Proctor Silex electric kettles are everywhere, and they shouldn't
boil vinegar in it once, that would
remove the smell, but that was not
true. When mine continued to smell
as the water heated I replaced it
with a stainless Farberware coffee
maker, from which I removed the
percolator parts. No more smell,
and I feel better physically than
when I was using the plastic kettle.
(If it released a smell, what did it
release into the water I used to make my coffee and tea? And, just
because it's a small amount released does NOT make it safe.)
- be.They smell when they heat water because there is
decomposition.
The manufacturer
boil vinegar in it once, that would
remove the smell, but that was not
true. When mine continued to smell
as the water heated I replaced it
with a stainless Farberware coffee
maker, from which I removed the
percolator parts. No more smell,
and I feel better physically than
when I was using the plastic kettle.
(If it released a smell, what did it
release into the water I used to make my coffee and tea? And, just
because it's a small amount released does NOT make it safe.)
Heat and Light -
Long ago my friend, Barbara Okray, had classes in Heat and Light.
I was astonished: elements of daily life are college subjects? But,
things change. Now, in order to be warm in winter, cool in summer and
see at night cheaply, I study both.
I've learned that plants, even weeds, cool my yard and ultimately my
home. So while my neighbors have rock lawns and use swamp coolers,
I enjoy dandelions (nearly as much as the bees do), wildflowers and
whatever grasses thrive on minimal drinks of water.
When I first read that dirt and rocks are tens of degrees hotter than
plants, and asphalt ten degrees hotter still, I wanted to see if that was
true: I let one side of my mostly clay back yard go to weed, while on
the other I plucked out dandelions to the tips of their roots. In the fall
I was surprised at how early
frost came to the weed-rich
side of my yard and how many
weeks later it came to the
few-plants-'n-barren-clay side.
Now I water dandelions, carpet
dirt with wildflowers and enjoy
my home being ten degrees
cooler in the summer than when
I favored a rocky landscape. If
I still lived in Wisconsin I'd do
the opposite and expose a dirt border on the sunny sides of my
house for the winter, perhaps in the same areas where I had flowers
during the summer.
For fun I bought a remote thermometer.
It shows twenty degrees hotter where
there's dirt as opposed to plants. That's
about what I expected, but it's fun to see
the actual numbers. Twenty degrees is a
lot of difference! And, that's twenty
degrees that isn't associated with any
electricity use, so it's basically free cooling --
except for the cost of a bit of water.
Another "heat thing" thing is that my 2 quart
copper bottom pots become much hotter much faster than 3 quart
pots. Because I cook using candles (solar doesn't support an electric
stove which is fine because candles work great!) the efficiency of the
pot makes for a big savings in the
amount of wax I have to buy.
If you want to save money on
gas/electricity you can pare down
your pot size and use one with an
especially conductive bottom.
(I got rid of all my Teflon pots and
pans after finding that every time
I browned garlic or onions I "had
the flu" the next day, and, my
friend she said she'd had
several pairs of love birds until
she burned onions in her Teflon
fry pan and they all died. Now I use stainless steel and nothing sticks
as long as I use olive oil... which is good for us, to boot.)
I have several aluminum core, 2 quart saucepans and am pleased.
Aluminum conducts heat very well but it's NOT good to cook
directly in or on aluminum. (While
manufacturers say it's fine, I
believe the decades of reports
by people who say aluminium in its
many uses contributed to their
Alzheimer's Disease. I don't think
there's anything to worry about
if you use aluminum foil to cover
a turkey for roasting, but
everyday use in cooking, or in
diet drinks may after some years
have a bad effect.) I'm unwilling to
chance using it regularly for cooking.
Long ago my friend, Barbara Okray, had classes in Heat and Light.
I was astonished: elements of daily life are college subjects? But,
things change. Now, in order to be warm in winter, cool in summer and
see at night cheaply, I study both.
I've learned that plants, even weeds, cool my yard and ultimately my
home. So while my neighbors have rock lawns and use swamp coolers,
I enjoy dandelions (nearly as much as the bees do), wildflowers and
whatever grasses thrive on minimal drinks of water.
When I first read that dirt and rocks are tens of degrees hotter than
plants, and asphalt ten degrees hotter still, I wanted to see if that was
true: I let one side of my mostly clay back yard go to weed, while on
the other I plucked out dandelions to the tips of their roots. In the fall
I was surprised at how early
frost came to the weed-rich
side of my yard and how many
weeks later it came to the
few-plants-'n-barren-clay side.
Now I water dandelions, carpet
dirt with wildflowers and enjoy
my home being ten degrees
cooler in the summer than when
I favored a rocky landscape. If
I still lived in Wisconsin I'd do
the opposite and expose a dirt border on the sunny sides of my
house for the winter, perhaps in the same areas where I had flowers
during the summer.
For fun I bought a remote thermometer.
It shows twenty degrees hotter where
there's dirt as opposed to plants. That's
about what I expected, but it's fun to see
the actual numbers. Twenty degrees is a
lot of difference! And, that's twenty
degrees that isn't associated with any
electricity use, so it's basically free cooling --
except for the cost of a bit of water.
Another "heat thing" thing is that my 2 quart
copper bottom pots become much hotter much faster than 3 quart
pots. Because I cook using candles (solar doesn't support an electric
stove which is fine because candles work great!) the efficiency of the
pot makes for a big savings in the
amount of wax I have to buy.
If you want to save money on
gas/electricity you can pare down
your pot size and use one with an
especially conductive bottom.
(I got rid of all my Teflon pots and
pans after finding that every time
I browned garlic or onions I "had
the flu" the next day, and, my
friend she said she'd had
several pairs of love birds until
she burned onions in her Teflon
fry pan and they all died. Now I use stainless steel and nothing sticks
as long as I use olive oil... which is good for us, to boot.)
I have several aluminum core, 2 quart saucepans and am pleased.
Aluminum conducts heat very well but it's NOT good to cook
directly in or on aluminum. (While
manufacturers say it's fine, I
believe the decades of reports
by people who say aluminium in its
many uses contributed to their
Alzheimer's Disease. I don't think
there's anything to worry about
if you use aluminum foil to cover
a turkey for roasting, but
everyday use in cooking, or in
diet drinks may after some years
have a bad effect.) I'm unwilling to
chance using it regularly for cooking.
I started out at 280 so there was a long time
when the progress I was making wasn't visible.
Not that there weren't significant changes in a
month or two.
For instance I'd had trouble with sleep apnea:
waking up unable to get a breath and feeling as
if I was going to die for want of air; after a bout
of coughing I'd go back to sleep.
Only sometimes people don't wake up. So,
when the doctor said that sleep apnea and
wheezing at night can be caused by excess
flesh around the neck, and that it helps to
sleep with ones head raised I decided that I'd
double up my pillows and do three minutes of
exercise a day. That's when I was recovering
from tetanus and my muscles were still clamping.
The tape measure showed that my effort was
paying off, but the mirror didn't show it, so I
looked at clothing ads and imagined myself
when the progress I was making wasn't visible.
Not that there weren't significant changes in a
month or two.
For instance I'd had trouble with sleep apnea:
waking up unable to get a breath and feeling as
if I was going to die for want of air; after a bout
of coughing I'd go back to sleep.
Only sometimes people don't wake up. So,
when the doctor said that sleep apnea and
wheezing at night can be caused by excess
flesh around the neck, and that it helps to
sleep with ones head raised I decided that I'd
double up my pillows and do three minutes of
exercise a day. That's when I was recovering
from tetanus and my muscles were still clamping.
The tape measure showed that my effort was
paying off, but the mirror didn't show it, so I
looked at clothing ads and imagined myself
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"Beauty is truth, truth beauty --"
- Keats, 1819
"A thing in itself never expresses
anything. It is in the relation between
things that gives meaning to them."
anything. It is in the relation between
things that gives meaning to them."
- Hans Hofmann, 1967
"The meaning of things lies not in the
things themselves but in our attitude
towards them."
things themselves but in our attitude
towards them."
- Saint-Exupery, 1948
"Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything
beautiful, for beauty is God's handwriting.”
beautiful, for beauty is God's handwriting.”
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
- (1803 -1882)
“The ideals which have lighted my way, and time
after time have given me new courage to face life
cheerfully have been kindness, beauty, and
truth”
after time have given me new courage to face life
cheerfully have been kindness, beauty, and
truth”
- Albert Einstein
- (1879 - 1955)
"Time deals gently only with those who
take it gently."
take it gently."
- Anatole France, 1881
"The longer I live, the more beautiful life
becomes."
becomes."
- Frank Lloyd Wright
"The taste for well-being is the prominent and
indelible feature of democratic times."
indelible feature of democratic times."
- Alexis de Tocqueville, 1835
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"The dream was always running ahead of me.
To catch up, to live for a moment in unison with
it, that was the miracle."
To catch up, to live for a moment in unison with
it, that was the miracle."
- Anais Nin
I can't stand to diet! I always fail and I can't exercise the amount
Oprah says I must if I want to lose weight. But, I lost 10 inches
around my waist in a year by doing three minutes of exercise a day,
and not all days --
Oprah says I must if I want to lose weight. But, I lost 10 inches
around my waist in a year by doing three minutes of exercise a day,
and not all days --
"A smiling face is half the meal."
- Latvian Proverb
"A good meal makes a man feel more charitable
toward the world than any sermon."
toward the world than any sermon."
- Arthur Pendenys
"Kissing don't last: cookery do."
- George Meredith
"Cooking is like love. It should be entered into
with abandon or not at all."
with abandon or not at all."
- Harriet Van Horne
"Strange to see how a good dinner and
feasting reconciles everybody."
feasting reconciles everybody."
- Samuel Pepys
“The French peasant cuisine is at the basis of
the culinary art. By this I mean it is composed
of honest elements that la grande cuisine only
embellishes.”
the culinary art. By this I mean it is composed
of honest elements that la grande cuisine only
embellishes.”
- Alexandre Dumaine
Health Boundaries Bite
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What's Working Well?
wearing smaller and smaller things and looking prettier and prettier.
(I'm old, so "prettier" was a bit of a stretch. Sometimes in order to
make myself continue to believe I focused on my garden where
change came slowly, but also beautifully.) The sleep appnea went
away in less than two months.
And, because I added brown rice, which tends to promote weight
loss, to my diet I ate more, not less.
(I'm old, so "prettier" was a bit of a stretch. Sometimes in order to
make myself continue to believe I focused on my garden where
change came slowly, but also beautifully.) The sleep appnea went
away in less than two months.
And, because I added brown rice, which tends to promote weight
loss, to my diet I ate more, not less.
I had a pair of Italian
leather shoes that I loved
so much. I can see them
as clearly as if I had them
now rather than when I
was in high school. I think
I would love an Italian
handbag as much as I
loved those shoes, and
so I dream.
leather shoes that I loved
so much. I can see them
as clearly as if I had them
now rather than when I
was in high school. I think
I would love an Italian
handbag as much as I
loved those shoes, and
so I dream.
I think, no, I BELIEVE that if I had enough money to buy this bag
without worrying about the cost that I could also become well enough
to travel again. And that is a very happy making thought.
I can see myself carrying this handbag in Greece and Crete. I've
wanted to go to Crete for a long time. Okay. I'm determined.
Having a clear image in mind, being determined and believing work well
to fashion the future, I know that. In order to change today into the
particular tomorrow that I want to see in 2010 there are practical
things I need to keep in mind and do.
For instance I can't lose the next 50 pounds I need to lose in a week,
nor can I regain the flexibility I had when I was younger by doing a lot
of exercise. Overdoing things is counterproductive due to residual
muscle problems from having had tetanus. (I think everyone over a
certain age, and the age varies from person to person, benefits more
from a gradual approach than a pain-for-gain approach.)
That said, here is something that works incredibly well at not
overdoing while doing a lot of cleaning: I ordered a cordless vacuum
because my solar system doesn't have a
large enough inverter to run my old
Eureka vacuum. There were many
excellent reviews so I felt good placing
my order.
When my Extreme Power vacuum arrived
it was rather more toy-like than I had
expected: it wasn't heavy at all, and it was
rather cute. I could imagine playing with
the likes of it as a kid. But, would it work,
I wondered.
YES! It is just as good as the reviews say!
I used to vacuum once every week or two.
I hated unrolling the cord and contorting my
unwieldy body to plug in the cord under
tables and between pieces of furniture.
Now I just grab my powerful little vacuum
off its charging stand and away I go.
It is the most Working Well thing I have
and my house is happier for it.
There are two more things that are working
well that I want to note, but it's late. So, which
to give the final minutes of today?
I called a friend to borrow money for a couple of days, but couldn't
reach her. It was after that the really good thing happened, the thing
that is the best "working well" of them all: I decided that since there
was nothing I could do I was going to enjoy the day and my quilt and
pillow and the wonderful way they made my living room look like a
poet's loft in Paris or London or New York. Previously the llittle bed
frame with it's pale quilt, moved in from the spare bedroom, looked
uncomfortably like a sickroom escapee. I also thought about my
friend, a Realtor, who has been braving out the financial meltdown's
affect on the real estate market with a real beauty of spirit.
In the end she called and lent me the money, which was great. But
even greater was that in between I realized that if bank overdraft
charges took all my extra money, I could still enjoy my life and the
beauty around me.
without worrying about the cost that I could also become well enough
to travel again. And that is a very happy making thought.
I can see myself carrying this handbag in Greece and Crete. I've
wanted to go to Crete for a long time. Okay. I'm determined.
Having a clear image in mind, being determined and believing work well
to fashion the future, I know that. In order to change today into the
particular tomorrow that I want to see in 2010 there are practical
things I need to keep in mind and do.
For instance I can't lose the next 50 pounds I need to lose in a week,
nor can I regain the flexibility I had when I was younger by doing a lot
of exercise. Overdoing things is counterproductive due to residual
muscle problems from having had tetanus. (I think everyone over a
certain age, and the age varies from person to person, benefits more
from a gradual approach than a pain-for-gain approach.)
That said, here is something that works incredibly well at not
overdoing while doing a lot of cleaning: I ordered a cordless vacuum
because my solar system doesn't have a
large enough inverter to run my old
Eureka vacuum. There were many
excellent reviews so I felt good placing
my order.
When my Extreme Power vacuum arrived
it was rather more toy-like than I had
expected: it wasn't heavy at all, and it was
rather cute. I could imagine playing with
the likes of it as a kid. But, would it work,
I wondered.
YES! It is just as good as the reviews say!
I used to vacuum once every week or two.
I hated unrolling the cord and contorting my
unwieldy body to plug in the cord under
tables and between pieces of furniture.
Now I just grab my powerful little vacuum
off its charging stand and away I go.
It is the most Working Well thing I have
and my house is happier for it.
There are two more things that are working
well that I want to note, but it's late. So, which
to give the final minutes of today?
I called a friend to borrow money for a couple of days, but couldn't
reach her. It was after that the really good thing happened, the thing
that is the best "working well" of them all: I decided that since there
was nothing I could do I was going to enjoy the day and my quilt and
pillow and the wonderful way they made my living room look like a
poet's loft in Paris or London or New York. Previously the llittle bed
frame with it's pale quilt, moved in from the spare bedroom, looked
uncomfortably like a sickroom escapee. I also thought about my
friend, a Realtor, who has been braving out the financial meltdown's
affect on the real estate market with a real beauty of spirit.
In the end she called and lent me the money, which was great. But
even greater was that in between I realized that if bank overdraft
charges took all my extra money, I could still enjoy my life and the
beauty around me.
I think that while I love the redo of
my living room via a quilt and floor pillow (used as a divan
back), the real thing that is working well is my ability to love it
even though I ordered it by mistake, not realizing that a check
I'd written earlier had not been cashed and could be, thus
threatening to put my account into the red.
When I snapped to my mistake I couldn't sleep and was still
up at three in the morning, repeatedly looking at my online
bank account to see if the check I'd forgotten had been
cashed. It wasn't, it seemed, but next day an insufficient
funds notice for the day before appeared. Darn it!
my living room via a quilt and floor pillow (used as a divan
back), the real thing that is working well is my ability to love it
even though I ordered it by mistake, not realizing that a check
I'd written earlier had not been cashed and could be, thus
threatening to put my account into the red.
When I snapped to my mistake I couldn't sleep and was still
up at three in the morning, repeatedly looking at my online
bank account to see if the check I'd forgotten had been
cashed. It wasn't, it seemed, but next day an insufficient
funds notice for the day before appeared. Darn it!
Back to heat and light for a moment: Last winter I didn't have drapes
in my living room, and I sorely wished that I had. I was sure they would
keep out drafts and
retain heat. For awhile I
tacked a duvet cover
over my French doors to
help a bit, but that was
unsatisfactory because
it was hard to take down
and put up when I went
outside, plus, I ruined
the cutwork lace on my
duvet cover. I was so
mad at myself for that.
I decided I should order
the velvet drapes I've been wanting for at least a decade and I went in
search online. I read copious reviews on several different kinds of
drapes and decided to get what I'd wanted for so long, velvet drapes.
They are like those in the picture except that since mine are hung
over French doors I opted for curtain rings so that it would be easier
to open and close the drapes. (The rings added dramatically to the
cost. But, in the long run I think the rings are well worth it.)
This year my living room is ten degrees warmer than it was last year
when the outside temperatures are the same. (I kept track of the
temperatures last year as a part of trying to save my avocado. But it
was too cold for it, and it died. I want another, but I want to be sure I
can keep it warm enough for it to live and be happy.)
in my living room, and I sorely wished that I had. I was sure they would
keep out drafts and
retain heat. For awhile I
tacked a duvet cover
over my French doors to
help a bit, but that was
unsatisfactory because
it was hard to take down
and put up when I went
outside, plus, I ruined
the cutwork lace on my
duvet cover. I was so
mad at myself for that.
I decided I should order
the velvet drapes I've been wanting for at least a decade and I went in
search online. I read copious reviews on several different kinds of
drapes and decided to get what I'd wanted for so long, velvet drapes.
They are like those in the picture except that since mine are hung
over French doors I opted for curtain rings so that it would be easier
to open and close the drapes. (The rings added dramatically to the
cost. But, in the long run I think the rings are well worth it.)
This year my living room is ten degrees warmer than it was last year
when the outside temperatures are the same. (I kept track of the
temperatures last year as a part of trying to save my avocado. But it
was too cold for it, and it died. I want another, but I want to be sure I
can keep it warm enough for it to live and be happy.)
I've been wearing a dress I ordered from Macy's and it's
making me feel as if my goal to be healthier, slimmer and to
travel is reachable. (When I ordered it I questioned
spending the money on something as frivolous as a dress I
did not exactly need.)
But, now that I have it and it's helping me stay focused on
my goal, I see it as something I did "exactly" need.
What's so great about it is that it minimizes the areas I have
yet to reduce, so I feel successful even though I'm not
totally at my goal.
making me feel as if my goal to be healthier, slimmer and to
travel is reachable. (When I ordered it I questioned
spending the money on something as frivolous as a dress I
did not exactly need.)
But, now that I have it and it's helping me stay focused on
my goal, I see it as something I did "exactly" need.
What's so great about it is that it minimizes the areas I have
yet to reduce, so I feel successful even though I'm not
totally at my goal.
My Toshiba Satellite Laptop has
been an excellent investment. It is light,
fast, durable and has a whopping big
memory.
Because my own memory is impaired I
wanted a computer with a BIG
memory so that when I forgot how
many pages I was opening on my site
my computer would not be
overwhelmed and lose information for
me.
My Satellite has been dynamite. It
supports me tirelessly. Now I even
watch telly on it because of how little
electric it uses in contrast to my
television set.
I recently replaced my first Toshiba
with one that gets less hot, and
therefore didn't turn off as often. It's
good, but I don't like it as much as my
original one and I've been looking at
Wal*Mart computers... That is,
computers that are available from
Wal*Mart.
I really like watching television episodes
on my computer. I'm also much happier
now that I don't watch the news on at
least two channels each day. The
question I'm facing is whether I should
buy a second battery for my computer
so that I have more time at night when
my solar batteries are running low, or
perhaps it would be better to buy a
second computer. The Toshiba
battery for my computer is rather
costly, so a second computer becomes
an option because it is not much more
than buying the battery alone.
been an excellent investment. It is light,
fast, durable and has a whopping big
memory.
Because my own memory is impaired I
wanted a computer with a BIG
memory so that when I forgot how
many pages I was opening on my site
my computer would not be
overwhelmed and lose information for
me.
My Satellite has been dynamite. It
supports me tirelessly. Now I even
watch telly on it because of how little
electric it uses in contrast to my
television set.
I recently replaced my first Toshiba
with one that gets less hot, and
therefore didn't turn off as often. It's
good, but I don't like it as much as my
original one and I've been looking at
Wal*Mart computers... That is,
computers that are available from
Wal*Mart.
I really like watching television episodes
on my computer. I'm also much happier
now that I don't watch the news on at
least two channels each day. The
question I'm facing is whether I should
buy a second battery for my computer
so that I have more time at night when
my solar batteries are running low, or
perhaps it would be better to buy a
second computer. The Toshiba
battery for my computer is rather
costly, so a second computer becomes
an option because it is not much more
than buying the battery alone.
I am hopeful that I will
to be able to travel
next spring, and in
preparation I'm
putting this low air fair
loink on my site.
to be able to travel
next spring, and in
preparation I'm
putting this low air fair
loink on my site.
X
www.health-boundaries-bite.com
Your fingernails reflect your health --
Learn some warning signs --
Your fingernails reflect your health --
Learn some warning signs --
- Karen Kline
I have been a bit shocked to find that I'm not regaining my
ability to walk distances as I had hoped. Right now I can
walk about 8 minutes before my back becomes extremely
painful. Two years ago I was much better, so that's a bit
distressing.
On the other hand I realize that there's been extraordinary
stress since I found on the internet that my home was being
foreclosed... Wells Fargo didn't bother to serve me the
papers, which in itself is extremely stressful.
For months all I did was work on legal things. I barely got
into my garden this summer at all. So, I wasn't walking to
build up strength the way I should have been. But, I am
now turning over a new leaf.
As long as I slowly increase the amount of time I walk and
exercise I improve. When I rush it, I get worse because it's
my nerves that were damaged when I had tetanus, and
nerves don't appreciate stress. Muscles love exercise,
nerves don't love exercise once they are tired.
Recently I had Del move my massage chair into the living
room where I'm now using it nearly every day to relax my
muscles so that my nerves feel happier. It feels very similar
to a massage by a massage therapist. The good news is
that I'm feeling better. Whether I'll be enough better to
travel next year... who knows how I'd have the money,
anyway!
ability to walk distances as I had hoped. Right now I can
walk about 8 minutes before my back becomes extremely
painful. Two years ago I was much better, so that's a bit
distressing.
On the other hand I realize that there's been extraordinary
stress since I found on the internet that my home was being
foreclosed... Wells Fargo didn't bother to serve me the
papers, which in itself is extremely stressful.
For months all I did was work on legal things. I barely got
into my garden this summer at all. So, I wasn't walking to
build up strength the way I should have been. But, I am
now turning over a new leaf.
As long as I slowly increase the amount of time I walk and
exercise I improve. When I rush it, I get worse because it's
my nerves that were damaged when I had tetanus, and
nerves don't appreciate stress. Muscles love exercise,
nerves don't love exercise once they are tired.
Recently I had Del move my massage chair into the living
room where I'm now using it nearly every day to relax my
muscles so that my nerves feel happier. It feels very similar
to a massage by a massage therapist. The good news is
that I'm feeling better. Whether I'll be enough better to
travel next year... who knows how I'd have the money,
anyway!
One of the first things I did when I had money from selling my rental
was buy new dinnerware. I'm so glad I did because it continues to give
me joy.
Years ago I used to find excellent cookware
items at GoodWill here in Santa Fe. But
recently the things seem overpriced for
what they are, especially when I can buy
new things for nearly the same price, and
sometimes even less.
Healthy eating is composed of so many
things: there's the finding and buying (or
growing) of good, healthy ingredients,
and the cooking of them so that the most
nutrients remain when it comes to eating,
and then there's serving the carefully
prepared food so that it shows off its
beauty, reflecting the care you've taken.
It has seemed to me for many years that
the reason my grandfather who ate out
of his garden lived decades longer than
my grandfather who was President of
the American Farm Bureau Federation
was because my farmer grandfather no
longer ate locally. He most often ate in
restaurants as he traveled for work, and
while that used to seem to me as if it
would be the most fun imaginable, I now
think that healthy food is far different
from what looks like fun as food.
When I lived in London we regularly gave
dinner parties, and went to them. Some
of my fondest memories are of sharing food, like the first time friends
and I made spaghetti and shared it and a bottle of Chianti. That
was many many years ago, but the memory remains fresh and vibrant.
was buy new dinnerware. I'm so glad I did because it continues to give
me joy.
Years ago I used to find excellent cookware
items at GoodWill here in Santa Fe. But
recently the things seem overpriced for
what they are, especially when I can buy
new things for nearly the same price, and
sometimes even less.
Healthy eating is composed of so many
things: there's the finding and buying (or
growing) of good, healthy ingredients,
and the cooking of them so that the most
nutrients remain when it comes to eating,
and then there's serving the carefully
prepared food so that it shows off its
beauty, reflecting the care you've taken.
It has seemed to me for many years that
the reason my grandfather who ate out
of his garden lived decades longer than
my grandfather who was President of
the American Farm Bureau Federation
was because my farmer grandfather no
longer ate locally. He most often ate in
restaurants as he traveled for work, and
while that used to seem to me as if it
would be the most fun imaginable, I now
think that healthy food is far different
from what looks like fun as food.
When I lived in London we regularly gave
dinner parties, and went to them. Some
of my fondest memories are of sharing food, like the first time friends
and I made spaghetti and shared it and a bottle of Chianti. That
was many many years ago, but the memory remains fresh and vibrant.
