Mow-Power

Last week when we were at the family beach house, I got a little bit antsy...

cause the dogs were getting lost in the patch of grass outside the back door ie in some sections it was up to my hip and I didn't want it to fall on my father to have to drive the three hours up to the beach house just to mow the grass. Dad's pretty much the primary caretaker of the place and while it's great that he's so willing and has been able to do so much of it, we're all pretty much capable these days. ;) (Sadly a year round resident down the road used to so kindly mow the neighborhood lawns when she did her own, but she suffered a heart attack earlier this year and passed....)

Since that day the grass was wet and rain showers were intermittent, I waited for a shower break and then went into the garage to see what the lawn cutting options were. I had a choice between an ol' electric mower (with the rain---no thank you!) or the ol' blade lawn mower (you should have seen the weed eater--it's like an ol' sickle). So I got to work using the ol' mower which happens to have a fairly dull blade at the moment---I'm pretty sure this is the original mower dad used as a kid to mow lawns! :)

Needless to say it took multiple short pushes, lots of arm muscle, and a decent amount of laughter to get one tiny section cut, but in the end it got done. The tallest pieces had just been flattened over by the mower, so I actually cut them with a pair of scissors.

Looks pretty decent, eh? ;) But the whole thing got me to thinking about how much we take simple things in life for granted....and how sometimes our health suffers because of it. Mowing with the old mower was a lot of fun, but it definitely took a lot more physical and mental work on this particular day. I started thinking about back when Dad was a kid and how so much more of the normal tasks actually took human power and muscle...and how much lower US obesity and mental disorder rates were. I started thinking about how good it felt to accomplish something basic via my own skills and wondered whether the increase in mental illness and disorder potentially has anything to do with how much of life has been broken down and sold into "ease." I could be reading too much into all this and while I don't agree with everything from the 40s-50s, a more self-sufficient life definitely seemed to have its perks for our population....and has the added bonus of being a more sustainable option for our futures.

And one final picture to leave you with....my lil' helper who laid in the truck bed the entire time just patiently letting me go about my business....although I think really she was hoping we would be going somewhere soon. ;)

We're about to spend an entire day out in the yard, getting it ready and finalized for a BBQ we're having with friends tomorrow. The sun is out today and I'm actually looking forward to pulling weeds, mowing the lawn, and a host of other outdoor activities.

Hope you all have a beautiful, sunny, outdoor, and physically based Friday wherever you are too!

What I Learned..From a Few Days of Limited Internet

1) Regardless of whether or not I check my email and whether or not people are frustrated that I will be unreachable by email for a few days, almost no one sends one. ;)  Well except for a wonderful one from my father and a few regular list-serv & duty things---but none of those were urgent by any means.

2) The internet has made the normal things so much easier to do. No internet meant I couldn't look up potential recipes to make for dinner and google has long been my fast answer machine to all sorts of random questions. Technically I lost the challenge because I used the internet at work to look up a distance from Mississippi to our house.....BECAUSE my aunt surprised us with a visit as she traveled through!  It was so great to have her stop by and it was quite the surprise. Ironically I'd just gotten the guest room situated last weekend so it was pretty easy to have her here, and as I hadn't seen her in about three years it was really great just to catch up (and have her meet my husband)!

3) I've come to the conclusion that I use the internet & Facebook to fill empty slots of time and to attempt to connect me to some world that exists outside of where we currently are located.......however that time could also be much better utilized doing things outside, reading, enjoying more of the simpler moments, and attempting to increase connections here. As the days progressed, I also felt myself relax, slow down slightly, and appreciate more. I got to sleep in for an extra 20 minutes each morning as I wasn't able to check email & news before work---the extra snooze was great!

4) I've realized that I use Facebook for work networking too. I use it to communicate with the coworkers I had who have relocated and to hunt down job options for clients by using my friends and their connections as information resources. Just goes to show that networking truly can be 90% of the job hunt.

5) And lastly, while the husband was still able to access the Internet on his computer and Iphone when he was home, I didn't really touch the TV. The lessened technology did increase our communication though and our general feeling of satisfaction spending time together. We're talking about instituting one night a week without internet or TV on both sides----I think it'd be a good idea!

It was a busy (and HOT--high 90s and low 100s) week, but an interesting challenge all the same!

Summer of Mail Love & A Personal Challenge

One of my favorite fellow Bloggers is Kathie over at Two Frog Home. She is such a wonderful and kind-hearted individual and does an amazing job of expressing her appreciation and care in many little ways. Thus when I was thinking of sending care packages a week or so ago, she was at the of my top choices of someone to send a little mail love. It turned out to be exactly what I needed to brighten my own day and in her thank you she told me that it also lifted her spirits after a long week. Now Kathie always does a great job of sending out little care packages, gifts, and notes, and she just started a wonderful summer challenge: The Summer of Mail Love. The gist is that in participating you agree to send one special somethin' (postcard, note, package) to some other person every week throughout the summer (from the summer solstice til the fall equinox). I intend to participate (even if by announcing it here, I might be giving some of you a heads up to expect something from me in the mail!) and it'd be great if others of you wanted to participate also!

Now don't worry from an environmental stand-point, I try to send things that can easily be re-used, used in their entirety, or recycled. Any packaging from me should should be able to be recycled and most the gifts I send should be able to be used (personal care products, food, etc). If there's something that isn't to your liking but you know of someone else who would enjoy it---then pass it on! I'm a huge proponent of re-gifting!

Now on a side note: The husband and I are participating in our own small challenge this week. He is giving up access to the TV from tomorrow until Friday evening and I'm giving up internet usage (except for when I have to use it for my job). We both like to point out each other's addiction to technology, so hopefully this will teach us something and if anything we'll probably read and play with the doggies more! Not that most of you aren't used to my lack of postings or blog comments most weeks, but at least this time you know why! ;)  Enjoy your own week!