Another crockpot of baked beans was filled up and turned on this morning. We are finding that baked beans make a wonderful meal, one we both really like. I am experimenting with reducing the sugar, and sautéing the onions in olive oil before adding them to the pot.
Caveat: Cook beans in a crockpot at your own risk, do it the right way. “Dried beans, especially kidney, contain a natural toxin. These toxins are easily destroyed by boiling. Safe steps for preparing would include soaking the beans for 12 hours, rinsing, and then boiling for at least 10 minutes, before adding the beans to a slow cooker.” University of Minnesota Extension
I received an email from my Mom, to say that she arrived back in Canada, from Florida, last night. She drives there and back by herself, every year. I would be nervous about doing such a thing, but not my Mom. She is 81 years old and still running circles around all six of her children.
An early morning telephone call invited me to work for three hours this morning. I gladly accepted the offer; gladly because it is working at a location I truly enjoy.
An afternoon telephone call invited me to work for two hours a day for a few days. Two hours isn’t really worth going in for, after taxes and travel there is no income left; I will basically be working for free. But I like this location, and working will make the lingering winter less odious, so off I go to work for part of this week. All of the hours I will work this week, will amount to the equivalent of one day’s work.
It has been snowing off and on all day, but the sun has managed to peek through the clouds from time to time. When the sun does appear things begin to melt immediately. This melting cheers one up immensely.
We need to go to town, 35 km away, for some supplies. We wanted to go when Attila got home from work today. There is a little bit of a blizzard going on outside tonight, and the roads are bad. No trip into town for supplies for us tonight!
A relatively uneventful day, and a good one.
Worldly Distractions
Weather
-4 °C
Condition: Mostly Cloudy
Pressure: 101.5 kPa
Visibility: 16 km
Temperature: -3.6°C
Dewpoint: -11.2°C
Humidity: 56 %
Wind: WNW 28 gust 43 km/h
Wind Chill: -11
Quote
“If we all did the things we are capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves.”
Thomas A. Edison
1847 – 1931
Regarding going off to work: I always feel that there is an intrinsic, inherent worth in getting out of the house, face-to-face with other people, and doing work that is worthwhile, contributes in some very small way to the general good (or the good of a specific person). Even though, as you say, by the time travel expenses and taxes and so forth are considered, there’s little (or no) profit in the purse.
That said, I’ll bet you are better than I at being productive at home. I tend a bit (more than a bit) to want to sit and read or potter about in the garden if I’m home.
Sarah, I certainly agree with that thee is intrinsic worth in getting out of the house. I am not sure my job contributes to the general good, actually because of the internal integrity of the company and union where I work, I suspect I am contributing to a negative force in the universe. Still, I bring goodwill to it, so maybe that counts for something.
I think being happy is a very productive way to spend time. A little happiness in the universe is a good thing, and I am sure that happy people pass it along in hundreds of subtle but important ways. Just my take on productivity.
I am busy because I am driven to be busy, not because I am trying to be productive. I just cannot help myself!!!!!! Mind you, I can be very relaxed in an appropriate social setting, I just love to see people at their best, which is people being their very own selves.