Question: Do you think you are too busy or not busy enough or have just the right balance in your days? I think I am too busy. It seems like I don't have time to enjoy chatting with friends, and of course I could always use some extra time to work on quilting projects. I imagine a Tasha Tudor sort of life sitting among animals and flowers and quietly making things. I wonder if and when I have time to spare that I'll melt into boredom and think about the good ol' rushing around days.
My personal opinion is that in Japan at least, everyone is too busy. I have English kids who go to soccer or band practice after school, then get bused to swim school, then come to English and finish up the evening with abacus lessons. It seems that almost every child I come into contact with has some type of lesson every day of the week. Karate, boy scouts, piano, cram school, ballet, etc. etc. I can hardly talk since my English classes seem to be part of the problem but still I feel sorry for kids who have no time to just play or read or something. Maybe kids don't do that anyway anymore. Maybe they all sit in front of their TV and computer games so the parents figure keeping kids occupied is a better way for them to spend their time.
But it is not limited to just kids. I teach an English class at the kindergarten for mothers and there are supposed to be 10 students but for the last month I have had 3 or 4. The reasons? One week the kindergarten offers the mothers kimono dressing lessons, another two or three weeks there is preparation for a tea ceremony party. A few weeks there were doll making classes and puppet show preparations. Sometimes there is birthday lunch day for the kids. Of course there were bazaar preparations and Sports Day preparations. I actually applaud the mothers who tell me they just can't come to English anymore because there are so many other things they have to do. I should say so! At least they are not wearing themselves thin and juggling one extra thing.
I have no idea if Tasha Tudor ever made Apple Crisp but it sounds like something warm and hearty that she would serve her guests. Yesterday I made some for friends and students but Tetsu has been too BUSY to sample the piece I saved for him...
Apple Crisp4 cups sliced apples
2/3 cups brown sugar
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup oats
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/3 cup margarine
Heat oven to 375 degrees. Arrange apples in greased square pan. Mix remaining ingredients; sprinkle over apples.
Bake until topping is golden brown and apples are tender, about 30 minutes. Serve warm and if desired with cream or ice cream.
8 comments:
When I was teaching I was definitely far too busy. I used to leave home at 7.30am, stay at school until 6.00pm, then organise dinner and oversee homework, then work for another couple of hours marking and preparing work for the next day. Then at weekends I reckoned on spending another 4 or 5 hours preparing for the next week. Now, though, I'm retired and can please myself. I haven't yet been well enough to volunteer for anything so have all the time in the world to sit and sew, or read, or knit. Bliss! Your apple crisp is another wheat-free recipe I'm certainly going to use.
I think lots of people like to be too busy -- saves having too much time to think, to be responsible for your life rather than have it happen to you...
The time management system I learned many years ago still works well for me.... figure each day has 4 time periods -- morning, early afternoon, late afternoon (about 4-7pm) and evening. in a 7 day week that means there are 28 time periods when you're not asleep.... figure how many you will work at paid employment, how many you will volunteer, how many are house related, and how many are yours -- the division for each person is personal, and changes over the years. Then plan your week. Some weeks I have a couple of long work days, and then a couple of "days off", other weeks they divide more evenly throughout the week...
Even Tasha Tudor had to take care of all those animals & her gardens before she could sit down to make things.
I agree, that people are just too busy these days. Japan, the States, Europe, Australia....I read blogs from all those places & everyone is just busy, busy, busy.
The apple crisp looks yummy. We had lots & lots of apples this year & I make lots of apple crisp. My husband likes to have a pan full in the fridge at all times!!
It seems people are just too busy. No time to smell the roses!
I can almost smell that wonderful Apple Crisp, & I intend making it! I will let you know how we like it.
I think Quilt Pixie has it exactly right - if you keep scurrying around, with your cell phone or you IPod clamped to your ear, you don't have to deal with the stuff going on in your head. (Boy, that sounded grim!) People in America talk about how busy they are, and when you ask them what is making them so busy it's all commitments they made, not stuff imposed on them that they don't have control over. If they don't want to be that busy, SAY NO!
I've actually consciously tried to live the Tasha Tudor life--we moved to the country, have our animals, garden, and I make things. We don't have TV or a working cell phone. I may even quit my full-time job soon. But it wouldn't be possible without my brilliant and successful husband! And of course my Carharrt overalls are no comparison to Tasha Tudor's outfits!
I am too busy at the moment! It seems to be getting worse instead of better, I am achieving nothing and always on the run. I can't remember the last time I could phone a friend and enjoy the conversation or read a book without wondering which other 1000 things I should be doing instead!! I need to find some balance but think it will be the Christmas break before I can take the time to work out how to do that!
MMMMMM, I can smell the apple crisp from here! One of my favorite fall desserts!
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