cff November 2013 | Simple and Serene Living

Friday, November 29, 2013

and now I'm over it

I always love the first real snowfall.

You wake up in the morning and there is a pretty blanket clinging to the trees.



Even the Magnolias don't seem overly surprised at their new white coats.



Yes, the trees seem perfectly okay with a snowy blanket.



And yesterday as I drove to Shaker Village for a Thanksgiving dinner, the icicles clinging to the cliffs were beautiful. I wish I could have taken photos, but there was no where to stop on the two lane winding road.

When we arrived, there were still patches of snow, which added a feeling of authenticity to the subdued historical surroundings.


The first snowfall of the season always seems so wonderful. I can't wait to get out there and take pictures. To feel the crunch of the snow beneath my boots. 


Then when we get back from our lovely dinner the reality sets in. This is my car, which is parked outside. It is covered in a layer of snow and ice. The doors are frozen shut. The scraper is inside the car. 


An old song pops into my head "Baby it's Cold Outside", and I realize I am so over it. There are months of this cold and snow ahead. Old Man Winter has raised his head too soon. 

That's when I went inside, made some hot chocolate, and closed the blinds. Time to look at some gardening books.




 

Monday, November 11, 2013

the gate

(This is a repost from Veteran's Day 2012)

The gate of life is always open



It beckons to us and where it will lead we never know



but we go through that gate, each day in our journey of life, and follow the twists and turns of the road ahead. Because we know that even as we travel over bumpy patches, there is so much surprise left on the road ahead.



Thinking this official Veteran's Day of my late father who kept on the road of life with dignity each and every day, until he passed through that final gate.





 

Sunday, November 10, 2013

talking with the trees

Okay, I haven't gone completely around the bend (although there are those who would beg to differ), but sometimes I just feel like I want to commune with nature or in this case the trees. 

I look at the trees and wonder how they feel about losing their wonderful coats. 

Some of them are completely bare,


while others still sport leaves of yellow,


or red.


or orange.


Do you think when they are standing side by side that they compare their leaves? Does the one that still has its autumn coat boast to the one that is bare?


and does the one that is bare say, "but wait, you will soon be like me"?

I wonder. I think I will go outside and listen. Maybe I can catch their whisperings.


 

Monday, November 4, 2013

pursuing the simple life.....natural cleaning

Does your cleaning closet look anything like mine?



EEEEKK!!!!

I would like to say that it is an embarrassment of riches, but what it is is just an embarrassment.

I hate all of the toxic cleaners that I have been using, and I am on a quest to replace them with natural green cleaners. 

I have a lot of allergies and I am concerned about how the chemicals in everyday cleaning products are making them worse. 

According to the American Lung Association ".... chemicals released when using cleaning supplies contribute to chronic respiratory problems, allergic reactions, and headaches." You can read more about that here.

We all want our homes to be clean, to smell good, and to be germ free, but at what risk are we using all of those disinfectants and bleaches. I think I became a bit of a germaphobe because I have a daughter with a primary immune deficiency. She doesn't have the ability to fight off germs the way the majority of us do, but she also doesn't want to be exposed to all of those toxic chemicals. So even though she is now grown and living on her own, I still want to use products that will keep my home relatively germ free without feeling like I am living in a toxic wasteland. 

I have been doing some research on using products that I already have on hand. That is a good thing because it will save me money.

source
You can get information about using toothpaste, lemon, vinegar, and much more here. I love that hydrogen peroxide is disinfecting. 

There are also some great natural and eco friendly products that you can buy. Two that I personally like are:

Seventh Generation

via

and Method.

via

So now I am on a mission. Hmmmmm!!!!! Now how do I dispose of those old toxic products. Guess I will have to research that next.



Full disclosure: I am not being compensated in any way for the mention of these products. I just like them, but free products are always welcome in my life.