sigh. (blind dog style)

the other morning i took some laundry upstairs, then i went back downstairs to get some coffee and blah blah blah and then i turned around and saw this:
somehow pablo, the blind wonderdog got one of my dresses caught on his neck and he carried it off of the bed and down the stairs and into the living room to share with the rest of us.

a part of me thinks he may have donned this attire purposefully cause look how jealous the others are?

it is simple, really.

as i have been mentioning, my quest for a more simple, stress free life has been progressing naturally. at first, i was pursuing it with my usual, aggressive, immediate nature and had to screech on my brakes cause, duh. kinda missing the point there.

i really (finally) started reading books on my bookshelf i have wanted to read or reread at the beginning of this new year.
and i was immediately drawn to this one. my reread was so fascinating. the things i underlined and emphasized as a 19 year old were so confrontational. so in your face. (imagine that.) believe it or not, i have softened quite a bit. i like to think that i am much more engaging. maybe? a little?

the end of the book gets a wee bit muddled and you get lost a bit. but i am so glad i held on to this one. such a wonderful read at this time in my life (then and now). and the book was published when i was born which i love even more. it's timelessness is both scary and hopeful.

here is my major decision from the book this go round: to buy as little new clothes/household items as possible.

i have found i often talk myself out of purchases because i have one in that color or style or could find it somewhere else cheaper so why not make a thing out of it?

i love thrift stores and the treasures they hold. i get sniffly and sneezy and feel grimy afterwards but i love the beautiful dishes and vases and items i have acquired at thrift stores over the years.

now i am not going to get too crazy...there are some things that will still be purchased new like...

socks! even though i don't really wear sock very often. (and seriously, i have bought enough shoes to last a lifetime. i am taking a break. seriously.)

and the obvi...

i am not going crazy or anything.

shameless plug

this winter i decided to join a local csa. i frequent the community market but i wanted something that would challenge me in the kitchen and by golly did i get my wish granted. i also have never eaten so many potatoes in my life...but anyhoo...here is my shameless plug:

www.lynchburggrows.org

please, please, PLEASE go check out their website. this mostly volunteer run, in the smack dab middle of the city, friendly, warm, feel good and snuggly each week place is a new fav.
each week i receive an email like the one below...i research the items i am unfamiliar with, seek out some recipes then i pick up my bag of goodies and the fun begins. and i am for real about the potato thing...i have enough soup to last a year. which is awesome!!!

although i look forward to my summer of self sufficiency (hopefully) i can proudly say i haven't bought general produce at the grocery store in months. lemons and limes (use sunkist-union approved!) are the only thing i have been purchasing (with the reg's like cheese and milk and yogurt)

i love, love, LOVE my csa. i love, love, LOVE the volunteers. check it out. find one in your area and i dare you to challenge me on potato soup recipes.

green peace.

i never really thought i would be one of those peeps that was waaay into gardening, but alas, i am. I AM SO FRICKIN EXCITED ABOUT MY GARDEN THIS YEAR I CANNOT STAND TO WAIT UNTIL MAY. MAY!!!
i volunteered to help at this thing last year in my old job and was given a gift card to barnes & noble. i knew right away i wanted to buy a gardening book and i waited and waited. i went to b & n last weekend, took off my coat, sat on the floor and explored the garden books. the one i decided on kicks ass!

so now my dreams are full of these diagrams...i space out into visions of canning tomatoes and beans and peppers and cucumbers...my quest for simple living is coming along quite nicely and i feel less stress and complications with each plan i make that is striving towards more self sufficiency and less corporate consumption.

maybe i miss my hippie college. i know i am stir crazy and having a tough winter. but the prospect of summer eats that came from my yard 20 ft away just gets me all giddy. wook at da whittle pwants and weeves!!!

good news: with tax money, my backyard fence will expand for more animal play AND will construct a giant cage for my garden to deter the biggest groundhog in lynchburg doesn't get into my stash this year. JOY!