Super-Soft Playdough Recipe

Smells better than the bought stuff, lasts longer, and the best part is it’s edible (but not recommended).  It’s easy to make but I have to say, it’s probably cheaper to buy it.

Here’s what you need:

• 1 cup flour
• 1/2 cup salt
• 2tbs cream of tartar
• 2 tbs oil
• food colouring mixed in 1 cup water

Cook over low heat until thick.  Remove from heat, allow to cool.  Form into a ball. Knead on wax paper (important! – wax comes off paper and gives dough a shiny soft texture).  Store in covered container.

The Heart of Life Is…

On February 18th, 2009 I asked you a question and you responded.  Thank you to all who took the time to cast your vote, talk to me in person, or post a comment here on my blog.

In summary, most of the comments I received were regarding how one defines the word “good” as it pertains to a person.  Is a good person someone who opens the door for an elderly person?  Or perhaps someone that merely refrains from committing criminal offenses on a regular basis?  I agree that the range is vast.

However, despite the myriad of interpretations, the majority of you that responded to this question, believed overall that there were more “good” people in the world than not.

And even though I know my question was vague I also know that I sometimes try to seek out opinions that support what I so desperately hope to be true.   When this is the case, concrete statistical data begins to pale in the background if the outcome I sought after is congruent with my desires.  It’s a form of selective hearing and I’m pretty sure we all do it in some fashion or another we just don’t always recognize it at the time.  To this I confess!

Thanks for helping me get back to my happy place!

‘HEART OF LIFE’ music video by John Mayer

Habitat for Humanity

Helping Families in Need Society

Canuck Place

‘Waiting on the World to Change’

Danrev is feeling troubled by all the news stories and is attempting to gain back some perspective.  Please help me in my quest by answering the question below.  You can choose a multiple choice answer or make up your own but please go with your first gut response.

Definition of ‘good’ according to the Oxford dictionary.

‘WAITING ON THE WORLD TO CHANGE’ music video by John Mayer

Danrev Honks at Updating Her Blog

The title pretty much says it all.  No further comments.

Prescription for Workaholics

The following excerpt was taken from a book called “The Power of Positive Thinking” by Norman Vincent Peale. I was casually skimming through some if the pages last night and stumbled upon this story.  I have to admit I found it a bit disturbing at first but then quickly realized it’s power.

If you are a workaholic or perhaps someone that has lost a bit of your perspective on life, I encourage you to continue reading this post.  If, on the other hand, you already know everything and have a perfect life then reading any further will probably be a complete waste of your time. : )

*********************

A physician gave some rather whimsical advice to a patient aggressive, go-getter type of businessman.  Excitedly he told the doctor what an enormous amount of work he had to do and that he had to get it done right away quick or else.

“I take my briefcase home every night and it’s packed with work”, he said with nervous inflection.

“Why do you take work home with you at night?” the doctor asked quietly.

“I have to get it done”, he fumed.

“Cannot someone else do it, or help you with it?” asked the doctor.

“No”, the man snapped.  “I am the only one who can do it.  It must be done just right, and I alone can do it as it must be done and it has to be done quickly.  Everything depends upon me.”

“If I write you a prescription, will you follow it?” asked the doctor.

This, believe it or not, was the prescription.

His patient was to take off two hours every working day and go for a long walk.  Then he was to take off a half day a week and spend that half day in a cemetery.

In astonishment the patient demanded, “Why should I spend a half day in a cemetery?”

Because, answered the doctor, “I want you to wander around and look at the gravestones of men who are there permanently.  I want you to meditate on the solemn fact that when you get there permanently the world will go on just the same and, as important as you are, others will be able to do the work you are not doing.  I suggest that you sit on one of those tombstones and repeat this statement, ‘a thousand years in Thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.” (Psalm 90:4)

The patient got the idea.  He slowed his pace.  He learned to delegate authority.  He achieved a proper sense of his own importance.  He stopped fuming and fretting.  He got peaceful.  And, it might be added, he does better work.  He is developing a more competent organization and he admits that his business is in better condition.

*************

Until next time,

Danrev

“A Cluttered Home is a Cluttered Mind”

We are a family of 5 and live in quite a small space. We need more room!  With today’s real estate market soaring to new heights this can be a most frustrating predicament for a 2 income family, let alone a one income family.  We happen to be the latter.  So what’s a young family to do?   Bang your head against a pole?  Tried that, left marks.  Move to the bushes far away from your family and friends? Perhaps that’s an option too but not a good one for us in my opinion.

I confess, I have spent the last few months, bitter to the world thinking about how unattainable it is to own a house here.  Two weeks ago however, my grumbling and ungratefulness had finally reached an unbearable, growing-an-ulcer-right-now low.  I had to do something before stress-wrinkles set up camp on my face.  I thought, if I can’t change my circumstances, I have to resolve to change my mind.

It took me a while but I finally decided that whether I liked it or not, I had to accept the situation at hand instead of wishing it to be different.  I then deduced that if I were unable to gain a larger living space, that I simply must decide to need less stuff.  No more jack-in-the-box closets!!

So out it went; dishes, clothes, pots, pans, place mats, vases, furniture, crafts, toys, electronic devices, blankets, games, small appliances, towels, books, stationary and even our TV.  I still managed to keep my family’s basic necessities and maybe even a bit more but I had zero tolerance for duplication or useless knick-knacks.

Was it all just junk?  No.  Might we need or want it back some day?  Maybe.  Did I gain an incredible amount of freedom and joy by doing it?  Yes!  How you ask?  Well…

I believe that we, as a society spend a lot of our time buying ‘stuff’ we don’t need or really want but think we do.  We bring these objects into our homes and they become our possessions.  We then devote countless hours, days, and months, taking care of it: cleaning it, folding it, dusting it, waiting to use it, placing it, straightening it, storing it, sitting on it, showing it, moving it, thinking about it, organizing it, looking at it.  They clutter our rooms, fill our counter tops and take over our floors.  In my case, the overabundance of clutter had started to irritate me something terrible.

Now just to be clear, I’m not suggesting that having ‘stuff’ in your life is bad in itself, things that you use or find beauty in.  What I am suggesting though is that when those things no longer enhance or bring value to your life, keeping them can burn up valuable physical, emotional and mental energy leaving you little time to enjoy other things.

As I picked up each object in my home to make the decision, to stay or go. It  was almost like my once prized possessions were taunting:  “You can’t let go of me, you’ve held onto me for years, you will need me one day, you’re too weak to live without me just put me back and stop this non-sense.” Well anyone who knows me, knows that if you want me to do something just tell me I can’t do it.  It was as good as gone!

There is a fine line between owning things and having things own us.  The test for this is summed up in one of my all-time favourite quotes.  “If you own something and can’t let it go, you don’t own it, it owns you.”

I’m still not done this process.  There is still so much to be done.  I will be blogging about this again in the future to keep you posted on any regrets, setbacks or benefits.  So far though this has been an incredibly satisfying experience and I’m glad I did it.

Now, instead of stuff I have space.  Space to ‘be’, to live, to dance.

Signed,

Danrev
(Pack-rat turned wannabe minimalist)

This blog inspired in part by GB and CCWM who’s home’s are completely clutter-free, tastefully decorated and incredibly peaceful and relaxing to be in.

And also this picture:

Hello world!

I’m a very new blogger so please bear with me as I figure things out.

I’m hoping to have my first blog post up by the end of this week but no guarantees.  (See the ‘about’ page to find out why).

In the mean time please feel free to poke around and check out my other pages.  I will be adding to these pages on a regular basis (if not every day) but will only posting blogs sporadically.  Be sure to check back every once in a while to see what’s new and improved.

Don’t forget you can bookmark this page for easier access in the future.

See you soon!

Danrev