It has been a while since I posted anything substantial here, which is completely normal for me. This time of year I tend to be more focused on the holidays, making gifts and spending time with family. My writing usually takes a back burner for a couple of months, until the weather warms up and I start thinking about my garden again. Year's end is always a time of deep reflection and meditation, a chance to review my goals and values and renew my resolve. I need this down-time if I want to do amazing things in the coming year! I'd like to post some pictures of the gifts I have been making, but so many of the recipients read this humble little blog that I'd be giving too much away! I will say that my fingers have been very busy, and the kids have been really enjoying making gifts and cards for everyone!
The birds are at the feeder in droves now, and it has been
a great learning experience for both my children and myself. When you have 6 or 7 different
types of bird at the feeder at the same time, it makes it a lot easier
to point out their differences so that the kids can learn which is
which! So far, we've had Chickadees, Red Poles, Nuthatches, Pine
Grosbeaks, Downy Woodpeckers, Hairy Woodpeckers, Magpies, Gray Jays,
Ravens, Eagles, Ospreys, Owls, and even a Northern Goshawk!
I'm also happy to report that the snow finally arrived... hopefully before too much damage was done to the roots of my perennials. When you have longs stretches of below-zero weather, the snow actually insulates, keeping the frost from heaving the plants up out of the ground! I did use leaf-mulch on the plants that I thought would need a little extra help, so everything should be doing fine, but you never know what Mother Nature will decide to do when nobody is paying attention!
Now, I'm headed back to my Peppermint Tea, and the chicken stock I've been boiling to turn into tonight's Chicken and Dumplings! I sincerely hope that you all have a wonderful holiday, no matter if you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Winter Solstice, Festivus, or any other version of it! Peace be with you all!
Showing posts with label Anti-Consumerism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Anti-Consumerism. Show all posts
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Hand-made for the Holidays!
Here are a few quick pictures of some of the things I have been creating for Christmas gifts this month. (I can't show a lot of it, or it would give away too much to the gift recipients!!) The crochet is free form, rather than following a specific pattern...
Friday, November 23, 2012
No Spending On Black Friday
Just a quick post today, folks. I want to remind everyone that although today is "Black Friday", there are alternatives! The holidays are about giving and being thankful, not about getting into a fist fight or stampede, just to try to get the latest "thing" that will be forgotten the day after Christmas! Sales are nice, but must we turn into monsters just to get the deal? Today, step back from this ridiculous consumer culture, cherish who and what you already have, save some money and sanity, and if you must shop... shop the little guy, the local guy, the non-corporate Mom and Pop shops, where every dollar really DOES make a difference!
Monday, November 12, 2012
Turn Off Your TV!!!
About 3 years ago, my husband decided he wanted satellite television. We had been TV free for about a year, and I was doing just fine without it, but we DID hook it up, and started paying that ghastly monthly fee. Ever since that day, I have been trying to get him to turn it back off.
I don't like television! The last year especially, I have noticed my children begging for everything they see on every commercial. I have seen commercials play in the middle of children's programming that are COMPLETELY inappropriate for children to see. I have watched shows advertised for younger kids that send out completely inappropriate messages and values. I have flipped through hundreds of channels, over and over again, only to find that there is nothing to watch. The price has gone up, while the number of channels has gone down. In short, I am very unhappy with the service!
This weekend, however, something awesome happened... my husband agreed with me... and we turned off the TV! The satellite service is CANCELED!! He finally saw what I was seeing, and decided that for our family, the right decision was to get rid of it! We still have movies, and the internet is available if we want to stream a particular show, but the crappy reality shows and the over the top commercials are gone!
Have any of you decided to take back control of your home from the obnoxious advertisers and network executives? Do you miss your TV?
I don't like television! The last year especially, I have noticed my children begging for everything they see on every commercial. I have seen commercials play in the middle of children's programming that are COMPLETELY inappropriate for children to see. I have watched shows advertised for younger kids that send out completely inappropriate messages and values. I have flipped through hundreds of channels, over and over again, only to find that there is nothing to watch. The price has gone up, while the number of channels has gone down. In short, I am very unhappy with the service!
This weekend, however, something awesome happened... my husband agreed with me... and we turned off the TV! The satellite service is CANCELED!! He finally saw what I was seeing, and decided that for our family, the right decision was to get rid of it! We still have movies, and the internet is available if we want to stream a particular show, but the crappy reality shows and the over the top commercials are gone!
Have any of you decided to take back control of your home from the obnoxious advertisers and network executives? Do you miss your TV?
Monday, October 22, 2012
Reader Ideas...
We are coming up fast on the holiday season. Its a time of such heavy commercialism and debt mentality that I always get really frustrated with society as a whole. I'll be writing a post or two on bucking the consumer holiday culture, and I want to know...
Do you try to avoid the commercialism of the holidays? Do you have any traditions that don't involve spending money? Do you participate in "Black Friday" or max out the credit cards at Christmas time? What's the relationship between money and the holidays in your home?
Do you try to avoid the commercialism of the holidays? Do you have any traditions that don't involve spending money? Do you participate in "Black Friday" or max out the credit cards at Christmas time? What's the relationship between money and the holidays in your home?
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Homemade Bird Suet Cakes
For those of us who love to watch the wild birds in our yards, it is once again time to start putting out bird feeders and filling suet cages. With stories in the news lately of bird feed companies intentionally adding anti-spoilage chemicals to the seed they sell while knowing that the chemicals were harmful to the very birds the seed was marketed for, I think now is a great time to share my Homemade Bird Suet Cake recipe!
1 pound of beef tallow or lard (preferably organic & pastured)
HOMEMADE SUET CAKES
1 pound of beef tallow or lard (preferably organic & pastured)
1 cup natural* peanut butter (optional)
2 cups black oil sunflower seeds or other bird seed mixture of your choice
1 cups organic whole grain flour
1 cup dried fruit (chopped)
2 cups black oil sunflower seeds or other bird seed mixture of your choice
1 cups organic whole grain flour
1 cup dried fruit (chopped)
Melt
the tallow and peanut butter (if using) on medium heat in a large saucepan.
Add
whole grain flour to the melted tallow mixture, whisking until well
blended.
Remove from heat.
Add
the seeds and chopped dried fruit, stirring until well coated.
Spread
the mixture evenly into a large cake pan or baking dish, lined with
wax paper.**
Chill
until solid, but not frozen.
Cut
mixture into 6 squares, wrapping and freezing individually to store.
*Be sure to use natural peanut butter, as the more typical versions have a lot of sugar and added preservatives
**The seeds will float to the top, but if you stir the mixture a second time, before it is completely solid, it will help to mix it more evenly
These little beauties fit perfectly into the typical baskets designed for store-bought suet cakes, and they make great Christmas gifts! It makes me feel better knowing that the food I am providing isn't full of ingredients that the birds don't need, and the birds love them!
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Sometimes Husbands are listening and thinking, just not saying anything!
Last night, for the umpteenth time, I attempted to talk to my husband about getting chickens. He has been adamantly saying no for about 5 years now, but I have been faithfully been pestering him in the hopes that he would at least tell me why. As I said it again, I braced myself for the usual "I don't want to talk about it right now", but instead, he threw back "I am actually VERY interested in getting chickens now, and what do you think about getting a cow?"
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A cow! That is not something that would happen any time soon, but my husband has been listening to me after all! Our conversation briefly touched on raising pigs and rabbits as well, and I can say with some confidence now that this IS going to happen. When my Husband has been thinking about something enough that he starts talking about it, it means that he's already weighed the options in his head, and that part of the battle is won. Now lets just hope that Mr. Super Planner doesn't go overboard on the coop!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A cow! That is not something that would happen any time soon, but my husband has been listening to me after all! Our conversation briefly touched on raising pigs and rabbits as well, and I can say with some confidence now that this IS going to happen. When my Husband has been thinking about something enough that he starts talking about it, it means that he's already weighed the options in his head, and that part of the battle is won. Now lets just hope that Mr. Super Planner doesn't go overboard on the coop!
Friday, October 7, 2011
It doesn't have to be new...
What was old...
... is new again!
This project cost me exactly $3.00 in paint. (Sunflowers courtesy of my wonderfully artistic Mother). Just because it has seen better days doesn't mean we can't make it beautiful again!
... is new again!
This project cost me exactly $3.00 in paint. (Sunflowers courtesy of my wonderfully artistic Mother). Just because it has seen better days doesn't mean we can't make it beautiful again!
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Are you a consumer, or a creator?
Reading my blog roll this morning got me thinking about something important. To the food companies, and the government, we are all just "consumers". We buy whatever they put on the shelves, whatever they tell us we need to spend our money on. New cars, huge houses, gadgets and gizmos that are outdated a week after we purchase them. Buy this, buy that, work 80 hours a week so you can buy more of our products... after all, your neighbor has one... so don't you need one too? My answer is a resounding NO!!! Why should I spend every hard earned penny on pre-packaged crap and things that will break after only a few uses. Why should I spend $50K on a new vehicle when my 11 year old truck is functional and already makes me happy? Why should I trust a food company who just recalled a bunch of their "kid-friendly" meals because they are full of bits of wire, or feed my children from a package that has to shout out what is healthy about it, because when I look at the ingredients list, most of it I can't even pronounce, let alone know what it is? Because my government tells me that spending all my money on this crap is the "American Way"? NO!!! NO NO NO!!!
I refuse to be defined as a "Consumer" any longer. I am a creator! I created a beautiful, bountiful garden where there was just a pile of large rocks. I create the most beautiful garden soil by being conscious of my waste around the house and yard. I grow amazing tasting vegetables that have no unpronounceable ingredient lists. I can create cheese, butter, beautiful jams and jellies, sew a $50 curtain from $5 worth of material, crochet a warm blanket for my children from the scrap yarns that were given to me, knit scarves and hats and gloves, bake rustic loaves of bread, build most of the garden tools I need... the list just goes on and on! I am limited in my creations only by my own imagination, and for the government to tell me that I am an irresponsible citizen for not going out to spend spend spend is simply assinine.
If the price of consumables skyrockets, (ha... "if". Its happening right now, folks), I will be ok. I'm not 100% self sufficient, but between me and my family, we can mostly take care of ourselves if it is required. I have neighbors that I can count on to lend a hand, even though we all mostly keep to ourselves in our day to day lives. I live in a small community which chooses to self fund their projects through raffles, community donations, and volunteers, (most recently a sports arena/hockey rink,) rather than asking the government for money. I am a creator, and I choose to create a healthy, happy, anti-consumerist life for myself and my family. And guess what... you can be a creator too! There are people out there that will help you, teach you, guide you. Its not as hard as the big corporations who want your money would like you to believe! Reach out... try it... you can make it happen! Your bank account and your quality of life will thank you!
I refuse to be defined as a "Consumer" any longer. I am a creator! I created a beautiful, bountiful garden where there was just a pile of large rocks. I create the most beautiful garden soil by being conscious of my waste around the house and yard. I grow amazing tasting vegetables that have no unpronounceable ingredient lists. I can create cheese, butter, beautiful jams and jellies, sew a $50 curtain from $5 worth of material, crochet a warm blanket for my children from the scrap yarns that were given to me, knit scarves and hats and gloves, bake rustic loaves of bread, build most of the garden tools I need... the list just goes on and on! I am limited in my creations only by my own imagination, and for the government to tell me that I am an irresponsible citizen for not going out to spend spend spend is simply assinine.
If the price of consumables skyrockets, (ha... "if". Its happening right now, folks), I will be ok. I'm not 100% self sufficient, but between me and my family, we can mostly take care of ourselves if it is required. I have neighbors that I can count on to lend a hand, even though we all mostly keep to ourselves in our day to day lives. I live in a small community which chooses to self fund their projects through raffles, community donations, and volunteers, (most recently a sports arena/hockey rink,) rather than asking the government for money. I am a creator, and I choose to create a healthy, happy, anti-consumerist life for myself and my family. And guess what... you can be a creator too! There are people out there that will help you, teach you, guide you. Its not as hard as the big corporations who want your money would like you to believe! Reach out... try it... you can make it happen! Your bank account and your quality of life will thank you!
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Holidays and living a frugal life...
First off, let me apologize for how long it has been since I have written anything here... sometimes life just gets in the way!
Today finds me thinking about the holiday season, and the very commercial way that it continues to evolve. It amazed me that I could find Christmas things in the stores at the beginning of October this year. Now, this is certainly not a new phenomenon, but it perplexes me nonetheless. I am not a religious person, and Christmas to me signifies the time to remember and appreciate family, and anyone else that has put a bright spot in my life that year. With two young children in the house, we do the tree and the gifts, of course, but I always try to show them that there is more to Christmas than those pretty packages hiding amongst the foliage.
My son, who is turning 7 in a few weeks, always wants the latest "it" toy. But half the time, he doesn't really even know what it is or what it does. Am I bad mother because I sometimes say no, we are not buying it, you don't need it? Quite the opposite, in my opinion. I want my children to learn that things are simply material objects, and they usually won't make any difference in the grand scheme of things.
This week, a friend of mine put out a call to help a struggling family that she had met. They had absolutely nothing. A single mom, with 2 children close to the same age as my own, she is working long hours for little money, and couldn't hardly afford food for her children, let alone give them a "commercial-grade" Christmas like so many of us take for granted. They had only a few cans of soup in the cupboard, and some blankets on the floor to sleep on. I donated some things, including a crib for the little ones, and many others poured donations in as well. Because these people understand the giving vs. receiving philosophy, this family is going to have an amazing Christmas, even though they don't know a single one of us!
My son and I had a long talk about this, about why we gave and what it means to both us, and this family. He is learning that the reason I don't want Christmas gifts every year, and that I usually don't give many, is because I am content with what I have and don't think my relationships are based on what others can do for me, but how they make me feel about myself. When I give a home-made gift, even if it cost very little, it is a personal thank you to the recipient, something that took thought and preparation. I refuse to go spend money on "stuff". We practiced "No Spending on Black Friday", like we do every year. I am proud to say that my children are learning that money doesn't make things better, in the long run, and that they are going to grow up understanding that even though we don't have everything, they have so much more than most, simply because we choose to look at things a little differently.
What lessons do you try to teach your children this time of year? Do you fall into the commercial Christmas trap, or are you trying to show them that there is a better way?
Today finds me thinking about the holiday season, and the very commercial way that it continues to evolve. It amazed me that I could find Christmas things in the stores at the beginning of October this year. Now, this is certainly not a new phenomenon, but it perplexes me nonetheless. I am not a religious person, and Christmas to me signifies the time to remember and appreciate family, and anyone else that has put a bright spot in my life that year. With two young children in the house, we do the tree and the gifts, of course, but I always try to show them that there is more to Christmas than those pretty packages hiding amongst the foliage.
My son, who is turning 7 in a few weeks, always wants the latest "it" toy. But half the time, he doesn't really even know what it is or what it does. Am I bad mother because I sometimes say no, we are not buying it, you don't need it? Quite the opposite, in my opinion. I want my children to learn that things are simply material objects, and they usually won't make any difference in the grand scheme of things.
This week, a friend of mine put out a call to help a struggling family that she had met. They had absolutely nothing. A single mom, with 2 children close to the same age as my own, she is working long hours for little money, and couldn't hardly afford food for her children, let alone give them a "commercial-grade" Christmas like so many of us take for granted. They had only a few cans of soup in the cupboard, and some blankets on the floor to sleep on. I donated some things, including a crib for the little ones, and many others poured donations in as well. Because these people understand the giving vs. receiving philosophy, this family is going to have an amazing Christmas, even though they don't know a single one of us!
My son and I had a long talk about this, about why we gave and what it means to both us, and this family. He is learning that the reason I don't want Christmas gifts every year, and that I usually don't give many, is because I am content with what I have and don't think my relationships are based on what others can do for me, but how they make me feel about myself. When I give a home-made gift, even if it cost very little, it is a personal thank you to the recipient, something that took thought and preparation. I refuse to go spend money on "stuff". We practiced "No Spending on Black Friday", like we do every year. I am proud to say that my children are learning that money doesn't make things better, in the long run, and that they are going to grow up understanding that even though we don't have everything, they have so much more than most, simply because we choose to look at things a little differently.
What lessons do you try to teach your children this time of year? Do you fall into the commercial Christmas trap, or are you trying to show them that there is a better way?
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Look what I made!
I had a content baby and a clean table... I had to make something! These took me about 1 hour and were made from leftover material from the last 2 purses that i made. My husband came home and said "I was just thinking that we needed some placemats for the table!" I think he is finally starting to realize what a great gift that sewing machine was! And as a bonus, I have found that with these on the table, people choose to NOT use the area as a general dumping ground for STUFF. It actually stays cleaned off now! Can you believe that I didn't have to clean anything before I took this picture?!
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
What does "simple life" mean to you?
If you take a look at my blog roll, you can easily see what kind of lifestyle I aspire towards. Simple, organic, frugal, and self sufficient. But I have come to realize that these phrases mean very different things to different people. What does "simple life" mean to you?
Here is my own personal list of things that define MY "simple life"...
1. Enjoying being at home
- It amazes me how many people spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on their house (notice I said house, not home) just to avoid it whenever possible!
2. Avoiding the shopping malls and convenience stores
- These places are designed to help you part with your hard-earned dollars. No one but me decides how my money is spent. I got rid of the TV because my son wanted everything he saw advertised, even when he didn't know what it was! Getting rid of the TV got rid of the "I want" mentality surprisingly quickly!
3. Making, rather than purchasing
- How many people spend a fortune on things they could have made for a fraction of the cost? If I can make it by hand I will, even if it takes a bit of time and effort.
4. Taking time each day to slow down and look around
- I live in the most beautiful place on earth, and I'm going to enjoy every minute I am blessed with!
5. Making nourishing, chemical-free meals for my family
- Not only is it easier and cheaper, I can make a meal to rival the best 5 star restaurant, and I know EXACTLY what my family is putting into their bodies. Not to mention that it gives us a chance to sit down at the dinner table together every night. I can't stress enough how important this is.
6. Enjoying family in general
- I am fortunate to be very close with my family, and I sometimes forget how many people are lacking that. There is no-one in the world I would rather be with than my husband and children.
7. Not needing hundreds of "friends" to feel loved and important
- I learned a long time ago that a few good friends are more valuable than being able to say you are friends with so-and-so. I choose my friends carefully, and the friendships last a very long time.
8. Being at peace with my situation
- My life is by no means perfect. There are some things I simply have no control over, and I choose not to dwell on them. I am here, and I am happy.
9. Not relying on credit cards to validate myself or my lifestyle
- Never again will I be a slave to plastic. Credit cards are evil, and they will destroy not only a financial situation, but they can destroy families as well. I know a family that lost a beautiful farm because the wife had secretly run up $100,000+ credit card debt. If you can't afford it, don't buy it.. simple as that!
10. Recognizing that its not the destination, its the journey that is most important
- We don't know what is in store for us tomorrow, so its important to cherish today.
The point I'm trying to make is that this is the lifestyle that works for me and my family. This definition is a very personal thing. Maybe you see it differently... that's perfectly ok! How do you define it?
Here is my own personal list of things that define MY "simple life"...
1. Enjoying being at home
- It amazes me how many people spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on their house (notice I said house, not home) just to avoid it whenever possible!
2. Avoiding the shopping malls and convenience stores
- These places are designed to help you part with your hard-earned dollars. No one but me decides how my money is spent. I got rid of the TV because my son wanted everything he saw advertised, even when he didn't know what it was! Getting rid of the TV got rid of the "I want" mentality surprisingly quickly!
3. Making, rather than purchasing
- How many people spend a fortune on things they could have made for a fraction of the cost? If I can make it by hand I will, even if it takes a bit of time and effort.
4. Taking time each day to slow down and look around
- I live in the most beautiful place on earth, and I'm going to enjoy every minute I am blessed with!
5. Making nourishing, chemical-free meals for my family
- Not only is it easier and cheaper, I can make a meal to rival the best 5 star restaurant, and I know EXACTLY what my family is putting into their bodies. Not to mention that it gives us a chance to sit down at the dinner table together every night. I can't stress enough how important this is.
6. Enjoying family in general
- I am fortunate to be very close with my family, and I sometimes forget how many people are lacking that. There is no-one in the world I would rather be with than my husband and children.
7. Not needing hundreds of "friends" to feel loved and important
- I learned a long time ago that a few good friends are more valuable than being able to say you are friends with so-and-so. I choose my friends carefully, and the friendships last a very long time.
8. Being at peace with my situation
- My life is by no means perfect. There are some things I simply have no control over, and I choose not to dwell on them. I am here, and I am happy.
9. Not relying on credit cards to validate myself or my lifestyle
- Never again will I be a slave to plastic. Credit cards are evil, and they will destroy not only a financial situation, but they can destroy families as well. I know a family that lost a beautiful farm because the wife had secretly run up $100,000+ credit card debt. If you can't afford it, don't buy it.. simple as that!
10. Recognizing that its not the destination, its the journey that is most important
- We don't know what is in store for us tomorrow, so its important to cherish today.
The point I'm trying to make is that this is the lifestyle that works for me and my family. This definition is a very personal thing. Maybe you see it differently... that's perfectly ok! How do you define it?
Friday, November 27, 2009
A Successful Thanksgiving!
What a feast! Thanksgiving is always a great time to enjoy the bounties of the fall harvest, and it was a blessing to have lots of family to share with! I couldn't believe how much food there ended up being, and everyone was happy to have leftover goodies to take home with them. Its always funny to watch my husband at Thanksgiving... you can set a timer to the exact number of minutes it will take him to fall asleep after finishing his meal. Its always the family joke.
We had a great day, and now I'm looking forward to a day of no spending, to protest "Black Friday." This world is too focused on consumerism, and I am boycotting the concept this holiday season. It amazes me that so many are so blind to the state our economy is in right now, as well as to the obvious things you can do to make it a little better. Start by spending your money wisely, focusing on supporting your local economy rather than China! Buy gifts from little shops rather than big box stores, or better yet, buy the basic ingredients or materials and make it yourself! A well thought out gift means so much more than 10 cheap little things you grabbed off the shelf, in the race to beat the person next to you to the next aisle over!
This year I am giving gift bags full of homemade goodies and useful items. The gift bag is really a re-useable shopping bag, and it will contain a few homemade preserves, like the Ginger-Pear Marmalade I made last week, Banana Bread, Cookies, and even a few neat dish-scrubbies that I have been crocheting over the last month or so. A few special people may get a few extra goodies that I found at a thrift store, or maybe a CSA box for the week of their choice. My point is just to be thoughtful, rather than tv-commercial driven. You will feel better about the whole season, knowing you didn't give in to the little voices coming out of your television that tell you what to buy and how to think.
We had a great day, and now I'm looking forward to a day of no spending, to protest "Black Friday." This world is too focused on consumerism, and I am boycotting the concept this holiday season. It amazes me that so many are so blind to the state our economy is in right now, as well as to the obvious things you can do to make it a little better. Start by spending your money wisely, focusing on supporting your local economy rather than China! Buy gifts from little shops rather than big box stores, or better yet, buy the basic ingredients or materials and make it yourself! A well thought out gift means so much more than 10 cheap little things you grabbed off the shelf, in the race to beat the person next to you to the next aisle over!
This year I am giving gift bags full of homemade goodies and useful items. The gift bag is really a re-useable shopping bag, and it will contain a few homemade preserves, like the Ginger-Pear Marmalade I made last week, Banana Bread, Cookies, and even a few neat dish-scrubbies that I have been crocheting over the last month or so. A few special people may get a few extra goodies that I found at a thrift store, or maybe a CSA box for the week of their choice. My point is just to be thoughtful, rather than tv-commercial driven. You will feel better about the whole season, knowing you didn't give in to the little voices coming out of your television that tell you what to buy and how to think.
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