Good Morning to You!

It's the first week of May, the temperature is warming and on this overcast Sunday morning there is a fine drizzle of rain.  I woke in early morning semi-darkness and with eyes still closed began to focus on the birds that chirped and sang outside my open window.

I could imagine that I was away at my favourite forest cottage, the sounds were the same and outside the trees were dark silhouettes on a grey sky. "How would I feel, what would my mood and mind-set be if this was a vacation and not a day that I was going to work at the boutique?"  I let that vision sink in and noticed that, yes, I could feel an inner shift. I felt inspired, enthused to embrace these few hours of tranquility and to pretend that I was at the cottage.

I rose and lit a candle, unfurled my yoga mat and let my body warm to the movements. A leisurely but abbreviated dog walk (Jessy hates the rain) was lovely and damp with all the scents of humid soil and  rain itself.  I had to keep reminding myself this was the cottage, it is so easy to get drawn into mindless routines.
I steeped a cup of tea in a pretty mug and wrapped myself in the beautiful prayer shawl that my  mother knit for me several years ago.  Outside on my covered balcony I settled into some comfy pillows on a big wooden Adirondack chair and sipped my steaming tea.  I was instantly rewarded when a bright red-orange cardinal stopped at the bird feeder, a moment later a big blue jay bullied him out of his spot .  The jay was  just a little too big to comfortably perch and soon gave up.  Within seconds the cardinal returned and enjoyed the rest of his breakfast.

The perfect corner for a cup of tea

I allowed my mind to wander aimlessly; such an escape is pure luxury and a beautiful way to begin the day. And while eventually I had to get down to the business of business I felt as though I benefited all day from my morning "escape".  How could you subtly shift your morning routine to indulge yourself?  Would an extra 20 minutes afford you the luxury of savouring  your morning?  A short walk?  A cycle around the neighbourhood? A more leisurely shower?  A hand written note tucked into all the lunch boxes?  What would feel special?  See if you can treat yourself to something special one morning this week, you deserve it.

Thank you for stopping at My Turquoise Kettle Life today.

Have a beautiful  morning,
Sandra

Home as Haven - Part III

Hopefully by now you have begun to sort through the holiday chaos Part I and to incorporate some comforting winter luxuries Part II into your home.





While these two steps have hopefully been easy and fun, what we want to tackle next are those nooks, crannies, attics, basements and spare rooms that are victims of clutter.

Is "clutter" too offensive a word? Okay, let's take a gentle look at those spaces that are home to unused sporting equipment, filled with boxes never unpacked from you last move, boxes of unsorted photos, craft supplies, fabric, high school yearbooks, shoes, purses and clothes that are outdated but "perfectly good", bags of children's school papers and artwork, old stamp collections, girl guide outfits, the wedding dress (from the first marriage), coffee tins filled with old drapery hardware, keys for places you no longer live and for luggage you no longer own.

Providing sufficient time has passed, it may also be time to evaluate what to keep and what to donate in the way of inherited items; at the time it seemed fitting to haul home all of your great-aunt's books and dishes, but you can re-evaluate that now.

Yes, this is difficult, emotional and time consuming; but until you deal with this heap (be it large or small) your home will always have a stagnant, toxic pond or ponds brewing behind a closed door or hidden away on a seldom seen level. These areas affect the energy in your home whether or not you see them, whether or not you are thinking about them.

Personally, I can motivate myself for this task in one of two ways, either I pretend that I am getting ready to pack up and move, therefore forcing me to ask, "Do I really want to pay to have this 1970's era exercise bike moved?" or, I imagine that if I suddenly died, my daughters would be forced to sort through what was left in my home. I picture them regarding dried up nail polish bottles, macramé hanging plant holders, old bills, receipts, ten year old magazines, socks with holes and wondering "What in the world was she thinking?"

The other consideration is that from what I've been observing, this task of decluttering only becomes more difficult with age. The older people get the more reluctant they seem to let go of used wrapping paper, clothes, purses, old linens and especially furniture. I cannot tell you how many situations I have heard of (and witnessed) recently where a senior is forced to move into smaller quarters yet cannot accept the fact that a sofa, loveseat, occasional chair, two end tables, a coffee table, a book case a television stand and several overgrown climbing plants are just not going to be squeezed into a 10 ft x 10 ft. room.

Now is definitely the time. You know the drill: three piles - trash, donate, keep. Be ruthless, be honest and don't expect to complete the entire task in an afternoon. Do reward yourself with a cup of your favourite tea and something sweet when you need to take a break, your ultimate reward will be a home that envelopes you in serenity and beauty.


Thank you for stopping by My Turquoise Kettle Life today.

Wishing you a productive day,

Sandra

Home as Haven - Part II

It's the beginning of January and that means that we are all spending a lot more time indoors. Our task this month as we move out of festivity mode and begin to feather our winter nest is to create harmony and authenticity in our homes. We are looking for a way to express our genuine selves and to create an environment that not only catches us, but embraces us as we cross the threshold whether after a workday or a day spent building snow forts and ice skating.

Close your eyes for a moment and picture a home that is a truly comforting winter retreat.

What do you see as you enter?

·  What aromas, colours, textures, furnishings fill the rooms?

·  Is there a special chair or window seat that you can curl up in?

·  Is the table set with floral china or rugged pottery?

·  Are there candles, rugs, or simmering potpourri?

·  Are the curtains open to appreciate the winter view or closed to create a cozy nest?

·  Is there music?

 

 

If you live in a truly four season climate your home needs to change her wardrobe as much as you do. Warning: before you dash off to Crate and Barrel or Ikea or (yikes!) the mall, stop and think for a moment; what do you already have that could be dusted off and repurposed?

·  A long woven scarf becomes a colourful table runner

·  A wooly sweater that you no longer love is cut to recover decorative pillows

·  Group together mismatched pillar candles onto a silver tray that reflects their glow as you dine

·  Relocate your favourite serving plate to your entranceway table to catch keys, sunglasses and loose change

·  Could you hang your antique quilt on the wall or leave it draped near your favourite chair?

·  Do you love your china dishes yet save them for entertaining only? Really?

C'mon you know better than that, this is all about comfort and surrounding yourself with items that you love. We've all been practical for far too long.

Let yourself imagine and dream a little. Scout out those items you love and yet never use. Incorporate fragrance, sound and beauty into your home as you set about to feather your winter nest.

Thank you for stopping by My Turquoise Kettle Life today.

Wishing you a warm and cozy day,

Sandra

Home as Haven - Part I

Your home has been through a lot in the last little while and so have you; baking, cleaning, cooking, entertaining, crafting, wrapping. Entranceways spilling over with snow covered boots, mitts, hats that melt into puddles. Christmas trees, decorations and cards that now look tired and tacky, gifts lingering under the tree or in a corner waiting to find a permanent home. Are there heaps of extra laundry, sheets, towels and linens from out-of-town guests?

Maybe your home, like mine, is suffering from indigestion; groaning as it were from all of the excess. Perhaps the first order of the New Year isn't leaping into a new exercise regime or swearing off sweets (or whatever your vice is); instead what if you were to focus or refocus on your living space, your home?

We can sometimes become so accustomed to our abodes that we no longer see them for what they are. Oh sure, maybe we keep moving the furniture around and painting the walls but do we ever take time to stop and really "feel" our home environments? They are often a reflection of what is going on inside of us, or inside of the relationships within their walls.

Have you ever entered a home and felt uneasy and yet couldn't really put a finger on why? Are there homes or rooms that you feel at peace in, relaxed, supported and nurtured? There is more going on than meets our eye. I know a woman whose visitors often comment on how "good" her living room feels. "You know," she confides, "It is where I sit early in the morning and pray." Ah yes, that explains a lot.

 

 

Take some time and really assess your home.

·  While it may be Better Homes & Gardens beautiful, does it feel welcoming when you walk through the door?

·  Do you feel relaxed, safe, inspired?

·  Does it truly reflect your personality or only the latest trend?

·  Are there spaces where you can relax and read or write?

·  Has clutter taken control?

·  Are you hiding decades of useless possessions in closets and storage areas?

·  Maybe you're hanging on to possessions that belong to children who have moved out, relatives who have passed away or artwork that (you never loved) and received as a wedding gift.

While it is difficult to hold ourselves and our homes under the light of scrutiny, our goal is to create a home that is a haven, a refuge from the world, an oasis that welcomes us every time we cross the threshold, a place where our personalities are reflected and where we can be truly ourselves.

While it is possible that you may need to acquire something, say a comfy reading chair or a loveseat for two to curl up in; my guess is that you may actually need to excavate - get rid of some of the excess that your home is drowning in so that you both you and your home can breathe again, a sigh of relief and contentment.

Thank you for stopping by My Turquoise Kettle Life today.

Wishing you a peaceful day,

Sandra

Thanksgiving as a path to Simplicity

My heart longs to live simply (at least my version of simplicity) and yet so much within me and about me threatens my journey.  My very thoughts refuse to be tamed, my eyes, my senses, my feelings crave for more, more than I need.

For me, thankfulness is a quiet path I can walk that allows me to be still and get grounded again.  It reminds me of what really matters and the abundance I already enjoy.  From this perspective I am more free to see those who are in true need of encouragement, resources and prayer. 



Sunflowers - Sandra King-Allikas

I wish I could say I live in thankfulness, unfortunately I only visit from time to time, yet every visit leaves me feeling refreshed and deeply grateful.

Thank you for visiting My Turquoise Kettle Life today.

May you find a quiet moment to walk the path of thanksgiving today,

Sandra

The ugliness of clutter

Over the past couple of weeks my husband and I have visited several homes for sale. These houses are in rural settings, they range from cottages converted to houses, simple farm houses, Victorian farmhouses, 1950's bungalows.... a wide range of styles, sizes and settings.

The only consistent quality that they all seem to share is clutter. Perhaps I'm more sensitive to clutter than most people, but what we've seen ranges from "They have too much stuff" to "This space feels oppressive, drowning in doo-dads, knick-knacks and junk."

My husband joked (I think he was joking) that we should go into the business of helping people eliminate all the unnecessary from their homes (and lives) and allow them to experience what it is to live in homes that are airy, open, clean and uncluttered. Possessions can enrich our lives but all too often people have packed every closet, nook and cranny with books, clothes, old toys, furniture, old blinds, curtains and tools just in case they need them one day. Just because you have a shelf to keep it on does not mean that you should keep it.

Someone I know recently moved into a new apartment, she was so happy that a relative had an old window blind to offer her that he had hung onto since he sold his house (25 years ago!). She actually said how smart he was to have kept it "just in case someone needed it."

When I visit a cluttered home I often get the urge to declutter my own. Keeping our living spaces clear is an on-going practice and to that end I used my cousin Deb's "fill a garbage bag" exercise and went room by room until it was nearly full of throw-aways and give-aways.

If you need inspiration to begin de-cluttering visit websites that have lovely images of calm, beautiful rooms and be inspired. Close your eyes and imagine yourself living in a space that feels serene, then open your eyes, grab a garbage bag and liberate your home and yourself.

Thank you for visiting My Turquoise Kettle Life today.

Wishing you a serene and beautiful day,

Sandra

Big League Decluttering

I'm on a decluttering high, intoxicated with the feeling of freedom of having eliminated several big items from our home.

 In the past six weeks we've sold two directors chairs, an antique wall mounted telephone, our 4' x 8' oak billiards table, given away a large china cabinet to a very loving family and gotten rid of the two loveseats from our living room.

"What will you sit on?" my mother-in-law queried. Sit? Who has time to sit when there's so much fun to be had decluttering? Okay that isn't quite accurate, let me explain. My (ever wise) husband and I were re-evaluating our home. We tossed around questions like:

• What do we need to be able to do in the spaces (rooms) of our home?
• Are we really fully using what we currently have?
• Is there a better use for that space?
• Is there anything that we need to be able to do that we cannot currently do because of space limitations?

We tried to forget the labels that were currently attached to the rooms (bedroom/living room) and keep our minds open about what certain rooms could be and how they could better serve us.

The Living Room

For a few years I had been dreaming of finding/buying/renting a commercial space where women could come and be creative and be pampered at the same time. Women's Summer Studio It seemed that every time I made an enquiry about a building that was for sale, there was already an accepted offer on it. It happened often enough that I wondered if I was heading in the wrong direction.

My husband suggested turning our main living area into a big art studio. I was really, really lukewarm about the idea, "But it’s our living room." I protested. "Yes", he agreed, "and the dogs sit on the furniture more than we do. Besides its big and light filled and has high ceilings and big windows...."

And that is what happened to the loveseats.... out they went.

The Billiard Table

We've had a very lovely oak billiard table in our family room for ten years. When our children were teens it got used quite often. But recently, with our children grown and having homes of their own, the table was seldom used.

What we found we were needing however was a larger dining area. Without a formal dining room and with an ever expanding family, dinners in the kitchen were becoming crowded. What if we sold the pool table and turned the family room, which is a few steps away from the kitchen into a dining room? Hmm, there's a thought ....but we didn't actually have dining room furniture.

But sometimes the universe just seems to conspire to make your dreams reality. It just happened that my cousin was moving; in her attic was a lovely dining room set that had belonged to her parents, complete with six chairs and a hutch. Perfect.

In came a dining room set.... out went the billiards table.

The Kitchen

Yes, we still have a kitchen but decided that a large china cabinet was taking up too much space, if not in reality then at least visually. My mom had loved that piece from the day we brought it home. We called my parents would they be able to take it? Yes. Wonderful. The china cabinet moved across town.

Remembering that space is just that space.... it's very liberating to imagine how different areas of our homes may be able to better serve our needs and our lifestyle.

Thank you for visiting My Turquoise Kettle Life today.

Wishing you an uncluttered day,
Sandra

"Hey! That's my blankie!"

This past week both of my daughters commented on how much friendlier our dog, Zack, has been recently.  I hadn't really noticed but it's true. 

It used to be that Zack wasn't really happy about visitors, he wasn't even that thrilled with pedestrians using the sidewalk in front of our home.  When company arrived he had a habit of making them feel unwelcome and then collecting his blankie and pink elephant toy and retreating to a closet or under a piece of furniture.  Zack's past is a little sketchy.  We adopted him last year when he was already seven years old, so we cut him a little slack and for the most part try to be accepting of his neurosis. 

This week I had quite a few artists in for the Women's Summer Studio and I was apprehensive about Zack's normally unwelcoming attitude.  I planned to have him hang out downstairs and had placed his blanket and pink elephant there to make him feel more at home.

Long story short: it didn't work.  So Zack has ended up staying with the women in the studio and has been really quite a little gentleman; surprisingly so.  With his tail wagging and nuzzling he has been quite a good host. 

It made me wonder then, when my daughters mentioned his improved attitude, what had changed.  I think I found the answer this morning on the way to the laundry room, there, where he couldn't get to them, were his blanket and favourite toy. 

Do you think that because he hasn't had access to his prized possessions for over a week that he is experiencing a new found freedom and joy?  Now that he isn't concerned with protecting his "stuff" is he able to enjoy the people that visit?  Perhaps he no longer sees them as a threat and can relax and live in the moment without wondering, "Does he plan on stealing my blankie?"

A new relaxed Zack

When we allow our possession to take priority over enjoying and appreciating the people in our lives, you could say it's a case of the tail wagging the dog.

Thank you for visiting My Turquoise Kettle Life today,

Wishing you the freedom to enjoy what really matters,

Sandra

Spring Decluttering

"In our rich consumers' civilization we spin cocoons around ourselves and get possessed by our possessions."
Max Lerner

First let me say, "Thank-you" to everyone who came out a couple of Saturdays ago to support La Maison des Arts Rive Sud small format exhibition. At the end of the day I was happy to return home with considerably fewer paintings than I had arrived with. That's a great feeling, not only because people liked my work enough to want to bring it home, but also because there is just a little bit more room in the studio.

You see, with the arrival of spring, with the opening of windows and feeling the fresh air circulating about the house, I get this overwhelming urge to declutter. What drawers are hiding old receipts, elastics, paper clips, wine corks and miscellaneous gizmos? What books can I pass on to others? What clothes need mending or haven't been worn for (another) winter season?

A lot of us like the idea of a minimalist home, or at least of an uncluttered home but we are stymied for a couple of reasons. The task seems so daunting that it is difficult to begin and/or we have attached sentimental feelings on to a lot of our junk (sorry but a lot of it is really just junk: faded, worn, stained, broken) I have things that I keep for sentimental reasons too, just not a lot of them. I have a couple of pieces of artwork from each of my daughters when they were little, my two favourites are framed; two little clay masterpieces round out my "kid art" collection.

When I jettison no longer needed items I feel liberated, lighter, and free. One thing I've noticed is that thinking about a serene, uncluttered home is a start but it will never happen until I get off my butt and start tossing things. It’s not easy to begin but the result is always worth the effort.

My cousin, Deb, has a great technique. She gets out a big garbage bag and determines to declutter until the bag is full. She does this regularly and her home feels and looks serene. So far I've filled a bag and a half.

If you need de-cluttering inspiration look at photos of rooms that are clutter-free. Imagine how wonderful it would feel to own only what you need (okay and maybe a few items that you love just because they are beautiful). Imagine yourself unencumbered by possessions both those you thought were a good idea at one time and those that you inherited. The memories are not in the items, they are in your mind and in your heart. So open the windows take a deep breath and liberate yourself and your home.

Thank you for stopping by My Turquoise Kettle Life today.

Have a liberated day,

Sandra








 

Tiny Practices

I don't know about you but sometimes I come across an idea that gives me pause to think. A topic that gets a lot of attention these days is that of instant gratification and how we in the developed world are so accustomed to having quick access to information, responses and material goods that we have diminished our ability to wait.



I'm like that. When I first began writing this blog I had just upgraded to high-speed internet from dial-up. Good-bye Dial-up. My expectations quickly adjusted and now I would be hard pressed to be satisfied with dial-up service. Likewise, it was less than 18 months ago that my husband bought me my first digital camera. I sometimes wonder now how I waited weeks (months sometimes) to have my photos developed.



To counter that tendency I like to find tiny ways to delay gratification. It is helpful to remind myself that most of the world doesn't enjoy even a small fraction of the luxury that I do (housing, food, clean water). About a month ago one of the drain pipes from our kitchen sink developed a leak; we decided we'd fix it the following weekend. As an interim solution we would use our dish basin as usual and just empty it into the laundry room sink. It’s surprising but I'm in no hurry to have that drain pipe fixed, I guess I've just grooved a routine and it seems automatic now. It’s a tiny thing but it is a reminder that many people the world over are hauling water every day in buckets.

I usually make my own whole grain bread and on Monday realized that I'd forgotten to buy more yeast. There was enough to make one small loaf. I knew that loaf would last only a few days but decided to wait until next shopping day to buy more yeast. I have to say I miss the bread more than the kitchen sink. There really isn't a substitute for bread, I checked my muffin, loaf and pancake recipes and they have much more fat and sugar than bread does. So I'm waiting for grocery day. What a small thing, I'm not going hungry and my cupboards are full of food. I think the waiting is good for me, so much of the world goes without, and many people are forced to wait with no certainty of when or where the next meal is coming from. May my tiny practices serve to make me more mindful and generous.

Wishing you a mindful day,

Sandra

Lack of Self-Assurance - An Obstacle to Simplicity?

In my last post I wrote about how much I was enjoying Richard J. Foster's book, Freedom of Simplicity .Now that I have finished the book I am revisiting some of the ideas he presented and mulling them over.



One of the ideas that I caught my attention was that of self-assurance or as Mr. Foster writes "being comfortable in our own skin" and how a lack of self-assurance is a foundational hindrance to living simply. In my own way I touched on this subject in my post Thinking My Way to Simple Living.



When I accept myself as I am, when I am comfortable in solitude and stillness, when I recognize that my natural unadorned self is sufficient, when I have made peace with my past and have faith and trust about tomorrow, then I can come to the place where simplicity is my most natural response.

If however, I feel shame about who I am, my thoughts, my habits, my body, my past, if I feel that I need to compensate for what I am lacking, then true simplicity will be truly elusive. For when I struggle with these issues my natural response may be to hide, adorn, over-consume, pretend, seek prestige, create illusions or hoard.



All of the time, money and energy I spend on maintaining an "acceptable" self keeps me enslaved to the life I have created to protect and project my image both inward and outward; how exhausting, how unsatisfying and how unnecessary.



When I understand that my flaws, imperfections and material possessions do not define me, or even really limit me (God loves to use the weak and insignificant) then I am free from having to hide behind a false self. And that freedom can result in a life of genuine simplicity. If I don't need to impress you with what I drive or what I wear, then I have the freedom to use my time, energy and money to be a conduit for something positive, for sharing my talents, for helping others, for creating a life that is simply amazing and amazing in its simplicity; a life that leaves me feeling comfortable in my own skin.

Thank you for visiting My Turquoise Kettle Life today,

Wishing you an amazing day,

Sandra

Richard J. Foster's Freedom of Simplicity

Have you ever had that most wonderful of experiences when the perfect book comes into your hands at the perfect time? It’s a blessed occasion when that happens. That is exactly how I feel about Richard J. Foster's book, Freedom of Simplicity. On a Saturday afternoon in January my husband and I had scouted out a used book store in Montreal. It had been a bitterly cold day and the warmth of the small shop was most welcomed. I wasn't in the door five minutes before this slim volume seemed to leap out at me.

I began the book last week and having had the good fortune (or so it seemed) to be bed-ridden with a bad cold over the weekend I was able to read to my heart's content. So smitten am I with Foster's presentation of the topic of simplicity, that I have been both devouring the book's pages and dreading it being finished. He deals with the subject in all of its complexity, building a strong spiritual foundation for the practice and then proceeds to provide counsel on its practical application; all the while fully sensitive and aware of the risks in dealing with the topic. He has shaken up some of my long-held notions causing me to look afresh and to question some of my practices and beliefs.

What is interesting is that I had recently committed myself to a deeper time of prayer and listening to God. I've described it to some as no longer being satisfied with a faded water-colour painting but desiring rather a full colour, vibrant work of art relationship with Jesus. Foster's book speaks to this as well as to the very practical day-to-day application of simplicity.

brightly coloured "rings" of paint from tubes of acrylic paint.

I could so relate to Foster's description of how there was a time when he pushed simplicity of life "indiscriminately" upon people until he realized that simplicity was just another "anxiety-laden burden" on people until they have known first hand God's gracious ability to provide for all their needs.

That I suppose is why some look at simplification and its natural by-product, abundant giving (of money, time, energy), as recklessness. So where does that leave us? Forever divided by a spiritual sea? I wonder. I don't have an answer but I am asking myself a lot of questions.

I haven't finished reading the book yet. It is thought provoking, challenging, exciting and perfectly timed. I love that!

If you have read this or any other of Mr. Foster's books, I'd love to know what you think.

Thank you for visiting My Turquoise Kettle Life today,

May you enjoy a simple day.

Sandra




   

In Pursuit of Passion and Purpose

Earlier this week I had the opportunity to accompany my daughter, Samantha, on an Eat Play Love puppy delivery (Eat Play Love Animal Rescue) out to the West Island of Montreal.  I was commenting on how happy I was for her that she had found her passion in rescuing abandoned dogs and cats and finding homes for them.

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Here are a few of the rescue's adoptable cats.  All are vaccinated, dewormed, sterilized and looking for their forever families.

         "Minuit" - Charcoal Domestic Long Hair

"Max" - Adoptable Brown & Orange Tabby

"Tiger" - Marbled Brown Tabby

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I've read a lot  about finding one's passion and purpose in life.  I've done workshops, online questionnaires, read countless articles and many books, listened to sermons, visited websites all aimed at helping people to determine what their passion and purpose might be. And still I sometimes wonder if I'm living my passion and fulfilling my purpose.

My daughter suggested that my passion/purpose maybe painting and being creative.  I agreed that I love those pursuits, but that everything I've read suggests that your passion must also be of service to people.  We were quiet for a bit.  I added that the only thing that I feel really strongly about and even frustrated over is how many people spend their lives running after things that don't matter and that in the end won't make them happy or fulfilled even if they achieved or acquired them.  I find it sad that so many have swallowed up the media's message that what they have or what they do isn't sufficient.  They don't realize that what already is, is enough.

And that's when Sam turned and gave me a little smile, "Why don't you take your own advice then?" 

"How? What do you mean?" I asked.

"Well, you are looking for something more, your passion, that you think you should be pursuing, just like the people you want to help are chasing after bigger vacations, televisions, homes and gadgets." 

Her comment really brought me to a halt. So unexpected was this insight that I actually asked her to repeat it to me a couple of times before I could fully absorb it. 

"So, what you're saying is that maybe I should continue to write my blog, sharing both my victories and failures at living more simply and authentically." 

"Yeah, and maybe you should write about this conversation." she said.

Thank you Sam, consider it done.

Thank you for visiting My Turquoise Kettle Life today.

May you find that what you have is enough today,

Sandra

The Slow Kitchen - Giving up the Microwave Oven

Our microwave is on the fritz - again. This microwave is only about two months old. The one it replaced was less than a year old when it gave up the ghost. Hmmm.

We've been exclusively slow-cooking so to speak for about a week. No big deal really, I don't miss the microwave. So this morning over breakfast when I pondered out loud, "Do you think we need a microwave oven?" My husband said, "No, probably not." We tossed around the idea of not replacing it and how we might be inconvenienced. Like most people, we have grown accustomed to zapping frozen bread when we forget to defrost it for lunches, reheating left-overs and cooking baked potatoes.

I was in my late twenties before I owned a microwave oven, so I know we can manage without it, doing so might be an interesting experiment. Mind you this is coming from the woman whose conventional oven was broken from May until September of this year and then I only reluctantly had it repaired because I was cooking Thanksgiving dinner for twenty-five people. While it was broken I managed quite well thank you with the stove top, the barbeque and microwave oven. Okay, so I'm no Martha Stewart.

We were also the family that ripped out a perfectly good dishwasher and stuck it at the curb with a "Free - It Works" sign on it. It wasn't long before a man stopped and asked what was wrong with it. "Nothing, we just don't want a dishwasher anymore." (Actually we never wanted one, it was a very generous wedding gift) The poor guy, he begged us to tell him what was wrong with the dishwasher. "Really, it isn't very old and it works perfectly, we like hand washing our dishes." He looked at us side-ways, certain we were either lying to him or crazy. He took the dishwasher but still seemed unsure as he wheeled it away.

I digress. As far as the microwave oven is concerned, I think we'll try to do without. In a couple of weeks I'll update you on our little slow-kitchen experiment.

Thanks for visiting My Turquoise Kettle Life today.

Wishing you a slow and easy day,

Sandra

Living Simply - No Beginning or End so Jump Right In

I've been thinking about how each of us can live a more simple and sane life. It isn't easy. We have our reasons why we have to do or buy this, that or the other thing. We are able to explain and justify why, for the time being, we're sticking with the status quo. We assure ourselves that one day, when the credit card is paid off, the kids are grown, or once we get organized, we will embark on our journey to a simple life.

Choosing to live simply isn't an all or nothing venture. There doesn't need to be a starting line because there isn't a finish line. It isn't a race. Most of us are running too many races as it is. We run sprints when someone hits the panic button and marathons the rest of the time. Many of us are so busy multi-marathoning that we are running in circles looking for the darn finish line.

If we accept that there isn't really a finish line to be crossed, maybe we can also accept that we can allow ourselves to change our pace, our goal and our name-brand sneakers. Maybe we can even stop right here, right now in the middle of the track and watch as other runners pass us by. What if we decided to walk the rest of the course?

What if, after having slowed down, we noticed a path leading away from the crowd of runners and chose to follow it just to see where it leads to. Would you feel as though you missed out on something? Or would you feel thankful that you were able to experience something that the sprinters and marathoners missed?

Maybe you're not ready to hang up your running shoes altogether, that's fine. For today you can jog instead of run or walk instead of jog. Here are some ideas that I love to get you off the fast track and choosing a more simple path.

Visit your library - Libraries are quiet. You can borrow books and magazines for free. This is a fun family or couple's outing.  (Its also a great way to temporarily escape a chaotic household.)

Turn off the radio in the car - listen to an audio book during your commute or just enjoy the solitude or better yet - car pool.

Walk the dog - What? You don't have a dog? Visit my favourite animal rescue Eat, Play, Love Animal Rescue they have oodles of puppies and adult dogs looking for a foster home or their forever family.

Bake cookies or cupcakes for a neighbour - Attach a note "Just thinking of you"

Make your own Christmas or birthday cards

Make a simple meal from scratch

Use cloth serviettes rather than paper

Avoid shopping as a form of “entertainment".

Make a "retreat corner" in your home - a chair with a little side table, a candle, a pretty journal.

Read my post On Being


Before you fall asleep each night - think of one thing about the day to be genuinely thankful for.

Small steps that allow us to live more slowly and simply help us to appreciate the individual moments that  make up our lives and  remind us that we don't have to run our lives as a race. 


Thank you for visiting My Turquoise Kettle Life.

Have a simply wonderful day,

Sandra

Material Possessions - What I learned from my dogs

"It is preoccupation with possessions more than anything else that prevents us from living freely and nobly."

Bertrand Russell (British Philosopher 1872 - 1970)


The saying goes, "You can’t teach an old dog new tricks." but I have found that an old dog can give insight into matters of great importance.

When we adopted Zack from the SPCA he was already seven years old, a middle-aged dog. I have no details about his former life or what precipitated his relocation to the SPCA. I have found that dogs are sensitive on the subject of having been given-up and are generally not forthcoming with the details.  I agree, let bygones be bygones.

Zack

It was a snowy, blustering February afternoon when we adopted Zack. Arriving home, I gave him a small blanket on which to curl up. He immediately latched onto the blanket, chewed a few holes in it and began to drag it around the house wherever he went. The first time I went to move the blanket I was surprised to find Zack grab the other end and begin a serious "tug-of-war", growling and thrashing about. His grip is so strong you can lift the blanket and almost raise Zack right off the floor. This makes for great fun, I like how worked up he gets over his blanket, growling, teeth bared, eyes blazing. I can hear my inner adult saying, "Sandra, are you teasing that dog??" While my inner child says, "No, we're just playing!"



Our previous dog, Abby, loved raw-hide dog bagels. She'd sit contentedly and chew on a "bagel" until it was gone, making very short work of it indeed. (She once broke into a bag of real bakery bagels and I suppose, knowing her good fortune might be short-lived, hid all six bagels in various places around the house.) So, I bought Zack a raw-hide bagel. Very gingerly he took it from my hand and ran upstairs to his blanket, leaving the bagel untouched like a gem on a velvet cushion. I assume he isn’t the raw-hide type, yet he is possessive about the bagel, he likes it to be on his blanket at all times.

Because Zack seemed a little anxious when he was left alone, I bought him a "Kong". Kongs are great, they're heavy duty rubber cones with a hollow interior into which you can place a dog biscuit or even peanut butter and your dog will (hopefully) be so occupied with chewing and trying to dislodge the treat and he will forget that he is lonely.

Zack.  His expression says it all

The Kong has become Zack's prized possession, if anyone comes into the house, he runs to get his Kong and makes sure that it was safely hidden or he stands over it, preventing the intruder from making off with his goods.

Zack's worldly possessions

A few months later we adopted another dog, Grace, who at fourteen is definitely a senior dog. Unlike Zack, Grace doesn't drag her blanket around; she shares it freely with Zack or any other visiting dog. Grace has little interest in chew toys or toys in general. What Grace does love is affection. Oh she isn't a saint by any means; she loves to sit beside us at the dinner table and comment (whine) on how good the food smells, sometimes even laying her big paw on my lap as if to say, "Darling, what a marvelous cook you must be." But I am not swayed by her flattery; no feeding the dogs from the table.

Grace.  Not a care in the world

There is a pattern of behavior that has developed with our dogs that I think is very telling. After each walk I unleash both dogs and head to the pantry to get them a dog-treat. Grace is always at my heels and Zack? Well wouldn't you know, Zack runs upstairs to his blanket, he checks to make sure that his bagel and his Kong are both stilll safe, and then he comes back to the kitchen for his treat. He doesn't do this on occasion, he does it every time. His mind is always on his possessions, “Are they safe? I better check." If Zack had an allowance he'd spend it on an insurance policy that would cover his "stuff". Grace? I think she'd spend it on a chair at the dinner table where she could enjoy good food and the company of those whom she loves and who love her.



Don't get me wrong, we adore Zack. His quirky ways make him very loveable and very "human".   Some of us could learn a little something from Zack and Grace.  After all I don’t think it’s ever too late to teach an old dog a few new tricks.

Thank you so much for visiting My Turquoise Kettle Life.

Have a dog-gone good day,

Sandra