Apparently, the (Facebook) world is trying to take out the oil industry... by setting aside one day of the year to not buy gas (and obviously, you shouldn't buy gas the days before or after, either, so I guess it's three days. Whatever). The only thing more ridiculous than this is that I have friends who are "attending." Really? I thought my friends were smarter than that!
Admittedly, I drive my car often. But in the NEMO winters, it's hard to get out on a bike or walk, especially with a little one. Soon, though, it will be warm enough to leave the car at home once in a while. (I can't wait!!)
So instead of pretending to do something, either hurt the oil companies or save the environment, how about actually doing something?
Ride a bike
Walk
Carpool
Public transportation
Making good use of your car (IE Not making 7+ visits to the store in a week)
10 March 2011
08 March 2011
Simple Living
For the last several years, I've been interested in the "Green Revolution," the idea of homesteading (and more recently, urban homesteading), and leading a simple life. I always assumed that the "simple life" required living the way my grandparents did: hard work, little money, and few possessions.
To an extent, I suppose, I was right, but living simply isn't necessarily reverting back to the stone age (haha). I picked up a book at the library last week called The Simple Living Guide by Janet Luhrs. This book told me very little that I didn't already know, but it was good because it put many of my thoughts and philosophies into words. Living simply is less about going back to the good ol' days and more about living deliberately and fully. The movement... well, I don't know that it is a movement, per se. The idea behind simple living stems from Transcendentalist thought. And I am a huge fan of the Transcendentalists (Whitman, Thoreau, Emerson, usw).
It's about living life one day at a time, one moment at a time. It's about being fully present and focused (ie, limited multitasking). It's about knowing the consequences of actions (if I buy this car, I'm going to have to work X number of years to be able to pay it off and spend that much less time with my family, etc). And while it's not about living an austere lifestyle (unless that's your thing, of course) it is about paring down to mostly just essentials. It's peaceful living, realised both within and outside of oneself.
Anyway, if a "simple life" is something that is attractive to you, I definitely suggest this book. It's filled with wisdom, excellent quotes, and nifty stories about real people who live within their philosophies. Also, it gives some good ideas on how to get started backing away from the hectic life of the typical American and into a simpler life.
To an extent, I suppose, I was right, but living simply isn't necessarily reverting back to the stone age (haha). I picked up a book at the library last week called The Simple Living Guide by Janet Luhrs. This book told me very little that I didn't already know, but it was good because it put many of my thoughts and philosophies into words. Living simply is less about going back to the good ol' days and more about living deliberately and fully. The movement... well, I don't know that it is a movement, per se. The idea behind simple living stems from Transcendentalist thought. And I am a huge fan of the Transcendentalists (Whitman, Thoreau, Emerson, usw).
It's about living life one day at a time, one moment at a time. It's about being fully present and focused (ie, limited multitasking). It's about knowing the consequences of actions (if I buy this car, I'm going to have to work X number of years to be able to pay it off and spend that much less time with my family, etc). And while it's not about living an austere lifestyle (unless that's your thing, of course) it is about paring down to mostly just essentials. It's peaceful living, realised both within and outside of oneself.
Anyway, if a "simple life" is something that is attractive to you, I definitely suggest this book. It's filled with wisdom, excellent quotes, and nifty stories about real people who live within their philosophies. Also, it gives some good ideas on how to get started backing away from the hectic life of the typical American and into a simpler life.
27 February 2011
Are we there yet? (Spring edition)
She wore her yellow sun-bonnet,
She wore her greenest gown;
She turned to the south wind
And curtsied up and down.
She turned to the sunlight
And shook her yellow head,
And whispered to her neighbour:
"Winter is dead."
by A.A. Milne
18 February 2011
Holey Stones
This post has been a long time coming. I've had it in my head to do a post over holey stones since last summer (and silly me, I kept putting it off).
Last summer, I was finding holey stones left and right. I found one holey stone when I was in high school, and though I looked and looked, I never found another. Finally, last year I found another. And another. And another. I think I have around 20 or so now, strewn about my house and car.
Holey stones, also known as men-an-tol, an-cloc consanta (drilled stones), crick stones, fairy stones, hag stones, and Odin stones, are stones that naturally have a hole in them, from water and dirt or sand and the passage of time. They are most easily found near water (streams, lakes, or the sea) with rocky shores, or in places that have used creek rocks as landscaping (I've found at least three holey pebbles at the park). Like other magical stones and crystals, holey stones should be cleansed and charged in the usual way (soaking in salt water, then charging in moonlight is what I do.)
I mostly use my holey stones for their protective properties. One (my first ever holey stone, actually) hangs from my rear view mirror in my car. I've used one (or maybe more?) in a charm for protecting my home. One goes to bed with Camden every night to protect him from nightmares, and several watch over me as I sleep at night, also.
These stones also have healing properties. For healing purposes, one should carry the stone with them, or wear it. Last summer I was having issues with kidney stones, so I wore one of my holey stones on a string tied around my neck. One can also run a bath, place the stone in the bath, then get in and soak. (Be sure to either use this holey stone strictly for healing purposes, or cleanse it before using for another purpose.)
Finally, holey stones also aide with psychic sight. If at the sea shore, if one looks through the hole, one will see the sea spirits playing on the tide. Or, if one looks through the hole in the light of the full moon, one will see the land of the fae, or one might see spirits or visions.
10 February 2011
Plants
Last spring I wrote a lot about starting a garden. And then I didn't do it. The garden plots are half way across town and are almost not worth the effort. If my landlord would let me plant a garden right there in the yard, you can bet I would be all over that. But I don't think he would appreciate me digging up all his grass and whatnot. Plus, there are tons of rabbits living by my house.
The other day I was talking to a friend about the garden plots and she thought it was a great idea. So we're going to plant a garden (for realsies this time). Even if she decides to back out or whatever, I think I will still go for it. Because it may be half way across town. It may use more gas to get from my apartment to the garden than it does to get from my apartment to the grocery store. But there's something fulfilling about growing one's own food.
My family had a garden almost every year as I was growing up. I've been out of my parents' house for almost four years now, but when I go to visit in the summer, the first thing I look for when I get there is to see how the garden looks (and if there are any zucchini ready to pick!). It is one of the things I miss most about living at my parents' home. Planting, harvesting, enjoying the vegetables. One of the reasons I look forward to owning my own home (and land) someday is that I'll be able to have a garden. (Well, several gardens: vegetable, herb, flower, etc.)
As I sit here, pondering gardens... I wonder about my predilection for wooded areas. Maybe it comes not from the intrinsic naturalness of the place, but instead because I am surrounded by the cycle of plant life-seedlings bursting forth, growing and thriving plants, and those that are returning to the earth to provide nourishment to the next generation. Odd, that that should just now occur to me. Do plants have spirits? Can an oak tree spirit be a guide? Witches (and non-witches) are guided by wolves and panthers and turtles and mice and dragons all the time. Can the spirits of plants help guide us through life as well?
Thoughts to ponder on this cold winter's night (one of the last, supposed to be 57 next week!).
The other day I was talking to a friend about the garden plots and she thought it was a great idea. So we're going to plant a garden (for realsies this time). Even if she decides to back out or whatever, I think I will still go for it. Because it may be half way across town. It may use more gas to get from my apartment to the garden than it does to get from my apartment to the grocery store. But there's something fulfilling about growing one's own food.
My family had a garden almost every year as I was growing up. I've been out of my parents' house for almost four years now, but when I go to visit in the summer, the first thing I look for when I get there is to see how the garden looks (and if there are any zucchini ready to pick!). It is one of the things I miss most about living at my parents' home. Planting, harvesting, enjoying the vegetables. One of the reasons I look forward to owning my own home (and land) someday is that I'll be able to have a garden. (Well, several gardens: vegetable, herb, flower, etc.)
As I sit here, pondering gardens... I wonder about my predilection for wooded areas. Maybe it comes not from the intrinsic naturalness of the place, but instead because I am surrounded by the cycle of plant life-seedlings bursting forth, growing and thriving plants, and those that are returning to the earth to provide nourishment to the next generation. Odd, that that should just now occur to me. Do plants have spirits? Can an oak tree spirit be a guide? Witches (and non-witches) are guided by wolves and panthers and turtles and mice and dragons all the time. Can the spirits of plants help guide us through life as well?
Thoughts to ponder on this cold winter's night (one of the last, supposed to be 57 next week!).
02 February 2011
Snow Ice Cream
With all that extra blizzard-snow just laying around, I thought Camden and I would do something with it... Make ice cream!! I hadn't done this since I was a kid, and it was lots of fun.
Get your snow! About 4 or 5 cups, unpacked. Scoop it up now then store it in your freezer until it's time to add to the mix.
One cup milk! Real milk or fake milk, it seems to work just fine.
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup sugar
Stir until the sugar has dissolved into the milk
Add snow to the milk/sugar/vanilla.
Stir! Quick, before it all melts!
We added some chocolate to ours, about 1.4 cup Hershey's chocolate syrup. It looks like malt-o-meal and has an odd texture... But it's still yummy!
Happy Imbolc!
Happy Imbolc!
29 January 2011
Winter wonderland
It was actually warm enough to enjoy some time outside this afternoon! So Cam and I went and tromped around the park (I made a snow angel) and we also made a snow man!
Camden donated his scarf and hat to the snowman, so the poor thing wouldn't melt. Though, the real danger is from rabbits tearing it down during the night to get to that scrumptious nose!
Camden donated his scarf and hat to the snowman, so the poor thing wouldn't melt. Though, the real danger is from rabbits tearing it down during the night to get to that scrumptious nose!
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