I have only discovered SBB (or should I say re-discovered SBB as I was given the Daybook of Comfort and Joy three years ago or so for a Mother's Day gift.) I have left behind 6 awfully dark years of depression which followed a breakdown and I am so very grateful for each and every day when I am fully alive and enjoying being "me." I credit Sarah's gentle words in her writings and on the SA website for enhancing and speeding my recovery.

The website is expensive, I agree, when I consider that a website like Brocante is so wonderful and is free...and the SA website is not moderated, and the forums are very quiet. Lots of views but not many posts. BUT that aside, it is good value for money because I can participate in the monthly members' calls, listen to online messages and Discovery Journal classes....and of course the forums. I only joined SA after the membership fee was introduced so for me it seems natural to pay that annually...I've known no other way iyswim.

I would recommend to any woman who is wanting to live by Sarah's 6 principles of GRATITUDE, SIMPLICITY, HARMONY, ORDER, BEAUTY and JOY to consider joining and helping to build the online community....that is my desire. And, no, no one has sponsored or paid me to say all that! (lol)

Have you been a reader of Sarah's writings, Tracy? There is another topic on the website here where discussions about SBB have taken place in the past although it is not very active presently. Maybe those who follow her writings would consider changing that and making that part of Brocante an active place once again?

I am thankful today for...

...the bright sunshine which has appeared this afternoon after a rainy start;

...the week hubby and I will have our home to ourselves as our adult son has gone visiting friends (he lives with us normally);

...waking in the morning and knowing I will not face the day with the dreaded depression;

...the fresh fish I was able to get from the fish van which comes each week to the front of our shop (straight from the docks)

...a less busy day today so I can browse the web til my heart's content!

Blessings,

Jacquie x

Hi Jacquie,

Yes, I have been a SBB reader for many years. I found her in 1999 and have nearly all of her books.

I'd love to see the Simple Abundance discussion resurrected here on Brocante Home, too.

Hope you have a wonderful day!

Well...how about posting on there then, Tracy? (lol). You'll find the link way down at the bottom of the topic page that comes up when you log onto Brocante forums.

I'd love to resurrect it too and have posted on there a couple of times.

I am reading the Daybook and have been gifted a copy of "Moving On" which I am waiting to read when I am not so snowed under with other obligated reading.

Jacquie x

Good morning from Delmar, New York...:)

The sun is a lovely early-summer yellow this morning, clear and bright, with no harshness or glare. This lovely light is spilling into my living room and little office here, and it feels as if the house around me is waking up and streching.

Last night, I made up a batch of steel-cut oats in the slow cooker, and so this morning I ate a bowl of warm oats with maple syrup and butter. So yum!

Today, my goals are to tidy and clean my living room, office and dining room, and to finish de-cluttering my older son's very frightening closet with his help. Believe me, a hazmat suit wouldn't be uncalled for!

My puttery treat is a walk to the library to check out some books on housekeeping that I've learnt of from this website. I need some remedial lessons!

Wishing all readers a productive and puttery day.

Susie

Susie - I'd love to know your ratios on the steel cut oats in the slow cooker!

mmmmI'm eating them now with fresh rasberries. I actually should have waited about 10 min. but crunch is good!

Sorry, I was away for a bit!

To make steelcut oats in the slow cooker:

1 cup of oats, a bit of salt, and 6 cups of water, set on low overnight. If you like very mushy fruit, almost syrup-y, cut up fresh peaches or other fruit and cook along with the oats. This makes a batch large enough for a full week, kept refrigerated.

Susie

Sounds good Suzie, but I gave up my slow cooker when I moved....I usually make a large batch for the week anyway or cut it in half. This time though I bought the 5 min. version of the steel cut oats...Thanks