this is a supergood article.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/19/opinion/sunday/for-the-love-of-money.html
i ran into a professional looking young woman at our local courthouse several months ago who recognized me from the post office. as we chatted a bit while we walked to our vehicles, it came to light that i had used my USPS employment status in the past tense.
she inquired about the particulars of my leaving that position,
she stopped, looked at me like i was growing tentacles and said
"you LEFT a federal job?!"
she shook her head in dismay and slight disgust.
obviously i was a crazyperson.
suddenly i felt a panicky the need to justify my decision to leave my "good paying federal" job for a "oh, you're one of the low class slobs who works food service" job.
i explained to her that i had no control or flexibility in my schedule, the benefits weren't really that great, my position was technically temporary/part time (despite the fact that i was working more than most of my "full time/career" coworkers, and making less) and my opportunities for advancement or even a better schedule was pretty nil.
i told her about how i never had time to spend with my family, how i didn't have the freedom to plan a trip, to even make any kind of a long-term commitment; how i couldn't do thing things i loved, i couldn't plan my life because my job owned me.
i explained this to the best of my ability while walking across a small parking lot, and she still shook her head like i was an idiot.
and i kind of felt like an idiot for a couple seconds.
then she climbed into her shiny, black, $40,000+ SUV and i climbed onto my shiny, olive green $400 bicycle,
and i understood....and felt even more foolish.
i didn't need to justify myself at all. not to a stranger; not to anyone.
her interpretations and reactions to my situation reflected her own values and fears. it had little to do with me.
i'm not addicted to money.
my time is more valuable to me than money.
yes, i need to work, i need to pay for heat and electricity, my house, food...things people need.
and i like to watch movies and i like to go out with my friends and see a band play from time to time.
i do not, however, need to work to make a payment on a new SUV. or a huge house.
or a fancy new suit. or a purse. or a phone.
because those things don't define a person.
they don't MAKE you.
and suddenly,
as i felt the fresh air on my face as i pedaled through town on my day off (not just my lunch break),
i felt free.
Monday, March 17, 2014
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
cuban beans and rice meditation
hey.
it's been a while since i posted. i figured it was about time.
my inspiration for writing came about while making dinner.
(cuban beans and rice. recipe to follow!)
i'm hacking and chopping...it's my meditation time.
i was thinking about the simplicity of beans and rice, a staple the world wide, and how economical and versatile is.
i'm making my batch tonight in a large quantity; some to eat for dinner with sour cream, some to have tomorrow morning with an egg, some for later in a tortilla, a base for a salad, even added to soup.
i've also used this meal as an opportunity to use some veggies lurking around the fridge and freezer; fresh (cellared) squash from last years harvest, frozen corn and peppers we purchased last year in bulk form our natural food store and froze. and cilantro i bought fresh today because... i WANTED IT! mwahaha!!
this meal, and the collection of meals to follow it, is costing us ridiculously little,not only in the cost of the collective ingredients but in the labor involved. i'll cook a little while today and have easy meal options for the rest of the week (or longer if i freeze some!) and the quality and flavor is as awesome as any pricy gourmet convenience food.
hello, win!
so as i'm patting myself on the back for my glorious and thrifty accomplishment, i also took notice of my cooking implements.
the carbon steel knife i scored for $2 at an estate sale, the cast iron griddle and pressure cooker passed down by family, even the butcherblock topped cabinet picked up at a roadside antique store sale (literally, it was sitting outside by the side of the road and cost me $15)...these things are the work-horses of my little kitchen.
but i'll take the time and devote more love and attention to my beloved kitchen appliacces in a separate post later.
i think the time has come to throw the recipe at you and get back in the kitchen so i can eat.
because i'm hungry.
cuban beans and rice(no amounts given. make as much or as little as you want.)
rice (mine is a brown and wild mix)
beans (any)
onion, garlic, squash, corn, pepper -all chopped. (except the corn. don't chop the corn, that's dumb)
salt, cumin, oregano, ground hot pepper to taste
. . . .
cook the beans and rice. i use the pressure cooker because it's fast and awesome. and fast. which makes it awesome.
while that's cooking saute the veggies
when your bean/rice blend is done mix it with the veggies and season to taste
serve with grated cheese, sour cream, fresh cilantro, salsa, grilled meat, chips, tortillas, avacado...serve it as a main dish, a side dish... whatever the heck you want.
revel in your magnificence
it's been a while since i posted. i figured it was about time.
my inspiration for writing came about while making dinner.
(cuban beans and rice. recipe to follow!)
i'm hacking and chopping...it's my meditation time.
i was thinking about the simplicity of beans and rice, a staple the world wide, and how economical and versatile is.
i'm making my batch tonight in a large quantity; some to eat for dinner with sour cream, some to have tomorrow morning with an egg, some for later in a tortilla, a base for a salad, even added to soup.
i've also used this meal as an opportunity to use some veggies lurking around the fridge and freezer; fresh (cellared) squash from last years harvest, frozen corn and peppers we purchased last year in bulk form our natural food store and froze. and cilantro i bought fresh today because... i WANTED IT! mwahaha!!
this meal, and the collection of meals to follow it, is costing us ridiculously little,not only in the cost of the collective ingredients but in the labor involved. i'll cook a little while today and have easy meal options for the rest of the week (or longer if i freeze some!) and the quality and flavor is as awesome as any pricy gourmet convenience food.
hello, win!
so as i'm patting myself on the back for my glorious and thrifty accomplishment, i also took notice of my cooking implements.
the carbon steel knife i scored for $2 at an estate sale, the cast iron griddle and pressure cooker passed down by family, even the butcherblock topped cabinet picked up at a roadside antique store sale (literally, it was sitting outside by the side of the road and cost me $15)...these things are the work-horses of my little kitchen.
but i'll take the time and devote more love and attention to my beloved kitchen appliacces in a separate post later.
i think the time has come to throw the recipe at you and get back in the kitchen so i can eat.
because i'm hungry.
cuban beans and rice(no amounts given. make as much or as little as you want.)
rice (mine is a brown and wild mix)
beans (any)
onion, garlic, squash, corn, pepper -all chopped. (except the corn. don't chop the corn, that's dumb)
salt, cumin, oregano, ground hot pepper to taste
. . . .
cook the beans and rice. i use the pressure cooker because it's fast and awesome. and fast. which makes it awesome.
while that's cooking saute the veggies
when your bean/rice blend is done mix it with the veggies and season to taste
serve with grated cheese, sour cream, fresh cilantro, salsa, grilled meat, chips, tortillas, avacado...serve it as a main dish, a side dish... whatever the heck you want.
revel in your magnificence
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
coffee-o-clock
so i'm sitting here savoring a cup of coffee, and i got to thinking about how lucky i am to have such an amazing cup of coffee at 8:02 at night, long after the coffee shops around here are closed.
and then i got to thinking about how little this cup of coffee actually cost me compared to a cup that would have come from a coffee shop.
then i got to thinking i should write a money saving segment in my blog about coffee.
so here it is, for your caffeinated (or decaffeinated) pleasure:
making coffee at home is WAY cheaper than ordering it out.
duh.
but it usually tastes better from the coffee shop. (though i've spent a hard earned fiver on some extremely cruddy coffee-shop coffee and stubbornly consumed every last drop with tears of defeat splashing on my plastic cup topper)
the coffee in my cup right now is awesome.
yours can be, too.
first, you'll be required to cough up an initial investment. (save up a weeks worth of coffee shop funds and you'll be set.)
i rely on a french press. it cost me a whopping $20 at shopko (actually, it was less, but seeing as i can't remember the exact price we'll estimate high). after using the french press i donated my auto-drip, filters required, digital clock included coffee pot to charity and never looked back.
i also splurged on a small espresso machine a decade ago, which worked great for years until i moved into the city.
apparently the chemicals in the city water react with aluminum, causing calcium buildup and a broken espresso machine. lovely.
something to think about...
that machine gave me coffee just as satisfying and often times MORE satisfying than the coffee shop stuff. the amount of work involved was comparable to the wait time in line. not too bad, i'd say...
you'll also want to throw down for a decent coffee grinder. it doesn't need to be fancy, it just needs to work.
a nice mug is always a bonus. splurge, baby, you're worth it.
then you'll need coffee.
BUY WHOLE BEAN. after coffee is ground it's freshness is measured in minutes, and those fresh minutes should be spent swimming around in your french press, not sitting on the shelf.
invest in a good bag of coffee.
i get the stuff from bikes-n-boards (nobody knows coffee better than your local bike mechanic, fyi).
it's fair trade, organic, and melt-your-face good. i get decaf because i got old and can't stomach caffeine or the tremors that accompany it. the decaf is water-bath decaffeinated, and identical in flavor to the full rattlin' deal.
no longer will i have to sacrifice taste for lack of nausea! hooray!
also, it's a good investment to buy in bulk. it's cheaper. split a bag with a buddy or freeze a portion.
so now you can be a snob and sip on your french press masterpiece any time, day or night.
i'd recommend whipping up a batch of whipped cream (and i mean whip it yourself, cool whip or that stuff in a can doesn't count, nasty pants) and have it in a container in the fridge at the ready for when you experience an unbearable luxury attack.
in my humble opinion, a cup of coffee with a little honey or real maple syrup, whipped cream and a sprinkle of cocoa....divine.
happy sipping!
and then i got to thinking about how little this cup of coffee actually cost me compared to a cup that would have come from a coffee shop.
then i got to thinking i should write a money saving segment in my blog about coffee.
so here it is, for your caffeinated (or decaffeinated) pleasure:
making coffee at home is WAY cheaper than ordering it out.
duh.
but it usually tastes better from the coffee shop. (though i've spent a hard earned fiver on some extremely cruddy coffee-shop coffee and stubbornly consumed every last drop with tears of defeat splashing on my plastic cup topper)
the coffee in my cup right now is awesome.
yours can be, too.
first, you'll be required to cough up an initial investment. (save up a weeks worth of coffee shop funds and you'll be set.)
i rely on a french press. it cost me a whopping $20 at shopko (actually, it was less, but seeing as i can't remember the exact price we'll estimate high). after using the french press i donated my auto-drip, filters required, digital clock included coffee pot to charity and never looked back.
i also splurged on a small espresso machine a decade ago, which worked great for years until i moved into the city.
apparently the chemicals in the city water react with aluminum, causing calcium buildup and a broken espresso machine. lovely.
something to think about...
that machine gave me coffee just as satisfying and often times MORE satisfying than the coffee shop stuff. the amount of work involved was comparable to the wait time in line. not too bad, i'd say...
you'll also want to throw down for a decent coffee grinder. it doesn't need to be fancy, it just needs to work.
a nice mug is always a bonus. splurge, baby, you're worth it.
then you'll need coffee.
BUY WHOLE BEAN. after coffee is ground it's freshness is measured in minutes, and those fresh minutes should be spent swimming around in your french press, not sitting on the shelf.
invest in a good bag of coffee.
i get the stuff from bikes-n-boards (nobody knows coffee better than your local bike mechanic, fyi).
it's fair trade, organic, and melt-your-face good. i get decaf because i got old and can't stomach caffeine or the tremors that accompany it. the decaf is water-bath decaffeinated, and identical in flavor to the full rattlin' deal.
no longer will i have to sacrifice taste for lack of nausea! hooray!
also, it's a good investment to buy in bulk. it's cheaper. split a bag with a buddy or freeze a portion.
so now you can be a snob and sip on your french press masterpiece any time, day or night.
i'd recommend whipping up a batch of whipped cream (and i mean whip it yourself, cool whip or that stuff in a can doesn't count, nasty pants) and have it in a container in the fridge at the ready for when you experience an unbearable luxury attack.
in my humble opinion, a cup of coffee with a little honey or real maple syrup, whipped cream and a sprinkle of cocoa....divine.
happy sipping!
Thursday, May 5, 2011
i recently made a facebook post regarding laundry detergent.
it went an little something like "i made some laundry detergent today. it smells good"
little did i know that that little tidbit would pique so much interest!
so i'm going to write a little bit about my household cleaning supplies, and my you never need to buy expensive, scary chemical based cleaners ever again.
first off, you need a few staples:
vinegar
borax
baking soda
keep these on hand all time and you're pretty set.
other goodies to have handy:
lemons or lemon juice
coarse sea salt
essential oils (orange and lavender are really useful; orange oil is really good at removing adhesives, like price tags and other sticky stuff, plus bugs have an aversion to citrus and lavender is a pretty decent disinfectant, among other things. there are many different oils that have many different uses, and i'm not getting into them here, but do some research. we have a small arsenal and they're great)
hydrogen peroxide (a non bleach whitener and disinfectant)
so laundry soap...
what you'll need:
4 cups baking soda
3 cups borax
2 cups soap flakes (or about 2 bars glycerin or castile soap)
a bout a tablespoon of whatever essential oil you like.
we use bars of soap, 2 does the trick. the easiest way to grate them is to shop the bars into small bits and toss them in a food processor or blender. (our blender has a little processor attachment. it does the trick.) though you can grate it by hand with a cheese grater. that method sucks, by the way.
basically just mix all the components together and call it a day.
you only need to use 1/8 cup per load, so it's cheap, easy, great for sensitive skin and lasts forever.
if you're feeling really ambitious (and have a big bucket) you can double or triple the recipe.
i usually keep an all-purpose cleaning spray handy
old spray bottle
1 tablespoon borax
vinegar (enough to fill half to 3/4 bottle)
a few drops lavender oil
enough water to finish filling the bottle.
mix it all together and shake the hell out of it to get the borax to dissolve. if there are still chunks don't fret, let it sit, they'll dissolve eventually. (but be careful because those chunks will clog the sprayer.)
give it a good shake every time you use it to re-mix the oil.
i use this to clean stuff in the kitchen and bathroom
drain cleaner
baking soda
vinegar
dump a bit of baking soda into the drain (a half cup or so)
follow it with some vinegar (at least a cup)
it'll get all foamy and fizzy.
let it sit for at least 15 minutes and rinse it with some very hot water.
doing this from time to time will help keep drains clear and stink free.
to clean my floors i fill a bucket with hot water, a 1/4 cup borax and about 4 cups of vinegar and some a couple drops of orange oil.
not only do i get clean floors but my house smells AMAZING
just plain vinegar and old newspapers replaces windex.
scrub pots with borax or baking soda and lemon.
running your washing machine empty (smallest load setting) with a cup of lemon juice will get rid of any funky smells (sometimes yuck builds up, you know that weird smell...)
that's all i have right now because life is distracting me.
hopefully this is helpful
it went an little something like "i made some laundry detergent today. it smells good"
little did i know that that little tidbit would pique so much interest!
so i'm going to write a little bit about my household cleaning supplies, and my you never need to buy expensive, scary chemical based cleaners ever again.
first off, you need a few staples:
vinegar
borax
baking soda
keep these on hand all time and you're pretty set.
other goodies to have handy:
lemons or lemon juice
coarse sea salt
essential oils (orange and lavender are really useful; orange oil is really good at removing adhesives, like price tags and other sticky stuff, plus bugs have an aversion to citrus and lavender is a pretty decent disinfectant, among other things. there are many different oils that have many different uses, and i'm not getting into them here, but do some research. we have a small arsenal and they're great)
hydrogen peroxide (a non bleach whitener and disinfectant)
so laundry soap...
what you'll need:
4 cups baking soda
3 cups borax
2 cups soap flakes (or about 2 bars glycerin or castile soap)
a bout a tablespoon of whatever essential oil you like.
we use bars of soap, 2 does the trick. the easiest way to grate them is to shop the bars into small bits and toss them in a food processor or blender. (our blender has a little processor attachment. it does the trick.) though you can grate it by hand with a cheese grater. that method sucks, by the way.
basically just mix all the components together and call it a day.
you only need to use 1/8 cup per load, so it's cheap, easy, great for sensitive skin and lasts forever.
if you're feeling really ambitious (and have a big bucket) you can double or triple the recipe.
i usually keep an all-purpose cleaning spray handy
old spray bottle
1 tablespoon borax
vinegar (enough to fill half to 3/4 bottle)
a few drops lavender oil
enough water to finish filling the bottle.
mix it all together and shake the hell out of it to get the borax to dissolve. if there are still chunks don't fret, let it sit, they'll dissolve eventually. (but be careful because those chunks will clog the sprayer.)
give it a good shake every time you use it to re-mix the oil.
i use this to clean stuff in the kitchen and bathroom
drain cleaner
baking soda
vinegar
dump a bit of baking soda into the drain (a half cup or so)
follow it with some vinegar (at least a cup)
it'll get all foamy and fizzy.
let it sit for at least 15 minutes and rinse it with some very hot water.
doing this from time to time will help keep drains clear and stink free.
to clean my floors i fill a bucket with hot water, a 1/4 cup borax and about 4 cups of vinegar and some a couple drops of orange oil.
not only do i get clean floors but my house smells AMAZING
just plain vinegar and old newspapers replaces windex.
scrub pots with borax or baking soda and lemon.
running your washing machine empty (smallest load setting) with a cup of lemon juice will get rid of any funky smells (sometimes yuck builds up, you know that weird smell...)
that's all i have right now because life is distracting me.
hopefully this is helpful
Monday, April 11, 2011
just a little tidbit...
spring is here!
...FINALLY!
so now...i want to garden!
but it's still to muddy and wet so i have to wait.
a lot has been going on in my little home...i've been devoting my time to spring cleaning projects and jewelry making so i haven't had much time to post.
naughty naughty, i know.
though early, we have been formulating a plan for the backyard (which needs a complete overhaul thanks to my pitbull's "landscaping" escapades last year) so look forward to an adventure in cheap backwoods landscaping! whoo hoo!
-actually, it will be an adventure...i've never tackled a project like that before, so it should be interesting...
coming up soon i'll also share some inside crap i've been up to.
we're sprucing up the spare bedroom and converting it into a work room (and not just a place to pile laundry!), with a "desk" and shelves and room to actually use our sewing machine.
and then maybe i'll even figure out HOW to use it!
but until i get to those, i'll leave you with some of the most important things i've learned about keeping a home tidy:
if it isn't being used for it's intended purpose, get rid of it!
for instance, there was a bench in my kitchen...i had originally put it there as a place to take off/put on your shoes and to provide the ONLY seating in the kitchen.
but guess what? no one sits in the kitchen! so the bench became a buried under a mountain of jackets and god knows what else. i was constantly cleaning it, it was a huge pain in the ass and i hated it.
so i got rid of it. (ok, i put it out on the porch where is actually used for seating)
no more clutter. because there wasn't a receptacle for clutter.
-now, don't get me wrong, most of the things in my house are not used for their "true" intended purpose, but they serve MY purpose, so it works. get it? of course you do.
so needless to say i've been getting rid of a bunch of shit that has been giving me grief. and it feels good.
so there.
...FINALLY!
so now...i want to garden!
but it's still to muddy and wet so i have to wait.
a lot has been going on in my little home...i've been devoting my time to spring cleaning projects and jewelry making so i haven't had much time to post.
naughty naughty, i know.
though early, we have been formulating a plan for the backyard (which needs a complete overhaul thanks to my pitbull's "landscaping" escapades last year) so look forward to an adventure in cheap backwoods landscaping! whoo hoo!
-actually, it will be an adventure...i've never tackled a project like that before, so it should be interesting...
coming up soon i'll also share some inside crap i've been up to.
we're sprucing up the spare bedroom and converting it into a work room (and not just a place to pile laundry!), with a "desk" and shelves and room to actually use our sewing machine.
and then maybe i'll even figure out HOW to use it!
but until i get to those, i'll leave you with some of the most important things i've learned about keeping a home tidy:
if it isn't being used for it's intended purpose, get rid of it!
for instance, there was a bench in my kitchen...i had originally put it there as a place to take off/put on your shoes and to provide the ONLY seating in the kitchen.
but guess what? no one sits in the kitchen! so the bench became a buried under a mountain of jackets and god knows what else. i was constantly cleaning it, it was a huge pain in the ass and i hated it.
so i got rid of it. (ok, i put it out on the porch where is actually used for seating)
no more clutter. because there wasn't a receptacle for clutter.
-now, don't get me wrong, most of the things in my house are not used for their "true" intended purpose, but they serve MY purpose, so it works. get it? of course you do.
so needless to say i've been getting rid of a bunch of shit that has been giving me grief. and it feels good.
so there.
Friday, February 25, 2011
why i love thrift shop blankets....
i don't know if i mentioned this before, but i have cats.
naughty cats.
and dogs. big hairy dogs.
so some time ago we replaced out carpet with laminate. i wanted wood, but laminate was cheaper.
so be it. it's actually holding up pretty well and looks like rustic board so i really have no complaints.
but carpet is nice, warm and soft.
that's where one turns to rugs.
-but then we're back to the cats. and the dogs.
my nice, relatively expensive rugs were getting destroyed.
i needed a plan.
i was using those dollar rag-rugs, sewing them together to get the size i needed.
but they are difficult to wash, and sewing them takes time.
bummer.
what to do...
now, i don't know if i mentioned this before, but i have a little addiction to crocheted blankets.
luckily it's a cheap and practical addiction, they cost only about 1-5 dollars at thrift stores and garage sales, and i use them for everything from guest room bedding, dog blankets, throws to a cover for my tatty sofa cushion.
one fine day, upon realizing the replacement for my sofa cushion was too small, i set the blanket on the floor.
neat. i just bought a new rug.
as it turns out, most blankets are the perfect size and shape for my living room.
and since i have a large coffee table to anchor it down, i don't need to put a non-slip mat underneath.
and when they get dirty...toss em in the wash.
a bit worn and tattered...into the dog kennel.
it's probably one of the most efficient way i could be spending $2, when it's all said and done.
plus, being that cheap, i have no reservations about switching them out as often as i like.
this is my living room now, with the "rug" i bought for $1 a day ago, ant the other blanket workin hard as my sofa cover.
i also wanted to change up the dining room table, (though i was given specific instruction not got get too "springy" from the love of my life who, apparently, enjoys wallowing in the misery of wisconsin winters) so into the cupboards i went, found an old bottle and butter jar, a table runner, an antique glass pitcher from my grandma and an antique book in some language i can't read.
all i needed was a candle, a stick from the lilac bush outside and a couple old christmas decorations (and owls, of course) and i was in business.
done.
the butter jar held egg-shaped chocolates (which are now gone, thanks to the above mentioned winter wallower. perhaps that's how he's staving off the winter blues) and the candle got plopped inside the pitcher.
simple, easy, free.
ooohhh...
naughty cats.
and dogs. big hairy dogs.
so some time ago we replaced out carpet with laminate. i wanted wood, but laminate was cheaper.
so be it. it's actually holding up pretty well and looks like rustic board so i really have no complaints.
but carpet is nice, warm and soft.
that's where one turns to rugs.
-but then we're back to the cats. and the dogs.
my nice, relatively expensive rugs were getting destroyed.
i needed a plan.
i was using those dollar rag-rugs, sewing them together to get the size i needed.
but they are difficult to wash, and sewing them takes time.
bummer.
what to do...
now, i don't know if i mentioned this before, but i have a little addiction to crocheted blankets.
luckily it's a cheap and practical addiction, they cost only about 1-5 dollars at thrift stores and garage sales, and i use them for everything from guest room bedding, dog blankets, throws to a cover for my tatty sofa cushion.
one fine day, upon realizing the replacement for my sofa cushion was too small, i set the blanket on the floor.
neat. i just bought a new rug.
as it turns out, most blankets are the perfect size and shape for my living room.
and since i have a large coffee table to anchor it down, i don't need to put a non-slip mat underneath.
and when they get dirty...toss em in the wash.
a bit worn and tattered...into the dog kennel.
it's probably one of the most efficient way i could be spending $2, when it's all said and done.
plus, being that cheap, i have no reservations about switching them out as often as i like.
this is my living room now, with the "rug" i bought for $1 a day ago, ant the other blanket workin hard as my sofa cover.
i also wanted to change up the dining room table, (though i was given specific instruction not got get too "springy" from the love of my life who, apparently, enjoys wallowing in the misery of wisconsin winters) so into the cupboards i went, found an old bottle and butter jar, a table runner, an antique glass pitcher from my grandma and an antique book in some language i can't read.
all i needed was a candle, a stick from the lilac bush outside and a couple old christmas decorations (and owls, of course) and i was in business.
done.
the butter jar held egg-shaped chocolates (which are now gone, thanks to the above mentioned winter wallower. perhaps that's how he's staving off the winter blues) and the candle got plopped inside the pitcher.
simple, easy, free.
ooohhh...
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
(way too early) spring fever
yeah, it's unseasonably warm.
but it tricked my weak brain into believing spring is on it's way, and i got a bad bad case of cabin fever.
so to satisfy my outside urges, i removed the pine boughs from the front yard (and the christmas tree i arbitrarily tossed out there. i know, classy) and hauled them into the back...by my fire pit deck.
oh, how my mind reeled...
"these things have been drying for months...what great kindling they would make!" whispered the squirming voices in my spring- drugged mind.
-oh yes, i built the start of a fire.
i'll need to pick up some wood, ours is currently soaked, but i believe that tonight after our weekly wednesday venture to our favorite tavern for tacos i'll be wandering home to have a little fire out back.
that said, spring has polluted my mind indoors as well.
much to my fiancees dismay ("you're too early; it's still winter") i've taken to incorporating some brighter touches here and there. you know, trying to sneak them in...unsuccessfully.
-look, i get bored staring at the same things for long periods of time, and considering that it is winter in northern wisconsin and we are not a wealthy family, we spend a lot of time inside our home.
and though i don't mind it at all, i feel a bit more sane if at least i can change the scenery up a little bit (or completely) from time to time.
a couple of cheap things ive done in the past week or so:
recently the cats destroyed one of my bookshelves (cats are awesome. so awesome, in fact, you should take mine and experience the joy firsthand), so i dug up an old fruit crate i had laying around (yeah, i have stuff like that lying around) and stacked my books in that.
it is actually bigger and more sturdy than my old bookcase, and it works better as an end for my little bench (a ceder lined bench i salvaged from the curb). i actually like it better than the old bookcase, and it has a rad little moon drinking orange juice on top. who can resist that?
my coffee table was looking a bit drab and wintry, so so i foraged around the house and found a bunch of old blue canning jars of various sizes, cleaned them up, plopped tea lights in them, and reveled in my thrifty genius.
(oh, and my coffee table, it's an old trunk with a piece of plexiglass on top.)
it's not much, but it at least brightens it up a little.
oh, and a dog on the sofa is essential.
i know spring is still a couple months away, but i can at least make the wait a bit more pleasant inside. and enjoy a winter fire with a warm beverage outside.
but it tricked my weak brain into believing spring is on it's way, and i got a bad bad case of cabin fever.
so to satisfy my outside urges, i removed the pine boughs from the front yard (and the christmas tree i arbitrarily tossed out there. i know, classy) and hauled them into the back...by my fire pit deck.
oh, how my mind reeled...
"these things have been drying for months...what great kindling they would make!" whispered the squirming voices in my spring- drugged mind.
-oh yes, i built the start of a fire.
i'll need to pick up some wood, ours is currently soaked, but i believe that tonight after our weekly wednesday venture to our favorite tavern for tacos i'll be wandering home to have a little fire out back.
that said, spring has polluted my mind indoors as well.
much to my fiancees dismay ("you're too early; it's still winter") i've taken to incorporating some brighter touches here and there. you know, trying to sneak them in...unsuccessfully.
-look, i get bored staring at the same things for long periods of time, and considering that it is winter in northern wisconsin and we are not a wealthy family, we spend a lot of time inside our home.
and though i don't mind it at all, i feel a bit more sane if at least i can change the scenery up a little bit (or completely) from time to time.
a couple of cheap things ive done in the past week or so:
recently the cats destroyed one of my bookshelves (cats are awesome. so awesome, in fact, you should take mine and experience the joy firsthand), so i dug up an old fruit crate i had laying around (yeah, i have stuff like that lying around) and stacked my books in that.
it is actually bigger and more sturdy than my old bookcase, and it works better as an end for my little bench (a ceder lined bench i salvaged from the curb). i actually like it better than the old bookcase, and it has a rad little moon drinking orange juice on top. who can resist that?
my coffee table was looking a bit drab and wintry, so so i foraged around the house and found a bunch of old blue canning jars of various sizes, cleaned them up, plopped tea lights in them, and reveled in my thrifty genius.
(oh, and my coffee table, it's an old trunk with a piece of plexiglass on top.)
it's not much, but it at least brightens it up a little.
oh, and a dog on the sofa is essential.
i know spring is still a couple months away, but i can at least make the wait a bit more pleasant inside. and enjoy a winter fire with a warm beverage outside.
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