X is for ____________
I couldn’t come up with any words that started with an X so I used the EX sounds.
EXAGGERATE – I have a tendency to exaggerate time, if you ask me what time it is I’ll tell you 3 pm if it’s 2:35. This trait was handed down to me from my dear dad.
EXUBERANT – I’m a joyful, energetic person. Many people don’t see it because I’m such an introvert, but some folks at the local markets and some of my friends see my exuberant side.
EXACT – I am very exact about certain things in my life, not so much about others. When I cook I barely follow a recipe, but there are other areas of my life where things have to be done a certain way – like folding towels, loading the dishwasher and other things.
What words/phrases describe you that start with a X?
Who’s joining in:
Nic at Nip it in the Bud
KB from My Old New House
Chas from Heritage Acres Homestead
Erika from Our Homegrown Family
Candie from Finding My Roots
Louisa from The Really Good Life
Judy from My Freezer is Full
Xan from Not Dabbling in Normal and Mahlzeit
Amy from I Love Nubians, Make Mine Mini
Jaspanelle from Paganites
Greg from plot 52 is doing beautiful illustrations!
Lisa from Realisa Building an Authentic Life
Emily from Sincerely Emily
Joanna from Zeb Bakes
Misky from Misk Cooks
Compostwoman from The Compost Bin
Tracy from Back to Basics
Susan from Penless Writer
Whit from Knitty Whit
Lynn from Edging Toward the Good Life
Join the Alphabet in August Flickr Photo Group
(if you’re joining in on your blog let me know so I can add you to the list and please link to the daily post here at Chiot’s Run when you post and a pingback will show up in the comments here so people can head over to read your words).
Share this:
Quote of the Day: Ralph Waldo Emerson
“That which we persist in doing becomes easier,
not that the nature of the task has changed,
but our ability to do has increased.”
It never fails that people often wonder how I know how to do so many different things. It’s not that I was born with the skills to do everything I do – I’ve spent a lot of time and effort learning. Just like you, when I started doing many of them, I had no idea what I was doing. It took much longer and I made mistakes. Sadly that’s where many people stop. They meet one failure or think that it will always take a lot of time and they abandon their efforts. The thing is, if you persist, eventually it will become second nature. It’s not that you won’t ever make mistakes, but you develop a proficiency for that task and you will be able to complete it with less effort, fewer mistakes and a better final product.
Cooking is a prime example. I’ve been cooking for so long that it’s second nature to me, I don’t have to think about what spices to add to the chicken I’m roasting. I know that thyme and lemon will be really great, or sage and butter would also work well. When I make beef, a healthy dose of freshly ground pepper and salt is usually all I add if it’s good pastured beef. When I’m cooking tougher cuts of venison, I usually braise them in wine or bitter beer to enhance the flavor. When I make bread I know what how the texture of ciabatta dough differs from regular sourdough or a sweet roll dough. It’s not that I always possessed these skills. I baked a few sourdough bricks and ciabatta with no holes until I got a feel for the dough. I had some OK chicken until I discovered what ingredients work best. It takes time, it takes persistence, it takes the willingness to try again and again after defeat, and it takes observation to notice the small differences.
The longer I persist in doing these things, reading and trying to learn how to do them better, practicing and learning from my failures, the better I will get. I will most likely never: take a photo with the skill of Ansel Adams, cook a meal as delicious as Ina Garten, paint something as beautiful as a Monet, bake a loaf of bread as good as Peter Reinhart, have a garden as beautiful at Longwood, or write as well as Ralph Waldo Emerson – but that’s not going to stop me from taking photos, cooking, painting or writing. I won’t let the fear of not being great steal the joy of the creative process, the growth that comes from learning and the contentment that comes from being proficient. I believe that our minds are like a pool of water, if we keep them active they stay clean, clear and able to support life, if we stop learning we become stagnate, murky and devoid of life.
What new skills have you been working on or what are you planning on learning soon?
Share this:
W is for ______________
WORKAHOLIC – Since Mr Chiots and I are self-employed we work all the time. We work pretty much from the time we get up in the morning until we go to bed at night. We don’t take a lot of time off. Hopefully we’re reaching the point in our business that we’ll be able to take more time off.
WIFE – Mr Chiots and I have been married for 13 years. I think when you’re married it definitely becomes a big part of who you are.
WOOLEN – I love natural fibers, especially wool. You’ll find that most of my socks are wool as are all of my sweaters and many of my sweatshirts. I have wool blankets on my bed and throws on the couch.
WESTON A PRICE – After reading Nutrition and Physical Degeneration and it made a profound difference in the way we eat. We now try to follow the parameters set up in Nourishing Traditions: The Cookbook that Challenges Politically Correct Nutrition and the Diet Dictocrats. If you’ve never read either of these books I’d highly recommend them.
WALKING – I love to walk and often wished I lived a little closer to town so I could walk in to the post office and the library. A short stroll in the evening is the perfect way to end the day in my book.
What words/phrases describe you that start with a W?
Who’s joining in:
Nic at Nip it in the Bud
KB from My Old New House
Chas from Heritage Acres Homestead
Erika from Our Homegrown Family
Candie from Finding My Roots
Louisa from The Really Good Life
Judy from My Freezer is Full
Xan from Not Dabbling in Normal and Mahlzeit
Amy from I Love Nubians, Make Mine Mini
Jaspanelle from Paganites
Greg from plot 52 is doing beautiful illustrations!
Lisa from Realisa Building an Authentic Life
Emily from Sincerely Emily
Joanna from Zeb Bakes
Misky from Misk Cooks
Compostwoman from The Compost Bin
Tracy from Back to Basics
Susan from Penless Writer
Whit from Knitty Whit
Lynn from Edging Toward the Good Life
Join the Alphabet in August Flickr Photo Group
(if you’re joining in on your blog let me know so I can add you to the list and please link to the daily post here at Chiot’s Run when you post and a pingback will show up in the comments here so people can head over to read your words).
Share this:
V is for _____________
VEGETABLE LOVER – I’ve always loved vegetables of all kinds. I especially appreciate growing them and seeing how they grow and what they taste like when they’re homegrown.
VIDEOGRAPHER – Mr Chiots and I are small business owners and part of our business is videography. That’s why we make videos for Ethel and other projects.
VINTAGE BOND – I’m a huge fan of vintage bond movies. Usually Mr Chiots and I spend time between Christmas and New Year’s watching all the old James Bond movies.
What words/phrases describe you that start with a V?
Who’s joining in:
Nic at Nip it in the Bud
KB from My Old New House
Chas from Heritage Acres Homestead
Erika from Our Homegrown Family
Candie from Finding My Roots
Louisa from The Really Good Life
Judy from My Freezer is Full
Xan from Not Dabbling in Normal and Mahlzeit
Amy from I Love Nubians, Make Mine Mini
Jaspanelle from Paganites
Greg from plot 52 is doing beautiful illustrations!
Lisa from Realisa Building an Authentic Life
Emily from Sincerely Emily
Joanna from Zeb Bakes
Misky from Misk Cooks
Compostwoman from The Compost Bin
Tracy from Back to Basics
Susan from Penless Writer
Whit from Knitty Whit
Lynn from Edging Toward the Good Life
Join the Alphabet in August Flickr Photo Group
(if you’re joining in on your blog let me know so I can add you to the list and please link to the daily post here at Chiot’s Run when you post and a pingback will show up in the comments here so people can head over to read your words).
Share this:
U is for ____________
UNCONVENTIONAL – I’m unconventional in a lot of ways, in my ideas and viewpoints. People are often surprised by some of my viewpoints because they assume that because I ascribe to certain beliefs, I should also believe other things.
UNWILLING TO SAY CAN’T – I like to try new things and am so stubborn that I will often try things simply because other people think it can’t be done.
UNIQUE – I’ve had a very interesting life, growing up in another country, lots of interesting experiences. I’ve lived in the city and in the country. I try to celebrate my uniqueness and try not to be swayed what it’s style. It can be tough to keep your uniqueness in a society that likes homogenization and sameness.
UNSOCIAL – As an introvert, I am often described as unsocial by others. I’m not actually unsocial, I’m just limited social. I limit my social engagements because they wear me out. I don’t mind small groups of people, but large groups really wear me out.
What words/phrases describe you that start with a U?
Who’s joining in:
Nic at Nip it in the Bud
KB from My Old New House
Chas from Heritage Acres Homestead
Erika from Our Homegrown Family
Candie from Finding My Roots
Louisa from The Really Good Life
Judy from My Freezer is Full
Xan from Not Dabbling in Normal and Mahlzeit
Amy from I Love Nubians, Make Mine Mini
Jaspanelle from Paganites
Greg from plot 52 is doing beautiful illustrations!
Lisa from Realisa Building an Authentic Life
Emily from Sincerely Emily
Joanna from Zeb Bakes
Misky from Misk Cooks
Compostwoman from The Compost Bin
Tracy from Back to Basics
Susan from Penless Writer
Whit from Knitty Whit
Lynn from Edging Toward the Good Life
Join the Alphabet in August Flickr Photo Group
(if you’re joining in on your blog let me know so I can add you to the list and please link to the daily post here at Chiot’s Run when you post and a pingback will show up in the comments here so people can head over to read your words).
