Mrs. Peasant's Bookshelf: Clutter's Last Stand by Don Aslett

The New Novel, Winslow Homer. 1877

Butterfly in the sky, I can go twice as high.

Take a look, it's in a book, a Reading Rainbow!

I can go anywhere.

Friends to know,

and ways to grow.

A Reading Rainbow!

I can be anything.

Take a look,

it's in a book.

A Reading Rainbow.

-READING RAINBOW THEME

Today, I'm going to share why I have a book collection and why I think it's important. I also want to introduce you to the book I am reading and LOVING, Clutter's Last Stand by Don Aslett. There is one area in our home that I can't seem to declutter. This area is our book collection. I find the books to be both beautiful and useful. It is the one area besides the garden that I feel the joy of the abundance. Just like a garden, I am constantly devouring my books. My bookshelf is a stocked pantry for my mind. 

When I was a little girl, my father would drive us kids to the downtown library and let each of us pick out 5 books. I felt like I was in heaven. I spent hours on the carpeted floor flipping through beautiful picture books of Hummingbirds of North America and books on caring for rabbits and paper crafts. The library had a feeling of wonder and abundance. The shelves were organized and I would quietly escape reading a book in a corner of the library where you wouldn't see another soul for hours. But I digress. . . My favorite books were the non-fiction and reference books. Some of the reference books were so treasured, you couldn't even check them out! 

Shelves of Central Library, IITD, 2024

My parents, my brother, and my husband were all English majors. My father was an encyclopedia salesman. I come from book people. It is in my blood. I even love the smell of old books. Over the years, I have created my own library on topics that relate to my weird interests. These topics include 80's Christmas Books, health/food as medicine books, gardening, frugality, spiritual Catholic reads, fairy tales, Peanuts paperbacks, and home repair. I have found most of these books used for under a dollar. My reference library is my analog Internet. I can't tell you how many times I've solved a problem or found the answer by pulling a book from my bookshelf. It's a great feeling to not be tied to the online world. 

When I read my books, I don't usually read them all the way through. It is rather boring to read a cookbook or a gardening encyclopedia from cover to cover. I skip all around when I read my books. Sometimes, I'll just look at the pictures. Other times, I will read a chapter that interests me like tomatoes, soil making, or ground covers. Sometimes, I just like to take bites and eat them slowly. For example, I like to read the intros to my Southern Living Christmas Books from the 1980s just to smile. I nibble through my books like a book mouse. Or, I search for an answer like a detective mouse. Eventually, I read through my books over and over again. My books are like old friends that I visit with over tea many times a year.

I am currently reading Clutter's Last Stand by Don Aslett from 1984. The book is 275 pages of every type of clutter and bad thinking that keeps us stuck. It is the most comprehensive clutter book I've read. And trust me, I've read lots of them. One of my favorite things about the book are the awesome 1980's illustrations. I love the expressions and the silliness of the illustrations that leave the reader never missing photographs. It is filled with tough honesty and humor which I love. It really dives into the psychology of clutter. I am enjoying it! It has wording which is gloriously dated but so true like this passage:

"Junkees are afflicted with the endless urge to have more. Enough is never enough. The have-notters want some, the have-enoughers want more, even the have-too-muchers want more. Ever wonder why most frauds, schemes, cons, embezzlements, etc., aren't committed by the have-nothing desperate but by the nice well-to-do citizen? People with plenty, position, and more things than they can already use are often the people who defraud to get more. Jails are filled with people who never could get enough."

I hope you never feel guilty over your active personal library. I also encourage everyone to enjoy their books more. When we enjoy and read our books, they become a treasure instead of a dusty hoard. Make the time and read your books. Thank you for reading and God bless you! 

"Dig". Poster by Sadie Wendell Mitchell. Part of the artist's
 "Girls Will Be Girls" poster series. New York, 1909.

Mrs. Peasant's Homemade Coffee Can Flower Pots

 

An Old Woman Holding a Flower Pot.
After Frans van Mieris the Elder (1635–1681)

When the world wearies

and society fails to satisfy,

there is always the garden.

MINNIE AUMONIER

Somehow, Spring is almost here. I have lots of flower seeds, and no pots to start them in. Luckily, I had some metal coffee cans and some old paint. This project isn't the most amazing or creative which is precisely why I want to share it. Gardening is supposed to be fun. I kept telling myself that while making these pots. When did gardening become so serious? When did gardening become so expensive?

When I would garden on my balcony at our apartment, I never felt ambitious. Gardening on my tiny balcony felt fun. Growing was rolling the dice, experimental, and nothing but joy when ANYTHING grew. Now that I have a large yard, I have bigger ambitions. I have lost that sense of wonder and awe of creation. So, in the spirit of using what we have and enjoying gardening poorly, let's make some coffee can pots! 

You will need: 

-a metal coffee can (save the lid for the bottom)

-a hammer

-a large nail

-newspaper or paper bags

 -acrylic paint

-a paint brush

Both IGA brand coffee and Chock Full O Nuts use metal cans.

These sweet paper butterflies were a gift and have wildflower seeds in them.

Is there anything more nerdy and fun than a good old fashioned experiment? I am doing an experiment to see which method is faster for growing sweet potato slips. I have two sweet potatoes sitting in a jar of water and two potatoes in soil. I'll let you know the results.  I planted my Christmas gift wildflower seeds from a dear friend. I am starting Mission Yellow Marigolds seeds, too. I am also using up old flower seeds. I had a very old pack of coleus seeds and snap dragons. They may or may not be any good. I intend to finally use them up and uncover that mystery. Everything I am planting should come up within 7 days. If they don't come up, then I have enough time to start new ones. 

I encourage you to use what you have lying around for pots. Start some old seeds that you've had forever. Maybe start an experiment. Lets get back to gardening that isn't so serious. Try to have a little fun, relax, and enjoy the process. After all, my friends half the stuff will be a failure. So, let's enjoy gardening poorly. God bless you and your gardens. Thank you for reading!

Mrs. Peasant's Diary for Ash Wednesday 2026: Worldliness, Overthinking, And What Happened To Conversation Hearts?

Child reading. Jessie Willcox Smith 1905

And seek not you what you shall eat, or 

what you shall drink: and be not lifted up on high.

For all these things do the nations of the world seek. 

But your Father knoweth that you have need of these things.

But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his justice, 

and all these things shall be added unto you.

                   LUKE 12:29

All the information, all the choices, all the opinions, all the ideas and tips leave me feeling sad. Can there be a point where tons of information becomes a terrible thing? I think I am information-ed out. My father sold encyclopedias, and he loved to answer my questions with "Well, look it up." I find even answering a simple question today on the internet to be difficult. Having to sort through hundreds of answers is tiring. Most of the time, after I research a topic I am even more confused. Try looking up how to grow a tomato. You will find a Masters Degree worth of reading material on how to grow a tomato. I just give up. I sort through hundreds of reviews to buy something on Amazon. I scroll through endless options. I see the whole world's issues. There is just too much of everything.  All of the news and information and ideas becomes super distracting along with all of the hours of time I waste on worldly things. I'll spend more time finding a pair of socks online than reading my Bible. I used to grab some at Walmart, and they'd last 8 years. It is getting harder and harder to not get sucked into the world and the things that are fading away. I am getting older. Why should I care about this or that? 

Carlo Maratta (1625-1713) (follower of) - The Madonna Reading

I am glad it is Lent. We can cling close to the Lord and focus on him. It is a chance to be less attached to this world and permission to ignore all of the noise. The world has always been a wreck, but we can actually hear all about it today. We hear every story and every update for every tragedy in every state, in every country, and the whole world. When I hear about a tragedy, I pray. When you love someone and you really want the best for them, all that matters are the eternal things. I can barely care about people I know as they deserve. How can we care about billions of people? My heart is just too small. 

Sweet Hearts Candy, Scott Ehardt 2005

I am still wondering what the hell happened to the little boxes of Conversation Hearts? I couldn't find them this year. I tried googling the answer, and it went nowhere. Now, we need AI to decipher the answers from the sea of information slop. I have a hard time decluttering books because they quickly answer my questions even after all these years. 

May the Lord be in my mind, on my lips, and in my heart. Thank you for stopping by. God bless you this Lent. 

Christ in the Wilderness - Ivan Kramskoy 1872

Mr. Peasant On Garden Speed

Emile Claus - The Old Gardener 1885

Everything that slows us down and forces patience, 

everything that sets us back into the slow circles of nature, is a help. 

Gardening is an instrument of grace.

MAY SARTON

I don't move fast anymore. I am a traumatic brain injury survivor which has diminished my energy to levels seen only in centenarians. I have tested my work limit, and it is 1 hour and 40 minutes. I don't go to that level because it will cost me a couple of days trying to recover. I have learned to keep it at one hour per day. This allows me to do another hour the next day. I have learned from the brain injury websites and forums to always remain under your threshold. The brain grows and recovers from repetition like practicing scales on the piano not like lifting weights at the gym.

For some reason, we have an internal taskmaster driving us to be more productive. I have had this taskmaster my whole life, and I would obsess on getting things done. Speed and quantity are what mattered most. I don't see anything wrong with this because productivity is the seed bed for prosperity. The problems come when you are no longer as productive as you were in your prime. Everyone slows down. Slowing down is not the same as stopping.

Hermann Kern, Old Man Shelling Peas 1880

Garden speed is the speed old people have as they putter in their plots. The work is never finished, but things get done at a leisurely pace. There is no clock to punch. The nature of gardening forces this leisurely pace of labor. If you are someone used to city and corporate life, this downshifting of the gears is a difficult adjustment.

What happens when you apply city speed to the garden? You rapidly become exhausted and end up accomplishing very little. This is true if you are able bodied and not suffering from old age and injury. Ultimately, gardening is a cooperative effort between God, you, and Mother Nature. Your part of the partnership is to put together the conditions for garden success. The rest is waiting to see what comes out of the ground.

The biggest fruit that the garden produces is patience. A lot of time passes between the sowing of the seed and the harvest. It isn't a factory turning out X number of widgets each hour. Garden speed forces you to calm down and live with the seasons. Do a little bit each day, and you end up with something good.

Thank you for reading.

An older man with two children and a dog, sitting in a garden. 1890 Canada 

What Mrs. Peasant Learned In 2025

Gustave Courbet. Poor Woman of the Village 1866

If every tiny flower wanted to be a rose, 

spring would lose its loveliness.

-SAINT THERESE OF LISIEUX

Mr. Peasant and I both agree 2025 has been one of the worst years we ever had. We were happy to say goodbye to 2025. Praise the Lord, even in bad years no time is ever wasted. In no particular order, here are a few things I learned in 2025. 

1. FOLGERS IS HORRIBLE COFFEE 

We all want to save money on coffee, but don't waste your money. I am not a coffee snob, but I had to throw the Folgers can out. We can no longer afford Cafe Bustelo.  The hipsters have gotten a hold of the Bustelo, and the price has gotten too high. To save money, we have been drinking Maxwell House and Food Lion brand coffee. I think our new favorite is Chock Full of Nuts when it is on sale. 

Maxwell house coffee newspaper ad 1921

2. NO MORE CANNED TOMATOES

The quality of food at the grocery store keeps plummeting. I have finally had enough of wasting money on canned tomatoes that taste like tin! I am now using a jar of pizza sauce as my vegetable soup base. 

3. NO MORE MICROFIBER 

Microfiber smells bad. Even after washing, the microfiber quickly sours and retains a funky smell. I have replaced our microfiber cleaning rags with 100% cotton wash cloths. I also threw away a stinky microfiber bathmat. Now, I place a cotton towel on top of our polyester bath mat with a rubber bottom. The cotton towel is easy to hang up to dry and wash. The bottom mat keeps us from slipping. 

4.  LINE YOUR AIR FRYER WITH PARCHMENT

I cut a circle of parchment paper the size of my air fryer pan.  I place it in the bottom of my air fryer pan, and it saves me time cleaning. The liner collects any drips and you throw it away when it gets bad.  Amazon sells liners already cut to size.

5. ELDERBERRY AND HAND SANITIZER COMBO

We are very grateful to have not gotten sick this flu season. We take a table spoon of elderberry syrup everyday. We also have been careful not to touch our faces. We carry around travel instant hand sanitizers and use them often. We have limited our trips out to what is truly necessary. We have also decided to refrain from receiving the Blessed Sacrament. We make a spiritual communion at Mass and will return to sacramental communion once the flu season is over.

6. HOMEMADE OATMEAL RAISIN COOKIES

In our opinion, a homemade oatmeal raisin cookie is our favorite cookie in the whole world. We prefer it over a fancy chocolate chip cookie. I know. I know. Please hear us out. We certainly love ALL cookies. But the oatmeal raisin cookie is overlooked nowadays. We want to give it the praise it deserves. Here is the recipe we use. We substitute with flax egg and Country Crock Plant Based olive oil margarine to make it vegan. (Earth Balance browned too much in this recipe. We prefer the Country Crock.) And if you are feeling extra lazy, make them into bars!

Quaker Oats ad, New York Amsterdam News 1977

7. MURDER, SHE WROTE  IS A TREASURE

Jessica Fletcher is my old lady female style icon. I love her clothes, her home in Maine, and her grit. This cozy eighties murder mystery TV show has been my nightly companion.  I recommend it as a perfect way to escape for an hour or two. You can watch all twelve seasons for free on Tubi.

8. CHRISTMAS CARDS ARE NOT DEAD

I am happy to report that Christmas cards are not dead. Although the price of stamps are up, people have not abandoned this thoughtful practice. We received more cards this year than any other year. It fills my heart with so much joy. I love this simple and inexpensive way to say I'm thinking of you. I love the handwriting and the love inside. I also love displaying them throughout the house. 

Child with Christmas Card, Alden Finney Brooks between 1840- 1932

9. LIFE IS SHORT

We have lost many loved ones this year. I have been thinking about time and how fast it goes. I want to slow it down as much as I can. I feel the shine of this world slowly fading. I want to walk closer with the Lord. And I've been thinking more and more about Heaven. Soon enough, our day will come, and we will be called home.

10. MY FIRST ADVENT

This year, I was denied my typical Christmas pleasures. Mr. Peasant didn't have an appetite for food and wasn't able to watch any Christmas movies. These two silly things were what I thought Christmas was about. Christmas was belittled to feelings of nostalgia, foods, and comfort.  Another blow was my Magnificat magazine got lost in the mail. I was so glad I saved a December and Lent magazine just in case. I listened to Sensus Fidelium every night. I learned about every feast day and every passage from this season. I learned that Advent is a penitential season like Lent. I thought about our Lord's humility in coming to save us as a little baby. I decided that this season was about me and God. I started thinking about what gifts I could give to the Lord. I thought of the poverty of the Holy Family in the stable. I was being prepared spiritually. I am grateful for my accidental Advent.

11. CHRISTMAS BEGINS ON THE 25TH

Without the treats and the music, it didn't "feel" like Christmas. Then, on Christmas Eve, we went to Mass at 5pm. It was the family Mass.  We packed into the church like sardines. Our church was covered in incense and screaming babies. The children's choir sang Hark the Harold Angels Sing like the Charlie Brown special.  And it hit me during the Mass that it finally felt like Christmas. I learned that Christmas starts the 25th of December and continues until the Epiphany on January 11th.  Those are the twelve days of Christmas. And if you sent your cards late or still have your tree up like me, you are fine. There is no rush. You can keep celebrating Christmas until the Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord on February 2nd. I intend to keep on learning about Advent. I also intend to really get the most out of Lent this year.

I hope you have a peaceful and happy 2026. Lord willing, we will continue to grow and learn even through our failures. We are praying to remain content and small. Thank you for stopping by. God bless you in the new year. 

Decluttering Tip: Find Out Who You Really Are

 

I can put on a hat, or put on a coat,

Or wear a pair of glasses or sail in a boat.

I can change all my names

And find a place to hide.

I can do almost anything, but

I'm still myself inside.

I can go far away, or dream anything,

Or wear a scary costume or act like a king.

I can change all my names

And find a place to hide.

I can do almost anything, but

I'm still myself,

I'm still myself,

I'm still myself inside.

MR. ROGERS, I'm Still Myself Inside

I have run the gambit of perfumes in my life. I think it started with Love's Baby, Primo body spray, Malibu Musk, and then Sunflowers. Do you remember how strong Sunflowers was? I've also had the fancy department store stuff in my 20's. I went to Bath and Body Works with my very patient sister. I needed a new lotion and spent over an hour sniffing 70 different bottles for the right one. The one I liked the best was fresh linen. Now that I know myself, I realize my favorite scents are Suave strawberry shampoo (smells like Strawberry Shortcake dolls), a plain Dove bar soap, apple cinnamon Renuzit cones and Bounce outdoor fresh dryer sheets. Who I am is not Ja'Dior but actually dryer sheets. Knowing yourself can save you so much time and money. 

We are influenced to think we need to try something new. We have to update and reinvent ourselves. I think if you are over the age of 30 you know the scents you like. You've probably liked them always. You know you. And if you truly don't know your favorites, here are some clues that will help you find out who you really are.

What you really wear is always in the laundry basket, and is worn out with holes. This is the outfit, style, color, and fit that you really like. 

What you really eat are the items that you never throw out, never get freezer burn, or left to rot. A frozen bag of green beans or peas, grapes, tomatoes, wheat bread, or almond milk don't last very long in our house. That isn't the most exciting spread, but this is who we are. What you really eat are the things you are constantly running out of. These are things you always grab every time you are at the store. 

Once you get to know yourself, it helps you stop wasting time. 

1. WHAT YOU LIKE VS. WHAT YOU LIKE DOING

I like to eat complicated dishes, but I don't want to cook complicated meals at home.

I like to see elaborately decorated Christmas homes but I don't want to mess with the production of decorating my home like that. 

When I do something, I want that something to be easy. I know that about myself. If it is not easy, I won't be doing it very often. Garfield is definitely my spirit animal. 

2. ARE YOU MORE MARTHA STEWART OR GARFIELD?

I think generally speaking there are two types of people: Garfield and Martha Stewart. Martha Stewart types live for the details. They have a high drive to create the perfect thing. We all love these people and partaking in their splendor. I think our online world overly highlights the spectacular Martha Stewart types and vilifies the simple folk as lazy bores. Since I am a Garfield, I can't speak much on the Martha Stewart types mindset. This post is mostly for Garfields.

Ask yourself some questions. Do you like upper level things or basic things? Do many finishing touches feel extra special  or overwhelming to you? Do you enjoy the details enough to put in the added effort? Is a complicated way worth it?  Or, do you look for a simpler way?

MARTHA STEWART TYPES:

The Dinner Party, 1911. Jules-Alexandre Grün

Do you like all the small details of something? Do you like elaborate decorations, meals, and gifts? Do you like elegant spaces and many options? Do you like to go big on projects or ideas? Do you enjoy making things just right? Do you like to stand out with your fashion style, house decor, or projects? Do you have a sophisticated palate? Do you like to change things up every year? Do you grow tired of things quickly? Do things bug you if it's not what you envision? Are you constantly thinking of a new idea, place, restaurant, activity, or product to try? 

If you answered YES to these questions you are a Martha Stewart type.

GARFIELD TYPES: 

Evening Spell (After Dinner), 1900. Elin Danielson-Gambogi

Jon strip 28 April 1977

While the Martha Stewart type may find ways to elevate a recipe, an outfit, or a room with lovely details and finishing touches, my Garfield mind is always thinking about how I can make something easier and simpler. Garfield is definitely my spirit animal. I like things simple and easy. I find something I like and stay happy with it. I think of myself as easily content not lazy. I have no desire to chase the next thing. I like rituals and nostalgia. I'm 80% ritual and 20 % novelty. I could eat lasagna everyday and not get tired of it. I know some people who won't eat leftovers the next day.  I get overwhelmed easily with elaborate stuff. I love a scoop of vanilla ice cream. I think Ben and Jerry's ice cream has too many things in it. If you are a Garfield type like me, you can easily declutter....   

1. ITEMS THAT ASK TOO MUCH OF ME

-Recipes with crazy ingredients, multiple steps, crazy appliances, complicated preparations. Recipes that if they don't turn out I would have wasted a lot of time, effort, money. Recipes that have to be done just right.

-Books that are over 300 pages long, that I need a dictionary to read, that are way too scholarly for me, or stories with a lot of characters to remember.

-Albums with only a few good songs so you have to skip songs.

-TV Shows that will leave you in suspense for 7 years. I only watch shows that are stand alone episodes like Murder, She Wrote.

-Anything that involves complicated payment systems, logins and passwords.  

-Too many decisions, or options. Researching an Amazon purchase can drain me. Why are there 200 can openers?

-Things that are very delicate, precious, irreplaceable or fragile. I got rid of all our glassware. I was dropping them or knocking them over and spending hours picking up shards of glass and worrying about stepping on glass. I ended up buying plastic diner tumblers. The problem is solved, and I never have to worry about it again.

-High maintenance plants, systems, and clothing. High maintenance furniture or objects that are hard to clean or dust. High maintenance rituals and meals. Skin care routines. Exercise programs, budgeting or calendars.

-Are you forgetful? Maybe houseplants and clutch purses aren't for you. I only wear cross body style bags for fear of sitting it down and forgetting it. 

-Are you clumsy? Maybe the delicate plates and high heels aren't really you. It's okay. I got rid of all our glasses and now use only plastic cups.

2. CLOTHES. WHERE ARE YOU REALLY GOING?

Do you have too many fancy clothes?  How many times a year would you dress fancy? Do you have clothes you love but would feel too uncomfortable to actually wear out? Are you the same person or size you were when you bought the items 15 years ago? Do you want to be noticed or does it make you feel uncomfortable now? Do you want to iron and go to the dry cleaners? Is it age appropriate?

3. HAVE YOU CHANGED? DO YOU HAVE LESS ENERGY OR TIME? WHAT SEASON OF LIFE ARE YOU IN NOW?

Think about the meals that you and your family like that are easy to make. Think about the meals you make that are a real pain in the butt. Does anyone really like them? Can you scale it back to the most essential parts?

Our first Thanksgiving married, Mr. Peasant and I made a blended feast of all of the foods we were used to having. It was quite a spread! Over the years, we have scaled it back to the core foods that are non-negotiable and wouldn't be Thanksgiving without it foods. This is a fake turkey cutlet, canned cranberry sauce, stuffing with mushrooms, and green beans. (Lovely bonus, but not crucial. Mashed potatoes and gravy, pecan pie bites or yams. This is our Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter meal uniform. It is super easy to make and inexpensive. We love it. 

Things I am currently figuring out ways to make it easier....

How to make changing ceiling light bulbs easier. Easy light fixtures to replace the bulbs without a ladder and a prayer. Easy to prep and freeze vegetables to grow. Easy to maintain landscaping. Easy bread recipe. 

4. THINGS YOU ARE AFRAID TO USE  

Are you scared to use it, eat it, wear it, make it, or try it? This could be a pressure cooker, a power tool, a recipe, or a racy outfit. I decluttered my Chinese herbalism books with weird recipes. Would I really trust ordering herbs online in packaging in a different language? Other things you may be afraid to use including weird spices, toxic cleaners, a medicine, beauty products, old tupperware, bug poisons, or that expired can of food you are afraid to actually eat.

5. THINGS THAT CREATE MORE WORK

Some items can create more work for you. Think about what items are frustrating and eliminate them. Here are some examples of things I've gotten rid of:

-I switched from deodorant sticks to roll on deodorant. I no longer have to scrub out the white gunk from the armpits of my shirts. 

-I try to always buy dark colored hand towels so less white lint on my dark clothes. I like to wash everything together in one load.

-I threw out my polyester microfiber bath mat that always stunk after getting wet once. Now, I only use a folded cotton towel on top of my rubber bottom bath mat. I can throw it in the wash easily and hang it up to dry after each shower. It never smells.

-I stopped using a liquid bug killer with a pump sprayer for around the house. I used to have to wear a face mask, goggles, long sleeves, and gloves. I sweat my butt off in the summer. Now, I  only use bug granules I shake around the perimeter of the house.  So easy!

I hope these questions will help you weed out the clutter in your life. Having less stuff to manage can help lower our stress. Even removing just one thing a day will quickly add up. We have a staging area where we place potential items to declutter.  That way we can really think about it. This isn't a race. You can do it intentionally, slowly, and thoughtfully. Thank you for reading. God bless you in the new year.

Be the Best of Whatever You Are

If you can't be pine on the top of a hill

Be a shrub in the valley but be

The best little shrub by the side of a rill

If you can't be a woods be a tree

If you can't be a highway then just be a trail

If you can't be the sun be a star

It isn't by size that you win or you fail

Be the best of whatever you are

Be the best of whatever you are

MR. ROGERS 

An End Of Summer Lesson: Plant Something Beautiful Among The Disasters

Fausto Zonaro: Young Girl Carrying a Pumpkin 1889

You can learn a lot of things from the flowers.

 — Alice in Wonderland

I hesitated making this post. I wondered whether it was important enough to share. It's a very small update. But I decided I want to share my life even when it's small. Our summer garden was a huge failure. No watermelons. No cucumbers. No sweet potatoes. No eggplants. No zinnias. Only three squash. All the heirloom tomatoes quickly yellowed, died and produced nothing. We were in heaven over the 20 tomato sandwiches we ate this summer (all Early Girl tomatoes.) The four Sunshine Blue blueberry bushes we planted 4 years ago are now gloriously productive. We harvested so many blueberries.

My view of Rudbeckia blooming from the back of our yard.

Mr. Peasant has been suffering an IT band injury, and I have been suffering a shoulder injury due to trying to get the heavy lifting tasks done.  Both of us have been sidelined, and the yard and garden show it. The backyard is covered in tall grass like a highway strip in August. Every time I'd stare out my back door, I was confronted with our failures and inability to tend to our property. The property we prayed and saved for now made me feel overwhelmed.  

But something really amazing and small happened. Two years ago, I dug up a piece of a rudbeckia from the front yard. I planted it near the walking track and forgot about it. This year the plant grew almost 5 feet high! And then, one October day I peaked out the back door window and saw 50 bright mustard yellow flowers. It was incredible. 

Here is the point I want to share. Once that rudbeckia plant bloomed, my view changed.  I'd peak out the back door, and all I saw were those happy yellow flowers swaying in the breeze. It might as well been a Christmas tree with how it lit up the whole yard. I never noticed our awful yard after that rudbeckia bloomed. I only noticed the huge beautiful flowers. 

All the flower seeds I planted in the ground in spring were quickly gobbled up by rabbits. I planted a new bed in August. I didn't think anything would grow so late in the season. I planted the new bed with chocolate cherry tomatoes, an early girl tomato cutting I rooted, candy roasters, basil and zinnia seeds. We got 3 more tomatoes and a few handfuls of cherry tomatoes. Everything in the bed failed except the Zinnias. I've gathered vases full of colorful flowers all month. I'm so glad I sowed more flower seeds. It was the best Zinnia harvest I've ever had. 

Planted 3 tiny clearance mums under each tree of the allee.

Plant the flower seeds late, find a spot for a dying mum from the clearance rack, divide a perennial for next year, and plant a bulb for Spring.  Plant beautiful things in the middle of the disaster. One lovely thing can lift up your soul and your heart. One candle can light up a room full of darkness. Bake some oatmeal cookies, play a happy song, and put a vase of flowers on your sticky kitchen table. We will always have the weeds with us. Remember to plant the good. Remember to plant a beautiful thing. 

I set the Lord always in my sight:

for he is at my right hand, that I be not moved.

Therefore my heart hath been glad, and my tongue hath rejoiced: 

moreover my flesh also shall rest in hope.

PSALM 15:8  DRA

In Praise Of The Humble Chef Boyardee Pizza Maker Kit

Pica's Pizzeria, 1940s. Frank Pica, Sr. outside his pizzeria in Philadelphia. Credits

When the Son of God came into the world... 

he gave power to become children of God (Jn 1:2). 

This spirit of childhood consists of simplicity, docility, purity, 

and contempt for worldly riches and grandeur.

                 - ST. JOHN BAPTIST DE LA SALLE

This is a public service announcement. I had never heard of the Chef Boyardee Pizza kit until a few months ago. After reading the reviews on Amazon, I've learned that it has a cult following from people who have eaten it since the 70s. I think this pizza is a hidden gem for homebodies and simple eaters. I was so surprised to learn that Chef Boyardee was actually a real person and a famous Italian chef. But what really shocked me is that the five dollar, dusty, red box of Traditional Chef Boyardee Pizza kit was truly delicious! You can find it on the bottom shelf in the section with the pizza sauce and packaged Boboli type pizza crusts. I've seen it at Food Lion, Walmart, IGA, and even Amazon (way too expensive.)

WARNING: Please note that

1. This kit IS NOT VEGAN. The traditional crust mix and sauce both contain dairy. 

2. I do not have sophisticated tastes. My 10 rating is probably your 6.  I think this pizza is better than any frozen pizza and much cheaper. It is more like a school lunch room pizza with a biscuit type crust that browns well. I would rather have it than a pizza from Little Caesars.   

The best part about this pizza mix is that it comes together very easily and is fool proof. It is cheaper and easier to store than boxes of frozen pizza. The pizza kit makes two pizzas. It is shelf stable. As long as you have Kraft Mozzarella cheese (the suggested brand to use) and some veggies (canned mushrooms, black olives, green peppers, and onions) you can have a hot delicious pizza at home in less than an hour. For people who live out in the country who don't want to drive to town or pay for pizza delivery, Chef Boyardee is the answer. I really hope you buy a box with a two liter of root beer and stick it in your pantry. Next time you want to have a pizza night, it's right there.

Here are some tips on how Mr. Peasant prepares the pizza. He dusts the dough and rolling pin with extra flour. He rolls out the crust thin on a greased pan. He puts on extra sauce. The biscuit crust absorbs a lot of the sauce. He spreads the sauce and the cheese right to the edges creating delicious browned edges. He sprinkles a layer of bottom cheese. Then he puts on the toppings and sprinkles more cheese on top. We have the oven set for 390 degrees, and it cooks brown and bubbly in 17 minutes. He also cuts the pizza party style into squares. 

I had no idea this pizza kit even existed, and I just had to share! God bless you and thanks for reading.

Mrs. Peasant's Spooktactular Halloween

Unknown French Master: Allegory of the Vanity of Earthly Things 1630

Tempus Fugit, Memento Mori

Time Flies, Remember Death

It's officially October. I am so excited to share our simple Halloween plans. I use the Fly Lady holiday planner (see page 9) to help me plan for each holiday. I try to keep our traditions super easy. Here are our Halloween must haves. 

 1. TREATS

Since Mr. Peasant is plant based, we don't eat a lot of regular candy. I am making rice crispy treats with Dandie vegan marshmallows, and this vegan peanut butter cups recipe which tastes exactly like a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup. I didn't use the coconut oil and just froze them. 

Used a Dayquil cup to cut the rolled out peanut butter mixture into circles.

I just spread the chocolate on one side and then kept them in the freezer.

2. DECORATIONS

I use a capsule style decorating philosophy. I use items that are easy to put up, easy to take down, easy to store, and extra happy. Our decorations total 15 items, and they can fit into a shoe box. I also have three pumpkins wrapped in grocery bags. It only took me 5 minutes to decorate for Halloween. Here are our minimal Halloween decorations. I think the mantel is bursting with joy. 

Halloween Capsule Decorations. Only 15 items but big impact.

Mantel before decorations. 

I use a thrift store polyester curtain that I cut into a mantle scarf and doilies

Topped the lace runner with a plaid scarf. Halloween decor up in 5 mins.

3. THINGS TO DO/ THINGS TO WATCH

We will be watching spooky movies on the four Friday nights in October. 

--Ghostbusters 1 and 2. 

--The Batman Animated TV Series ( a few episodes each Friday). 

We always watch the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown Special on Halloween night.

Here are some of my favorite spooky movie suggestions and links to the most terrifying radio episodes I've ever heard. (Perfect to listen to in bed with the lights off. If you dare!)

👻👻👻 SCARIEST TRUE STORY RADIO SHOWS 

Woman dies and goes to hell

Exorcist Priest Malachi Martin

Bob Cranmer's Haunted House

🎃🎃🎃 MY FAVORITE SPOOKY MOVIES

Something Wicked This Way Comes

Coraline

The Haunted (The true story of a Catholic family in a demon possessed house) 

Garfield's Halloween Adventure

Return to Oz 

Unico In the Island of Magic 1983

4. NEW TRADITIONS YOU MAY LIKE TO TRY

--For a fun Halloween night dinner, I bought a box of vegan corn dogs on sale.  

--I want to try a new chili recipe. This one is a copy cat recipe from The Natures Table Restaurant in the mall food court. Do you remember that place in the 90s? This one is a Cincinnati Style Chili with chocolate in it. I'll put all the ingredients on a Halloween grocery shopping list. 

--Create a prayer plan. As a Catholic, Halloween will always be the eve of All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day. I like to remember our loved ones throughout October. I write a list of relatives and friends that have passed, so we can offer up our nightly rosaries for them throughout the month of October. 

5. THINGS THAT YOUR FAMILY DOESN'T LIKE TO DO. (It is better to know now and be able to discuss it than to suffer and everyone be miserable.)

We decided last year to stop handing out candy after the third small child fell on our property. The parents were not watching them, and they ran across our sloped front lawn. The last little girl couldn't have been more than 4 and faceplanted in the grass. We decided it wasn't fun anymore. We put the pumpkins on the mantel and enjoy a cozy Halloween indoors now. 

I hope this post inspires you to take a few moments to quickly jot down your simple plan for October. Thank you so much for stopping by and God bless you!

And when this mortal hath put on immortality, 

then shall come to pass the saying that is written: 

Death is swallowed up in victory.

O death, where is thy victory? 

O death, where is thy sting?

 Now the sting of death is sin: 

and the power of sin is the law.

But thanks be to God, who hath given us the victory 

through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast and unmoveable; 

always abounding in the work of the Lord, 

knowing that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

1 CORINTHIANS 15:54  DRA

Memento Mori still life with musical instruments, books, sheet music, skeleton, skull and armour
Carstian Luyckx 1650