Layers of Life

I'm happy to say I am writing this from my new office! No longer am I situated a few steps from the fridge..a very good thing! I can resist anything but temptation! Also, I am farther away from the scuffles of the hounds, the road noises, the phone, the washing machine...etc. I am revamping what has been (in chronological order from the time we bought the house)...the office, a little girl's garden decor bedroom, a teen boys beach shack bedroom, my Honey's studio and now...TA DA...my office!

As I take down shelves I can see layers of paint of decors past...ah, a moment to reflect...ok, I'm over it! I've uncovered the original color the room was when we moved in and the lovely fantasy garden treatment I painted. Painting over the beach shack wood plank (looking ) walls was a tad bit sad and the sign I painted (Studio B) for my Honey's studio is still in here, I'm taking it to him when I leave the room. All bits and pieces of life we have lived and family traveling through our home over the years. A bittersweet transition, indeed.


Now, I am claiming this room as my own since my Honey graciously sacrificed his studio for me to have a better place to write. Life is a lot like the layers of paint I've uncovered. It's colorful, diverse, and changes over the course of time. What works for you at one point in time might not be so satisfying or suitable at another. Life is just that LIFE, it should not be stagnant. You've seen the creepy crawlies and gunk that grows in stagnant water...that has no place in our lives! We want, need and should pursue all that is vital, healthy and life-giving. This often requires changes to be made in our environments, our relationships, our habits and ways of thinking.


I have a friend that hates change...a lot. Here's one example. Her home looks very much like it did six years ago. Everything sits in the same place, moved only for dusting. The decor has not changed at all except for a wall color change in one room and that only happened by accident. They were planning on refreshing the paint and bought the wrong shade. The new shade was not so very different but it was certainly a change. This threw my friend into a tizzy. It was inconvenient to take the paint back, so they used it anyway. To this day she isn't happy with it. Two more gallons of paint could have taken it back to the shade she had in the first place, but the effort required was not something they were willing to do, so she lives all these years later with a color that doesn't make her happy. Why? I do not understand that logic. Even when I lived in apartments, I painted them and then painted them back when I moved out. Life is in living color...it's too short and precious to spend being unhappy over something as easily fixed as a wall color! Not all things in life can be corrected that easily.

There is nothing that says, "Simple Life" about being unhappy with that around us. Now, do not misunderstand my position, I'm not saying we should all run out and redecorate our homes in the name of Simple Life. I'm saying the things around us that make life less simple, like the clutter and stuff we hold on to just because we've always held on to it, those things can change to free us from the emotional and mental stagnation around us.

With the guidelines of keeping only that which makes you smile, you love or use regularly, we can eliminate a lot of stuff! No one LOVES everything they have in their home. No one uses everything they have in cabinets, closets and boxes in the attic either. Other than seasonal clothing and holiday decor, why are we storing stuff anyway? If we have to store it, we obviously aren't using it. To add insult to injury, some people are paying to store stuff on a regular basis. Life evolves and so should our possessions.  We can't take any of them with us when we leave this earth anyway. Do we really think God cannot provide for our needs while we're still here?

The layers of life I've uncovered in the transition of this room alone are a colorful reminder that life changes and we must change with it. As we come to the end of another year, we are different than we were this time last year. My mirror certainly tells me I am! Our lives in our homes are a constant source of change. I am blessed to have a husband that rolls with the punches. We are no where near where I hope to be this time next year in our process of moving toward a more simple, peaceful, uncluttered life but we are much farther down the road than we were this time last year. It's a process to progress. 

FYI - my Honey is totally in love with the 'man space' he created for himself. It's edited down to all his necessities (bass guitar, computer, amp, keyboard, books, TV) and customized by him to fit him. He still needs book shelves and a cozy reading chair, which will come, but he's loving his space. It's much more efficient and he's a happy camper. I think if he had a fridge and microwave, he might not ever come out!
My prayer for us all in the coming year is that we keep the good parts, rid ourselves of excess and focus on living in the here and now.

Loving life at Hacienda Hill...........

Mid-Holiday Check Up

How's life treating you? Crazy busy? Stressed? Falling off the Simple Life wagon? Oh, sorry, that one is me...

I have put myself in the 'pickle jar of overload' and my teeth are on edge from the bitter taste it leaves in my mouth. It's all my fault, no one to blame but myself. Don't you just hate it when there is no one else to blame? LOL

Living the Simple Life means ridding our homes, habits and activities of the non-essentials so we have time, energy and interest in the things are most important to us. In overload mode, it often feels that everything has PRIORITY stamped all over it. We become hypersensitive to demands on our time, real and imagined. Life feels like it is moving in fast forward mode and we are not keeping pace.

I've allowed 'busyness' to overtake me. I created most of it for myself. The particulars are not important, they just sound like excuses anyway. The question is, what am I gonna do about it?

I'm going to slow down and do less even though I feel I'm not doing enough already. That false sense of inadequacy is a byproduct of overload and excess. As my good friend, Cheryl, says...I'm going to 'follow the peace.' I need balance in my life or I get wacky. No one functions well in tilt mode!

I started putting my plan in action yesterday by spending some time with my friend, Helen. That was a good start. I also chunked the PRIORITY stamp out the window. Doing a self-diagnostic reality check helped, too. I was being hard on myself in the name of 'brutally honest'. What's up with that? Trust me, it was more brutal than honest! I am painfully aware of my shortcomings and blast myself daily for the standards I do not meet. I would not treat anyone else like that but sure come down hard an myself. Going to take some diligent monitoring to cut that out.

A quick visit with another friend, Pat, brought that to my attention. I saw and heard in her what I was doing to myself. I commented that I wished I could say my kitchen was as clean and looked as good as hers and she started protesting and complaining that it was filthy and she couldn't stand it. FILTHY?! There wasn't even clutter to be seen. It looked great to me, but she couldn't see all that was done and the beauty of it. I pointed out again how nice it was and she still would not hear it. Couldn't even make eye contact with me while we talked about it. I told her if that was filthy to her, she was banned from ever coming to my house again! Egad, what would she think here??

It hit me as I drove home, that's the same way I act about what I do and accomplish. No matter how much I do while I work, I only see what I didn't do. I place more importance on emails left unread, chapters not yet edited, and a long list of 'should have done's'  than I do on the good work of the day. I never allow myself to appreciate my accomplishments for more than two seconds before I start zeroing in on all that needs my attention. This can paralyze you into inactivity! I am cheating myself and rolling in the dust when I fall off the Simple Life wagon. Life is far too short and unpredictable for that. So this is me, picking myself up, dusting myself off, and focusing my eyes, once more, on living the Simple Life on Hacienda Hill...What would your mid-holiday check up reveal? 

Small Victories Add up!

I just received an email from our electricity provider with my next light bill and I'm doing the happy dance in my office chair as I write this...it dropped another 25%....yes, that's right, 25% from the last one that was on the way down, too!

***Do not adjust your screen, all the bouncing is just me!***

I LOVE it when a plan comes together! It's the stuff "Planners" live for. Whoo-hoo!!

Hanging clothes on the line, not using dryer - CHECK
Layering clothes and blankets rather than turning on the heat - CHECK
Full-time Job as Electricity Sheriff - CHECK
Using gas cook-top instead of the electric one - CHECK
Leaving TV off reducing power consumption & noise pollution during day - CHECK
Making sure ceiling fans are turned off in empty rooms - CHECK
Utilizing Natural light over electric light - CHECK

These things add up and the light bill goes down! 

I have to say, for me, it is worth any effort and small sacrifices we make. I know everyone is not about to leave the heat off and there have been days when I KNOW my Honey was tempted to turn ours on. Add another layer of clothes and you can be toasty inside a meat locker. LOL We do not get the kind of winter weather some do, so a few days of extra padding is practical for us where it would not be up north. My hands hurt in cold weather and we've had several cold mornings lately. I type all morning long so they are hanging out there, hurting. Last night I bought a pair of gloves at WalMart for $1.50 that are thin enough on the finger tips I can still type but thick enough over most my fingers and hand to make a difference. $1.50....do you realize how much money that $1.50 will save me in the long run? That's a trade-off I can live with. I had to try on several pair to find one that would work for me, but the effort makes a difference far more valuable than the $1.50.

Thanks for listen as I rejoice in my small victories! I hope you will be encouraged to look for ways to build opportunities in your home for small victories of your own.

Three a Day Keep the Dust Bunnies Away

In my de-clutter efforts today I ran across an old friend...my Monthly To-Do-Jobs box. It's just a plastic index card box I put a label on. These are jobs you don't have to do every day or even every week but they need to be done on some sort of regular basis.

I made a list of jobs that fit into that catagory, typed them on the computer and printed them out on card stock. There were many on each page, so once cut apart each card is only 1" X 2"...they are cute little suckers!

Here's some examples: Wash down kitchen cabinet doors, Clean inside of windows across front deck, Organize Food Pantry, Clean outside of windows on backside of house, Wipe down living room walls, Dust the top of door frames.....etc.

Each job only takes a short amount of time, so I pulled 3 at a time to do. Once they were done, I put them in a sealed snack baggie which I tossed back into the box. Once all the jobs were completed & in the baggie for that whole month, I would dump them back out into the little box and start all over again the next month. It was an efficient little system. When I worked the system, the system worked. When I neglected the system, well...you know, it didn't take long for the neglect to show.

I was excited to see my little box today. I think it will help keep me on track in my simple life efforts. I am sitting here smiling remembering how handy I thought the box was when the kids still lived with us. If anyone started that "I'm bored, there's nothing to do...whine, whine" I pulled out my little box and had them pull 3 jobs. If they were still bored after doing those, they could pull 3 more. Ya know, rarely was anyone still bored!! Now, THAT's a good system!

Can We Do it? Yes, We Can!

Most routine things we need to take care of do not take as long as we like to think they do. We like to think it will take too long to validate our procrastination. I heard Joyce Meyer speak about how she got so angry once because she went into the bathroom and the toilet paper roll needed to be changed. That can be irksome. However, she was livid, justifying her anger by the fact she had a full-time housekeeper so she thought there was no reason she should ever have to change the toilet paper. In the middle of her rage, God popped in to inquire about her anger explosion. This got her attention. She decided to time how long it actually took to change out the empty roll for a new one. 15 seconds! That's how long it took, 15 seconds. She was throwing a temper fit over a task that took 15 seconds to perform. She was stepping outside God's will for her behavior over a 15 second task. Her spiritual fruit was being squeezed into juice over 15 seconds. We know there is more to that mentality than the task but that's not our topic for today.

Her story made an impact on me and I've made a point to be more aware of how long it actually takes to do things. Even when my kitchen looks like it exploded, it doesn't really take that long to get it back into shape. Earlier, I put my cold cup of coffee in the microwave for 1 minute 10 seconds to reheat. While all that was going on, I fed the tribe of cats on the front deck and still had 10 seconds to spare. I surveyed my meds divider while I waited. Tick tock, tick tock...finally the coffee was hot.

Hanging the clothes on the line takes 5-8 minutes depending on what I'm hanging. Taking them down and folding takes about the same time. Yet, it seems like doing the outdoor laundry thing would take longer. It does not. Making my bed, 8-12 seconds, depending on how restless the night.

My point is that we make life less "Simple" by our mentalities more than the tasks we must do. If we decide up front we do not have time, then we won't. We will make sure we don't. Sometimes by not even trying or starting. If we decide we will do all we can do in an allotted time slot, then we will make progress. Progress is defined by the effort, not the results. If it takes three days of assigning 15 minutes a day to accomplish a task, say cleaning out a dresser, then you're still one dresser drawer closer each day than you are if you don't do anything because you don't have time to do it all at once.

Getting order and de-cluttering our lives is a process, it takes time. We need to give ourselves permission to enjoy the process rather than beating ourselves up because we haven't done everything. Doing a piece of a task is far better than doing none of the task. Enough pieces make a whole, like a jigsaw puzzle. I find that on the days I dust the living room, I'm less likely to leave things in there at the end of the day. I do not want my efforts thwarted, so I take 2 minutes to gather up and distribute things back where they belong. One short task begets another..and so on and so one. 

As I said earlier, it is our mentalities that need shaking more than our rugs. We get locked into thinking about and looking at habits, rituals, ways of doing things that may have worked for us at one time but could be outdated and worn out for our life today. Just because we've always done something one way doesn't mean we can't look for a new, refreshing way to do it. Procrastination can bind us up when we focus on what we can't do rather than what we can accomplish. For every reason/excuse our mind says, "No way!" we need to list three reasons that say, "Oh, yes we can!" They're out there...the reasons we can...we just have to think about how to get to them rather than sitting on our "no way" bottoms - which, my Friends, is our biggest stumbling block on our way to living a more satisfying and simple life!

Day 111 - Wow!

Today is Day 111 of our journey to living a more simple life on Hacienda Hill. Times flies, doesn't it? I started writing about our adventure on August 6, 2010.

Just a quick note to say there is nothing quite as handy as a calendar with any and everything written on it for future reference! I still have calendars from a few years back. They have come in handy many times. Really.

It also contributes to living a more simple life because I know once I commit an upcoming event to the calendar, I don't have to worry or think about it again till it comes up. If it is something that needs prep work a week in advance, I log that on the calendar, too. Takes away the stress of hoping I don't forget. Every December, I sit down and transfer all important dates, birthday's etc on the calendar for the coming year.

I've tried all kind of calendar systems over the years to find what works best for me. I've set up the calendars online where you can choose the people that can see what is coming up thinking our grown kids would contribute and be more a part of each others worlds. HA! I think one daughter posted something, once, maybe. No one else contributed and, frankly, I think they found it annoying. They really didn't care to know.

When the grandkids lived here I had a giant Family Calendar. Everyone's stuff visible at a glance and separated out by person. It was handy. Don't need anything that elaborate anymore.

I tried to have separate calendars for personal family business like paying bills, etc and one for public viewing I could leave out. That was too much trouble! Sometimes I actually did forget things because I wasn't looking at the right calendar. Scratch that plan. I've tried the desk pad type calendar, but that was distracting and ugly. I don't like ugly.

I'm more a hands on kinda girl, a bit technology challenged and prefer a paper calendar I can write on as opposed to an electronic one that fits in the palm of my hand. I've learned never to say 'never' but I don't see that system attracting me any time soon. I like the simple life, don't you know.

I've simplified my system to the one calendar for bills, birthdays, Dr appointments and all. It's a tiny bit larger than a piece of notebook paper and has a spiral binder I've learned I do not want to live without. I've grown picky about my calendars because they are so vital in the day-today management of life here on Hacienda Hill. Chances are, if it's not on the calendar, it isn't going to happen! I rely on it for order and peace of mind.

You cannot live a simple life without order and peace of mind!

I cannot yet say my home, life and world are in the place I want them to be where order and peace of mind are concerned. It's a journey, takes one step at a time. I first had to change my thinking and straighten out my priorities. That part has been done. Now it is a matter of aligning my surroundings, my possessions and my habits to fit the simple life mentality. It is impossible to live the way you've always lived and have things be different than they always were. Change comes from the inside out. The outside can change the way the inside functions. It's a circle of cooperative change making life sweeter, more simple and less stressful. Here's to the next 111 days!


 
 

Here's a Kiss for You!

This is a busy time of year for everyone. You can see in their faces as they scurry about from point to point with a list in their hand of things they hope not to forget. I stopped by a friend's house to drop off a mixer she wanted to borrow and she was in a complete frenzy over making candy for the holidays. Seriously, she was moving and talking at the speed of light, dashing about like the house was on fire. I asked why...she didn't know. We sat down to visit for a bit and her breathing slowed to normal, her voice lost the manic pitch and we had the best visit we've had in years! We talked about why she felt such stress over making candy...I might point out that she already had several kinds made and was a week away from leaving on the trip to see the family she was making candy for. She's retired...no time hindrance there, no kids at home needing her time and attention...nothing apparent to cause such panic about making candy at all.

The sad part to me was that she was so stressed, she was getting no joy from making all the goodies to share with family on the trip. She used to love holiday baking. What happened? She'd already hired me to bake her pies and cake to help her out. She wanted to make cookies to take, too. Yesterday, she mixed all the various cookie doughs, today she bakes those. She has 5 more days before they leave on the trip. Why the panic?

Listening to her talk, I discovered she was trying to make sure she did all her usual stuff AND the things her mother used to make for the gatherings. A nephew asked last year where a certain candy was that he wanted...her mother used to make that candy but she's with Jesus now. My friend felt the self-imposed pressure of filling her mother's shoes. She didn't say all that, I just put the pieces together from her conversation. She was driving herself to distraction to carry on a family tradition no one asked her carry.

I'm all for traditions, I tried to give my kids family traditions to look back on. I made a special gingerbread, timed to be in the oven filling the house with its aroma while the kids were finding what Santa brought. What could smell better? Then, after all the gifts were opened, we would sit down to a Christmas breakfast of quiche, gingerbread and sparkling white grape juice in wine glasses. A kid friendly bubbly for the special occasion. Now, one daughter makes the Christmas Morning Gingerbread I made, tho not early Christmas morning but they have it Christmas day and the other daughter makes quiche for her family. They've tweaked my traditions to become their own. 

I guess the key is finding what works for you without making you nuts! I enjoy cooking, so listening to my kids laugh and play as I made our Christmas breakfast was a joy to me. I didn't spend all my time in the kitchen, I hung out with the kids while things were in the oven, so I didn't have the pressure or mentality of slaving away while everyone else had fun. Memories of those days still warm my heart and the kid's laughter still rings in my hears. My friend will not look back on this holiday baking and candy making with joy, she'll remember the stress, that is NOT a good memory. She will have one funny memory to recall. In her 'hurry, hurry' mode she knocked over a full open bottle of peppermint extract and did not realize it till later. She called me laughing to say her entire house smelled like a giant peppermint stick! 

In our quest to live a more simple life, Friends, we need to declutter all the things that stress us and steal our joy. NO, that does not mean you declutter your spouse and kids...just the busy work that isn't going to be remembered later as joyful. A happy and relaxed parent/spouse/companion is a far better gift to your family than a plate of anything you might slave over! KISS, KISS...Keep It Simple, Silly! 

Blustery Fall Day

What a glorious Fall day! Just a note to say I am still enamored with hanging clothes on the line instead of using the dryer. This day is quite "blustery" to quote Winnie the Pooh making it perfect for hanging sheets and big towels. There is enough wind to snap the sheets as they blow. I thought the thrill might waiver once the new had worn off of my simple life habit of getting back to basics by hanging the clothes out, but it has not! I can also say with great delight, my light bills have dropped considerably!! Yes, the air rarely comes on anymore but not running that dryer makes a difference that thrills me.

PRO's:  Less noise pollution, less energy used, no more bending over to get the clothes. I get more fresh air. The clothes get folded or hung as they come off the line. The hounds love having me outside with them. Fresh feel of the things dried outside.

CON's:  Occasionally something needs to be ironed. Rainy days (what few we have) hamper laundry days. Failure to plan ahead can bring inconvenient consequences.

All in all, this leg of the journey to living a simple life has been rewarding. It really is no more trouble and the benefits far outweigh any inconveniences. I highly recommend it!!

Vacation Hide Away at Home

Came home last night from a wonderful and relaxing trip to Red River, New Mexico, with my friend, Tonie. The weather could not have been better, cold nights, delightful days! Good friends, good food, gorgeous scenery...what more could you ask for?

Sleeping in my own bed last night was pleasant. I especially enjoyed cooking in my kitchen this morning. I grumble from time to time about being in 'Year 4' of the kitchen remodel but there is nothing like sipping good coffee from your favorite cup on a quiet morning after being away for a few days to make you appreciate home...your home.

Last August, our friends, Laura & David, came to town and spent the night with us. As Laura walked into the living/family/den/great room (call it what you like) she commented that it felt like being in a cabin with the wood floors and the wide open (35' X 18') space. It is most certainly a multi-tasking room - our entertaining area, the TV room, my office, the kitchen, and our dining area. She had no way of knowing this, of course, but my grand decor scheme has always been to have our home feel like a permanent vacation home. I guess I'm getting close, in spite of the unfinished kitchen and unfinished floors, if she felt like she was in a cabin. It's not rustic at all but the relaxed ambiance is there. The guest room has a fantasy, exotic feel that contributes to the feel of a vacation get away. I want my guest o walk in and immediately feel they could take their shoes off, prop their feet on the coffee table and kick back to relax. Dinner and/or breakfast on the deck overlooking the hill country sets the tone, too. Our own mini Bed & Breakfast...

It's a nice feeling to come back from a lovely & comfy house in the mountains and still feel like you're in a vacation home. We are blessed. Tomorrow I go back to work and I have a large project in front of me. But at the end of my work day I can turn off the computer, walk a few steps over to our beautiful & relaxing sectional, put my feet up on the coffee table while viewing the distant hills out the front door and windows, take some deep breaths and get my mind into vacation home mode for the evening. The hounds will clamor for attention and jockey for position to snuggle with me and my Honey, our evening ritual complete. A simple life on Hacienda Hill is a good life, it's our life and I'm thankful for it. It's tea time, so I'm off to put the kettle on. Relish the simple things in life, Friends, it is these that make life sweet.  

Pack a Bag, We're Taking a Trip!

I haven't mentioned decluttering lately...two reasons...(1) I haven't been decluttering myself (2) everyone I talk to is consumed with how busy they are trying to keep up with the pace of their lives.
Both reasons - sad commentaries. If life is a journey, we are driving down the road at such a fast speed we are not noticing all we are missing along the way. Once upon a time, people used to take long relaxing drives for the fun of it. No one has time, gas money or the inclination to deal with the highways and back-roads anymore. I miss leisurely drives.

So, Friends, let's pack an overnight bag and hit the road to ridding ourselves of the excess and clutter of our lives. Pack light...that's our motto! Live light...our goal.

So as not to be weighted down by a cumbersome stack of luggage (possessions) to drag around, we'll use our trip as an analogy for our decluttering.

The days of make-up cases are far behind us, let's leave it there.  
I have decluttered my make-up and toiletries to the barest of necessities and love it! I was a 'keeper' of all things make-up no matter how little was left. If I could shake a can and hear anything, I kept it. If it required a Q-tip to dig out the last of the eye shadow, I kept it. No more, Friends! I threw away everything (most older than dirt anyway) but the 1 bottle of foundation I use, 1 tube of mascara, 1 make-up brush, 1 blusher, 1 eyeliner, 1 loose powder. 1 eye shadow (I rarely use anymore anyway, it's on the endangered list) and a small mirror. All these go into my make-up bag, where they live, no longer taking space in drawers and/or counters and ready to hop into an overnight bag when I leave town. I LOVE IT! Same for mousse, hairspray, etc. I have 1 of anything I consider a necessity and if I don't use it regularly, it must not be a necessity.


Start with a clean slate.
Travelers start with an empty suitcase, and select each item that goes into it. Take a similar approach when decluttering: empty the entire contents of the drawer, closet, or room you’re working on. Then carefully consider each item, and decide whether to return it to the space. Choose what to keep, rather than what to toss. Here's my confession...I tried this with the first of my many junk drawers in the kitchen. Emptying out the drawer onto the island was ok, sorting and inventorying all that cr..er, stuff was ok. Deciding what to keep was ok but allowing myself to throw away all the other stuff...EKK! I left it on the island for days because I got crazy & could not make my arm wipe it off into the trash can! There, I've said it! My confession!

Here's a partial inventory list: 5 allen wrenches (really?), 2 compasses kids use in math, 1 protractor, a cup full of misc bolts and screws, a baggie full of batteries (alive or dead, I don't know), several eyeglass cleaner wipes, candles of various size, 1 pair of adult & 3 kid size scissors, 2 screwdrivers, packets of peppers from Pizza Hut, it goes on and on....you get the picture! Once I did push all that cr..er, stuff into the trash, I felt SOOO much better! This brings us to the next point I want to make.

Question every item. In a small carry-on, every item must pull its weight. Demand the same of your household possessions: have a conversation with your stuff, and ask what value it adds to your life. If the answer is “not much,” get it out of the house. I know, I know, easier said than done but worth it when it's over.

Live on the edge. The light traveler addresses her needs as they arise; if she runs out of deordorant in Spain, she simply buys some more. Adopt a similar philosophy at home: instead of stockpiling stuff or holding on to “just in cases,” acquire things on an as-needed basis. This is how I now approach my make-up, toiletries, pantry staples, linens, most everything. An extra set of sheets is fine, but when it takes a closet or chest to contain them, chances are you've got too many. I realized we have 5 comforters, 1 bedspread, 2 quilts and 1 duvet cover...we only have 2 beds. I had several sets of twin size girly sheets and no twin size bed or girls, I gave those away to someone that could use them...the sheets, not the girl. Same with full size linens. Do we REALLY need 6 packs of toilet paper? Would that fit into a sleeper car on a train trip on the Orient Express across Europe? Pack light, live light!

Think versatility. To save space, light packers favor items that do double- or triple-duty (like clothes that can be dressed up or down, and layered for different climates). Use the same principle in your home: choose versatile or multi-functional items (like a sleeper sofa, or all-purpose saute pan) over single-task ones. Reducing my knife stash has worked beautifully! I now have 2 multi-purpose knives, including the ceramic one I tried to declutter my thumb with, and 6 steak knives.

I had a revelation a while back. I kept all that extra stuff thinking we'd need it when we had guest, family celebrations, etc. Well, fact of the matter is, our homes should be geared for how we live today, not how we would live if someone graced us with their company. If we added up the number of days we actually had guest in our homes, subtracted it from 365 X # years we've held on to the extra stuff, we would be amazed at how much time and space we allot to things we rarely use. Sure, it may be handy on those few days but it adds little-no value to our day-to-day life. We surround ourselves with stuff we rarely see or need and pay to store it in environmentally controlled homes. It's a lie you know, the saying "the one that dies with the most toys wins." I'd rather die on the road of life with my small overnight bag than be buried by mountains of stuff that have little meaning to me anymore. I want to live life, not dust it. 

Falling Leaves and Quality Time

I cannot believe October is almost gone! I have had my head down as I worked to finish the book I was working on and when I looked up, October was almost gone! I love October... and November and December, I do not want to miss all of them as I did October. Please, friends, if you happen to notice I am missing in action, give me a buzz and ask what is going on!

Part of living the Simple Life is making more room and time for the things you love. Yes, I love writing the books but it is also my work, my job, my labor...doesn't really count only as doing what I love. It is a blessing that I am able to DO what I love for a living but it is still work and I tend to get hyper-focused sometimes. Irony is that other times I can't focus at all..LOL Where's that balance I'm always talking about when I need it, huh?

I started writing a new book today; I'm excited, I'm pumped, I'm rarin' to go. I also want to make sure I do not repeat the same mistakes and miss the whole fall season. In whatever you daily, do it well and with a happy heart but make sure to leave time and energy for the things and people you love. When we leave this earth let it not be with regret for all we missed doing: for kisses not given, for the "I love you" not said, for walks not taken. Our accomplishments are not so much measured by quantity but quality. Take time to live a more simple life of quality. We'll all be blessed for it.

Woman, Know Thy Self!

Our kids came for a family gathering this past weekend. I thoroughly enjoyed myself. It had been some time since most of them had been in our home and we were discussing some of the changes we have made in our never-ending remodel/redecorating quest. One of the daughters-in-love commented that she didn't have the 'decorator gene' and wouldn't know where to start. I told her she just needed to know herself, everything she needed to know was inside her. Asking a couple of probing questions, we discovered she liked the decor from the 60's & 70's. Ah ha! Now we know she likes Retro! That's a great first step. Her face literally lit up when she said that. Sitting across the room, my son, her husband, looked  skeptical. I informed my beloved son that the sooner he acknowledges the inside of the home is his wife's domain, the happier all would be. My Honey knows this and has come to trust my taste and judgment. My son would be well served to support and nurture this in his wife.

My Honey brought up that I liked to watch decorating shows and read design magazines. This is true, a wealth of technical information and inspiration can be gleaned from both, but the bottom line is in knowing what it is that brings out the inner you. Our homes need to reflect our personalities, our tastes and be a safe haven we can retreat within for comfort and peace. I learned I cannot be 'settled' in a room that does not feel right to me. In spite of my eclectic, Bohemian-esque style and love affair with intense color, when broken down, my decor is steeped in traditional style. That's not the first impression you get when you look around the room but traditional elements are everywhere when you dissect the room. I have never been one to follow fads and current trends. In fact, I avoid them on purpose, always have. I think a guest in our home should be able to see more of who I am, not what someone in a magazine or TV show tells us we need to have to be "in style" this season. I do not want my rooms filled with things that everyone up and down the block can run to the local big box store to make their rooms look just like mine, either. We are individuals, our homes should be, too.

This does not mean we cannot appreciate a style or design choices others make. I love mid-century design and decor, though it is not a part of my home. Over the years light wood tones have come and gone, I admire them in other people's homes, I've considered incorporating them in mine...I never do. I am emotionally drawn to warm wood tones, red oak, mahogany, etc. Bottom-line, I go with those, they touch a place in my soul that says "home". I'm not into matchy-matchy furniture either. If you love something, really love a piece, it will fit in some where if your home is reflecting you.

Our entire kitchen remodel was inspired by an antique oak breakfront I bought shortly after we were married. The piece sits in our family room, which is open to the kitchen, with a flat screen TV on it. Not, perhaps, how one might first think to use that antique, but it is the inspiration for the whole area. My kitchen has many brushed nickel elements juxtaposition against the red oak cabinets. There is a cool toned blue-gray along with the warm red-orange of the cabinets, antique piece and the wall color below the chair rail and on the accent wall. Our floors are a terracotta color, and it might surprise you to know it is considered the neutral in the room. Sound odd to you? Perhaps, but thinking about it, analyzing the room, we find blue and orange are opposites on the color wheel. They are complementary colors, and will always look good together. The various (analogous colors, side by side, on the color wheel) shades of red-orange found in the aged oak blend the warm colors of the lower walls, accent wall and floor. It is the balance of the cool and warm in the room that keep either from being overbearing. Balance plays a large part whether or not a room feels right. Balance is vital in my traditional look, though my color choices are not traditional at first glance. This may sound complicated but it is not. A look at a color wheel can help make daunting choices simple. Knowing the colors that 'feel' right to you is the first step.

When my sons were infants, I loved Oriental decor, not the stereotypical red and black combo of Chinese restaurants, but the blue and whites. Today, 30 years later, our master bedroom has an Oriental bent. The blue and whites have been replaced with shades of sage green, gold, silver, and accented with small touches of red. It feels elegant, even though the room is not complete. Why is it the bedroom is the last to be decorated? Or is it just me? The point I am trying to make is that the things you love, when they are a part of you, do not go in & out of style. My words to my daughter-in-love about knowing who you are inside are the best decorating tips anyone can give you. How can your home not feel like a retreat from chaos when it reflects you? Your inner sanctuary determines your outer sanctuary when you are true to yourself. Woman, know thy self! Welcome home.   

Help! I've Found the Enemy and It's Me!

I have a confession to make...I am sabotaging myself today in my efforts to live a simple life! Here is how this came to be: our kids, some of them anyway, are coming out tomorrow for lunch. I invited them. I am excited they are coming. The old "pre-simple life me" would have gone to great lengths to prepare a large meal because... well, I'm a cook and that's what I do. Due to my resolve for that simple life, I decided to make a simple meal, no fuss, no muss. I'd rather spend the little time with my family visiting...not cooking, serving, cleaning, etc. "Simple it is!" says I. Crispy tacos, Spanish rice and Borracho Beans for lunch with Key Lime pie for dessert....yummy and SOOOO simple.

Old habits are hard to break, OCD decidedly one of them, Perfectionism another...admittedly, I spent a stupid amount of time in finding the perfect bell pepper - one bell pepper - for the simple Spanish rice I am making. It seems my perfectionism raises its ugly head most often in the produce department...don't me why. Anyway, perfect in size, color, etc bell pepper located and purchased! This morning, as I am preparing the food for tomorrow, I am taking my own sweet, stress-free time and enjoying the process....at least, I was until I could not locate my bell pepper when I needed to add it to the rice. At this point in time, I have searched and researched my fridge, emptied the grocery bags of 'paper stuff', cups, etc, checked the pantry because one cannot be too careful in one's dotage and even called my Honey at work to see if I might have left it in the trunk when I got home from the grocery. I am a mess and have no one to blame but myself. I continued to cook the rice because I was too far into the process to stop. It's ok, only ok...needs a stinkin' bell pepper!

Let me say it is not an easy transition to move to a simple life when one goes about making life harder than it has to be. Did I mention I started slow roasting 10 pounds of meat at 5:30am (today) for tacos tomorrow? **SIGH**

It's a Matter of Time

One of things I least like about myself is that I have trouble finishing a task completely. For example, we loaded the car with some things in the dark of early morn to take to the donation center. That is, in light of our quest to rid ourselves of excess, a very good thing. The not so good part is that the stuff has been sitting around since July. It feels wonderful to see space, just empty space where the stash had been. Why, of why, I ask myself, didn't we make that happen sooner?! It's not like we didn't see the cr...er, stuff, every day! It was taking up space and making the living room less attractive since July. Yet, we did nothing, other than talk about getting rid of it, for months. Does this make sense to anyone?

It occurs to me that I run out of steam and enthusiasm for whatever task I am working on just short of the finish line. This is a mindset I want to eliminate. To successfully eliminate this bad habit, I must process and understand why I do that. Any suggestions? Any one have a thought to contribute?

I find I work better with a deadline. If I have 2 hours, it takes 2 hours. If I have 30 minutes, it takes 30 minutes. I read in one lesson of a workshop I am taking, that a task should take no more than 10, 20, or 30 minutes. It said that if it takes more than 30 minutes, it is a project rather than task. By breaking tasks down to small slivers of time (10, 20, 30) they are not as daunting as thinking you have a huge project before you. When I actually had regular routines, it reinforced that we can do anything for 15 minutes. A timer was vital to stay within the 15 minutes because it took away the urge to keep looking at the clock to see how much time was left! You stop when the timer went off. Easy enough.

So, I'm working toward establishing a new way of thinking that works with my writing schedule, a major priority, rather than beating myself up for not accomplishing what I 'think' I should (thus stealing my peace) when I am writing. My homework is setting a time limit on tasks and leaving projects for days when writing is not on the agenda. My goal is live a simple life that works, for us, rather than having tired, old mindsets dictate life to me.

Write back and share what you find works for you!

Chill Out and Live

Hallelujah, cool weather is upon us! Being an allergy-ridden sort, I deal with the irritating condition all year long but this time of year when you can draw back the drapes and open the windows, I do it in spite of the hoovering allergens floating around waiting to get me. Nothing inspires and excites me like a chilly morning. We left the windows open overnight, so it was delightfully nippy. My energy level soars on these morning and I want to dance and frolic about. However, I have a deadline for finishing the book I'm working on, so all chilly morning frolicking must wait. My best brain time is early mornings.

So, you may be asking, what does any of this have to do with living a simple life? It is, I believe, a core element of simple living. It is conservation at its best. As I mentioned, my best brain time is early mornings. Writing requires a lot from a brain, making it wise to use my best brain time for that purpose. I would be cheating my work, myself and my readers if I committed words to paper (or computer screen) when I was lagging mentally. The creative process excites and inspires me, though there is no getting around the fact that I am often left semi-brain dead after a long writing session.

Fortunately for me, little brain power is required of me to wash and hang out a load of laundry. Same with cleaning the kitchen, or dusting and vacuuming (dang allergens, again). These are all necessary and important tasks, but they do not drain me mentally as does the writing. Using wisdom, we relieve unnecessary stress where we can. It is wise to save the best brain time for that which requires the most brain power. Living a simple life means we control our environment rather than it controlling and dictating to us.

I have been guilty of adding stress where it was not necessary by including tasks on my To-Do lists that should not have hit my priority radar. By adjusting my attitude and mindset, I am learning to objectively look at the "Big Picture" and see if the things I'm stressing over really make a difference or not. If they do not, I drop them like a hot potato. This has not been an easy transition for a detail person, let me assure you. However, I find I am enjoying life more now that I have determined to live a simple life.

For example, I've spoken often of our ongoing state of semi-construction in our home. For years now I have avoided having guest over because I wanted things to be finished first. All I've accomplished with that thinking is cheating myself out of the pleasure of having friends over. My real friends do not care if my house is ever finished. They are not coming over to inspect or critique our home, they are coming over for friendship and fellowship. I made the choices that caused me to lose out on entertaining, to fret over things not done instead of simply enjoying life in the here and now. How goofy is that? No more, People! I have determined to live life each day to its fullest regardless of circumstances and to remove all the self-imposed restrictions that hindered that goal.

Today, look for one attitude or restriction you've put on your life that hinders your moving forward with living a simple life. As for me and my house, we're going to live a rewarding, enriched simple life on Hacienda Hill. Morning, World, here we come!  

Going to the Dogs

Can one live a simple life if one is not given to making the occasional walk rather than drive to the mailboxes? I think not! Thankfully, cooler weather is making its way to south Texas and walking can become a consideration once more. Assuming you stick to early morning, at least for now. I made a trek to the mailboxes myself a bit ago. I can hear the cardio doc applauding in my head...can you hear it?

There is not a lot going on in our village this time of day. People are working, kids are schooling...not much to see but a plethora of dogs. We are, by all visible and auditory evidence, a village of dog lovers. In our home alone we are out numbered two to one.

I avoided any hullabaloo from my own canines by exiting out the front door. This is my writing time of day so they are sequestered in their respective doggy yard and/or puppy daycare for the duration. I made a clean get-away. Of course, half way down the driveway, our neighbor's penned canines started alerting their cronies I was on the move. And so it began...

Though we reside in the country, it is still a country neighborhood, and the 1/2 mile trek to the mailboxes passes yards and fences of many a neighboring dog; all of which were compelled to extol their (assumed) joy at my passing by. My first sighting of a live person was almost at the top of the hill to the main road (huff, puff) and he was kind enough to call his rather large and loud canine friend to his side as I passed by their open gate. We are not supposed to have free roaming animals in the village but try telling that to the dogs, they do not care. We waved a cheery 'hello', mine full of gratitude, his in acknowledgment.  

Finally at the mailboxes, I deposited my envelop, my mission complete. We have a friendly man in the village that lives across from the mailboxes and he greeted me as he waited for his 'bus' that takes him to the Senior Center for his daily visits. He's a little 'slow' but always waves, you have to love that. The mailbox corral was being thoroughly investigated by a teen-aged pup that looked like a chocolate lab mix with beautiful green eyes. He was eager to make my acquaintance and sniffed me accordingly. I was found suitable, in spite of the lingering smell of our dogs...or maybe because of the lingering smell of our dogs...and the pup proceeded to walk me home. In spite of my many efforts to shoo him away, he would not be deterred. At one point along the road, he wandered in an open gate and I hoped he would be intrigued long enough for me to get out of sight and mind but, as soon as I thought I had made my escape, he came galloping up behind me.

We were approaching the driveway of my friend, Mina; I hoped she was home, so I could duck into her house for a bit, long enough for a some girl talk and for the pup to forget all about me. Alas, she was not home. Admittedly, although I do not believe in 'drop-in' company, I was hoping to rest at her house because ...well, her house was closer than mine!

Additional efforts to shoo away the pup proved just as fruitless as the first and he rankled the vocal chords of every dog between the mailboxes and my driveway. I knew he would be most unwelcome by our hounds and they picked up on him without even seeing him. Thus began the mournful howl that inspired my term of endearment, 'the hounds', in the first place.

Curiously enough, it was the fearful dashing of kittens that scared him as he approached the steps to our front deck. These are the progeny of the feral cat that graces us with her presence...as long as we do not try to get too close. It amused me that this obviously delightful and enthusiastic pup was deterred, not by any of the barking or shooing, by two little kittens running as if their tails were on fire. So much for loyalty!

Mind Over Matter

My Honey often quotes one of his spiritual fathers saying, "It is easier to build a multi-million dollar building than to change one mind." And if you've ever tried to change the mind of a two year old, you know there is truth in that!

Our goal of living a simple life on Hacienda Hill has required a series of mind changing paradigms. You cannot live as you always lived, doing what you have always done and expect different results. I do believe that is also, one of the definitions of insanity. Regardless, we have made many a mind changing turns in our journey, some much more difficult than others but all for the best.  

The other day, while taking laundry off the line (one change for the better) my Honey said, "I STILL have too many clothes!" (Major change for the better) This man was a self-confessed clothes horse. After all these years together and multiple efforts on my part to pare down his excessive stash of clothing, he continued to require 8/10ths of our master closet to accommodate his clothing...and shoes...alone. What is wrong with this picture?!

He was supportive of our goal to live a more simple, greener lifestyle where less is more and encouraged me every step of the way. The day I tackled our closet was a day of reckoning for him. Okay, let me clarify that it took far more than A day to tackle our closet....days, intense days, many days, days of sweaty labor...you get the picture. We had added another shelf/rod down the longer wall of the closet years ago for his things. This meant he had that long wall rod, the end wall which had a double row of rods and over half of the original long wall rod. We had two hanging shoes racks, one almost to the floor (his) and a short one (mine) and a built-in shoe & storage shelf....most of which he had more of his shoes and/or folded clothes on. I might mention at this point hat he was constantly encroaching in on my little hanging shoe rack with his big old clodhoppers. In our chest of drawers, I had two small and one medium sized drawer. All the rest were his...the big drawers. The drawers on a beautiful cabinet I brought into the marriage were stuffed with his things as well. We will not talk about things piled about...mostly because we were both guilty of that and I AM talking about his clothes today...hehehe.

After a few days of just pulling things out of the closet, I tackled the task of deciding what went back in and where. I first culled the clothes I know I do not, will not or cannot wear. Then I culled the clothes I know he does not, will not or cannot wear. That was a much bigger task. Next, I determined where things would go back in the closet, that brought the decision NOT to use the shelf & rod we added in the first place. Without it, it once more became a walk-in closet. With it, no walking-in to be had!

I designated the short wall with double rods as the main clothes area. I assigned him 3/4 of it and I took the last 1/4. This was a shock to his system. The original long wall holds both hanging shoe racks, my dresses...all three of them remaining....with room for the chest of drawers to fit nicely under the rest of the rod. Viola! It was lovely!

I hung all his long sleeve shirts together in 1/4 the space, the short sleeve together in 1/4 the space and his pants on another 1/4. It was a beautiful sight. The rule for us now is that if it doesn't fit in the allocated space, it must go. He did, early on in this mind changing process, try to 'absorb' some of my 1/4 space for his overflow. His argument was that I wasn't using all of it....my prerogative, I insisted...and he had to weed out to fit in! It was painful at first but he got into the swing of of it and realized it wasn't so bad after all! He chose what stayed as long as it fit in it's appropriate space.

Now, he loves it! He has not missed the clothes that were culled and has, on his own I might add, filled two large trash bags of clothes to donate.Now you know why his proclamation of still having too many clothes was such a big deal. We estimated how many things he needed for work, how many 'good' shirts, etc, and shed everything else. We have a continuous bag of 'Things to Take Away' and add to it as we go.

We still have to work our way through the chest of drawers and the shelf in the closet but the radical changes required a little adjustment time, so I have put off all that for now. I make regular checks on the closet to make sure it is staying neat and tidy with things in their places. The top of the chest was zoned 'stuff free' and remains so. That, in and of itself is a miracle! Life at Hacienda Hill is getting more simple and green all the time and we love it. Room by room, drawer by drawer we are freeing ourselves of the that which bogs us down.

The smell of clothes dried on the line is fresh and renewing. The act of hanging them is relaxing to me and my Honey helps me bring them in. We reap the benefits of seeking that simple life every day and look forward to each step of the journey. 

What You Need to Know about What You Want

I am a huge fan of down-sizing and 'living smaller'. In fact, I have drawn up a concept house design that I hope to build one day and create a whole neighborhood for those that choose to live smaller. Bring back the day when neighbors were known and life was shared, a simpler time when walking down the sidewalk was a sensory experience because you could smell dinner cooking in your neighbor's house. Quaint little houses that hug their occupants in cozy comfort rather than multiple rooms laying empty and life-less most of the time. That's the idea behind my concept houses for those ready to embrace living smaller, adults - whose children are grown and gone - living in an old fashioned neighborhood in independent and private space of their own.

My Honey and I have 1321 square feet in our home, not large by most standards but it is larger than we really need for the two of us. Notice I used the word 'need' as opposed to 'want'. Maybe you want a larger house, that's your prerogative. My goal is to continue to down-size until we find the perfect space for us.

However, for me, living a simple and smaller life means smaller square footage, not less quality of life. It also means smaller volume of possessions to have to house, so less square footage is required. Less footage means less space to heat and cool. Less floor space to mop, less products required to keep clean. Less stress and money to maintain. When the excess and extraneous is gone there is need only to house the important and cherished. I like the way that sounds! My concept houses are designed for that lifestyle. 

I research and read about people already living this lifestyle to learn what they do, what works or doesn't work for them, what they would change to make things better. Almost every one of them report a better quality of life when there is less quantity of stuff and space to maintain. Their discover more free time to devote to friends and family, more energy for the things they want to do rather than every spare moment used to 'keep house and yard work ' caught up. The common element each and every one has mentioned is taking these steps after coming to terms with 'need' over 'want'. A change in their way of thinking and prioritizing brought them all to the same conclusion.....living smaller really allows them to experience 'life' in their lives. I like the way that sounds, too!

So, Friends, I will keep you posted on the things we discover and change to bring more quality of life to our home on Hacienda Hill.

Here's the Key

Yesterday I completed a project I have long wanted done, having anticipated the rewards of said completed project. Our home is chocked full of unfinished projects. Typically, I am willing to wait on completion if it means I can get it done the way I really want without having to settle for less than the desired end result. I put a lot of thought and planning into projects so that makes the waiting more palatable.

For me, it is genuine pleasure and satisfaction to see something completed. I have not stopped smiling all day because of the joy I feel over the simple task completion. Maybe that's the key...joy in the simple things like a finished project.

The project in question is the drapes in our living room. I planned, shopped to find and purchase the fabrics two years ago to achieve the look I wanted. A nasty hand injury and resulting surgeries impeded my progress for nearly a year spent in casts or braces. Not to be completely shot out of the water, I asked a friend over to help me cut the fabric when I was still in a cast. Slowly over time, I pieced the panels together. Then, all the sewing last month. Yesterday, I recovered the cornice boards and my Honey hung them back up for me when he got home. I could not have been more thrilled.

There is a lot of satisfaction in planning and completing something you created. It would have been a lot easier to buy new curtains and that certainly would not have taken two years either. For me, creating something beautiful for my home and family with my own hands says, "I love you." That's how I really feel when I make things comfortable, beautiful or cook a good healthy meal. I think that is also part of living the simple life. I can look around our home and see things and projects we have done ourselves. They are not perfect, don't claim to be but it is the love and sweat we put into it that makes it uniquely ours. It is surrounding ourselves with tangible, functional products birthed of our love for one another and our home. It is what makes living the simple life on Hacienda Hill worth coming home to. It is definitely worth the effort....and the wait. 

Day 47 - We See Not, Therefore We Want Not

As part of de-cluttering our lives we need to self-monitor the things we allow to entice and tease us via our email In-box. As a blogger, I read other people's blogs and subscribe to them if I find they interest me. Same goes for 'newsletters' from different entities. I get one from HGTV, I had a couple of gardening newsletters, I get a few from different ministries, etc.

We all get these from time to time but it can be a time thief and trickster to entice if we are not careful. I say this because I just deleted an email and 'unsubscribed' from a business which  I previously made some purchases. Now, I get a catalog in the mail and daily emails from them. I peruse the catalog and "oohhh and ahhh" over all the things that tickle my eyes. The 'crafter' in me sees things I like and starts to ponder ways to duplicate it in a more economical way because I have neither the expendable cash nor the inclination to pay the big bucks for them. The email I deleted informed me I could get free shipping if I ordered over $125 worth of stuff today! That's what I need...more stuff!! NOT!

So, from time to time, we need to de-clutter 'time-wasters and spend-enticers' from our In-box. If you receive a regular email from a business or newsletter (we are NOT talking about the emails you get from me - LOL) and you know you are not going to read it because there are 15 of them still unread, then unsubscribe from it. It only takes a click of the mouse and you no longer have to feel guilty about saying to yourself yet again...I'll read that later. No you won't, you know you won't. You intend to but you won't.

I've tried all the organizational tricks of creating folders to move them to for future reading and then I either don't move them or they go gather cobwebs in that folder. I've learned the simplicity and gratification of unsubscribing. I do have folders for the blogs I read that I love, have learned from and want to reference later. I use those regularly but that number is few. The rest go away. So does the guilt of seeing them unread as if they were taunting me. I do not need that and neither do you. Remember, we are on a quest to simply our lives and control our environment rather than have it control us. Chances are, if we do not have the time or desire to read something now, we will not have the time or desire to read it later either.

Simple Life is all about prioritizing that which has or adds value to our life and shedding everything else. We can more fully appreciate what we have when we are not always being tempted by those entering our private world via our in-box to buy more, spend more. We see not, therefore we want not...we can only be content when we refuse to let 'stuff' be important. There will always be more stuff out there.....let it stay there. 

Simple Life > Material Life

For those of us that have been out of school a along time, the title line reads: Simple Life (> greater than) Material Life. I've said it before but it bears repeating, living a simple life does not mean you are forced into an austere lifestyle with little to no luxuries or comforts; it means you pare away the things around you that drain your energy while generating no joy or pleasure in your life. Anything that takes up space and energy without functioning in your day-to-day world or putting a smile on your face and a song in your heart is excess. That's the stuff you purge, not that which fills your life richly.

For the entire 8 1/2 years we have lived in this place, we have groaned about not having enough storage. We do not have a garage, so no extra storage to be had there. We basically have been reduced to two closets, a partial closet and the 5' X 5' area in the master bath taken up with a huge corner tub no one uses. It takes too much water to fill and I'm tired of the bath before that happens anyway! I use it for storage...how sad. Oh, there is that leaky old storage building in the back yard but you can't put anything you really want to keep out there....nature has claimed squatter's rights. So, as you can see, storage is a real issue for us.

Then it hit me, if we need to 'store' something are we really using it? I know Christmas decorations need somewhere to go but how many of us have boxes of 'stuff', drawers that can't hold another rubber band or closets we stand in front of dreading to open the door? Case in point....we have three junk drawers in the kitchen....why? Because we obviously have too much junk! I have a fair idea what is contained within each drawer but three?? Really?? The name alone, JUNK DRAWER, should be an indicator of how important that stuff is...or isn't, as the case may be. I cannot think of one thing in either of those three drawers that make me smile. Oh, the array of miscellaneous screws and nuts has come in handy from time to time but they do not need to live in the kitchen. I do use rubber bands when I'm harvesting herbs but I don't need three drawers for those. I had a large box of artificial flowers taking up space in the master closet. To say it was the only closet big enough to hold the box should have been an indicator of how much space was being sucked up by artificial flowers I did not use! I tossed it a few years ago but it makes my point. We tend to hang on to things that suck energy and space from our lives and offer nothing in return, no joy, no song in the heart...

On my desk sits a beautiful cobalt blue goblet my Honey bought one anniversary several years ago. I love the dark blue goblets and they do make me smile. I use one everyday from which to drink water. I am NOT a good water drinker. I do not get thirsty often so I do not think about it. I know I need to drink water so I started using the blue goblets as my official water glass. Our other glasses are clear glass and when filled with clear water....nothing to grab my attention. The cobalt blue, however, catches my eye, I smile, I drink.

Our home is bathed in color, it's everywhere because color, to me, is life. My heart is happy when surrounded with color. Even in our colorful home, stuff can distract and overwhelm to the point of not being able to appreciate the colors I love so much in the first place. I think each of need a space to call our own, a refuge to which we shut the door to the world and find comfort, solace and peace. This place should be our homes! As the slow process of eliminating, paring down and carving out a home of harmony and peace evolves, we get one step closer with each purposed decision to get rid of the things we do not love or use enough to take up space or energy in our soon to be oasis of tranquility. Each load to Goodwill or an item donated to someone that actually needs it is a step toward a simple life filled with only the truly functional and loved items with which we choose to share our space. I'm going to hold myself accountable to not allowing anything less to enter in our sanctuary. I'll toast to that...with my lovely blue goblet and a smile on my face!

Day 43 - **SIGH**

Sometimes in my quest for the Simple Life I feel I am making leaps and bounds....not so today. It feels more like two steps forward and three steps back. If you recall, a few days ago I was excited about my new found realization about breakfast with Nina, the puppy. I made the adjustments needed to accomodate her need to see me as she eats and made it work for me in a positive way. That was a good thing.

Then last night I had to go out and by pet food. We have four indoor dogs and nine outside feral cats (three adults and six food-eating sized kittens, none of which we can touch)...that's a lot of pet food! I called my Honey while I was at the store to see if we needed more doggy treats. We have them trained to go to bed (their kennels) at 8pm and we give each a treat when they happily rush to the bed. Here's the thing....the four dogs each get a different treat based on their size, age and preference. Chelsie gets the large, hard doggie cookies. She loves them, the little ones struggle with those. Pan Dulce gets the meat flavored little bone-shaped biscuits. Nikos prefers the marrow-filled treats and the baby, Nina gets the softer chicken flavored strips we use in training. Four different treat varieties. Then there is the actual dog food. Until we weighted Nikos last week, all of the older dogs ate the same food. Nikos is a little too heavy, so we have now put him on a diet, he gets the Healthy Weight version. The puppy Nina is still on the super-duper nutritional puppy food. The cats all get the same food we now have to buy in the extra large bag. They do not get treats. As I loaded all this into my cart, the big picture started to emerge.

Then came this mornings feeding time. Pre-kennel release, I prepared Nina's puppy food dish in her room and set Nikos' new weight control food in a dish in his new eating area apart form the others. This required the arrangement of baby gates for separation and blocking in. EGAD! For all my cleverness in the new arrangements, I totally freaked the dogs out because they usually rush from their indoor kennels out to potty. I had blocked them in with the gates! So much for planning ahead. They were confused and bounced all over the place. If it were not so annoying, it might have been amusing but dogs and Mommy alike were starting to feel a little stressed.

Finally got everyone where they were supposed to be and sat down to have my breakfast with Nina again. She did not want to eat. Fine! I finished my food and headed back to the kitchen where Nikos was sequestered with his new food. He did not want to eat either, this was just too new and unnerving for him. FINE!! To no surprise, Chelsie and Pan Dulce were on a food strike as well. FINE!! Mommy does not seem to be handling this as well as she perhaps could.

On to feed the cats. I take a large container of food out for the crowd and the kittens dash about as if I was Jack the Kitty Ripper...this is an everyday - twice a day - event, you might think they would get used to the person that supplies their every need, but NOOOO, they run like their tails were on fire. Run, you little ingrates, run!! I didn't want to pet you anyway! Who needs your love? Not me!.....That's a  total lie, I want to love on them so badly my finger ache!

Nothing 'simple' about any of this. I realize we are to blame for this situation and it will be up to us...and when I say 'us' I know it means 'me'...to straighten it out. Pets are supposed to enhance and enrich our lives, not make them crazy. Our pets are animals tho we treat them as if they were four-legged kids. All we require from them is unconditional love and simple obedience. The love they freely give, the obedience we had to work on.

I will give some thought to finding a better, more streamline system to give each one that which bests suits their needs but not right now. For now, I am focusing on regaining a sense of calm, order and clear-mindedness. All the baby gates are down but the one that keeps Nina in the house while allowing the others access to the doggy door. The buzzer just went off reminding me it is time to hang a load of clothes out on the line. That's good for soothing the savage beast within. It also helps remind me that I am, indeed, making a little progress in living the simple life on Hacienda Hill. Today, I need every bit of encouragement I can scrape up.**sigh**

 

 

Day 41 - It's the Little Things

I had an exciting moment this morning when I realized I had incorporated a 'Simple Life' principle into my life without having to even think about it. That means my mind and subconscious are actually absorbing and utilizing the Simple Life mentality on its own....this is a good thing!

This came about in the care and nurturing of our new puppy, Nina. All of our canine critters have their own 'kennel' in which they sleep. Usually, my morning starts well before theirs, so I have to stop writing to let them all out when they wake up and announce it is time. Since baby Nina struggles with abandonment issues as a result of her orphan time alone in the wilderness, I have been sitting with her as she eats every morning. She has to see me. Typically, I have not been so excited about this because my mind is on my unattended work waiting at the computer.

This morning, like every morning, I prepared her food and water before letting her out. I also filled a coffee cup and prepared a bowl of hot steel-cut oats I had cooked overnight and took them into her 'room' prior to releasing the hounds. Nina and I had breakfast together! This turned a frustration into a time of enjoyment. She was happy and I was happy rather than frustrated. A win-win deal.

As I sat with bowl and coffee cup in hand watching her eat, I marveled at the changes in her little body. You can still see a faint outline of her ribs as she breathes but her hips joints are no longer protruding and she has blossomed into a content little girl puppy where she was once scared, starved and confused.

My quest for a simple life where I control my environment rather than it controlling me also means taking the time to enjoy simple pleasures, like breakfast with a puppy, over the demands of a self-imposed work schedule. I did not plan it, it just evolved on its own but it filled me with excitement to realize what had happened. Yes, I know...I amuse easily but isn't that also a giant step forward in living a simple life on Hacienda Hill? I hope so!

Day 40 - Something New from Somthing Old

Life back here at home rolled on without me over the weekend while I was out of town for a family funeral. My Honey was able to be home with the newest and youngest family member, Nina, the 12 week old (according to vet) Chihuahua puppy he rescued from the creek and highway last Thursday. It was good for both of them. Her starved little body is filling out and you can barely see her ribs and joints now. Her eyes are clear and she no longer looks incredibly sad. The ant bites are healing and soon she shall be her pretty little self without the ravages of life on her own taking it's toll. As I write this she is in a warm doggy bed right beside my desk chair playing with her toy pink wiener dog. She is like a little shadow that makes every move I make. As long as she can be by me, she is fine and content but the time she spent in the wilderness alone has taken a toll; she was out alone during the time Hurricane Hermine came blowing through here. As her memories of that fearful time fade, I'm sure she will grown in confidence.

Today I am ready to get back to my mission of minimizing the material things that seem to have taken over our home and life. I'd like to take this time to say again that reducing clutter and possessions does not mean you get rid of everything near and dear to you. It simply means you get rid of everything that is not near and dear to you or that you do not really use in day-to-day life. Here's the criteria I use...if it does not bring a smile to my face when I look at it, I do not love it and/or I have not used it within the last year, it is gone! If I have more of any one thing than I can reasonable use, I pare down to the essentials. Who needs 7 spatulas when they only have 2 hands anyway? I finally threw away the old rusty metal spatula I have had longer than my sons...they are 30 now! 'Nuff said.

Re-purposing items can bring back life and functionality, as well. For instance, I had an antique 'gentleman's' chest of drawers that has resided in what is now 'my room' AKA the guest room for years. This is the room where I display all my treasures from various mission trips and it has something of an exotic feel to it. I have mosquito netting hung from the ceiling over the bed, the colors are warm and earthy. The room just flat out makes me feel good when in I am in there. It has a memory foam mattress on the bed that is good for my achy joints, thus the claim of 'my room'. A good friend recently gave me an antique wardrobe, which would make its home in that room. I had a couple of pieces too many to bring in the new piece so I had to make choices and decisions per the rule: Bring something new in, something old has to go! I gave the old wardrobe in the room with which I was not emotionally attached to a friend that needed it for storage. She was happy to get it! I took that gentleman's chest and cut it in half, making two night stands out of it. One for the master bedroom and one for 'my room'. Having re-purposed the chest, I now have furniture that serves us well from one that no longer met our needs. Love it more now that it is better utilized. And, the new wardrobe is making itself useful while adding to the wonderful atmosphere of the room. That is what motivates me, making the most of what I have and love while eliminating that which no longer brings joy. (Things I love ((minus -)) things I don't love) + less clutter to clean (you cannot organize clutter) = Simple Life on Hacienda Hill. Ahhhh.....  

Day 33 - Rain, Rain has Come My Way

Ah, another long holiday weekend behind us and life returns to normal...normal being relative and none of my relatives being normal...what are you gonna do?

This is Day 33 of chronicling our transition to the simple life here at Hacienda Hill. I can say with all sincerity that I know we are on the right path. It felt a bit overwhelming in the beginning to list all the things we needed to address and changes we need to make. Now, I've de-cluttered my mind and let go of the unhealthy habit of creating stress on myself with those stinkin' lists! Today, I take each day as it comes and look for something I can change for the better. Even if I only accomplish one change, it is one less change to face and I relish the sense of progress. If I have a day where nothing is changed, nothing is de-cluttered or pared down or nothing is simplified..that's ok, too! Living a simple life means controlling our environment instead of it controlling us...my attitude has changed allowing me to accept days graciously that appear not to be productive. That, in and of itself, my Friends, is progress!! See how far I've come?!

Things I have changed.....I bought a really cool and exceedingly sharp ceramic knife. The beauty of this is that this one knife replaced nearly every other knife we possess. I had many! I kept a set of steak knives in case I ever have guest for dinner but my second set of steak knives and every other knife in the house..gone! I'm so excited I can hardly stand it. One knife instead of the knife block sitting on the counter and a drawer full of the other sets! WOW! This is minimizing at its best.

Today is Tuesday after a three day weekend, so it's technically Monday...Monday at the hacienda is linen washing day. Yep, bed sheets and towels are washed and hung on the line...typically. Not today, not this Tuesday/Monday because of  that little hurricane that blew into northern Mexico and was gracious enough to bring much needed rain our way. Rainy days and wash days do not go well together when you hang clothes on the line. This is my first wet wash day since I converted to outdoor drying. I'm not stressed over it at all. Didn't even take the sheets off the bed or gather towels. It will be dry and hot again all too soon. We go to bed clean, so that's not a biggie and there are plenty more towels to be had. With my new and improved attitude, I am simply enjoying the rain with no concern over my thwarted wash day. "Circumstances will not control my life"...repeat after me!

Day 27 - Clutter, Clutter, Go Away!

You know, the more I venture into the simple life, even if a lot of it is still something we are working toward, the more enamored I am with it. Lately I have had a lot going on, nothing new there, but it has given me even more appreciation for the 'simple life' we have incorporated and a stronger desire to continue on that path.

As much as it entails shedding the excess in our home and world, it is a change in mindset more than anything. Admittedly, my mind is changing faster than my house is being emptied. SOOOOO much stuff yet to go away. In that vein, I bought a new knife last night so I have to get rid of old ones. It's a great trade-off for me! New knife is awesome, old ones...not so much. In fact, I think I will get rid of many knives. I have far too many...how many can I use at one time, anyway?

My Honey has really surprised me with his initiative in shedding clothes. As in getting rid of excess...silly, dirty minds, LOL . He had far too many, most he never wore and he is always contributing to the full bags he has already gathered. I'm impressed. Once the concept sunk in, he became an eager partner. Now if he can grasp the idea of shutting a dresser drawer till it actually closes.....

Clutter can be mental just as much as it is literal stuff. I have shed a lot of mental clutter. There is a lot more to go but it is a process, one about which we need stay diligent. I tell myself that every day. I'm trying to get where I edit thoughts that do not pertain to the most important of issues in my life. I need a more concentrated focus on my writing and letting random, extraneous thoughts occupy my mind is detrimental to my work. However, you must have a clear outline of what the most important issues in your life are. I found a lot of mental clutter came from issues that should not have been on my radar if I were consistently editing and monitoring that which I give time, thought and energy.

Think about that and see if you are expending too much of yourself on issues that are not priorities you have chosen. Shake those other things loose! Let's make a plan to come up with five things (stuff) we get rid of and five things (mental clutter) we shake out of our minds over the long Labor Day weekend. Let me know how you do!!

Day 22 - Here, Kitty, Kitty!

Some days are just harder than others. All efforts to be productive have been met with distractions and my attention span is the size of a gnat!! This is the flip-side of the beauty of working from home. While I have the latitude to work casually dressed in tank top and shorts, I also have the opportunity to walk away from my work task too easily! For instance...to spend time watching kittens!

Our wild cat, Hijack, had kittens. We thought they would be under the house but, no, she had under the neighbor's house and only brought them home yesterday! They are 6 weeks old and we finally get to see them. So, they are the center of every conversation and email between my Honey and me today. I give him updates on kitten sightings. We amuse easily! There are six of the little cuties. Their mom, Hijack, is confident enough to come to front door to demand her food but still does not let us touch her. She gets closer than before not enough to be loving. We want the kittens to be socialized with people to stop the cycle of feral cats!  

I passed by the front door once and was startled to see a little orange ball of fur sitting in the food bowl eating away! This was the first sighting on the front deck. Four are on ground level taking shelter under the deck which stands 10-15 feet from the ground. The other two are on the walkway level which is 3-4 feet off the ground. How that happened I do not know. They dash under the stairs when they think we are getting too close. Today, it was so cute to see the elevated two kittens peering over the edge watching the four ground level babies playing and tussling together. Me, I stood on the deck looking down on all of them and having a grand time!



Maybe life isn't so hard today after all. Perhaps my perspective needed an attitude adjustment. Maybe a day to just enjoy the miracle of life and wonderment of new kittens is more suited to a simple life on Hacienda Hill than I first considered. Yep, a simple life means taking the time to enjoy and appreciate to simple things around you. Work will always be there waiting and kittens will grow up too quickly. Take some time today to just revel in life and appreciate the blessings around you.

Day 16 - Simply Brilliant

Life has taken a turn for the better since I've accepted and adopted the KISS concept in my guest prep.

Today, I was hanging out some laundry and had what I call 'A flash of brilliance!" I just had to share! I was putting out a load of my clothes. I use one of those mesh bags to put my dirty socks and panties in as I shed them, then throw the whole bag in the washer with my other things. No more socks being eaten by the dryer! HA! Anyway, as I hung one sock after another from the bag, I spotted a shoe rack I bought for a recent garage sale. It's one of those $3 dollar white plastic racks that sits on the floor and holds 9 pair of shoes. I decided to utilize it for my wet socks. One sock per holder and viola! I placed it on the patio table making it handy to fill with socks, which are no longer taking up valuable clothesline space. How handy is that?! Flash of brilliance!

I have found a down side to hanging clothes on the line instead of using the dryer. You know the stuff you clean from the lint filter...well, it stays on the clothes now. It's nothing but a thing for the most part but I noticed it today hanging out a pair of black slacks. The life with three long haired dogs is riddled with dog hair....what are you gonna do? Grin and get the lint brush, that's what!!!

Remember to keep it simple...KISS KISS

Sealed with a KISS

In my quest for a more simple life at Hacienda Hill I need a paradigm shift. You see, I have always been a planner, a list maker, a map reader.....etc. The paradigm shift I refer to is in the area of...here it comes...the dreaded over-achiever. I put so much on my plate of things to do, that I moved up from a plate to a platter years ago just to hold it all. I do this to myself, no one else has the giant list of expectations of me.


Last night, my Honey brought me around to reality when I was sharing with him some things I wanted to get done today. We are having company again this weekend and I wanted to finish the window cornice boards to match my new curtains. This requires they be reupholstered. It's not a big job in and of itself but it's another job...one that isn't really necessary.


He pointed out that I had enough to do without creating new jobs. Oh, he also pointed out that I wanted to do this while trying to deal with a very painful foot. Each step is agonizing at the moment and here I was loading up my platter with unnecessary tasks. He suggested I focus on what really counts, rather than the extraneous things Ms. Over-achiever wanted to do. He doesn't call me Ms. Over-achiever, that's my name for it, but he has lived with her for a long time now!!!! Bless his heart, he lives with me, Brat Child and Ms. Over-achiever. Egad!

Sometimes it takes someone else to get us to slow down long enough to realize we are at warp speed doing extraneous things that tie us in a knot and we need to just STOP! So, in the name of striving for a simple life on Hacienda Hill, I am making myself scratch things off the To-Do list and just look forward to having our friends in our imperfect though albeit comfortable home. I will nurse my foot, feed my guest, and enjoy their company. I will thank God for home and hearth, good friends and stress free fellowship. Remember the KISS theory ...Keep It Simple, Silly!

Day - 14 Light of my Life

I am the self-proclaimed Energy Sheriff here at Hacienda Hill. I have carried this badge-less title for years. I want a badge! LOL It is a thankless job but someone has to do it. Actually, I would be rolling in the dough if I had even a nickle for every light switch I have turned off that someone else has left on!

At this moment in time there are 44 light bulbs used in our home on a daily basis. Yes, I counted. Bear in mind, that in multiple bulb fixtures, we do not have bulbs in every available space. For instance, the master bath fixture over the mirror has space for 8 vanity globes, we have 8 in place but only use 2 of them. The other 6 are unscrewed just enough not to come on. The overhead light in here does not even have a bulb in it so it was not included in the light count. There are several light fixtures in our home where we cut back on bulbs in actual use, so 44 is a conservative number. Imagine, 44 bulbs used daily times 365 days a year...that's 16,060 bulbs in use, spinning the meter....boggles the mind. Screams out for an Energy Sheriff, doesn't it?

Ceiling fans and free standing fans are a constant source of aggravation for an Energy Sheriff. Make note of the following: Fans cool PEOPLE, not Rooms! A fan spinning in an empty room is cooling no one! Fans cool people because they move the air over our skin. No people in the room, no skin to cool. Fans running without people to cool are merely spinning the meter needlessly; major pet peeve for an Energy Sheriff. Leaving the room for even a short while, turn the fan off! It only takes a second to turn off and another second to turn back on once you return. If that sounds like too much trouble for you, maybe you should read the light bill over once more.

We had family/guest last weekend. The 7 year old boy asked why the TV wasn't on when they came in after a day of playing tourist. I explained I wasn't watching TV so there was no need for it to be on. He looked at me like I was crazy. Some people need something on all the time, TV, radio, something to fill the air space around them. Me, I need quiet. I play some upbeat music while cleaning house to get the juices flowing. Housework just seems less like work to me when good music is playing but I do not need noise all the time. I think too much for that. I have plenty of things going on inside my head to keep my mind occupied, I do not need external noise. If you do, then play them but monitor whether or not you are leaving them on when you are not paying attention to them. Picture yourself as the Energy Sheriff of your home and walk around turning off all extraneous energy wasters. Your peace of mind and your checkbook will thank you for it.

Phantom energy users are those things that use electricity even if they are not running. The clock on the stove is an example. You can literally walk in the dark through our living room and kitchen area just guided by the number of little red and/or green lights on the various objects using phantom energy! The internet is on whether the computer is in use or not, so the boxes governing that are blinking, the microwave and oven have the timers/clock lights on, the power surge protectors that everything is plugged into has their little red lights on, the laptop has a white light that blinks all the time it is plugged in, DVD player, digital converter box, antenna rotor and TV even have lights on all the time. The cordless hand-held phones each have blinking lights, the clock on the coffee pot is on all the time....all running on phantom power whether in use or not! Egad!! It looks like a landing strip at an airport walking through here in the dark! We can reduce that some by turning off the power strips.Others we are simply stuck with, making it all the more important that we conserve where we can!

One area of concern for me is the location of the thermostat for our A/C unit. It is across from the front door!! This time of year makes it almost impossible to keep the wooden door open because it causes the A/C to kick on. It feels the heat from outside before any other area of the house and BAM! A/C kicks on regardless of how cool the house actually it! Poor design there. The view from my desk is cut off when that door has to remain closed.

There is more involved when we work to conserve energy than helping our light bill but that is a major issue in our hot Texas summers. Every little effort helps and makes a difference. It requires a mindset change to start being the Energy Sheriff and your family may get very tired of hearing about it ( mine did & do) but we are all responsible for life on planet earth and the things we do today impact the issues our grandchildren will deal with. A simple life is one where we control our environment, rather than it controlling us! Step up and make the changes necessary to be in charge, become an Energy Sheriff, be tough now to be happy later! 

Days 7 & 8 - Time to Enjoy

Day 7 was another busy day. Did some prep cooking for dishes for the weekend. More getting ready for guest. Which arrived safely last night! Yah! Poor Honey was so tired and up way past his bedtime. He's a Trooper, tho. He wanted to wait up for our guests.

You should see the looks my brother, Michael, gives me when I tell him to stop wasting water and safe it for the herbs! LOL Let's just say conservation doesn't cross his radar on a regular basis and he thinks I'm a bit nuts. He's a little brother, he's entitled to his opinion no matter how wrong and stupid it might be!!! LOL

Day 8 - So far, nothing I have prepared for meals has met the approval of young guest. Boy, will he get hungry this weekend...LOL Our hounds, Nikos, Chelsie and Pan Dulce are soaking up all the extra attention. Guest heading to Sea World today. Me, I'll be preparing for our stint to host Parent's Night Out for the church kids Saturday evening. Honey is at work. He has more OT tomorrow before PNO (Parent's Night Out)...bummer to be him Saturday evening!!. He will be one pooped Papa!!!!

Oh, I discovered a new perk to hanging the clothes out. Since my clothesline is under the back porch and my dogs are fenced in on the back porch, the wet clothes seem to keep it cooler for them. I was afraid it might make things more humid but the flapping of wet clothes in the breeze actually makes it better! That's probably the best I can do for conservation and simple living this weekend. As the self-appointed energy sheriff I have been biting my tongue and trying to be a gracious hostess. However, I am enjoying the company so I can bite my tongue a few days. Family time is precious and a few extra turns on the old light meter isn't worth blowing that over!

See ya on Monday. Till then, think green, fresh and clean and energy efficient! Compost something!!!!

Day 6 - Dragging My Bootie

Well, I am happy to say all the new drapes were ironed and hung by 12:30 this afternoon! Yay!! I didn't even have to stay up late last night. In fact, I went to bed at 9:30, so I was bouncing out of bed early this morning. This is the good news.

The bad news is that I have been basically worthless the rest of the day! I've had a sinus headache for three days and it is knocking me around. I managed to get dinner in front of Honey but that's about it. Dinner and a shower...whoo boy!

So now that the drapes are up, the old upholstery fabric on the cornice boards has got to go! I have loved it for all these years and I still find the fabric delightful. However, it does not go with the new drapes at all. I have the new fabric; bought it two years ago, too! Love it! I'm think recovering the cornice boards will be a great project for me to do with my brother's girlfriend, Jennifer, this weekend....a bonding thing, don't ya know! LOL Four hands are better than two, anyway! Hope she's crafty!

So, tomorrow has shaped up to be a busy day with a lot of To-Do's to catch up on. I'll send Demon Child out to play so I can work undisturbed. The little brat!! I'll tell you a story about the day I realized Demon Child lived within one day...but not this day. I am pooped and ready to sleep off this headache.

P.S. Still loving the clothesline and hanging things out to dry.

Day 5 - One Step Forward, Three Steps Back

On my quest down the road to living a more simple lifestyle, I fell into a pothole! Oh, I still contributed to my compost pile and I worked to not waste water and energy. My failings were in conserving my own personal energy and using my time wisely. Tossing my 'To-Do' list aside, I fell off the main road and onto a rabbit trail of extraneous work. SO much for simple!

We are having guest this weekend and next, so you know the extra stuff you do when all that comes around. As if that wasn't enough to fill my time and expend all my energy, I decided I just HAD to make new drapes for the living room. Huh? Yep, I jumped into making new drapes with only two days before guest arrive, a grocery list not yet purchased, laundry not finished, bathroom to scrub, floors to mop, common areas to dust, etc..... No simple life for me and I have no one to blame but myself!

In my defense, (and lord knows I need one) I wasn't exactly starting from scratch with this project. I purchased the materials needed two years ago right before I injured my hand and required two surgeries. So, with my hand in a cast, my friend, Mina, came over and helped me cut out the fabric and lining panels. Over time, I have managed to get several sets pinned together. This made the idea a little more practical....but just a little.

The hardest part of the whole process has been the ironing! Remember, this fabric has been folded and stored for two years! Sadly, my inner perfectionist, Demon Child, will not let me ask for help in the ironing. I tossed about the prospect of having Alyson, my neighbor girl-12, come over and help with the ironing. But, NOOOOO...Demon Child reminded me that I would just have to keep stopping to show her what I wanted, she would be too slow, she would talk me to death, she wouldn't get the seams to lie flat...yep, Demon Child made sure I did not let anyone help so my work would take longer and wear me out more. Normally, I enjoy ironing but Demon Child made sure I didn't this day!

So, my Friends, this is why I lost ground today in my journey to a more simple life at Hacienda Hill. One step forward, three steps back! Here's to better days and forward progress!! The new drapes do look pretty tho!!