Civilization

Our late neighbor was a very quiet man, God rest his soul.  We never really got to know him.  He was a good neighbor but he kept to himself and his family.  I was, however, friends with his wife, a gregarious woman and an avid, creative quilter.  Many times over the years she told me that any time (which does not suggest frequency) that they went on a driving trip that carried them out of the county, the sight of the Lafayette water tower drew the comment "Back to civilization!" from Ray.  I always listened to this story with a touch of incredulity, unable to grasp what Ray saw as civilization here in this one dog town (too poor to even have a horse). 

Feeling Blessed

It seems as if all of our decisions are blessed this spring! 

We determined this past winter to make an effort to reach out to our community more.  It's not as easy as it might seem.  For the 15 years we have lived in Tennessee we have primarily lived as "tethered nomads".  (In other words, having a "base camp" home that remains a part of your life but almost living other places.)  Living this way has had its pleasures.  We have met many interesting people and had some incredible experiences, but as a result, we know very few people who live close by. 

Life on the Road to Nowhere

Good afternoon folks!  Well, we've just got all sorts of things going on here today.  Our trees arrived yesterday afternoon, so, since today was rainy, we did a lot of research to be sure we knew exactly where and how to properly plant these new babies.  We have: walnuts, pecans, filberts and chestnuts.  For fruit we have: apples, plums, blueberries, and one pomegranate.  So there are many different planting situations called for.  Tomorrow the weather should clear,

Dream Journaling and Productivity

I started an interesting habit this past week:  Dream Journaling.  The way it works is that you keep a notebook or journal right near the head of your bed along with a pen or pencil and a flashlight or booklight.  Each time you wake up during the night you record any details of any dreams you can remember.  Let me tell you, if you didn't think you were weird before you start dream journaling, you definitely will after a week of it.  If you already thought you were a little shy of a full deck, there is nothing that will confirm that belief more!  This journal is just for you by the way.  If you feel inspired to share any of the nighttime bizarreness with any friends or loved ones that is your prerogative but make it clear to anyone with access to your bedroom that the contents of that book are for your eyes only.

I came up with the concept of dream journaling from a book my husband and I are reading, or rather working through (it is a workbook) called, Navigating the Coming Chaos: A Handbook for Inner Transition, by Carolyn Baker.  This is only one of the many books we are reading right now that deals with preparing for a changed society.  The way we see it there are huge changes coming for all Americans and probably for all citizens of this earth.  The changes may be related to troubles in the financial world, to the depletion of critical resources like petroleum, or to major food crises caused by over dependence on mono-cropping and depleted soil fertility.  I have no idea when these changes might come, nor do I have any clue as to how fast they will happen when they do.  However I (we) are working toward greater resilience physically, psychologically and spiritually just in case these changes happen during our or our children's lifetimes.  Navigating the Coming Chaos probably falls best into the psychological/spiritual category.  The process of keeping a dream journal is supposed to help me get in better touch with my inner self.  I don't know whether or not that is happening, at least not yet, but it's fun all the same!

This week has certainly been an incredibly productive one!  It probably doesn't hurt that my folks are coming to visit and eat at my house.  I want the place to look as good as possible for them. this has brought on a major spate of cleaning and reorganizing over the whole piece of property.  However, the cleanup isn't the only activity gong on around here.  We've up up a second spice shelf, built provisional bookshelves, Joe built me a sewing-machine table,

kale is getting planted, and a host of other things too numerous to list or even remember just now.  I made myself some fab shopping bags and am considering making them for sale.

They were too much fun to make and hold a veritable #%$*ton of groceries!  Incidentally, the table they are sitting on is the table Joe made me this week.  

So, try dream journaling.  I can't promise it will make you as productive as I have been this week (there is no proof of such a connection)  but . . . you never know!