Mean? No. Strict? Maybe, but honestly I wouldn't be happy today if someone went in my kitchen and left it with ingredients still out, gooey food smears and crumbs on my counter along with dirty dishes in the sink. Would you?
I am glad I was taught to put things away. I can actually remember thinking as to the best place to put my dolls and toys. I have always thought of putting my things away as more of a task in my favor because I AM THE ONE who gets to make the decision as to their location.
Once I learned to put away things it didn't take near as long to find them again and get dressed, ready to walk out the door with shoes, coat, hat, gloves, umbrella, book bag, or whatever. Then I was able to keep up with my things at home, as well as at school, then in my dorm room when I went away to college, and at my places of employment and later my own home. This organizational habit that begins when you are very young can most certainly carry over into adulthood. It can help with your focus for the day, the week, the month, the year, etc.
Now, I know there are people who can find things in an environment that is not always organized. I applaud them and admittedly am not one of them. I have even read where some people are more creative in their workplace at a less than neat desk area. I KNOW this is not me, but that's okay.
AND STUFF - On the flip side of this, I may know where my stuff is, but I'm also constantly noticing how much of it we have. Why? I attach more sentiment onto things than I should. So organization is one thing, but getting to a point where I have too much cancels out that skill. That is why I take time to periodically go through boxes, stacks of books, clothes, shoes, dishes, knickknacks, etc. This is not always easy and yes, sometimes I have to make myself.
For example, recently I was cleaning out items from our kitchen pantry. I keep shopping bags tucked away on the floor in the back along with other items only used periodically. I noticed the bag holding them was bulging so I snagged it and pulled it out to sit on the floor and go through it. Here's where I tattle on myself. Part of the bulge was used packing paper, oversized plastic and nicer folded bags from department stores, and plastic souvenir bags from trips we'd taken maybe 10 YEARS AGO! In good condition or not, I know we really do not need all of this. Sometimes I remember things I've heard about people who lived during the Great Depression. In my family, I know from the stories, that they tried to find a use for everything instead of throwing it out. I guess that became a learned behavior for me.
Anyway, getting rid of what we are not wearing or using makes me think of Marie Kondo's book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. What has stayed with me from her book is, and I paraphrase, if you come across something you own that doesn't bring you joy, then you should get rid of it. Well, I guess my behavior of giving things a second chance has changed now to, "Do I have any further use for this." Whatever works, right?
FLOUR & FLOWER
This is a picture of a bran muffin I made recently. Made with bran cereal, this recipe was nothing fancy and nothing new. But it was the addition of raisins and chopped pecans that made the muffins unique. Yes, what one adds to their baking can change the outcome in flavor, texture, color, crumb, etc. Add-ins are definitely popular now. I recently read a recipe by Tracy Benjamin in the August 2018 edition of Better Homes and Gardens Magazine for Hippie Banana Bread that included chopped nuts, dried fruit, and olive oil to name only a few of the ingredients. Since then I have made it about five times and really like it. Does it still taste like bananas? Sure it does. So you must ask yourself, are you a purist or are you adventurous. Can the regular banana bread eater accept a little added something in his/her favorite breakfast bread or snack? Try adding a handful of something you like in your next baking effort. The range of possibilities is long. You might be pleasantly surprised at the outcome.
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Bran muffin with raisins and pecans. |
The flower above is Celosia or Cockscomb and has become one of my favorite flowers. I especially like this vibrant reddish pink color in late summer and early fall when other plants are waning. I have both varieties like this one that reminds me of a brain or a cauliflower, and the other which resembles the headdress of a rooster. I get many seeds from these beauties every autumn. They are a good addition to a landscape with extra space that might need more color in late summer until frost.
I remember how much my grandmother loved morning glories like those at left. She would sit in her chair on her screened-in back porch and look out at her fence covered in them. I guess I get her love of this particular vine. I have them each year. These seem to be liked by hummingbirds that are nearby and something that appears to like nibbling on the leaves.
I was happy to see these zinnias doing so well this year. The seed for these came from what I saved from last year's blooms. It was the first time I have ever saved seed like this. It is even more special to me since the very first flower garden I had included zinnias. I have already started snipping dead head zinnias to save the seed for next year.
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This writer may make references to books, articles, authors, etc., in her writing, but it is only to share information with the reader. She in no way accepts any compensation for doing so.
