The Simple Life

No, Paris Hilton and Nicole Ritchie are not here. I'm talking about living close to how the Amish live. Living like people did when they built my house more than 100 years ago.

I realized today that there are a lot of you out there that know about some of my weird thoughts and ideas. Particularly those that know about our homeschooling adventures. But, did you know the reason we (or was that I?) chose to live out here, north of Imlay City? With a barn and a few acres of grass and fencing? Did you know that I would have lived further out and more remote if I could? Oh yes! I love it! I do wish we had a bigger, higher vehicle for getting through rough terrain and snow so we wouldn't so easily get stuck, like we did today. (What? Snow in APRIL?) Hmf! Perhaps one day.


So, my favorite magazine of all time is Countryside and Small Stock Journal. I LOVE it! I even read the advertisements. There is just so much information for a weirdo like me. The magazine is mainly written by the readers and covers everything from how to butcher a rabbit to building a portable chicken coop, or a "chicken tractor", as in the picture below.


Wheat berries?

I would love to grind my own wheat berries and make my own bread. Yes, I've done these things, but not as a rule. I also need a new hand grinder. Mine no longer works. Not sure it really worked all that well to begin with!

I want to continue to make my own soap, so that we are only using home-made soaps and detergents. I have the recipes for laundry detergents, but have never made them. I love homesteading and frugal living. Speaking of frugal living, my son thinks that the forbidden "b" word in our home is "budget". :-) Well, no son. It's not a bad word. Mom and dad just don't know what the heck we're doing, so it seems like a bad word. If we really knew how to budget, we wouldn't be so poor. But we're learning. We started Financial Peace University this past week. In fact, tonight is our second class. Josh, David and I are taking it, against the testosterone will. Both were not thrilled about it, but I think David's coming around. Josh is still asking, "Do I have to go?". Yes son, you do. Mom and dad don't want you growing up to be like us. Okay, so that's something for another blog someday soon.

I digress....

I knit too. I learned to knit about a year after my mom died. You see, she left a lot of knitting stuff and crochet stuff when she passed. My stepdad, Kit gave it all to me. I never had the desire to learn before, but now I'm thinking that there is no one in the family to pass this art along to. No one else does it. So I learned. From a book. And a little help from my friends and the internet.

I would LOVE to have alpacas someday, learn to sheer them, card their awesome wool and learn to spin. (Aren't they cute???) I would make oh so many nice things and sell them! My kids would make nice things and sell them too! Do you know that alpaca wool is warmer than lamb's wool? Did you know it's a heck of a lot softer too? Some day. Some day. (sigh)

So, until I can afford to "b"udget for those 'pacas, I will have to make do with the little bit of homesteading I can manage.

This year, I have finally vowed to have a real garden. I can grow chickens, I can grow ducks, and can I ever grow barn (shed) cats, but I can't seem to manage growing a garden of anything useful. Just weeds. I'm determined this year. I WILL do it!

So that's my weirdness in a nutshell, albeit a small one. I have so much more to say, but It's 2:30am and I'm dog tired! Today was eventful: I fell down the stairs (icy and wet and it's April), my husband got his car stuck, we both had temper tantrums (so unlike us), the tantrums made Kayla cry (but she now knows how ugly her tantrums are), my car got stuck trying to get David's car unstuck and my body hurts from all of it. So, my sore, bruised body is heading off to bed. If you think this particular blog makes no sense, blame it on the day! I'm pooped!