Choosing Voluntary Simplicity » Miscellaneous http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com About finding balance in your life, connecting with who you are, and creating a lifestyle where you wake up each morning eagerly anticipating the day ahead. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:14:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 en hourly 1 Hulled Corn or Samp — What It Is and How To Make It http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/hulled-corn-or-samp-what-it-is-and-how-to-make-it/ http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/hulled-corn-or-samp-what-it-is-and-how-to-make-it/#comments Mon, 21 Sep 2009 15:21:23 +0000 Shirley http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/?p=533

Reader question... "My husband wants me to make something called 'hulled corn.' He remembers his mother making it but I have never even heard of it and can't find a recipe. Do you have any idea of what hulled corn is or how it is made?" --Bethany W.

Yes to both questions!

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]]> http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/hulled-corn-or-samp-what-it-is-and-how-to-make-it/feed/ 1 How “Normal, Thin People” Eat http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/how-normal-thin-people-eat/ http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/how-normal-thin-people-eat/#comments Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:23:25 +0000 Shirley http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/how-normal-thin-people-eat/

Reader question... "I am wondering how all of you handle serving sizes at meal times? Do any of you actually follow the recommended servings per day when the family is served; and if so, how do you serve up the meal? Do you plate it up and then bring it to the table or do you let everyone serve themselves? What about seconds for family members without weight problems? I come from a family that has always been very overweight and my husband is also now very overweight. I really believe that the answer to the problem is to just eat smaller portions and concentrate on eating healthier, balanced meals. I am concerned about our children's eating habits... I want them to learn good habits for a lifetime but it has been confusing for me as to how to actually accomplish this. How often do you serve treats and deserts to your family? And again, when you do, do you only serve one serving for each person or just how does that work? Our kids love junk food and sweets... and so do we... I know that we must eat a lot less of these things... or do we have to eliminate them completely? Again... I think that the answer is to limit them... but I have no idea what 'occasionally' means. How often do you serve dessert, and how often do you have stuff like popcorn and the 'occasional bag of chips'? I guess this sounds stupid to most of you without any food and weight issues... but it is a big problem for those of us who do. I really would appreciate your input!!! I guess I am just wondering how 'normal, thin people' eat!! Help!! And thank-you!!!" --Anna

How would YOU answer these questions? »

]]> http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/how-normal-thin-people-eat/feed/ 27 Salt Beads, Salt Clay — A Fun Summer Project For Kids http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/salt-beads-salt-clay-a-fun-summer-project-for-kids/ http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/salt-beads-salt-clay-a-fun-summer-project-for-kids/#comments Tue, 16 Jun 2009 13:57:37 +0000 Shirley http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/salt-beads-salt-clay-a-fun-summer-project-for-kids/ During my years of doing volunteer work with children, crafts like these salt beads were always a huge hit. Recently I came across the very old recipe I used for making this salt clay and thought I would share it here. Working with this clay would be a fun summer project... doable for a wide range of ages... and the salt beads are especially interesting for older children looking for a quality "something" to make.

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]]> http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/salt-beads-salt-clay-a-fun-summer-project-for-kids/feed/ 0 How To Teach a Bird To Talk http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/how-to-teach-a-bird-to-talk/ http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/how-to-teach-a-bird-to-talk/#comments Thu, 04 Jun 2009 13:44:08 +0000 Shirley http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/how-to-teach-a-bird-to-talk/ Since I wrote about our talking Amazon parrot, several people have written to ask if I would share the techniques I used for teaching him to talk. I don't feel I can take the credit for our parrot's astonishing vocabulary, because although I did teach him his first words and phrases, his present-day "conversation" includes many, many words that I did not specifically teach him. He is continually expanding his vocabulary in the same way that a very young child picks up new words... just by interacting with us, listening to the words we use, and then trying out and using those words himself.

]]> http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/how-to-teach-a-bird-to-talk/feed/ 4 New England’s Dark Day — May 19, 1780 http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/new-englands-dark-day-may-19-1780/ http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/new-englands-dark-day-may-19-1780/#comments Tue, 19 May 2009 12:05:45 +0000 Shirley http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/new-englands-dark-day-may-19-1780/ Two hundred and twenty-nine years ago today, on May 19, 1780, an area of New England as far south as New Jersey and as far north as Maine experienced an event that has come to be known as "New England's Dark Day". The sky had been a strange yellowish-red color for several days, but before noontime on that day it had become as dark as early evening. Farm animals reacted as if night were approaching... chickens went to roost and cattle came back from grazing to be milked. It was too dark for any outdoor activities, and many people gathered in panicked groups, fearing that perhaps the world was coming to an end.

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]]> http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/new-englands-dark-day-may-19-1780/feed/ 0 Common Sense, Good Hygiene & the Flu Pandemic http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/common-sense-good-hygiene-the-flu-pandemic/ http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/common-sense-good-hygiene-the-flu-pandemic/#comments Sat, 02 May 2009 12:34:44 +0000 Shirley http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/common-sense-good-hygiene-the-flu-pandemic/ http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/common-sense-good-hygiene-the-flu-pandemic/feed/ 11