning I became so frustrated with my eight-year-old’s attitude I threatened to make her sleep in the garage (the theory being she would then appreciate the roof over her head even if said roof included sharing a room with her sister).

Short of shoving my kids out in the cold I am at a loss. I want to teach my children gratefulness and thus gift them with truly joyful life. But what’s a parent to do?

Here are some ideas:

1) Start a thankfulness tree. Have each family member make leaves of gratitude to hang on the tree. Periodically change the leaves on your tree and take time to sit down and pour over all the things you have to be thankful for.

2) Volunteer for those less fortunate (a soup kitchen, a nursing home, a pet shelter, etc). Discuss how you and your children could improve these people’s lives.

3)Leave Hope Notes scattered about your town to brighten someone’s day.

4) Lead by example; take the time to find beauty in each day and share this beauty with your children.

5) Have Earth Hour once a week. Learn how people lived before the creation of all our modern conveniences.

6) Routinely donate toys to those less fortunate.

7) Keep a daily gratitude journal with your kids. Nightly write five things for which you are grateful.

8) Turn off the television and monitor computer use. Eliminate those flashy ads which vie for our kids’ purchasing power and simultaneously diminish their self-worth.

Gratefulness is a skill, a skill that can be learned. And the benefits of daily gratitude can be seen in as little as three weeks. Three weeks! A mere 21-days to a happier healthier child and happier healthier family. What’s not to lose?

+++++++++++++++

Today I'm grateful for warm breezy winter days, hot showers, the scent of a lemon in the disposal and an invite to a knitting group.

What are you grateful for?
___________________________________________________________________

*Emmons, R.A., McCullough, M.E. (2003). Counting blessings versus burdens: An experimental investigation of gratitude and subjective well-being in daily life. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84(2), 377-389.

*Froh, J.J., Sefick, W.J., Emmons, R.A. (2008). Counting blessings in early adolescents: An experimental study in gratitude and subjective well-being. Journal of School Psychology, 46, 213-233.