It used to be pretty common to hear women speak about their nerves. Nowadays, I find we tend to use the more technical term "hormones". Hormones are a little more elusive- conjuring up visions of scientific little chemical droplets flowing through our veins, perhaps a little too much of one and not enough of another. Lacking an exact system of measurement, you can't do much about them- no adding a pinch of one or shedding an ounce of another. I certainly don't deny their existence, but I don't find it helpful to conceptualize any part of my physiology as something I am at the mercy of, either.
"Nerves", on the other hand, are much more concrete. These are the branches of the nervous system, collecting and relaying impulses. Oh yes, they do depend on chemical reactions within the body- but it is a bit easier to work with them. They can be shielded from sensory overload- think sitting quietly for a moment in a favorite chair with a cup of tea, taking a bath, doing anything, really, of a calming nature. Nerves can be aired out a bit when they get stagnant- in fact, I think our nerves *need* a walk outside in the fresh air every day. A woman can take a little more responsibility for her nerves than she can for her hormones- which is, perhaps, why our medical model doesn't like to speak of them... heaven forbid we should be self-sufficient and not need an expert- the whole medical economy might roll over and die.
My friend called the other day and asked about natural supplements or therapies for brain fog which seems to set in especially during her cycle. She made the obvious connection between Vitamin D deficiency and hormones (Vitamin D is more similar to a hormone than a "vitamin", from what I've read)- and that's great (incidentally, I highly recommend Garden of Life's new D3 supplement- high quality). But I often view Vitamin D deficiency as a product of the modern life. It is almost like "nature deficiency"- lack of sunlight, lack of general closeness to the earth and nutrient density. D is a fat soluable nutrient, and some great sources are fish (cod liver oil) and raw grassfed dairy (forget about that synthetically Vitamin D enriched milk, I don't think it's in a form that is bio-available - not really useful to the body). Especially in spring, when the cows are eating rapidly growing green grass.... oh that positively golden cream and butter, the rich stuff; mmmm.... which leads to a whole 'nother topic- how pathetically fat deprived North American women are, and often how antagonistic they are to fat. I think there is a strange misconception that if you eat fat, you will be fat- but for most body types ("constitutions"), I don't find this to be true. My entire diet strategy is based around the idea of getting as much healthy fat into my diet as I can. The more fat I eat, the more full I feel, and the less I overeat. I feel good, I get lots of nutrient dense food, and I don't munch on empty carbs all day to "stay skinny". Not only do I feel full, but fat is absorbed slowly, so it balances out more quickly absorbed carbs you many be eating so they do not spike your blood sugar. Hence, you are more even keel physiologically, and this translates into a more calm and clear state of mind. Do not underestimate the effect of steady blood sugar on your nerves, ladies!
What kind of fats am I speaking of? Nuts, eggs, butter, coconut milk, coconut oil, full fat dairy, and even the fat from meat, if it's healthy grassfed meat (tallow, schmaltz, bacon grease, MMMM!). We have it programmed into our heads that saturated fats are bad, but the proof is in the pudding. People who lived before us ate these foods and, in combination with a generally higher level of activity and involvement with nature, they were much less obese... and by the way, those heart studies that implicate saturated fat with poor heart health fail to mention that those who have low saturated fat are not actually "healthier"; rather, other things give way before their hearts. Many people with low cholesterol are battling with strokes, cancer, and suicidal depression instead of suffering from heart problems. And especially with women, low cholesterol in old age is correlated with higher rates of dementia. These are the things that never got much publicity when the Framingham Heart Study, which forms the basis of much of our current ideology of cholesterol, saturated fat, and heart health, was reported on.
Ahh, back to our nerves and mental clarity. Sure, there are a few herbs or natural products which might be good for this. But holistically speaking, mental clarity is a result of a balanced person. When the stormy days of our cycle approach, it takes special care to stay in balance. As a woman goes through her month, she mimics all the seasons of the year. Week one, during her period, is her "winter". Her body temperature is at its lowest, her "precipitation", analogous to the snow in winter, falls heaviest as she menstruates, and her body is cleansing, releasing, depleting. This is a time for a special emphasis on warmth (I am working on knitting some special warm things for myself for this time of my cycle- some fingerless gloves, a cozy scarf, wool socks, and a light sweater). Warming drinks, like teas, are called for now. With the depletion of life (shedding blood), I make it a point to have a portion of rich grassfed meat, such as steak or roast, rich in iron, to give back to my body. Week two, when she is entering into her fertile time, is her "spring". Just as spring in a rainy season, fertility brings a moist terrain- many women can tell when they are fertile just by their cervical fluid consistency. I find this week of potential procreation to be an incredible time of energy and for a woman with no interest in the creative act of conceiving a baby, harnessing the energy of your sexuality by channeling it into creative pursuits other than procreation- such as artistic endeavours or whatever way you find to create or produce life-enriching things- is a very balancing. During summer, or the third week, body temperatures are hot and the physical terrain is dry, with little cervical secretion. Your summer week is the week you will most likely naturally feel calm and as though life is "easy breezy". But hold on tight; week four, autumn, is notorious for its stormy weather! Use Bach's flower remedies as needed and work extra hard to support your rollercoaster emotions. This is the week to be extra mindful of how you react.
Thinking a little more about brain fog, I would guess its not necessarily a "bad" thing. Fog is a weather pattern that comes and goes, and although it may not be convenient, we must weather the weather. Time to slow down, "mother the mother" (nurture yourself!), listen to your body. And if you feel it is something more serious, something you simply can't live with, pay attention to your instincts and investigate further.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Breakfast Ideas
We are experimenting with wheat-free (yes, even spelt-free!) meals in our home. Even if my theory that wheat is affecting our son's attention span and ultimate comfort in his own little body is not true, I think it will be a good experience to seek out other whole grains. Here are the breakfast recipes I've collected for our trial- and some are also gluten free and/or lactose free.
Johnny Cakes
2 cups whole cornmeal
1 tsp salt
4 tbsp butter
1 cup milk
1-3 tbsp boiling water
Cream cornmeal and salt with butter. Add milk, then 1-3 tbsp boiling water to make a moist batter. Drop by large spoonfuls onto a hot greased griddle and flatten with the back of the spoon. Fry until firm and brown- tinged on the bottom, then turn and fry the other side. Serve hot- good with butter and maple syrup or jam.
Source- The New Book of Whole Grains
Millet Squares
3 cups millet
6 cups water
1/4 to 3/4 cup maple syrup
2 tbsp butter
Sea salt to taste
Apple/pear butter sauce or jam (optional)
Over medium heat, toast millet in the bottom of a large pot until you start to smell the millet. Add water, syrup, butter, and salt to the pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and cook at a slow boil for about 20 minutes. Do not stir. When all the water is absorbed, pour millet into a glass 9 x 13” baking dish and allow to cool and harden. Cut into small squares and top with optional sauce/jam.
Source- The Waldorf Kindergarten Snack Book
Russian Kasha
1 cup buckwheat groats (sprouted and dehydrated/baked at 150 til dry if possible, but not necessary)
1 egg, beaten
2 cups chicken stock
2 tbsp butter
½ tsp salt
Toast buckwheat groats in a heavy skillet for approx. 5 minutes. Let cool. Mix toasted buckwheat into bowl with beaten egg. Reheat pan and pour mixture in. Over medium-high heat, flatten, stir and chop the kasha with wooden fork until the egg has cooked and the kernels are hot and mostly separated, 2-4 minutes. Meanwhile, bring chicken stock to boil with butter and seasonings. Add kasha-egg mixture, bring to boil, cover, and turn heat to low. Cook about 30 minutes. Remove cover and fluff up with additional butter if desired.
Source: Nourishing Traditions
Scottish Oat Cakes
1 ¼ cups oat flour
¼ tsp baking soda
¼ tsp salt
1 egg, beaten
1 tbsp vegetable oil
¼ cup water
Mix dry ingredients, then add liquids. Add water or flour as necessary to obtain a dough that can be rolled out on a floured board. Roll to ¼ inch thickness, cut into rounds with a floured glass rim, and fry on a well greased griddle, fairly hot, for 5 minutes. Turn and fry on other side til brown.
Source: The New Book of Whole Grains
Apple Oat Crumble
4 tart apples, peeled and sliced
2 tbsp lemon juice
¼ tsp cinnamon
¼ cup butter
1/3 cup brown sugar (rapadura or sucanat)
1 tbsp water
1/3 cup oat flour
¼ tsp salt
2/3 cup rolled oats
Preheat oven to 325F. Butter a shallow 1 quart baking dish. Place apples in dish; sprinkle with lemon juice and cinnamon. Melt butter; stir together butter, sugar, flour, water, salt, and oats. Sprinkle over apples. Bake for 45 minutes. Serves 4.
Source: The New Book of Whole Grains
Peach Rye Crisp
4 cups sliced peaches
2 tbsp maple syrup
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 cup rye flour
¾ cup sugar (rapadura or sucanat)
1 ½ tsp cinnamon
¼ cup butter
Preheat oven to 350F. Place peaches in a buttered 1 ½ quart baking dish and sprinkle with honey and lemon juice. Stir together flour, sugar, and cinnamon. Cut in butter with a fork until soft crumbs form. Spread this mixture over peaches. Bake, uncovered, for 30-50 minutes.
Source: The New Book of Whole Grains
Coconut-Orange Cacao Bars
1 ½ cups raw pecans
1 cup dried figs
Zest and juice of one orange
½ tsp ground cinnamon
Pinch sea salt
1 cup flaked or shredded coconut
4-5 pitted Medjool dates
Reserved orange juice from figs
½ cup walnuts
2 Tbsp raw cacao nibs
Soak coconut in water for one hour. Remove stems from dried figs and soak in fresh-squeezed orange juice for at least one hour. In a food processor, finely chop the pecans with the orange zest. Add the soaked figs (set aside juice), cinnamon, sea salt, and process til blended. Press into a small square (8 x 8) pan and refrigerate while making filling. Drain the coconut and put all filling ingredients in food processor. Pulse until coarsely chopped and well-mixed, pat into prepared crust. Chill for several hours and cut into squares.
Source: http://gluten-dairy-sugarfree.com/
Artichoke & Tomato Frittata
1 package (9 oz) frozen artichoke hearts
¾ tsp salt1 tbsp olive or coconut oil
1 small onion, diced
8 large eggs
½ tsp basil (dried)
2 plum tomatoes, diced
In a 2 quart saucepan, heat frozen artichoke hearts, ¼ tsp salt, and ¼ cup water to boiling over high heat. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 6-8 minutes or til artichokes are tender. Drain. Meanwhile, in non-stick skillet with oven-safe handle, heat olive oil over medium heat until hot; cook onion til tender. Preheat oven to 350F. In bowl, mix eggs, basil, remaining salt, and ¼ cup water. Pour egg mixture over onions in skillet; sprinkle with artichokes and tomatoes. Cook over medium heat until edges begin to set, 3-4 minutes. Place frittata in oven; bake until set (less than 15 minutes).
Source: Unknown
Banana Bread
1 cup brown rice flour
½ tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt 2 tbsp oil
¼ cup chopped walnuts
2 medium bananas, mashed (1 cup)
½ cup rice milk
2 tbsp tahini
Preheat oven to 425. Combine butter and oil in a shallow 1 quart casserole or 9” square baking pan. Place in oven to melt. Combine remaining ingredients, pour into hot baking dish, and return to oven for 30 minutes, until just set. Cut into 3” squares to serve.
Source: The Good Breakfast Book
Veggie Quiche with Hash Brown Crust
Crust:
3 cups peeled and grated potatoes
2 tbsp coconut oil or olive oil
½ tsp salt and dash of pepper
1 tbsp tapioca or corn starch
Custard:
4 large eggs
½ cup milk (cow,coconut or rice)
¼ tsp salt, dash pepper & nutmeg
Preheat oven to 425 and oil or grease a 9” pie pan. Mix crust ingredients and pour into pie pan, patting so the sides and bottom are covered evenly (coming up to top of sides). Bake for 30 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove from oven and reduce heat to 350.
Fillings: Spinach, cheese & mushroom; apple, ham, & cheese; or create your own variety (bacon, red pepper, tomato, broccoli, grated carrot, etc!)
Source: curiousfrau.com
Honey Rye Loaf
1 cup honey
¾ cup water
2 cups rye flour
½ tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
1 tbsp cinnamon
½ tsp nutmeg
¼ cup chopped or slivered almonds
¼ cup chopped dates
grated rind of one orange
Preheat oven to 350. Combine honey and water and bring to boil. Remove from heat and add flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and nutmeg and beat til smooth, at least 5 minutes w/ electric mixer. Batter should be thick and gluey. Fold in the remaining ingredients and spread batter into an oiled 8” loaf pan. Bake 1 hour. Place a pan of water on oven floor to create steam. Age one day before slicing.
Source: The Good Breakfast Book
Basic and/or Quick Breakfasts:
Home Fries and Eggs (boil potatoes the night before)
Fruit salad with yogurt
Oatmeal or cornmeal porridge and scrambled eggs
Brown Rice Crispies cereal w/ fruit and rice milk
Grits & Bacon
Corn tortillas with scrambled eggs, sautéed veggies & (opt) cheese
Platter with fruits (fresh & dried), cheeses, nuts, nut butters, hard-boiled eggs, etc
We haven't tried everything yet, so let me what you think if you use a recipe!
Johnny Cakes
2 cups whole cornmeal
1 tsp salt
4 tbsp butter
1 cup milk
1-3 tbsp boiling water
Cream cornmeal and salt with butter. Add milk, then 1-3 tbsp boiling water to make a moist batter. Drop by large spoonfuls onto a hot greased griddle and flatten with the back of the spoon. Fry until firm and brown- tinged on the bottom, then turn and fry the other side. Serve hot- good with butter and maple syrup or jam.
Source- The New Book of Whole Grains
Millet Squares
3 cups millet
6 cups water
1/4 to 3/4 cup maple syrup
2 tbsp butter
Sea salt to taste
Apple/pear butter sauce or jam (optional)
Over medium heat, toast millet in the bottom of a large pot until you start to smell the millet. Add water, syrup, butter, and salt to the pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and cook at a slow boil for about 20 minutes. Do not stir. When all the water is absorbed, pour millet into a glass 9 x 13” baking dish and allow to cool and harden. Cut into small squares and top with optional sauce/jam.
Source- The Waldorf Kindergarten Snack Book
Russian Kasha
1 cup buckwheat groats (sprouted and dehydrated/baked at 150 til dry if possible, but not necessary)
1 egg, beaten
2 cups chicken stock
2 tbsp butter
½ tsp salt
Toast buckwheat groats in a heavy skillet for approx. 5 minutes. Let cool. Mix toasted buckwheat into bowl with beaten egg. Reheat pan and pour mixture in. Over medium-high heat, flatten, stir and chop the kasha with wooden fork until the egg has cooked and the kernels are hot and mostly separated, 2-4 minutes. Meanwhile, bring chicken stock to boil with butter and seasonings. Add kasha-egg mixture, bring to boil, cover, and turn heat to low. Cook about 30 minutes. Remove cover and fluff up with additional butter if desired.
Source: Nourishing Traditions
Scottish Oat Cakes
1 ¼ cups oat flour
¼ tsp baking soda
¼ tsp salt
1 egg, beaten
1 tbsp vegetable oil
¼ cup water
Mix dry ingredients, then add liquids. Add water or flour as necessary to obtain a dough that can be rolled out on a floured board. Roll to ¼ inch thickness, cut into rounds with a floured glass rim, and fry on a well greased griddle, fairly hot, for 5 minutes. Turn and fry on other side til brown.
Source: The New Book of Whole Grains
Apple Oat Crumble
4 tart apples, peeled and sliced
2 tbsp lemon juice
¼ tsp cinnamon
¼ cup butter
1/3 cup brown sugar (rapadura or sucanat)
1 tbsp water
1/3 cup oat flour
¼ tsp salt
2/3 cup rolled oats
Preheat oven to 325F. Butter a shallow 1 quart baking dish. Place apples in dish; sprinkle with lemon juice and cinnamon. Melt butter; stir together butter, sugar, flour, water, salt, and oats. Sprinkle over apples. Bake for 45 minutes. Serves 4.
Source: The New Book of Whole Grains
Peach Rye Crisp
4 cups sliced peaches
2 tbsp maple syrup
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 cup rye flour
¾ cup sugar (rapadura or sucanat)
1 ½ tsp cinnamon
¼ cup butter
Preheat oven to 350F. Place peaches in a buttered 1 ½ quart baking dish and sprinkle with honey and lemon juice. Stir together flour, sugar, and cinnamon. Cut in butter with a fork until soft crumbs form. Spread this mixture over peaches. Bake, uncovered, for 30-50 minutes.
Source: The New Book of Whole Grains
Coconut-Orange Cacao Bars
1 ½ cups raw pecans
1 cup dried figs
Zest and juice of one orange
½ tsp ground cinnamon
Pinch sea salt
1 cup flaked or shredded coconut
4-5 pitted Medjool dates
Reserved orange juice from figs
½ cup walnuts
2 Tbsp raw cacao nibs
Soak coconut in water for one hour. Remove stems from dried figs and soak in fresh-squeezed orange juice for at least one hour. In a food processor, finely chop the pecans with the orange zest. Add the soaked figs (set aside juice), cinnamon, sea salt, and process til blended. Press into a small square (8 x 8) pan and refrigerate while making filling. Drain the coconut and put all filling ingredients in food processor. Pulse until coarsely chopped and well-mixed, pat into prepared crust. Chill for several hours and cut into squares.
Source: http://gluten-dairy-sugarfree.com/
Artichoke & Tomato Frittata
1 package (9 oz) frozen artichoke hearts
¾ tsp salt1 tbsp olive or coconut oil
1 small onion, diced
8 large eggs
½ tsp basil (dried)
2 plum tomatoes, diced
In a 2 quart saucepan, heat frozen artichoke hearts, ¼ tsp salt, and ¼ cup water to boiling over high heat. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 6-8 minutes or til artichokes are tender. Drain. Meanwhile, in non-stick skillet with oven-safe handle, heat olive oil over medium heat until hot; cook onion til tender. Preheat oven to 350F. In bowl, mix eggs, basil, remaining salt, and ¼ cup water. Pour egg mixture over onions in skillet; sprinkle with artichokes and tomatoes. Cook over medium heat until edges begin to set, 3-4 minutes. Place frittata in oven; bake until set (less than 15 minutes).
Source: Unknown
Banana Bread
1 cup brown rice flour
½ tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt 2 tbsp oil
¼ cup chopped walnuts
2 medium bananas, mashed (1 cup)
½ cup rice milk
2 tbsp tahini
Preheat oven to 425. Combine butter and oil in a shallow 1 quart casserole or 9” square baking pan. Place in oven to melt. Combine remaining ingredients, pour into hot baking dish, and return to oven for 30 minutes, until just set. Cut into 3” squares to serve.
Source: The Good Breakfast Book
Veggie Quiche with Hash Brown Crust
Crust:
3 cups peeled and grated potatoes
2 tbsp coconut oil or olive oil
½ tsp salt and dash of pepper
1 tbsp tapioca or corn starch
Custard:
4 large eggs
½ cup milk (cow,coconut or rice)
¼ tsp salt, dash pepper & nutmeg
Preheat oven to 425 and oil or grease a 9” pie pan. Mix crust ingredients and pour into pie pan, patting so the sides and bottom are covered evenly (coming up to top of sides). Bake for 30 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove from oven and reduce heat to 350.
Fillings: Spinach, cheese & mushroom; apple, ham, & cheese; or create your own variety (bacon, red pepper, tomato, broccoli, grated carrot, etc!)
Source: curiousfrau.com
Honey Rye Loaf
1 cup honey
¾ cup water
2 cups rye flour
½ tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
1 tbsp cinnamon
½ tsp nutmeg
¼ cup chopped or slivered almonds
¼ cup chopped dates
grated rind of one orange
Preheat oven to 350. Combine honey and water and bring to boil. Remove from heat and add flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and nutmeg and beat til smooth, at least 5 minutes w/ electric mixer. Batter should be thick and gluey. Fold in the remaining ingredients and spread batter into an oiled 8” loaf pan. Bake 1 hour. Place a pan of water on oven floor to create steam. Age one day before slicing.
Source: The Good Breakfast Book
Basic and/or Quick Breakfasts:
Home Fries and Eggs (boil potatoes the night before)
Fruit salad with yogurt
Oatmeal or cornmeal porridge and scrambled eggs
Brown Rice Crispies cereal w/ fruit and rice milk
Grits & Bacon
Corn tortillas with scrambled eggs, sautéed veggies & (opt) cheese
Platter with fruits (fresh & dried), cheeses, nuts, nut butters, hard-boiled eggs, etc
We haven't tried everything yet, so let me what you think if you use a recipe!
Monday, May 4, 2009
Frugal?
This post is waayyy overdue, but my first trimester was a little rough and I was just tryin' to hang on!
The break *did* give me a long time to form a good idea of what frugality means/looks like to me. And it actually has a lot less to do with money than I ever would have imagined.
Most of the time, when people are talking about being "frugal", they are actually talking about being "cheap". I know, that doesn't sound very flattering- but I think it to be rather true. Frugality is about RESOURCES- and how they are used. It is about being resourceful- it is about thrift- it is about not wasting. Being cheap means spending as little as possible, and does not necessarily recognize the trade off between economy and quality. Frugality, on the other hand, leaves room to acknowledge that spending as little as possible may actually be just as wasteful as spending too much- because you get what you pay for, and if you are buying something of poor quality, your resources are being squandered. I am not disparaging the need to be cheap occasionally- after all, sometimes a little of that is required before we arrive at financial stability. But frugality offers a much richer ground for personal growth and good stewardship of resources- ours, and the world's.
When I set out on the topic of frugality, I thought I was in for a lesson on spending less money. What I came away with was a lesson on how I spend my time.
There is always a trade off between time and money. Convenience is truly something we pay for, and is now accounting for a majority of even our grocery dollars. Convenience often determines how often I put gas in my car- am I willing to stick it out and find creative ways to meet our needs if something at the store was forgotten? I even find that a lack of managing my time frugally leaves me feeling unsatisfied and craving outside distraction and entertainment... which often means spending more money. Idleness (such as when I was laid up on the couch with morning sickness) and its uglier cousin, laziness (which implies more personal responsibility than simply being idle, which may have due cause) translate into a rather empty feeling inside. Oh yes, we all need some relaxation and down time- but when we are downright unproductive, things don't feel right.
As mothers of little ones, productivity can hardly be measured in the actual volume of work we accomplish- rather, it is in the art of making each moment count. Being productive is being mindful, focused, and meeting the needs that present themselves to us, no matter how inconsequential they may seem in the grand scheme of things. My goal in all of this is to continually check in with myself- what need is presenting itself to me right now? Having paper nearby to capture fleeting reminders of things to be dealt with in the near future helps me focus on the present without distraction from the future- so does having a routine.
Ultimately, I have learned that "frugality" is not getting factory-farmed chicken breasts on sale for 99c per pound-it is getting the whole chicken and using each part so that nothing is wasted (roast chicken, bone broth, liver pate, and schmaltz). Frugality may not be running to the salvation army for new clothes, but rather weeding out the clothes I dislike so that when I approach my closet, there may be less, but everything I see is appealing (incidentally, since I followed Regina Leed's advice on organizing a closet by *color*, it not only looks beautiful, but it is much easier to make up my mind on what to wear each day- colors tend to reflect mood and I am immediately drawn to what jives with my mood).
Frugality is about adding quality to my life, by putting my creativity and intuition to use in how I manage my resources and make the most of each moment. It is about generating little to no waste- making the most of every moment, possession, and purchase.
The break *did* give me a long time to form a good idea of what frugality means/looks like to me. And it actually has a lot less to do with money than I ever would have imagined.
Most of the time, when people are talking about being "frugal", they are actually talking about being "cheap". I know, that doesn't sound very flattering- but I think it to be rather true. Frugality is about RESOURCES- and how they are used. It is about being resourceful- it is about thrift- it is about not wasting. Being cheap means spending as little as possible, and does not necessarily recognize the trade off between economy and quality. Frugality, on the other hand, leaves room to acknowledge that spending as little as possible may actually be just as wasteful as spending too much- because you get what you pay for, and if you are buying something of poor quality, your resources are being squandered. I am not disparaging the need to be cheap occasionally- after all, sometimes a little of that is required before we arrive at financial stability. But frugality offers a much richer ground for personal growth and good stewardship of resources- ours, and the world's.
When I set out on the topic of frugality, I thought I was in for a lesson on spending less money. What I came away with was a lesson on how I spend my time.
There is always a trade off between time and money. Convenience is truly something we pay for, and is now accounting for a majority of even our grocery dollars. Convenience often determines how often I put gas in my car- am I willing to stick it out and find creative ways to meet our needs if something at the store was forgotten? I even find that a lack of managing my time frugally leaves me feeling unsatisfied and craving outside distraction and entertainment... which often means spending more money. Idleness (such as when I was laid up on the couch with morning sickness) and its uglier cousin, laziness (which implies more personal responsibility than simply being idle, which may have due cause) translate into a rather empty feeling inside. Oh yes, we all need some relaxation and down time- but when we are downright unproductive, things don't feel right.
As mothers of little ones, productivity can hardly be measured in the actual volume of work we accomplish- rather, it is in the art of making each moment count. Being productive is being mindful, focused, and meeting the needs that present themselves to us, no matter how inconsequential they may seem in the grand scheme of things. My goal in all of this is to continually check in with myself- what need is presenting itself to me right now? Having paper nearby to capture fleeting reminders of things to be dealt with in the near future helps me focus on the present without distraction from the future- so does having a routine.
Ultimately, I have learned that "frugality" is not getting factory-farmed chicken breasts on sale for 99c per pound-it is getting the whole chicken and using each part so that nothing is wasted (roast chicken, bone broth, liver pate, and schmaltz). Frugality may not be running to the salvation army for new clothes, but rather weeding out the clothes I dislike so that when I approach my closet, there may be less, but everything I see is appealing (incidentally, since I followed Regina Leed's advice on organizing a closet by *color*, it not only looks beautiful, but it is much easier to make up my mind on what to wear each day- colors tend to reflect mood and I am immediately drawn to what jives with my mood).
Frugality is about adding quality to my life, by putting my creativity and intuition to use in how I manage my resources and make the most of each moment. It is about generating little to no waste- making the most of every moment, possession, and purchase.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Monday, March 23, 2009
Muffins!
Here's an "original" family favorite recipe. I use sprouted spelt flour but any will do.
2 cups + 2 tbsp flour of choice
1/2 tsp salt (I prefer celtic sea salt)
1 tbsp alum. free baking powder
3 tbsp melted coconut oil (if too expensive for your budget, sunflower oil will do)
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 cup water
1/4 cup maple syrup
1 cup shredded zucchini (optional)
1 cup blueberries
Mix dry ingredient, mix wet, then stir together. Add zucchini & blueberries and add to greased muffin pans (I like to brush the cups with melted butter. If there is any melted butter left over, I drizzle it over the muffins before eating them!). Cook in a 400 degree oven for 12-15 minutes.
If you have a mini muffin pan, your kids will love these for healthy snacks too!
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Romance
In my first post, I assigned New Year's Resolution number two- "be romantic"- to the month of February. I suppose, when I chose romance as a characteristic, I assumed it was sort of an umbrella under which all things lovey-dovey and sensual would collect. Having spent most of the month considering romance, I view it in a new light now- and, rather than phrasing it "be romantic", I have to change the title of the resolution to "be a romantic". As with many things in life, what we do is often of secondary importance to who we are.
Dictionary.com says:
ro⋅man⋅tic- [roh-man-tik] –adjective
1. imbued with or dominated by idealism, a desire for adventure, chivalry, etc.
2. characterized by a preoccupation with love or by the idealizing of love or one's beloved.
3. displaying or expressing love or strong affection.
4. ardent; passionate; fervent.
I like all of these definitions. It seems they all play a role in the workings of the romantic heart. Ultimately, I think they capture a spirit of passion and strong interest that always returns to its subject adoringly- whether that subject be a person or idea.
I believe the essence of romantic love is best understood if one views it as a sort of dance. This month I have meditated a great deal on the cosmic law of expansion and contraction. From the moment of birth when we "expand" out into the world, being filled with out first breath- then contract in as our lungs empty out again- we experience the universal forces of expansion and contraction. We can see the warming expansion of the sun as its light begins to fill our horizon and comes to its heights in the noon day; then light and temperature begin to contract inward as night approaches- as if each day were a giant macrocosm expression of a breath in and a breath out. As the month goes by, the moon expands and contracts upon itself entirely; and within the cycle of the year, the entire spring and summer may be seen as one great expansion of heat and life, the greenery stretching out and up towards the sky then sinking down and withering into the contraction of decay in the cooling autmn and frigid winter- as if the whole cycle of plant growth and decay were one breath in and breath out. The tides of the ocean, ebbing and flowing to the shore... the examples are limitless within the natural world.
What does this have to do with romance? With being a romantic? The dance we enjoy with our partners so often involves a coming together, then a parting, if only slight. Beyond the obvious physical implications of making love, on a soul level we often share moments of intense closeness, only to find a few days later that we feel rather distant- or even miles apart when in the same room. Different personalities express this differently- and the length of time a couple has been together may cause it to show ever more subtlely. While this "apartness" tends to feel rather unsettling when it is not expected, holding within myself the consciousness of expansion and contraction I now find it to be part of a cosmic love dance which involves uniting- becoming one- then retreating slightly to find our individuality again- without which we would never be whole to begin with. Now I can anticipate it- the moments the distinction between lovers blur away to almost nothingness; the moments we again find our own separate beings emerging from each other. This very anticipation itself is a great part of the romantic heart. No longer the disappointment when my husband leaves for a few days away- I can instead view it as hours I need to grow within my own being in a way that complements him when we are together again. Our meeting will be that much sweeter.
I wonder occasionally at the couples who claim they are no longer "in love". Do we fall in and fall out? Or is love, subject to the laws of expansion and contraction, sometimes felt differently in expansion than in contraction, in a way we do not expect to feel it? If we stay the course, we may be surprised to find ourselves merging back into one another, our view of our relationship to each other that much clearer for having endured the parting of our souls as we "breathe out".
Valentine's Day has come and gone; February was a busy little month but I will post pictures of the special "date" we created- a simple circle of candles to illuminate the room as we danced to soothing music and the children slept upstairs.
Dictionary.com says:
ro⋅man⋅tic- [roh-man-tik] –adjective
1. imbued with or dominated by idealism, a desire for adventure, chivalry, etc.
2. characterized by a preoccupation with love or by the idealizing of love or one's beloved.
3. displaying or expressing love or strong affection.
4. ardent; passionate; fervent.
I like all of these definitions. It seems they all play a role in the workings of the romantic heart. Ultimately, I think they capture a spirit of passion and strong interest that always returns to its subject adoringly- whether that subject be a person or idea.
I believe the essence of romantic love is best understood if one views it as a sort of dance. This month I have meditated a great deal on the cosmic law of expansion and contraction. From the moment of birth when we "expand" out into the world, being filled with out first breath- then contract in as our lungs empty out again- we experience the universal forces of expansion and contraction. We can see the warming expansion of the sun as its light begins to fill our horizon and comes to its heights in the noon day; then light and temperature begin to contract inward as night approaches- as if each day were a giant macrocosm expression of a breath in and a breath out. As the month goes by, the moon expands and contracts upon itself entirely; and within the cycle of the year, the entire spring and summer may be seen as one great expansion of heat and life, the greenery stretching out and up towards the sky then sinking down and withering into the contraction of decay in the cooling autmn and frigid winter- as if the whole cycle of plant growth and decay were one breath in and breath out. The tides of the ocean, ebbing and flowing to the shore... the examples are limitless within the natural world.
What does this have to do with romance? With being a romantic? The dance we enjoy with our partners so often involves a coming together, then a parting, if only slight. Beyond the obvious physical implications of making love, on a soul level we often share moments of intense closeness, only to find a few days later that we feel rather distant- or even miles apart when in the same room. Different personalities express this differently- and the length of time a couple has been together may cause it to show ever more subtlely. While this "apartness" tends to feel rather unsettling when it is not expected, holding within myself the consciousness of expansion and contraction I now find it to be part of a cosmic love dance which involves uniting- becoming one- then retreating slightly to find our individuality again- without which we would never be whole to begin with. Now I can anticipate it- the moments the distinction between lovers blur away to almost nothingness; the moments we again find our own separate beings emerging from each other. This very anticipation itself is a great part of the romantic heart. No longer the disappointment when my husband leaves for a few days away- I can instead view it as hours I need to grow within my own being in a way that complements him when we are together again. Our meeting will be that much sweeter.
I wonder occasionally at the couples who claim they are no longer "in love". Do we fall in and fall out? Or is love, subject to the laws of expansion and contraction, sometimes felt differently in expansion than in contraction, in a way we do not expect to feel it? If we stay the course, we may be surprised to find ourselves merging back into one another, our view of our relationship to each other that much clearer for having endured the parting of our souls as we "breathe out".
Valentine's Day has come and gone; February was a busy little month but I will post pictures of the special "date" we created- a simple circle of candles to illuminate the room as we danced to soothing music and the children slept upstairs.
While I was surprised with roses and chocolate the week before Valentine's Day, that evening a feast was prepared in my honor- all my favorites- lovingly cooked by my husband. I presented him with a gift of figs in the traditional heart-shaped box- an age old aphrodisiac.
How fitting it is that hearts symbolize romantic love- the heart, which expands and contracts rhythmically as it beats!
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Evening Rhythm- Guiding Our Children to Sleep
I chose the evening as a starting point for creating rhythm and ritual in our family life. Our day often begins with how well we prepared for ourselves the night before- and certainly the best preparation is the strengthened resolve after a good night's rest. Many ideas have converged to create what is working out to be a very smooth transition to sleep for the children. Lately I've been brainstorming with a friend to help solve a child's sleep disturbance issues, and that has helped me to solidify my attitude and thoughts towards this topic.
To begin with, I suppose my philosophy of the nature of sleep is very influential in how I approach it. I believe sleep can be likened to a meditative state. Interestingly, there are stories of people who have forgone sleep and participated in deep states of meditation which provided them with the "rest" and renewal they needed for the next day. I don't have experience with this- but I agree with Veronika Van Duin when she explains:
"Perhaps the simplest way to understand... is to imagine we face a problem with no apparent resolution. Intuitively we know we need time, a space, in which to allow the problem to sink down and be digested. Many people will ask for time to "sleep on" a question before having to answer it. And often, miraculously, the answer arrives the following morning. It may not be always so instantaneous. It may require a few nights before the answer surfaces, and we may wonder where it has come from. Sometimes we can even wake up with words ringing in our ears, telling us what to do. Who advises us? Who takes care of our unconscious knowledge and pushes it up into clear thoughts or new energy when we need it? Can we arrive at the same clear insight by means of meditation?"
While our mind and emotions govern our waking consciousness, I tend to think that our souls governs our sleeping consciousness. While the mind and emotions work with logic, words, and the like, our souls work with symbolism and imagery- the stuff of dreams. It is as if our souls are nocturnal, and they do much of their work as we sleep. We certainly don't "shut off" or cease to have consciousness- sleep research has proven that sleep consciousness is indeed consciousness, albeit a different level. Falling asleep is almost like falling into a trance... and when we wake we forget much of what went on.
I believe that our souls receive their nourishment as we sleep, gathering the fuel to process and sort out the issues of our life and revive us to fulfill our destiny or purpose. What are the consequences of lack of sleep? Are they not the same as personal and moral shortcomings - irritability, confusion, impatience?
How then, do I guide my children into this spiritual state of sleep? The first thing that comes to mind is to gently wipe away the sensory input of the physical world and its more tangible, mind and emotion centered objects. Water is a very spiritual medium- perhaps retaining some of the other-worldly element of being weightless and swimming before we were born. The Bible likens the Holy Spirit to water- in that it is "poured out". Bath time is a symbolic way to wipe away the things of the day, to cleanse and purify. They put on their pj's, and its a good time for me to as well. My mother in law told me she puts hers on quite early, because just seeing her in her night clothes helps her husband wind down and feel relaxed- yes, night has truly come. After baths, I offer the children a snack of bread and butter and some warmed milk with a tinge of honey. Both foods have biblical significance- spiritual foods- Jesus says He is the "bread of life", and the Promised land was said to overflow with "milk and honey".
Next we go upstairs to the children's room. Although we have two bedrooms available, I have put them in the same room to make the nighttime routine easier, as it is less ideal to have to transport a sleeping child to a different area than they fell asleep in (this can be unsettling). if the room is very untidy, it is important to set the stage for rest by eliminating chaos with a quick tidying session. It work wonders even to toss toys in the toybox or closet, put dirty clothes in the hamper, and freshen up the bedding. It's also a great idea to prepare for tomorrow by picking out clothes for the next day. If this is part of the routine, it forces us to have laundry done and put away before each evening, and we never face the drama of trying to get ready to go somewhere in the morning and missing socks or matching clothing!
We have a special candle for evening scented with the essential oils that induce relaxation (such as lavendar)- called "Sweet Dreams"- one of Way out Wax's soy candles. Sometimes I might rub a bit of Badger's Nighty Night Balm on the children's foreheads or chest, if they seem wound up. So I light the candle, and with Elijah in his bed and Kingston in my arms, usually nursing, as I rock in the rocking chair beside Elijah's bed, I tell them a story. Ideally, the story is told from memory as it can be hard to read picture books by candle. Some might choose to have a dim lamp and use story books. If so, it is best to steer away from stimulating books- this is not the time for Where the Wild Things Are! Even the Bible is a bit too strong in its symbolism and impact- perhaps why we are often urged to read it in the morning hours. I know for myself and others I have talked to, Bible reading before bed often leads to unsettling dreams. I think one of the more soothing Psalms- with thanksgiving or comfort as a theme- may be the exception. I remember as a child I often slept over my cousins', where before bed was a time of Bible reading followed by cornflakes. Whether it was the black and white strong biblical imagery or the sugary processed corn flakes, or a combination, I don't know- but all 5 of us children has nightmares quite often! Light fairytales and pictures with watercolors and pastels that are beautiful and soft catch the mood for falling asleep. The soft glow of the candle and the soothing sound of parent's voice, lets the impact of whatever story we tell really take root in their minds. A gentle touch while telling the story may be appreciated... up to the individual child.
If the child is facing an issue in their life- a problematic behaviour or showing outward signs of fear or anxiety, specific stories can be chosen as a therapeutic tool to plant subconscious suggestions or solutions they can use. If this idea sounds interesting, look into the book "Healing Stories for Challenging Behaviour" by Susan Perrow. In general, selected Grimm's tales are appropriate for youngest children; Hans Christian Anderson contains a bit more complexity and is best saved for those over 7. Aesop's fables are not recommended as they are rather preachy and moralize, instead of planting gentle suggestions which spark our own intuition and help us solve our problems from the heart outwards (which tends to have more motivating power for true change than mentally generated solutions).
If we had a troublesome day or any issues stand out, we talk about those and lay them to rest. For instance- "Mommy really lost her temper today when such-and-such happened, and I'm sorry for raising my voice. Will you forgive me? We will start fresh and new tomorrow won't we?" Now we say our prayers. Forgiveness is very important before we fall asleep. Sometimes one of my children voices a concern for being lonely at night in his bed all by himself. We talk about his guardian angel, who "encamps round about him" and protects him. Then he feels better about it.
I sing a song that I have sung to them as a lullaby from birth- one which my own mother sang to me.
Usually they fall asleep easily with this. If trouble arises, I have learned a few techniques to help them. Sometimes rubbing my hand lightly down across their forehead and over the eyelids helps them keep their eyes shut and fall asleep (especially with babies). My best technique is breathing. When I studied the safety reasons for cosleeping, I discovered that one benefit is a huge decrease in the incidence of SIDS. Why? Because babies automatically adjust their breathing to ours, as if we are setting the pattern for them. They are less likely to stop breathing simply because they hear us breathe. So I close my eyes and breathe deeply as if I were sleeping, and often times this is just the gentle coaxing a small child needs to follow suit enter the world of dreams.
Essentially, we prepare them for inward activity by veiling the more outward and physcial activities of life, as we guide them to sleep. "Stimulating books and television before bed are absolutely not appropriate". See this excellent article on sleep disturbances- http://www.waldorflibrary.org/waldorf%20journals%20project/SleepDisturbances.pdf
Once they have drifted off, I sometimes pause to watch them sleeping "like little angels." This reminds me to offer a note of thanks to their angels for all the ministering and guarding they offer in their service to God... and if it was a particularly difficult day with one of the children, I may take an extra moment to settle those issues, staying beside them or crawling into bed with them just long enough to say a few prayers of my own, or perform a meditation, until my well of empathy and goodwill is full again (whether towards the child for their behaviour, or myself for my shortcomings as a parent).
Don't forget to blow out the candle!
Goodnight.
To begin with, I suppose my philosophy of the nature of sleep is very influential in how I approach it. I believe sleep can be likened to a meditative state. Interestingly, there are stories of people who have forgone sleep and participated in deep states of meditation which provided them with the "rest" and renewal they needed for the next day. I don't have experience with this- but I agree with Veronika Van Duin when she explains:
"Perhaps the simplest way to understand... is to imagine we face a problem with no apparent resolution. Intuitively we know we need time, a space, in which to allow the problem to sink down and be digested. Many people will ask for time to "sleep on" a question before having to answer it. And often, miraculously, the answer arrives the following morning. It may not be always so instantaneous. It may require a few nights before the answer surfaces, and we may wonder where it has come from. Sometimes we can even wake up with words ringing in our ears, telling us what to do. Who advises us? Who takes care of our unconscious knowledge and pushes it up into clear thoughts or new energy when we need it? Can we arrive at the same clear insight by means of meditation?"
While our mind and emotions govern our waking consciousness, I tend to think that our souls governs our sleeping consciousness. While the mind and emotions work with logic, words, and the like, our souls work with symbolism and imagery- the stuff of dreams. It is as if our souls are nocturnal, and they do much of their work as we sleep. We certainly don't "shut off" or cease to have consciousness- sleep research has proven that sleep consciousness is indeed consciousness, albeit a different level. Falling asleep is almost like falling into a trance... and when we wake we forget much of what went on.
I believe that our souls receive their nourishment as we sleep, gathering the fuel to process and sort out the issues of our life and revive us to fulfill our destiny or purpose. What are the consequences of lack of sleep? Are they not the same as personal and moral shortcomings - irritability, confusion, impatience?
How then, do I guide my children into this spiritual state of sleep? The first thing that comes to mind is to gently wipe away the sensory input of the physical world and its more tangible, mind and emotion centered objects. Water is a very spiritual medium- perhaps retaining some of the other-worldly element of being weightless and swimming before we were born. The Bible likens the Holy Spirit to water- in that it is "poured out". Bath time is a symbolic way to wipe away the things of the day, to cleanse and purify. They put on their pj's, and its a good time for me to as well. My mother in law told me she puts hers on quite early, because just seeing her in her night clothes helps her husband wind down and feel relaxed- yes, night has truly come. After baths, I offer the children a snack of bread and butter and some warmed milk with a tinge of honey. Both foods have biblical significance- spiritual foods- Jesus says He is the "bread of life", and the Promised land was said to overflow with "milk and honey".
Next we go upstairs to the children's room. Although we have two bedrooms available, I have put them in the same room to make the nighttime routine easier, as it is less ideal to have to transport a sleeping child to a different area than they fell asleep in (this can be unsettling). if the room is very untidy, it is important to set the stage for rest by eliminating chaos with a quick tidying session. It work wonders even to toss toys in the toybox or closet, put dirty clothes in the hamper, and freshen up the bedding. It's also a great idea to prepare for tomorrow by picking out clothes for the next day. If this is part of the routine, it forces us to have laundry done and put away before each evening, and we never face the drama of trying to get ready to go somewhere in the morning and missing socks or matching clothing!
We have a special candle for evening scented with the essential oils that induce relaxation (such as lavendar)- called "Sweet Dreams"- one of Way out Wax's soy candles. Sometimes I might rub a bit of Badger's Nighty Night Balm on the children's foreheads or chest, if they seem wound up. So I light the candle, and with Elijah in his bed and Kingston in my arms, usually nursing, as I rock in the rocking chair beside Elijah's bed, I tell them a story. Ideally, the story is told from memory as it can be hard to read picture books by candle. Some might choose to have a dim lamp and use story books. If so, it is best to steer away from stimulating books- this is not the time for Where the Wild Things Are! Even the Bible is a bit too strong in its symbolism and impact- perhaps why we are often urged to read it in the morning hours. I know for myself and others I have talked to, Bible reading before bed often leads to unsettling dreams. I think one of the more soothing Psalms- with thanksgiving or comfort as a theme- may be the exception. I remember as a child I often slept over my cousins', where before bed was a time of Bible reading followed by cornflakes. Whether it was the black and white strong biblical imagery or the sugary processed corn flakes, or a combination, I don't know- but all 5 of us children has nightmares quite often! Light fairytales and pictures with watercolors and pastels that are beautiful and soft catch the mood for falling asleep. The soft glow of the candle and the soothing sound of parent's voice, lets the impact of whatever story we tell really take root in their minds. A gentle touch while telling the story may be appreciated... up to the individual child.
If the child is facing an issue in their life- a problematic behaviour or showing outward signs of fear or anxiety, specific stories can be chosen as a therapeutic tool to plant subconscious suggestions or solutions they can use. If this idea sounds interesting, look into the book "Healing Stories for Challenging Behaviour" by Susan Perrow. In general, selected Grimm's tales are appropriate for youngest children; Hans Christian Anderson contains a bit more complexity and is best saved for those over 7. Aesop's fables are not recommended as they are rather preachy and moralize, instead of planting gentle suggestions which spark our own intuition and help us solve our problems from the heart outwards (which tends to have more motivating power for true change than mentally generated solutions).
If we had a troublesome day or any issues stand out, we talk about those and lay them to rest. For instance- "Mommy really lost her temper today when such-and-such happened, and I'm sorry for raising my voice. Will you forgive me? We will start fresh and new tomorrow won't we?" Now we say our prayers. Forgiveness is very important before we fall asleep. Sometimes one of my children voices a concern for being lonely at night in his bed all by himself. We talk about his guardian angel, who "encamps round about him" and protects him. Then he feels better about it.
I sing a song that I have sung to them as a lullaby from birth- one which my own mother sang to me.
Usually they fall asleep easily with this. If trouble arises, I have learned a few techniques to help them. Sometimes rubbing my hand lightly down across their forehead and over the eyelids helps them keep their eyes shut and fall asleep (especially with babies). My best technique is breathing. When I studied the safety reasons for cosleeping, I discovered that one benefit is a huge decrease in the incidence of SIDS. Why? Because babies automatically adjust their breathing to ours, as if we are setting the pattern for them. They are less likely to stop breathing simply because they hear us breathe. So I close my eyes and breathe deeply as if I were sleeping, and often times this is just the gentle coaxing a small child needs to follow suit enter the world of dreams.
Essentially, we prepare them for inward activity by veiling the more outward and physcial activities of life, as we guide them to sleep. "Stimulating books and television before bed are absolutely not appropriate". See this excellent article on sleep disturbances- http://www.waldorflibrary.org/waldorf%20journals%20project/SleepDisturbances.pdf
Once they have drifted off, I sometimes pause to watch them sleeping "like little angels." This reminds me to offer a note of thanks to their angels for all the ministering and guarding they offer in their service to God... and if it was a particularly difficult day with one of the children, I may take an extra moment to settle those issues, staying beside them or crawling into bed with them just long enough to say a few prayers of my own, or perform a meditation, until my well of empathy and goodwill is full again (whether towards the child for their behaviour, or myself for my shortcomings as a parent).
Don't forget to blow out the candle!
Goodnight.
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