"A Gift from the Sea"

Lately I have been reading many books from many different genres.  You could say I have been “meeting” new people and “conversing” with them.  I don’t agree with everything everyone I meet says but that doesn’t mean we can’t have a conversation, that we can’t be friends, that I can’t learn something from them.

I would like to introduce you to one of my new acquaintances.  I had a conversation with Anne Morrow Lindbergh in her book ‘A Gift from the Sea’.   She is now a friend of mine.   I like many of her ideas.  I disagree with others.  I think “she” (her book) is worth getting to know.  She compares various stages of life to different kinds of sea shells.   It is a short book, full of interesting insights such as:

“To ask how little, not how much, can I get along with.  To say—is it necessary?—when I am tempted to add one more accumulation to my life…Simplification of outward life is not enough.  It is merely the outside.  But I am starting with the outside.”

And:

“Beautiful, fragile, fleeting, the sunrise shell; but not, for all that illusory.  Because it is not lasting, let us not fall into the cynic’s trap and call it an illusion.  Duration is not a test of true or false.  The day of the dragon-fly or the night of the Saturnid moth is not invalid simply because that phase in its life cycle is brief.  Validity need have not relation to time, to duration, to continuity.  It is on another plane, judged by other standards.”

One of Anne Lindbergh’s most famous quotes comes from this book: “My life cannot implement in action the demands of all the people to whom my heart responds.”

If you want a quick read (138 pages) that is full of insights go and meet Anne Morrow Lindbergh in ‘A Gift from the Sea.’ 

Let me know what you think of my new friend and her ideas.

Simplify!

Doesn't this quote describe the "laws" of today!

"It will be of little avail to the people that the laws are made by men of their own choice if the laws be so voluminous that they cannot be read, or so incoherent that they cannot be understood; if they be repealed or revised before they are promulgated, or undergo such incessant changes that no man, who knows what the law is today, can guess what it will be tomorrow.  Law is defined to be a rule of action; but how can that be a rule, which is little known and less fixed?"
(James Madison, Federalist Papers, No. 62, p. 381)

It's time to simplify!

I have read quite a bit of the the "bail-out bill", the "health care bill" and others.  "Voluminous" and "incoherent" seem perfect words to describe most of our laws.  I think James Madison would be sad to see his words being fulfilled in such ridiculous lengthy legislation as our lawmakers are spewing forth.

The Best Parenting Article

I was impressed by an article I read recently on parenting.  It was written by the Arbinger Institute.  You can read it here: The Parenting Pyramid  I love the focus on "helping things go right", rather than "what do we do when things go wrong."  And the focus on relationships rather than discipline was very enlightening and sounded true to my heart.

This month I read "Leadership and Self-Deception" also by the Arbinger Institute.  They have some very profound ideas that are thought and life-changing.  I am reading "The Anatomy of Peace" now and I am very intrigued to see how they unfold the philosophy they are promoting.  Both of these are easy reads.  They are written in a similar style as "The One Minute Manager" and that is a great book too!

Life Can Go on Without a Microwave

To begin, one must know a little about my husband.  He has a lot of ideas...a LOT of ideas.  One of his ideas, opinions, is that using a microwave on your food, is not good for your health.  Based on things he has read, he has for many years suggested that we should use the microwave as little as possible.   Of course, I tried, but is there really any other way to "reheat" leftovers? thaw meat?  boil water?  melt butter? etc...and it is so convenient for the kids to "warm up" leftover lunches, etc.

The microwave we have used to belong to the Skating Rink where I worked in high school and college.  The other employees had a hard time using it, though it never gave me a problem.  It was replaced and was going to be thrown away...so, I took it.  It has worked beautifully without problems for me for the past 15 years...through my college time and our whole marriage.

Over the years, I tried to limit the use of the microwave, but I guess my efforts of limiting the microwave's use was not enough.  Last July, I came home from my mother's house one day to find that the microwave was gone.  Banished to the unfinished basement.  My family was shocked.  I was shocked. 

After much pondering, I finally came to the conclusion that:

Using the microwave could possible hurt us.

Not using the microwave would definitely not hurt us.

And so my non-microwave life began.

The hardest part is...I have to think...don't laugh...this is actually difficult.  I have to think ahead...WAY ahead...no last minute dinners, no quick warming up of the leftovers...and no thawing meat at the last minute...not even the last few hours...it just isn't long enough.  Fortunately, we don't do a lot of meat at our house.

Halloween came.  Our children came home from Primary with little bags of popcorn that they had been given.  They were so excited.  On the drive home one of them had a moment of realization and shouted with despair in his voice.. "BUT MOM! WE DON'T HAVE A MICROWAVE TO POP THEM IN!!!!!"  I just looked at Michael.  My look said, "You get to deal with this one."

To their joy, Michael said that he would take them down to the basement to pop them....since microwave popcorn is already bad for you...using the microwave wouldn't make it much worse.  That has actually turned into a fun thing...if we ever are given microwave popcorn they get to go to the basement with dad, he finds a place, plugs it in and pops it. 

And now after 8 months of not having a microwave to do all the above mentioned things....I can honestly say, "Life can go on, and even be happy, without the microwave."  It has been a hard separation.  My sister was a saint and gave me some more pots and pans for Christmas, a variety of sizes is more necessary now. 

I boil water and melt butter on the stove.  Depending on the leftovers, I warm up them up on the stove or in the oven.   I have learned that if I put a bowl of water in the oven...leftover pancakes and waffles will be a little softer rather than crusty.  I try not to cook "too much"; I shoot for no leftovers.   Did you know you can fit more than one item to warm up in a frying pan?

After all this time the thing I miss the most is the timer...it didn't wander around the house...I could see it from the other side of the room...and my two year old couldn't reach it & change the time (the oven timer is in his reach).

And whenever I miss the microwave, I remember that I don't have to chop the wood and light the fire.

So, if you have any "microwaveless tips"...or if you need any...let me know.

Newly Wetted Wipes

So this is WAY cool. 

Do you have a bag of wipes that has dried out?  Don't throw them away.  They are just dehydrated....just add water.

This is what we did today with some dried out wipes we found in a 72 hour kit:

1.Fill the bag with water. 

2. Pour out excess. 

3. Wring a just a little.

4. Close lid.

5. Wait a few hours. 

They are like new!!!!

Newly Wetted Wipes!

Just a place to think

This is my place to think. I have been so blessed over the past years as I have read the blogs of friends of mine (Candace, Nancy, Kari, etc). I thought (perhaps a bold thought) that maybe my thoughts could be beneficial to someone else. And if not, at least I'll have a record.

My dad loved Neil Diamond. I grew up listening to his music. One of my favorite songs was, "It's a Beautiful Noise." Some of the lyrics are:

What a beautiful noise comin' up from the street
Got a beautiful sound, It's got a beautiful beat

It's a beautiful noise goin' on everywhere
Like the clickety-clack of a train on a track
It's got rhythm to spare

It's a beautiful noise and it's a sound that I love
And it fits me as well as a hand in a glove
Yes it does, yes it does

What a beautiful noise comin' up from the park
It's the song of the kids and it plays until dark

It's a beautiful noise made of joy and of strife
Like a symphony played by the passing parade
It's the music of life

What a beautiful noise
Comin' into my room
And it's beggin' for me
Just to give it a tune.

I certainly can't give the "beautiful noises" of my life a tune...but I will give them expression here on my blog...some of the joy...some of the strife...the symphony of my life.