Be Ye Separate

Organizing? Hmmmm!

Blessings!

   Over the last few weeks I've been spending time in doctors and dentists offices. Not for me, of course, but for the girls and husband. Having nothing better to do while waiting, what do you think I did? Yep...picked up a magazine or two (or 20:P).

   I always avoid those magazines that are obviously filled with tripe and depressing misreported issues like People, Soap Opera Digest, Glamour, and other such things and newsie types like Times and on and on. Seems that's practically all that's available these days for "light reading" in a waiting room.

   Well, our dentist is Christian and so are all his staff. This means that the types of magazines are a lot more wholesome for sure. And the doctors office, although they still have some of the tripe, they also have the more gentle family oriented types like Family Circle, Better Homes and Gardens, Highlights and more.

   I'm not touting that the Family Circle and such don't have their downsides but for the most part it's usually a cover story that gets my attention. Things like "101 Refreshing Lemon Recipes", "How to Clean Your Toilet and Like it!" and many others.

   These past few weeks I've been seeing the ideas on organizing crop up over and over on the covers. Of course, I pick them up and usually giggle my way throught them. Why? Because it has become inherently obvious to me that society's idea of organizing and a homesteaders is as different as night and day:P

   The dentist and doctor will xerox off copies of articles that I find in them so I can take them home and peruse them at leisure. Sometimes an idea will grab me and I see what I can do to twist it and mold it into something that will work with our home. And sometimes it's just a good giggle over supper to share these silly ideas.

   The last one that I picked up on Saturday afternoon, after sitting at the doctors office to take care of some medication issues for my husband, was all about organizing a pantry. I didn't get to read the entire thing so I handed it to the gal at the front desk and she copied it for me to take home.

   Yes I know it's silly but we've been going to this doctors office since it opened as an emergency clinic and is now a regular office after 12 years:P It's like being among family:) We meet most of them on the outside in social situations. Nuff said.

   Well, this particular article had my attention. Not because I don't know how to organize my go-down (pantry) but because we are in a new place that doesn't actually have one and this was one of those that creates something out of nothing and I thought I could get a few good ideas. 

   It turned out to be a good giggle, yet sad too. Sad that this article was really directed toward the NONhomemaker. It was clear that whoever would utilize this is not someone who actually cooks at home very often. Probably has 2 children and works outside the home. Not because it's necessary but because they can't stand being around their family and "need a break". But I digress.

   Here's a few things that were mentioned. Fill 7 different baskets with 7 different suppers. All the ingredients for each meal. It gets left on the shelf and when you use that meal (remember each of the baskets have a day of the week written on them)   Once it's empty you then fill it with the next weeks (on that day) meal.

   While this was an interesting idea, it used up valuable space inside the go-down. Not practical for the homesteader for certain. If that wasn't enough there were some other baskets that were labeled with things like "midnight snacks", "unexpected company", "slumber party" etc. These would be filled with snack type foods that you could pull out at a moments notice without having to think about what to do if someone just shows up or there's an impromptu slumber party or get together.

   Again, while it was an interesting idea, it took up more valuable space. Space that I could see would hold an insurmountable amount of canned peaches, peas, beans, applesauce, applebutter, pears and soups!

   Then I noticed something in the picture that puzzled me. I read into the article about it and was flabbergasted! Now, explain to me how and why it would help to organize your go-down if you have a riser shelf to put your canned goods on? This thing was a miniature bleecher! Allowing your canned corn and porkNbeans to cheer on the sidelines of your go-down! The article told how you could then see your cans in the back so you know what you have in your go-down.

   No I don't know about anyone else, but my mind is reeling over it. Why would I need to know what was in the back of my cupboard? AFter all, my cans are lined up from front to back with like product so that if I see what is on the front edge, I know what is agains the wall behind that...the same thing!

   Why would I waste the space beneath the cans with air when I could have cans (matching of course) UNDER those cans! This was obviously NOT the go-down of someone who cooks and bakes at home for real. This was the go-down of someone who eats out most nights, has food in the go-down for academic reasons (and lets not forget asthetics!) ugh!

   Don't get me wrong...I keep my small bags of beans and pastas in storage containers in my go-down so they don't slide all over and it keeps critters out.

   I have been organizing my go-down for many many years now. I don't have all the answers but I can make a LOT fit in a small space. I have learned how much and what to keep on hand for our family and how to store it to keep it safe from critters, bugs and rot. 

   I don't take magazines anymore and haven't in some 11 years now. Primarily because of the lack of edification in them as well as the "articles" that seem to be of more interest to many than the actual "helpful ideas". And the helpful ideas have gotten more and more silly and shallow while the less informative articles have grown to outrageous proportions as they cater to the sinful and lustful needs of many.

   It's sad to see that family, home, marriage, raising a good, productive and moral child, and spiritual values have fallen to the wayside and give way to the lusts of the flesh and the eye, to fallen marriages and families and sinful lifestyles. Glorifying these things because that's what society wants to  know and hear to make them feel better about their self serving lonely lifestyles rather than challenging them to a better and more reponsible and accountable way of life.

   Perhaps there's more than just go-downs that need organzing? Hmmm!

God be with thee!

Sister Lori

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{ 04:38, Monday, March 24, 2008 } { Posted by gokings13 }

I see what you mean!!

It's just like people buying books at Barnes and Noble on "how to be a christian" when all they need is "The Holy Bible"!! ;-)

Make sure to use hand sanitizer after you read magazines at the doctors office. Those are the most handled and sneezed on things (next to the doornobs) in the building!!

Laura

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{ 12:42, Monday, March 24, 2008 } { Posted by Mennobrarian }

Hi Lori,
In agreement with you on much of the "literature" in public waiting places. I've been turning down free subscriptions to some of these "family" magazines based on the advertising in them alone. Many of the ads have unseemly content and promote things that are not in line with our beliefs. Anyway, that meal organizing idea with the seven baskets provided a good laugh. Thanks!
Blessings,
Monica

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{ 08:27, Wednesday, March 26, 2008 } { Posted by OklahomaSweetPea06 }

I was just given mounds load of old FC, BH&G and some other more friendly version magazines, I just go through each magazine and tear out what I find can be more helpful for our family, recipe, organizing, cleaning, tips ect.