Its hotter than hades outside today. I made a solar oven out of cardboard boxes a month or two ago, but have yet to use it. Just haven't had much time. Well today I think I might have to try it. I want to make something simple, like Brownies, to start off with.
First I have to run and get some eggs though!!! The last time I used a home made 'egg replacer' it was a disaster. Energy Egg Replacer works great, if anyone is looking for egg replacers, but I didn't have any of that either. Instead I got some recipe online. Those poor brownies never did rise. And they looked like they were boiling in water. UGH.
Other errands today will include calling the township about the paper recylcing problem, or calling the County to find out where there is any paper recycling programs in my local area (emphasis on LOCAL).
I also found some candles on freecycle and have to go pick them up, along with some dog food (no that didn't come from freecycle..though it would be nice if it did!!).
Since I have to pick up the candles, I won't be blueberry picking today. That will have to wait until Wed or Thurs, probably Thurs. I have to work tomorrow night, and take Sadie to Petsmart on Wed to get tested for heartworm and lyme disease. After that, I can concentrate on blueberry picking. I just hope I don't miss out on the best ones!! And at some point I have to pick up that water heater!
This week is definitely NOT going to be a gas saver. I am trying to combine errands, etc to decrease gas use, but this week it seems like I have to go ten million different directions and FAR and OFTEN. I hate when that happens! I've got 2 trips to Lancaster that I cant' combine because of having the dog along. And I've got two trips to York county that I can't combine because one of them is a work day (can't go into work stained with blueberries and covered in sweat ya know).
I was thinking about picking up another 8 hour bonus shift this week but I don't think I'm going to have time if I have to do the blueberry picking. Maybe when I have more produced stored away. Then I'll feel like I can sacrifice a day to work.
Sounds funny doesn't it?? But its true! When you are living a simpler life, things are more time consuming and things like food preservation take a higher priority than working an outside job. After all, the harvest isn't going to wait that long for you! And if you are going to harvest the food, then you'd better do something to preserve it soon, or you will lose that harvest (and any money you put into it).
I have a good job. I'm an RN and I make really decent money. I only work part time and there are lots of bonus shifts available that offer good money over and above my regular pay. So, why not just work more and not worry about this "simpler living". After all, if I work an extra 2 or 3 hours, thats a full tank of gas.
Why? Because I pride myself on being an American. And to me, the American Dream is all about self sufficiency, and being a good neighbor. When you live a simpler life, you are doing what is best for your body, your health, and the planet. But you also find out that you need good neighbors.
When I think of how things must have been 120 years ago, I think times must have been hard. They didn't have all the technology that we have now that can make the simpler life far more comfortable. I can't wait to get that Wonder Clean washer!! And solar screens are the single best invesment we've made so far!
But I can imagine that being a good neighbor and having a good "name" meant a lot more then than it does now. I think hard times are coming, and those things will become more important again. I don't necessarily want to see hard times hit people that aren't prepared, but I also think its long past time we ALL woke up and started changing the way we live.
Our disposable lifestyle has turned us into selfish, arrogant people who think we are entitled to whatever we want whenever we want it, at any cost to our neighbors. Its no wonder that so many of the kids I run into today have such an attitude of entitlement. They are surrounded by, and immersed in, a disposable society that revolves around instant gratification. Its not really their fault. Its ours! Because we've encouraged and promoted this disposable lifestyle of convenience without work. There is no concept of "earning respect" or "earning your way" because there is no need for that in a disposable society.
Really folks, if we aren't going to change how we live for the sake of the planet and our own health, then we should at least change how we live to foster pride in being Americans. Our country was founded on integrity, sweat, and blood. Its time we got reaquainted with what that really means.
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