Make it Simple

I just took this survey...
http://simplicityinstitute.org/phpQ/fillsurvey.php?sid=2

My answers weren't as good as I wanted them to be.
I would like to live more simply, but at this point am unwilling to give up my tv or the internet. I also can't give up my car, as it would be very difficult to get all of my tools to and from a different job site every day.
This year I would like to grow and preserve more of my own food. I'm good at the growing so far, not so good at the preserving. I am waiting patiently for all of the fruit trees I have planted over the past years to start producing.
I don't think I will ever be able to produce all of the food we eat, especially since 90% of the gardening duties are mine and mine alone. I would like to produce more foods that we can eat year round.
I do feel like my consumption of "things" is way down from what it was, say, in my twenties. Mostly the things I buy now are books and yarn. And plants. But even my plant budget has gone way down, since I start most of my veggies from seed and most of the big ornamental plants I have gotten lately have been rescues from job sites.
Many things that are included in the above survey are things that I have almost always done and would seem strange not to do...I recycle (admittedly,it is "the law" here.) I grew up pretty poor and worked for many years at an estate auction company, so shopping second hand is nothing new to me. Actually, it is inconceivable to buy many things like furniture new-how does anyone pay those prices?
I don't ever plan on giving up all modern conveniences or moving to the country (not that I haven't thought of it) but I don't think that is necessarily the point of trying to live more simply. Each of us can do just a few things to make life better for everyone.

Sugar and Cream

I have always loved Lily's Sugar and Cream yarn. Ever since I was a little girl, long before I learned or had a desire to learn to knit, I loved this yarn. Maybe it's the bright Kool-Aid color combinations, which always remind me of a bright sunny day. Or maybe it's just the soft, soothing texture of the cotton.
Cotton is not the most practical yarn for garments or blankets or other things you usually think of to knit. But, it is perfect for knitting practical things like dish cloths and towels. I guess if you are going to be knitting something as mundane as a dish towel you may as well use a yarn that makes you happy. I just always feel a little guilty using something so pretty to wipe the counter.

Gardening teaches you patience, the weather teaches you to move fast.

One thing you learn when you start to garden is patience. Sometimes, it is only short term patience, like planting lettuce or radish seeds. In a few weeks, voila, something to eat. Then there is the long term, like planting an apple tree and knowing that it will be several years before you get to make any pies. Or planting Asparagus, which can't be harvested for 2 to 3 years after you plant it. Or waiting for Spring, which seems like it will never come.
The weather here in the Northwest teaches you to move fast and take advantage of those few moments of sun between rain storms. Those few minutes may be the only chance you get to plant your peas or clean up those perennials you didn't get to last fall.
By taking advantage of a break in the rain today I was able to plant some peas, lettuce and spinach and I was able to sift an entire trash can full of sweet compost.

I found all of these potatoes growing at the bottom of the compost pile. I am seriously thinking that next year I will just throw some seed 'taters in the bin, instead of putting all the effort in to actually cultivating them.


So, patience grasshopper, but keep your Gore-Tex close.