Author: Shelia Watson

Easy cooking is a crock

The crock pot (or slow cooker) is the best thing ever invented. That might be up for debate, but not on my blog. I haven’t found an easier way to cook, unless we’re having sandwiches for supper.

Here’s what I love about it. You prepare the veggies and meat (wash, cut, season), then pop it all into the cooker, add a tiny bit of water/broth/whatever, then turn it on low and go write your bestselling novel. Or go back to bed and binge a show, it’s up to you, no judgment here. Roughly eight hours later, supper’s done.

The specifics on which veggies go best with which meat and the prepping/seasoning will vary depending on what you’re cooking. Here’s my favorite slow cooker recipe:

Gotta Meet My Deadlines Cube Steak

Ingredients
1 package (usually containing 3-5) cube steaks
1 yellow onion, cut into roughly 1/4-inch slices
4.5-oz. jar sliced mushrooms, drained
1/2 cup flour
Salt, pepper, other spices, to taste
1 packet of onion soup mix
1 cup water

Directions
1. Cut the cube steaks into strips about 1-2 inches wide. (If you prefer, you can keep the steaks their original size. I like them cut.)
2. Add the salt, pepper, and whatever other spices you like into the flour. Mix.
3. Spread the flour/seasoning onto a plate or sheet of wax paper and roll the cube steak pieces through it until the pieces are floured up.
4. Layer into the slow cooker in the following order: onions, steak, mushrooms, onions, steak, mushrooms, onions.
5. Mix the soup mix and water, then pour over all.
6. Cook on low for 7-8 hours.

Serve over cooked egg noodles or mashed potatoes.

1000 Words: We’ll always have you-know-where

A picture is worth 1,000 words, they say. Maybe they’re right. Let’s show ’em. Take one of these photos — or all of them, your choice — and make a story.

What kind of story would have your character(s) stopping by these places in one afternoon?

l-r: Place de la Bastille (the Bastille Monument), Le Descartes Cafe and Bar, La Fontaine Medicis (the Medici Fountain), Le Train Bleu. Photos by Anthony Watson/Point North Images.

Lighting the beacons of Gondor is better than texting

I’ve always loved the scene in the Lord of the Rings: Return of the King when the beacons of Gondor are lit. I saw it first in the theatre, and it took my breath away.

In this video, the moment when it reaches 1:58 is especially powerful.

So when I came across some memes about the beacons of Gondor, I was all over it.

Here are a few of my favorites. Feel free to download and share. The world needs more LOTR memes.

Morning Joe is a Go

Disclaimer: This content is provided for informational purposes only. It is not to be considered medical advice.

Good news for all the coffee drinkers out there! After years of being told coffee is bad for us, science is coming around to our way of thinking (which is pretty much: “No go til morning joe”).

I found several news stories highlighting the benefits of that delicious morning brew. (Keep in mind that the consistent exception is pregnant or nursing mothers. And in any case, you should consult your doctor with any concerns about this information.)

Here are a few excerpts with links to the full articles:

Review finds coffee linked to longer life and lower disease risk

“…when consumed in moderation (typically 3-5 cups per day), [coffee consumption] is safe and beneficial for most adults.” (Link to article)

Morning Coffee May Help You Live Longer, Reduce Cardiovascular Disease Risk

“…those who have a cup of joe in the morning have a lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease and lower overall mortality risk compared to those who drink coffee throughout the day or don’t drink it at all.” (Link to article)

9 Unique Benefits of Coffee

“Coffee does more than boost your energy. A few daily cups of coffee may also lower your risk of type 2 diabetes and depression, support weight management, and help you live a longer life.” (Link to article)

The Science-Backed Health Benefits of Drinking Coffee

“…caffeine increases energy availability and expenditure, decreases fatigue, enhances physical, motor, and cognitive performance, and increases the ability to solve problems.” (Link to article)

I Do Declare: When it comes to productivity, rest is best

Today is Labor Day in the United States, one of the 11 federal holidays (12 when the year has an Inaugural Day), which for most people means: Don’t you dare do anything resembling work, unless it’s laboring over a grill in your backyard.

Labor Day was established as a federal holiday in 1894 by President Grover Cleveland in recognition of workers’ rights. Which I’m sure was a great idea at the time. However, it has since evolved into a recognition of the right not to work that day.

In the interest of accuracy, I’m thinking it really should be renamed Rest Day.

Which isn’t a bad idea. (Resting, I mean, not renaming the day.) Especially for all you creatives out there.

Let’s be honest. If you’re a contractor / freelancer, chances are you tend to have a mindset something like this:

I want to achieve … so I need to stay productive … which means I need to keep working … so I can be in constant motion … to achieve all I want to get done.

You know what the problem is with that mindset?

We’re not Energizer bunnies; we can’t keep going and going and going, even if we do have a cute little drum to beat on as we go merrily along.

Besides, perpetual motion doesn’t work with humans. That whole concept is hypothetical anyway, because a machine that can work indefinitely without an external energy source would violate the first and second law of thermodynamics. And I know that only because I have befriended Google.

Think about it: Even God rested from His labors on the seventh day. Trust me, you’re not going to one-up God. Don’t even try.

So let’s get real, creatives. If you want to keep going, you need to rest now and then – or better yet, on a regular basis.

Take a break before you break is what I’m saying.

Here are a few ideas for embracing the noble concept of rest:

Physical Rest

  • Get proper sleep, by which I mean: Turn the TV off and go to bed on time.
  • Fashion your bedroom into a total comfy zone. You can do this without expensive redecorating. Yes you can. Spray lavender (known for its relaxation properties) on the mattress and pillows when you change the sheets. I spray my pillows every day. The smell of it (let’s call it by its name: aromatherapy) helps me get into a deep sleep.
  • Do whatever you can to work in nap time during the day. Kindergarten teachers know what they’re doing: Naps are good for you. Plus, if your high energy is first thing in the morning, if you take a nap midday, you get two mornings out of one day. Win!

Mental/Sensory Rest

  • Unplug from sensory overload. Leave the TV off for a day (or several days). Ignore the news for a while (trust me, it’ll be there when you get back).
  • Write in a journal to get any negative thoughts out of your head. Or start a gratitude journal so you’re focusing on good things. Or both.
  • Try some relaxation exercises, like deep breathing, yoga, qi gong, or t’ai chi.
  • Take up a hobby that uses other parts of your brain (thereby giving the parts you’re pushing hard all the time a break), like jigsaw puzzles, painting, knitting, or needlework.

Emotional/Social Rest

  • Put deliberate boundaries around social media – i.e., no screen time at least an hour before bed and no peeking at Facebook if you wake up during the night.
  • Know your introvert or extrovert leanings – are you energized by being in a crowd or by pondering alone? – and adjust your expectations accordingly.
  • Be authentic in your relational contacts: Don’t be afraid to say no (it can be done gracefully), let your friends know if you’re in need, and put a moratorium on unhealthy relationships.

Creative/Spiritual Rest

  • As much as possible, set boundaries around work. (It’s ok to not be available 24/7.)
  • Connect with your spiritual nature – e.g., read an inspiring Bible passage every morning and meditate on it, join a church group, listen to inspiring music that reminds you that you are a child of God.
  • Fill your soul with nature. Take a walk through a park. Hike through mountain trails. Walk on the beach.

The benefits of rest are so much worth any cost of taking up any of these suggestions: a better immune system, improved mental health, and an increase in creativity. Worth a try, isn’t it?

I Do Declare: It feels pretty good to complete a book

As I mentioned in a previous post, I took a hiatus for a while, during which time I wrote a book (among many other endeavors, some pretty awesome, some not so much).

Which means, sadly, that I missed the moment to do a blog launch for my book.

Well, here it is: Charleston Celebration: A History of Pleasurable Pastimes from Colonial Charles Town Through the Charleston Renaissance (published by Globe Pequot Press, an imprint of Rowman and Littlefield). It’s available everywhere; just ask your local bookstore to order it. (The link above goes to Amazon.)

In upcoming posts, I’ll favor you with an excerpt or two as well as some insights on how and why I wrote it — but for today, here’s the intro so you can get a feel for what it’s about:

* * *

Introduction

Many books have been written about Charleston, a fact that should surprise no one. The Grand Dame of the South has been here for centuries and has many fascinating tales to tell.

The tales are so fascinating that, I do declare, doing the research for this book was the best rabbit hole I’ve ever been down.

There are books and articles that detail how Charleston endured the Revolutionary War and the Civil War, write-ups that dig into specific topics like architecture or piracy, and published pieces that offer insights into the people, places, and politics.

One doesn’t have to search long to find a wealth of information about Charleston: short histories, in-depth studies, surveys, compilations, the lighter side, the darker side, and a treatise on just about every aspect of the city.

This book delves into one specific aspect: Charleston’s pleasurable pastimes through the years. And there are many. There’s a reason Charleston keeps receiving accolades like being voted year after year as Best City to Visit, Friendliest City, Most Enjoyable Place to Visit, and so on.

The simple truth is that Charleston loves to entertain and to be entertained. She seeks out the beauty and joy and pleasure in her charming surroundings, and she invites others to enjoy them as well.

In her book, Prints and Impressions of Charleston, celebrated artist Elizabeth O’Neill Verner wrote that, “It is so difficult for a Charlestonian to write about Charleston without becoming either sentimental or austere.”

How right she was. At one point in my research, I realized that I could either wax eloquent on every instance of entertainment – and, because the city never stops seeking enjoyment, possibly never finish the book – or accept that it might not be possible to capture and catalogue every instance of amusement throughout the years. I went with the latter, and I hope you, gentle reader, will forgive any omissions.

This book was a great pleasure for me to research and to write. It is my fervent wish that you will find great pleasure in these pages.

Shelia Watson
West of the Ashley
Charleston, South Carolina