With that teaser, I'm going to add a p.s. to my last post because, of course, after I published it, I remembered the details I'd forgotten to put. Like, making stock out of the clean, brown skins of onions, plus stems of other veg, or peelings from carrots, or outer leaves of cabbages or all of those plus others. And then, there's lipstick. The other day I was reading some 'money saving' tips and one appeared that I haven't read for decades... 'use a brush to get the last smidgeons out of the tube'. Been there, done that long ago. Will I bother now, I wonder?
And now to my heading... First a question. How many times have you got lost/been led astray while following a Google map? While in Los Angeles last November, the d.h. and I set off to the Getty museum, wound around small streets and landed up in a dead end. Yep, we'd followed the map correctly, but we couldn't access the museum. So we asked an elderly couple we saw out walking. They set us right. It was obvious they'd done the same thing for other confused souls a few times already.
The other day I heard on the radio about research that shows men and women listen to music differently. Part of this discussion mentioned that we orientate in space differently, men more to the bigger picture, women to the details. This made sense to me because although I'm good at reading maps, I haven't a natural sense for orientation East, West, North or South, whereas my d.h. does, and can find his way because of this -- at least, when Google doesn't interfere!
And how does this relate to a conspiracy theory you ask?? Well, yesterday I was in Henry's, the camera shop, getting a passport photo taken, and something caught my attention. The man behind the counter must have been asked what he was selling most of. The answer? GPS systems. Ah yes, convenient and easy. Yet another device to make us more comfortable. What do you say, folks? Shall I continue striving towards awareness of orientation, or simply rely on the latest gadget?
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Being frugal
It's back to reality. Usually it takes me a full three weeks to adjust to being home after a long trip, especially when I've been in the other hemisphere and opposite season. Maybe because it's nearrrrly spring, I felt settled after two weeks this time. Could also be because I felt strong and good after the holiday.
And now, it's tighten the belt time. And that's okay. I'm good at being frugal (foodwise anyhow) and even take a certain satisfaction in making our own granola, chicken and vegetable stocks and so on. For the latter two, I use a pressure cooker. Can you even find such a thing in stores today? Anyhow, mine is enamel on cast iron, so pretty heavy. I've had it ever since we lived on the farm, over thirty years ago! The pot is German and we've replaced rings and a couple of other parts, but still, I'd say that's pretty good going.
The thing with being frugal is that you've got to put in the time and energy. So much of what's available at the grocery store in recent years has been geared to quick and convenient. How much, I wonder, will the present world financial woes affect our life-styles? Remains to be seen. But I was interested to read a Guardian UK headline that quoted from Hillary Clinton's speech to the European parliament where she advised, 'Never waste a good crisis'!
And now, it's tighten the belt time. And that's okay. I'm good at being frugal (foodwise anyhow) and even take a certain satisfaction in making our own granola, chicken and vegetable stocks and so on. For the latter two, I use a pressure cooker. Can you even find such a thing in stores today? Anyhow, mine is enamel on cast iron, so pretty heavy. I've had it ever since we lived on the farm, over thirty years ago! The pot is German and we've replaced rings and a couple of other parts, but still, I'd say that's pretty good going.
The thing with being frugal is that you've got to put in the time and energy. So much of what's available at the grocery store in recent years has been geared to quick and convenient. How much, I wonder, will the present world financial woes affect our life-styles? Remains to be seen. But I was interested to read a Guardian UK headline that quoted from Hillary Clinton's speech to the European parliament where she advised, 'Never waste a good crisis'!
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Marching on
I see I ended with promising a new post 'sometime after Valentine's Day'. After six weeks very far away from home, with long-distance flights to throw off my circadian rhythms and mess with my head, it always takes me about three weeks to pull myself together. I'm about half way there. Hallo!
Rudolf Steiner indicates that during the first nights in a new country we can have significant dreams. That was certainly my experience when I first visited North America and encountered a few of the great spirits that belong to this continent. My first nights in New Zealand? Not so much, but kind of amusing. The second night we were there I dreamed three little bantam chicks hatched out and was puzzled to find there weren't any around. Hey ho, they arrived next morning. I'm still shaking my head over that one.
We soon got to know the two cocks, who seemed to delight in crowing right outside our window before five a.m. And kind of made friends with the two goats who do their best to keep some of the hillside tamed. Going backwards, the first morning brought the gift of two sweet kittens, dragged inside from their hiding place by their mother. What joy and delight they brought during the whole of our visit.
One of the most wonderful moments did, however, occur during our first night. Not having much accommodation in the converted shed our daughter, son-in-law and grandsons are living in while their house is being built, our son-in-law had the clever idea to hire a caravan for the dear husband and me. So we lay in a narrow bed under a wide window. I woke sometime during the night to take a sip of water and the d.h. said, "Look up at the sky. You'll see something special."
So I leaned across and looked out and there was the Southern Cross, hanging so bright and beautiful, like a special banner to welcome us.
Being in the Southern Hemisphere, going to the beach or the hot pools to swim, living a rural life that reminded me of our days on the farm, added up to the best, most restoring holiday I've had in years. I forgot all about the cold, and gradually managed to weave a relationship of sorts to this newly-discovered country.
Rudolf Steiner indicates that during the first nights in a new country we can have significant dreams. That was certainly my experience when I first visited North America and encountered a few of the great spirits that belong to this continent. My first nights in New Zealand? Not so much, but kind of amusing. The second night we were there I dreamed three little bantam chicks hatched out and was puzzled to find there weren't any around. Hey ho, they arrived next morning. I'm still shaking my head over that one.
We soon got to know the two cocks, who seemed to delight in crowing right outside our window before five a.m. And kind of made friends with the two goats who do their best to keep some of the hillside tamed. Going backwards, the first morning brought the gift of two sweet kittens, dragged inside from their hiding place by their mother. What joy and delight they brought during the whole of our visit.
One of the most wonderful moments did, however, occur during our first night. Not having much accommodation in the converted shed our daughter, son-in-law and grandsons are living in while their house is being built, our son-in-law had the clever idea to hire a caravan for the dear husband and me. So we lay in a narrow bed under a wide window. I woke sometime during the night to take a sip of water and the d.h. said, "Look up at the sky. You'll see something special."
So I leaned across and looked out and there was the Southern Cross, hanging so bright and beautiful, like a special banner to welcome us.
Being in the Southern Hemisphere, going to the beach or the hot pools to swim, living a rural life that reminded me of our days on the farm, added up to the best, most restoring holiday I've had in years. I forgot all about the cold, and gradually managed to weave a relationship of sorts to this newly-discovered country.
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