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Across the Fence:  Refreshing the way I live.......  |
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LeighErica
True Blue Farmgirl
306 Posts
Erica
PA
USA
306 Posts |
 Posted - Feb 22 2011 : 08:15:27 AM
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I am truly feeling the urge to get back to a more simplier, healthier way of life for myself and loved ones. So, I am making a goal list to accomplish this year. My goals are:
1. Find green recipes for cleaning products and make them myself. Dispose of purchased cleaning products. And vow to not buy purchased cleaning products again. (But, should I dispose of current purchased cleaning products, or use them up? If I dispose of them, how should I go about doing that? Can I use homemade laundry detergent in a high efficiency machine?)
2. Purchase a retractable clothes line for use. I love to hang clothes outside to dry, but with living in military housing and/or renting, not all living areas allowed that in the yards. Since I live on 5 acres...I should have that privlege right? And when I move again..it is something I can take with me to a new home.
3. My DH and I are going to attempt our hand at gardening again this year. I am so excited....but now I need to educate myself on gardening in this Colorado climate. I am also interested in container gardening as well. Plus, I need to figure out how to protect the plants when they do start to grow from the wind we get from the open space.
4. I want to educate myself on canning with the produce I hope to have from my garden. A few years ago I did strawberry jam and peaches for the first time and LOVED it....so I want to expand on doing more vegetables.
5. I love to craft and am going to design my first homemade apron! I love aprons and have a few, but I bought them from others. It is time to create an "Erica Original"...hehehe..;)
6. I want to educate my daughter on the positive aspects of being more involved with where her food comes from and teach her the joy of growing her own food....also want to teach her how to sew her own apron and assist me in making our "green cleaning products"...there is a Science aspect to that...so it can be an educational moment;)
7. I would love to have some chickens....but I am probably pushing it since we rent. And I want to let them roam free during the day, but we have a pack of coyotes that love to visit the property on a weekly basis....I don't think they would last too long....someday!
8. Lastly, and this may sound silly, but I want to work on being a better wife, friend and family member. Because we have been moving every 2 years, my circle of friends is spread very far and very wide. July will be a year that we have been living here and as pathetic as I sound, I only know one other woman as a friend. I met her through my daughter...her daughter and mine are best friends and she moved here last summer too. It is getting harder and harder for me to reach out and let people into my life because I know they will either leave or I will...and saying goodbye is just getting old for me. But, my life is enriched dramatically with a good group of gals. It has become sweeter because of this board, but I also need to have personal contact as well. So, I am going to work on reconnecting with family in Pa through phone calls, and letters, and my cards. I am going to smile and say hello more and be less distant to those I meet in passing. And I am going to be more generous with my time and talents...so I want to find an organization to volunteer at on a weekly basis. This has to start somewhere....so somewhere I will start;)
This is sort of like a New Years resolution list...just a little bit later. Just thought I would share my thoughts and hope to receive encouragment in this process. Have a great day!!! Erica
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HollyG
True Blue Farmgirl
214 Posts
Holly
Hamburg
Arkansas
USA
214 Posts |
Posted - Feb 22 2011 : 09:17:48 AM
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Oh, Erica, we have too much in common. I'm not a frequent mover like you are, but I have no roots either. I stay caught up in "me" and don't often think of others as I should. You have a wonderful and ambitious list. I've set some of the same goals for myself. Maybe we can work through them together. The MJF girls have been a light for me. It's nice to know I'm not as "weird" as everyone thinks I am. It's refreshing to know I'm not the only one who likes to hang out clothes, sew, and cook. Please feel free to e-mail me offlist. I have some experience with some of your goals and I'd be happy to share in the process with you as I work through my own.
HollyG
Farmgirl #2513
www.mydeepwoodslife.com |
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Fiddlehead Farm
True Blue Farmgirl
4562 Posts
Diane
Waupaca
WI
USA
4562 Posts |
Posted - Feb 22 2011 : 09:23:08 AM
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I have been working on the same things for the last few years. I find plenty of inspiration and help from this forum! Good luck and happy simplifying!
http://studiodiphotosite.shutterfly.com/
farmgirl sister #922
Happy to be a "Raggedy Ann" in a Barbie World!
I get up every morning determined to both change the world and have one hell of a good time. Sometimes this makes planning my day difficult.
- E. B. White |
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Forrester Farm
True Blue Farmgirl
703 Posts
Ann
Belmont
MI
USA
703 Posts |
Posted - Feb 22 2011 : 12:39:58 PM
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Erica, Sounds like some wonderful goals - and very doable. Thanks for sharing. It is fun to be inspired to simplify - which is a goal that I've had lately too.
Ann
Forrester Farm
www.forresterfarm.com
(site, blog & shop)
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katalind
True Blue Farmgirl
177 Posts
Kathy
Chapin
SC
USA
177 Posts |
Posted - Feb 22 2011 : 4:32:11 PM
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| You sound like my kind of lady. I already do most of what you mentioned. It's turned into a game for me to see how I can get by with very little. It didn't start out that way, I was forced to because of the bad economy and had very little money coming in. Things are still very tight right now, but even if they weren't I would still continue to live this way. It's just so much easier. |
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Across the Fence: Refreshing the way I live....... |
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Refreshing the way I live.......
