Procrastinating Can Pay Off

OK, rarely does procrastinating pay off, but in this case, it did.  I needed to give the coop a good clean out last week.  Well something important came up so it didn't happen.  If you ask me what came up, you have to give me a few minutes to make something up. :(  Monday would have been a great day to get the job done, but I had salmon to make and..........well something else came up.  Again, don't ask me unless you want me to lie.  So today, it had to be done.  Well it's cold out there Pa.  But certainly I can put warm sweats, coat, hat and gloves on and just do it.  But a knight in shining shorts appeared and offered to do it.  OK I asked him, but still, he did it.

Notice how Kane is dressed to get the job done.  Brrrrrr.

The girls are still enjoying their free ranging time.  This spring it will be interesting what will happen after I get my garden in.

I did bundle up and walk to the library to check out some books.  I also today, in keeping with my priority to get my life set up as a hermit, signed up for Netflix.  I know, not a huge deal, but there has been many days where I end up paying late charges because of not being able to leave home to return the dvd or I make LL take it back after he gets home. 

For dinner tonight, I think LL and I are going to go to our local watering hole and use the gift card Rett, Bailey's boyfriend gave us for Christmas.  Mac's Place has a good halibut dish that is safe for me to eat:)  Have a great evening.

Walking Through Life

LL and I took a lovely walk yesterday morning.  We walked around town but also took the path along side the creek so I could take some pictures.

Been thinking a bit about the upcoming year and the goals I have for myself.  Resolution is the wrong word, but I think goal is not quite right either.  When I make goals and resolutions, never do they pan out. 

I guess I want to figure out my priorities for the year.  Like last year's priority of being greener.

Living with intention, I guess requires having somewhat of an idea of where your headed but being present in the moment.

So with living with intention and wanting to be fulling engaged in my life.  5 priorities come to mind.

1. My first and most important priority is growing further in my relationship with God. 

My life in every aspect goes better when I am walking close with God and appreciating his gifts and creation.  I really would like to attend church more regularly because I think fellowship for me is a cornerstone for spiritual growth.  But I am at the mercy of my body.  So I need to make sure I am feeding my spiritual life here at home first and attending church will be a bonus.  Which brings me to the next priority.

2.  Creating a fuller, more well rounded life here at home. 

I pray that I have further improvement in healing my digestive system, but I think I need to try to meet most of my needs with my worst days in mind, not my best.  Which means figuring out how to be more social on my bad days.  How to get things done like cooking, cleaning, gardening on days where I have a hard time getting 20 feet from the bathroom.  And I need to figure out how to enjoy my hobbies and interests like photography, new books, etc. while being stuck at home.  I have many ideas on how to make this all happen, but some will take time and other ideas will take a little money.  Also within this priority is how, when I am living the hermit lifestyle, can I bless someone in need.  Being of service to someone is a necessity on living a fuller and more spiritual life. 

3.  I want to learn and improve in my photography hobby.  I love it!  I am a person who feels I am never any good at anything, but I really do think I could be good at photography and I enjoy it so much.  So this is definitely a priority.

4. Of course these priorities are not in order because this one would be close to the top if they were.  My health.  Between my diet and activity, I could be doing much better and after my last two years, well the importance of living a healthy lifestyle is all the more critical.

5. Iproving on living more green, sustainable and earth friendly.  I made so much progress last year but I and we as a family could do much better.  So this is just going to continue to get my attention.  I can't imaging ever going back to not paying attention to how my choices impact the world so I am not going to let this go.  We will keep getting better at living responsible.

Well those are my priorities for the year.  And just like last year, my goal is improvement, not perfection:)

BROWN PAPER Packages Tied Up With String

When looking back on this year, I have fallen short on many of my goals to live more green and sustainable.  But since my main goal was improvement, I feel satisfied, when comparing last year to this year.  I have done OK with the Christmas preparations, but must admit, I have not bought local goods as much as I should.  One of my goals was not to buy any wrapping paper.  So far, I have succeeded.  A couple weeks ago, I did spend money on some nice reusable sturdy boxes that I hope to get many years of use out of.  A few gifts are wrapped with wrapping paper, but it was left over from last year.  Years ago, when LL and I had little money, I wrapped presents with brown bags that the kids painted.  I have many paper grocery sacks, so I decided to get creative.  When talking to LL about my ideas, he says "Oh you have been looking at magazines again."  I for the life of me, don't know why he thinks I can't come of with these ideas myself. 

So I go outside with the clippers and get some greenery.  Let them dry on a towel.  I go into the garage and get the green and white nylon twine that's all tangled and balled up.  I grab a stack of brown paper sacks, and a wrappen I a went. 

Now, in the past, I have reused sacks as wrapping, but must say the creases and wrinkles always leave the results disappointing.  So I take the sacks and wad them up so that the wrinkles look intentional.  And NO LL.  I did not get the idea from a magazine.  See he doesn't know everything.  No, I got the idea from a earth friendly web site:)  The pink ribbon was bundling up one gift I bought, so I put the ribbon on the outside of that gift.  Instead of buying one of those paper, use once wine sacks, I bought a burlap wine tote at World Market that was only $1.99 that can hold several bottles and be reused over and over.  Our local grocery sacks for the holiday has a cute little gingerbread man on it.  So I cut one gingerbread man and have him peeking out from the sack and looking around the branch.  I decorated the gifts with twine, branches and old Christmas balls.

Besides the reusable boxes and brown sacks, I have been using fabric remnants as you would tissue inside boxes, or as the wrapping paper itself. 

So, with the exception of tape and a few bows, I am succeeding with my earth friendly, green gift wrapping goal.  And it feels good:)

Trying To Live, Not Judge

This morning I was reading one of my favorite blogs.  http://plainandjoyfulliving.blogspot.com/ It is written by a lady who has chose to raise her family in a very simple environment.  Yesterday she had shared while on vacation, noticing how many people lived and felt more at peace with her choice of living more simply.  She was not being judgemental.  Just making an observation.  She, today, extended an apology because some commented and defended a more "modern" lifestyle.  I felt bad for her.  She was expressing a relief that she was making the right decision for Her family.  But this has me thinking

I have written several blog posts about living simpler, more green, etc.  Do I come off sounding judgy?  I hope not.  I am trying to be more green.  Driving less, spending less, making do, reusing, and must admit, the plastic issue in the world has me getting mad at myself if I forget my canvas bag at the grocery store.  But even in my own household, I try not to say much to LL and Bailey.  I try to just model better choices.  When it comes to transportation, well I must say when I see the one Hummer that someone owns in town here, I do cringe a little, but a lot of people drive nice, new, large pickups and I choose to just think they are farmers or in construction, which would make those vehicles practical.  My brother David has a beautiful large pickup but travels very far to work and drives his small economy car.  He shares his pickup with anyone in the family who might need to haul something, so there is almost always a place and time for anything.  Including a gas guzzler.  When someone does bring a plastic bag from the grocery store into the house, well it always gets reused.  It's a great way to dispose of my soiled diaper or pack LL's lunch in.  I hope I never get them confused.  Can see me throwing his lunch away, and at noon, LL having a big surprise when he opens the sack.

LL and I live in a large house with a swimming pool.  10 yrs ago when we bought it, we got a great deal.  Now that my kids are grown, we look forward to the housing prices changing so we can afford to sell and buy a 2 bedroom small house with a yard that I can still garden and have my chickens.  Preferably on Silver creek but we'll see.  Downsizing is important to us, as living within our means is and not trying to keep up with the Jones. 

P.S. Forgot to mention Marlin, our RV.  Talk about gas guzzler, but we only use it for distances so I can get out.  Must admit, I did have to debate long and hard about buying it.  But as I said, a time and place for most anything.

But I try not to judge others on their choices.  This is just where I am at now in my life.  But I may sound preachy at times and for that I am sorry.

So What's Wrong With Mediocrity

Mediocrity, is that even how to spell it.  Can't find my dictionary.  Anyway.  I am surrounded by talented people.  My LL can decide to do something new with little effort.  My children are creative and have talents.  I have two sisters who do hair so they are creating art everyday, but both can also do crafts, bake, make afghans, etc. with few mistakes when trying something new.  One of Max's staff can do it all.  When Max is having down time or doing a chore independently, O. is making jewelry, crocheting, needle pointing, and it all is beautiful.

 

Still I think no one can beat me when it comes to the desire to create.  Boy, I believe I have the eye.  I know what I like, I know what is good work, but when it comes to creating something of quality, well I am missing the gene.  I am borrowing a sewing machine I got from my sister, she borrowed it from my niece.  So Kelli, your sewing machine is at my house.  I took home ec. for one term in high school.  Couldn't get out of there fast enough.  I got into a second music class instead.  But I was in home ec, long enough to learn how to sew a straight stitch from the machine.  That's about it.  But I don't know how to even do that now.  But I have the desire to learn. 

Marlin is in need of new curtains.  So as soon as I can figure the machine out and sew straight, my goal is to make curtains for the RV.  But I lack any confidence of being able to do well enough for even that. 

For some people, perfection is the goal.  For me, mediocrity would be an achievement.  Don't feel sorry for me.  I do many things very well.  Hmmm.  Let me think of an example..............Still thinking...............I'll get back to you on that.  So wish me luck on learning to sew.  I can do it!  Really!  I can. 

CELEBRATE the Abbey Hill!!

I have been to a lot of beautiful places.  Two of my favorites are Victoria, Canada and on the Mediterranean in Spain.  But my two very favorite places are Three Creeks, which I wrote about earlier this month, and The Mount Angel Abbey which is a Benedictine Monastery.

The Abbey has been a source of calm and peace for many years for me.  When Max was at his most difficult stage, I would get a sitter once in a while, and go up to the Abbey.  I would go to the beautiful library, check out a book, browse their gift shop, go into the retreat house and sit read and pray for hours.  It was my mini retreat to keep me sane. 

For years, the Abbey was my destination for walks.  It is just outside the town of Mt. Angel.  I would park my car at my mom's or sister's and just start walking.  Up and up.  It is quite the climb, and a good workout. 

Last summer, while recovering from surgery and chemo, I drove up there, looked around the gift shop, prayed in the church, talked to a few monks, and sat in the retreat house drinking hot chocolate and just enjoyed the peace.  I remember being a bit sad.  I thought I would never be able to walk the beautiful path up the long and high hill ever again.  I am happy to say I was wrong.  I have been finally exercising and Bailey and I decided to try the hill out.  I warned her I would be lucky to make it half way up. 

So we started up

Made it to the first Stations of the Cross.

There are fourteen of them.

Got half way up and thought I could go a little more

This is me sitting about 3/4 of the way up.  My mouth looked like that because I was breathing a little hard. 
After about a three minute break I felt like the Little Engine that could.

I MADE IT!!

It is so beautiful up there.  I use to take aerobics in this building when I was 20yrs old.

I decided to say hi to Mary on our way back down.

.

We walked around town after getting down from the hill.  I walked for an hour and felt like I accomplished something big.  My "digestion" held out, my stomach muscles must be healing, and I am building stamina so........Hurray for Konnie!!

Losing Insight or Gaining Wisdom

For years I have thought I had a good insight on personalities and characters. When we were younger, LL and I would meet someone new, I might detect something in someone that would make me Leery of them. I would usually only say something to LL because I didn't want to be prejudging someone unfairly. I almost always was right on the money. Or so it seemed.

Whether I had a "gift" before or not, I certainly don't have it now. I was somewhat proud that I "saw through" a lot of George Bush's folksy personality way before he became President. But boy was I wrong about John Edwards. I knew Tom Cruise was arrogant and "nutty" way before he criticized Brook Shields postpartum depression, Matt being so "glib" on the Today Show, and jumping up and down on Oprah's sofa. But it took forever for me to accept what a truly unhinged and unlikable character Mel Gibson is. And the local story. The missing boy Kyron Horman. He went missing about 30 or 40 miles from where I live. It has become a national story. Almost the minute he went missing locals were saying his step-mom had to have something to do with his disappearance. I thought it was wrong for people jumping to conclusion so fast. Again, I was the one obviously wrong.

I didn't set out making this post about Kyron, and so much is still unknown about his disappearance. Who knows how much his step-mom is involved but it doesn't look good:( This is a sweet innocent child that needs to be brought home to his parents.

Over the last few years and especially lately, I have become pretty easy going. Most things don't upset me, and I am slower to judge anyone on anything. So this makes me wonder, have I lost my "insight", or did I never have it and have finally gained the wisdom to identify that fact.

I have a very calm and peaceful heart now and would not want that "insight" if it meant turmoil in my heart. But maybe what was once "insight" in my mind, was really arrogance. Living with intention really requires getting to know myself. Warts and all. A goal of mine is to accept my talents and celebrate them, but also accept my faults and admit them. I think that is where real peace comes from. Truly accepting myself and recognising that others may have attributes I do not like, but that does not make them unlikable. We are all complex imperfect people. And boy, I am not an exception.

Planning To Make No Plans

Well it is a beautiful Monday morning here in Silverton, Oregon. I woke up around 4:45am to birds starting their morning song. While I lie there I can count at least 6 different types of chirps. We have always had a lot of birds call our large lot home.



My mother gave me a bouquet of roses. This is one of my favorite variety.

By now you might of noticed I am a person who loves consistency. I love plans, goals and progress. My life feels best if I am living this type of rhythm. You might also have noticed that my body doesn't always cooperate with this pace of life. If you have been reading my blog for a while, you might notice that I have a few health goals, lifestyle goals, spiritual goals and environmental goals. Somebody forgot to notify my body so that it would cooperate.


This is what I woke up to yesterday morning.

This surgery that I had ended up being a big one. The incision is longer that I ever had. A lot of scar tissue was cleaned up and a lot of intestines were cut out. Plans for camping and fishing this summer are put on hold. (if it happens at all). Luckily Bailey's graduation party happened but we normally have people over for the fourth of July and if I am to be the one to do most of the work, well that will have to be canceled.


The sun was so bright and beautiful.

I will not be doing the household shopping for a few weeks so I can suggest items but the buying smarter for less packaging will for the most part be put on hold.



A perfect morning

My transportation plans are out the door also. I will probably only be going to doctor appointments for the next few weeks. I can't walk far and probably won't be able to bike ride for quite a while also.


My first visit to my ladies Sunday morning

My plans for staggering plantings and doing large amounts of canning and preserving are also set aside. I will still do more this year than last year because of having chemo last year. But my thoughts of really filling up the pantry with my homegrown produce was just a nice dream.




Did you miss me girls? I missed you!



So I guess the best plans for me to make is the plan not to make plans. I think of the gospel song One Day at a Time, but I don't think it was meant like I am having to live. Today, (Monday) I was blessed with a chorus of birds singing outside my window. A husband who takes the time to make coffee, visits with me and helps me outside to visit my ladies before he even takes off to go to work. I have a lovely home and yard to rest and recover at.



Need to check on my garden


Sometimes I wonder if God is thinking "man, what a greedy girl this Konnie is" I so often complain about my plans having to change and what I can't do and places I can't go. But I do recognize Gods gifts, even if I don't thank Him enough.



LL brought some raspberries in from our garden

So I do thank God for the gifts He has given all around me. And I do ask for continued healing. I would like to take less pain medicine and increase activity this week. That's it for my plans. Hopefully I will start posting regularly again. Have a great day.

My Bailey Rose

The mother-son relationship is strong and fun. The father-daughter relationship is always interesting, because we all know who usually is in charge in that relationship. But the mother-daughter relationship usually runs the gamut, and Bailey's and my relationship is not an exception. We have the capability to push each others buttons, drive each other nuts. We also can bring great joy and love in our hearts.

The day Bailey was born seems like yesterday. I had a c-section. So her head was shaped perfect, white skin and a beautiful tuft of red hair. She was instantly my Bailey Rose.

Some aliens stole my perfect baby girl when she was 7 months old. It's the only way I can explain how one morning she woke up with an opinion on everything and a will stronger than steel. She is still that way. There is so much I would love to say about my beautiful daughter but somethings are better said in private. So here is some pictures of my girl. The last few are from yesterday at her graduation. I now have all adult children. (well I guess not for a couple weeks until she turns 18) This is a joyful time and a little sad. Bittersweet. But I am so happy for her and I have never seen such a joyful smile on her face like I did last night.

Here comes the pain again

When putting on an outside party in Oregon, you must take full advantage of the weather. Since the prediction was clear Monday and Tuesday. Rain Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, we knew a lot needed to get done by Wednesday. Over the weekend, I did replant cucumbers because the first ones were destroyed by downpours of rain.


I finally put in my peppers.

On Monday, I wanted to get some household chores out of the way before I went out and helped LL. So I baked bread, made pizza dough and sauce in prep. for dinner.

While doing this, LL was finish the pool cleaning so he could spot paint in the afternoon.

I also did three loads of laundry.

Made and ate lunch, and then it started................................................

Horrible sharp cramping that comes so fast and hard it takes your breath away. Swelling in the abdomen and inflamed intestines I can only describe as if someone took a Brillo pad to your bowels. I have an obstruction:(

That night I was up in pain and vomiting. LL wanted to take me to the hospital but I know the routine from there on. Admit me, do lots of tests, and decide to do surgery. My youngest child is graduating on Thursday. I will not miss it. So I have been waiting it out.

It has improved but I can tell still partially blocked. I have started taking percocet and hope to ride this one through. The party is on Sunday. Sunny and 88 degrees is the prediction. We lucked out. I e-mail my Doctor this morning. He will not be happy with me. My feeling is that I and especially my daughter have sacrificed so much over the last year and a half. Her graduation is the one and only thing on my mind for a year. Meaning I wanted to be alive and well enough to be there. So I am taking the chance my body will heal enough to be there Thursday night and put on a party Sunday. After that I will probably be in the hospital having surgery. Or if I am lucky, the doctor will figure something else out. Thanks for letting me unload.

BENTO!! No TV reward came in:)

The door bell rang. I look at my watch. 9:45am. The time the mailman delivers our mail. Could it be? He only rings the door when there is a package. OH my heart. I hobble down the stairs and open the door. No one is there. I look down and it felt like Santa had delivered my Christmas gift. Sitting there was this small box. Well my son always has things delivered here so I was not going to be fooled. No Sirry. I am too smart to be fooled again. I pick up the box and look where it is from. Hmm Japan. I don't think Kane orders things from Japan, does he? But still I will not be fooled. I look at who it is to. Konnie. Is there another Konnie residing here? I mean, I don't want to be presumptuous. I think. No, I, Konnie, am the only Konnie in the household. So I go upstairs and find a scissors. I open up the seal.



They sent me a bunch of plastic. Oh Crap! Sorry, pardon my Japanese, I mean French. I have researched and unless you walk or ride bike to store, it is more environmentally friendly to order online. I don't think they took into account the plastic wrap and bubble wrap that was covering the contents of my box. I was starting to think the plastic, was the contents of my box. Take off one large folded sheet of bubble wrap.



And the bento box is wrapped in more sheets of bubble wrap. (I didn't know my bento was made of glass) It must be or why would they wrap it up as if I had a precious relic inside. I look underneath and there is another large sheet of bubble wrap in the bottom of the box. I unwrap the contents.

They plastic wrapped the cardboard box that was protecting my bento. Does that make sense to anyone?

I unwrap the box, and inside is my bento. Wrapped in yet another plastic wrap.

You can't really see from this picture but 6 large sheets of plastic. I will reuse the bubble wrap for something, but the other three wraps will have to go into the plastic garbage I am saving for the month. Still, I am excited.

The pictures of the bento did not turn out too well, but here it is.

My Authentic Bento from Japan!!!!

LL is off of work next week. But I will have to find an excuse to make a lunch in my beautiful new CONTAINER!!!

Take THAT!! You Oil Men

The week after our house burned down 6 years ago, (our vehicles burned too) we bought a used mini-van. As I was still driving kids and their friends around, it seemed like a smart choice at the time.

Since we bought our second car and LL sold his truck, he has been driving the van to work everyday. About 25 minutes away.

A year and a half ago, we decided to get a new car. One that had a good warranty so my LL would not have to work on it, and one that got great gas mileage. I wanted a hybrid but we couldn't see spending that kind of money and having high car payments. So we bought a Ford Focus. There are no power locks or power windows. Just the basics Ma'am. We love it. It is a great car.

Well we made a decision recently to switch vehicles. LL has to drive to work and the Focus gets much better gas mileage. I don't go anywhere often and when I do, it is mainly within 5 miles. So Take That!! you oil men.

Recently, mainly because of my health, I have been researching chemicals, air, what is happening to the environment, etc. So we are taking further steps to living a more sustainably responsible life. In doing this, I have decided to try to cut my driving even more. This may sound easy but remember, my digestion will make walking iffy sometimes, and Oregon is wet, a lot, so I need to get use to being wet, a lot.

I don't have a picture of me walking, so here is Bailey, Boyfriend, and Beau. The 3 B's.

But instead of walking, because when getting into digestion troubles and not being able to get home fast, I decided my first mode of transportation will be my bicycle. LL put a nice big basket on the back this weekend. I should be able to carry a gallon of milk and a sack of groceries in it. So...........................TAKE THAT!! You oil men.

My goal is 3 out of 4 in town errand trips will be walking or on bike. Saving the 1 out of 4 trip for getting big things like chicken feed. Well, we'll see how I do. BTW, Love this song, Brand New Key.