Paperless on Payment Lake

One of my second level 2011 resolutions was to use less paper around the house.  I tried to reduce my use of paper towels, cut down on magazine subscriptions, buy fewer books, and use my printer less.  As a result I reused a lot of cloth rags, read articles online, checked out more books from the library, used my Kindle (Kindle #4)  and got used to saving soft copies, rather than printing out and filing hard copies.

I think I'm ready to step it up this year.  I like the idea of limiting the amount of new paper I bring into our home, but I still have a lot of existing paper in the house filling files, drawers, boxes and bookshelves. This is more of a clutter/space environment issue than a green environment issue.

I've decided to focus on two additional paperless strategies this year: scanning documents (new and existing) and keeping only the books in my collection that I have a good reason to keep (frequently used or sentimental value). I'll keep you updated on my progress.

This afternoon I found out I might have to apply this same resolve to a new paper predicament that cropped up at work.  I was trying to track down a 2007 event expense when I discovered five banker boxes full of old event files in my colleague's closet.

I thought I had filed, bound, or tossed all the old documents last month. I didn't know we had event registrations, invoices, task lists, memos, etc going ten years back. I don't have the space or the need for all of this old documentation. My goal is to get this stuff scanned and/or shredded this month.  Luckily, worms like shredded paper.

Black-Eyed Peas for Luck

When I went to school in Virginia I was introduced to a number of southern delicacies that I had never really considered before, including greens and black-eyed peas.  While the two are enjoyed throughout the year, they are required eating in many homes for the New Year. Both greens and peas are associated with money and are eaten to bring financial luck and good fortune.

Since I enjoy almost any dried legume I can find in the grocery store, cooking up a pot of black-eyed peas for New Year's seems like an easy way to guarantee a successful 2012.

I had a nice black-eyed pea recipe I acquired in Virginia, but I don't have it here. I remember it being fairly complicated with a lot of heat.  I decided to take a simple approach this year.

I pre-soaked and cooked a bag of dried black-eyed peas then I let them cool. If you cook the peas at a low simmer, rather than a boil, the skins won't burst.  I was not patient enough to do this.

I chopped, sauteed and browned an onion with 3 cloves of garlic. I added just a touch of diced serrano pepper, a couple of squirts of balsamic vinegar, thyme, oregano, and beer. After the flavors combined I stirred in the peas and this time I set it at a very low simmer.

When I was ready to eat I folded in some baby spinach leaves as I didn't have any "real" greens.  I think the spinach worked. If it doesn't bring financial riches I know it will bring strength and health - it did for Popeye.

The dogs need luck too. I mixed a handful of plain cooked black-eyed peas into their food - so now they're LUCKY DOGS!  They were lucky this morning, when they got to forgo their walk due to the low (-12 degrees) temperature.

lucky, sofa-sleeping, dogs

Northwoods Beauty - good for the soul

Beauty -- be not caused -- It Is--

Chase it, and it ceases --

Chase it not, and it abides --

                           -Emily Dickinson

I've been reading a lot about beauty lately - the idea that  beautiful
thoughts build beautiful souls. I've been more aware of all the natural
beautiful that surrounds us each day. It starts in the morning with sunrise.

Beauty upon waking - December 31st sunrise

The simple act of eating is great fodder for observing
animal antics and the beauty of wild and domestic
animals and their relationships.

Deer eating in the yard

Otter eating on the lake

Dogs eating in the kitchen

Christmas is a great time to create some of beauty of our own making.

Christmas decorations
inside

Christmas decorations
outside

Nature always seems to do a better job and the lights don't burn out.

Christmas decorations by Nature

"The face of beauty is always present, even where others see non-beauty."

                                                        -Dr. Wayne Dyer

My beautiful worms!

Have a Red Hot Fun 2012

Asher was up early eyeing the new snowfall from the window and hinting for a walk.

About 5 inches of new snow - heavy and wet.  We only made it half way down the road before Maddie decided she wanted to turn around, but nothing slows Asher down.

Pete got  Arien out for the driveway, and in the meantime the county plow came down Ashe Road.

You can just see
the top of Pete's head

There he is with Arien

I filled the bird feeders with seed and filled the deer bucket with corn and that brought out the squirrels.

"I know you're out here."

"Come down and play."

The dogs have resolved to have a 2012 full of fun. So, grab your jacket, preferably a red one, and let's join them.

Pete & Beth at the Red Hot New Year's Eve Celebration
in Woodruff - Chili and Fireworks!

Gracie and Maddie didn't make it to Midnight,
but got a good night's sleep to start the fun in 2012.