Randomness

NaNoWriMo has been off to a weird start this year. I'm usually all prepared to started writing come Nov. 1st. This year, I didn't even write my first word until around the 11th of Nov. I was on vacation, and I have an infant and what can I say? Time just got away from me. So, I'm definitely behind on my word count, but each day I'm writing more words in hopes that I'll reach 50K next week. 

I'm going to be 33 soon. That sounds so much older than 32 for some reason. So many things are different for me this birthday, than last. But the one I'm most proud of, is being a mother.

Sustainability efforts have continued as I started a compost pile after scavenging some free pallets. It's going just OK. I put the pile where I actually want the dirt come Spring, which means it's a littler further from the house to be ideal. I successfully cloth diapered on two trips by plane, one to Knoxville, one to DC/Newport News and other trip by car to Chicago/Madison. It felt great to not purchase something I already owned!

I told several friends recently of the Voluntary Simplicity Vow I took several months ago. To my shock, they just simply changed the subject! They didn't even ask a single question! It really caught me off guard and I had to join a FB group on Voluntary Simplicity to get recentered. Perhaps is the use of the word, "vow" instead of just this "thing" I'm doing. But it's more serious than just some fleeting thing. I'm having to find everything used... including all the stuff that would just be so much easier to buy new! (Oh wait, that's basically everything.) I was grateful that I continued to tell others about the vow as I continued to see old friends and the last two responded really supportively. One even mentioned a book she had been reading with a similar idea to Shiny Objects entitled Seven where the author gives herself a different challenge over seven months, to give away seven different types of things each month.

And finally, I'm grateful to have a few more items given to some fellow Freecyclers! I'm happy to report that I'm now halfway to my goal of getting rid of 100 things, that I didn't replace with more junk!

48-52. Four large sheets turned into curtains
53-59. Two sheer lace curtains and five lace valences. (All hand-stitched!)

So total counts:
Freecycle In: 6
Freecycle Out: 6 (I'm even!!)
100 things: 52

Giveaway and G updates

I've been falling lax on getting rid of things as I've been trying to concentrate on some different recovery issues. But I did manage to get rid of something that's been driving me crazy for awhile!

47. Infant Car seat

So total counts:
Freecycle In: 6
Freecycle Out: 6 (I'm even!!)
100 things: 41

In other news, G is starting to get his bottom two teeth so I guess he'll be saying "mama" first :) (As the upper two teeth help you say "dada.") For the most part he's handling it well. He's also eaten some of daddy's homemade applesauce, made from the apples we picked at the orchard. He's throughly loving it, evidenced by his attempts to lunge himself at the spoon and slurp the applesauce off the top before I get a chance to actually get it in his mouth. He is too cute :)

I love Freecyclers :)

Had a lady and her aunt stop by for a couple things on my Freecycle list. I invited them into my basement to examine my pile of growing items to give away. Here's what they left with. These were ecstatic :)

15. Bar tools set
16. Large luggage
17. Snowman picture frame
18. White curtain sheer
19. Tan curtain sheer
20-25. Six coffee mugs
26-33. Eight wine glasses
34. Two red curtain panels
35. Flower vase
36. White t-shirt
37. Pair of blue socks
38-41. Conference bags
42. Oil lamps
43. Wreath 
44. Travel coffee mug
45. Pair of flip-flops
46. Phone w/answering machine

So total counts:
Freecycle In: 6
Freecycle Out: 6 (I'm even!!)
100 things: 40

Bell's Brewery Homebrew Competition

So, yesterday I picked up my Bell's wort from from a friend that attending the tasting with his gf. This is truly a "P's" dream... It's a simple task. Transform ~5gal with your choice of hops and yeast ... maybe even more extract. Then boil, add sugar, bottle. It's madness! Complete liberty! Aaaahhhhhh!

Me, "I just finished reading the homebrew competition rules. I'm so nervous."
Hubby, "if it's bad; don't submit it. You have total freedom. Just be a P."
Me, "OK, but they (our aforementioned friends) are making two batches" (out of the wort).
Hubby, "He's an amateur. You're a pro. Just brew one; it'll be great."

Hahahaha... an amateur. This is the guy that taught me how to brew! Plus, he's gone off the recipe reservation far more many times that I have. The last batch I brewed I skipped the aroma hops and added orange slices instead. That's it. That's all the experimenting I've done! I feel I need to read up on this more, but I don't have the time! I have to get this boiling because it's in my third and last bucket. I have a Honey Porter & a Hazelnut & Chocolate Porter fermenting now. I need this third bucket to be able to transfer both porters into clearing. Then once I've done that I can move this wort into fermentation. But it's so much wort! I might need another bucket anyway! Aaahhhhhh!

Oh, I should also mention that first place gets their recipe brewed with a Bell's brewmaster and it'll be served on draft at Eccentric Cafe... no pressure to reproduce it. When have I ever made anything taste the same way twice??

Play-set, Garden fresh dinner & counts update

Play-set:
I always wanted a swing-set growing up. So now G has one at 4-months of age. Although Hubby says it's a play-set and not a swing-set. It is rather amazing. We bought it used, of course, and our old roomie helped Hubby disassemble, move and partially reassemble with another friend that came later. It has a rock climbing wall,rings, two big swings, one baby swing, one disc swing, slide, ramp, steering wheel and binoculars. It has a couple railing boards that need to be replaced, but the swings, slide and ramp are all in working order! I can't wait to look out the kitchen window watching him and his friends playing on it :)


Garden fresh dinner:
Tonight Shaun made garden fresh stuffed zucchini with garden fresh tomato basil sauce! It was delicious :) I couldn't get a good pictures of the dinner plate for some reason. And as you can see to the left, our garden is still producing red and yellow tomatoes, zucchini, cucumbers, green peppers and countless hot peppers. The Thai Hot Peppers are now starting to turn red thanks to the latest heat wave we had. I'm planning to save the water from the rain barrels in containers we would otherwise recycle. I'll use this water, I already have, to water my seeds and seedlings I'll be planting this winter. I'm starting to wish that every window in my house was actually a bay window so that I could set out all my little seedlings in the window sill and watch them grow. I'm just hoping Heleina doesn't thing I'm growing them for her.

Got rid of a few more things, yay!!

10. Half-full container of fabric softener. (I stopped using it a couple years ago and this poor container was just collecting dust.)
11. IKEA Metal clothesline. (I had hoped to put it on the other attic wall across from the other one I purchased that is currently being used to display cards. But I realized I didn't need it, nor did I have room.)
12-14. Three metal cookie tins to one happy, cookie-making, Freecycle recipient! 
So total counts:
Freecycle In: 6
Freecycle Out: 6 (I'm even!!)
100 things: 9 (Now that I've fulfilled my in vs out obligation, I'll just add to this list.... that is until I find something else I can't live without...)

hOur Exchange Ypsilanti - You have to do this!

So, I stumbled across this venture and am now completely stoked and can't wait to get others involved. The premise? Every hour of your time is worth an hour of someone else's time: weeding, therapy, weatherizing, fixing your car, knitting lesson, whatever! I bank an hour of my time providing a service to someone and then I can debit that hour of my time with whatever I need! It's an economy of time, instead of money. For a fuller review and to fill out your app, click here. Don't live in Ypsi? You might have one near you :)

The orientation I had to attend for my membership was held at the Ypsilanti Free Skool. A place with a similar concept. They want to provide free education of whatever: juggling, anarchistic theory and practice, whatever. I was definitely surrounded by my people.

In other news, I'm down another item to a freecycle member :)
9. Bar caddy

So total counts:
Freecycle In: 6
Freecycle Out: 5
100 things: 5

Newest Challenge: Get rid of 100 things!

So a friend told me about this other blogger's self-challenge to get rid of 100 things in 100 days. Well, I'm not one for confinement on the amount of time... but I've decided to take on the challenge and just get rid of 100 things. I've been adding things to Freecycle under the handle guenthea if you wanna check in on me. I am giving some things to friend's too. Here's what's gone so far:

1. Small diaper covers
2. MaryKay product bag (freecycled)
3. Sewing machine w/broken motor (freecycled)
4. Infant bathtub
5. Outlet sealers
6. Bummis disposable liners
7. Crib mattress
8. Plastic milk storage containers

In addition, I also want to get rid of one thing for everything I take on Freecycle. So far I've acquired:
1. 3-drawer unit that I have diapers in
2. Diaper bag full of diaper covers, bibs and other baby things
3. Boppy & cover - which I got w/the intent of giving away... so that cancels out
4. Fleece - which I used to make diaper liners and potty cozies
5. Christmas cards and decorations
6. 4-shelf unit that I put in the laundry area to organize all the bottles of laundry related items

So total counts:
Freecycle In: 6
Freecycle Out: 4
100 things: 5

I'm working my way towards simplicity :)

How Motherhood Has Changed Me

Well I've been a mother for 116 days now. I have to say that it's changed me mostly in ways I would've never dreamed of. Let's start with the fact that getting up at 7:30am isn't impossible. Yes, you read that correctly... I manage to be a somewhat functioning adult now as the sun is rising. I still wouldn't classify myself as a morning person since this new morning routine also includes hubby bringing me the deluxe breakfast tray to bed. (which includes coffee, oatmeal, bottle for G, & an extra bib.) It's caused me to become even worse at math than I was before (apparently that WAS possible). This meant that instead of planting a smaller garden this year, I ended up with 72 plants... oh, those plants come in a FOUR pack?! Oops. And I've had a surprisingly increased amount of time to read. Because my activity options are limited when I'm lying flat on my back with a baby on my chest. (Who knew something so tiny could immobilize an otherwise active adult?)

As a result  I read the book, Shiny Objects: Why We Spend Money We Don't Have in Search of Happiness We Can't Buy by James Roberts. Let's just say, I was quite convicted about reading this. The book is full of quizzes that test things like your contentment, impulsivity, self-control, materialism, and conflicting values. I scored horribly on nearly all the quizzes except recognizing product placements and actors used for them. (Shocker I know.) G was about two months old at this point and I decided I must change, lest he become just another consumer. Towards the end of the book, Roberts mentions "The Voluntary Simplicity Movement" and "The comPACT" which you can learn more about here. I got inspired and decided to do it - off the record. His motto is to barter, borrow, or buy used. I learned that homebrew is an excellent bartering tool for babysitting, helping with weeding and retractable clotheslines  It's been much easier than I imagined, but that lead into the newest endeavor in my life. 

Made from an old pickle barrel

I've also turned into a bit of sustainability nut, afterall, the garden is already planted, the clothesline is already up, I switched to the cup nearly 3yrs ago and I've been using my free stash of cloth diapers! I've become more diligent about unplugging everything and turning off power strips. (Hubby has agreed as long as I call them energy vampires.) I've really had to get creative when it comes to acquire needed things for a new baby in the house. I've been better about walking places I need to go or consolidating my stops. (Can't take the bike trailer until G is 1yr old.) We've been researching CSAs for the last several years, but decided we are ready to join. My mom got me a rain barrel for my 1st Mother's Day (which is from the county - a used (upcycled) pickle barrel!) Then we bought another one off of a friend that wasn't using hers. I've decided to save the water when we empty it for winter for my seedlings I'll start in the late winter. I attended a home energy workshop and learned about rope caulk, which I've been applying all over the house. I use cloth wipes, for me. I've also drug the candles back out for evening dinners. I'm enjoying EC'g, which I thought I would find more cumbersome, than easier, but it's been convenient and I enjoy washing diapers less often.

Red Thai Chilis

So am I more patient, loving, and kindhearted? Yeah, but I'm also just more conscious of all the ways our lifestyle will impact G - not just direct nurturing and parenting. And I already see myself becoming more grateful for all I have, not just Hubby & G.

Sweet Peppers

Zucchini

Jalapeno 

Tomatoes, Zucchini, Rhubarb, Cucumber & Raspberries

Hot peppers