A Fresh Scone on an Autumn Evening
The city feels kinda raw tonight; the leaves have turned into mush on the streets and the streets shine slick with rainwater. So what better treat that to throw on the slicker and head off down the street for a scone fresh from the oven.
Now I know if I had a bigger house I would probably make more of my own scones, or perhaps run back from the store with a dozen baked goods. But in this weather nothing beats a hot coffee, a fresh blueberry scone and a newspaper.
The simplicity of the city on a cool, crisp evening.
Paradise for $2.50
All the News That's Free to Read
Today I hear the news several times a day on CBCradio. I also check it out online and explore headlines. So it's not exactly as if I don't know what the main stories are.
But every now and then I want to read a newspaper, just pick it up and flip through it, find tidbits of information, check the obituaries, read the comics and enjoy the editorial cartoon.
But here in Vancouver there is never a reason to buy a newspaper. When I feel the need for a paper I just go to a coffee shop and have a small coffee and catch up on my reading. I never have coffee out unless there is a newspaper in the cafe. It really makes it an enjoyable half hour.
I often check the recycling behind the building to see what is in there. I don't mind reading a paper that is a couple of days old. I still enjoy the home section, check out the recipes, look at pictures of homes I'll probably never own. I never know which paper I am going to get, kinda like Vancouver roulette. I've grabbed Globe and Mail, Vancouver Sun or Province and even the Financial Post and New York Times. Someone else had read them first, buy why would I care.
Just one more simple perk of living in this great city.
Neighbourly Food
One of the great things about this city, and probably most cities is the neighbourhood community meals. In just 4 blocks around my place there are six places I could eat with others every month for a very small price. There is the Ukrainian Church which has this wonderful artery-busting meal once a month. Sausages, perogies, coffee and a little jello or pudding dessert for around $6.
The neighbourhood house has two meals a month; one is an international dinner served by people who originate in different countries. Lots of lovely foods, and most are things I had never tried before. There is also a general get-together meal there once a month. This meal is around $5.
Over to the tiny community centre on Main Street for a very simple meal for $4.50 and a bit of neighbourly gathering. There is also a coffee house there once a week and for the price of a coffee and home made cookie ($1) you hear some pretty great music.
There is also a sushi night once a year at the community centre. A well known community member and his team make tons of sushi and for a low price you can enjoy a good plate of sushi in an atmosphere rife with kids and families and quite a few first-time raw fish eaters.
Now some people might think these dinners are for people who don't have much money. Well, sure, some of those people go to the dinners, but it is more about building community, sharing a meal and sharing ideas.
The city is a wonderful place to learn about other cultures and other ways of life. I find that as I open myself up to these new ideas I become just a little bit more tolerant. It is the vast array of people with their different backgrounds that I find so fascinating in this city, and welcome opportunities to eat cheap and find out more.
The Little Corner Produce Store
One of the most wonderful things about city living are those little produce stores that pop up here and there. It is one of the places I love to walk to. I am a destination walker. I need somewhere to go. In the city I walk to the coffee shop and relax and read the paper, I walk to the library, I walk to a park and I often walk to a produce store.
I never buy my fruits and veg at the big shops, I cruise past a corner produce stall with my backpack ready and fill up on whatever is on sale this week. Today I got red and yellow peppers at 58 cents a pound, and squash for 39 cents. If I could have carried more I would also have stocked up on apples.
There is something special about the food there, the whole place today smells like apples. At other times it will smell more like oranges. I take time to look at the colours, the shapes and from time to time try something I never had before. Because we have a large Asian population here in Vancouver there is always something new to me.
So take 40 minutes this weekend. Walk to the produce store if you can. Have a coffee on the way home and bring home your treasures.
Simplicity at the Laundromat
I live in a condominium in the city. To do the laundry I have to go out my front door, lock it, go the elevator, go down three floors, unlock the basement door, put money in the laundry, go back 40 minutes later, put money in the dryer and carry the load all the way upstairs, through the doors and back to my place.
Sound like a hassle? Well that is what modern North Americans think of this, as a hassle. I used to also, but now I feel differently.Let me tell you why.
1. I have to think about and plan laundry day. It is an event in itself. I find myself doing the laundry in a meaningful way. Sure, it would be easy to pop a few things in the laundry at night in my own home, but I would forget they are there and I think I would be constantly doing laundry. This way I get it over with every 7 - 9 days.
2. I have to plan what to wash. Now that may sound funny to you, but I just don't believe in the philosophy of wear it once and wash it. Some things sure, like underwear and really sweaty shirts. But I see kids today wear a pair of jeans once and pop them in the laundry. I am not saying this is wrong, just not right for me and my lifestyle.
3. I meet people in the laundry. Today I had a chat with the caretaker of the building and found out a little bit about his life. I don't want to stay isolated in my own home all the time.
4. I get free magazines and books. In our laundry we have a book exchange. I just picked up the latest Chateleine and will read it with coffee later on.
5. I get to walk. I know my laundry takes 30 minutes, so I pop it in and head out the door. I need to be back in 30 minutes because someone else will want that washing machine. So my time seems worked out to me.
6. I never have to pay for the machines, get them fixed or replace them. My washer costs me 75 cents and my dryer the same. I can ususally wash 3 big loads and dry one big load and hang the rest.
All in all I value the simplicity of shared laundry. It goes against everything we have been told "own your own" washing machine, dryer, car, lawnmower, weedeater, bread machine, summer place, camping equipment and so on.
I am a happier person when I share.
Nothing Beats a Good Soup
Taking time to prepare good food is something many people find difficult to do. I have to agree that in a crazy world it is pretty hard. But weekend cooking is something I really enjoy and soups head the top of the list.
Yesterday I made a lovely minestrone soup. There is something wonderful about having it simmer all day on the stove. I used simple ingredients and served it with a bit of parmesan on top. A simple pleasure that reminds me that fall is here.
Here is how I make my soups:
Chop up an onion or two and saute in a couple of teaspoons of oil. Let the onion do its thing, slow and easy to bring out the sugar. Have a glass of wine or cup of coffee while it cooks and fill the house with onion scent.
Add in a chopped garlic or two. Oh heaven to the nose.
Now put in some spices and herbs. I added a bit of dried basil, some dried oregano and a tad of cinammon and let is fry up a bit.
Then I popped in some stock. Could be chicken, could be vegetable or could even be water if that is what you have.
After that I put in the harder vegetables. I just ransacked the fridge to see what what was in there. Some carrots, some green beans and some cut up red peppers and a bit of turnip diced pretty small (because it is pretty hard) Let the whole thing cook a bit more.
Now I plop in 1/2 can of stewed tomatoes, and squeeze the devil out of the whole tomatoes so they break up in the soup. Cook some more. If I have red wine, I glug a bit in now, if not, well, it won't be a tragedy.
What else can I add? Ah yes, some peas and a bit of corn and a bit of coleslaw. Now I taste.
A bit of salt now.
Then I pop in the pasta, just a handful of whole wheat spaghetti broken up and let it cook along with the cup of pinto beans I got from the can. I could have used chickpeas, but pinto beans were what I had.
Then I just simmer and taste, adjust, simmer and taste. At the end, a tiny bit of red wine vinegar and sprinkle pepper on the soup. Top with parmesan.
So that is my soup du jour. I think soup is very forgiving and very filling. The aroma of soup cooking just makes a home a home and makes the fall something special. It is cheap to make and will last me for a few lunches this week. You can find recipes anywhere on line, just try one.
Making Plum Brandy
I love to make things and watch as they transform and change. An example is the plum brandy I am concocting. A few weeks ago I put cut plums and sugar in a big glass jar and am watching as the whole things ferments. I read this recipe that says you leave it for six weeks and then you add whisky and decant and leave for another six weeks.
Now this seems incredible to me. I can't help but pick that jar up every day and sniff through the cheesecloth on the top. There is something magical about watching the plums and sugar turn to liquid. It would be so easy to buy this at the liquor store, but there would be no fascination with it.
When does buying something make sense and when does making it yourself have more power in your life?
Simple Living
You don't have to own an acreage to create a simple life. I hope to share some of my ideas with you about how to make a life in the city that is meaningful, simple and frugal. Of course these are just my own ideas, some may work for you, some may not, but I welcome all your ideas.
I am looking for more time in my life, less craziness.
I want to create more with my hands and buy less.
I have limited space of a small condominium.
I work for myself with a small business, and have a home office.
If this sounds like you, or a life you are thinking of, please join me here.
