Cooking from Scratch

So one of the things that I know can be much cheaper and much healthier is that of cooking from scratch. However while in thought this morning, it crossed my mind at how much easier and cheaper it used to be to cook from scratch when more individuals lived on a farm or had more access to fresh dairy products. When you needed eggs or milk, you could just go out to the barn to get what you needed without too much thought. Flour and sugar were also bought in much greater bulk and stored in big bins that were accessible in the kitchen.

All this crossed my mind as I contemplated making my granny's pecan rolls this morning. While they are delicious, the recipe calls for eggs, milk, and butter---all of which we are currently running low on and none of which are sold organically in the corner store. And when we're purchasing free range, organic eggs, 2 eggs out of a dozen for one recipe is still a decent lil sum of money just to bake from scratch. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that most of the time when I do cook from scratch using dairy products, the final product (while definitely healthier and providing more entertainment) costs more than any comparable product from the store.

In contrast, watching the film Julie & Julia yesterday motivated me to cook some part of dinner from "scratch" last night using items that we had on hand. However after looking up several recipes online about how to make stuffed bell peppers (3 of which had been languishing in our fridge for weeks), I decided to try to improvise my own version...and I think they turned out fairly well. (I'm sure the husband was thrilled to wake up from his nap to the news that I wasn't exactly sure what I was concocting in the kitchen....especially when I almost ruined his frozen pizza the night before just by putting it in the oven.....)

In the cupboards I'd discovered a bag of asparagus risotto and in the freezer we had a bag of frozen veggies given to us months ago by another couple. The risotto took forever to make (even though the instructions said it'd take under 20 minutes) but turned out well. I also made a small pan of stuffing using bread, celery, and spices--improvising vegetable stock with hot water left over from boiling the peppers, white wine, and salt & pepper. The peppers themselves were stuffed with a mix of the risotto, stuffing, and veggies with Parmesan cheese and more breadcrumbs for additional flavoring. Since I know that stuffed peppers aren't a favorite of the husband, I also did a side of pasta with sauce to boot. Turned out well, took two hours, and I used quite a few of the ingredients that had been hanging out in our fridge and cupboards for weeks--altogether worthwhile!

So I guess the moral of my morning thoughts is that at times cooking from scratch makes more sense than others from a simplicity and cost effectiveness stand point. Although, the bottom line is that made from scratch is almost always the healthier option.....

Holly Days are Here Again

Looking into the area behind our back yard with the recent snowfall

Our Trees for Troops Christmas tree!!

So Christmastime is here again and I've decided to return to the blog. Sugar cookies are cooling on the counter, the pets are lounging about lazily, and Bing has been singing us his holiday hits for the last two days straight! Our free tree is up and decorated with ornaments from Mom and Dad. Our holiday lights have been hung on our back patio with care!

Much has changed and yet much has stayed the same in the last month, although altogether things have gotten better. I subbed fairly consistently during the month of November, although it proved to the husband and I that sharing one vehicle isn't conducive to my actually maintaining a job. So we're in the process of gathering a down payment so that sometime in the spring we'll be able to purchase a second vehicle. I also recently got a second on-call (although more off-call) part-time position that will start in January--hopefully this will lead into a full-time position. In the meantime I'll continue to have subbing opportunities as well.

We spent the Thanksgiving holiday with various friends. A high school buddy of mine was presenting at a conference in New Orleans so we joined him and explored the city over the actual holiday. We both definitely want to return to check out more of the culture and history that exists there! From New Orleans, we traveled to Georgia to meet up with friends of my husband and then to attend a wedding for a couple from our military post here in Louisiana. The wedding was small and really done well! The return drive across the south was beautiful during the fall and the time away together was much needed. While we planned well with cheap hotel rates, we still blew through a decent chunk of change.....thus we've been re-learning to live on the cheap.

Our food budget for this month has been much less and our initial grocery trip included buying in bulk and price comparing just about everything. However in an attempt to save money it also meant forgoing some of our usually organic choices for more commercial ones (ie regular yogurt rather than organic, etc etc-- btw there is a major taste difference). The only choice this didn't impact was our eggs--after watching Food Inc (which is now available on instant Netflix) the husband agrees that organic, free range eggs are the most ethical choice we can make. However by buying in bulk, we've also lessened the number of trips we need to be making to the grocery store which is very nice!!

The pets continue to keep us entertained...and on our toes. After noticing the horrible, chemical smell coming from the clay litter in Major's box, we have switched to some great pine shavings. The litter clumps much better, lasts longer, and doesn't smell hardly at all. Ironically cleaning out his litter, now reminds me of cleaning a hamster's cage!

Another product I recently had to replace/reorder was that of my mineral foundation. While I went ahead and replaced my mascara with the cheaper version, I didn't want to skimp out on the substance that covers the majority of my face: my foundation. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the order from Alima (remember: Portland based, recycles make-up containers) also shipped in recyclable packaging, included many free sample products, and sent us organic chocolate samples for the holidays too! VERY PLEASED!!

In the next week or two I want to spend some time thinking about the direction of this blog. Getting married and moving has definitely changed up my world as I've known it and at times that filters into other areas of our lives too. It dawned on me this past week that I no longer flinch when I throw a glass container into the trash, nor when I'm drinking out of a Styrofoam container...and it bothers me that these things have become normal to me. Yet I also don't see myself attempting to take on the battle of creating change either. Whether or not that makes me apathetic and part of the problem, I have yet to decide......

However I also recognize that many of the values that I do hold most dear are ultimately ingrained and have stuck throughout the many transitions of this last year. My lettuce continues to grow in the front beds (its about the only thing that survived the fluke snow we had last weekend!), we're still thinking about toxic exposures and attempting to prevent them in our home, I'm still darning clothes that need mending, and I'm still thinking about where my money is going....but maybe, just maybe, I'm also wondering what it means these days to be just so authentically me....

One thing is for sure: I'm glad for the remembrance of the season and the refreshing nature that comes with the new year! Until I post again, happiness and fullness for each of you!

Hibernation

So things have been pretty difficult lately here in Louisiana and I've been feeling anything but authentic for months, so I've decided to just take a break from blogging for a while. I'm not sure how long it will last or even if I'll come back to it, and truthfully it's not like I've been a consistent blogger for the last year anyway. I still realize I don't have it that bad though--as always I'm not being persecuted, I'm loved and supported, and I have a roof over my head and food in my fridge.

The good news as of late is that I planted some lettuce, turnips, and green beans--all of which are coming up but I am not sure how well they'll do. We actually had frost on the ground the other morning and some days have been chillier than I'd expected. Since they're coming up next to the house, hopefully they'll get some residual heat also.

I also had my first day of subbing finally on Monday of this week. Pretty regular sub experience except for the fact that the kids say "yes, ma'am" and wear uniforms. The uniforms I felt were a benefit as the kids could still express individuality via accessories (shoes, belts, sweatshirts) but I didn't have to worry about kids being inappropriately dressed at all. The school is fairly small (grades 7-12; 450 students) and lacked resources, but I was impressed with the variety of course offerings and the small class sizes.

So I hope for the best for you and yours, and I feel the most authentic thing I can do is take some time to pause until I can regain what my own authenticity actually is....May each of you have full moments and complete appreciation for that which we all do have.....

Visitors! And Realizations too!

So my brother and his wife have been visiting us since Saturday. It's been nice having them here and having them get to know my husband and this place we currently call home. However it's also been interesting having them here, as it's made me realize just how much this place has become home to me. It's been interesting seeing others respond to the state the same way that I initially did, but it's also let me know how much I've grown in my acceptance of this place. I've adjusted to waiting a long time for food when eating out, to having to enjoy a lil' more fat and other dietary choices due to those options being what is served down here, and to not having all my usual shopping options available to me. (Although in thinking about this post, I did wonder if I'm becoming too complacent about some things.....??)

The husband was able to ride with his buddy to work the last two days, so we let them take our car for some site seeing around the state (such as New Orleans). They've been able to see a variety of different locations, and it gave me some time to clean up the house again and hang out with some of the other wives yesterday afternoon. The cleaning piece is something I try to stay on top of all the time (especially now with the pets), but it's something that is really important to me when we have guests. I know how much I judge others based on the comfort and cleanliness of their homes when I stay with them (I actually won't stay with relatives and friends who don't provide this), so its incredibly important to me that my home (and the shower, linens, and the like) be clean yet comfortable for people who stay in my home. I also know that allergies are common in my family, so I've been trying to keep the dust and pet dander to a minimum during my brother's visit also.

But I must say that yesterday was one of the best days that I think that I have had here. In the morning I received a text from my dog walking friend asking if I wanted to join her, and although I got to it too late (since I was cleaning! :-)) it was nice realizing that I'm actually making some friends in this place. My husband had the new guy in his unit over for lunch for the second day in a row, and in the afternoon I had two of the other wives spend the afternoon over here just gabbing and watching a movie. I went for a run and walked the dog, and then the husband and I just enjoyed some down time doing whatever in the evening. Realizing that we really do have our own routine and are able to interact with a variety of people (sometimes helping to take care of their needs) on a regular basis was a very nice touch to the day. It was a nice thought--realizing how much we do have...being here in this place together.

So it's been wonderful having family here for the week--being able to catch up on the familiar and just spend time together. But it's also been wonderful realizing how much this lil' place has that homey feel to it now too. The saying really is true: Home is where the heart is...and truthfully, the heart can reside in more than one place.

Blessings to you and yours!

Walking Away and Bringing the Smoothie Back...

So as I stood looking at myself in the mirror last night, I got that highly annoyed feeling; as in "hmmm something doesn't look quite so right here?!" I'd been noticing that my jeans and other bottoms were feeling tighter lately, but I attributed it to less walking while on my trip and the treats in recent care packages. I had figured the 12-15 miles a week walking the dog would right the clothes and comfort ratio back to normal, until noticing last night that several other areas of my body were also starting to fill in. Luckily my husband will be honest and understanding with me, and he pointed out that since relocating, I'm walking less over all and eating more, especially richer foods. A recent article I read had reported that 3-4 daily miles is needed in order to maintain weight. Since I've been doing 1.5 daily exercise miles and minimal routine walking, except from the living to the kitchen to the bedroom etc, then it made sense that I'm just not getting enough movement.

After moaning to my hub last night, he did agree to try to start running with me, but he also offered the question, "Really, what about motivating yourself?" Hmmmm.....good one!! So this morning, I went for what was my usual run before we got the animals. (Originally I'd hoped the dog would be a running companion...and while taking her gives me an extra arm work-out it really doesn't help with the running rhythm.) However, I had scheduled to meet another gal and take our dogs on the trail this morning also; so 45 minutes after running, Anna and I headed out to meet the two of them. I hadn't expected that the dogs would do so well today and that us two gals would enjoy talking so much again (last week I had an ear ache)! Thus after calculating my total distance today, it has to be somewhere around 8 miles. Hopefully I'll be able to start routinely moving more and thus keep the extra pounds at bay.

Lately I've been thinking about food too and ways in which to reduce over all calories. I've always been a fan of healthy eating, but I really enjoy some of the higher calorie foods and sweets that have become regulars in our home. So I've been slowly bringing back the smoothie again to make sure I'm getting wonderful nutrients and great taste all in one. (Beyond fruits and soy milk, I add sunflower seeds, flaxseed, cinnamon, honey, and a packet of Emergenc-E.) Now the trick is to watch the rest of what I'm eating and monitor just how many servings I'm getting each day. However, I'm definitely a fan of good food, so as long as it's healthy overall I'm much more the type of person to up my work out than decrease my taste buds in the long run.

Here are some pictures from the walk today:

Starting out on the paved trail. The trail itself is supposed to be about 10 miles long I think and the head of it is 1 mile from our house.

A surprise group of flowers along the path. They were full of bumble bees which was nice to see!

Anna and her friend Wall-E. (Yes, this means that I may have finally found a like-minded friend too....although again it's a friendship that is just blossoming...Here's hoping though!)

Accepting Routine

One thing that recently dawned on me was the fact that for the 8 days prior to yesterday, I only left the neighborhood one time to do a grocery run with the neighbor down the street who doesn't really enjoy doing things alone. Since my husband has been training and he actually only gets 50 minutes for lunch (with the construction happening in our neighborhood, it takes a good 20-25 minutes one way for him to get home) he hasn't been coming home for lunch and he's also had full use of our vehicle. Usually by the time he comes home in the evenings, we just want to enjoy his down time together rather than out running errands. In the 8 days though, I'd definitely gotten out of the house--taking the dog on a daily walk and interacting with our friends down the way, but it surprised me to realize that just so many days had gone by without actually exiting our little neighborhood area. However, I also didn't feel that I had missed out in anyway and if anything, I have been feeling quite content with life as of late.

Although I do a great job of wasting some time everyday, I've also really begun to embrace the down time I do have currently and have begun to invest more time and energy back into reading about many of the things that matter so much to me. Somehow, someway I've really begun to look again at all that I do have rather than feel that much of anything is missing. Overall, it's been a great place to be at emotionally, mentally, and spiritually as of late.

So how have I been spending my days? Why by being quite domestic of course! Each morning usually begins with my husband coming in to greet me still in bed as he's returning from PT (physical training). Soon after he lets the dog out of her kennel and, after she's been let out to potty, she's usually bounding back to the bedroom to spread her own morning greetings. After making the bed, throwing on some sweats, and picking up whatever clothing articles my husband has discarded on the floor, I turn the coffee pot on, wash my face and fix my short hair rooster tail, and then go around taking care of the animals (ie feed them, clean out the kitty litter, and pick up after the dog outside). Generally by this time, I send my husband off, scrounge around for some breakfast, attempt to keep the dog from playing a little too zealously with the cat, and then settle down with my coffee to get my morning internet fix (check 2 email accounts, facebook, pour over the 4 primary job board pages, scan the headlines, and recently catch up on/write blogs). Sometimes some of this internet stuff pours over into the afternoon and there's usually at least a couple times more a day when I'm checking up on the emails and facebook too.....I think I've become slightly addicted. Somewhere in the middle of the morning usually, I get dressed, put my make-up on, and fix my hair so it at least appears in control.

The rest of the afternoons are usually spent in one or more ways: walking and playing outside with the dog, doing laundry and/or vacuuming the house (both happen 2-3x a week by necessity), visiting with the gal friend down the road, taking care of whatever other household need may be present, completing job applications that are available, sometimes watching a decent Netflix movie, and lately finally catching up on reading all my list-servs, magazines, and books. Evenings are spent hanging out with my husband (making and eating dinner together, talking, watching a show, just playing with the animals, or sometimes hanging out with the couple down the way), although now that football has started I'm doing even more reading in the evenings too. ;-)

Before bed, I take a shower and make the household rounds (wiping down the counters and putting any baked goods away from the bugs that may decide to want them, picking up whatever might have been spread around the house during the day, readying the coffee for the next morning, and getting the animals settled and in their appropriate sleeping spots).

While it might not be much to some, at this point I'm quite content with how my days are unfolding. I'll be happy when a job arrives, but I also enjoy the down moments I've been having. Time to rejuvenate, reconnect, and think---something that until now I may not have fully embraced. So often it's the simplicities of life that we so frequently overlook and so frequently take for granted.

So here are some of the little things I've enjoyed in the last few days:

--getting to eat lunch with my husband yesterday

--the morning wake up from my hub and dog

--moments in the evening when we're both reading in bed, the cat purring in between us, and the dog happily flopping on the bedroom floor

--noticing the butterflies flapping in the breeze

--watching the cat chase flies

--rain showers to remind me of home and the sun that breaks through the clouds too

--helping the neighbors down the way decide on a furniture lay out in their place and their willingness to loan us a futon while my brother and his wife visit this next week

Maybe not much but still significant to me. May each of you have a significant day in your own special way....

Sleeping Naked is Green...

So as discussed earlier, I spent the end of last week reading Vanessa Farquharson's Sleeping Naked is Green. The following is the mini-review I wrote on Facebook: After following Green as a Thistle throughout many of her 366 daily changes, I enjoyed reading the further insights provided by her book. Her dry British humor and Canadian bent often left me laughing, although I frequently wondered how her fellow friends and family felt about such personal descriptions in her novel. However at the completion of her story, I felt that it was a worthwhile read and I took away several new suggestions toward living a lighter life.

Vanessa's book also got me wondering about how many of her green changes, my husband and I are currently implementing in our home and how we are doing on consistency of use. So I started looking through her lists and this is what I came up with:

-I use an eco-friendly toothbrush and razors (Preserve)

-We both use natural shampoo, soap, and face soap in the shower (Burt's Bees)

-I use natural toothpaste (usually Tom's but when I couldn't find it here, I've fallen in love with Jason's)

-We clean with eco-friendly cleaners (glass and multipurpose)

-We use eco-friendly laundry detergent (usually Seventh Generation but my sister just sent us some homemade stuff too) and we wash in warm/cold....However we also hang about 50% of our laundry to dry on clothes lines in the garage which is something Vanessa didn't do in her challenge

-My husband utilizes paperless billing

-We always turn off the lights when we leave the home

-Although we do have a car, we share one vehicle (which is a financial blessing but at times a major difficulty too)

-We have about a 50% success rate of using our tote bags together and we turn down bags when we remember (and don't use produce bags); while environmentally debatable (believe me, I know plastic bags are bad!) we use the bags we do bring home for pet waste removal

-We both use our reusable water bottles, although my husband still prefers those toxin leaking plastic ones over his Klean Kanteen! (although in getting that link, I just discovered they just came out with a new version of the Kanteen that has all the traits he loves about the Nalgene!! woo hoo!!)

-We rarely use disposable eating ware, unless out somewhere and I even wash out and make the husband and his friends reuse their plastic beer cups (although he recycles them when I'm not looking sometimes!)

-We recycle pretty much everything we can

-When taking coffee from home, we use our reusable coffee cups

-We only drink fair-trade, organic coffee when at home

-We primarily eat organic, free-range eggs and organic yogurt

-I use an Oregon based mineral make-up (Alima) for face and eyes and the rest of my make-up products are natural options; I also forgo make-up remover

-I'm collecting our used batteries, but I'm not sure where I can recycle them

-Our housing utilizes CFL light bulbs (and monthly changes of our air filters)

-I've attempted natural deodorant; instead most days I don't use it and then just use the unhealthy mainstream stuff on days when I know I'm really going to need it

-We attempt to let it mellow when it's yellow (although some days this is just practiced during the night)

-Most our music is bought from Itunes, we read the news online (although I do pick up and then recycle the once a week, free on post newspaper), and we rarely buy new video games or movies (instead we use Netflix--although I'm not entirely sure how environmentally friendly this option is although I hope they recycle the paper packaging)

-I attempt to fill the coffee maker and/or kettles with only the water that is needed, and I use our left over water from our next-to-the-bed glasses to water plants in the morning

-When we do fly, we use the most direct flights, I request vegetarian meals, we just use carry-on luggage, we both bring our own headphones, and we use electronic tickets

-We rarely order take-out or delivery

-I always air dry my hair and almost never use a curling iron or anything like that on my hair; I don't dye my hair

-We basically only iron my husband's uniforms (although this could be because I seriously despise ironing)

-I also don't use nail polish nor wear perfume or fragrance

-At least half our furniture we got second-hand and most our art work are photos/art from individuals we personally know

-For the most part, we don't wear shoes in the house

-We donate clothing and other items to others that can use them or to thrift stores

-We save the boxes and packaging we get in the mail in order to use them to mail packages out

-I've also saved and reused the same moving boxes and packing paper for the last 9 years

-We have houseplants

-We reuse our bath towels and kitchen towels for about a week a piece

-We have a bamboo cutting board

-We don't use hand sanitizer or air freshners

-We share and borrow a lot of stuff with our friends down the street

-I attempt to make sure the shower curtain is pulled straight to dry

-We let dishes soak that need extra time

-I knit scarves and dishcloths and I mend/darn what I can

-We close the blinds and curtains at night to insulate; during the hottest parts of the day I close the ones where the most heat enters the house in order to keep it cooler

-I also keep the emails in my inboxes and sent boxes to a minimum based on what I'll still need or want to remember

Additionally there were several changes that Vanessa took on that I'd like to be able to implement, even if only a bit more frequently:

--Eco friendly kitty litter (and other animal food & products)

--Increase tote bag usage!

--Create a compost for our food scraps

--Turn off/unplug most unused electronics until they are in use

--Eat/drink only organic, free-range dairy and meat products

--Decrease water and electricity usage

--Switch to recycled paper products

--Resign up to block junk mail at current address

--Give greener gifts

--Buy more food in bulk (although this isn't an option locally)

--Buy more organic, local food (although again, not really an option unless we drive an hour)

--I'd love to find biodegradable pens!

--Donate to worthy causes

--I'd love to use biodegradable garbage bags (again they don't sell them here!!)

--Attempt more ethical, eco friendly housewares, clothing, and shoes when we need to get something new; or buy used when feasible

--Jam/Can/Preserve and cook more from scratch

--Turn down the water heater

--Use a rain barrel to collect water

--Use alternative energy methods (although again, not currently feasible)

So while there are several things we definitely could be implementing (although some of it is not easily feasible based on available resources), I actually was surprised by how much one or both of us is already doing. There were several things that I will not be implementing--either cause I'm not ready to go quite that far or because its not available here, but we'll definitely be implementing some of these additional things as we can. And while you're at it, why not pick up a used copy of the book and see how you rate?! ;-)

Purchases and Debt

So unfortunately by being unemployed still...I'm financially dependent on my husband. This is a concept that at first was very difficult for me to accept, although he's been a good sport about it all and about having to think more about spending. After being a grad student for so long, I have the tendency to get a little cranky about money, but he also grew up having to pinch his pennies so we actually do alright. There doesn't tend to be much, if any, left over at the end of each month, but the current bills get paid and we have what we need plus a few fun things each month. I'm used to always having some sort of a cushion in my account, but I guess knowing the military will provide our housing needs and health care regardless makes me a little less leery about how close to empty we come most months. However, the husband knows how important it is to me to get out debt, so we're both trying to pay off what we have now (1 loan apiece) and plan for how to pay off what will be coming up due (my two student loans). Yet, as always is the case, there are some unintended expenses too--such as having to replace our car battery last weekend and the vet bill we accrued after first getting our dog.

The original plan was that my paycheck would automatically go toward paying off all of my debts; however with no job in sight my husband has had to pick up part of my burden. Yet we also unfortunately accrued some credit card debt with move expenses, setting up the home, acquiring the pets, and some recent trips (his for work which will eventually be reimbursed and my recent mental health break). Luckily, I had anticipated our use of a credit card and so I had closed out my previous $0 balance card and opened a new one that would grant us 0% interest for the first six months. Luckily, we should just be paying it off or near paying it off in the next month, which will be great as we won't get charged interest (especially as it would have been our highest interest rate) on most or any of it. Then I can increase the amount on my loan payment again until my other payments begin. Debt is a war I don't like to engage in, but I also feel that almost all of our recent financial choices have been worthwhile in the long run. Truthfully though, not a day goes by that I'm not hoping and praying that a job is actually going to open up soon, so I'll be able to contribute toward lifting the load that consistently weighs on my mind.

While some of our purchases could have been made more frugally or held off on, all of what we've purchased has been well worth it and most have been investments in other ways. Some that come to mind are the following:

--We bought a $50 bottom line vacuum that has consistently sucked up a ton of dust and animal hair during the 1-2x a week that I use it. I make sure to clean out it's HEPA filter each time I use it to keep it in optimum working order, and I'm hopeful that between the HEPA vacuum and the air filter for the house we can keep a lot of dust and potential allergies at bay. For the price we paid for the vacuum, I definitely am impressed with how well it does and hope it continues to work for quite a chunk of time.

--We've talked about the pets previously. While they cost via general upkeep and food, the initial "donation" we made for both of them was much, much cheaper than covering the fixing and shots for an animal that we could have found as a stray. We price compare their food and I've been making treats for Anna from scratch. We also invested in hardier toys for the dog, and the cat is a bit more easily entertained (and the dog would eat his toys) so we've only bought one toy for the cat. However, we get enormous amounts of entertainment, exercise, and love out of the creatures, and thus it feels they are worth the costs we do put into them and more.

--We ordered a box of products from Burt's Bees, as we use their shampoos and soaps primarily for health precaution reasons. Each item that we use, I have investigated in the Skin Deep data base in order to determine its safety rating and how it compares to other products. While it's a bit more to use these products, the long term health benefits are worth it. I also made sure to order enough to qualify for free shipping and so that we have enough on hand for several months. Plus that cuts down on the amount of times we have to order, further decreasing the environmental effects of shipping.

--I also have put my foot down about buying organic, free range eggs and organic yogurt. I started eating dairy before moving down here as it makes it easier for us to make meals together. It also makes it cheaper over all since we don't have to buy multiple products, and most soy products cost more anymore. I do still drink soy milk, and we buy the yogurt in bulk to reduce the cost and packaging also. I'd like us to get to the point where we're only using organic dairy for both of us and free range meats for the hubby, but at this point cost is too much of an issue to over-ride the health benefits and the treatment of the animals. I can't believe I'm writing that....sigh.

As much as I've accepted my current unemployment situation, I still can't help but hope that someday soon one of these job applications is going to pan out into a job that I can enjoy and that will help get us a little closer to the financial path I'd like for us to be on. I've definitely been applying for things outside my main interests and comfort zone--just hoping that something soon will develop into employment! Here's to keeping my fingers crossed and my prayers lifted!

The 2nd Half of the Trip

The second half of my trip was absolutely incredible; there are no other words to describe it.

I had left North Carolina glad to have seen my friends and to have been able to surround myself in a bit more environmentally aware area than where I am currently located. However I was reminded that every time I visit there, I am always saddened and appalled by the amount of racism that still exists in this world and in this nation. People near and dear to me can attempt to explain the racist reasoning to me, but it seriously does nothing but break my heart that humans still attempt to judge each other based on the color (or "culture") of one's skin. Thus I can't help but admit that a part of me was very ready to leave North Carolina.

My next stop, as mentioned in a previous post, was to meet the best friend of my husband and his wife, and she and I were to explore Savannah, GA. On the way down to Georgia from North Carolina, I again was amazed by the beauty and history of South Carolina. I had a bit of time to spare and so I indulged myself with a side trip to Charleston, SC. My original intention had been to attend undergrad in this historical town, so it was great to finally see what life could have been and where so much of our nation's history unfolded.

This is along the harbor in Charleston:
You can still see where the old carriages traveled:

I greatly enjoyed meeting my husband's friend, and it was great to meet the woman who has been a fabulous support to me over the last few months as we have found ourselves in similar situations. I also really appreciated that she too is of a frugal mentality! Thus other than a coffee and lunch, no other money was spent at any of the three places we checked out!

We went to the Bamboo Gardens where we could see lots of neat plants. Here you can really see the moss that the south is known for having:

Next we checked out Tybee Island and walked along the Atlantic shore:

And finally we spent the rest of the afternoon into evening in Savannah, GA. We'd looked into doing one of the bus tours, but neither one of us wanted to spend that much money. Instead we swiped one of the tour maps and checked out the historical sites by ourselves on foot. We definitely got our exercise that day, but we also saw everything we had wanted to see.

This picture is of historic River Street along the river in Savannah:

Altogether the trip really was incredible. My financial expenses were based on two meals, a couple of coffees, a few drinks, and about five tanks of gas, but the benefits were well worth it. Timing wise it turned out to be one of the only weeks for me to have the car away from the husband that long, and the trip itself really solidified for me just how much my own lil' family means to me. I really enjoyed having the freedom of time alone and being able to make decisions on a spur of a moment, but I also really wished that my husband (and truthfully the dog too) would have been able to enjoy all the little moments with me as well. I returned feeling that as long as my lil' family is here, then this place, and wherever we are, will be my home................otherwise known as...happily settled.

Welcoming Major!

I am a huge fan of cats. My husband is a big fan of dogs. My husband and Anna have taught me to love dogs...and he's hoping I'll learn to love football. I taught my husband to love wine.....and maybe, just maybe Major is teaching him to love cats too.

Last Friday we drove to the nearest large town in order to spend part of a day away and to attempt to find new running shoes for the husband. While there we ventured over to Petsmart to comparison price dog food and to look for toys that the dog wouldn't be able to chew up quite as easily. And I'll totally admit it...I wandered into the cat adoption center...and fell in love...with Major. He was much larger than the other cats there (although he's supposedly only 9 months) and his personality reminded me so much of our dog--somewhat independent and able to entertain himself, yet he demonstrated his love to me by chewing on my hand. He officially won me over when he spent a good ten minutes playing with nothing more than a big feather. However that day we left the store empty handed and I have to admit, I left the store rather heavy hearted.

When I woke up the next morning still wanting him, the husband decided we should go back for him. So I put in a call to Petsmart to make sure he was still there, and the manager broke the rules and put him on hold for us to guarantee we could get him after our 50 minute drive. We also brought the dog along, hoping we could see how they would interact before bringing him home for sure. While probably not the most financially or environmentally savvy to drive all the way back to pay the "donation" fee for a humane society cat, we have thoroughly enjoyed having him here. When we really thought about it, his donation fee covered his neutering, all his shots for the year, and a month's worth of flea and heartworm medication---which was probably over $100 cheaper than paying for all of that ourselves by picking up a stray cat. We also saved money by transporting him home in his covered litter box and therefore didn't have to pay for a carrier or $9 for a cardboard box for that purpose. (Luckily both animals travel really well--something that will be very worthwhile on our eventual move back to Oregon.) And there's something nice about adopting shelter pets and providing them with a home, especially when we've received so much entertainment and love in return.

The two critters continue to get used to one another. Anna's got a little more playful tendencies than Major might like sometimes, but he's often the one who is egging her on. So as much as there is increased silence in our house due to the fall season, there are also moments full of barks, purrs, hisses, and yelps! We're still adjusting to litter box mode (my childhood cat had been primarily outdoor and always let us know when she needed out in order to go), although since that's my job the husband is much more inclined to clean up after the dog! ;-) For the most part I try to do it all in one swoop every day to cut down on the amount of baggies we're throwing into the trash, and I'm hopeful I can look into some more environmentally friendly cat litter options.

While I'm still on the animal post, I thought I'd share the link to Rhonda of Down to Earth's great dog biscuit recipe. These are the ones I made for Anna before going on my trip and I'll need to make some more this coming week. I used peanut butter for the flavoring which she seemed to enjoy. Since we didn't have powdered milk, I used a lil bit of regular milk and then had to add more oats and flour to the mix in order to get it to the right consistency. My cookie cutters are quite large so I just cut out little squares and triangles for her that were about the size of the other dog biscuits we'd been giving her.

I'm wanting to look into other natural pet recipes, bathing, and treat ideas. One of the articles my husband and I read lately discussed the lack of regulation over pet products and how independent testing has shown a decent percentage of said products contain toxins. While I recognize that my dog is only estimated to have a 7-10 year lifespan, I don't really want to be doing too many things to damage or lessen a happy and healthy life for her. Currently we are using the pet shampoo that the humane society gave us for free for the dog, but I wonder if anyone has any "natural" suggestions? Or does anyone know of any books that discuss this stuff?

Happy petting to all of you from all of the craziness here in our household!

The Silence of the Season

It seems that fall is landing upon us here in Louisiana and I really don't mind it too much. I originally noticed this on my return drive into Louisiana coming back from my trip. With my sunglasses on, I could see the leafy trees just beginning to get that slightest tinge of yellow. I also spent the first three days back wearing jeans and a sweatshirt, as a dry cooler front had come in and the dry 80 degree weather left me with goosebumps on my skin. Even with the return in mugginess and temperature over the next few days, the AC had been dropped considerably and the last two days it has pretty much been shut off. It dawned on me this morning how consistently the AC was running, as there seems to be a silence that's settled over the house now. The AC this summer has probably been my biggest environmental downfall.

My husband just started a 14 day training program yesterday. Luckily he gets to come home for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but it does mean for even earlier mornings for him than normal and working on the weekend again. This morning I woke up when he got home for breakfast and discovered he was soaked by rain. Thus with the rain coming down non-stop, I'd cleaned the entire house and taken care of the animals' needs by 9am. With the husband long gone already, the dog and I headed out into the drizzle to do our usual 1.5 mile loop around the neighborhood. I was surprised to once again notice the silence that was surrounding us. Although we had the occasional dog barking greetings at us, we only passed one other person and minimal vehicles on our jaunt this morning. I'm sure it was partly due to the rain (something this Oregonian isn't afraid to venture out in), but also to the fact that it was mid-morning on a Saturday and I'm sure plenty of people were still tucked up comfortably in their beds. It was sort of a nice change to have the neighborhood and paces to ourselves for once.

I'm sure that part of today the silence of our household will be pushed away. I have a girlie movie and the Sicko documentary waiting to be watched while the husband is at work this weekend. We also have been watching the 30 Days episodes on DVD and I'm sure that either that or football will be turned on this evening for my husband. However, these rainy fall days make me want nothing more than to be curled up with a good book, a tasty cup of coffee or tea, and snuggle down into a blanket--something I've been doing quite frequently lately. I recently ordered fellow blogger Green As a Thistle--Vanessa Farquharson's Sleeping Naked is Green and have been enjoying it quite a bit.

Thus here's to silence, here's to fall, and here's to my plan to have many blog posts this week! ;-) I hope each one of you is enjoying a wonderful weekend!

Road Trip (Louisiana to NC)

So the road trip has been going well! It's been nice to catch up with old friends and to see more of the South of the country. I really loved driving through the beautiful states of Alabama and South Carolina, and the history along the roads I traveled through South Carolina was incredible! Along the road you pass tobacco and cotton fields and can see the old plantation homes with their outbuildings. So much history to make you think along the journey about how much has changed in this country yet how much is still left to be improved.

However one of my favorite things about being here in North Carolina where I've been staying this weekend is that several transplanted Oregonians are also here. It's been wonderful to actually converse with others about things like local produce and steps toward sustainability. The husband of my best friend has a converted diesel truck so he and I spent time yesterday talking about things such as veggie oil and alternative energy sources. We also took their recycling to the nearby center and they accompanied me to a farmer's market store....I felt like I was near heaven. One of Oregonians is also part of Ft. Bragg's Environmental Program and she and I were able to talk about the steps they are being implemented to increase sustainability on Army posts across the country.

However being away from what is now home has also made me realize just how much I love and appreciate my own little family of my husband and our dog. I'm glad to have been able to get out and see and do while I can, but I'm definitely going to be ready to be back home too. My best friend, her husband, my husband, and I are all from the same home town (and her husband actually introduced my husband and I) and I think it's been interesting for them to see me feeling so settled, as this is really the first time they've seen me since I got married. Tomorrow I leave for Georgia where I will be visiting my husband's best friend and his wife. She and I have been engaged in a lot of supportive emails over the last two months and it will be wonderful to finally meet her and to see the historic Savannah!


I hope everyone has been doing well! Blessings to you and yours!

Of Recent Happenings

So many times I intend to sit down and blog yet just never really get down to it. However several good things have happened in the last few weeks:

--I made sun tea re-using a bulk sized old pickle jar, and it actually turned out really well!

--I made Amish White Bread from scratch which my husband loved and we used for several different things. And once it got old and crusty the dog loved it for a snack too.

--The husband hung a second laundry line in the garage, so now it's much easier to do all the wash on the same day just about. We still run the dryer for a few things but for less time and for less stuff.

--The couple living with us has their own place now just down the road, which makes it very convenient for our husbands to commute to work together most days and it's nice to still have them close enough yet far enough away for privacy also.

--Ironically the wife was over here the other day telling me about how they've continued to recycle now in their house and how she even caught herself washing out a plastic ziploc bag to re-use the other day. ;-) So it's nice to see that some things will indeed stick. The husband gets this big proud grin every time he buys something organic and can't wait to tell us.

--I've made a new friend in the last week who has a dog similar to ours, who is actually close to my age and interests. We're just getting to know each other but at least it's potentially some positive community!

--The 3 of us in my family: husband, dog, and I found a great hiking/camping area about 30 minutes from here. We went hiking two weekends ago and had a really great time. The particular trail that we went along had placards naming many of the flora along the trail, and it was great to finally be able to start putting names to the plants I've been wondering about the last two months!

--The husband and I have also continued to realize that for the most part we really enjoy our own cooking together other than processed/prepared food around here, so it's been great to spend the evenings when he is home coming up with stuff. I also really enjoy that we actually sit down at our dining room table to eat and enjoy each other's company.....I just feel it's a really good habit to get in and a great part of our day when it does happen.

--Last week I applied for 5 jobs. Although 3 of them aren't very likely to go anywhere due to the process around here of who gets priority, at least I felt like I was moving toward something. I also attended a fair like thing on post for wives wanting to get involved and was connected with two ladies who are passing my information up the chain. Who knows if it will ever pan into a job (this whole process has happened before) but again at least it's nice to know that people definitely think I'm employable. Although apparently my husband saw a headline the other day that stated that the unemployment rate for military wives is at 18% right now, so obviously I'm not the only one with these same frustrations. I had a frustration last week when after only 3 weeks of being open (and right as I was about done with the application) they closed the sub teacher application process...so now I'll have to wait until October when they reopen if I don't have a job before then. (Although I couldn't help but think as I drove out the parking lot that day: Well maybe God doesn't want me in the school system down here....)

--And since the husbands can now commute together (and because there has been a lot of drama around this place lately), my husband is letting me take the car and go visit my best friend in North Carolina for a week. Since I don't have a job yet, it's really the perfect opportunity and driving will make it a much cheaper trip. An additional perk is that another one of my buddy's and his family are stationed in Alabama and I can stop along the way to finally see them also. And if it works out I'll get to go visit the husband's best friend and his wife (who I've been in contact with a lot lately) who live near Savannah, also. So hopefully it's going to be a fabulous trip!!

--The trip though will be done fairly frugally. We took the car in for its needed oil change yesterday and I'll buy gas. I'll pack granola bars and water, etc for on the way, and then will eat at the homes where I'll stay. The best friend and I are going to head to the beach one day, as I've been missing the actual ocean for sure, but most everything we do will be on the cheap. I've still got birthday money and just enough from our monthly budget to cover the trip, and the mental health break will definitely be worth it! Although I'm going to really miss my own little family for sure!!

---Yesterday I made oatmeal white chocolate chip cookies from things found on hand and using my Granny's recipe. Today I hope to make dog biscuits from scratch so the husband has something to give the dog while I'm away. Then I've just gotta focus on packing! ;-)

Big hugs to everyone....hope the last several weeks have been wonderful!

How Time Gets Away

Sometimes I really don't know where the time gets away. I spent a few weeks being extremely homesick, a few days being incredibly frustrated about not having a job, every day interacting with the guests in our home, and most days filling up the time somehow or another. The days of homesickness were difficult but the husband and I have had some good conversations and his support has been wonderful. It's definitely been a challenge continuing to adjust to this area with minimal resources, but somehow I'm just not up to the point just yet of pulling on my shoes and forcing major change in this area. However, I am starting to get there. Case in point: coming from Oregon I seriously thought that styrofoam was pretty much only used for packing materials sometimes. When you move to Louisiana you discover that take out containers, disposable plates, etc are all made of the evil styrofoam. One more Sunday of after church fellowship and I'm pretty sure the question will be leaving my lips "Why in the world are you still using styrofoam?!"

The dog, while adorable, has proven to be quite the handful. We now have to know where she is constantly and even then she still takes a mile when we give her an inch. The same morning my husband found her digging a hole in the backyard and chewing on the neighbor's cable wire, she also broke off his habanero pepper. Several days prior she had dug out the flower box that was blocking the opening under the fence so she couldn't access the neighbor dogs. And after two "accidents" on the living room carpet, she resides in a baby-gated area of our kitchen. Although that area shrank when we discovered her chewing on the kitchen cupboards! She definitely is trainable (she's already picked up a few commands and is doing much better on our walks) but she also likes to push the limits for sure! However at 10 months and in a second home, much of this is to be expected and hopefully she'll age out of some of these behaviors too. For now, we keep her in the kitchen or outside and make sure that we can see her, and 8 new cinder blocks don't allow her access under the fence. The beauty of the blocks is that we hope we can plant flowers and veggies in the openings......well, as long as the dog doesn't eat them!

I've been getting stressed lately about the debt load that I am now carrying due to my student loans and still trying to pay off my/our car. While I'm very good with money, I also don't like to place my financial burdens on my husband's shoulders and the transition to currently being financially dependent on a man has been a struggle. However with the house now being settled, a regular financial schedule is able to be implemented especially as we get into more of a routine together. I'm still anxiously awaiting a decent job though so I can contribute something more to getting out of debt, and I'm seriously wondering why I didn't get an education in a more technical health field---as the jobs there are consistently available.

However I've also been pleased to see some major strides here in our household. My darning thread and needle has come back out (albeit to fix the dog's toys and make them last longer), our housemates come home seeking praise everytime they make a new stride in the organic/sustainable/natural department, the husband and I have been attempting evening walks with the dog when he's not working which have become some of our favorite moments, we finally settled on and hung my old drapes up in the bedroom, and we're consistently talking about how to make more strides here (ahem, I'd love a way to compost!!, let's cook more from scratch, and how about another laundry line in the garage?!). And ironically, while I hate using plastic from a health standpoint, here in Louisiana I'd almost rather prefer buying plastic over glass because at least we can recycle the glass.

Additionally after my morning run today, the dog and I went on a decent walk and finally checked out a trail that heads at the start of our neighborhood. The dog did the best she'd ever done running the trail and being surrounded by woods and that earthy smell did my soul some major good. Add onto that the fact that I've re-engaged with one of my devotional books....and I'm starting to really feel like I'm doing well again. Now if only....I actually could blog with some consistency! ;-)

Backyard Goodies!

The pineapple starts from the couple who left.

The hub's Habenero pepper which has begun to turn since this picture was taken.

The tomato that while short has finally put on a few blossoms and the yellow bell pepper.

Geico, the lizard, who shed his dark skin two weeks ago and was green as glory one morning!

I don't have any current pictures of the basil, but it's filled out incredibly. All the produce was planted in organic feed material....so it's the closest we may come to having organic produce! Hopefully they'll produce something, but we'll have to see how it all progresses. We had some massive rains lately that almost over watered the plants, but they seemed to survive in tact.

Introducing Anna--the Pound Pup!

As mentioned, the husband and I had stopped on Monday to look at dogs. We've been discussing the idea of getting a dog/cat since before I got here, and I definitely wanted us to get one from the Humane Society. During the last week we'd looked at several dogs online and discussed what we were looking for in a potential dog for our home. We both wanted a gentle female dog, and I wanted one that would be larger so I could run with her. My husband hoped for a short hair dog and I wanted one that was so ugly it was cute, so how we wound up with what could very well be a full bred 9 month old German Shepherd puppy I'm not entirely sure! But upon meeting her we just couldn't resist her sweet demeanor and felt that she would be right for our home.

The first place we had stopped had several adorable dogs but none of which were larger dogs, although there were several we were potentially interested in. (And ironically there is a kitten there that stole our heart, so he/she may be joining us later.) However I think we both felt guilty not adopting a dog from there as the place was rather depressing and smelly to be in. The first place was in a smaller county (here called parishes) and is staffed and run by volunteers only. Whereas the second place was government run and appeared to have cleaner and more organized facilities.

Our dog we selected had been there for a few weeks after being relinquished by her original owner who no longer could care for her. We have a few concerns that she may have been mishandled as she cowers upon meeting new people, but hopefully time and love will soothe her worries. She was one of the few dogs in the shelter who actually didn't bark even though the rest of the dogs did. She appeared incredibly sweet and was adorable to boot, so we didn't hesitate on selecting her. She had to be spayed and the facility had a two day wait period after selecting dogs, but we picked her up on Wednesday afternoon and brought her home.

Ironically we already had to take her on a vet run yesterday and discovered that she has intestinal worms and what we hope is only pneumonia. The old saying that "free" dogs are never free continues to ring true, but we are happy to be able to provide her with a comfortable and loving home. She's on two different antibiotics at the moment and seems to be feeling better. The vet techs were also the ones who mentioned the fact that she probably is actually full bred. So while I've never been one to think I need a full bred dog, we still rationalize that what we've paid for her is actually cheaper than what it would have cost for the spaying and all the immunizations that she has already had and definitely cheaper than paying for her "full bred" cost.

Luckily at 9 months she appears to be fairly well house trained. So as long as we can continue to train her and get her over these initial ailments, then hopefully it will be an easy transition for her into her new home.

We ended up naming her Anna. And if we go back for the cat s/he will be named Louis/e. That way we'll be sure to remember our time here in this state with Louise Anna in our lives for years to come! ;-)

Sharing Spaces/Sharing Lives

As discussed in a previous post, part of the military life to me (and what makes any good community) is taking care of one's own. While I haven't seen this occur within our neighborhood per se, I did describe the generosity of several others in helping my husband and I set up home. I think I also mentioned how part of me feels that God has us here as a means to help support and provide for others who may need it. And since that realization we have had several opportunities to put it into practice.

We currently have another couple living with us. They just recently got legally married and were put on the post housing wait list for their own home with an estimated wait time of six to eight weeks. Until the home would become available they had planned to stay mainly in the barracks but also spend some time here. However the day that she arrived on post, the Army also issued her husband a roommate for his barracks room, so the two of them are living here with us until their own home is available. Luckily for all of us, we had plenty of space for them to join us and I'm pretty sure my hubby's been glad that I've had something else to occupy my time during the days.

Sharing the space has been going fine, although I'm trying really hard to not let my old organizational nature get the best of me. Since I've been occupying my time mainly by cleaning and organizing, my preference has gone back to the days when I really liked things to be just so. However it's got to be an adjustment for both of them living in our home, especially with many of the lifestyle choices that my husband and I do make. I've been impressed with both of their willingness to recycle and conform to some of our "funnier" ways (aka washing out plastic sandwich bags, etc), and rather appreciate that they don't seem annoyed when I do go around turning off lights and moving more items into the recycling. Lately, I can't help but wonder if some of these funny ways of living might stick and be implemented in their own home, but we'll just have to wait and see. It's a hard place to be--not wanting to impose your beliefs and choices onto someone else, yet also wanting them to understand and implement those practices for good.

In the last month or so we've had quite a few individuals over for dinner or BBQing, as we'd really like to have our home be a comfortable and open place for many others in my husband's unit to enjoy. Last evening we all had another couple over for the first time, who also are fairly recently married and newish (May) to the area. Sometimes I feel quite like the old wife amongst the 19-21 year old wives, but I can't help but think there is a reason for this too. Many of the other wives also spend most of their days sitting at home, alone, without any real resources or involvement on post, so the gal who is currently staying with us and I are attempting to pool together some of the wives to see if we can get some support started. If there's one thing I'm learning from my observations around here, happier wives lead to happier marriages which also, of course, lead to happier husbands.

In other news, I have been longing for many Oregon-esq things lately. Mainly being produce, sea breeze, access to a variety of natural products, like-minded individuals, and of course my family and friends (who also tend to fall into that like-minded category). The highlight of my afternoon on Thursday was having a 5 minute conversation with another wife in the on-post store about which water filter was better and why. To actually converse with another person who cares about these issues, takes steps to protect her family's health, and appeared worried about the local pollution....I seriously wanted to take her by the hand and ask her right then and there to be my new best friend! (I hesitated cause a) I didn't want her to think I'd gone crazy and b) she appeared at least 15 years older than me and with 4 kids in tow.) However I'm hopeful that maybe, just maybe there will be others like her at some point and I'm encouraged to even run into one somewhat like-minded individual at this point!

And with that I will close this posting for now. Still working on the volunteer/job thing. At this point, I think almost any job would be worthwhile just so I'm contributing something and utilizing the gifts that I do have to give. Hope everyone has been enjoying a wonderful weekend!

We Found the Gulf of Mexico!

Smoke from the fire and the swamp fire on the way back.

The Gulf of Mexico!

The husband finally had another day off on Monday and for the first time in a while, we headed out for a bit of an adventure. The night before had been a tough one on me, as it was the first time in a long time that I had come face to face with some racist comments, and the experience left me shaken and longing for my like-minded friends and family back in the Pacific Northwest.

A day away and exploring proved to be restorative and energizing for both of us, and was the opener for a really good week actually. So on the said Monday we headed south, stopping along the way to look at animal shelters for a potential dog to adopt. I had scoped out the map and discovered that there is a highway that makes a big loop from one of the major cities an hour and a half south of us. The lower end of the loop runs along the Gulf of Mexico, and much to our suprise also included a very short ferry ride. (Very exciting as I don't think I've ever been on a ferry before AND there were porpoises that swam along side of it!)

The scenery was very swamp-esq and we were able to see and learn so many different things. We discovered that alligators can be road kill in that area. There also was a large variety of birds; mainly cranes, herons, and the like. The surrounding land also was widely utilized for grazing cows, which was something I definitely hadn't expected but I was glad to see the cows happily free ranging and usually with a funny white bird standing right next to them. The return on the loop also let us witness that swamps can catch fire--we think it was due to the lightening.

Altogether the day was an incredible experience in which we got to observe more of this area that is our new home.

Some Things to Soothe the Soul:

--Posting here yesterday made me feel accountable about trying to get more involved, so I put in a call today about volunteer opportunities and will go in later this week to continue the process.

--30 minutes or 3 miles of straight running at 6mph on a slight incline not only gets the heart pumping but clears the head of frustration too

--25 minutes of prayer for others during 30 minutes of cardio and reminding oneself of everything that she does have can also chase away the blues

--receiving two new books via delivery and putting in an order for replacement bath goods that are healthier for the hubby and I

--spending time to really catch up on fellow simplicity/earthy bloggers postings reminds me of the joys of taking it easy and makes me think of more ways to bring peace to my soul and increase my natural existence

--seeing the growth in our few garden goods: the pineapples' greenery has grown, the tomato (which hadn't been doing very well last week) finally has a blossom or two, the basil looks amazing, and the hubby's spicy pepper is getting a little bit bigger

--Geico, our lizard, shed his skin this morning and was a striking green color when I found him!

Am off to do a bit more fitness with the Wii Fit and then sit on the back patio reading the local newspaper and hopefully diving into one of my newest books. Aim to post pictures of the plants growth soon!

Searching, Searching...

The randomness and continual work days of my husband's schedule is ongoing, but it's still a joy to spend time together in the evenings at least. I spent most of this afternoon searching around online for opportunities to get more involved on post. There are some options for volunteering and others for getting involved in Bible study groups. I also decided to apply for a job that I'm over-qualified for and that isn't in my usual area, but at least would be a way to be helping out and bring in some extra funds. One of my primary goals for this next year is to really try to get our debts paid off.

I was hopeful I'd be able to find some interesting workshops or groups on post or in the local community, but thus far I haven't been able to turn up much of anything. However, in my searches I also discovered a bunch of wonderful and insightful blogs written by a variety of Army wives that entertained me for hours and left me feeling uplifted. It was especially great to find so many other liberal, educated, and independent military wives writing on the Internet about their transitions into this life.

I've just started reading the book Deep Economy and it looks like a good read. The husband and I also were able to attend the same church on Sunday and it dawned on me that maybe God has us here as a means to help other people.....there are a lot of people here who it seems don't have other individuals to depend upon. Since we've gotten here, we've hosted a lot of individuals in our home and hopefully will continue to reach out to others who could use a friend.

The one thing I will say about this life is that with so much transition, those that do interact with each other seem to take care of their own. One of the first couples we met here got out of the Army the beginning of July and we inherited quite a lot from them: baking goods, various food stuffs, house plants, and cleaning supplies. I've mentioned the rocking chairs we have on the patio left over from another soldier who left, and our futon and TV stand were also given to us by a fellow soldier that is an acquaintance of my husband. There is a baker's rack that is also waiting for pick up for our dining area that is coming from yet another soldier who works with my husband. Add to all that the continual garage sales from families moving from post to other posts and there's quite a lot available if you're open and willing.

Now it's just trying to improve community beyond the granting of free stuff and increasing my own involvement here as well. I finally put in a call to the Housing company today inquiring about whether or not they promote proper disposal of CFL lightbulbs. They do have a take back and free replacement policy, but the woman reported that they've never had issues with people wondering about the mercury in CFLS and how to properly dispose of them. Hmmm....maybe that's because most people don't know that CFLS actually contain the chemical and need proper disposal! So there might be some health promotion for me to do here after all.

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend and is off to a great start of this week!