ToNy Grove LaKe

A patient said to Scott, "The wildflowers at Tony Grove Lake are spectacular right now." The sun was shining when Scott told me so I said, "Let's go! Right now!" And we did. And they were. 

tidy up and earn billions

On Friday (Feb. 27), the Wall Street Journal ran a full page article and picture on the front of the Arena section. The Arena section is about books, movies, tv, art, music, theater, etc. For a book to land on the front page is pretty fantastic and the publicity would be like having a recommendation from Oprah.

I was completely surprised to see this little book:

I bought my own copy of this book about three months ago when I saw it on Amazon. When it arrived, I read through the first two chapters, then the next two, bonked my hand on my head and said to myself, "This is going to take some serious discipline AND a serious think-outside-the-box attitude. I laughed as I thought, "I can just picture Scott and me in the storage room, going through boxes, holding each item in our arms and asking each other, "Does this spark joy?" And then thanking the items for their service to us as we throw them away. 

For the author, Marie Kondo, a professional organizer, the criteria for getting rid of clutter is not to decide what things you don't like and throw them away, but rather to decide what things bring happiness and joy and keep only them. (Then, throw the rest away.) It's an inside out method that she says works.

The author of the WSJ article mentioned, and I agree, that the approach is very Japanese. But it has caught on in America to the point that fans have started clubs and social media pages to share their tidying up successes. The article says, "They use the author's name as a verb that can refer either to purging or to meticulous folding...as in: "I Kondoed my recipe books from three shelves to two." There are also YouTube videos including this one showing the author working with a magazine editor in New York City. I loved watching this video and especially the Japanese bows at the end.

Here are some of Kondo's suggestions:

Tip #1: Keep only those things that speak to your heart. Then take the plunge and discard all the rest. 

Tip #2: Gather every piece of clothing you own...every last piece from all over the house...and place it all on your bed. Divide the clothes into categories. Go through the clothes and decide which items give you joy. Donate or discard the rest.

Tip #3: Make tidying a special event, not a daily chore.

The book goes on to explain how to store the clothing you keep. Marie Kondo believes in folding most clothes rather than hanging. The Wall Street Journal shows her step-by-step method for folding a sweater and then calls her a global publishing phenomenon. 

So...I have to wonder, why is this book and author becoming such a sensation? I'll have to finish reading the book before I come up with an answer. But it's fascinating. 

( chicken pot pie )

This chicken pot pie was easy and yummy. I followed the "healthified" version below but added mushrooms. I divided the recipe and put one panful in the freezer. I'll add the pastry when I bake it.

 

 

The crescent rolls are a bit different tasting than pie crust and my preference. I think they're easier to use, too, and since I always buy the reduced fat crescent rolls, maybe a little healthier. Note: I DO NOT like the store brand of rolls, just stick to Pillsbury and enjoy! 

Healthified Chicken Pot Pie 

(from the Pillsbury website)

Ingredients

1 bag frozen mixed vegetables
1/2 onion finely chopped
1 pkg. fresh mushrooms
3 T. flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 1/4 C. milk
2 T. butter
1 can 98% fat-free Cream of Chicken soup
3/4 cup light or fat-free sour cream
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts cooked and cut into small pieces (about 4 cups)
1 pie crust or 1 pkg Pillsbury Crescent Rolls - Low Fat (if dividing recipe, use 2 crusts or 2 roll packages)

1. Cook and drain vegetables. In skillet, cook onion and mushrooms in 2 T butter. Combine vegetables and set aside.
2. In lg saucepan, mix flour, salt, pepper, and milk and blend. Cook over med. heat about 5 minutes until thickened.
3. Stir in soup and sour cream. Add chicken and vegetables. Stir and cook until well heated. Pour into 2 qt. casserole or large pyrex. Top with crust or crescent rolls which have been formed to fit the pan. 
4. Bake 30 to 35 minutes. 

[ suNspots ]

I crave light and sunshine right now. When there are patches of sunlight around my house on cold February afternoons, I take pictures of them. The little square above is the one I sit on...just sit there in the sun with the Friday edition of the Wall Street Journal in my lap to read. There are two WSJ sections I like: Review and Off Duty. Today I enjoyed the 'Valentine Gift Guide,' a review of a biography of Calvin Coolidge (have to admit, I knew nothing about him), an essay on polar bears, and an article called Family Inc. If you have kids, don't miss this well-written and informative article. A link to the complete article is here. After reading the article, I want to learn more about agile development. I don't want to start over raising kids. 

 

 

 

 

+ a new TO DO +

I get frequent emails about the new classes from Big Picture Classes. (Last year my boss Geornana and I taught Cut the Crazy Out of Christmas on Big Picture and we will again next year.) When I got this email, even though I promised myself I WOULD NOT sign up for another class, I just couldn't resist. I just signed up. The price is $35.00 for a four-week class that starts October 20th.

I love Kolette Hall's work and style and voice on her blog...which is named The Art of Choosing Joy, so of course I would like it. She's a graphic designer and creates many of the stamps and craft materials you see in Michaels, Target, Jo-ann, etc. Her BPC workshops are very detailed and well-written, and I recommend this one if you have dreams of crafting or making gifts for Christmas! She'll show twelve projects with instructions, pictures, etc.

Here's the scoop from the Big Picture website for Giving Well 2011. If you go to BPC, you can also listen to Kolette tell about her workshop.

Giving Well 2011 Gift-giving is an art. From the gift tag and wrapping paper to what’s inside the package, you are saying something when you give a gift. Back by popular demand, Kolette Hall has designed a fresh round of fabulous, manageable gift ideas for the holiday season and all year long. This class is literally packed with everything you need to give well for the holidays or any special event throughout the year – and Kolette has designed every idea that you will see in this class! Every other day you will receive a new idea for Giving Well. True to form, Kolette has also included her exclusive downloadable artwork to help you create the perfect gifts and gift tags. As those of you who joined us in the past for Giving Well know, you will be amazed with what you get in just four weeks of class time. Whether you are mass-producing one gift idea or choosing to craft a different gift for each person on your list, you’ll get over a dozen ideas for creating personalized home décor and other great gift ideas. Come join Kolette as she guides you in your new art form: the art of Giving Well.

Fresh Treats

I'm finally back to my blog - but only for a minute. I want to share the recipe for Shelia's Brownies - it's at the end of this post. And to balance your diet if you eat brownies for breakfast like me, a I have a suggestion for a new product that you can top with fruit for a fresh treat. (Though, admittedly, it's more dessert than health food.)

This new product (anyway, new to me) is Yoplait Delights Parfait. I have to give the credit to my sister-in-law Lesa for discovering them and then having the idea to put fruit on top. They are in the yogurt section of the grocery store, in a four pack, like small yogurts - but the key word on the package is "Delights." (Which, as I already mentioned, probably means they have no redeeming nutritional value.) They come in four flavors, but my favorite is the Triple Berry Creme shown above. They have a layer of berry yogurt, then a layer of white creamy fluff. On top of that I put as many strawberries and I can smash in, then, if it's for company, I top with a dollop of whipping cream. Because they are in a clear plastic container, they look kind of pretty and party-ish.
They're fresh and delicious and better for you than ice cream, I'm sure!



And now for...

Shelia's Brownies

1 cube butter or margarine
2 (1 oz.) squares Baker's Unsweetened Baking Chocolate
1 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
3/4 cup plain flour
2 eggs
2/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
walnuts - coarsly chopped

Melt butter and baking chocolate together. Stir in sugar and vanilla. Add eggs one at a time. (Shelia says, "Yes, this does make a difference.") Stir in flour, chocolate chips, and nuts. Spray a 9" x 9" baking pan and pour batter in. Bake for exactly 30 minutes at 350.
Do not overbake. Cool and cut into squares.

Debbie's suggestion and I think Shelia does this too: Always double the recipe then you'll have enough for a 9" x 13" pan and some batter leftover so the children { lol } can lick the bowl.