Hi! I’m Charlene!
Welcome to A Pinch of Joy! Just as a shake of salt or a bit of herb enhances the flavor of our food, joy enhances all the flavors of our life. It brings me joy to find new ideas and inspirations for body, mind and soul and to share what I find. And then to get things done! I love gardens, color, organization and whimsy. Garage sales and coupons, hammer and screwdriver, computer and camera are my tools in trade.
Currently, our household includes two big guys who also bring me joy. Wheels is fascinated with anything that has wheels and the engines that make them turn. His career involves BIG wheels and BIG engines on BIG toys and BIG fleets of them. Bytes, our son, is a computer guru with his own enterprise(s). You will meet them in their enthusiastic role as taste testers and (less enthusiastic) project muscle men.
About A Pinch of Joy
When we moved a thousand miles away from family, one of the things I missed dearly was the exchange of recipes and ideas as we gather regularly. Any visit would yield half a dozen new things to try. I didn’t have time to look for new ideas and no money to spend on experiments that didn’t work. This casual way of sharing gave our time crunched young family new tastes and new ways of doing things without taxing our resources. This blog continues the spirit of sharing the secret of good eats, fun and ideas about home and family and living life to the fullest! I’d be delighted if you’d join the sharing by leaving a comment with your ideas and experiences.
Once or twice a week, you’ll find recipes – sometimes “healthified” * – I’ve uncovered to keep all at our table eating well. Wheels is diabetic, but I cook using ingredients from the grocery store and “normal” recipes. My collection of community cook books and a big stack of recipe cards from my mother in law, who was an amazing cook– can’t get any more normal than that!! It was difficult to find accurate and reliable information about healthy eating based on carb counts. I’ll share some of what I found in hopes that it will make someone else’s life a bit easier! The nutritional and health information is good for everyone who wants to be healthy enough to enjoy all life has to offer!
Mainly we are just going to see where this wagon goes! Grab hold and come along for the ride!
*I am not a nutritionist** nor a health care provider. I’m following guidelines that fit our medical history. Yours may differ so use the information provided in ways that fit your personal situation. Consult your physician or nutritionist with any questions.
**Actually come to think of it — I’m not only not a nutritionist — I don’t fit any pigeonhole! I have a degree in Family Economics and Management and then added a Masters of Divinity, just to keep things balanced. My resume includes everything from designer (graphic, landscape and interior) to pharmacy tech. Some jobs related to my passion (church staff), others were necessity (preschool director) and others because I was curious (that pharmacy tech gig). And a long footnote on a footnote — proves something about how my mind works, doesn’t it? But let’s not go there ——-mm ‘kay?
