Garden Totals!

We planted nearly 200 seeds inside this Spring, which yielded nearly 50-pounds of produce this year. My goal for 2015 season is 75-pounds. It seems like a nice modest growth amount :) We'll see how I do!

Garden Update #1

Herbs, Impatients and Marigolds growing in the blocks. 

Garlic Scapes have been consumed. 
Just waiting to harvest the garlic 
bulbs for drying. 

The garden is growing beautifully! I purchased some new plant markers at the A2 Art Fair today which made it in the pictures. My first new purchase in over a year was eight trellises for all my berry plants. The trellises were normally $39.95 but were under the 14.95 sign so I saved $212! Not bad! (My second new purchase was an insulated grocery bag for my groceries coming home from the co-op. The bag I chose didn't have a tag. It was supposed to be $2.99 and I got it for $0.99 since it didn't have a tag!). Total harvest is only 5-7/8lbs, but it's been mostly greens.

Sweet, Purple, Spicy & Thai Basil
have their own garden. 

Hoping 20 tomato plants produce
enough to can some sauce. 

Cabbage & Kale are growing beautifully. 

Bean plants are steadily producing. 

Willingness

Lately I've found myself in a few conversations surrounding the concept of willingness to let God do ____. I shared that often when I see people fail I get "judgementally" upset that they "must" not be doing more/enough or otherwise they would've succeeded! The irony I realized is that they likely were "doing more" which led to their failure because in fact they should've been "doing less!" God gives us strength to do the things He wants us to do... not the things we think we should be doing.

My part is to be willing and open. His part is to make things happen. I need to pray for peace instead of asking God to answer specific prayer requests (like give me a new best friend instead of having peace with the friends I have). Once I'm willing God has more freedom in how He can choose to answer the desires of my heart. When I act out of willingness I build less resentments because God can answer more prayers because I'm open to more possibilities! When I'm willing I can hear better too; I can listen for the words that person needs to hear and speak them. When I'm willing, I can see more areas where I need to grow and make the changes I need to in order to improve. And for somethings, they shouldn't be improved. I need to ask God to remove my character defects, my judgemental and selfish ways, my pride and lack of compassion because these don't need to just be improved upon. These things need to go away.

Simplicity Lessons Continue

So, G has huge feet. At one year of age he's wearing a size 5! Needless to say, we leave for Europe in a week and the little walker as no shoes that fit. A couple of my friends suggested the brand, See Kai Run, which promote healthy foot development in kids. They are of course like $60. I don't even spend $60 on shoes for myself. So, I prayed before going to Once Upon a Child that I would find a pair and I did! For $5 and they look basically new! I'm thrilled and grateful that I'm reminded once again, I don't need to buy things new.

After getting the shoes I headed to a woman's house that had some clothes for sale on yard sale FB page I follow. All of this recent weigh loss has led to a conundrum in the wardrobe department. I don't want to get several things when I want to continue my downward trend. But I did want to a have a couple things that would fit well before we left. So, I picked up a couple sundresses and a jacket. While I'm there we start chatting and I learn that they are selling their men and women's bikes! I've been praying for a bike for S and scouring the sites for the past two months with no real luck. And I've been trying to figure out what to do with my bike since the frame is too small for me, but I wanted to make what I had work. So once again, I can find what I need when I remain open to having my needs fulfilled more slowly and creatively.

Have you run into a situation like mine where you were able to find what you needed just when you needed it for the price you can afford? I'd love to hear about it in your comment below!

Garden Expansion & Challenge

Friday I had five yards of dirt delivered. Everyone kept telling me, "that's a lot of dirt." By everyone I mean, two soil companies, guy at The Home Depot, my mother & my husband. Yes, I'm aware that it's one dump truck full, but I need a place to plant these 192 seedlings I have growing in my guestroom! Speaking of which, while waiting for the dirt delivery my friend and I planted all of the greens (spinach, lettuce, arugula, pak choi, Bok choi), radishes, and carrots. Then we surrounded them with straw to keep them warm and keep the weeds at bay.

My friend and a guy from the time bank were able to finish moving and spreading the dirt in about three hours. Here's some pictures to document the occasion. Now to get cinder blocks to make a border!

I'm planning to weigh my garden harvest this year! Comment on this post of you're going to join me in my weighing challenge!

Feeling Inspired??

Well, my beautiful blog readers... are you feeling inspired yet?! If so, (as I know some of you are), please comment on this post and tell me how! I'd love to continue the momentum I've built.

This is after I just added ten more items to the yardsale pile!

Oh, and my latest challenge is to get rid of 100 books... I have 95 up for sale and 6 out the door!

Maintenance-free Clutter-free Living

So, after getting all excited about riding my child around in his new kid bike trailer, S points out that I have no brake pads, (like less than none), I can't change gears and I have one flat tire. Huh.

S, "When was the last time you did maintenance on your bike?"
Me, "What do you mean? I didn't think bikes needed maintenance. You just get them out of the garage and ride them and put them back, right?
(At the bike store). Bike guy holding my brake pad, "What bike were these on?!"
S, "That's not a good sign."

So, two trips back to my local bike shop, Tree Fort Tires, and I was on the road again. S raised the seat for me and my legs still don't extend like they should. S pointed out that this bike has a smaller frame than a standard woman's bike. In truth, I believe my parents bought this bike for me for my 10th birthday which was in 1990... yes I still have my childhood bike. And it's still in pristine condition (well, after some maintenance). For the record, I still use the dressers and trunk my grandmother bought me when I was three, making them 30-years-old and still in great shape! I still wear clothes from high school (only 15-years-ago). Among other things... Hmm, I guess I shouldn't be surprised by the amount of clutter I have in this house considering I obviously keep everything and keep it in good condition....

The thing about keeping things in good condition means that they do require some amount of maintenance. I've spent my entire life taking care of my stuff. Everything we have, we have to care for. Those knick-knacks on the shelf need dusted. The modes of transportation need maintenance. The yard, the house, you name it. It all needs up-keep. So the more we get rid of, the less we have to care for. Here's to more decluttering!

Book Dehoarding

So I spoke about this briefly the other day, but thought it deserved it's own post. Book dehoarding that is. If you've ever been to my house you can see by some accounts that I'm on the edge of being a book hoarding. Others of you would say my diagnosis is classifiable. We will have been married for nine years this year. It's a good milestone to think about whether or not I've actually picked these books up apart from packing them up and moving them. If I haven't read it in a decade (because I certainly did read it the year I was engaged before that), then I think I can safely let it go.

So nearly daily I've been posting more and more books online. I have now sold and shipped five books to new homes and have posted an additional 62 books!!! This is a huge feat. Let me give you an idea of how bad it is. That biology textbook from freshman year of college? Wasn't that in 1999...? Ahem. Yes, and yes I still have it and have moved it at least six times to three different states. There's my Nancy Drew Collection volumes 1-19... from when I was like eight... All in mint condition apart from the dust they're collecting. I had envisioned passing them along to my daughter, but then I had a son.

Why do I keep all of these books? Well, obviously they were interesting and I might want to read them again, and then what would I do?! This is hoarding mentality at it's best! But, ten months in my Voluntary Simplicity Vow has taught me that if I will need it again, then I can always find it again. In the meantime, "If you have things you're not using then you have someone else's stuff."

Growing Up!

G is only a "baby" for two more weeks. It's hard to believe that he will be a year old, even though I do feel a year older... We got his nine-month photo shoot pictures back recently. Here are some highlights :)

         

We're also expanding the size of the garden this year and having 9-cubic-yards of topsoil/compost mix dropped off this week. We're grateful to have a friend come help us spread some dirt around. Meanwhile I planted 96 more seeds and my last 96 seedlings are growing big! The seedlings are growing so tall I had to move the lights up and now they are hitting the lights again! I wasn't planning to transplant them until the end of May and beginning of June but I might have to rethink that. This is good to know for next year that I can wait a month to start seedlings. This year I started March 5th.



I actually got serious about downsizing my every-growing book collection. I've posted 28 books online to sell and have successfully sold and shipped four of them!!! It feel great to be getting rid of books I've barely looked at or never even read. My goal is to have ALL of OUR books fit on the built-ins, plus one bookcase. It's going to be a tall order, but I'm hopeful. Let the downsizing continue!

Surpassed My Goal!

With three more months left of my one-year-long Voluntary Simplicity Vow, I am realizing how much I have to be grateful for these days. For starters, I've surpassed my goal of giving away 100 things! The last items on the list included two bags of clothes. But now it's become a rhythm, so I have someone picking up three boxes of plastic straws that have been collecting dust on my baker's rack and serving as a temptation for G. I started selling things on Craigslist (which S thinks is super sketchy). I decided there were some things we wanted, so we needed to sell current things in order to acquire the new. So we sold S's old radar detector to purchase new phones and then sold our old phones to purchase the insurance for our new phones! I sold some other random stuff too.

My desire to acquire more is definitely significantly lessened. It's weird to see something I want, and not feel the impulse to just "shoot it, bag it and bring it home." I'm actually even researching purchases, including looking up customer reviews, and looking at more than one store before making a decision! Weird for me... I know! But it's paying off in many less purchases, and being truly delighted with the purchases I do make. It's a serene and jubilant feeling.

I'm also enjoying just having less clutter in the house. (Although at this very moment I have piles of clothes going from one mom's daughter to another, so it looks a little cluttered...) I've noticed how my view of my possessions has changed already to looking at every item and wondering if I really need/want it. I'm not really afraid of scarcity anymore, so I'm not stockpiling for the end of the world. (Besides if the end of the world comes, extroverted-me doesn't want to either be the last survivor or stuck with tin-foil-on-the-head guy.)

I'm excited to start biking again this summer with Grey in tow. I've been researching kid bike trailers. There's a wide variety out there, but I'm mostly interested in being able to bike to the farmer's market to get our crop share. I'm not interested in dragging the wagon two miles every week. And it's literally only 1.1mi from our house, so I can't really justify driving.

My seedlings are growing stupendously well! I'm elated! I have 96 seedlings! I'll be keeping you updated with how many pounds I harvest this year to set a foundation. Then I can increase from there. I'm not even sure what a realistic goal would be.

All this simplifying has led to be losing 35lbs, putting me at my lowest weight in a decade. 

I purchased a homeopathic kit & some other goodies from my naturalpathy store including an organic bath mix. I had a cold & did a foot soak: 20min Epsom salt, 20mins organic bath mix. Next day, I felt fine. So weird. And the water started out clear but this is how it looked at the end. 

I know I had more thoughts, but G isn't a very helpful typist so I'm hitting backspace as much as I'm typing. So I'll have to continue to my thoughts later.

Productivity Report

I've downloaded the blogger app in an attempt to post more often. I have the iPhone 5C now which is strange being only one generation behind as I'm usually lagging much further behind in the technology world. I've begun selling items on Craigslist to further the decluttering process & to earn money for random things we want (like new iPhones). I've been altering bridesmaid dresses & practicing all my new sewing skills. And I planted some seeds. It's been pretty productive month or so. Here's my set up on the seeds :)

79. Beer glasses

80. iPhone 3G

81. Radar locator

So total counts:
Freecycle In: 6
Freecycle Out: 6 (I'm even!!)
100 things: 72

And here's the bridesmaid dress & jacket I altered from a size eight to a four. 

Minimalist Efforts Continue

I got rid of 14 items in the last week to some fellow Freecyclers; 12 of which had been gifted to me. I'm pretty happy that I've managed to not acquire anything else besides a juicer, which hubby got me for my birthday and our Christmas gift. (We've been using it daily and I'm loving it!) I'm also proud of myself for making it through seven months of the Voluntary Simplicity Vow. I'm continuing to crave to own less, get rid of more and I find I'm desiring to obtain less things. I love the new freedom I'm feeling to put my time and energy elsewhere, instead of taking care of my "stuff." I'm really looking forward to spring and summer so I can start using the clothesline again and dig out the compost pile from underneath all that snow. I'm planning to borrow some grow lights from a local organization. If you offer to grow two trays of seedlings for them, you have space to grow two trays for your own garden. So between those trays and the one grow light I own, I hope that'll be all I need. We watched a movie recently where the woman hadn't purchased a veggie in ten years. I was so inspired! I'm planning to dry and save my seeds this year for the first time. Just some more of my new efforts :)

60. iPod Speaker Dock
61-69. Bibs
70. Infant Bouncy Seat
71. Mobile
72-74. Infant Toys
75-78. Three White Shelves

So total counts:
Freecycle In: 6
Freecycle Out: 6 (I'm even!!)
100 things: 69

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