2013 review

My successes (in a minor way) are few.  I completed 100 things out of the house only twice this year.  It is HARD to get rid of memories which I have done with some struggles.  The big pieces are still in the basement and the garage sale didn't happen.  Bummer!  I did get to the dump 3 times this year which is good since these trips are mostly downsize loads with little day to day garbage.  Goodwill trips  added up to approximately 6 trips (I keep a sack ready to fill at all times, if a decision to get rid of something is made then it goes into the sack).

'To Do' list (supports goals) for 2013

• To Habitat for Humanity X 1
• 100 hundred items out of the house x 2
• Save money
• Sort/clean out living spaces
• To the dump x 3
• Re-pack anything left in basement
• Have a garage sale

The skills list is also going to stay the same. That's right, other than reading an article on sourdough nothing was accomplished here either.  Living happily with thrift is actually something I already practice, getting others in the house on board is another problem which I can't solve for them.  Kombucha was brewed continuously but can stay on the list because I want to up the amount brewed and figure out how to do a second brew in the bottle.  Maybe a physical list is needed as a daily reminder.

New Skills to Learn in 2013

• Cheese
• Kimchi
• Kombucha ( keep up on the brewing)
• Living Happly with Thrift
• Master Recipe List
• Root Vegie Kimchi
• Sourdough (delve deeper)

Stuff and Clutter!

I posted for the year end (2011) my disaster areas, today after counting the surfaces with clutter on them, something must be done.  Ten surfaces (tables, desks, etc.) in the kitchen dining room, living and bedroom.  This doesn't count my sewing room because every time I organize it a bomb goes off and disaster reins again!  After counting the mess I immediately followed up with cleaning off two of the surfaces.  Not only do I not get help but when something is put away, a gremlin comes along and put the stuff right back where I cleared it off of (kitchen)!  Two more surfaces do exist but they belong to another 100%, the ten belong to me or are a community mess.  I also have one more shelf in the kitchen to clean out for better storage.

I have been making Kombucha for 2 months now and have a good balance of brewing now, it is giving me a 2 cup bottle a day to drink without flavoring it.  I like it very much this way and enjoy the hint of apple and sourness, refreshing!

Women, Farm and Food

This is the title of a conference that my daughter and I went to today.  The first keynote speaker talked about her experiences in buying and running a farm in Pennsylvania, she was inspiring  and at 62 is going strong!  Some important  issues for me to remember are:
    a. throw out the negative actions and compormise less
    b. Success equals happiness NOT $ means being sustainable not rich this is my goal
    c. Reading, research, knowledge is all good, I need a place to jump in and make it work
We also heard the stories of 3 local ladies in the 'farming' business.  One that works for a seed company (Osborns), another who was a field manager for a CSA with 300+ members and last an owner of a CSA in the City of Seattle (an acre and a half, very successful).   Some very good information.                                                                                                                                                                The 2nd keynote speaker is an author on the sbuject of procrastination, a very good subject in connection to farming and the tug of war on time between house, children, gardens, animals, a possible outside job and marketing if product is sold.  I take away from this lecture that the path in my home of downsizing is in the right direction.  In the basement, I am going to implement setting aside 1 hour of time with NO distractions, No breaks and using a timer.  Giving a reward for every hour is a bit of overkill and she said a pat on the back was too lame, I disagree.  An accomplishment can be exciting if it's a job I don't want to do and overwhelming.  The speakers were via the internet and the connection for the 2nd one was bad which took away from the lecture, her humor came thru fortunately because it was hard to keep the continuity going.

The dicussions after each lecture was also good, and hearing the experiences or questions of local women in farming left me with the knowledge we can do it in a man's world.

I think the February can be a beautiful month, with 3 days now of warm sun, cold air and frosty nights so far. The mountains have been at their best, so clear you can see the valleys and the sun glints off the snow on the peaks like diamonds.  I wish the camera could capture the beauty I see!  I hear opinions that it feels like spring.  To me it's a promise of spring to come, that here in the PNW after days and weeks of rain and gloom the days are longer and it's time to plan for the garden!

I bottled my kombucha yesterday in to three jars and drank the fourth one right away, very good andwith no added flavor or juice!  It's was mild, I only brewed it 12 days and my house is cold.  So now it's the 3 - 5 day wait for fizz to build up.  Keeping up with brewing will take some juggling because it's so good and buying it is a little expensive ($3.50 for 16oz).  This is one of my  goals  (to learn new skills this year).

I had a great weekend starting with a quiet visit with E and the grandgirls, playing games and watching a movie.  My sister in law called me for an overnight, we had a ball. Lot's of laughs, wine and helping a little with putting her house in order after they put down new floors.  Then back to E's house to watch the girls while she went to an appointment.  We spent a couple hours outside gardening, pulling new weeds from the vegie beds and pulling compost from the bottom of the pile to the top.  I guess V. fell asleep on the floor (she is 3) after a very busy day.  She is the one who stuck with me thru all the weeding.  J helped thru half which is still pretty good.While locking up the chickens, J pointed out the full moon coming up behind the bare trees, another beautiful picture! At 7 yrs, she takes on the responsiblity of the chickens and goats like I haven't seen in a girls new to animals. She is amazing! I was holding V. and noticed the sunkissed cheeks, what a good day! And to my darling daughter, you're smile today is beautiful!