Collins Country

De-cluttering my days

I’ve been thinking about simple living a lot lately; probably because it’s a common theme at HSB.  There is a lot about de-cluttering in particular.  I know that it brings me peace to have a de-cluttered home, and it sure makes it easier to find things!

I would also like to de-clutter my life.  Sometimes there seems to be so much going on:  Dentist appointments, paperwork, bible school, meetings.  Sometimes even the fun stuff (dinners and parties) begin to feel like work.  I don’t like the feeling of something hanging over my head - knowing I have to run.  It’s hard to start projects or get into any real routine when you know you have to go somewhere in an hour or so.

In my dream de-cluttered life, I rise early.  I accomplish some morning chores then sit and drink my coffee while I read my bible and pray.  I get my family up; we eat breakfast and start our day; DH & DS2 off to work and DD doing her school.  I would take an hour or so to do paperwork for our business then do my morning chores.

After the morning chores (cleaning), I could take a little time on the computer.  Then I could dig up my sewing projects and work on those. Or maybe I can work on my knitting projects.  Or bake a bunch of muffins.  Of course, gardening and caring for the animals would come in there somewhere (really, the list is endless – there’s plenty to do around here).

Preparing dinner, some evening chores then spending the rest of the evening with my family – doesn’t that sound good?  Imagine us all sitting in the front room reading or talking about the day’s events.   Going to bed at a decent hour, after I’ve tidied the kitchen and set up the coffee pot for the morning, sounds like bliss.

I have been told many times that “is just life.”  Does it have to be?  I don’t think so, although I am not sure I have the strength to change it.  I do think I can change one thing: going out at night.  The bible school is at night (6 hours per week, Tues and Thurs).  I don’t feel I can quit that right now, but in a year (when we are finished) my night life away from home is coming to a halt!

In the meantime, I will keep up the physical de-cluttering of my home. 
This week, as per Flylady, we are in the kitchen.  I am going to de-clutter some of my cupboards and drawers.  Have a great day!

The Extinction of Silver Dragees

Last year, I searched high and low for the sweet, silver decorations.  All I wanted to do was put one in the center of each snowflake sugar cookie.  Is that too much to ask.  After searching every store locally, I finally went online.

That's when I found out the terrible truth.  EVERY single site that sold them would not ship to California because a lawyer sued many companies that sold them because he felt there was a potential danger (He probably has no idea why people don't like lawyers).

I finally found an article that (kind of) explained it all (written in 2003):

CLARIFICATION: This story stated that stores such as Sur La Table were selling off their last remaining stocks of silver dragees, a pastry decoration. Sur La Table states that it originally removed the dragees from its stores in April 2003. Immediately after The Chronicle found in December that its Hanukkah decorations contained the dragees, it removed them as well, the retailer says.

Procrastinators are in for a shock when they set out to make those last-minute holiday cookies, cakes and gingerbread houses. Store shelves are almost bare of the beloved, tooth-crunching decorations called dragees -- better known as "those little silver balls.''

Because of a Napa lawyer's lawsuit alleging that the shimmery mini-orbs are toxic, stores such as Spun Sugar are selling off their last remaining stocks, and wholesalers and Internet suppliers simply won't sell sugar decorations filmed with silver, gold or copper to anyone in California.

"He's the Grinch that stole Christmas this year," said Gretchen Goehrend, owner of India Tree, a cake decorating wholesaler in Seattle who pulled all her dragees out of California after she was sued.

Already, India Tree has lost $20,000 by refusing to sell the silver balls in California because of the fear of being sued, says Goehrend.

Once again, California is on the cutting edge, the only place on the planet where using dragees could land you in court.

"I think it's a catastrophe. I think Christmas is going to have to come to an end. How can we decorate cookies without those silver balls?'' said Emily Luchetti, pastry chef at the Union Square restaurant Farallon.

The cookie-decorating party she throws at her house every year for family and friends was strangely dragee-free this year. During preparations for Sunday's festivities, Luchetti got a panicked call from her sister-in-law, who'd gone shopping for decorations at Cake Art in San Rafael and learned the news. "She said, 'We can't do this -- my daughter is going to be miserable.' "

Luchetti added, "How many (dragees) does one eat throughout the year? I can't believe there is anything that would hurt you -- if you ate a bazillion of them sure, but a few?"

But Napa lawyer Mark Pollock takes silver dragees very seriously. He started suing to force dragees off the California market when he was a Solano County prosecutor in the early 1990s, and got the spice giant McCormick to stop selling them in the state. Now an environmental lawyer in private practice, he sprang back into action last spring when dragees surged back into vogue after Martha Stewart used them on holiday cookies.

Pollock sued Stewart, gourmet food purveyor Dean and DeLuca, India Tree and about two dozen other distributors and retailers. As of Monday, Pollock said all but one had settled, agreeing to stop selling silver cake decorations in California, and the last was about to sign. Settlement amounts are confidential.

Potential risk

Pollock says his motivation wasn't that someone had been hurt by eating dragees -- he doesn't know that anyone has. But he says dragees have the potential to put consumers, especially children, at risk because silver is a toxic metal that can build up in the body over time and cause problems.

"Silver is a subtle poison," he said, comparing it to mercury in fish. "Eating dragees unnecessarily increases your body burden of this chemical. If children start off with heavy doses in Christmas cookies, they start out behind in the race."

While federal and state authorities list silver as toxic at certain levels -- for instance, for silver miners who breathe strong concentrations daily -- the Food and Drug Administration has dealt with dragees by declaring them non-edible and requiring jars to carry labels saying "for decoration only."

Pollock calls that "fraudulent and fictional" because everyone eats them anyway, especially kids.

Warning not enough

The attorney said he's also working with the state attorney general's office on litigation requiring markets to post warnings about mercury in fish. But he says a warning on dragee jars wouldn't be enough because the wording doesn't wind up on the cookies at the bake sale.

State health and toxic waste authorities said dragees weren't a concern as long as they were labeled properly.

"We are not aware of any health problems associated with this product," said Lea Brooks of the California Department of Health Services. "Levels of the metal are extremely low -- you'd have to consume massive quantities. We don't know how much."

Their potential as a hazardous waste would depend on large quantities ending up in a landfill, something authorities consider unlikely since they are expensive and are usable for years.

Retailers angry

Distributors and retailers said they've settled with Pollock not because they believe their dragees are toxic but because a trial would cost far more than settling. But, like Beryl Loveland of Beryl's Cake Decorating and Pastry Supplies of Virginia, they're angry and think a trial would have proven that there's nothing wrong with a few dragees now and then.

Locally, dragees disappeared from stores like Sur La Table almost immediately, and are dwindling fast at smaller shops.

At Spun Sugar, a candy- and cake-making specialty store in Berkeley, owner Linda Moreno is selling off the few sizes and shapes of the metallic decorations she has left, and says she can't get any more -- although she has no trouble getting the silver and gold leaf used in Indian sweets.

"It's the same stuff everyone's had for an eternity," she said. "I was always more worried about someone breaking a tooth."

Other bakers and baking supply shop owners were so leery of getting sued themselves that they spoke only on condition that their identities not be revealed. One baker said she's always brought back suitcases of dragees from France, and she won't stop. But she makes her customers sign a waiver that they understand they are for decorative purposes only.

Another baker, Nora Tong of San Francisco, who specializes in exquisitely decorated tea cookies, hadn't heard of the lawsuit because she also buys her dragees in France. She was aghast.

"Oh my god, people have been eating them for a hundred years. I will always buy them. I love dragees," said Tong, whose business is the wholesale Nora's Patisserie.

"It's too bad that we are all so fearful, and we are being terrorized by this," she said.

I can't believe that this guy is really concerned about the silver content.  I mean really, how many do we consume in a year...4?  I think he hates treats and this is only the beginning of his assault on Californian confections.  What's next?  Powdered sugar?  Sugar sprinkles? Chocolate (Um, no.  He'd never win that case).

I am still trying to find a way to procure some; I feel quite determined to have them on my cookies!

Being at home

I have been a wife and mother for over twenty years.  In that time, I have worked part time, full time and also been a stay at home mom.  I have always felt it was easier to work outside the home.  My most recent experience did not change that opinion.  For one thing, I can afford to buy things that make life easier.  Also, my family accepts that they must help out or things might not get done.

My most recent employers closed their business, so here I am at home.

Being at home is harder work, but SO much more satisfying!  Yesterday I was exhausted:  I cleaned house, made banana bread and muffins, made harvest corn, went to the laundromat (dryer still broken), did the grocery shopping, made dinner and still managed to have fun with my teens.  I about fell into bed, but what a great feeling.

Yesterday, I also made these cute paper cones to put the popcorn in (they are serving size and perfect for handing out to friends and neighbors).  I would never have taken the time if I was working.  My creativity is completely stifled when I work outside the home; there's no time.

Someone recently blogged about staying home (I forget who, sorry) and I too have experienced those same comments.  One friend always says "It must be nice to stay at home." Yes, it is.  She also says she can't afford to, but until recently she had less kids and more money.  Staying at home does require sacrifice, but it's one I am willing to make.

The job can pay for convenience foods, frivolous fun, new clothes, and short cuts but it cannot buy you time with your family; that's our most valuable treasure!

Homesteading

I was thinking about what homesteading means, today.  I remember reading about it in grammar school.  Folks just lived on the land and over time it was theirs, right (It won't bother me one bit to be corrected on this matter, so feel free to set me straight and I apologize in advance for my ignorance)?

I have also heard it described as literally meaning "Steadfast at home." I like the sound of that...there's a sense of determination and purpose behind it.  Now days, we can't just park our motor home on a plot of land and make it ours (drat).

It also conjures up visions of Pa going out to work the North forty while Ma stays home and cares for the children, the home, the garden, and chickens.  Not a popular image to many modern women, but I've always found it appealing.  Everyone with a part to play, working together to make a homestead.

I like the idea of my Dear Husband being able to count on me to do my part without fear of my insisting that HE change diapers while I go plow.  My husband would laugh for half an hour before ignoring me, anyway.  Someone has to lead and it's too hard to take turns...I would always want him to take his turn when it was something unpleasant! LOL

Sorry, got a little sidetracked in my Little House on the Prairie fantasy.

How did you all arrive at your homestead?  What lead to your decision and what hurdles did you overcome to own your peice of land? 

I would love to hear your stories, so if you blog about it, leave me a comment so I can come read it!

Corningware Skillet-o-matic

My husband brought me an interesting appliance the other day (I forget how he aquired it).  It is a Corningware skillet-o-matic (Sounds like something you'd see ont eh jettson's).  It has a white enamel over metal base (about a foot square) with black handles on either side.

There is a plug (like what you would see on an electric skillet) with different settings.  You place a square corningware baking dish (looks like the ordinary cornflower stuff my grandma had) on the base, turn it on and use it like an electric skillet. 

Has anyone ever owned one?  Can anyone tell me how well it works?  I tried to look up info on the internet, but could only find them for sale (I take it this is a vintage apparatus).  It looks brand new, so I would hate to try and use it and ruin it.

In other news, my dryer is broken again (if it seems too good to be true, it probably is, and since I've never heard of a dryer fixing itself...).  I spent time at my s-i-l's today, using theirs.  It was fun because it was a guilt-free visit time; I was doing a chore and it's not my fault it kept me from home where the vacuuming and dusting was waiting to be done, is it??

It is extrememly cold here (for those of you in North Dakota, Maine and other freezing states, I will sound like a whiner, but we aren't used to this sort of thing over here).  The forecast says it may get down to the 20's this week (low chance of precipitation, so probably no snow-but we can hope!).  I have one wool sweater, which I regretted owning until today! LOL

Well, it's almost time to pick up my son from work.  Have a good evening everyone!

Chores

A few things I to help with that:

Set a timer.  Sometimes, when I walk into a room that needs a cleaning, I am so discouraged by the size of the task that I want to go back to bed! LOL  Instead, I tell myself “Just work on this for 15 minutes, as Flylady tells you.  You can take a break as soon as the timer dings.”  Usually, the job is done in 15 minutes, but if not, I quit that room and go on to another task.

For dishes and laundry, which have a tendency to pile up, I have a system.  When the sink and counters are over flowing with dishes (alas, no automatic dishwasher) I choose the largest dishes first.  It diminishes the enormous stack quickly.  Then I’ll pick another type of dish…”Now, I’ll wash all the cups (or bowls, or plates).”  If I am sick of it, I give myself permission to finish that type and then go work on something else for awhile.  When I come back, I pick yet another type.  I do the same for laundry – I pick all the square items to fold first (towels, wash clothes, sheets, etc.  You will be amazed at how quickly your mountain of laundry becomes a molehill.

To keep this laundry from becoming a looming colossus, try making yourself go through the whole routine at once…wash, dry, fold AND put away (I hate putting away clothes, so maybe I am just talking to myself here!LOL)

Just straightening things can help a lot.  For example, my curtains get in disarray quickly, so every morning I straighten them and the couch pillows.  Just that makes a huge difference.  Same in the bathroom…straighten the towels on their racks and shove everything back in the medicine cabinet or under-sink cupboard and voila (Now, eventually, I have to go back and actually clean these rooms, but having surfaces cleaned off makes it easier to face).

My favorite house cleaning tip is this:  Make the kids do it! LOL  Seriously,  though, I do make them help.  If I am cleaning the kitchen, one kid empties the dish drainer and the other takes out the trash (it makes the whole room much easier to take care of).  In the living room, one child cleans off the coffee table and one vacuums or dusts while I do the rest.  So, get help!

 This won’t make my house ready for a magazine layout, but it keeps me from being embarrassed when unexpected visitors arrive and more importantly, it keeps my dh content (although, this week he asked if we could spend Saturday working on some cleaning projects…ugh!).