My life. . . streamlined

I pretty much balk at the idea of New Year's Resolutions, always have. This year, however, I just had too many things bugging me (I know, me, bugged, who would have guessed) to NOT make some changes. I'm not saying I got all official and laminated a list or anything. It's all floating around in my noggin, and there it will stay. One thing I will say is that I'm trying to simplify in many ways. In that spirit of thrift I thought of the Strunk and White mantra "omit needless words". Taking those words totally out of context I wandered very stream-of-consciousness-like to thinking about how much time I waste in the copious amounts of text floating around the web. Then, for a fraction of a second I considered checking out of the blog-o-sphere altogether and imagined HOW much time I would have to do. . . well, anything else. Good thing I didn't entertain that idea for long; because if there's one thing I learned from the very first journal I ever kept, it's that writing is cleansing. Doesn't matter if I'm babbling (kind of like now) to myself and breaking every language usage rule there is. It clears my head, period. So, with THAT explanation out of the way I thought I'd share with you a few of the other streamlining ideas I rejected.
I was thinking. . .

• hairless cat? (and shave the dogs, and the kids for that matter)
• make the kids' socks out of swiffer sheets? (if only I could really sew)
• throw kids' dirty clothes in the tub with them?
• read kids whatever book I'm reading to myself?
• don't sleep?
• stop wearing makeup?
• use paper plates?
• maid? (was sure that one was a keeper. . .)
• feed the kids cereal for every meal?
• move the chickens to the basement? (saving in SO many ways there)
• leave hay barn open so horses can help themselves?
• stop answering the phone?
• don't exercise. . .or work. . .or shop?
• toilet train cat and leave dogs outside?
• boarding school?

I could go on all night, but that would be wasting valuable time.

Treats I Can Sink My Teeth Into. . .

Okay, so I can pretty much sink my teeth into (and am willing to sink my teeth into. . .) most treats. BUT I don't always want my kids to treat themselves to all the irresistible snacks that I would - at least without my supervision. Two reasons: First (and most importantly) - some treats are just for me. . . and maybe Tyler, if he's nice. I'm not talking about a secret stash of something BAD here, but let's be honest no three-year-old has a palate that would really appreciate a square of Scharffen Berger bitter chocolate. Might as well give them M&Ms, or even the fake M&Ms - they'll be just as happy. . . and so will I. Second - Maybe some kids out there have (and pay heed to) a "that's enough" warning signal in their heads. My oldest actually rarely overeats anything, including treats. The other two? Fuhgettabouditt! They'll eat snacks until they're quite literally sick if we let them. (ie: if they 're sneaky enough.)

The solution? Healthy snacks that are good enough the kids sneak those instead of the alternatives. Several years ago Tyler introduced me to the best dried apples ever. His mom had dried them from some of the trees in their orchard. I've never been a fan of most dried apples - mostly because I 'm not a fan of eating cardboard OR styrofoam which is what most dried apples taste like to me. So why were hers so different? She used a different variety of apple - Jonathons. Not Jonagolds, Jonathons.

Aren't they beautiful?

SO yummy, I swear. Unfortunately we took out the Jonathon Apple trees a few years ago and are left with a bunch of Red Delicious trees- which are not so delicious (although the boys and the horses like them just fine. . .). I always look for Jonathons in the stores and farmers markets and I was so excited last week when I found some. (Yay!) So we've been using one of my favorite kitchen gadgets - my apple peeler/corer/slicer and drying a ton of apples. (Alright, a couple of bushels or something, but it seemed like a ton.)

The boys take turns using the gadget and then run around the house eating the long strings-o-apple-peel. (and screaming of course, but that has nothing to do with the apples, that's just all about little boys. I don't know why. It makes no sense to me.) I even made a pie for no reason other than we had so many apples. I'm feeling so very Martha Stewart-ish. And now we're monitoring the dried apple consumption instead of the Halloween candy. Much better.