The Modern Hippy

     This year for Christmas we decided to cut down on the quantity of presents and go for quality instead. It’s not that we didn’t get good present before but there was definitely a lot of them. Since at the moment I am on a decluttering rampage the last thing I want to do is to add to someone else’s clutter. So this year, more thought, possible usefulness, and cost are always on my mind while wracking my brain for ideas.

     I’ve done some shopping on Etsy, at the craft store, at the thrift stores and our co-op. This year, so far things seem to be less stressful. The nice thing about doing things like this is it’s more eco-friendly. If you get something that is actually useful then it’s less likely to get thrown in the garbage after it’s sat amoungst clutter for several months or years. Of course shopping locally is important because it’s those local shops and companies that keep a local economy afloat, NOT Walmart. In fact, though I do still visit Jo-Ann Fabrics, it’s those huge chains that can hurt a local economy and the local people, perhaps even including you and me. On top of all that is the clutter consideration. I’ve been dealing with a lot of clutter because I’ve acquired many things I thought I needed in the last few years. Living in too much clutter isn’t good for anyone, so by getting something useful that will actually be appreciated and used you aren’t causing a challenge for anyone else.
     Some other ideas for Christmas(brought up by a friend of mine whom has done this herself), if you aren’t sure what to get someone or even what you want for a gift why not donate or have someone else donate to your favorite charity? In King County(think Seattle) most of the city run animal shelters are being shut down because of a lack of funds. This is going to be challenging for the remaining privately run shelters as they will be dealing with even more animals. Why not find a local shelter and find out what they need, buy it and bring it, or just right a check? Or if you can become a foster home for a dog or cat? There are also a lot of people whom may need help. Find a family in need or donate to a local homeless shelter or soup kitchen.
     There are so many things you can do to make your holiday special in a different way; to take it out of the mainstream crazy rush. It’s limited only by time and imagination. And of course, like myself, I’m sure there are many people out there willing to share their ideas. So ask away! Happy Holidays!

Soup Planned

     It’s soup season again! Though I prefer summer weather I love fall foods! Squash, corn, and soup are the foods for us in autumn. I’ve enjoyed two new soups made by friends and family in the last two weeks. For the whole summer, four different soups! All wonderful. I will be making my own renditions of the most recent soups over the next couple of days.

     The first soup I’ll be making is a Mediterranean soup with a chicken base, with tomato and clams for a different taste. My mom first made it two weeks ago. It was so good, it may become a favorite.

     The second soup, as made by a good friend, was a vegetarian black bean soup. It was spicy and thick. Rick even said that the way it was made he didn’t feel like he was missing meat. At the moment money is tight. Meat is expensive when compared to veggies or bulk dried items. Money saved is good. Nutrition kept is even better.

New Soup Goals

     Last year, I spent the fall and winter, and even a few summer days perfecting chicken soup. I discovered roast chicken makes the best stock and froze a ton of it. This years plans are to experiment outside the basic chicken soup. I want to add beans, use only stock, try vegetarian (for fun and financial). I want a soup to discover a soup I’ve never had before – or make a soup, I’ve never made before. It will be an exciting soup searching journey! Gluten-free of course!

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Nifty tea pot that made the raspberry leaf tea

     On search for a printer, Rick consulted the almighty Craig’s List. The best option he found, was a chic moving out of state selling her printer-scanner combo. Saturday morning, while dealing with the effects of the drinks from only hours previously (gluten-free of course), we headed out to Kellog Road. The chic had mentioned that there were some kitchen things she was getting rid of as well. Being very picky I was skeptical of finding anything I liked or could use. Also, being very minimalistic now, I didn’t want to bring home anything unnecessary. To my surprise, and Rick’s satisfaction we found some things that we could use – for free!
     My favorite of the batch was a wooden cutting board, originally from Ikea. And a cute little tea pot that matched my rice bowls. The perfect little tea pot has been used several times in the last three days. You can put loose leaf tea in it. There is a little “filter” to keep the leaves from pouring out the spout. I love it!
     Today I am making another pot of raspberry leaf tea. I’ve been feeling tired all over and have had a scratchy throat since Friday. As I mentioned in my post Raspberry Leaf Tea – A Woman’s Tonic, this tea is packed with lots of vitamins and minerals. That’s just what I need to keep from getting officially sick. So far, paired with resting and eating well, it seems to be working.

     Today, as part of my afternoon spent hibernating, I’m enjoying that tea with some peaches. There is something so satisfying about wrapping my cool hands around a warm cup of tea, breathing in the sweet earthy smell. To complete the homey feeling the window is cracked. The rain is falling creating a familiar, calming sound. (In December, I’m sure that will no longer feel calming but depressing.)
     So thank you Rick for searching Craig’s List and thank you Kellog Road girl for my lovely new tea pot that is just right!

Baked Chicken Breasts with Fresh Herbs

     It’s been about a year and a half since I’ve had to learn to cook everything from scratch. I’m getting very good. I’m also embracing the frugal side of me that lay dormant for many years. I search for deals, though if quality is more expensive then I will take a leap and buy. One thing last year that seemed to cost a fortune was all the herbs I was buying to flavor the food. I went through a ton of coriander, salt, pepper, paprika, rosemary and many, many others. Aside from the cost it bothered me that I had no idea how fresh the herbs were in those nifty little glass bottles. So I decided, after asking my parents if I could have a little plot of land in their garden for my herbs. I didn’t know what I was going to grow, or what would grow wonderfully in this climate, but I knew that I wanted fresh, cheap and quality. When you grow your own that combination is possible.
     Now a few months after spading up the lovely, sweet smelling soil I am starting to see the fruits of my labor. I’m trying to use fresh herbs in my cooking daily. I’ve noticed that fresh herbs taste completely different than dried herbs (except for rosemary, that’s about the same just more potent fresh). Previously I thought sage was boring, but fresh it has wonderful flavor.

Baked chicken breasts with fresh herbs:
One of my first experiments was with chicken of course. To follow my “recipe”, you will need:

• Two or more uncooked chicken breasts – not frozen (freezing meat changes it, makes it less yummy.)
• A baking dish with a lid – the lid will keep the steam in and not let the meat dry out.
• A selection of fresh herbs – I used sage, curry, oregano, marjoram, and basil.
• Salt

Simply place chicken breasts in a baking dish. Tear or mince herbs to smallish size and sprinkle over meat and into bottom of pan. Sprinkle salt. Bake at 350 degrees F, for about 30-40 minutes, or until done. Temperature for poultry is about 160 degrees F. (Chicken is easy to tell though, it will no longer look clear and pink, but solid and more white or brown than pink.)

Raw Chicken Breasts with Fresh Herbs - before baking

Infant herb garden

     This year I’m growing some of my own herbs. In the last year I have spent a fortune on herbs. They make things taste interesting and are beneficial to digestion, so in my opinion they are a must!

     Since there is a good possibility that if I try to start some inside for a kitchen garden Milo, my cat, will eat them, I’m growing them at my parents’ house. They live on about an acre, the “farm” I grew up on. I planted them about a month ago. I have a couple different types of mint, rosemary, sage, oregano, lemon verbena, fennel, basil, and a couple of others I can’t remember. Last weekend I planted three different lettuces between the baby spice plants. They will be gone before it gets too crowded for them. Only one plant died, the original basil plant. They are a little too delicate for our recent crazy weather, probably should have waited to plant it for another month. But the most recent replacement should do okay. I hope.

     Being a crazy-picture-taker, I will be documenting a lot of the gardening at my parents’ house. They have a lot of room and I have a lot of willingness to play in the dirt. Check back for updates from the “farm” weekly or so. I’m trying to get back to blogging more. However, looking for a job and the impending move will take up a lot of time. So please be patient.

Barn recycled to garage

     On the one nice day this week, I was lucky enough to be able to take it off and head up north, to my parents house in Bow. Business is uncomfortably slow right now but it did allow me to get some things done.
     I was hanging outside with my dad for some therapeutic digging in the dirt. We planted strawberries. After we were done, we wandered around the property and he was telling me about what it was like when the previous owner had it. The farmer had a barn that he torn down after getting rid of his cows. With the scrap lumber he built by Dad’s garage. It’s this huge three sided building that is weathered grey and has housed all the fun treasures my dad brings home. I made a comment about how it is a “recycled” building – before it was cool to recycle. Our conversation drifted to how and why we got away from being practical and using old things before buying new. Farmers and people a few generations ago would reuse things over and over before getting something new. When they did buy something new, they put thought into it. One would consider cost, efficiency, and need. I asked what happened, why did people stop doing that? His thought was that it had to do with “hard times” such as the Great Depression. People didn’t want a reminder of how horrible it had been. If they got new they were different, more successful, further away from hardship.
     I have been thinking about this since then. Not everyone did this, many people still didn’t waste anything after the Depression. They understood what it meant to have little or nothing so what they had was more precious. But there were people whom didn’t want to remember. If one had new things, it was better. There the world, or at least the US went – becoming a very wasteful country. If we forget history, then history will repeat itself. If we move away from our roots too far then we will lose valuable lessons. (This applies to me too. I’ve been wasteful like everyone else.)
     Even if it is just the current fashion to be “green”, it isn’t bad. Fashions come and go, but after they have gone, some people are reminded of more practical things. Hopefully, our recession will teach us to go back to our roots, reuse things, don’t waste because you never know what is going to happen. If we listen maybe we’ll learn from other people’s mistakes before we make too many of our own. And if you get caught with a bad decision don’t moan and groan too much (of this I am guilty as well), learn from it and don’t repeat the mistake. Credit cards are a good example. We have used them too much. Though we are suffering a little we have not used them to “get ahead”. We will be better for it, though it makes today harder.
     Recycling is not a new fad, but a rediscovered (often glorified) way of life. I don’t need expensive yarn all the time. Garage sale presents can be just as nice. Those hand-me-downs that no one likes as a kid are useful and more appreciated once those lessons learned. Sometimes, a girl needs her dad to remind her that roots aren’t always something to forget.

This holiday season is going to be thinner for more people – us included. We did some shopping over the year and thus after Rick lost his job I have not had to do anymore shopping.

While this economy is hurting all of us in one way or another. I think it is good for our imaginations. We are forced to be more creative while planning our gifts, dinners, and trips. My mother mentioned about something new this year, white elephant. A brother-in-law is making pumpkin bread from everyone. I tend to make at least one gift each year, because of requests or just desire to make something. This year it is a scarf request from a friend. I was going to make others however; money is non-existent so it will move to birthdays or next holiday season. Mother-in-law mentioned giving away things she already has to those whom would enjoy it most.

     There are many food drives and gift drives being hosted by companies and people I know. My mother-in-law is a nurse and her office is doing a food drive. Since we are moving I am going through a lot of our things and decided that rather than moving those ten cans I have not used in the last year, I’ll give them away to people whom will use them. A few business associates “adopted” a family in need this season and provided gifts for the kids.
     What have you done that is different this year versus previous years? Are you changing the types of gifts you give? Or the amount? Have you donated? Are you involving your kids in your plans?
     Instead of focusing on hardships, focus on the quality time you will get to spend with friends and family. And if you have snow, make a snowman!

     Since we decided to cut back on our expenses, we have only used the wall heater two days. Both days were very cold and neither Rick nor I could stay warm. That is not too bad though, two of ten or so days, without using the wall heater.
     I have done my part to stave off using the heater. I put on a couple more layers of clothing. I have avoided very cold foods, such as frozen fruit smoothies – though I am not sure how much longer I am going to want to “avoid” those.
     One thing I have done to stay warm on the cold days is having a cup of tea. I have always loved tea and coffee cups. My grandparents always had pretty ones with flowers. I have one of them. I love it. But it isn’t big enough in my opinion. I love huge mugs. I found this one at theLynnwood Goodwill a month ago. It was only $1.60 or so. It is so pretty, clear, light blue. It holds just the right amount of hot drink.
     This holiday season why not try a Goodwill? You can find many things far less expensive. It may take a little hunting but it will be worth it.

In the last two weeks, we have discovered that Rick’s work cut back that started about two months ago had a nasty effect on our recent finances. So I’m trying very hard to cut back on our spending, making everything last longer and cut back on things that may turn into expensive surprises later such as electricity.
Today or tomorrow, I will be off to my favorite store Central Market – which I have been avoiding because they have such fun stuff on which I tend to blow money – to get soup bones and roast for our next meals. I am concentrating on using everything in my fridge before going back for more.
Last weekend I bought organic chickens and roasted one for one meal and some left-overs and then used those bones for soup along with the second chicken. For the recipes check out these links: My Favorite Chicken Soup Notes on Chicken Soup The perfect roast chicken
This week it will be a beef soup and roast. Bones do not cost that much and roast is a cheaper alternative to the steak Rick would prefer. I have only made beef stew/soup once before so this time will be yet another experiment. It turned out well last time, but sometimes things do not translate into a successful second try.

Yesterday Rick and I were talking about things we can do to make things easier financially. Turning down the heat would be one. We live on the first floor in our apartment complex. It is much more different than living on a third floor apartment. Heat rises so in our old apartment we hardly needed the heat on. Here it seems it’s never warm enough. We have resolved to put on another layer of clothing, turn off the wall heater unless it’s unbearable and use the oil heater first. I do a lot of cooking with the oven so that helps warm things up on most days. It is just a little cooler on days we have left-overs.

Aside from putting on a sweater at home and sitting on the couch with a blanket, wear a scarf are great ways to stay warm in winter. I am a huge fan of scarves. I have a huge pile of them that my cat loves to sleep on. You loose a lot of your body heat through your head and neck and feet. So wear socks, slippers, and a scarf at home to keep you warm and cut back on the electric bill.