Skills List

What do I know!  Hmmm, a list would help ...........

• Sewing, since 10 years old
• Crocheting, self taught at 12 years old
• Knitting, taught a few others also
• Spinning, re-learn (drop spindle)
• Cooking
• Baking
• Canning, jam, jelly, fruits
• Dehydrate food
• Vegetable gardening
• Raised chickens (for eggs)
• Raised rabbits (for meat)
• Kept goats
• Kept horses
• Start a fire (chop wood)
• Hunted birds
• Shooting - shotgun, rifle, handgun
• Fish, dig clams
• Pitch a tent with no help
• Use tools - Circular saw, hammer, screwdrivers, etc
• Drive a stick shift
• Photography - amateur
• Draw - Commander Mark style
• Balance a checkbook
• Bookkeeping/Accounting
• Scored for son's baseball games
• Grow houseplants
• Read instructions and follow them
• Housekeeping, know more than I practice
• Recycling, religiously
• Re-purpose: clothes, dishes for serving 
• Making jewelry (beginner)
• French braid - my own hair and others

I love to learn new skills and there is so much left out there to absorb and use in every day living!  I have read articles in magazines now for many years telling us how to 'save' time in chores to gain a minutes here and there.  WHY?  So we (society) can sit around, watch TV, gain weight, thereby diseases can set in like the heart or diabetes, etc.  Gardening, canning, sewing, cleaning house is being connected.  Staring at a TV is dumbing down our population!

Future, Freedom or Government 'Slavery'?

I have been reading a lot on sustainable living, mostly opinion and some practical information to try.  Most of the opinions are establishing 'self' sustainable living.  I don't believe this is possible, there is not enough hours in the day.  A sustainable community is a must with trade to 'help' each other.   We are mired in cutting ourselves off from each other, depending on technology, sitting in front of a TV going numb in the brain.  I don't see the good in our so called advanced civilization.  How many people don't have medical/dental insurance, enough food, clothing,  housing.  We don't all have access to big incomes,  we are the working poor!  Raising animals, growing vegetables, keeping occupied with activities that improve home life is better than being brain dead, government slaves.  Helping and caring for each other gives us satisfaction but most important, trade.  We are all gifted in different skills.

Sustainable living is something I want to aspire to.  Is it possible?  Can't hurt trying.  I think that getting back a sense of community is crucial.  ".... the world is ending" is too common a thing to say, I do think something may happen to change how we live life.  A kind of creepy, hair raising feeling, it's making me feel antsy, our government doesn't take care of us (just the rest of world).  Taxes continually go up, while cuts are made in the 'wrong' areas.  I know everyone may not agree with this, but I don't see any balance in our government.  We need to take care of ourselves.  So my 'community' will start with my kids. Trying to have property together, helping each other.  The gardens and outbuildings will be community, houses separate.  Yes, there could be a lot of problems.  Working them out will be worth it,  community is a century's old way of life.  Trying is better than what we have now!  In the past we have taught ourselves to garden, raise chickens, keep goats and horses.  So yes, I want to learn more!

I have believed all this in pieces but only recently have my thoughts and conversations been put together at the same time.  The signs of the times have brought it all together and is making a big impact in my life.  To my surprise is how many others believe the same as I do.  Wow, am I sounding radical.  This was not my attitude growing into my adult years.  Disillusion has been slowly setting in the last 10 years.  The future is not looking good for our children. Mine already see it and that is sad.  They also see the need to learn homesteading skills because our government may fail them. 

Denim Re-use

What have I used denim for!  A list of things I have made over the years:

• Purses, 4 styles - lined (sold a few, too)
• Coin purses - lined  (from back pockets)
• Rail fence quilt (UFO)
• Circles quilt - with frayed (started, a while ago)
• Heart wall hanging (gift to brother)
• Pocket wall hanging
• Vest, strip pieced
• Toy carpenters apron for toddler
• Organizing hanger for a child's bed
• Round purse (experiment)
• Heart shaped drink coasters - sets of 4 (gift)
• Flower (experiment)
• Backpack (stolen from my car)
• Chair covers - stapled over previous one
• Pillows, 2
• Picnic blanket, large triangles (gift)
• Soft 'buckets' - stay upright when full 
• 'Sleeve' to hold plastic grocery bags

My projects have come about from necessity, I love to sew and tight incomes do not leave room for personal  interests.  Since this happened off and on during the kids young years, they came first!  Friends started giving me their cast off jeans, I could turn to sewing with a little creativity without the guilt.  And recycle, which I am passionate about!  I have 3 of the large garbage bags full of jeans still.  My newest  project find is the 'buckets', I absolutely love them.  Gave 2 away and have one myself.  Will need to make more, because I am going to store sewing and knitting supplies in them.  The 'jeans' are the inside with pockets and fashion fabric on the out (found the instructions on the internet),  been looking for a new ideas lately.
                                                                                                                                                                              

Compost Day!

I saw on the calendar that today is compost day, who knew!  My compost bin is full so I pulled more out of the bottom to the top again, this will distribute tons of red wrigglers to the new stuff faster.  So guess I participated in Compost Day!   Otherwise, a beautiful day!    Worked on a small project for my daughter, a pincushion (it will look like stacked pillows).  The top pillow is pieced in a log cabin.  Don't know why, but I like to make pincushions.  Last Christmas, I made a pretty heart design that I found on the internet for my sister-in-laws.  Did a little free motion quilting but I did not like the way it sat so I poured acrylic beads into the point (the kind used in beanie babies) then the fiber fill and perfect!  It sat just right with the point down, showing off the top nicely.  I will be making more of this one.