Daily observations of my simple life.

Thoughts on Simplicity:

It has been over a number of years now I have been striving for a more simple life. I do have a simple life in many ways, living on a piece of land in a small comfortable home that has not stressed my budget. I am a bit of a pack rat or I like thrift stores and yardsales. My fall has been sorting through things and getting rid of what I don't use. by giving it away. Each month I am downsizing my wardrobe, trying to come to a very basic low maintaince lifestyle.

My mornings I get up and put my cup of water in the micorwave then head out to the corral to feed Sage and Cheriki. I open the chicken pen gate so the chickens can forage and run about. I love watching their activity in the barnyard. Too many eggs for me most of the time but I enjoy gathering them and looking at their beautiful colors. Some go to neighbors, some go to the food bank on my errand day.

I have been thinking about simple foods lately and have downsized my diet. Oatmeal,with flaxseed, walnuts and blueberries for breakfast. I put it all in a bowl add powdered milk and water and zap in the micro wave till it's like a pudding. I enjoy it very much.  I have been making a huge pot of bean vegitable soup once a week. A big bowl of soup at lunch, some fresh fruit and or vegies and dinner is a grilled cheese and egg sandwich and another bowl of soup if I'm still hungry. I've been making my own green tea with lemon and mango puree and putting it in a gal water jug for drinking when I want something other than water. I'm finding this very satisfying and not very taxing as far as menu planning or on the budget. Why?  I started thinking  what most really poor people eat and decided to give it a try.

I am a bit concerned about our resources. Read this week that we will run out of resources in 2050.  Course the economy might go downhill if we all lived simpler lives but recently on Oprah when she and Gail were on their road trip, they visited an Amish home. These people said they were 100% content. That really is something to think about.

I know I'm not happy when I'm driving in traffic and most of the time I'm not happy when I'm shopping. Like last week I was buying some trees and grass seed at Walmart. While I was being checked out a woman raced in and demanded to be waited on in the middle of my checkout. I said, "You need to wait till I'm done" . She said in an obnoxious voice. "RUDE PEOPLE."  I raised my eyebrows and went about finishing my transaction. She again tried to barge in and I said,     "I haven't gotten my change yet." Again, she said in the same tone, "RUDE PEOPLE, EXCUSE ME"  , I said, "Yes, excuse you.", looking directly at her grimacing face. So, finally I got my change after the poor lady who was checking me out was all confused and I was flustered. I gathered my stuff and realized when I got home that the grass seed was not in my stuff. This woman cost me my grass seed because she felt my transaction was far less important than  hers. It is almost everytime I go out to do something away from home that these kinds of frustrations happen. They don't make me happy. I'm happy when I'm hiking in the desert, when I'm watching a sunset or sunrise, when I'm gardening or watching my animals.

I've started thinking about the desparately poor, more. I'm now sending 20% of my income to various charities. I bought a LLama for someone in Peru this last week and hope to send a seed package to someone else this week. I have found several catalogs that are for these kinds of gifts such as Christian Childrens Fund.org and Heifer.org and I find myself looking at my wish list to send, whether it be a goat, a flock of chickens, a micro loan or other. I feel very happy sending off a check and thinking of someone loving a little LLama, using the wool, drinking the milk, and the Llama carrying their wood or having babies to increase their well being.

Are we really a content people?  Maybe we need to simplify.

Posted by: cactusandquail at 17:19 | link | comments (5)

Comments:

#1  06 November 2006 - 17:03

 

i just love this post and everything about it! good to hear from you. take care.

limine

#2  08 November 2006 - 14:49

 

I think it would really be hard on us at first.... probably even make us miserable. But in the end, I do believe once we got used to it, we would all be so much happier with much more simple lifestyles.

Ladyinthemoon

#3  17 November 2006 - 11:32

 

I love this post, too. I woud definitely like a simpler life, but seem to lack the wherewithal to organize it. :( I need to prioritize! Anyhow I have the same feelings about driving in traffic and shopping. There are way too many of us and always someone who considers his/her needs of the moment to be greater than ours, to the point of being pushy, rude [the nerve of that person calling you rude ????] and/or driving dangerously. Miami is known for drivers who are that way, which makes it no fun to drive, and I've always loved driving.

mafidl

#4  17 November 2006 - 11:34

 

PS - is it possible to be sure that the money you are paying actually gets to the person in need? I assume there is a way to check out the organizations. I think what you're doing is great.

mafidl

#5  29 November 2006 - 18:36

 

Your writings of your life are wonderful to read. Reminds me of my former home in AZ. A home in the desert - a dream...

behindtheblink

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