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March 19th, 2015

3/19/2015

I have a collection of manual typewriters and use them to write letters, and more recently to tap out birthday greetings. This is my fifth or sixth, and most complex.

To begin, I drew the letter lightly in pencil, then used just the lower case "x" key, and the lever that controls the black and red options for the ribbon. When it was finished, I erased the pencil marking.

It looks a bit like cross stitch don't you think?

The cards are always mailed—it seems to make them more special—because getting mail feels good . . . especially on your birthday!

What about you, do you collect anything, or make and mail cards? Share your story by posting a comment. We'd love to hear from you.

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Happy St. Patrick's Day

3/17/2015

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A gift of Irish Soda Bread

It's a Tradition
Years ago I found a recipe for Irish Soda Bread that has become our favorite—with lots of raisins and caraway seeds. It calls for simple ingredients and it's easy.

Fresh out of the oven, we slather it with butter.

For dinner tonight: Boiled corned beef with a brown sugar/mustard glaze, served alongside colcannon (mashed potatoes mixed with sauteed onions and chopped cabbage—or kale—that's been blanched), and glazed carrots.

It's a tradition and it's so good!

Do you have any St. Patrick's Day traditions? Post a comment and tell us about them.

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Spring Forward: Buy Yourself Some Flowers

3/12/2015

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Next time you buy flowers for someone, try this:
Go to a second-hand shop and buy an inexpensive container for the flowers . . . the flowers stay fresh and whoever you give them to has nothing to do but put them on display—and they can keep the container!

We were invited to a dinner party this past weekend. When I asked what we could bring, we were told to bring only what what we would like to drink. So we brought a bottle of wine . . . and a bunch of daffodils (we knew our friends were planning a special meal and wanted to bring something more but didn't want to disregard their request, so we decided to keep it simple with some flowers).

When I bought the daffodils, they had unopened blossoms, were on display in small bundles held together by elastic bands. They sat piled high on the counter top, not in any vase, not in any water. Imported from Ireland, they came with instructions to simply trim 1/2" and place in water.

I decided to buy some for our hostess and some for me.

When I got the flowers home, I followed the directions—and though I was doubtful, they blossomed!

Spring is coming, but forcing daffodils from Ireland brings it a little closer, a little sooner.

And buying yourself (and someone else) flowers is always a good thing.

Do you make it a habit to buy yourself flowers? Tell us about it. Why do you do it and how does it make you feel?

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Wrestling With Cabin Fever

3/3/2015

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Waiting for spring . . .

If cabin fever is setting in despite the fact that you've played all the board games you can stand, watched an Oscar-nominated-movie marathon, baked your favorite cookies, and simmered a stockpot of stew, it's time for a new approach:

Use the time you're stuck inside to:
- start something,
- finish something, or
- revisit a stalled project

Start Something
Grab a piece of paper and map out your new project. What will it take to get started? Do you need to gather supplies, buy new tools, enroll in a class, or talk to an expert? Make a list, an outline, or draw a diagram. It's the first step in getting your project off the ground.

Finish Something
Wrap up some loose ends. Finish what's nearly done, but isn't. Clean, organize, and inventory your gear, tools, and supplies so you'll be ready to jump right in when it's time to start something new.

Revisit a Stalled Project
If you put aside a project because you were stuck, lost your inspiration, or became overwhelmed with other things in your life, take another look. You may be surprised by new ideas and solutions that percolate when you get back to it.

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March 19th, 2015

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Spring Forward: Buy Yourself Some Flowers

Wrestling With Cabin Fever

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