Role Models: Do We need Them?

Posted on September 4, 2013 by This Woman Writes
So sweet, so innocent, so familiar with James Bond movies. Garden Gatherings, original oil painting and signed limited edition print by Steve Henderson.

So sweet, so innocent, so familiar with James Bond movies. Garden Gatherings, original oil painting and signed limited edition print by Steve Henderson.

When Tired of Being Youngest was six, she shocked a family in our then church by mentioning a scene out of a James Bond movie. Without approaching me directly, the family matriarch made it known — to the rest of the congregation — that we were providing our progeny with completely inappropriate role models, so that years later, when our oldest child embarked on a painful and messy period of rebellion, sage heads nodded that this only made sense, given the foolishness of our parenting practices.

Oh, if we had only followed the leading of others, and embraced Hannah Montana into our home. Now there was a role model — sweet, adorable, uplifting, squeaky clean — she dressed modestly and encouraged our children, especially our vulnerable girls — to be sweet, adorable, uplifting, and squeaky clean themselves.

And then she turned 18. Overnight, her dress, demeanor, hairstyle, and attitude changed, and darling Hannah morphed into sexy Miley, but that was okay, the matriarchs said, because she was confused and hurt and going through a stressful time in her life. As Christians, we needed to understand this.

As Christians, showing compassion means that we hold one another up in an embrace of caring and grace. Madonna and Toddler, original oil painting by Steve Henderson of Steve Henderson Fine Art.

As Christians, showing compassion means that we hold one another up in an embrace of caring and grace. Madonna and Toddler, original oil painting by Steve Henderson of Steve Henderson Fine Art.

It would have been nice, years before, if a similar attitude of grace had been extended toward our daughter and family, but then we’re not splattered all over pillowcases and t-shirts.

In the process of raising four children, I have seen a lot of sweet adorable teenaged role models enter into people’s lives and homes until the Big Change comes at 18. For awhile, the households hang onto the sheet sets, posters, and bedroom decor, but at some point, the sweetheart in question goes so far, so fast in her efforts to distance herself from the demographic group that made her name well known, that something has to be done. Everything’s bundled up into boxes, sent to the second hand store, and the next diva is welcomed in.

“Our girls, especially, need role models,” the matriarchs say. “They need to see innocence and honesty and modesty, and Gracious Gretchen’s weekly show inspires them.”

The problem arises when Gracious Gretchen — the day after her 18th birthday bash — swings into Gyrating Gennifer mode, and when you’re a person who let your child watch a James Bond movie at 6, you can’t help but ask — what kind of message are your impressionable daughters getting now?

Dandelions are beautiful in their own way, but not when they pretend to be daffodils. Dandelions -- original oil painting by Steve Henderson Fine Art; licensed art print at Great Big Canvas.

Dandelions are beautiful in their own way, but not when they pretend to be daffodils. Dandelions — original oil painting by Steve Henderson Fine Art; licensed art print at Great Big Canvas.

Our quest for role models is so strong and compelling, that we’ll take anything that fits into our parameters, and savvy marketers know this: if they can get the Christian community excited about a particular brand or person, then they’ve got a solid economic base on which to build a money-maker. What the good Christian matriarchs refuse to ask themselves, however, is this:

If the sweetheart can so quickly abandon her mores and message, then was it ever really true?

In other words, was this a thistle purporting to grow on a peach tree, or a dandelion masquerading as a daffodil?

“No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit,” Jesus tells us in Luke 6:43. “People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers.”

Maybe not, but too many Christians are convinced that quality role models come out of Hollywood, and companies out to make big profits can be trusted to teach their children good things.

When it comes to role models, maybe we should start looking for apples on apple trees, and reject the fruit with worms and blemishes. Warmth, compassion, truthfulness, boldness, trust, encouragement — you can find these attributes in your next door neighbor, say, or the person who checks out your groceries. My eccentric Aunt Rose influenced me by her singing in the kitchen while she baked cookies for lonely shut-ins; frequently she was the only visitor these people saw in a week.

If role models are so remarkably important in the successful raising of our children, then we have an obligation as parents to make very, very sure that they are good ones.

All of the fine art in my articles is by Steve Henderson, my Norwegian

Steve Henderson's art is available to fit every budget and wall.

Steve Henderson’s art is available to fit every budget and wall.

Artist. Like me, he is a Christian, and he uses the gift he has been given to paint beauty, hope, and life. 

Find and buy Steve’s art in the following online venues:

Manufacturers and retailers — license Steve’s work through Art Licensing

This article was originally published in ThoughtfulWomen.org.

Posted in Art, blogging, celebrities, children, Christian, Culture, Current Events, Daily Life, Encouragement, Entertainment, Faith, Family, grandparenting, Growth, home, homeschooling, inspirational, Life, Lifestyle, media, Motherhood, News, Parenting, Personal, Random, religion, self-improvement, spirituality, tv shows, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Recipe: Homemade Corn Tortillas

Posted on September 3, 2013 by This Woman Writes
I found my tortilla press at my favorite grocery store for around $15.

I found my tortilla press at my favorite grocery store for around $15.

Why make your own tortillas? Try these reasons:

1) They’re fast and easy, especially if you get a designated tortilla press. As much as I tend to do things the hard way, I knew that trying to slap slap the corn masa material into thin cakes, with the expertise of a Mexican artisan, was beyond my abilities or patience level. This is the same philosophy I follow when I use a pasta machine to churn out noodles — invest in the right materials or machines that are designed to do one thing, really well.

2) Anything made fresh at home tastes better than what you buy in the store. We are fortunate enough to have a tortilla factory 10 miles from the grocery store where I usually shop, and one time, the tortillas were still warm in the package — but even so, they don’t compare to what I make at home.

3) Corn is a big genetically modified product, and if you are unfamiliar with the term GMO, you might want to start reading up on it. The issue is controversial, but it’s certainly not boring, and I highly recommend Marie-Monique Robin’s book, The World According to Monsanto: Pollution, Corruption, and the Control of the World’s Food Supply. Yep, with a title like that it’s not hard to figure out Robin’s, or my, take on GMOs, but suffice it to say — large corporations are making big changes, real fast, and some of us small people want to get off the merry-go-round for a few minutes and stop feeling dizzy.

So let’s make some tortillas. Next week, we’ll use them in Mexi-Thai Chicken Fusion Delusion, so be back with me then (even if you don’t make your own tortillas, join me next week; you can use commercial corn tortillas for the recipe).

Homemade Tortillas: (makes four tortillas about the size of a CD)

Ingredients:

1 cup masa harina flour (I use Bob’s Red Mill Masa because all

Save money in one area -- like food -- and you can spend it in others -- like original art, which costs significantly less when you buy direct through the artist.

Save money in one area — like food — and you can spend it in others — like original art, which costs significantly less when you buy direct through the artist.

of this company’s products originate from identity preserved, non-genetically modified seed stock

1 Tablespoon butter, softened

1/4 tsp. salt

1/2 – 1 cup warm water (probably around 3/4 cup)

Wash and dry your hands. Mixing the dough together is easier to do with the equipment God gave you as opposed to a spoon.

Sift the masa harina and salt together; mix in the butter until crumbly. Add 1/2 cup of the water and stir in — if you insist — or squeeze in with your fingers. Add more water until the dough is moist but not overly sticky. You really can’t go wrong here; if you add too much water and the mass is sloshy, it’ll dry out after a few minutes. If you don’t add enough so that the mass is dry and crumbly, just sprinkle on more water.

Knead the dough by pushing it against your two hands five or six times, as if you were doing isometric exercises. Divide the dough into four portions and keep covered. Pull out that tortilla press — or, if you are intent on making yourself miserable, try to pat the things out the way the professional tortilla makers do, or roll out with a rolling pin. But I’d really, really recommend the press.

When you use the press, cover the bottom with plastic wrap or a plastic bag. Take one of the four pieces of dough, press it gently between your hands to flatten, then set it in the middle of the press. Lay another piece of plastic on top, so that the dough is sandwiched between plastic. Cover with the top of the press and squeeze down. Peel the flattened tortilla off of the plastic (if the tortilla sticks and won’t peel off, it’s too wet. Give it another try, or add a little more masa flour to dry out.)

Heat a griddle on high. I used a pancake griddle set at 475 degrees; my son prefers a cast iron pan heated to very, very hot. Toss on a tortilla and let sit 10 seconds. Flip. Let cook 20-30 seconds more; flip again; cook another 20-30 seconds and set aside in a clean towel to keep warm. Cook the remaining tortillas the same way.

Eso es. You’ve got tortillas, friend.

Saving money isn't as hard as the financial gurus make it sound.

Saving money isn’t as hard as the financial gurus make it sound.

Sometimes, you spend money to save money, as in buying a tortilla press to make your own tortillas. It’s relatively inexpensive, and if you eat enough tortillas, the purchase will pay for itself in little time indeed.

The more you can learn to do for yourself, the more independent, creative, and confident you will become — and, you’ll save money, because a key component to saving money is doing things yourself, the right way, as opposed to paying others to do them for you. I talk about this in my book, Live Happily on Less, which shows you how to make the lifestyle choices that work for you. As one reader put it:

“It’s so nice to hear someone giving wise counsel without making you feel guilty if you don’t change your whole life to follow their advice. A lot of her suggestions have to do with deciding what’s really important for YOU and spending your money in that area while skimping somewhere else. She does all of this with grace and wit, so the book is entertaining as well as practical.” — Amazon Reader Review

Posted in Art, blogging, books, cooking, Culture, Current Events, Daily Life, dinner idea, Encouragement, Family, finances, Food, frugal living, Growth, home, homeschooling, homesteading, inspirational, instruction, Life, Lifestyle, money, News, Random, recipe, saving money, self-improvement, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Family Ties

Posted on September 2, 2013 by This Woman Writes
Crystalline Waters -- newest original oil painting by Steve Henderson -- 12 x 16 on panel, 15 x 19 framed. Shipping is free to the U.S. and Canada.

Crystalline Waters — newest original oil painting by Steve Henderson — 12 x 16 on panel, 15 x 19 framed. Shipping is free to the U.S. and Canada.

From Start Your Week with Steve, the free weekly e-mail newsletter of Steve Henderson Fine Art

Steve Says:

Dysfunctional families, and relationships, exist, simply because anytime you throw human beings in the mix, problems will arise.

But we focus so much on the problems these days that we forget three important things:

1) All families and relationships have some factor, somewhere that is dysfunctional,

2) Just because dysfunctionality exists, does not mean it is the norm, and

3) All of us have some functional family relationship somewhere, and it’s worth nurturing, embracing, and valuing.

I thought of that this weekend as our son celebrated his 19th birthday, up in Alaska, and none of us heard from him. As a close knit family, we keep in touch, and it had been a couple weeks since we had received an e-mail, letter, or phone call. All of our son’s sisters were calling for updates, and the family consensus was, “Where is this guy? Is he okay?”

The people in our lives -- exuberant, colorful, unique -- are what really matter. Spirit of the Canyon, original and signed limited edition prints at Steve Henderson Fine Art; licensed open edition print at Great Big Canvas

The people in our lives — exuberant, colorful, unique — are what really matter. Spirit of the Canyon, original and signed limited edition prints at Steve Henderson Fine Art; licensed open edition print at Great Big Canvas

Finally, Carolyn tracked down the number of the isolated resort where our son is working, and she called and found him: he was fine. Apparently last week’s e-mail had gone awry and he hadn’t discovered this for a week, and he was planning to call, and on and on.

No matter. A collective sigh of relief ensued.

My kids matter. As they grow up and out, they wander off for their adventures, and their mother and I are glad for them, but we connect, regularly, by any means we can because the most important thing in our lives is our relationship with one another.

I love my painting, I love my work, Carolyn loves her writing, we both love our simple lifestyle on acreage with too many cats and a dog that insists upon licking — but it all pales against the panoply of color and life that comes from the people in our life who mean the most to us.

It’s easy to forget this and take it for granted. It is easy in our society to strive for name and fame and money and prestige, and to feel that we are missing, something, somehow, if we don’t have it all.

But having it all isn’t what matters. Having the right things — and recognizing that we do — is what matters.

Somewhere in all of our lives is at least one other person who matters. This is something, and someone, worth being very, very thankful for.

Read the rest — Are you too ordinary to make a difference? New Painting — Crystalline Waters — at Start Your Week with Steve.

Yes, you can afford art, and it’s not a luxury that is too good for you. At Steve Henderson Fine Art, we sell everything from originals to posters, ensuring that there will be something in everybody’s price range. We also set up interest-free purchase plans, which means that you can make gentle payment over as much as a year, and you won’t have to pay any interest or fees. Your painting will sit safely in our studio, waiting for you, and once it’s paid off, it’s in the air on its way to your home. Contact us at carolyn@stevehendersonfineart.com and find out how you can be an art collector.

Seascapes, landscapes, figurative, seasonal -- Steve Henderson Fine Art creates all types of fine art

Seascapes, landscapes, figurative, seasonal — Steve Henderson Fine Art creates all types of fine art

Find and buy Steve’s art in the following online venues:

Manufacturers and retailers — license Steve’s work through Art Licensing

Posted in Art, Beauty, blogging, children, Christian, Culture, Current Events, Daily Life, Encouragement, Faith, Family, frugal living, Growth, home, homeschooling, homesteading, inspirational, Life, Lifestyle, News, Parenting, Personal, Random, Relationships, religion, self-improvement, spirituality, success | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Are You Too Ordinary to Make a Difference?

Posted on August 30, 2013 by This Woman Writes
I think that normal people, living normal lives, are the world's greatest resource. Sophie and Rose, original oil painting and signed limited edition print at Steve Henderson Fine Art; licensed open edition art print at Great Big Canvas.

I think that normal people, living normal lives, are the world’s greatest resource. Sophie and Rose, art print from Steve Henderson Collections.

As a writer, my primary focus is on ordinary life and ordinary people, because for all that politicians, writers, seminar speakers, and the movie industry talk about real, regular human beings, they don’t get it.

I’ve always enjoyed Hollywood’s interpretation of life in a small town — you know, where the Sheriff has drinks at the only bar with the one and only doctor, who is sleeping with the veterinarian because she’s the only unmarried woman under 30 in the place. Everybody knows everybody else, and except for a series of random murders by a resident psychopath who has gone undetected for 10 years, life is bucolic and friendly.

Ordinary people are quirky and cute, but a little dumb and ineffectual. They make a great foil for the smart, savvy, cosmopolitan characters from the big city. Real people — important people — make a lot of money, drive nice cars, live in sumptuous apartments, and converse in one-liners.

Outside of the movie world, important people are harder to recognize,

Ordinary people are colorful and unique. Mesa Walk, original by Steve Henderson sold; licensed art print available at Light in the Box and Great Big Canvas.

Ordinary people are colorful and unique. Mesa Walk, art print from Steve Henderson Collections.

because they generally don’t mesh incredible good looks with massive amounts of money; they just wear suits and look powerful. But the message for the ordinary person is the same — you’re quirky and cute, but a little dumb and ineffectual. You’re not particularly necessary or important, and when it comes to actually helping other people on the planet, you don’t have resources necessary to fund massive vaccination campaigns, “donate” technological equipment to schools, or set up huge agrarian farms with the ultimate purpose of feeding the world by increasing the supply of genetically modified food.

You’re one person, one family, with an ordinary life and an ordinary income, so there is very little that you can do to make an actual impact on the world.

Don’t you bet on it.

Many charities and benevolent institutions are funded on the backs of ordinary people, dependent upon $10 here, $50 there, and when enough contributions come in from unimportant, ordinary people, a business is born. Your contribution, no matter how small, is worth something, and because it’s worth something, it behooves you to make sure that you’re giving it to the right place.

One overlooked option is looking around where we are, and helping how we can right here, right now. We all know of people who are hurting — emotionally, economically, physically — and given that we all have good brains from our Creator, we can find a means to encourage them. It doesn’t have to be big — it just has to be something.

When you give a single mom you know $35 to go toward the electric bill, you’re making a real impact on a real life, and you don’t have to feel like a loser because you don’t have a corporate charitable fund. When you write a card to a family who was in the newspaper because their baby has leukemia, a $10 gift certificate to a grocery store can buy a treat that makes a dismal evening a little brighter.

This world is made up of billions of ordinary people. Some of them

dandelions country green meadow girl mother family steve henderson art

Take time for the simple, ordinary things, because these are the things that matter. Dandelions, art print from Steve Henderson Collections.

have enough to eat, indoor plumbing with potable water, a roof over their heads, and decent clothes; many, many others do not. But all of us, one by one with the resources we have been given, have the ability to help somebody else who has fewer things, and more pain, than we have. We can buy a cup of coffee for a homeless person; we can visit a forgotten resident in a nursing home; we can write a note to someone who is lonely; we can actually listen to a child when she is talking.

And our sheer power is our ordinariness. Because we’re not wildly rich and powerful, we don’t fool ourselves into thinking that we are more than we are: human beings, who live a certain number of years on this planet, and then die. What will we do with the time that we have been given?

Posted in Art, Beauty, blogging, books, children, Christian, Culture, Current Events, Economy, Encouragement, Faith, Family, finances, frugal living, Growth, home, homeschooling, homesteading, inspirational, Life, Lifestyle, News, Personal, religion, self-improvement, spirituality, success | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Young Children: Homeschooling Them is FUN

Posted on August 29, 2013 by This Woman Writes
Children are FUN, and it's best to recognize that before they all grow up and go away. Garden Gatherings, signed limited edition print by Steve Henderson of Steve Henderson Fine Art.

Children are FUN, and it’s best to recognize that before they all grow up and go away. Garden Gatherings, signed limited edition print by Steve Henderson of Steve Henderson Fine Art.

Last week we talked about Homeschooling Young Children, and this week, we’re going to bullet point some easy, fun, doable learning ideas that you can incorporate into your schooling day, and indeed, make part of your schooling experience.

  • Plan a special day to the library and have fun with it. Not only is this a great time to go trolling through and checking out books, look at the puzzles and games in the children’s section, sit down on the floor with your kids, and play. Show your kids, from an early age, what a fun place the library is.
  • While you’re in the library, let the children choose some of the books they want to check out. Some of their choices will look odd — because they like the shape or size of the book — but humor them. Pick out some stuff that you think they’ll like, and let them choose the rest.
  • Since you’re probably downtown if you’re at the library, go window shopping. Strolling, hand in hand, is a great time to talk, and store windows have lots of things to look at and spark conversation (I know — if you’ve got one, like I did, who hops and skips and leaps and runs 50 feet ahead, this isn’t necessarily relaxing — but do walk together, somewhere).
  • When you get home, sit down on the sofa with the books and just read together. Whether or not your child can read, he will always benefit by being read to by you.
    Story time is magical time, building memories that last throughout life. Christmas Story, original oil painting and signed limited edition print by Steve Henderson.

    Story time is magical time, building memories that last throughout life. Christmas Story, original oil painting and signed limited edition print by Steve Henderson.

  • Take a Nature Walk. Even if you lived in a satellite space station, there would be something, somewhere, that reflects nature, if only a houseplant. Get outside, walk around at kid speed (which means that you won’t actually get anywhere, so don’t even think about it) and just look at stuff. If you find yourself slipping into your Educational Voice (“Oh, look at these leaves on the ground — why do you think leaves fall on the ground in the autumn? Does anyone have any ideas?”) stop. Just talk to your children, and listen as they talk to you. Ask questions, but not leading ones, and enjoy the answers.
  • Lunchtime? Make food together. This is a great time to learn about washing hands (and why), setting a table, properly closing a refrigerator door, and assembling something to eat. Basic nutrition is covered when you explain why macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, and potato chips are not a nutritional powerhouse. Bake cookies. Create your own play dough. Work together in the kitchen, which is a great place to learn about numbers, measurements, safety, clean-up, and cooperation.
Time and our attention are the most precious educational resources we give to our young children. Seaside Story; licensed open edition print at Great Big Canvas.

Time and our attention are the most precious educational resources we give to our young children. Seaside Story; licensed open edition print at Great Big Canvas.

  • Got crayons? Draw. Invest in some decent art supplies and have a place where the kids can access this. Set up a card making station and create greeting cards that you — and the kids — can write in and send to friends and family. Go to the post office and explain how the place works — anyplace you go is a potential field trip — just remember to make it fun and keep that Educational Voice at bay (you can tell you’re slipping into it when your voice pitch rises).
  • Live your life, with your kids involved in it. Eat meals together, and talk while you do it. Discuss the events of the day — both your personal ones and national news — and introduce your kids to current affairs. Get used to sitting on the floor, at kid level, and interact with your children — do a jigsaw puzzle together, play a game, tell a story, listen to them tell one of their own. They’ll pick up language skills, mathematical concepts, and elementary science just by “doing stuff.”
  • As the kids get older, make your “doing stuff” more complicated, and listen to their suggestions as to what they want to do. My College Girl, at 22, still remembers the reading together we did on the sofa; Tired of Being Youngest was only 6 when we made greeting cards, every week, for a relative battling cancer, but she remembers the accomplishment she felt when she completed her weekly card; the Son and Heir, known within the family as the Walking Encyclopedia, started — and continues — his science studies by observation — we didn’t know we had river otters until he told us, after weeks of patient waiting and watching.

It doesn’t have to be complicated; it doesn’t have to be expensive. When you’re working with and teaching young children, the main thing that’s needed is you: your time, your attention, your enthusiasm.

Consider making art a part of your homeschooling experience. All of

Inspirational posters at Steve Henderson Fine Art are available with and without the inspirational sayings.

Inspirational posters at Steve Henderson Fine Art are available with and without the inspirational sayings.

the artwork in my articles is by my Norwegian Artist, Steve Henderson, and he offers it in a variety of sizes and formats — from originals to posters, from limited edition prints to licensed ones — so that people can find something that they like and can afford.

Find and buy Steve’s art in the following online venues:

Manufacturers and retailers — license Steve’s work through Art Licensing

Posted in Art, art education, blogging, children, Christian, Christmas, Culture, Current Events, Daily Life, Education, Encouragement, Faith, Family, frugal living, games, grandparenting, Growth, home, homeschooling, inspirational, instruction, Life, Lifestyle, Motherhood, News, Parenting, Personal, playtime, Random, Relationships, school, self-improvement, success | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Ordinary Christians: That Describes All of Us

Posted on August 28, 2013 by This Woman Writes
According to my mother, I would have had better luck finding Santa Claus in the living room than I would snagging a date with the guy I had a crush on. Christmas Story, original painting and signed limited edition print by Steve Henderson.

According to my mother, I would have had better luck finding Santa Claus in the living room than I would snagging a date with the guy I had a crush on. Christmas Story, original painting and signed limited edition print by Steve Henderson.

When I was in high school, I had a crush on this gorgeous guy: thick wavy hair, brown eyes like Bambi, perfect white teeth that flashed with an impish grin. Personality wise, he was funny, warm, engaging, friendly — at least that’s what he seemed like from a distance, since the closest I ever reached his arena was across the music room where he was a tenor in the choir, I an alto.

When I mentioned him to my mother, she poured ice water over my dreams:

“Him? You’ll never get anywhere with him. He’s from one of the first families of this little town, and we’re nothing. Forget about it.”

Well, this didn’t go over well in my 17-year-old world, where we’re all the same, because we’re all human beings, and nobody is really “better” than another person — but in the real world, that’s the system, baby. And by the real world, I mean the Christian arena as well, an arena that has been infiltrated and influenced by many deceptive practices and beliefs that it purports to deny.

I am small and insignificant, but infinitely loved by the Creator of the Universe. Bold Innocence, licensed art print by Steve Henderson at Great Big Canvas.

I am small and insignificant, but infinitely loved by the Creator of the Universe. Bold Innocence, licensed art print by Steve Henderson at Great Big Canvas.

Years ago, my family attended a little church in a little town, and within that little church, there were important people who had important jobs in the community as well. Superficially, they acted as if they were just like the rest of us, but when it came down to it, we were in the alto section, watching them across the room with the tenors. In ten years we never moved past a Sunday smile and brief handclasp. Other people did, I noticed, even though they were socially insignificant in the work world, but it seemed to require a substantial number of volunteer hours in their off time — painting walls, attending small groups, participating in leadership seminars, babysitting the leaders’ kids. Getting noticed by an important person — in the world or in the church — is a lot of work.

And yet, we Christians are the foolish things of the world, the weak, the lowly — or at least, that’s our job description in 1 Corininthians 1:26-29:

“. . . God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things — and the things that are not — to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.”

Our Rock -- is He large and solid and granite, or a pebble in our shoe? On the Solid Rock I Stand inspirational poster by Steve Henderson.

Our Rock — is He large and solid and granite, or a pebble in our shoe? On the Solid Rock I Stand inspirational poster by Steve Henderson.

While like any human, I think fairly well of myself: I’m not beautiful; I never have been, but I’m smart, and I’ve always had a problem in thinking I’m not wise. But I know I’m not rich, powerful, influential, or important, and time and circumstances continue to emphasize to me what I am: I’m ordinary, like a fisherman, or a carpenter’s son.

And that carpenter’s son never worried about what people thought about Him; His whole focus was on His Father’s will.

Is that our focus?

If you’re a nobody, an ordinary person, an insignificant human being who does your job and loves your family and talks to God and asks Him what you, of all people, could do this day for Him — be encouraged. By recognizing that you’re ordinary, and not deceiving yourself into thinking that you are something more than you are, you can be useful — because you listen as opposed to doing all the talking.

In Jesus’ days, it was the Pharisees, who preened and pranced and prayed and sought after the accolades and the worship of other men; things don’t change, just the names we use to describe them.  Thank God that you’re ordinary — all Christians are — and humble yourself before Him, because He, my friend, is extraordinary, and He wants to walk side by side with you, throughout your entire life and eternity.

Steve Henderson’s inspirational art is featured in all of my articles. My

Beachside Diversions, available as an original and signed limited edition print at Steve Henderson Fine Art; licensed open edition print at Great Big Canvas.

Beachside Diversions, available as an original and signed limited edition print at Steve Henderson Fine Art; licensed open edition print at Great Big Canvas.

Norwegian Artist’s bold use of color and creative way of looking at the world extols the beauty that God set up on this earth.

You can find Steve’s work in a variety of places, formats, and price ranges, because art is an important part of all of our lives.

Find and buy Steve’s art in the following online venues:

Manufacturers and retailers — license Steve’s work through Art Licensing

Posted in Art, Beauty, blogging, children, Christian, Christmas, Culture, Current Events, Daily Life, Encouragement, Faith, Family, Growth, holiday, home, homeschooling, inspirational, Life, Lifestyle, News, Personal, Random, Relationships, religion, self-improvement, spirituality | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Recipe: Poor Man’s Cottage Potatoes

Posted on August 27, 2013 by This Woman Writes
Cottage potatoes taste delicious on their own or as a side dish. Photo Credit Steve Henderson Fine Art

Cottage potatoes taste delicious on their own or as a side dish. Photo Credit Steve Henderson Fine Art

Cottage potatoes are like roses — we all use the same name, but no one cottage potato dish is identical to another.

My cottage potatoes are crispy little squares of crunchy on the outside, mmmmm on the inside, especially when you use Yukon Gold potatoes, the prince (or are potatoes female?) of potatoes for its perfect texture, buttery flavor, and thin skin that doesn’t need to be peeled.

And the Poor Man part? Potatoes, onions, garlic — traditionally, these are poor man’s food because they’re easy to find and inexpensive, but they’re also delicious and nutritious. Despite the consistent bad rap potatoes get in the press, they are a filling food that represent the world’s fourth largest crop, behind rice, wheat, and corn. Garlic and onions, both members of the allium family, are high in antioxidants, instrumental in neutralizing cell-damaging free radicals in our system.

If you’re one of those people who say, “I don’t like onions and garlic,” suspend your opinion just this one time, and give this dish a try. The garlic and onions cook to a delightful languor and infuse the dish with their teasing flavor. Fresh rosemary adds the final, gentle kiss.

Makes 2 large servings, 3-4 small side servings.

Poor Man’s Cottage Potatoes

Ingredients:

1/4 cup olive oil

Is it just money that makes us rich? I don't think so. Wild Child -- original painting, signed limited edition print at Steve Henderson Fine Art; licensed open edition print at Great Big Canvas.

Is it just money that makes us rich? I don’t think so. Wild Child — original painting, signed limited edition print at Steve Henderson Fine Art; licensed open edition print at Great Big Canvas.

1 head garlic, minced (I know, that’s a lot of garlic. If you’re timid, use half a head.)

2 shallots, chopped (I used these because our Son and Heir planted a row of shallots in the garden for our anniversary, and I wanted to use the present. If you don’t have shallots, use a bit more onion.)

1 medium sized onion, chopped (I used a red onion; definitely makes you cry.)

1 pound Yukon Gold potatoes, about two mid-sized, finely diced (you can use any kind of potato, but Yukons really are tops; by finely diced I mean quarter-inch squares or so; the larger the dice, the longer the potatoes take to cook.)

2 Tablespoons fresh rosemary, minced

1 small tomato, chopped

salt and pepper to taste

Heat the oil over medium heat in a skillet until hot. Add the garlic and gently stir for two minutes. Add onions and shallots. Saute for 10 minutes, stirring every few minutes.

Add the potatoes, increase the heat to a high medium, and, over the next 20 minutes, cook and flip until the potatoes are cooked through and browned on the outside. I found this a great time to catch up on the dirty dishes in the sink, and every few minutes I grabbed the spatula and stirred the potatoes around. If you need more than 20 minutes, take it, but you probably won’t need less. Don’t let more than 4-5 minutes go by without flipping so you don’t burn the onions that are mixed in with the potatoes.

When the potatoes are to your liking, salt and pepper to taste. Add the fresh rosemary and mix it in and through the potatoes for one minute. Take pan off of heat.

Serve onto small plates; sprinkle with chopped tomatoes.

Enjoy.

Living Happily on Less is a lifestyle thing, and anyone can succeed at it. Available at Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.

Living Happily on Less is a lifestyle thing, and anyone can succeed at it. Available at Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.

Poor man’s food is generally good food, because traditionally, many poor men ate what was in season, easy to store, and inexpensive — eggs, cheese, grains, onions, potatoes, greens in the spring. When you learn to eat seasonally, you see your grocery bill go down, and the more you cook for yourself, the more that grocery bill continues to go down.

This is a lifestyle thing, and this is what I talk about in my book, Live Happily on Less. You don’t have to be rich to live well, and if your focus on life is on getting rich, you may make a lot of money, but this still won’t guarantee that you’ll live well. First step: be grateful for what you have. Second step: learn how to use what you have to your best advantage. Third step: buy the book.

This article was originally published in ThoughtfulWomen.org.

Posted in Art, books, cooking, Culture, Current Events, Daily Life, dinner idea, Economy, Encouragement, Family, finances, Food, frugal living, gardening, Green, Growth, health, home, homeschooling, homesteading, inspirational, instruction, Life, Lifestyle, News, Personal, Random, recipe, saving money, self-improvement, success, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

What You Want, Matters

Posted on August 26, 2013 by This Woman Writes

Landscapes, seascapes, figurative — each person gravitates toward specific subject matter. Highland Road by Steve Henderson

From Start Your Week with Steve, the free weekly e-mail newsletter of Steve Henderson Fine Art —

Steve Says:

“One of the things I enjoy most about dealing directly with art collectors and clients is . . . dealing directly with people. Each and every person who buys a painting has a story, a reason behind why they choose what they do, a specific wall for the artwork, a compelling reason to keep coming back to a painting.

“The individuality of each person who contacts us never ceases to amaze or encourage me.

“‘I’ve been thinking about this painting for months,’ one person told me. ‘I keep looking at it on the website, keep imagining it on my wall. I can’t get it out of my mind and I want it.’

Originals, prints, licensed prints, posters -- people buy art in all forms. Aphrodite, by Steve Henderson, original painting sold, licensed print available.

Originals, prints, licensed prints, posters — people buy art in all forms. Aphrodite, by Steve Henderson, original painting sold, licensed print available.

“Those are sweet words for an artist to hear.

“Just as satisfying, however, is the drive, the determination, the perseverance of the person we’re talking to. In a society that strongly emphasizes conformity, fitting in, and standardization, it is a privilege working with people who know what they want and aren’t ashamed to go about getting it.

“Obviously, there’s a right motivation about this and a wrong one — seeking world dominance at the expense of other, innocent people’s right to live their lives peaceably, isn’t a good way to go about things.

“But that’s what I’m not talking about. I’m talking about people — individual people from all walks of life — responding to something that touches them, in this case, one of my paintings, whether it’s an original, a signed limited edition print, an open edition print, or a poster.

Spring, winter, autumn, Christmas, art encompasses all seasons of life.

Spring, winter, autumn, Christmas, art encompasses all seasons of life.

“Some of them unabashedly buy a piece because it matches the color of their living room furniture; this pleases them, and the painting complements the overall decor.

“Others are looking for a specific shape or size of canvas, along with the image. Still others purchase because a work reminds them of a place in their childhood or some other memory.

“Regardless of the reasons, they are comfortable with them, and they purchase and artwork for all the right reasons: because they want it, and it makes them happy.

“From the time we are young children we are told not to think too much about ourselves, our wants, our needs, our opinions — to focus, instead, on others.

“And while it is good, and very necessary, to focus on others, we don’t do this at the expense of checking in with ourselves.

“You matter. What you think, how you think, what pleases you, what makes you laugh, what makes you cry. The more comfortable you are with who you are, the more likely you will make decisions that are right for you.”

Read more — about the importance of small business in America, and

Originals, prints, posters, big, small -- art comes in all sizes and price ranges.

Originals, prints, posters, big, small — art comes in all sizes and price ranges.

starting on your Christmas shopping, at Start Your Week with Steve.

Find and buy Steve’s art in the following online venues:

Manufacturers and retailers — license Steve’s work through Art Licensing

Posted in Art, Beauty, blogging, Business, Christmas, Culture, Current Events, Daily Life, Encouragement, Family, finances, frugal living, Growth, home, homeschooling, inspirational, Life, Lifestyle, News, Personal, Random, Relationships, saving money, self-improvement, shopping, Style, success, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Support Everyday Americans When You Support Small Business

Posted on August 23, 2013 by This Woman Writes
Small business, small towns, ordinary people -- a country is made great by these things. Homeland 2, licensed open edition art print by Steve Henderson at Great Big Canvas.

Small business, small towns, ordinary people — a country is made great by these things. Homeland 2, licensed open edition art print by Steve Henderson at Great Big Canvas.

My sandals are falling apart. Not the leather ones that the dog chewed up; structurally, those shoes were fine. No, these are sandals that I purchased from a reputable store with a big-chain name, the kind of place I’m supposed to be able to trust.

And yes, theoretically, I could return the  product, but in real life I can’t. I bought them two months ago, I no longer have the receipt (who saves all of their receipts for a year?), and I don’t want to deal with the people who work at this place on the phone or in person.

Welcome to the world of most of us, filled with this kind of retail establishment that we are expected to place our trust — and money — into because it’s big and real and more grown-up looking somehow.

As a small businessperson (my husband and I run Steve Henderson Fine Art) we frequently deal with clients who can’t believe that our establishment consists of two people.

“I’ve never ordered from you before and I don’t know you,” one client was candid enough to write, for which I was grateful, because he addresses a concern that many people have about small businesses — direct sale art galleries like ours, the local yarn store, a small toy shop with real electric train sets, the kind you see on nostalgic Christmas movies.

Who is Steve Henderson? He's an international fine art painter who focuses on beauty, color, and light.

Who is Steve Henderson? He’s an international fine art painter who focuses on beauty, color, and light.

Who are you? is one question, and

Why does your stuff cost more than what’s at the mart-store? is another. The general implication is that the small guy is out there to cheat people; otherwise, his prices would be the same as the products at a global purchasing merchandiser whose logo can be seen on trucks everywhere.

Let’s address the second question first: apples and oranges aren’t the same thing, or better yet, cheap acrylic yarn and silk/alpaca blend are not the same fruit. You find the first product at the Big Guy’s, and if you’re not really into knitting and you won’t really use what you’re spending three months to make, buy the cheap stuff. But if you want to make a pair of socks that outlasts the first afternoon you wear them, go to the independent yarn store and invest in quality, for a fair price.

When you want something unique and unusual, seek out a small business or an independent artist. Evening Waltz, original oil painting by Steve Henderson Fine Art

When you want something unique and unusual, seek out a small business or an independent artist. Evening Waltz, original oil painting by Steve Henderson Fine Art

As a bonus, you’ll find someone, often the proprietor, who will talk with you, answer your questions, and provide real, actual, in-person customer support.

Who are these people? They are the backbone of America, small businesspeople, who work long hours, are truly passionate about their products and their customers, and are constantly trying to stay a step ahead of their global competitors with the cheap prices and the cheap products.

Big box stores are here to stay, and indeed, I’ll wander into one of them when I need toilet paper or printing cartridges or paper plates for the picnic, but when I want something unique, something special, something I’ll enjoy owning and using for years to come, I’ll seek out the little guy.

Because saving money isn’t just a matter of paying less: more importantly, saving money means buying the right item, the first time, and not having to replace it before its reasonable life expectancy. This involves shopping at a variety of establishments — from the corporate one-stop behemoths to the mom and pop shop, from in-person to the Internet, from big to mid-sized to small to tiny, from retail to below retail.

You’re looking for the right item, which isn’t necessarily the cheapest item, and the right place to get it just may be a small business.

We run a small business — Steve Henderson Fine Art — which sells

Because Steve's art comes in many forms, from originals to licensed prints, it fits into any budget. Mesa Walk, available at Light in the Box.

Because Steve’s art comes in many forms, from originals to licensed prints, it fits into any budget. Mesa Walk, available at Light in the Box.

original art directly to collectors from our studio; you save money that way, and you have the added bonus of meeting the artist, either in person, online, or on the phone.

Check out Steve’s art — it’s beautiful, affordable, and available in many formats, sizes, and price ranges:

Find and buy Steve’s art in the following online venues:

Manufacturers and retailers — license Steve’s work through Art Licensing

This article was originally published in ThoughtfulWomen.org.

Posted in Art, blogging, Business, Christian, Culture, Current Events, Daily Life, Economy, Encouragement, Faith, Family, finances, frugal living, Growth, home, homeschooling, homesteading, inspirational, Life, Lifestyle, News, Personal, Random, saving money, self-improvement, shopping, success | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Homeschooling Young Children

Posted on August 22, 2013 by This Woman Writes
Homeschooling young children has the potential to be fun and spontaneous. Into the Surf, licensed open edition art print at Great Big Canvas.

Homeschooling young children has the potential to be fun and spontaneous. Into the Surf, licensed open edition art print at Great Big Canvas.

On a regular basis, I troll through various Facebook pages (“troll” is a such a nicer word than “stalk”) and run into post after post that looks like this:

“I am homeschooling my five-year-old for kindergarten this year and I am overwhelmed! I have already bought a curriculum covering physical science, literature, writing skills, baby basic mathematics, elementary Spanish, and current events, but I’m not sure what to do about social studies.

“And it looks like it’s going to take at least five hours a day to get this all done, and my little boy’s attention span isn’t long enough. Help!

“Oh, and I’ve got a three-year old, and I’m pregnant with my third child.”

There’s something about the word “homeschool” that prompts people to focus on the second half, “school,” and totally ignore the first part, “home.”

Young children are learning all the time, in the most creative ways. Reflection, original and signed limited edition print at Steve Henderson Fine Art; licensed open edition print at Great Big Canvas.

Young children are learning all the time, in the most creative ways. Reflection, original and signed limited edition print at Steve Henderson Fine Art; licensed open edition print at Great Big Canvas.

If you have young children — in my mind, this is under nine — you don’t need to be freaking out (if you have older kids, as well, you don’t need to be freaking out either, but we’ll talk about this another time). Just because the educational establishment of the day has determined that three-year-olds need to start reading, NOW, and all fourth-graders should be introduced to elementary algebra, does not mean that you need to follow these standards.

After all, you are homeschooling for a reason (see my earlier article, Why Do You Homeschool?), one of which may be because you are uncomfortable with the curriculum expectations of the public school arena, so keep this in mind as you set up your own homeschooling way of doing things.

Young children are little sponges — they want to learn — and as long as we don’t discourage them by heaping on hours worth of what they find to be purposeless work, they will learn. Imagine if there were classes on Basic Toddler Walking 101, or Hand/Eye Coordination Skills for the 8-month-old (sadly, there probably are) — would the child walk any sooner, or get a spoonful of mush actually in his mouth any faster? Probably not; he might even take longer, and you would spend a lot of your time in a state of frustration and concern.

Observe your children, and learn about them. Lilac Festival, original oil painting by Steve Henderson.

Observe your children, and learn about them. Lilac Festival, original oil painting by Steve Henderson.

So let’s get back to this five-year-old: I’m betting that he observes the world around him, knows how to bake cookies with mom, sets the table, looks through picture books, draws on walls if you don’t provide paper, understands the dog better than anyone in the household, instructs his sister in the difference between blue and green, and asks endless questions.

What is it that you want him to learn this year? Be realistic about the mind of a five-year-old, and specifically your five year old: Does she know her letters? If not, then play around with the letters — buy some of those magnets that never stay on the refrigerator and make them part of your play day. Show him how to write his name — and don’t expect his handwriting to be straight and proud, as if it were written by, well, an adult.

In other words, start by observing your child, and see what she does in her day already. Anyone who lives on a farm knows that this is what you do with the chickens, or the goats, or the cats: you watch how they interact, what causes them to behave a certain way, what is normal and what is not. Observing the animals you own and depend upon is an essential part of caring for them.

And while we don’t own our children, we are very much responsible for their care — physical, emotional, and educational — and part of getting the thing right is learning about children in general, and our children specifically, so that we don’t ask them to do something they’re not ready to tackle yet — like Latin verb conjugations in first grade.

Learning to write can be as fun as learning to teach young children.

Learning to write can be as fun as learning to teach young children.

Next week, on Thursday, let’s bullet point some relaxed, workable ideas you can enjoy with your young child this year.

Do you have older children — more than aged 9 — and you want them to learn to write? The best way to learn writing is twofold — 1) read a lot and 2) write a lot. You can accomplish both of these goals without a workbook.

If you buy anything, I suggest Grammar Despair, which you as an adult may want to read along with your child. Writing well is a matter of practice, and much of what we get “wrong” are common issues that Grammar Despair addresses: What is the difference between “it’s” and “its”? Can you start a sentence with a conjunction? What is the problem with the words, “must,” “should,” and “ought,” and why is it a good idea to limit their usage?

Grammar Despair is an inexpensive paperback, an even more inexpensive digital e-book, and free when you borrow it on Amazon Prime.

“This can be used as a reference or as a daily or weekly lesson book.” — Amazon reader review

Posted in Art, blogging, books, children, Christian, Culture, Current Events, Daily Life, Education, Encouragement, Faith, Family, Growth, home, homeschooling, inspirational, instruction, Life, Lifestyle, Motherhood, News, Parenting, Personal, Random, school, self-improvement, success, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment