I look back on those times when I was but a child and realize that yes, now I'm an adult, with responsibilities and I'm forced to adapt, but the yesterdays have always brought a deep peace inside me. For years, there was no name for all that I enjoyed and that was okay. I managed to find ways to cope with the oddities in my life but still I knew there were some people that thought I was a little weird; but I have to laugh when I say this - now weird is getting to be the new "cool", the new "awesome". Hubby and I were talking to a couple of young people a few weeks ago and we were telling them about our place and they were rapt in their attention. They want to be homesteaders. I think that was the first time that hubby and I really thought about what we were.
The bottom line is we're just us - with a deep love for the land, a lust for living and we both treasure and long to pass down to others the basics of life and living the old-fashioned way. So much will be lost if we do not pass the existing knowledge on. Even yet, I scavenge through old books and blogs for the ways of old, for I know my knowledge is still lacking. I do indeed appreciate all the new and existing amenities this beautiful life affords us. Don't you just love air conditioning in the Summer and easy-access heat in the Winter? Don't you just love your washing machine and dryer and running water? Don't you adore electricity to run your home with stoves, televisions, refrigerators, freezers, microwaves, computers and lights? Let's not forget gasoline to run our mowers, saws, weed eaters, tractors, cars and trucks. I guess all I'm saying here is I do appreciate what this world affords me but I have a deep and abiding belief that we need NOT to forget the old ways. The old ways are our foundation - what today is all built upon - and I'm here to tell you - some of it WAS much better for us.
As we face "changin thymes" the old ways could become a necessity, not just cool or awesome. So while I may not consider myself a full-fledged homesteader I'm proud to be exactly what I am . . . even if that is . . . "weird"!!!!!
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Today was my start date for my family to be eating ONLY breads that I bake myself. I'm not real sure about this challenge because I'm well aware of the amount of time it takes to keep homemade baked bread available in a home; but then again, I also know that we really shouldn't be eating as much flour as we do - so perhaps, it will all work itself out. We'll see.
Today is also my start date for working in my herb kitchen making teas, tinctures, salves, medicines and everything else herbal. It is my plan to get started, take off some time during the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons, then be back at it fully in January. I'm excited. I hope I don't disappoint myself!!