Money Secrets of the Amish was a fun, functional, entertaining, and informative story, emanating from the author's observations and interviews conducted in Amish homes and workplaces in Michigan.
Ms. Craker is respectful and admiring of the work ethic and frugality of the Amish families she visited. She gives pointers that Englishers will use to their benefit if they are willing to practice similar habits of Repurposing, Reducing, and Reusing.
Among the quotes I took to heart: ". . . the Amish believe that a gift given too easily robs children of the joy of earning it themselves."
A frugal tip that the author shares and that I will try, is to reuse aluminum foil by balling it up and putting it in the dryer with wet laundry. "It removes static and never has to be changed." I love those household tips that incorporate avoidance of adding chemicals to the environment. Of course, the Amish women more likely wash with a washboard and hang their clothes on a clothesline for the benefits of solar drying.
Ms. Craken reminds us that "the Amish view debt as a very real plague. . . . It goes completely against the grain for the Amish to go into hock to pay their expenses. Instead, they will find extra jobs or things to sell to come up with the extra cash."
I liked this book a lot; and I found lots of suggestions that will help me with good ideas for reasonable frugality in the "Englisher" world.
I highly recommend Money Secrets of the Amish: Finding True Abundance in Simplicity, Sharing, and Saving by Lorilee Craker.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Beautiful Hawaiian Romantic Adventure
I just finished In the Middle of the Third Planet's Most Wonderful of Oceans for Kindle. I really like Everett Peacock's laid back Hawaiian stories. I plan on reading all of his books. It's just fun, feel-good reading; although the tragedy in the cane fields did shake me up a bit. I wasn't expecting that. It may have been a true or true to life event that was depicted. I put the book away for a few days after reading that part; then when I went back to the story, it turned upbeat again.
After reading two of Everett Peacock's Hawaiian adventures, I'm a huge fan. I love his writing style; and I love visiting the Hawaiian Islands. Now I know I'll go back again and likely enjoy being a Tourist even more than the first two times.
After reading two of Everett Peacock's Hawaiian adventures, I'm a huge fan. I love his writing style; and I love visiting the Hawaiian Islands. Now I know I'll go back again and likely enjoy being a Tourist even more than the first two times.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
60 Life Lessons for 60 Years of Life
1. Forgiveness is everything.
2. I cannot change anyone else
3. “All is well.”
4. Gratitude is a blessing.
5. Life is learning. Learning is life.
6. I have no control. Surrender is peace.
7. “As above, so below.” What I experience creates a world experience.
8. My thoughts guide my experience.
9. Watching the news on TV is depressing.
10. I wouldn’t trade lives with anyone.
11. Outward experiences are temporary. The glow of a new car, a new house, or new clothes wears off.
12. When my house is messy, my soul is not getting enough of my attention.
13. My choices make a deep impression. When I treat someone badly, I can’t walk away from the consequences.
14. Death isn’t really the end. I still have a relationship with loved ones who transitioned before me.
15. A cemetery can be a blessing.
16. I don’t have all the answers, but I usually think I do.
17. “Silence is golden.” If fills my heart with room to grow.
18. The devil is just a voice in my head.
19. Breathing is more important than I knew for assessing the situation.
20. Home cooked food matters.
21. Sauteing an onion is a wonderful way to fill my home with blessings.
22. Crying is good.
23. Everything that seems important today passes.
24. The sun on my skin is nourishing.
25. There are too many rules.
26. Beauty is awesome. Art and music create rich experiences.
27. Sometimes I need to complain, blame, and get out the nasty energy.
28. Falling in love is a temporary condition.
29. Be polite.
30. The consequences of bad behavior last longer than the fun of being nasty.
31. Resentments are evil. They make life miserable.
32. Sometimes I disappoint myself. There’s always a brighter day ahead.
33. Saltwater cures cold sores.
34. Zinc can stave off a sore throat.
35. Hot, hot, hot weather is a good excuse to stay indoors.
36. Fresh air is an amazing mood enhancer.
37. Each decade of life holds a different experience of what matters.
38. Chocolate can be addictive.
39. Perfectionists are irritating.
40. Friendships change.
41. Staying in the “now” is harder than it sounds.
42. Tastes in music are surprising.
43. Sometimes asking God for help is the only way to resolve a situation.
44. Advertising is designed to make me feel unworthy.
45. Salespeople often seem to have a personal interest in me only until the sale is made or declined.
46. Everyone is not my cup of tea.
47. Metaphors are the way I understand the world.
48. I can get irritated unreasonably. It’s not always their fault.
49. Health is nice; and often people who are unhealthy are experiencing a rich spiritual life.
50. Our paths are amazingly different.
51. Truth is not as simple as it used to be.
52. “An enemy is a double friend.” The lessons learned in betrayal stick with me.
53. Not everyone agrees on what is fascinating.
54. Out paths through life are incredibly varied.
55. I love routines. They provide structure.
56. I can do one thing that’s in front of me to do.
57. Retirement is a new start, like putting new tires on the car.
58. “Work is love made visible.” –Khalil Gibran
59. “Keep the focus on myself in the here and now.”—12 Step Saying
60. Goals must be written and put on the calendar. High achievers Prioritize and focus on one immediate goal, then assess it daily
2. I cannot change anyone else
3. “All is well.”
4. Gratitude is a blessing.
5. Life is learning. Learning is life.
6. I have no control. Surrender is peace.
7. “As above, so below.” What I experience creates a world experience.
8. My thoughts guide my experience.
9. Watching the news on TV is depressing.
10. I wouldn’t trade lives with anyone.
11. Outward experiences are temporary. The glow of a new car, a new house, or new clothes wears off.
12. When my house is messy, my soul is not getting enough of my attention.
13. My choices make a deep impression. When I treat someone badly, I can’t walk away from the consequences.
14. Death isn’t really the end. I still have a relationship with loved ones who transitioned before me.
15. A cemetery can be a blessing.
16. I don’t have all the answers, but I usually think I do.
17. “Silence is golden.” If fills my heart with room to grow.
18. The devil is just a voice in my head.
19. Breathing is more important than I knew for assessing the situation.
20. Home cooked food matters.
21. Sauteing an onion is a wonderful way to fill my home with blessings.
22. Crying is good.
23. Everything that seems important today passes.
24. The sun on my skin is nourishing.
25. There are too many rules.
26. Beauty is awesome. Art and music create rich experiences.
27. Sometimes I need to complain, blame, and get out the nasty energy.
28. Falling in love is a temporary condition.
29. Be polite.
30. The consequences of bad behavior last longer than the fun of being nasty.
31. Resentments are evil. They make life miserable.
32. Sometimes I disappoint myself. There’s always a brighter day ahead.
33. Saltwater cures cold sores.
34. Zinc can stave off a sore throat.
35. Hot, hot, hot weather is a good excuse to stay indoors.
36. Fresh air is an amazing mood enhancer.
37. Each decade of life holds a different experience of what matters.
38. Chocolate can be addictive.
39. Perfectionists are irritating.
40. Friendships change.
41. Staying in the “now” is harder than it sounds.
42. Tastes in music are surprising.
43. Sometimes asking God for help is the only way to resolve a situation.
44. Advertising is designed to make me feel unworthy.
45. Salespeople often seem to have a personal interest in me only until the sale is made or declined.
46. Everyone is not my cup of tea.
47. Metaphors are the way I understand the world.
48. I can get irritated unreasonably. It’s not always their fault.
49. Health is nice; and often people who are unhealthy are experiencing a rich spiritual life.
50. Our paths are amazingly different.
51. Truth is not as simple as it used to be.
52. “An enemy is a double friend.” The lessons learned in betrayal stick with me.
53. Not everyone agrees on what is fascinating.
54. Out paths through life are incredibly varied.
55. I love routines. They provide structure.
56. I can do one thing that’s in front of me to do.
57. Retirement is a new start, like putting new tires on the car.
58. “Work is love made visible.” –Khalil Gibran
59. “Keep the focus on myself in the here and now.”—12 Step Saying
60. Goals must be written and put on the calendar. High achievers Prioritize and focus on one immediate goal, then assess it daily
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
This book left me craving a Hawaiian vacation--June 1, 2011
I downloaded The Parrot Talks in Chocolate (The Life and Times of a Hawaiian Tiki Bar) to my Kindle when it was offered for $0.99, after reading rave reviews on the May 2011 Informal Poll.
I'm so glad that I was referred to this book. It is uplifting and inspiring--with vivid descriptions of life, adventure, and romance on the beautiful island of Maui.
The book is a fast read. I finished it in 3 days, mostly a chapter or two a night before going to sleep.
After putting the book down each night, I would start visualizing moving from my Arizona home to live on one of the Hawaiian islands. I may just do that sometime. Hawaii is one of my all time favorite places.
I'm so glad that I was referred to this book. It is uplifting and inspiring--with vivid descriptions of life, adventure, and romance on the beautiful island of Maui.
The book is a fast read. I finished it in 3 days, mostly a chapter or two a night before going to sleep.
After putting the book down each night, I would start visualizing moving from my Arizona home to live on one of the Hawaiian islands. I may just do that sometime. Hawaii is one of my all time favorite places.
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