Two Frog Home

Plant something - Not much happening here in the way of planting.  All inspections have come back good, so it looks like we’ll be moving in a few weeks! 

1. Harvest something - Dandelions and chives that’s it so far, but mint and rhubarb soon.
3. Preserve something - I canned chicken and beef stock from bones I’d been saving in the freezer (I’m keeping a tally on the pantry building page). 
5. Prep something - I’ve been saving newspaper and finding burlap sacks at the coffee roaster to snuff out grass and plan new gardens at our new place.

Cook something New - Nothing new this week, just lots of old standards and using up things we have on hand so as not to have too much excess when it comes time to move.

Manage your reserves - I started a 2008 pantry building tally to keep track of what I have on hand, and I always label and date jars when I’m done canning.

Work on local food systems - I shared some worm compost water with a neighbor, for their strawberry patch.  That’s about it, I’m not doing well on this Independence Days Challenge.

Reduced Waste - Saving the newspapers for mulch means no recycling necessary.

Learned a Skill - Does learning the intricacies of real estate and mortgage processing/procedures count?

PS: It does look like all is good for us on this house deal, as long as the appraisal comes in like we’re expecting.  Posts may be a little light and because of the move I don’t know that I’m going to do as well as I’d planned on this independence days challenge.

I decided to participate in the Independence Days Challenge hosted by Casaubon’s Book.  I’m a week behind, but here’s what I did this week:

1. Plant something - Considering we had snow, yes snow this morning and our hopefully impending move, I haven’t done much planting.  I did transplant some seedlings into bigger pots to keep until we hopefully move.

2. Harvest something.  I picked dandelions & chives this week.

3. Preserve something.  I made dandelion jelly.

4. Prep something. I mended a pair of Jeff’s pants and have been preparing to move, include moving some of my plants.  I also have 2 quilts pinned and ready for quilting.

5. Cook something new. Nothing new this week…

6. Manage your reserves.  Nothing really new this week, there are some chicken & beef bones in the freezer that I hope to can this weekend.

7. Work on local food systems.  I gave some of my raspberry canes away to help someone else start their own patch.

We finally heard from the seller’s bank today, we have their approval.  Now we move to the inspection process and hope we find no surprises.  Thanks to everyone who has been sending well wishes and saying prayers!

First let me say thank you to everyone who said prayers and thought good thoughts.   It’s always hard for me to ask for prayers for something so very material when there is so much real need in the world, but I do so much appreciate it.  So for the good news: It looks like we get the house! 

The counter offer had a contingency that the bank had to approve us as buyers.  No one our realtor or the seller’s realtor sees this as a problem because of our pre-approval letters from our lender.  We’ll know 100% for sure on Monday (barring any disasters that may come up during inspection) that we can begin the whole process to close on June 5th.

At first we were shocked, happy but we were starting to talk ourselves out of it, trying to protect ourselves from disappoint, then it hit us and tears of joy flowed.  There’ll be so much to do in the coming weeks, if all goes well, so I’m not planting anything in our garden space here, which is a bit odd, but I’m sure my time will be full in other ways.

Again, thanks everyone.

I hesitate to write this post because I don’t want to jinx anything (I’ve decided that I don’t believe in jinxing, however; I do believe in prayer) and I don’t want to seem like I’m bragging (and I’m not sure why I feel that way).  Anyway…

Earlier this week, Jeff and I made an offer on some property.  The property is just shy of one acre, level with some mature fruit trees and beautiful garden space.  The yard already has fencing, including some electric fencing for critters.  The house is a 3 bedroom, 2 bath manufactured home on a permanent foundation, just under 1,200 square feet, it needs work but all work we can do (replace windows, do some drywall, flooring, painting, etc.) nothing too extreme.  There is a garage with shop that Jeff loves.  It’s perfect for us, and well under what we’re approved for financing wise.  We made an offer and apparently the same day 2 other folks made an offer.

Today all three of us got the counter offer.  Jeff and I immediately signed acceptance of the counter offer and sent back to the seller’s agent.  Apparently, however; we have to wait until Noon tomorrow to find out if we get it or not, that’s the deadline for everyone to respond to the counter offer.  To say that this waiting will be the most difficult for us is an understatement.

We have a lot going for us, the counter offer actually came from the bank not the sellers, meaning the house is close to foreclosure, and one stipulation is that financing be in place by May 15th.  We can do that, maybe the other potential buyers cannot.   The counter offer also stated the sellers would not do any repair to the house, we didn’t ask for any so that was another potential buyer wanting that, hopefully the fact that we are prepared to do the work ourselves and the other buyers may not, will make them not want it any longer…

A long story, short, any prayers and good thoughts would be most appreciated.

I just finished reading All Together in One Place by Jane Kirkpatrick.  The book is a piece of historical fiction based on the following:

One of the incidents that made a profound impression upon the minds of all: the meeting of eleven wagons returning and not a man left in the entire train; all had died, and been buried on the way, and the women returning alone.
                                           –from the journals of Ezra Meeker,

The book takes you through the journey of a group of women pioneers as they journey towards a new future together.  It’s a great story of faith, hope, adventure, and community.

I came across the book in the library stacks, just wandering around and this book just seemed to jump off the shelf at me.  I’m so glad it did!  I’m hooked and look forward to picking up the second book in the series from the library this evening. 

The book is a story of God and overcoming triumphs, but for most importantly for me, it was a story of the “essential” nature of community.  No matter what happens in life, no matter how much paring down we might need to do to get over that mountain, community should never be tossed out.

I don’t live my life in ignorant bliss.  However, there are times when I daydream about doing just that.  Once you start to get educated about voluntary simplicity, frugality, genetically modified foods, sustainable choices, peak oil, etc. etc. its hard to close your eyes and go on living in ignorant bliss.  Sometimes, though it seems like it’d be easier, albeit irresponsible.

I’m very comfortable with my life and choices, however; I am aware that as I continue to learn and grow there are new depths to pursue.  I enjoy being challenged which is probably why I enjoy the new depths and levels of my various life choices, however; every now and then I just want to take the easy way out and not think about it.  I don’t want to think about whether or not what I’m doing is kind or responsible or wise - I just want to do it.  Don’t you just see the teenager stomping her feet, “I want what I want and I want it now!”?   

There are times when I don’t want to scrape the last morsel of peanut butter out of the jar before opening the next one.  Even though it’d be wasteful on so many different levels.  I don’t want to think about the money or food waste, I just want to take the lazy way out.  I never do, however; because I just can’t let myself, once Pandora’s box has been opened there’s no putting everything back.  However, we can’t tackle everything at once, so perhaps it comes down to educated choice.

I see people all around me living in ignorant bliss, and they seem happy.  But that’s the rub isn’t it?  They seem happy.  Is ignorance ever really bliss?  I’d venture to say, rarely.  Sometimes during family dramas I’d rather just not know, but other than that, I doubt that ignorance for any sustained period of time can lead to sustained bliss.

With every bit of research and knowledge comes choices.  I can choose to be ignorant of the treatment of factory raised, hormone filled chickens and save a bit of money (and not worry about using the bones for stock, etc.) or I can choose to eat meat less often and spend the money on locally raised humanely treated organic chickens for a bit more (and not waste one little bit, by making stock, eating all leftovers, etc.).  Sometimes choices are made for us, based on circumstances and budgets.  I understand that, but that’s not the focus of this rambling little rant.  

These choices vary for everyone because we’re all at different levels of knowledge and experience.  There is also a line in the sand for many of us.  We’re willing to do “this”, but not “that”, or our partners aren’t willing.  We get to a point where we just can’t figure out how to go any deeper as well.  I’ve been there: I know what’s its like to get to a point where you just can’t cross that next line (toilet rags instead of paper is a path I’m just not ready to travel, yet for instance).  I want goats, Jeff doesn’t.  We’re very frugal, I don’t simply see where we could cut back without compromising other priorities (like local & organic).  I do believe it is important, however; to tackle each item as you can and to take each item one step at a time.  It can be overwhelming, heart wrenching, and sometimes frightening not to mention hard and sometimes completely foreign to chose “this” over “that”.

The biggest choice of all, however; is to remain ignorantly blissful or to get educated.  I don’t truly believe that’s an either / or type of question.  I believe we can be blissfully educated.  I believe I’m getting there, educated I mean, I’m blissful.  I think we have to choose education and work that we love and be good at it, while realizing we can’t accomplish every single thing in a day, a week, a year, or a lifetime.  That’s hard for me, I want to get everything accomplished, but sometimes its good to remember that so much of life is in the journey not the destination.  That needs to be my choice today, focus on the journey not the destination or what needs accomplished to get to that destination.

First, let me just say wow!  My apple spice cupcake post has garnered a lot of attention, the post was mentioned in a popular cupcake blog, and even garnered attention by WordPress (my blog host) in their food section.  I’m honored and a little overwhelmed.  I’m not used to getting so many visitors to this blog, thank you.

All the attention is a very uplifting thing, especially given the strange weather we’ve been having.  It’s snowing again today (after a weekend of snow and wind) and I’m tired of it.  I’m ready to start some serious planting.  However, perhaps the snow is saving me from planting in a garden where we won’t be in a few months.  There’s a potential house / property purchase in the works.  That’s all I’m going to say about that for now, I’m jaded by the whole real estate thing and I don’t want to get my hopes up too much.

Today has also been a good day because I had a wonderful massage.  Its amazing how good a body can feel after all that tension has been rubbed, pinched, and prodded out of a person’s muscles.  I adore my massage therapist too.  Her attitude and welcoming spirit is as uplifting to my soul as her massage therapy is to my body.  I love that when I get close to her office in the building she is in, I can smell all the aromatherapy oils, and as they waft their way up my nasal passages, the entire tone is set for a wonderful, relaxing, and uplifting experience.   I’m so thankful for these extravagances.  I believe a massage is so good for a healthy body, but I’m under no illusions that this is simply a luxury and I’m blessed to be able to have massages now and then.

• Thanks so much to everyone who responded to my not fitting in post, you all made me feel so loved.  I’m doing much better today and your virtual love and words certainly reached my heart.  I also realized that its not so much that I’m not a good friend its just my idea of friendship doesn’t include shopping trips to the mall or spa days but it does include me helping clean out chicken coops and going all out for homemade, gourmet birthday dinners.
• If you are a member of swapbot, I’ve started a homemade placemat swap.  Sign up, please, it should be fun.  If you’re not a member, maybe this could be a fun way to try it out.  It’s free and who doesn’t like getting packages in the mail?
• The Kitchen Gardeners Newsletter is full of great info this month.  Its a great read every month honestly, you should sign up for it.
• My seeds are sprouting in the indoor greenhouse and despite a forecast of weekend snow, I’m optimistic that soon we’ll have some springlike weather for more serious outdoor planting.

I’ve known for a long time, a very long time, that I don’t quite fit into most molds.  I don’t fit the standards for most “groups” people want to classify me in: 30something, gardener, environmentalist, hippie, professional, small business owner, Christian, etc. etc.  I never fit molds during those awkward teenage years, either, thankfully the angst of not quite fitting in, has alleviated over time.

I’m quite comfortable in my own skin and I am blessed with a small circle of very good friends and of course, there’s Jeff, who appreciate the me that I am.  Thankfully, these folks love me for my quirks and for the fact that I don’t fit most molds and can just be me.  Honestly, these same folks don’t fit any particular molds either which is probably why we all get along even in our vast differences.  Sadly most of us are scattered and time spent together is frightfully short.

However, no matter how comfortable I may be in my own skin, rejection does still hurt now and then.  Most of the time, I’m all too happy to accept people not liking my inability to fit my rather square self into round holes.  Honestly, I don’t want to be surrounded by people who can’t be tolerant and loving.  It’s just not my groove.  What does sting, a little, however; is when I think I may have met someone who I’d like to get to know better but something about me doesn’t fit into their idea of who I am or one ideal doesn’t quite match up and they dismiss me.  Whether its because I’m a Christian who isn’t a Republican (or a Democrat), or because I’m a 30something with no children, or because I don’t wear orange, etc.  it hurts when people pick one difference and disregard the many things we may have in common and decide that I’m not a person worth getting to know.  

For the most part, I believe I can be rather accepting and loving of folks and I try very hard to look for similiarities not differences so that I can create a warm community around me.  I know, I know, the world at large doesn’t behave that way and that is so sad.  My father would tell me here, that I need to leave the 100 hundred acre and Pooh behind.  For the record, he’s the one that taught me to walk to the beat of my own drummer, heaven knows he’s done it his whole life (thanks dad!).

So today, I’m a little downtrodden over what could have been, and I know that’s no way to spend my life either.  I’m also sad because I know that I’m such a homebody that I don’t always make a good friend, but it sucks when I don’t even get the chance to try.

In the end, though, I’m left wondering about building community.  Can I do it?  Can I build a community of folks who focus on similiarities and not differences and who act as a community members to each other?  What’s a girl to do?