His Hands

I threw my cup away when I saw a child drinking from his hands at the trough.
~Diogenes quote

Photograph by Peter Essick, National Geographic

No Schedules?

I occasionally plan out a schedule, in hopes that I might feel like we've accomplished more at the end of the day.  I know there are things we would like to get done, but often we are poor managers of our time and we allow it to be wasted away at doing mindless stuff.

But schedules have never seemed to fit my personality.  I feel very restricted by them.  Controlled from the outside, imposed upon, rather than self-controlled.

What works best for me/us is to have a basic outline, an idea of the most important things we want to get accomplished on a typical day, and then we see to it that those things are done, but not at a pre-scheduled time.  For example, we have Reading Aloud Time, where I read to the children (usually all of them).  This usually takes place at least 5 days a week, and we try to get it done before noon but sometimes it takes place during lunch while the children are gathered to eat.

I know that schedules don't work for a lot of people, and so I wanted to pass on what Jessica/FishMama has so openly shared about managing her own time while home-educating her 6 children and making the household function well.  So, check this out!

I don't like to add more Obligations into my life, and that's what a Schedule says to me.  I like to live a Simplified Life, and having a basic game plan from which I work, but that allows lots of flexibility within its parameters......that's something I can work with.  It IS what I work with.  And I like that.

Digital Sabbatical, What It's Looking Like

I am still practising taking breaks on Saturdays and Tuesdays from my computer.  It's a practise because it isn't habit, yet.

I am doing well at it, looking forward to the breaks where I don't surf, where I ignore FB, let my emails pile up, etc.

I get more book reading done and am more likely to play board or card games with the children.   I am finally getting around to doing projects with them that I've been intending on doing for quite some time but just haven't gotten around to.

You know, things like teaching them to sew.

Everette and I often sneak in a 'coffee break', even if we aren't drinking a coffee.  It might be a quick walk somewhere, a jaunt to the grocery store where we are able to get some adult conversation done without little ears listening in.

Or lots of Saturdays now we go to the Royal BC Museum, or  take in the IMAX , or the aquarium, or the Art Gallery now that we have a bunch of annual passes (thanks, Ministry of Education!)

When the weather gets drier and warmer I'm sure we'll be taking more family walks at Whiffen Spit, or down at the river or at the Potholes.  Or checking out the Galloping Goose Trail.

Like so many people, I enjoy the wealth of information and experiences made available via the internet.  But there are some things that I don't like. ...and that includes the Time Sucking feature of it.   I want to be able to find a balance.  I know it doesn't have to be an All-or-Nothing scenario.  This tool can be beneficial, and that's what I am actively pursuing.

I don't have an iPhone and a bunch of other digital and techno stuff (although I do now have an hTC but I don't use it for much more than a phone and a voice recorder), so taking a Digital Sabbatical for me is mainly just taking a good-sized chunk of time away from the computer.  And I take that time to refocus, and do stuff I often (ashamedly) neglect.

Maybe you need to practice a Digital Sabbatical too.

For some people it might work to take 2 days off in a row.  Or during certain hours each day, say from 7pm until the next morning.  Or lots of moms who have little ones at home, they are well disciplined to stay off the computer unless their littles are sleeping (& no, I don't think they are drugging them to sleep longer hours!!).

My system is working well for me.

I've been hashing over some stuff with Everette over the last few weekends (see, the Sabbatical lets me fit that in!) and am likely to be implementing some more changes in my life concerning the internet, blogging, family time and health topics, but that's all a work-in-progress.  This week I already cut about half my 'friends' on FB who I really didn't converse much with anyways(& that's usually superficial) and I feel better with that already.  Not that I spend a lot of time on FB as it is, but each thing I spend a little bit of time at seems to eat away all my days.  You know what I mean, don't you?  You are likely experiencing the same thing.

Even the good things seem to be robbing from us.  And we are letting them.  I know I am;  that's my present struggle.

Being careful of the little foxes that ruin the vineyard (Song of Solomon 2:15).

If you take a Digital Sabbatical, what does it look like for you?

100 Thing Challenge, an interview

Man vs Debt did an interview with the creator of the 100 Thing Challenge which I found encouraging, and hope to pass that encouragement on to you too. A great way to start the New Year.

Check it out!

Digital Sabbatical

I've been taking a break from the computer every Saturday now for the past few months, and then I decided I liked it enough to add another Day-Off per week, so since Nov 30th I've been taking Tuesdays off too.

But I think I want more.

So, I'm jumping into taking a week break from the computer.  One whole week.

This has come about partly from reading this and this.

I find that the computer has added alot of simplicity to my life.  Like shooting off a quick email, or researching some trivia when the children ask a question and I don't know the answer.  I like keeping my genealogy on the computer, etc.  But I know that it robs me of alot of time every day that I sit there.

Not that its bad.  But maybe there is something better to do with my time???

Yup.  Spend time with my lovely family.  And that's what I'm going to be doing this week.  With some family coming home for the Holidays (we don't really Do Christmas, so I don't know what else to call it, but everybody basically gets a break from school or work, so it is a holiday).

So, I'm planning to be offline from Dec 23-29 (other than posting a quick photo for the December Photo Project I signed up for).

I trust that however you Celebrate Christmas or the Holidays or whatever, that you take time to breathe deeply, be in the moment with those around you, look into people's eyes and connect with their hearts.  Be mindful in everything you do, as if its the only thing you have to do today.

Blessings to all of you, my friends and family.

2(Sabbatical)

I enjoy taking Saturdays off from using the computer so much that I've decided to also take Tuesdays off.  So, there you have it.  I won't be posting anything tomorrow, and hopefully taking every Tuesday off to get more accomplished with my family and enjoy life a bit more.

Blessings to all of you,

Today, Tomorrow and Always.

No Need for a TV

Takes up way less space than a TV, is more versatile & movable  Great when simplifying ones life.

Just sometimes hard to fit a family of 9-11 around it at once, with everybody getting a decent view.  But works decently with a smaller crowd.

New Owners

This table and set of 4 chairs have found some very delighted new owners.  We found this down at the Sally Ann and it fits quite nicely in our kitchen nook.

The children are thrilled to have a place to sit up at, particularly to work on maps and math, I think even more than for eating at .  Its somewheres to lay their stuff out at and work at an appropriate level with a hard surface.  (You'll recall that the dc were using Rubbermaids for eating off of)

I know it will be a good place for sewing at as the girls and I anticipate sewing a quilt (joint effort) this winter.  But I know it will also be a place for us to.....break bread together. 

 Not enough seats yet, but with our 2 stools we can now sit 6 out of 9 of us.  Not a bad start.....and I'll keep an eye open on freecycle to get some other wooden chairs.

I enjoy these simple things in life, that add some comfort to our lives.  I like living with less, but somethings are simply nice to have for comfort and convenience and functionality.  I think the table and chairs fits in there.

PS....several of the children weren't wanting us to get table and chairs, because they love to have the space to play around in, and work on projects on the floor.  But now that we have the table, they all really like it.  After all, there's still the dining room that's mostly empty.  (I personally think that's a waste of space, to have both a kitchen and a dining eating area.....but that's just my opinion)

Seating is Limited

So far, this is what our dining room table amounts to.We are still waiting for a set or 2 of table and chairs to materialize.  But the floor and Rubbermaid boxes work.  Life is Simple. When we get company they get the tall stools and can sit up at the kitchen island-bar.  There's only 2 stools so you can say that Seating is Limited.
And its cozy enough to be Intimate.

Project 333 and How Minimalism is Shaping Up in our Closet

My new-fangled trend is to become a minimalist.  I think its more than a trend.  Its a new way of life we unknowingly ventured into 3 years ago when we left house and island for our cross-country adventure. 

It seems like at every new turn we are unloading more and more stuff.

But now we have a big house, fairly empty still although there are 10 of us in here (Layne is visiting).  Little furniture is making it uncomfortable in the living room with just some pillows and blankets we call 'the couch'.  But we are managing.

Taking a break from all the school stuff I've been busy with over the past few weeks, I checked out some of my favourite minimalist sites and was thrilled to find the Project 333.  When I read about it, I got excited to join in, and then a bit of panic rushed through my veins when I thought I'd have to pack away some of my stuff.

Project 333 is about restricting your wardrobe to just 33 items for 3 months, Oct 1- Dec 31.  That includes footwear, winter gear, etc.  Box excess stuff up, and put it out of sight for 3 months.  And at the end of the Project one might (easily) find that they don't even need the boxed items anymore!!

So, I checked out my closet and discovered (ahhhhh) I already had less than 33 items there.  So......I get to keep them ALL!!

 Added to what's in the picture would be 1 winter jacket, 1 wool jacket, 1 winter hat, a pair of driving gloves.

 If I had other things to pack up and put away, I wouldn't have my sandals here.  But I don't have things to put away so I'm leaving them out.  I also have 1 pair of runners I'm using, but no boots at the present time.

 I only own 1 purse.

 Up on the top shelf (see pic below) on the far left is this stack of 2 pairs of jeans (and 1 belt) for my next size DOWN from where I'm at.  I've gone from a size 14-16 to an 8 since Dec 2009..  I bought myself some size 6 jeans at Value Village so I've got them 'stored', along with a dress I bought in Quebec City for Layne's wedding (that Was Not!).  I'm keeping it for living in Mexico or Ecuador!

Beside that is some of the boys' out-of-season clothes.

 The Plastic box has my lingerie & 4 pairs of socks in it.  The next shelf down is Anders' clothes (he has a bit in the laundry) and Laars' clothes are on the bottom shelf.  Their socks and underwear are together on the floor.  Right above my purse and beside my shoes are 2 of the boys' sweaters.

Also not pictured are my 2 rings (other than wedding rings) my pendant and 1 set of silver earrings.

I believe my count is 31, including the pieces of jewelry and other non-pictured things I mentioned above.  That's without doing anything to my wardrobe.  I'm delighted!!


And then the other side of this big walk-thru closet.......

is Everette's stuff.  Not tonnes of stuff either.

Some Bibles and tallits on the top shelf, along with an empty iron box and about 4 pairs of shorts/swimwear.

The lower shelf is folded t-shirts and sweat shirts, a couple pairs of pants and a box with his socks and underwear.  He's really pared down, too.

I know its past the Start Date, but if you are interested in joining in, here's the rules:

Original rules

• When: October 1 – December 31 (It’s never too late to start so join in anytime!)
• What: 33 items including clothing, accessories, jewelry, outerwear and shoes.
• What not: these items are not counted as part of the 33 items – wedding ring, underwear, sleep, in-home lounge wear,  and workout clothing (you can only wear your workout clothing to workout)
• How: over the next two months, outline your 33 items, by the 1st of October, box up the remainder of your fashion statement, seal it with tape and put it out of site.
• What else: consider that you are creating a wardrobe that you can live, work and play in for three months. If you purchase items for project 333, stick with the one in, two out approach. Consider the essentials and stick to 33.

 This post isn't just about the Project 333.  I've taken the opportunity to show pics of how its looking for us now that we are in our own house and seeing that we really have pared down on our things.  In future days I hope to show pics of more areas of the house and show how we are minimalizing the stuff in our lives.
I'd love to hear if you join in. Leave a comment below, and let me know how you approach this challenge.

100 Thing Challenge

In my research on the Minimalist Lifestyle I wrote about the other week, I came across the mention several times about the 100 Thing Challenge created by Dave Bruno.  I've been reading his posts, and the plethora of comments he gets and enjoying the read.  I get so excited in anticipation of how Minimalist we will live in our new place, since its harder to see what stuff we actually have when its still in boxes and we are sharing 'stuff' with our friends while we stay here.

One of Bruno's posts that I really liked is 3 Consumer Justifications That End in Crap.  These are excuses or justifications that I personally use all the time.  Actually just this morning I was contemplating "It would be wasteful to get rid of it."  After all, I didn't spend any money on it (rain boots and snow boots for Gaelyn) as my friend gave them to us, and she just might need them this autumn/winter.  We have space to keep them both, and we can always get rid of one or both of them in the future if they turn out to be virtually useless to us.  Blah blah blah.

The 100 Things Challenge isn't about an ideal number of anything.  People can determine themselves how they count up their things.  There is total Individualism in how you count.  For example, Bruno counts all his (300) books as One Library.  As avid readers and un-schoolers we have already thinned from about 2500 books down to less than 500.  (Because they are in boxes at present, I don't actually know the number.  I guessed high because I probably can't be trusted to approximate accurately, otherwise I'm tempted to say we only have 200, but I think that might be dreaming.)

Some people would count their 20 pairs of footwear as One, but others would count it as 20 (and probably would thin that down!)  Socks are likely to be counted as One item, as would all your socks.  But that's all dependent on how you would set up your own system.

I think that there is a danger of seeing 100 Things as a possible 'holier than though' thing to hold over other people who chose to live with more.  And one could pat themself on the back if they purchased/acquired something new (but not needed) and discarded something else but kept their total under 100.  The idea behind the 100 Things Challenge is bigger than the tally of things one owns.

We clutter our lives with unnecessary stuff (often produced un-ethically) and spend our money and time and energy in maintaining it, and missing out on the bigger things in life that we dream of.....like time to stroll the beach in the evening with our lover or children, or slowly sipping our favorite drink with a friend, or reading the book you've been wanting to read, or....whatever it is that you don't have time for now!!

We aren't going to find our happiness in collecting stuff, nor in keeping our personal stuff to a total of 100 Things.  Whether we have 1,000 or 10 things, our happiness will come from within our hearts and minds, the thoughts we entertain about the world and who we are in that world.

I am not a total of the things that I possess.

I am the Love that interacts with the world.

Making Room

Minimalists don't spend their time and energy collecting, cleaning, moving, & maintaining unnecessary stuff.  They de-clutter so that they have more time and space and energy to devote their time to doing the things they enjoy more. 


Whether that's  traveling,         cooking,
         reading,               writing,       
    visiting friends,
playing games,      dancing,  
          making music,      
scuba diving.
                     Whatever.

The average person from developed countries is busy working to pay for new stuff, most of which is unnecessary stuff.  Or they are working to pay for the stuff they've already acquired on credit.  Or working to maintain their stuff, or store their stuff.  

While we've been looking for rentals, we've seen our fair share of opened garage doors, and the vast majority of those garages are full of so much stuff that the vehicles are left parked outside of them.  

You know exactly what I'm talking about.

Prejudice Against Big Families Renting

Maybe we are wearing our feelings a bit on our sleeves, but honestly it feels like we are experiencing alot of prejudice these days against our family for the number of children we have.

We are still in search of a rental place for our family.   We've been at this for a month now, and heard endless No's from landlords.

There are certainly a lot of places vacant out there.  From Sooke to Shawnigan Lake, Langford to Sidney and out to Salt Spring Island.   And the ones we looked at in August are still vacant this month, for the most part.

They all want your money, until you mention that the 'large family' that you have is actually 7 children (we don't even explain that we have 2 older ones, because we don't want to overload their minds).  I realize they have a difficult time computing that. 

"You probably need a much bigger place than this."   (Well, we were looking at your rental because we thought it actually would suit our family just fine, Thanks.)

"I don't think this would be big enough for you, then."  (What, aren't we able to make that decision for ourselves, that you must make that call on our behalf?)

The other day I was totally irked (pissed maybe?) when a fella said, "I was thinking about how many (ppl) there are, and I think I'd have to raise the rent for you....."  and then he was saying how the last renters (3 ppl) water bill was actually $180 for 2 months and ours would likely be much larger than that, and so he wanted to raise the rent.

Excuse Me??!!!! 

I said it would be understandably fair to discuss the water bill in 'actuality' rather than assuming that we would use more water.  We'd be willing to pay the difference, or what the actual water bill was, etc., but I resented the assumption that it would go up higher just because there were 3 times more of us than the previous renters, and therefore he wanted to raise the rent.

Then he said, (which was likely more the truth rather than the water excuse) "Well, there would be more wear-and-tear on the house and property with all those kids."  Granted, that is a reasonable comment and assumption.  But still an assumption.  It is assumed that children are harder on things than adults.  But we all know adults who are messier and rougher than children.  And we know families with only 1 or 2 children who are messier, rougher, more destructive than larger families.

Another excuse has been 'thats too many for the septic'. 

I think that's hog-wash.  (Okay.....that's my own assumption.)  It is reasonable to think that houses that are built with 4 bedrooms would automatically have a septic system that could handle 8 people (that's only 2 people per bedroom).  That's 8 people.  Oh, golly, 9 of us (of which only 2 of us are adults) all of a sudden makes it too much volume on the septic system.  One must never have guests come and stay, or at least hope they are constipated!!!

And then I've read really weird ads on craigslist and kijiji.  Like somebody renting out a 3 bedroom place, blah blah blah, maximum occupancy is 2.  Hello?  It's got 3 bedrooms.  What is that wasted space supposed to be used for?  What reasoning is that? 

I don't get it.  Maybe I'm not thinking for myself here.  Can somebody help me with that reasoning????  3 bedrooms for 2 people maximum.  Hmmmm?

One fella called us a couple of days after we viewed his home for rent, to let us know that he'd been thinking about it (hope he didn't lose any sleep over it) and decided that his house really wasn't going to work for us.  Thanks, man.  We couldn't decide that for ourselves!  (Jeesh, maybe that's why we hadn't phoned him back to put in an application.  You think?  Obviously, we can't think for ourselves.  But then, that's probably why we ended up with so many children.  We didn't think!!)

Ok, I'm ticked off. 

I know that we could live in a small house, even 1500 sq feet or less.  We truly don't own so much stuff any more so a larger house will sound hollow.  But we've been looking at bigger not because we need the space, but because the landlords basically are insisting on it.  They assume we live like the average American (x3 for all the children) so we need more space.  And we waste water & electricity like the rest of the average.

I'm tempted to lie about how many children we have so we can rent a more appropriate house for our family and the simple lifestyle, and save some money. 

Argh.

Minimalists

My new vocabulary word.

Minimalist.

I love it, and it seems to be fitting our family's lifestyle. And I think the transitions we've been going through both recently and over the past 3 years since we originally left BC are leading us to embracing Minimalist ideology whole-heartedly.  Seems we started choosing this minimalist lifestyle 3 years ago without having a label to give it. 

Maybe we wouldn't be at this place if all of our plans had worked out the way we originally planned. Maybe we wouldn't be making the changes on purpose that we are now choosing to make. Maybe this is another Beginning of Change that will change us forever.  And we will be forever Thankful for.

Anyways, by following the rabbit trail I somehow ended up checking out Everett Bogue's site where he shares how he "adopted a minimalist lifestyle, and discovered that a little can go a long way, if you choose to live the right way." Click here to view more details

And I know that near the beginning of the rabbit trail it was Tammy Strobel that got me hooked.  I read this article and then started following her blog, and now she has this Just-Released Book out which is so exciting.  Click here to view more details 

Then there is a book called The Minimalist Cleaning Method which is right down my alley because I hate the thought of using toxic chemical cleaners in my house, because its bad for our family, and its bad for the environment, and its bad on the pocket book.  And I love the look of space under my cabinets, which seems rare to see in the average person's household.

(Note: I've become an affiliate to the above mentioned books because I believe in their message and want to share it with the world.  Its not only for your own benefit, but for the world's benefit.  So, if you want to read them, please order them through my links so I can benefit from the sale.  Thnx.)

I'm feeling a bit like a child in a candy store.  I am tantalized by so much that I see here in the Minimalist lifestyle circle.  I stand in awe at their creativity, their thinking-outside-of-the-box, their ingenuity, their guts to march to a different beat.

It doesn't seem like such a big deal for me, in a sense, to march to a different beat.  It seems we've been doing that for along while now.  With home-educating for more than 20 years now, to having more than the average children, to unschooling, to leaving institutional church, and eating High Raw, home- and water-birthing, and, and........

So, not much more to becoming a minimalist........

Well...... change always includes some discomfort and work.

But its so exciting and rewarding.   

PS  Realistically, this will be more of a challenge with so many people to 'convince' in our household, but I think my dc are very, very flexible, and so willing to change to better the world and their own health.  After all, they've all basically given up raised mattresses for sleeping on and prefer something thin on the floor, like just a couple of blankets or a sleeping bag with blankets on top.  That's a huge hurdle for some.

Sabbaticals from Technology

I'm not there, I totally admit. I'm not ready to disengage from the internet every weekend, although we've had periods of time when our family takes a whole 24 hours off. I know I(we) can do it, but mentally I'm not sure I want to right now. Although, the way my head literally feels at this moment--like it will explode due to overload of information --I probably could benefit greatly from a sabbatical.

Hmmmm.

Let me think on this a bit more.



This just might be another step towards the simple life, the de-cluttering, the finding time for the things I say I really want to do.

As I blog, I'm thinking "Karen, its a No-Brainer."

Unplug.

PS.... I took this past Saturday off. And it felt good. I sat less and moved more, and felt like I accomplished more. I didn't focus on "Where are we going to live" while searching kijiji and craigslist. And my head didn't hurt.

I think I'll join the Techno-Sabbatical for Saturdays.

Take Some Time

I've read this article a couple of times now, and I soooo agree with it, but then.......I think I don't have the time to do those things of which I say I want to do. Argh!!

But I wanted to share it with you, my friends, anyways. Maybe it will be the time that causes an 'ah-huh!' moment for you, which helps change your life for the better.

I know that in my own life, I am a happier person when I have spent time virtually everyday being Creative.  And a happier me makes a happier mama.  Everybody wins when I make the time to be creative.

Happy Thought

The world is so full

of a number of things, 

I'm sure we should all

be as happy as Kings.

~Robert Louis Stevenson

 

Painting by Mary Cassatt

They Wouldn't Leave the Wagon

from Little House on the Prairie

Pa & Ma are heading to Independence, out of Indian Territory, by choice before the soldiers come to remove them.  On their travels they come upon a covered wagon without horses, but the owners are sitting on the wagon tongue.

They were a man and a woman.  They sat looking down at their feet, and they moved only their heads to look when Pet and Patty stopped in front of them.


"What's wrong? Where are your horses?" Pa asked.

"I don't know," the man said.  "I tied them to the wagon last night, and this morning they were gone.  Somebody cut the ropes and took them away in the night."

"What about your dog?" said Pa.

"Haven't got a dog," the man said......    

"Well, your horses are gone," Pa told the man.  "You'll never see them again.  Hanging's too good for horse-thieves."
"Yes," the man said.


Pa looked at Ma, and Ma barely nodded.  Then Pa said, "Come ride with us to Independence." 
"No," said the man.  "All we've got is in this wagon.  We won't leave it."
"Why, man!  What will you do?"  Pa exclaimed.  "There may be nobody along here for days, weeks.  You can't stay here."
"I don't know," the man said.

"We'll stay with our wagon," the woman said.  She was looking down at her hands clasped in her lap, and Laura couldn't see her face; she could see only the side of the sunbonnet.
"Better come," Pa told them.  "You can come back for your wagon."
"No," the woman said.


They wouldn't leave the wagon; everything they owned in the world was in it.  So at last Pa drove on, leaving them sitting on the wagon tongue, all alone on the prairie.


Pa notifies the soldiers at Independence to send help out for the couple.

 ****************************
I chuckled when I saw the store name Nood: New Objects of Desire
Sad commentary on our society.  Wanting more and more.  And yet usually less and less happy.

Give me the simplified life, Thank You.

Live Simply

Live simply so that others may simply live.

A simple quote (not sure where I heard it from) but so true.  In our western 'civilized' society we are such huge consumers that we barely bat an eye at all the materials (natural & un-natural) we use to build and then fill not only our houses but also our garages and sheds and whatever space we have.  (We are always amazed at how many Public Storage places are around (and more are 'needed') full of all the 'extras' people have!!) And the environment is never the same, because we have either diminished  the resources, and/or created unnecessary waste both in production and in throw-away.

This video may seem a bit extreme to many, but the concept is so simple.  We really can live with a whole lot less stuff, and even "conveniences" if we were more careful about our actions, where we put our money, and where even our time goes to maintain all that stuff.
 

The Swing

How do you like to go up in a swing,

Up in the air so blue?

Oh, I do think it the pleasantest thing

Ever a child can do!

Up in the air and over the wall,

Till I can see so wide,

Rivers and trees and cattle and all

Over the countryside--

Till I look down on the garden green,

Down on the roof so brown--

Up in the air I go flying again,

Up in the air and down!