Simple Meals

The approach of fall reminds me of a crisp chill in the air, the smell of fallen leaves and burning wood, the sweet taste of fresh apples, and all the freshly harvested root vegetables and squash. Daylight ends earlier, and we don't grill outside as often as we did in the spring and summer. My culinary thoughts turn to cold weather favorites that I seem to crave each year at about this time.

At our house, weekday suppers are simple, and in the fall, that brings to mind chili, soup, homemade bread, and salad. We may indulge in beef or lamb stew with rice or noodles. Or, maybe a toasted sandwich of crab and cheese. For me, there's nothing quite like the welcoming fragrance of stew or soup simmering on the stove.

I like new or complicated dishes too, but the appeal of a simple supper on a cold evening brings memories of comfort too strong to resist. My favorite stew recipe came from my mother-in-law many years ago. It is "semi-homemade," hearty and delicious! As it cooks, it fills the house with the most amazing and enticing smell! The recipe follows.

Grandma's Beef Stew

1 lb beef or lamb stew meat
3 carrots, sliced
1 onion, rough chopped
2 stalks celery, rough chopped
3 potatoes, in chunks
2cans cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of celery soup
Rice or noodles, if desired

Put all ingredients into an oven dish. Bake at 250 for 3-4 hours. Serve over rice or noodles, if desired.

That's it. Plain and simple. Add some fresh bread, and you have a complete, simple meal that is healthy and filling.

I look forward to my first bowl of stew this fall and to the warm feeling of sharing a delicious, simple meal. As I've said before, simple is often best!

Life is a Banquet!

Auntie Mame (play by Patrick Dennis) declared, "Live, live, live. Life is a Banquet, and most poor suckers are starving to death!" No matter what challenges Mame faced, she always came out on top. An independently wealthy woman, she became destitute in the 1929 stock market crash. She, the nephew she was raising, her housekeeper and butler stayed together through thick and thin like a family. Mame found jobs (she had never worked before) with determination but no success. Yet, she never gave up and motivated her little family to survive the depression. She met and married a wealthy oil man, who took her on a trip around the world on a honeymoon. After he plunged to his death in the Alps, she came home to New York and her little family and friends to write her memoirs. The story is full of subtle humor, a few good slapstick bits, and so much warmth! The current economic climate reminded me of Auntie Mame. I find that life is, indeed, a banquet.

Conversations with family, friends and neighbors these days nearly always include discussions about the economic pinch we all feel. I see more people out walking with their children and dogs, riding bikes, playing lawn games and grilling out in the yard. House parties seem to be more popular these days. Many families choose to have dinner at home more often. There are free book discussion groups at libraries, knitting groups, and so much more. It seems to me that the local papers, community centers, churches and neighborhood bulletin boards contain more ads for these activities than I have seen in many, many years. Could this be a good side effect of an economic downturn? Think about it. Two or three years ago, people seemed too busy to take family walks, ride bikes with the kids, go to book groups, etc. People are discovering their life's banquet.

Certainly, there are those in such dire straits that they have to move their families, etc. My wish is that they rebuild their lives and find their banquet. Then, there are the folks who choose (yes, I said choose) to isolate themselves and allow the pity fairy to visit. They see only doom and gloom. These are the people who are "starving to death" as Mame said.

I sit here composing this post with a pen and paper next to me where I keep a list of things to do (for fun), people to call or visit, as well as groups I meet with. I find contact with people of different ages and backgrounds to be enriching. I may be feeling the money squeeze, but I do not deny myself the banquet of life.

Are you an Auntie Mame or an isolated doomsayer? As the saying goes, is your glass half full or half empty? Take time today to think about the banquet your life has for you!

Managing Your Health: Your Own Records

"When was your last surgery?" "What are the names of your medications?" "When was your last blood test or tetanus shot?" Most of us have heard these questions when we have visited a new doctor, when we have been in an emergency room or when we have been admitted to a hospital. Especially at these times, it is difficult to remember the answers to so many questions. Those of us with long medical histories may not remember the dates or the years of immunizations or hospitalizations, etc. We may rely upon the memory of a family member or friend. There may be a delay in treatment while medical records are gathered, or while doctors confer. Some simple organization ensures that important information is at hand when you need it. Here are some suggestions:

One good system is to purchase a 3-ring binder with dividers and pockets. On the first page, have your name, address, phone number, date of birth and next of kin, your primary care physician's name, address and phone number(s) as well as the same information for any physicians you see regularly. Next, write any conditions for which you are being treated and any medications you take regularly, including over-the-counter medicines. Then list any illnesses, surgeries, broken bones you may have had and the year in which they occurred, and if you are a woman, if you have had any pregnancies. Note anything like blood transfusions, hip or knee replacements, or organ transplants. Follow this with your significant family history: parents alive or deceased, and if deceased, cause of death; how many brothers and sisters you have/had; and any illnesses each may have had. You can organize sections of your notebook, like: history and medications; hospital discharge summaries; lab and x-ray reports, etc. Use sections that work best for you.

If you have had surgery, you can request a copy of the pathology report from your doctor to keep in your folder, as well as a copy of any hospital discharge summaries and your most current lab or x-ray reports. You can request copies of any consultations you may have had with doctors and keep them in your folder. Someone close to you should know where you keep your folder, in case of emergency. In fact, it is a good idea to keep a list of your medical conditions and medications along with your doctor's name and contact information in your wallet or purse at all times. In an emergency, this is the best time-saver.

Most of us do not dwell on our medical histories. That's one reason why we have difficulty recalling dates, illnesses and procedures. A prepared and up-to-date medical notebook takes the stress out of remembering all of the details, enabling easy and quick access to all of your pertinent information. You may want to include a checklist of items to bring to the doctor/hospital: notebook, insurance cards, a list of questions you may have for the doctor, as well as blank paper and a pen to take notes. You will feel more in control and will be a better partner in your health care team with this simple tool.

Simple Pleasures

Things are tough, these days. Most people I know feel the squeeze of the economic situation in our world. We used to enjoy going out for dinner, seeing movies, watching sports events at a local pub, or taking weekend trips. Our current situation limits our activities severely, so I have rediscovered some old fashioned favorite spots and activities, as well as a few new things to do for little or no cost.

Parks: our community has several of them, complete with playgrounds, benches and picnic tables. Two are on the lake. Sometimes we take a picnic lunch and enjoy it by the lake, take a little walk on the grounds, or sit on a bench and talk. Some mornings, I read in the park. I like to watch children play and have casual conversations with others I encounter there. One park is across the road from our local bird sanctuary/marsh, where we can walk out onto a boardwalk to an observatory and view many different species of birds and animals native to the setting.

During the summer, our village sponsors free concerts by the lake, which are always nice. There are also two or three festivals which offer free entertainment and inexpensive food and drink, as well as the opportunity to meet and greet neighbors. Throw in some craft vendors, and it's a great time. Nearby towns have festivals, too, so once in a while we attend one. I like to support local organizations and nonprofits and though money is very tight, we get a bargain at pancake breakfasts, which benefit these organizations.

It may sound silly, but we save our change in a jar, and when it's full, we cash it in and do something like go out for dinner, or treat ourselves to something special. It feels like found money or a bonus.

Our backyard is a fun place. The dogs run and play, the mulberry tree gives us treats in the summer, and the patio holds out table, chairs, grill and fire pit. Many nights, we sit watching the fire, listening to music and talking. We greet neighbors as they walk by or come out to chat. There is a pair of cardinals who nest in the yard every year, as well as a pair of blue jays.

I love our library! I hardly ever buy books any more. I can find books via the library's website, and reserve them Or, I can (helpful in bad weather) pick up and return books at our convenient drive-through window at the library. We borrow movies there, too. They also have a bank of computers, as well as free classes such as beginning, intermediate and advanced Microsoft Office applications, genealogy online, and much more.

Discovering or rediscovering simple pleasures that cost little or nothing creates a sense of peace, sparks interest in people, animals, and other pursuits. Perhaps it is like the idea of seeing your cup as half full or half empty. Getting through tough times challenges us to the core. A look around us and a little imagination goes a long way to reducing the stress we experience when our finances shrink. Today, I feel my life enriched by my simple pleasures.

Clutter and simplifying life

As fall approaches, I think of preparing for fall and winter holidays. Personally, I find it difficult to get to my bins of decorations, etc., and thie year I am taking steps to eliminate clutter: unused/unwanted items, as well as those that have seen better days.

I continue my quest to simplify my life, finding it to be stress-relieving. Old books I will never re-read, framed art I no longer use, furniture we don't want any more, knick-knacks, and other assorted clutter (dust catchers) go to our garage sale collection. Our prices will be extremely cheap, grateful to find new homes for things we once enjoyed and glad to help others who search for bargains.

I am in the process of setting up my home office, which will allow me better control of not only my work, but family files, photos, etc. I use Freecycle.org to help with finding furnishings for the office, as well as to share items we no longer need or want. And, do I really need travel brochures from 8 years ago? I think not.

Our dogs circle the boxes I pack, perhaps wondering if we are moving and hoping we take them with us...LOL. They seem to guard and hide their toys from me.

Believe it or not, I am excited about this fall. I have discovered that less is more and simple is better. Organization is key to controlling my surroundings. Here's to anti-clutter!