Top Ten Lists
Top Ten List of Small Things Pt. 2
On January 31, 2021 by Speranza
4. Feeding the Birds: Many years ago, I was a well-intentioned novice, hanging out a puck of seedy suet which no bird was ever able to access due to its squirrel value. I also purchased jumbo bags of suspiciously cheap seed which produced the same experience. I now finally have a practice that works. We only buy Safflower and Niger seed which the squirrels have almost zero interest in and the feeders are always well attended. Mr.& Mrs. Cardinal arrive together, politely taking turns and transform the front window into a Victorian Christmas card. There are finches too and many others and I am always touched by their gentle, searching faces. I do feed the squirrels, separately, in the backyard and cannot dislike them as many people do; in fact, we now have three “regulars” that we have named: ‘Sid Vicious’ (arrogant-cool, often knocking at the window, smiling crookedly); ‘Elvis,’ black fur and ears slicked straight back and ‘The Friar,’ the largest of all and could easily pass for a groundhog as he teeters on the ledge, where I’ve left a few peanuts in the shell and apple cores. Yes, I’m aware how geriatric this all sounds but it adds another much needed strata of connection in these dark Covid days.
Covid Times . Introspection . Top Ten Lists
Top Ten List of Small Things
On January 30, 2021 by Speranza
This is not intended to be yet another gust of Pollyanna-overload – I only seek to catalogue a few of the things that have helped even a little during these endless days of sad news. I think it was Stephen Colbert, (himself one of these helpful things) who commented recently that he was really looking forward to not hearing the words “another grim milestone” every.single.day. I am also acutely aware how lucky we are to be able to plan and discuss coping strategies – because after all, the luxury of time, companionship and good food are all such individual gifts.
And I get that.
Cleaning . De-Cluttering & Organizing . Top Ten Lists
Top Ten Reasons Why Organizing isn’t as Satisfying as They Say
On March 28, 2016 by Speranza
10. All those towels rolled as tightly as the folds in our brains may look pristine on the shelf but as a colleague of mine once lamented, how can I get the stripes to line up? (I hope she is now seeking help from someone other than Ralph Lauren.)
9. I worry about our collective obsession with clear plastic containers and bulk-buying. Is there an apocalyptic-style concern about suddenly not being able to access Q-tips?
8. Contradictory messages abound. Flip through any glossy paged cookbook and you will find well-dressed people idly admiring produce at an outside market as a wizened (but also well-dressed) vendor shares a joke. Not many of us can shop like this daily. I myself try to fake it by doing a market run as often as my job allows. The resulting sparkle however is hollow and short-lived; I never carry my baguette in a wicker basket either.
7. My eldest brother who is an Organizer Formidable has an entire drawer in his kitchen calligraphically labelled “Egg” and there resides a snug family of whisks, beaters, timers and coddlers. Although I tease him, I secretly think this is brilliant although I know I am not compulsive enough to have one myself.
Top Ten Lists
Top Ten Bits of Random Wisdom
On October 4, 2015 by Speranza
10. Did you know that those egg slicers with the tight little wires across are the perfect thing for slicing strawberries – so quick and efficient and the perfect distraction for someone small or a slightly drunken dinner guest who wants to “help” with dessert … Credit to Frasier for bringing this to my attention!
9. If you are about to discard an expensive tube of hand cream/anchovy paste/anything that comes in a PLASTIC tube think again! Cutting the end off with scissors – literally takes a second – can give you quite a few more uses.
8. I realized this summer that slices of lime and lemon freeze brilliantly! No more hardened ends in the fridge, just slice them up all at once, toss into a ziplock bag and you have an ice cube AND a zip of citrus for future gin and tonics or …er … sparkling water.
7. There is probably no one alive today who does not know this but just in case, the best way to rid the kitchen of fruit flies is by putting Cider vinegar – and it must be cider vinegar – in a saucer, stretching plastic wrap across the top and then making a few holes with a fork. Sad, but I believe they do go happy.
6. If you have a dog/cat you will at some point have to deal with evil, rage-inducing clean-up issues and I am not talking about fur. I therefore suggest bookmarking the instructions listed here from the nice people at Cats of Australia because they actually WORK! http://www.catsofaustralia.com/urinestainremoval.htm
Being A Mum . Frasier and Niles . Top Ten Lists