Simplicity

“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”
~ Leonardo Da Vinci

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You’ve Got Mail

Photo of the Day

Today’s walk found my attention grabbed by this mailbox, complete with its number 11, its splashes of gray paint and its battered sides. It has a quirky charm I find appealing. Ditto the quirky charm and humor of Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks in the movie “You’ve Got Mail”.

They corresponded by e-mail and missed out on the hand written notes and letters so prevalent in years past. The almost instantaneous quality of e-mail does have its benefits though. One can get answers to questions and exchange ideas and thoughts far faster than snail mail. Now we’re making more use of texts, tweets and Facebook. Short communications. Is the long letter dead? What’s ahead? Time will tell.

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Here’s a quote I found on the topic of mail, also quirky and humorous:

Every once in a while, someone will mail me a single popcorn kernel that didn’t pop. I’ll get out a fresh kernel, tape it to a piece of paper and mail it back to them.  —Orville Redenbacher

Heeeeere’s Johnny! This one is strictly for humor. I love the postal service and mail things on a regular basis.

Mail your packages early so the post office can lose them in time for Christmas.  —Johnny Carson

A quote by Dan Fogelberg about loving home more than mail:

I love home. I’ll stay up there for days on end, I won’t even go down the driveway to look for the mail.  —Dan Fogelberg

A quote that makes one look back, fondly or not depending on your viewpoint. Do you still receive letters in your mailbox? Chances are the answer is occasionally or never. Do you wish you received hand-written notes and letters more often? I do.

It is hard to check five email inboxes, three voice mail systems, or five blogs that you are tracking.  —David Rose

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Photo of the Day: Zestful Beauty

“Zest is the secret of all beauty.
There is no beauty that is attractive without zest.”
—Christian Dior
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Sunflower Zest

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Beauty and Bread

“Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in,
where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul.”
—John Muir

Flowers next to a window in a restaurant

The photo above was taken at Forepaugh’s Restaurant in Saint Paul, Minnesota. They served us a potato bread that was delicious. You can always taste the difference between homemade bread and store-bought bread. If you like homemade bread, here’s a recipe for a quick bread that is flavored with savory herbs. Bon appetit!
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Herb and Onion Quick Bread Recipe

Ingredients:

1/2 cup milk
1-1/2 T sugar
1 t salt
1 T butter
1 package yeast
1/2 cup warm water
2-1/2 cups white or whole wheat flour
1/2 small onion, minced
1/2 t dried dill weed
1 t crushed, dried rosemary

Directions:

1. Scald the milk and dissolve in it the sugar, salt, and butter; cool to lukewarm.
2. In a large bowl, dissolve the yeast in the warm water. Add the cooled milk, minced onions and herbs. Stir well with a large wooden spoon.
3. When the batter is smooth, cover the bowl with a towel and let the dough rise in a warm place until triple in bulk—about 45 minutes.
4. Stir down and beat vigorously for a few minutes, then turn into a greased, small loaf pan (or a couple of smaller loaf pans). Let stand in a warm place about ten (10) minutes before putting in a preheated, 350 degree oven.
5. Bake for about an hour. Smaller loaf pans make bake faster so check accordingly.

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“When you have only two pennies left in the world,
buy a loaf of bread with one, and a lily with the other.”
—Chinese Proverb

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Shelter the Body, Comfort the Soul

“A house is a home when it shelters the body and comforts the soul.”
—Phillip Moffitt
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What part of your home comforts you?

Is it a single room in your house?
Is it a piece of furniture within your home?
Is it your garden and the plants you watch grow?
Is it the food you prepare in your kitchen?

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A great bathtub filled with hot water has always been a source of relaxation and comfort for me. Water in general has this effect on me, be it a river, a lake, an ocean, an outdoor shower, a swimming pool, or a deep soaking tub.

A bathroom in and of itself does not necessarily comfort my soul. Some bathrooms, such as this one, are created as much for their design as for their function. Utilitarian yet beautiful.

Plenty of natural light enhances the space. The windows are visually doubled by the use of a large wall mirror. A windowless bath benefits from the natural light that a skylight allows in.

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There’s also an organic, earthy quality to this bath with its wood cabinetry, tile flooring, and colors that can easily be found in nature. The semi-opaque glass in the dividing wall reminds me of an early morning fog that will burn off once the sun rises high enough.

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“The way to health is to have an aromatic bath and scented massage every day.”
—Hippocrates

What comforts your soul?

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