Homemade Chicken Salad

Homemade Chicken Salad

by | Oct 3, 2019 | Food | 0 comments

Chicken Salad Recipe

  • Cooked chicken – chopped
  • Celery – chopped
  • Sweet pickles – chopped
  • Mayonnaise

Mix all ingredients. Refrigerate.

 

Yep – that’s it. The entire recipe for Chicken Salad – which is why you might want to watch the video.

When I was growing up, it would take several hours to make Chicken Salad. It took over an hour to boil the chicken. Then we had to wait for it to cool enough to handle the chicken. Then you had to debone the chicken, followed by cutting the meat into bite-sized pieces with kitchen shears. The celery and pickles had to be chopped by hand.

Because it was so labor intensive, we only had Chicken Salad on special occasions, like a church homecoming dinner, family reunions or holidays.

But now, a food processor makes quick work of Chicken Salad. And there are several ways to prepare/purchase the chicken. Rotisserie chicken from the grocery store adds extra flavor. Crockpot chicken can be cooking all day or night while you are doing other things. Or you could bake the chicken in the oven. However, the tried and true method is to boil the chicken in a large pot until tender. The additional value in boiling is that you now have broth for chicken rice soup!

If you’ve never made Chicken Salad before, try your hand at it. And let me know about your experience. Don’t forget to watch the video!

Roots and Wings

Roots and Wings

by | Oct 2, 2019 | My Home, Preserve | 0 comments

This page is more of a personal journal than a blog with tips for readers, although I will share tips as I write about my home remodeling and redecorating.

It is a way for me to chronicle my personal heritage and give homage to it and how it has shaped me through the years. It is also a place for me to create an archive of the evolution of my own home.

Henry Ward Beecher wrote, “There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children. One of these is roots…the other, wings.”

My roots continue to guide me to this day. The house in which I was reared is gone now, but parts of it live on in me and my current home. This section is more of a personal journal than a blog with tips for readers. It is a way for me to chronicle my personal heritage and give homage to it and how it has shaped me through the years.

That is my grandfather standing in front of the home where I grew up. He was born in 1900 and at the age of 75, he painted the exterior of the entire house by himself! Hard work was no stranger to everyone in my family, which was one of the “roots” I learned as a child.

My parents and I (and eventually three sisters) lived with my paternal grandparents. The house had four bedrooms downstairs and four bedrooms upstairs. There were three wood heaters (which was later changed to oil heaters). One was in the living room, one in the dining room and the third one in my parent’s bedroom. To get heat to the upstairs bedrooms (only two of the four), a metal grate was installed in the floor so heat could rise up from the downstairs heater. It was never enough! In the winter, my sisters and I would warm a small blanket on the heater, then ball it up to keep it warm, run upstairs and wrap it around our feet as we snuggled under many layers of homemade quilts.

There was only one full bathroom, which was upstairs, and it was unheated. We looked forward to summer, when we could take a bath in the bathtub. In the winter, we used a pan of warm water placed on top of the heater and took what we called “bird baths”.

The kitchen and dining room were only accessible from a back porch. Also, on that back porch was a half bath, which was also unheated. Needless to say, you didn’t waste time in there in the wintertime!

As I write about the circumstances of that beloved home, I realize how poor and difficult life sounded back then. However, that is not how I remember it. Instead, I remember the love of both parents and grandparents, the freedom to roam through the farm and forests, the things we did together as a family and the great meals my grandmother cooked.

Summers were especially fun. Naturally, we didn’t have air conditioning, but if there was a breeze stirring, you could find it on the corner of the front porch. We would often have suppers on the porch, with lemonade and sandwiches. As the day turned to night, my father and grandfather would entertain us with stories of the “good ole days”.

I learned how to cook and sew from my grandmother. The first time I made biscuits, I burned them and hid them behind the heater in the dining room. Since my grandfather ALWAYS had biscuits with his meals, he asked about his biscuits. He ate those burned biscuits and told me they were “just right”. But I got better at making biscuits and learned to cook other things as well.

I remember when I was about 10 years old, my grandmother set up her sewing machine on the porch and taught me how to make a gathered skirt. I sewed three rows of rick rack around the bottom. Rick rack is a zigzag trim to accessorize home-sewn items. I also remember that my rows of rick rack were about as crooked as the trim itself!

The “roots” I developed as a child have served me well through the years. I cherish my childhood memories and those of the wonderful parents and grandparents I continue to try to emulate. I have tried to pass both the “roots and wings” I developed as a child on to my children and grandchildren.

As for my childhood home, it was torn down after my grandparents died and my parents moved to a smaller home next door. But, you can see remnants of it in future posts and the impact it had on my life.

5 Lessons From a Jigsaw Puzzle

5 Lessons From a Jigsaw Puzzle

by | Sep 28, 2019 | Lifestyle | 0 comments

 

I know – sounds crazy, right? What can a jigsaw puzzle teach anybody? But it did, so stay with me and I’ll share everything.

I love puzzles, but haven’t put one together in quite a while. That’s because I know myself, and I know that once I open the box and start spreading out the pieces, I won’t do anything else – no working on my business, no housecleaning, no cooking, nothing! So, I’ve been avoiding the cabinet that houses at least five or six unopened puzzles. (I love Charles Wysocki Americana-style puzzles!)

But, one recent, rainy Sunday afternoon, I just couldn’t resist any longer. I opened a 1000-piece puzzle. And then it began to unfold its magic for me.

Lesson #1: Puzzles are therapeutic.

As soon as I opened the box, I started to feel more relaxed. I forgot about everything else that had been on my mind. I just focused on the puzzle and all stress and worries melted away.

Lesson #2: Devising and implementing a system solves many problems.

Spreading out 1000 puzzle pieces is a daunting task. So, I had previously made puzzle boards. You can buy some on Amazon, but I cut large cardboard boxes into manageable sizes (less than 2′ x 3′) and hot-glued felt to them. Voila! I now had room to spread out the puzzle pieces so they would not slip off the surface, and they could be stacked as well for ease in accessing.

The next part of my system was to sort individual pieces by placing them on the puzzle board evenly in rows, while separating the edge pieces. This immediately felt so satisfying, like there was truly order in my life!

Next step was to complete the border of the puzzle, followed by starting on small sections for which the colors were clearly defined and could be easily seen and selected from the puzzle boards. As I began to look for puzzle pieces that fit, I referred often to the picture of the puzzle, always orienting it the same way as the puzzle frame. (I work on all sides of the puzzle, so I can see things from a different, and closer angle.)

Lesson #3: When you are faced with a problem that seemingly has no applicable solution, leave it alone for a while and come back to it later with a fresh view of the situation.

For instance, many times I was sure that a certain puzzle piece would be so easy to find, either by it’s distinctive color or shape. But having scanned those puzzle boards several times, it still didn’t show up. So – I just moved on to another section of the puzzle and later that specific puzzle piece happened to be right there in front of me! Perhaps, one could call me a procrastinator sometimes, but I prefer to say that I’m “waiting for a vision”!

Lesson #4: When you’ve exhausted all options to solve a problem, regroup.

After about one-third of the way to puzzle completion, I noticed puzzle pieces were getting harder to find. So, I took a few minutes to re-organize each puzzle board. I put like puzzle pieces together – such as dark green leafy pieces, white sand ones, buildings and animals. Then I could focus on the specific attribute of the puzzle piece for which I was looking. Worked like a charm! I started seeing the pieces easily. Then, I started consolidating the pieces onto fewer boards to make the search easier.

Lesson #5: Finishing a project is a joy in and of itself!

One (among many) of my shortfalls is excitedly starting many things, only to fizzle out before they are finished. But putting that last piece into the puzzle “sparks joy”, as Marie Kondo would say!

So – the final lesson to my puzzle story is this: when you find yourself stressed out and unable to see the next steps you need to take, stop and complete a jigsaw puzzle. It will make everything clearer!

What the Heck is Kon-Mari?

What the Heck is Kon-Mari?

by | Sep 24, 2019 | Clear Clutter, Organize | 0 comments

Does the term “spark joy” mean anything to you? It does if you know about Marie Kondo, the tidying queen. Marie has published two wildly popular books, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up with Marie Kondo and Spark Joy. She also has a Netflix series, Tidying Up with Marie Kondo. Of course, I’ve read the books and watched the Netflix series in a couple of sittings!

 

WHAT IS TIDYING?

Tidying is the task of transforming your home into a sanctuary of natural energy that meshes totally with your own natural energy. It should be a celebration, a special event that allows you to confront yourself and discover the balance needed to live your life in contentment and peace surrounded by the things that bring you joy.

 

That is tidying according to Marie. Sounds like a lot to expect of a little cleaning up! But, I do want some natural energy in my home. My biggest concern at this point is how much energy am I going to have to expend to acquire that natural energy of which Marie speaks. I think it’s worth a shot, but I expect to be exhausted before the joy sets in.

 

WHAT IS THE GOAL OF TIDYING?

The goal of tidying is the realization of joy in your life. To experience that joy, you need to visualize the lifestyle you want as a result of a clutter-free space. Then, through the Kon-Mari method of tidying, you can achieve that goal that allows you to become the person you want to be. Tidying is a one-time event that, once completed, frees you to be the person you want to be.

 

Wow! That’s one big promise. Since I’ve never really discovered joy in cleaning up, I’m a little skeptical about such a huge transformation in my life just by “tidying”.

 

WHAT ARE THE MAJOR CONCEPTS BEHIND THE TIDYING PROCESS?

The Kon-Mari method begins with discarding, followed by organizing the space. The emphasis is not on the discarded items, but on identifying items you want to keep – those that spark joy in your life. Each possession must be handled one by one to identify whether the item sparks joy for you. This happens in a marathon event of tidying that culminates in finding a home for each item kept.

 

Discard – not organize. Sounds like I’m going to make a bigger mess than I started with. And then, within that mess, I’m going to find joy. I do have some things in my home that “spark joy”, but I’m not sure if I’ll find it in my clothes, which is the first category to address in the process.

 

WHAT ARE THE OUTCOMES OF TIDYING?

Finally, Marie promises a life transformation with feelings of serenity, purpose and joy. Your home should now embrace you with order and calm.

 

That’s a lot to ask from what everyone else calls “decluttering”. However, I do dream about all my possessions having a place to put them – “a place for everything and everything in its place: So, I must admit, I’m curious. And for the sake of “science”, I’m going to implement the Kon-Mari method in my home, and you’re going to be the judge of the results. See you next time!

Does the term “spark joy” mean anything to you? It does if you know about Marie Kondo, the tidying queen. Marie has published two wildly popular books, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up with Marie Kondo and Spark Joy. She also has a Netflix series, Tidying Up with Marie Kondo. Of course, I’ve read the books and watched the Netflix series in a couple of sittings!

 

WHAT IS TIDYING?

Tidying is the task of transforming your home into a sanctuary of natural energy that meshes totally with your own natural energy. It should be a celebration, a special event that allows you to confront yourself and discover the balance needed to live your life in contentment and peace surrounded by the things that bring you joy.

 

That is tidying according to Marie. Sounds like a lot to expect of a little cleaning up! But, I do want some natural energy in my home. My biggest concern at this point is how much energy am I going to have to expend to acquire that natural energy of which Marie speaks. I think it’s worth a shot, but I expect to be exhausted before the joy sets in.

 

WHAT IS THE GOAL OF TIDYING?

The goal of tidying is the realization of joy in your life. To experience that joy, you need to visualize the lifestyle you want as a result of a clutter-free space. Then, through the Kon-Mari method of tidying, you can achieve that goal that allows you to become the person you want to be. Tidying is a one-time event that, once completed, frees you to be the person you want to be.

 

Wow! That’s one big promise. Since I’ve never really discovered joy in cleaning up, I’m a little skeptical about such a huge transformation in my life just by “tidying”.

 

WHAT ARE THE MAJOR CONCEPTS BEHIND THE TIDYING PROCESS?

The Kon-Mari method begins with discarding, followed by organizing the space. The emphasis is not on the discarded items, but on identifying items you want to keep – those that spark joy in your life. Each possession must be handled one by one to identify whether the item sparks joy for you. This happens in a marathon event of tidying that culminates in finding a home for each item kept.

 

Discard – not organize. Sounds like I’m going to make a bigger mess than I started with. And then, within that mess, I’m going to find joy. I do have some things in my home that “spark joy”, but I’m not sure if I’ll find it in my clothes, which is the first category to address in the process.

 

WHAT ARE THE OUTCOMES OF TIDYING?

Finally, Marie promises a life transformation with feelings of serenity, purpose and joy. Your home should now embrace you with order and calm.

 

That’s a lot to ask from what everyone else calls “decluttering”. However, I do dream about all my possessions having a place to put them – “a place for everything and everything in its place: So, I must admit, I’m curious. And for the sake of “science”, I’m going to implement the Kon-Mari method in my home, and you’re going to be the judge of the results. See you next time!