How鈥檚 the month going? Are we having fun yet?
Such questions have been much in mind this month as I have listened to friends voicing exasperation over burdensome lists of things to do leading up to this major 鈥渉oliday.鈥� It seems the feeling is fairly widespread. CBC radio ran a week-long series recently on 鈥渂urnout.鈥� Articles and programs abound on the topic of dealing with stress.
Some of the life situations we find ourselves in are not easily altered, simplified or de-stressed. But some are. Currently, I鈥檓 ardently exploring that possibility in regards to the garden as I venture outdoors, saw and pruners in hand, to tame overgrowth in shrubs, trees and vines, such as a gigantic Mermaid rose that has been in the garden many years.
Several pathways are destined for widening. An area by a side fence in the back garden is already partly cleared. Little will grow properly there because of invasive tree roots from the neighbours鈥� forest. I鈥檓 covering the cleared ground with cardboard, newspaper and wood shavings to eliminate an area requiring regular maintenance 鈥� and reduce my work load.
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鈥橳is the gift to be simple, 鈥檛is the gift to be free. I鈥檓 one of those peculiar people who think in terms of tiny details. If there鈥檚 an ultra-complex, convoluted way of doing something, I鈥檒l find it.
One of the most significant gifts I can give myself is to find simpler, easier ways of doing things 鈥� that, and to scrutinize 鈥渢o do鈥� lists with a discriminating eye. Do I really need to do that? Letting oneself off a hook now and then is an exercise in freedom. Random examples:
鈥� Easy fill-ins. There鈥檚 really no need to plan every square inch of an ornamental garden. Just have on hand seed packets of easy annuals for filling in spaces with colour. Poke nasturtium seeds into packets of bare soil. Scratch in seeds of clarkia, cosmos, alyssum, calendula and candytuft. All these can be sown outdoors in April.
鈥� A kitchen quickie. One evening recently, after working late, I was ravenous, weary and craving mashed potatoes to go with leftover lamb roast slices. Lacking the energy to peel, cook, and whip potatoes, I scrubbed and chopped a few of the garden鈥檚 potatoes that I keep in a storeroom off the carport, placed them in a covered pot with a little water, and cooked them tender before mashing them down with a fork, adding a little butter and sour cream, and lamb slices.
Into the oven went the pot while I steamed bok choy and a package of frozen garden peas to complete a simple but flavourful meat that took mere minutes to make.
鈥� Garlicky sweet potatoes. I have just discovered a fairly quick and easy 鈥渕ake-ahead鈥� treat that I plan to include in the Christmas dinner menu. It鈥檚 mashed sweet potato with roasted garlic. Peel a head (or less or more, depending on your liking for garlic) of garlic cloves, place them in a small pot and drizzle with a litle olive oil. Cover the pot and roast the cloves at 300 F until they are soft. Mash them with a fork.
While the garlic roasts, peel and cut up enough orange-fleshed sweet potatoes to feed the dinner crowd. Steam tender, and mash by hand or in a mixer with butter, cream or sour cream, salt and pepper, and the roasted garlic. Spoon into a covered oven-proof pot for easy re-warming and serving.
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Creating 鈥渃osy.鈥� A concept I keep running across, on radio programs and newspaper articles, is the Danish term 鈥渉ygge鈥� (pronounced hue-guh), which is described as a feeling of warmth and cosiness, together with the enjoyment of life鈥檚 little pleasures 鈥� a cup of cocoa, talk around the table with friends and family, wrapping up warm on a crisp winter day. With its long, dark winters, Denmark鈥檚 high season of hygge is Christmas, when the hours of dark are longest.
Behind the simple pleasures of hygge is a philosophy, a way of life that helps people understand the importance of simplicity and of taking time to unwind and slow down the pace of life. It is the practice of creating space and time to do nothing but enjoy the little things with family and friends.
That is what I wish for you this holiday season 鈥� a warm and cosy Christmas, with time for relaxing in Yuletide cheer with family and friends. Comfort and joy to all.
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Saturday. To free up time for family frolicking at Christmas, I鈥檒l not be writing a column for Dec. 23. I鈥檒l be back next Wednesday.
