Austerity Measures

Somewhere in mid-life

 I switched from thinking more is more to believing less is more.

I began to see the benefits of cutting my consumption of goods. If I sold or donated furnishings I didn't use, need, or love, I felt the luxury of open spaces. If I cleared my closet of clothing I hadn't worn in a year, I enjoyed a useful and uncluttered wardrobe. Simpler living and smart storage brought a sense of calm to home. We were able to downsize and live comfortably in smaller rooms.

Now it's time to apply a little downsizing at the table because cutting food consumption is an apparent need at our house. We're going the small-plate route, thinking that smaller dishes

will cut portion size and result in lighter body weight.

I've put away our big dinner plates (if this downsizing thing works, I'll give them away)

 and purchased small plates on clearance, the square shape offering flexibility in table setting.

 A single small plate held in the hand is perfect when Mr. J and I dine casually in comfortable living room chairs, side tables at hand for a glass or cup. For company, however, I don't apply the small portion rule. Instead, I assemble a layout of small plates to accommodate what I'm serving, i.e. salad on a small plate, entree on a slightly larger plate, a small bowl for a vegetable on the side and a mini-plate for a dinner roll. With all the movable parts, it's fun to design the table around each menu.

My latest happy find is a recipe for meatloaf muffins~~automatic portion control! They're made with a tasty combination of lean ground turkey, onion, egg substitute, quick-oats and chopped broccoli.

 I also found these cheerful muffin baking cups at IKEA

and this quote (printed on a wall) to feed the soul:

Sharing a small space is to show love and respect,

 to compromise and transform.

Wish us luck on our latest downsizing effort!

Hat Trick

Went to the beach to see great hats.

Not any truly fascinating finds
 but this is a nice floppy one providing shade for a sand lover 

near Sharky's On The Pier.

The weather has been splendid here, especially for tourists.
And I have a new computer :)

Mirror, Mirror

The best mirror is an old friend.

~~Peter Nivio Zarlenga

Life is like a mirror; we get the best results when we smile at it.

~~Byrd Baggett

Pardon my indulgence...

....but those naughty Borgias always fascinate me.

 While playing nurse to Mr. J. who is recovering from minor surgery,

 I'm indulging in a re- viewing of television's Season One of The Borgias.

 The series explores the sordid history of the real-life Borgia clan,

a powerful Renaissance family steered by scheming patriarch Rodrigo.

Dripping with pomp and circumstance, glittering costumes, and delicious Renaissance architecture,

 the lavish Showtime drama follows the rise of the Borgia family

 to the pinnacle of the Roman Catholic Church and their struggles to keep their grip on power.

 Every scene arranged like a da Vinci painting.

 Every tabletop set with a Rembrandt still life, every face a Raphael portrait.

I thrill at the swish of Cardinals' red robes as they sweep across stone floors.

I immerse myself in candlit interiors filled with tapestry, leaded glass windows,

 mosaics and richly decorated arches.

I notice ruby rings, gold chains and crosses, tassels, fringes, fur trims.

The real-life Rodrigo Borgia (Pope Alexander VI) looks nothing like

 the Rodrigo Borgia played by Jeremy Irons in the Showtime drama.

Source: Wikipedia

OK, the story is about simony, usery, public lechery, and murder.

Political intrigue.

 Its visual trappings are quite secondary...or are they?

+   +   +

The question is: Why does all this fascinate me so?

The rich fashions don't relate to me and my ways~~I am, after all,

one whom the perfume sample girls avoid in department stores

 and fashion models, while displaying and retailing dresses, hats, and jewelry in restaurants,

 never stop at my table.

I've decided that it must be the art of the production that fascinates.

Or the irony of so much evil cloaked in splendor.

If you've seen The Borgias, I'd love to hear what intrigued you most. Or not.

Woman sitting at the edge of the water, Sarasota Jungle Garden.

Now and then it's good

to pause in our pursuit of happiness

and just be happy.

~~Guillaume Apollinaire

Running Lessons

The Five S's of sports training are: Stamina, Speed, Strength, Skill and Spirit;

 but the greatest of these is Spirit.

~~Ken Doherty

Lesson One:

 Get ready. Dress for the occasion.

Lesson Two:

Stand in line and wait your turn.

This is 20-month-old Landon, ready for a 1-3-year-old 100-meter kids' race.

Lesson Three:

When they count down from 3, to 2, to 1, and say "GO!" you can go!!!

It's fun to run!

Lesson Four:

 My mom doesn't need to carry me.

I can do it myself!

Lesson Five:

 Sometimes I fall down...

...it hurts, but I can get back up...

...and go again!

Lesson Six:

I finish what I start.

Lesson Seven:

When Mom likes what I do, we do high-fives!

...and Dad rides me on his shoulders.

You have a choice.

You can throw in the towel,

or use it to wipe the sweat off your face.

~~Gatorade