dd was born with a club foot. They don't know what causes club feet; there's a 1 in 800 chance of being born with one. What *I* can tell you is that when I was 8 or 9 wks pregnant with her I had food poisoning brought on by pesticides... I was canning 100 lbs of (non-organic, i.e. sprayed) cherries, and was eating them while I worked... and before I washed them. I got really sick and later I read that this is when the legs/feet develop in the fetus. So for me, there's an obvious connection, one which the medical world will not acknowledge because there's been no research done on that. nonetheless, dd was born with a club foot.
When she was an infant, she had weekly full leg casts, and then wore a dennis-brown splint full-time for 3 months and every night until she was 4 yrs old. At that time, it looked like the foot was corrected and no further treatment was required.
Sometime around 7, we began to notice her running gait was changing. She went through a growth spurt and then it was obvious the foot was relapsing. Back to the specialist. She spent 6 wks this summer in a half-leg cast.
But the foot is relapsing AGAIN. So now it's on to surgery. Basically a tendon transplant. You see, 1 in 800 kids will have a club foot. 3 out of 4 of those will respond to casting (the Ponsetti method) and avoid having surgery. Only 1 in 4 kids will need the surgery. I should buy the kid a lottery ticket, lol. So she'll have casting prior to the surgery, as well as after. There's a bit of a wait list, so we're now just waiting to get a date. And because it's the tendons, the healing time is long - like over a year to 18 mos before she regains full strength and mobility in that foot.
It'll all be fine, but wow, hey. Soooooo blessed to live in Canada with our fantastic medical system and also sooooooo blessed to have a world-renowned specialist in club foot at our local hospital. Absolutely fantastic.
In the meantime, she's hulahooping around the house and jumping on the trampoline, riding her bike, dancing ballet and jazz, hiking, generally you really wouldn't notice anything wrong with her foot at all. And here she comes, in a witch hat and cape, pretending to trick-or-treat, hoping I'll give her a candy. LOL
21 October 2011
12 October 2011
Mrs. Many-Hats
Trying to stay organized lately has proven challenging, as I try to balance many varied responsibilities daily... I've decided to write them all down, lest I forget one (which will inevitably happen, nonetheless):
- (Homeschooling) Mama to my awesome kids
- Homemaker - keeping the house functioning - making meals, cleaning, caring for animals, yardwork, house maintenance, paying the taxes & bills, and more.
- Organic Farm Labourer - working a couple (half)days a week on a small local organic farm in exchange for knowledge, experience, and produce. sweet deal!
- Tai Chi Instructor - I teach two 90 min classes weekly as well as take a 90 min class for my own health. I also organize and participate in demos around the community and take workshops as they are offered, and teach open practice in the city.
- Water System Operator - testing our local water system and source for various things and ensuring our water system's users have access to top-quality water.
- Egg-seller (when our hens are laying) at the end of our driveway.
- Master Composter - yes, I have a certificate to that effect. I pick-up a couple people's scraps and compost them at our place, for $5/bucket. It's keeping their kitchen waste out of the garbage dump and gives me more compost for the gardens, so a win-win.
- Cleaner at our local community hall - okay, okay, it's officially my son's contract with the community association, but we split the work and split the earnings. It's a commitment of 3 hrs a month, so not huge, but still, another hat I wear.
- Columnist at Timeless Spirit magazine - check out past issues and enjoy this gem of an e-zine.
- Reiki Master/Teacher
- Raw Food orders - I coordinate a monthly bulk raw food order and distribute the order. We also order caselots of fresh organic bc fruit in season (cherries, plums, peaches, apples, pears and more).
Oh, there's probably more responsibilities that I've forgotten. Right now, I have to go put on a few of those hats and try and balance spinning plates on top of them. LMAO Such is life.
04 October 2011
Book quotes that have resonated with me lately
I love these quotes from "Loving and Leaving the Good Life" by Helen Nearing, a notation from a card in Scott Nearing's files:
"The majority will always be for caution, hesitation, and the status quo - always against creation and innovation. The innovator - he who leaves the beaten track - must therefore always be a minoritarian - always be an object of opposition, scorn, hatred. It is part of the price he must pay for the ecstasy that accompanies creative thinking and acting." (p17)
On the subject of dying:
"Birth and death are but words that we've invented to express the limit of our knowledge... 'Death is only a horizon; and a horizon is nothing save the limit of our sight.'" (p175)
On living mindfully:
"Yes, we meditated - not always by sitting down cross-legged, trying to direct our erring thoughts toward higher realms. We might start the day with a recognition of our relationship with the whole, opening ourselves to an acknowledgment of the creative forces in the universe, keeping wide the channels of our being so that benign forces could stream through. We breathed especially deep of life at those times and tried to continue this sense of dedication throughout the day. Was this meditation? For us it was." (p164)
Scott Nearing, on consumerism and materialism:
"It is not what we have but what we do that changes us and helps us grow. Often the things we have get in the way." (p155)
Perhaps my favourite quote from the book (probably because it so clearly articulates the baby-steps to take to live a life in accordance with one's expressed values, something I was contemplating in my last post):
"We offered tips on de-stressing one's life:
1. Do the best you can, whatever arises
2. Be at peace with yourself
3. Find a job you enjoy
4. Live in simple conditions: housing, food, clothing; get rid of clutter
5. Contact nature every day; feel the earth under your feet
6. Take physical exercise through hard work; through gardening or walking
7. Don't worry; live one day at a time
8. Share something every day with someone else; if you live alone, write someone; give something away, help someone else somehow
9. Take time to wonder at life and the world; see some humour in life where you can
10. Observe the one life in all things
11. Be kind to the creatures" (p151)
From Twelve-by-twelve: a one-room cabin off the grid and beyond the american dream (William Powers):
"We humans are nature become conscious of itself." (p51)
This one's for my sister, lol - having grown up in a family where it was all about accomplishment and 'success' - doing, not being - I've added the italics on the final sentence:
"A slightly horrific vision formed in my mind of their farm five years hence: not this perfectly raw, deer-filled, wild space, but a domesticated pastoral idyll with a summer camp feel. The Pauls would show people around and describe the present moment as those terrible days "when there was absolutely nothing here."
I recognized this as a symptom of that contagious, middle-class virus that causes addiction, anxiety, depression, and ennui: affluenza. The richer we get, the poorer we feel. To fill the void, we do. I know the feeling. Like the Pauls, I'm American, not indigenous Guatemalan. I am conditioned to equate my self-worth with being active, productive, useful." (p145)
"A man is rich in proportion to the number of things he can afford to leave alone. (Thoreau)" (p146).
"There is no greater gift to the world and to others than being true to your deepest self." (p242)
"The majority will always be for caution, hesitation, and the status quo - always against creation and innovation. The innovator - he who leaves the beaten track - must therefore always be a minoritarian - always be an object of opposition, scorn, hatred. It is part of the price he must pay for the ecstasy that accompanies creative thinking and acting." (p17)
On the subject of dying:
"Birth and death are but words that we've invented to express the limit of our knowledge... 'Death is only a horizon; and a horizon is nothing save the limit of our sight.'" (p175)
On living mindfully:
"Yes, we meditated - not always by sitting down cross-legged, trying to direct our erring thoughts toward higher realms. We might start the day with a recognition of our relationship with the whole, opening ourselves to an acknowledgment of the creative forces in the universe, keeping wide the channels of our being so that benign forces could stream through. We breathed especially deep of life at those times and tried to continue this sense of dedication throughout the day. Was this meditation? For us it was." (p164)
Scott Nearing, on consumerism and materialism:
"It is not what we have but what we do that changes us and helps us grow. Often the things we have get in the way." (p155)
Perhaps my favourite quote from the book (probably because it so clearly articulates the baby-steps to take to live a life in accordance with one's expressed values, something I was contemplating in my last post):
"We offered tips on de-stressing one's life:
1. Do the best you can, whatever arises
2. Be at peace with yourself
3. Find a job you enjoy
4. Live in simple conditions: housing, food, clothing; get rid of clutter
5. Contact nature every day; feel the earth under your feet
6. Take physical exercise through hard work; through gardening or walking
7. Don't worry; live one day at a time
8. Share something every day with someone else; if you live alone, write someone; give something away, help someone else somehow
9. Take time to wonder at life and the world; see some humour in life where you can
10. Observe the one life in all things
11. Be kind to the creatures" (p151)
From Twelve-by-twelve: a one-room cabin off the grid and beyond the american dream (William Powers):
"We humans are nature become conscious of itself." (p51)
This one's for my sister, lol - having grown up in a family where it was all about accomplishment and 'success' - doing, not being - I've added the italics on the final sentence:
"A slightly horrific vision formed in my mind of their farm five years hence: not this perfectly raw, deer-filled, wild space, but a domesticated pastoral idyll with a summer camp feel. The Pauls would show people around and describe the present moment as those terrible days "when there was absolutely nothing here."
I recognized this as a symptom of that contagious, middle-class virus that causes addiction, anxiety, depression, and ennui: affluenza. The richer we get, the poorer we feel. To fill the void, we do. I know the feeling. Like the Pauls, I'm American, not indigenous Guatemalan. I am conditioned to equate my self-worth with being active, productive, useful." (p145)
"A man is rich in proportion to the number of things he can afford to leave alone. (Thoreau)" (p146).
"There is no greater gift to the world and to others than being true to your deepest self." (p242)
Balancing the teeter-totter of life
Struggling to find balance between long-term goals and the daily things that need to get done. Because those long-term goals have steps that I ought to be focusing on daily, and yet it seems like there isn't time each day to fit those long-term baby steps into life.
Like, as an example, long-term goal: cultivate mindfulness within the family. Daily baby-step: meditate just 2 minutes with the kids each morning. No biggee, right? Except it just doesn't happen. Even me meditating on my own for 2 mins just doesn't happen regularly. *sigh*
Other dilemma is that I don't have clear, written long-term goals, and I *know* that this is part of the whole problem. *is* the problem. Can't get there if it's not put out there clearly.
And also, how do we get to having those meaningful conversations in life rather than discussing the day-to-day things? Like, really I'd like to talk to you about philosophical matters, or have deep, meaningful conversations with you about things that inspire you and so on, and instead I feel like sharing things that I know won't matter 20 yrs from now.
Things like:
- had a good tai chi intensive/workshop this morning. I hope the 20+ attendees got as much out of it as I did (I wasn't instructing; I was participating).
- the chickens aren't laying at all. Went from laying 7+ eggs per day before our holiday to 0 the past 4 days. The person charged with caring for the cats & chickens while we were away neglected to feed or water them adequately and now they're in shock and not laying at all. Very disappointing. Cats were not fed enough but are outside 'mousers' and did alright although they're a little starved for Love and attention.
- Feels kinda weird to be back home and it's taking several days to settle back into life. Especially odd is having the dog around again after 12 days travelling without the dog. I'm really noticing her presence, whereas before holidays she just fit silently into the family. It's nice, but an odd awareness on my part.
See, these things are all matters occupying my mind at present, but what I really want to talk about is how seeing street kids in Mexico affected my 7 yr old deeply, and the observations my children had about American vs Canadian society while travelling - slight observations about how things are different, or how people behave differently, but important subtle observations, nonetheless. Or how dh & I watched The Help on our holiday and how I heard sniffles and tears throughout the theatre - how deeply that movie affected people. I watched it twice and had the same observation about the audience both times.
I want to talk about the things that *really matter* in life. Problem is, first I need to articulate better exactly what those things are for me. ;)
Hang in there; I can feel the hamster wheel churning in my brain. I'm sure something more intelligent will burst forth soon.
Like, as an example, long-term goal: cultivate mindfulness within the family. Daily baby-step: meditate just 2 minutes with the kids each morning. No biggee, right? Except it just doesn't happen. Even me meditating on my own for 2 mins just doesn't happen regularly. *sigh*
Other dilemma is that I don't have clear, written long-term goals, and I *know* that this is part of the whole problem. *is* the problem. Can't get there if it's not put out there clearly.
And also, how do we get to having those meaningful conversations in life rather than discussing the day-to-day things? Like, really I'd like to talk to you about philosophical matters, or have deep, meaningful conversations with you about things that inspire you and so on, and instead I feel like sharing things that I know won't matter 20 yrs from now.
Things like:
- had a good tai chi intensive/workshop this morning. I hope the 20+ attendees got as much out of it as I did (I wasn't instructing; I was participating).
- the chickens aren't laying at all. Went from laying 7+ eggs per day before our holiday to 0 the past 4 days. The person charged with caring for the cats & chickens while we were away neglected to feed or water them adequately and now they're in shock and not laying at all. Very disappointing. Cats were not fed enough but are outside 'mousers' and did alright although they're a little starved for Love and attention.
- Feels kinda weird to be back home and it's taking several days to settle back into life. Especially odd is having the dog around again after 12 days travelling without the dog. I'm really noticing her presence, whereas before holidays she just fit silently into the family. It's nice, but an odd awareness on my part.
See, these things are all matters occupying my mind at present, but what I really want to talk about is how seeing street kids in Mexico affected my 7 yr old deeply, and the observations my children had about American vs Canadian society while travelling - slight observations about how things are different, or how people behave differently, but important subtle observations, nonetheless. Or how dh & I watched The Help on our holiday and how I heard sniffles and tears throughout the theatre - how deeply that movie affected people. I watched it twice and had the same observation about the audience both times.
I want to talk about the things that *really matter* in life. Problem is, first I need to articulate better exactly what those things are for me. ;)
Hang in there; I can feel the hamster wheel churning in my brain. I'm sure something more intelligent will burst forth soon.
01 October 2011
october
i'm here! we just returned from a family holiday, and while it's wonderful to travel and explore new vistas, it's super-awesome to return home, too.
we had a wonderful holiday, but those all-you-can-eat american buffets are BRUTAL when you are falling off the wagon. my relationship with food is seriously dysfunctional now and i'm so glad to be home, surrounded by my raw foods. I need a loooooooong cleanse and more mindfulness and an awareness of the sacredness of ingesting nourishment in a big big way. And exercise. Even with all the walking we did on the holidays it doesn't replace the exercise i get in my daily life at home, between housework, hanging with the kids, farming, gardening, etc.
I read Loving and Leaving the Good Life by Helen Nearing while I was away. *LOVED* it. I haven't read Helen & Scott Nearing's other books but look forward to doing so.
Also read Twelve by Twelve which was, imo, rather philosophical and poetic and not so much about the daily adjustments to living in a space 12'x12' for a period of time. Which I appreciated, actually.
I've not yet read Thoreau but it's definitely on my list.
While on hols, we stopped in at Powell's books in Portland, OR and I can't BELIEVE that place! Portland, overall, was fantastic. It appealed to every member of our family and I could've spent far longer there than I was alloted. lol I also chuckled at just how many of the sustainable living books on their shelves I've read. Yep, that one. And that one. Oh, and that one. Yep, loved that one. It was rather humorous.
So now I'm back and trying to sort through emails and phone messages. It was GRAND signing off from being available for 12 days; now there'll be a slight adjustment to being back on solid ground (after being at sea and then on a train - oh, did I mention i get motion sickness?!?) and back in reality with day-to-day living.
NAMASTE; I honour you and will learn to honour my self, too.
we had a wonderful holiday, but those all-you-can-eat american buffets are BRUTAL when you are falling off the wagon. my relationship with food is seriously dysfunctional now and i'm so glad to be home, surrounded by my raw foods. I need a loooooooong cleanse and more mindfulness and an awareness of the sacredness of ingesting nourishment in a big big way. And exercise. Even with all the walking we did on the holidays it doesn't replace the exercise i get in my daily life at home, between housework, hanging with the kids, farming, gardening, etc.
I read Loving and Leaving the Good Life by Helen Nearing while I was away. *LOVED* it. I haven't read Helen & Scott Nearing's other books but look forward to doing so.
Also read Twelve by Twelve which was, imo, rather philosophical and poetic and not so much about the daily adjustments to living in a space 12'x12' for a period of time. Which I appreciated, actually.
I've not yet read Thoreau but it's definitely on my list.
While on hols, we stopped in at Powell's books in Portland, OR and I can't BELIEVE that place! Portland, overall, was fantastic. It appealed to every member of our family and I could've spent far longer there than I was alloted. lol I also chuckled at just how many of the sustainable living books on their shelves I've read. Yep, that one. And that one. Oh, and that one. Yep, loved that one. It was rather humorous.
So now I'm back and trying to sort through emails and phone messages. It was GRAND signing off from being available for 12 days; now there'll be a slight adjustment to being back on solid ground (after being at sea and then on a train - oh, did I mention i get motion sickness?!?) and back in reality with day-to-day living.
NAMASTE; I honour you and will learn to honour my self, too.
13 September 2011
Time Alone
I spent the weekend in solitude. The rest of the family was away from home, and I had the pleasure of being alone at home. I seriously don't even know how long it's been since I've had any amount of time alone at home. A *long* time ago. And wow, did I ever need it.
I sat around.
I cried.
I gardened.
I cried in the garden.
I read books in the sunshine on the deck.
I cried a little in the sunshine, letting the sun dry the salty tears on my face.
I had a bath before sleeping for 10 1/2 hrs.
I cried in the bathtub.
(seeing a theme?!)
Okay, yep, that was me. Having a little meltdown on my own. And you know, it felt so goooooooood to just let it out. Sometimes a good cry is totally therapeutic, even when you're not crying about anything in particular - life's just got you down. You let it out and then you move on. By the time the family came home at the end of the weekend, I was ready to face life head-on again.
The days since have been grand; I feel sooooo much more like 'me'. I think I don't often appreciate just how stressful life can be at times, especially when it's perpetual stressors that just don't seem to go away. We habituate to them and tune them out, but they are still there, affecting our subtle body energies.
and fwiw, i didn't cry *quite* that much on the weekend, but it definitely felt wonderful to live in near-silence for nearly two full days, not having to speak to anyone and only occasionally verbally interacting with the dog or cats. What a treasure that silence was! :)
Blessings to all the parents out there, because it's the most important thing you can do in life to raise your child with your whole heart invested into it. Not easy, but sooooo worth it!
*namaste*
I sat around.
I cried.
I gardened.
I cried in the garden.
I read books in the sunshine on the deck.
I cried a little in the sunshine, letting the sun dry the salty tears on my face.
I had a bath before sleeping for 10 1/2 hrs.
I cried in the bathtub.
(seeing a theme?!)
Okay, yep, that was me. Having a little meltdown on my own. And you know, it felt so goooooooood to just let it out. Sometimes a good cry is totally therapeutic, even when you're not crying about anything in particular - life's just got you down. You let it out and then you move on. By the time the family came home at the end of the weekend, I was ready to face life head-on again.
The days since have been grand; I feel sooooo much more like 'me'. I think I don't often appreciate just how stressful life can be at times, especially when it's perpetual stressors that just don't seem to go away. We habituate to them and tune them out, but they are still there, affecting our subtle body energies.
and fwiw, i didn't cry *quite* that much on the weekend, but it definitely felt wonderful to live in near-silence for nearly two full days, not having to speak to anyone and only occasionally verbally interacting with the dog or cats. What a treasure that silence was! :)
Blessings to all the parents out there, because it's the most important thing you can do in life to raise your child with your whole heart invested into it. Not easy, but sooooo worth it!
*namaste*
10 September 2011
Not Back to School
It's been a busy, interesting week. The kids officially returned to 'school' this week, although as homeschoolers, it's not the drastic change that one might anticipate. For us, there's an easing into the fall routine. Registration in classes they want to attend, a lot of time doing mind-mapping and discussing the upcoming year, a phone call with our beloved Learning Consultant. Days spent jumping on the trampoline and riding bikes, making up games, playing board games, home-cooked meals, playing paper dolls and lip-synching to favourite songs. ;)
There was a lot of tai chi this week - teaching two classes, attending an open house where I taught the try-it class, going to an afternoon intensive/workshop, and organizing and participating in a couple demos as well. Phew! That *was* a lot of tai chi. But you know, it's so relaxing and it feels good to put that energy and commitment into my health, both physical and mental. As an instructor, it can be challenging; sometimes I feel like I open a can of worms with discussions, but I'm very grateful for the support of the other instructors and the tai chi society - everyone is there to support me as I instruct, and I am truly grateful for that. I get so much out of my tai chi practice, and I can see that I have a *long* way to go on the journey. I am honoured to be able to support other students on their journey as I travel my own.
At the farm, there's harvest-time is here! Not to mention beds to be prepped for winter. I've done some pressure canning lately - green beans and baby beets and other things. I'd love to do a little more; it's very gratifying to look in the pantry and see all the beautiful mason jars all lined up. Right now the grocery store has 10 lb cases of peaches for $9.99; I'd love to get 50 or even 100 lbs and can them all.
Lots of discussion in the family this week around finances and the household budget and such. Changes are afoot; I'm trying to wrap my head around it all as we figure it out together. I got my first job when I was 10 delivering newspapers and even after all these years, I expect I would have a better grip on money, and (confession) I don't. In theory, it's all so simple: income must be greater than expenses. But in reality, running a household isn't that simple, especially when unexpected (or expected but unaccounted-for-in-the-budget) expenses come up. Things like an unplanned vet bill or, for that matter, the sale on peaches... ideally, there's money set aside for things that come up. I hope my children learn to create and live within a balanced budget before they're adults; I know it's not something I was ever explicitly taught, and that's probably the case for many of us.
Today I was offered a regular job in our community - it's only half an hour a day, but it has to be done at the same time every day. It's within walking distance of our home, and I think half an hour a day is quite manageable. Between that, and helping ds with cleaning the community hall, and selling eggs at the end of the driveway, we're creating quite a little sustainable economy in our community for ourselves. I've got to get my raw food order going soon, too; I missed putting one in in August and September might not happen either. I think dh's right that many people are interested in raw food and trying it out, or at least incorporating more raw foods into their general diets.
Ideally, I'd like to live debt-free. To have no mortgage, to own land outright. To build a well-planned smaller home ourselves on it. Off-grid. No cable tv, no wi-fi, but yes, high-speed internet and a phone line. ;) I envision days spent in the abundant garden, growing the majority of our own food, communing with nature. Time spent in the kitchen putting away the harvest for winter. Time spent in leisure on the deck or patio or terrace overlooking the pond and garden. Time spent as family, as community.
My overall goal is not to roll around naked in a pile of $100 bills. I do not share the commonly assumed vision of success, the whole American dream of unrestrained material consumerism. I want to enjoy life. To have time to build loving relationships with family, with others in the community. To live a healthy, balanced life. Time spent doing tai chi, swimming, cycling, hiking, and generally a more active lifestyle than I currently lead. This would also predicate less time spent driving and more time spent at home. I don't want to live in forced poverty, but I also don't think that we need to work insane hours to consume more than is necessary. Despite what the advertisers may say, money cannot buy you happiness (but I do admit there is a certain amount where it makes one comfortable, where it meets our basic needs).
I would say that I would rather spend a little more money on an item of good quality rather than buy a cheaper one that will wear out sooner and ultimately create more waste. Like our organic cotton flannel sheets from Germany. Yes, expensive. Yes, imported and the associated transportation carbon footprint. But imo, they'll last a lot longer than the no-name brand sheets at the discount superstore. Or the investment in my VitaMix blender, over a cheaper (lower quality) blender. Things like that.
I don't know where I'm going with this; I just know that there are things happening in my life right now - big changes - that are somewhat overwhelming. I'm especially grateful to have the weekend to myself to contemplate life, to just spend time reading, lying in the September sunshine, time just to be. *Namaste*
On my bookshelf right now:
Less is More - Cecile Andrews and Wanda Urbanska
The Findhorn Garden Story
One-Income Household: how to do a lot with a little - Susan Reynolds & Lauren Bakken
Simple Prosperity: finding real wealth in a sustainable lifestyle - David Wann
The Simple Feeling of Being: embracing your true nature - Ken Wilber
A different kind of luxury: japanese lessons in simple living and inner abundance - Andy Couturier
Ecovillages - Jan Martin Bang
There was a lot of tai chi this week - teaching two classes, attending an open house where I taught the try-it class, going to an afternoon intensive/workshop, and organizing and participating in a couple demos as well. Phew! That *was* a lot of tai chi. But you know, it's so relaxing and it feels good to put that energy and commitment into my health, both physical and mental. As an instructor, it can be challenging; sometimes I feel like I open a can of worms with discussions, but I'm very grateful for the support of the other instructors and the tai chi society - everyone is there to support me as I instruct, and I am truly grateful for that. I get so much out of my tai chi practice, and I can see that I have a *long* way to go on the journey. I am honoured to be able to support other students on their journey as I travel my own.
At the farm, there's harvest-time is here! Not to mention beds to be prepped for winter. I've done some pressure canning lately - green beans and baby beets and other things. I'd love to do a little more; it's very gratifying to look in the pantry and see all the beautiful mason jars all lined up. Right now the grocery store has 10 lb cases of peaches for $9.99; I'd love to get 50 or even 100 lbs and can them all.
Lots of discussion in the family this week around finances and the household budget and such. Changes are afoot; I'm trying to wrap my head around it all as we figure it out together. I got my first job when I was 10 delivering newspapers and even after all these years, I expect I would have a better grip on money, and (confession) I don't. In theory, it's all so simple: income must be greater than expenses. But in reality, running a household isn't that simple, especially when unexpected (or expected but unaccounted-for-in-the-budget) expenses come up. Things like an unplanned vet bill or, for that matter, the sale on peaches... ideally, there's money set aside for things that come up. I hope my children learn to create and live within a balanced budget before they're adults; I know it's not something I was ever explicitly taught, and that's probably the case for many of us.
Today I was offered a regular job in our community - it's only half an hour a day, but it has to be done at the same time every day. It's within walking distance of our home, and I think half an hour a day is quite manageable. Between that, and helping ds with cleaning the community hall, and selling eggs at the end of the driveway, we're creating quite a little sustainable economy in our community for ourselves. I've got to get my raw food order going soon, too; I missed putting one in in August and September might not happen either. I think dh's right that many people are interested in raw food and trying it out, or at least incorporating more raw foods into their general diets.
Ideally, I'd like to live debt-free. To have no mortgage, to own land outright. To build a well-planned smaller home ourselves on it. Off-grid. No cable tv, no wi-fi, but yes, high-speed internet and a phone line. ;) I envision days spent in the abundant garden, growing the majority of our own food, communing with nature. Time spent in the kitchen putting away the harvest for winter. Time spent in leisure on the deck or patio or terrace overlooking the pond and garden. Time spent as family, as community.
My overall goal is not to roll around naked in a pile of $100 bills. I do not share the commonly assumed vision of success, the whole American dream of unrestrained material consumerism. I want to enjoy life. To have time to build loving relationships with family, with others in the community. To live a healthy, balanced life. Time spent doing tai chi, swimming, cycling, hiking, and generally a more active lifestyle than I currently lead. This would also predicate less time spent driving and more time spent at home. I don't want to live in forced poverty, but I also don't think that we need to work insane hours to consume more than is necessary. Despite what the advertisers may say, money cannot buy you happiness (but I do admit there is a certain amount where it makes one comfortable, where it meets our basic needs).
I would say that I would rather spend a little more money on an item of good quality rather than buy a cheaper one that will wear out sooner and ultimately create more waste. Like our organic cotton flannel sheets from Germany. Yes, expensive. Yes, imported and the associated transportation carbon footprint. But imo, they'll last a lot longer than the no-name brand sheets at the discount superstore. Or the investment in my VitaMix blender, over a cheaper (lower quality) blender. Things like that.
I don't know where I'm going with this; I just know that there are things happening in my life right now - big changes - that are somewhat overwhelming. I'm especially grateful to have the weekend to myself to contemplate life, to just spend time reading, lying in the September sunshine, time just to be. *Namaste*
On my bookshelf right now:
Less is More - Cecile Andrews and Wanda Urbanska
The Findhorn Garden Story
One-Income Household: how to do a lot with a little - Susan Reynolds & Lauren Bakken
Simple Prosperity: finding real wealth in a sustainable lifestyle - David Wann
The Simple Feeling of Being: embracing your true nature - Ken Wilber
A different kind of luxury: japanese lessons in simple living and inner abundance - Andy Couturier
Ecovillages - Jan Martin Bang
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