What Makes You Happy?

I just read an interesting article on Yahoo! News.

Basically, a new study shows that the world is getting happier.

Scientists previously thought that happiness remained static (how in the world could someone think that???? but they did...)

The happiest country is Denmark, while the most unhappy is Zimbabwe (civil war, dictatorship government).

The U.S. ranked 16th, and the reason shocked me...

It said it was due to Baby Boomers (my generation) generally being miserable.

The researchers attribute the rise in happiness to democratization, and increasing economic conditions in countries like China...

While "money doesn't buy happiness" it can buy more freedom and more choices and opportunities, which leads to greater happiness.

What I want to know is, what do Baby Boomers have to be so miserable about? Maybe selling out and taking corporate jobs. I know that made me unhappy...

As for my own happiness level, right now it's soaring and it shows on my face.

I just got home from Keller Williams Realty where I am transferring my real estate license, and Steve commented on how it showed in my smile, demeanor, sense of humor...everything.

It's a good choice. It's nice to be able to have freedom and choices.

And to up the happiness ante, Steve's daughter just left a msg while he was on the other line, saying she loves and misses us.

As usual, my cup runneth over!

Growing in the Right Direction

As my second month of blogging comes to a close, I am excited to look back and see how this blog project has evolved as the summer has unfolded.

During my first month, May, I mostly copied and pasted content from other green websites. I wasn't really sure in which direction I wanted to go, other than to heighten awareness about green living.

But during June, something started to click.

I began making more personalized posts, and adding photos...either taken by myself or grabbed from the internet.

I also began to formulate my own personal definition of green living, which is more broad than narrow...in a nutshell, green living for me is about more than reusable bags and denim insulation. it's about living consciously with love, sharing with others, being more joyful, getting back to soem of the values of our parents' and grandparents' generation without sacrificing some things I enjoy about 21st century life...

This blog also has rekindled my love affair with writing, which had waned after years and years of journalism and other type of writing jobs that sucked the life out of me!

As I blog, I am learning that it's not so much about being perfect (as I had to do in jobs)...it's about sharing.

So that means I'm going to have to step out of my comfort zone and develop more of a readership! Scary...but exciting!

Water, Water Everywhere!

One of my favorite childhood memories is of putting on my bathing suit and playing in the sprinkler.

The water coming through the hose, had a certain scent that I can't even begin to describe. It just smelled fresh, I guess...quite different from water coming from the tap inside even though it was the same water.

I liked to drink it from the hose because it had a fresh taste that matched the smell.

I also loved to play in the street gutters after a rain! If it was a heavy rain, water would be rushing and gushing down the gutter towards the storm drain.

I loved to put on boots or some other type of rubber shoe and splash and splash! If the weather was really hot, as it often was in Memphis in the summer, the water would heat up from the pavement. Or sometimes the water would feel cold, depending on the time of the year.

I enjoyed playing in the water no matter what the season.

I could take this opportunity to talk about stormwater runoff as an environmental issue...but I won't.

I'll just continue to savor those simple childhood memories.

Wormy Stuff!

Wow! I am fired up about composting with worms...it seems much easier than making a compost bin, etc. The worms do all the work! Of course I do have to supply them with some bedding...shredded newspaper.

Check out this link at wikihow.com on how to compost with worms. It may take me a few weeks to get everything together (ie, order the worms) but I hope to have a full report soon...

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Your-Own-Worm-Compost-System

What to do with cinnamon basil?

Every year I plant cinnamon basil in my herb garden because I love the scent...it's totally different from "regular" basil or even varieties like purple ruffles...

But I never know what to do with it, other than sniff it a lot!

So today I searched on the internet for recipes using cinnamon basil and found this:

I plan to give it a try soon...

Cinnamon Basil Cupcakes

1/4 cup fresh cinnamon basil

1/3 cup oil

1/2 cup sugar

1 egg

1 cup flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 cup sour cream or milk

1/4 cup milk

1/2 cup chopped walnuts
Puree cinnamon basil with oil in a blender. Combine with sugar and egg. Sift together flour and baking powder and add to oil mixture with remaining ingredients. Bake at 200C for 12 minutes.

Rags for Sale!

Until he was about 5 years old, Steven, his parents, his older sister, Kathy, and his younger sister, Carol, lived in a brick bungalow on Keating Street in Chicago.

One of Steven's vivid memories is of a man in a horse-drawn wagon coming down the back alleyway shouting in a creaky old voice, "Rags for sale! Rags for sale!" This was in the late '50s/early '60s.

I remember my grandmother speaking of the "rag man" as well.

Back in the day, everyone recycled! It was a way of life that was just natural and normal.

In an effort to reduce paper towel usage, I've been using more "rags". Instead of paper towels or paper napkins at meals, we've been using cotton dish towels. They get kind of yucky after a day or two, especially considering how much pizza we eat, but there is something satisfying about using them.

Since we needed more than the pitiful two or three I already had, yesterday when I was in Wal-Mart I purchased 12 of what are now called "bar towels" for $5.50. I was pleased with that bargain.

I used one this morning to clean all the kitchen counter and table surfaces with vinegar and water, then threw the whole lot into the washer along with the cotton kitchen rugs, place mats, and a few other items.

Then I hung them out to dry on the line!

The few minutes I spent outdoors hanging clothes was really special. Yes, it was hot...over 90. But it was so quiet! No traffic noise, no noise from the neighbors. Just one bird singing, and Bits and Bubs asleep on the porch, and my Mr. Stripey heirloom tomato quietly growing in his 5-gallon bucket.

I don't get much alone time, so I really enjoyed hanging out the wash.

And now, a few hours later, it's time to bring in the fresh-smelling "rags" and rugs. What wonders will I discover on this visit outside?

As a postscript to Steven's life on Keating, we revisited the old house last Christmas Day, and went back into the alleyway where the rag man used to drive past shouting, "Rags for sale! Rags for sale!".

Saturday at the Market

Going to the Franklin Farmer's Market is a treat we enjoy at least once a month. Franklin is far enough away from Ashland City to make it seem like a mini-vacation.

This week's market was nearly double in size from several weeks ago!

Some highlights: meeting a couple (about our age) who operate a personal chef/detox business in Cool Springs to assist people with detoxing and eating healthier. We plan to set up an appointment when we figure out our vacation plans.

Meeting the good folks of Peaceful Pastures, a new vendor. They offer organic beef, chicken, lamb, duck, pork, and goose, and have a CSA program.

Purchasing some yummy pattypan squash from Eaton's Creek Organics and making it into Creole Squash using their recipe. Basically, cut up the squash, boil it w. onion and bay leaf, drain and mash, add brown rice, Tabasco, and can of tomatoes (although all I had was tomato sauce and it worked fine) and some parsley or other fresh herbs.

Purchasing a ginormous bunch of kale and having my mother cook it--she's much better at it than I am.

Buying my mother some fantastic looking green beans that she had been wanting.

And finally...purchasing some gorgeous soaps from a new vendor whose name I unfortunately can't remember....here they are, in a beautiful gauze bag! I am so crazy about the color combo I almost don't want to use them. But I will!