The Zen HousewifeThe Zen HousewifeZen and the Art of Household Maintenance Articles
Book review: How to live off-grid
2007-06-07 12:21:00 "Have you ever wanted to unplug from the rat race and free yourself?" asks Nick Rosen in his new book How to live off-grid. In it he provides not only the inspiration to get off the beaten track and find your own space, he also provides countless resources to help you do just what he suggests, and live off-grid.Nick's book was published just this week, to coincide with the celebration of World Environment Day, and this in itself will give you some idea as to his environmental stance. He makes the case for off-grid living citing environmentalism, post-consumerism, survivalism and geopolitics as all being good reasons to make the break with "our familiar world of commuting, mortgages, no time, and fast food".To gather the information to write this book, Nick Rosen took to the road with his wife and baby daughter in a converted care bus fuelled by vegetable oil and sun. They toured the UK meeting with off-gridders of all sorts. Yurt-dwellers, communards, utopians and rural squatte... More About: Book Review , Review , Book , Grid , Live
Recipe: Baked Strawberry Cheesecake
2007-06-07 12:08:00 We?ve been enjoying local polytunnel-grown strawberries while we are waiting for ours to ripen. It?s a good idea to make the most of what?s in season, so apart from eating lots of them just as they are, or with yoghurt or ice-cream, I?ve also devised this Stra wberry Cheesecake recipe. Unfortunately I didn't think of photographing it before it was devoured by family and friends. Perhaps I'll bake another one next week and photograph that one. Tracy?s Baked Strawberry Cheesecake You?ll need to make this the day before you want to eat it. Ingredients: 50g organic butter 200g chocolate chip biscuits (crushed in a food processor or by hand) 2 cartons Devon Gold curd cheese 1 carton Cornish clotted cream 75g unrefined golden caster sugar 25g cornflour 3 free-range organic eggs, beaten 1 tsp vanilla extract with vanilla seeds 200g fresh strawberries, sliced Preheat the oven to 170?C (gas mark 3). Grease and line with baking parchment a loose-bottomed 18cm diameter cake ... More About: Recipe
Carnival of Housewives no. 1
2007-06-04 09:59:00 Welcome to the very first Carnival of Housewives, and a big thank you to everyone who submitted a blog post (even though it may have escaped me at first).This month's Carnival of Housewives is being held here at The Zen Housewife, and I'm hoping that others will take up the challenge and host the carnival at their blogs in future months. If you would like to host Carnival of Housewives at your blog, please contact me at carnivalofhousewives[at]googlemail[dot]co m.Our first submission is the wonderful tongue-in-cheek post about Jon Swift's mother entitled My Mother is a Terrible Person. It never ceases to amaze me how some women manage to do so much. Jon Swift is not himself a housewife, but I thought that this post deserved a spot on the carnival as it was in honour of someone who was not only a housewife, but by all accounts a great parent, and women's rights activist.Millennium Mom gives us her Top 10 reasons to be a WAHM.Daddy Dialectic brings us Stay-at-home parenting: a p... More About: Ouse
Apology
2007-06-04 09:52:00 To anyone who was surprised by my last post because they had indeed submitted a post for the Carnival of Housewives, my sincere apologies. I had been expecting notifications of submissions by email from the Blog Carnival home page, and when I didn't receive any, I wrongly assumed that there weren't any submissions. There have in fact been 13 submissions. I will be posting the Carnival post later on today. Thanks Anne for getting me to go back and check. More About: Apology , Ology , Polo
Washed out housewives
2007-06-03 18:20:00 Looks like my Housewife Carnival idea took a bit of a nose dive. Not a single submission. I'm going to give it another month to see if there is any interest. It's meant to be a bit of fun, for those of us who are brave enough to be housewives in this crazy world. House-husbands welcome too. More About: Ouse
Here's an entertaining way to fold T-shirts
2007-05-28 17:05:00 For hours of T-shirt folding fun. More About: Shirts , T-Shirts , T-Shirt , Enter , Entertaining
10 Things to Do During a Power Failure
2007-05-28 11:50:00 This isn't meant to be a post about who to call when your electricity goes off, or how to "cope" with the situation. This post is about having fun when the lights have gone out and you have an evening to wile away.1. Find a torch.2. Go and get some wood from the woodpile and set a fire in the fireplace. (Or make a campfire/barbecue outside if it's summer).3. Light candles (be careful where you put these if you have children running around).4. Put some water on to boil for a cup of tea. A camping kettle or storm kettle will be perfect for this.5. Get your guitar out and sing a few "round-the-campfire" songs.6. Talk, laugh, tell stories.7. Stare into the fire until you're hypnotised.8. Play charades.9. Toast marshmallows.10. Enjoy the silence, not even the fridge is buzzing in the background.A short while ago we spend an evening in the dark when a mains fuse blew in our house. We had one of the best evenings we've had in ages, with no-one watching TV or using the com... More About: Power , Failure , Things , Thing , To Do
Just One of Those Days
2007-05-24 23:46:00 It's so easy to be hard on ourselves when things don't go according to plan. Here's a gentle reminder to forgive yourself and start over (thanks Karen). More About: Days , Hose
Be at One with your Wooden Furniture
2007-05-23 18:23:00 I find the grain of wood so beautiful, it draws me in and makes me want to run my hands over it. Appreciate your wooden tables and chairs (and any other wooden furniture for that matter) by making a natural polishing oil and enjoying rubbing it into the grain with a soft cloth. Make up a mixture of 2 teaspoons each lemon juice (strained) and olive oil (or jojoba or linseed), dip your cloth into it and rub. (Please note this should only be used on unvarnished wood). More About: Furniture , Wooden , With You
Where will our grandchildren play?
2007-05-23 00:40:00 This one goes out to all the moms. What are we leaving for our children's children? More About: Play , Grand , Where
Where will our grandchildren play?
2007-05-23 00:40:00 This one goes out to all the moms and dads. What are we leaving behind for our children's children? More About: Play , Grand , Where
How to Wash a Dish
2007-05-21 12:48:00 I'll start by telling you that I have a dishwasher, and I love my dishwasher very much. I've had it for about two years, and it's freed up lots of time to spend with my kids, so I appreciate it every day. Even though I don't wash too many dishes these days, I still do wash a few, and I like to carefully wipe each dish with a tea towel when unpacking the dishwasher, before putting it away perfectly dry.Here's how to wash a dish, mindfully:1. Fill the sink with warm soapy water.2. Roll up your sleeves and plunge your hands into the water.3. Still your thoughts, and concentrate only on the feeling of the water.4. Pick up a dish and the dishcloth. Give your full attention to the dish. Appreciate its function. Appreciate its beauty.5. If you find yourself drifting off in thought, gently bring your attention back to the task in hand.6. Bear in mind these words of wisdom from Vietnamese Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh:?Once you are standing in front of the sink with your sleeves... More About: Wash , Dish
Where will our granchildren play?
2007-05-19 22:45:00 This one goes out to all the moms and dads. What are we leaving behind for our children's children?I found this video on Celsias blog. More About: Play , Here , Where , Ranch
Blog Carnivals
2007-05-19 20:53:00 In this past week, The Zen Housewife has been included in the Meditation, Yoga and Spiritual Grown Blog Carnival at K-L Masina, as well as the Carnival of SAHMs at Wired for Noise.I'm trying to round up the housewives for a Carnival of Housewives, anybody interested? Send me an email. More About: Carnivals
How to Compost Without the Mess
2007-05-18 18:01:00 Composting is a great way to reduce the amount of rubbish that you send to landfill, and it provides lots of lovely, nutritious compost for your garden. That said, it can be a rather messy process. From the mouldy slurry in the bottom of the compost collection bucket in the kitchen, to the muddy walk to the composter at the bottom of the garden. After 5 years of trying out various different systems, I now have one that involves very little mess at all.What you need:1 pair of wellington boots1 kitchen biobag bin and biobags1 composterStep-by-step:1. Keep the biobag bin lined with a biobag on your kitchen counter or windowsill (near to where you will be creating vegetable peelings).2. When the biobag is full, lift it out of the bin and carry it to the backdoor where your wellingtons await.3. Slip on said wellington boots.4. With dry feet, make your way to the compost bin at the bottom of the garden and easily fling the biobag into the compost (take the lid off the composter fir... More About: Mess
Learning From a Master
2007-05-18 17:39:00 Soyen Shaku was the monk who brought Zen to America. He lived his life by these 10 rules. Imagine how different our lives would be if we all lived like this: 1. Upon awakening, quit your bed at once, like discarding a useless pair of shoes. 2. In the morning, before dressing, light incense and meditate. 3. Eat at regular intervals and only to the point of satisfying hunger. 4. Retire at a regular hour. 5. Receive a guest as when you are alone. Be alone as if you had received a guest. 6. Be aware of what you say. Say only what you would do. 7. Do not forego opportunity, nevertheless, think twice. 8. Do not regret the past but look instead to the future. 9. Have the fearless heart of a hero and the loving heart of a child. 10. When you retire to sleep do so as if it is your last night.From Hermit's Thatch More About: Learning , Master , Learn , Mast , Earning
Link Love Flowing Outward Through the Blogosphere
2007-05-17 23:02:00 There are some top-quality blogs out there giving help to the housewife. Here are two that I really like:TipNut.com - More useful than great-aunt Mabel, this gem of a blog will tell you how to make your own sandwich spread, cook for hordes or be a good farm-holiday guest. Brilliant household tips all the way!The Good Human - Those kitchen appliances deserve a little love too. All natural cleaning solutions for ovens, fridges and microwaves. More About: Love , Blogosphere , Link , Through
How to Green up your Cleaning
2007-05-17 16:52:00 To live an honest, decent life we must take responsibility for our actions, and live with an ethic of right action and right effort. It is up to us to decide what right action and right effort is for us. For me, continuing to pour poisonous cleaning solutions down my drain and spraying them all over my homes isn't right, not once I know the damage that they do to our environment and my family's health. I must make the effort to buy and use cleaning products that are environmentally friendly and non toxic.Once the decision is made to green up your act, the transition is not a difficult one. These days all supermarket shelves are well stocked with Ecover products, and Tesco even has their own brand of eco-friendly cleaning products called Naturally. For the frugal housewife, there may be some suspicion directed at Ecover as it is in some cases a little more expensive that the environmentally-unfriendly brands. If this is an issue, the Tesco branded products are worth trying a... More About: Cleaning , Green
The Power of Storage, Part 2
2007-05-16 21:34:00 In this second of two posts on using storage to bring a more peaceful atmosphere to your home, I would like to start with a reminder that storage won't bring that longed-for peace unless you have de-cluttered your home first. We shouldn't be hoarding or imprisoning lots of neglected stuff in our storage solutions. Our storage solutions are there to look after our chosen possessions, and to lessen their cluttering effect on our homes. When we put our things away in a well organised manner, we are caring for them and know exactly where they are. I have been working on de-cluttering and storing my possessions more effectively for a little while now, and hardly a week goes by when I'm not heading down to a charity shop with a few more bags of things that I've eventually realised I simply don't need.What will we put away and what will we display?Books:I love my books and think that they look great arranged by height in long rows on a bookshelf. If you have any books at all it'... More About: Power , Storage , Stor , Part
The Freedom of Routine
2007-05-15 09:24:00 "Zen is not some kind of excitement, but concentration on our usual everyday routine."- Shunryu SuzukiRoutines can help to calm and steady us. And when we are calm and steady, and know what to do (and so don't need to spend time thinking about it), we can still our minds and allow ourselves to experience Zen.Routines are not here to tell us what to do, so that when we fail to follow them we can beat ourselves up about them. While operating within our routines, we must remain aware that change is the only constant, and we may have to change our routines to fit in with the demands of our family's lives.Routines also offer rhythm to our lives, just like nature's rhythms of spring, summer, autumn, winter and spring. Rhythm is soothing. We are conditioned to think of routine as something best avoided and tedious. But in reality, routine is about doing the things that need to be done. There's no need for it to be about mindless repetition. With attention, it can be an exercise i... More About: Freedom , Reed
The Power of Storage, Part 1
2007-05-14 09:09:00 You've de-cluttered as much as you can, but still your living room looks untidy? It's time to put the power of storage into action. Stor age is the solution to mess, provided you have de-cluttered and have enough storage. In this series of posts we are looking at what we need, and how to house all your must-have stuff.My personal preference is built-in storage whenever possible. That way the storage just melts into the walls, and you don't even realise it's there. This is a good option if you're just moving in to a new house and have some money to spend to get the place furnished. Or if you are looking to give your home a makeover and are happy to spend some money to get it sorted out.If you have only a little, or no money to spend, don't despair. There is a solution to your storage issues too. Bear with me and we'll explore these in more detail.Built-in Storage:If you decide on the built-in storage route, there are two routes that you could take. The first is to make ... More About: Power , Part
Carnival of Housewives
2007-05-13 20:02:00 Want this badge?I am very pleased to announce the launch of a new blog carnival for housewife bloggers: Carnival of Housewives.Just like other blog carnivals, the Carnival of Housewives will travel from blog to blog, on a monthly basis, or more often if there is the demand. Each month, one blogging housewife will host the carnival on her blog. The carnival will be in the format of one post including links to submissions received by other blogging housewives from their blogs. The previous and following months' hosting blogs will also be flagged up in this post.To submit a post: Send an email including a link to the blog post that you would like to submit, a short summary or discription of the post, and the name of the blog it features on to carnivalofhousewives@googlemail.comAny post written by a blogging housewife can be submitted. The content should relate to your homemaking lifestyle in some way. Posts will need to be submitted by the Thursday before the carnival is due to be... More About: Ouse
The Zen of Housework
2007-05-13 14:44:00 When we approach housework from the view that there are chores to be done before we can get on with enjoying ourselves, there's just no way that we are going to enjoy the housework. Equally, we're unlikely to get any enjoyment out of it if we are only doing it to please others, or because we feel it's expected of us. So where is the enjoyment in housework?The key lies in mindfulness. Mindfulness involves being aware of the present moment, without judgement, without opinion and without thinking. You simply observe the moment that you find yourself in, and one moment follows another. When you are interrupted by thoughts, you realise that you've been interrupted, and let the thought go. Then you steer your mind back to the present moment.To apply this practice to housework, we approach each task without judgement, and without the presumption that we aren't going to enjoy it. We focus on a task and allow ourselves to be immersed in it, without thinking about. Be the task! ... More About: Ouse , Ework
The Clutter Cliché
2007-05-11 17:52:00 I'm married to an architect. An architect who thinks that minimalism is the pinnacle of style and beauty. The poor man ended up with me. I don't have anything against minimalism, per se. It's just that I have a lot of stuff. I'm not the ornaments and trinkets type, but I do like books and gadgets, and I've got a lot of them. I also have a tendency to hoard things that may be useful at some point. It's this second group of things that I've am working on letting go of.Recently a friend of mine told me a little secret that she lives by: make sure that your home has few enough things in it, so that when you do leave your stuff lying around, it doesn't look cluttered. It's about taking it back to basics, and making good use of storage. I'm implementing this advice, little by little, in my home. The results have been very pleasing. By creating more space around myself, I'm achieving peace in my surroundings. Why not try it?At this point, I'd like to quote a little ... More About: Clic , Clutter
The clutter cliche
2007-05-11 17:52:00 I'm married to an architect. An architect who thinks that minimalism is the pinnacle of style and beauty. The poor man ended up with me. I don't have anything against minimalism, per se. It's just that I have a lot of stuff. I'm not the ornaments and trinkets type, but I do like books and gadgets, and I've got a lot of them. I also have a tendency to hoard things that may be useful at some point. It's this second group of things that I've am working on letting go of.Recently a friend of mine told me a little secret that she lives by: make sure that your home has few enough things in it, so that when you do leave your stuff lying around, it doesn't look cluttered. It's about taking it back to basics, and making good use of storage. I'm implementing this advice, little by little, in my home. The results have been very pleasing. By creating more space around myself, I'm achieving peace in my surroundings. Why not try it?At this point, I'd like to quote a little ... More About: Clic , Clutter
What is Zen?
2007-05-11 09:07:00 Before I launch into how to find Zen in housework, I'd like to explain a little more about Zen. Let me start by saying that Zen can't be simply explained. Zen is the reason of unreason, that which is not, the simplest phenomena, but also probably the most difficult thing in the world to explain. Zen is a state of awareness where the mystery of life in the present moment can be perceived. Zen is an experience, a sudden realisation. Philosopher and theologian Alan Watts describes Zen thus:Zen is a way and a view of life which does not belong to any of the formal categories of modern Western thought. It is not a religion or a philosophy; it is not a psychology nor a type of science. It is an example of what in India is known as a 'way of liberation', and is similar in this respect to Yoga, Taoism, and Vedanta. A way of liberation can have no positive definition.Does that make sense?Zen is defined by what it isn't.So now that we're all not entirely sure what Zen is, let's...
What is Zen?
2007-05-11 09:07:00 Before I launch into how to find Zen in housework, I'd like to explain a little more about Zen. Let me start by saying that Zen can't be simply explained. Zen is the reason of unreason, that which is not, the simplest phenomena, but also probably the most difficult thing in the world to explain. Zen is a state of awareness where the mystery of life in the present moment can be perceived. Zen is an experience, a sudden realisation. Philosopher and theologian Alan Watts describes Zen thus:Zen is a way and a view of life which does not belong to any of the formal categories of modern Western thought. It is not a religion or a philosophy; it is not a psychology nor a type of science. It is an example of what in India is known as a 'way of liberation', and is similar in this respect to Yoga, Taoism, and Vedanta. A way of liberation can have no positive definition.Does that make sense?Zen is defined by what it isn't.So now that we're all not entirely sure what Zen is, let's...
Zen and the Art of Household Maintenance
2007-05-10 12:15:00 Hello, my name is Tracy and I am the Zen Housewife. Just a year ago I was probably the world's worst housewife. Now I'm middling to good, and thoroughly enjoying it. So, what's changed? My mind has. During last summer I discovered Zen, and have become a meditator. At first the changes I noticed were to do with my relationships, I'm calmer and happier with my children, and I don't argue with my husband as often as I used to. Road-rage has become a thing of the past. And then, I read a book called Sweeping Changes: Zen and the Art of Household Maintenance . It gave me some food for thought on my approach to housework, and while it's taken a little while to get into the swing of things, I've now reached a point where I am enjoying my work, and even feel that I have some words of wisdom to pass on to other housewives who find housekeeping to be boring and far too much effort.If you're one of those housewives (or househusbands or even housesingletons, we don't discrimin... More About: Hold , The A , Ouse
Zen and the Art of Household Maintenance
More articles from this author:2007-05-10 12:15:00 Hello, my name is Tracy and I am the Zen Housewife. Just a year ago I was probably the world's worst housewife. Now I'm middling to good, and thoroughly enjoying it. So, what's changed? My mind has. During last summer I discovered Zen, and have become a meditator. At first the changes I noticed were to do with my relationships, I'm calmer and happier with my children, and I don't argue with my husband as often as I used to. Road-rage has become a thing of the past. And then, I read a book called Sweeping Changes: Zen and the Art of Household Maintenance . It gave me some food for thought on my approach to housework, and while it's taken a little while to get into the swing of things, I've now reached a point where I am enjoying my work, and even feel that I have some words of wisdom to pass on to other housewives who find housekeeping to be boring and far too much effort.If you're one of those housewives (or househusbands or even housesingletons, we don't discrimin... More About: Hold , The A , Ouse 1, 2, 3 |
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