HomeSpunHealers

I am writing on the wing tonight without preparation or forethought.  I have been working and enjoying the company of my 4 year old grand daughter who is visiting from Florida. That doesn’t leave time for much else.  She is leaving this weekend and I have been trying to make as many memories with her as I can before that time comes. It could be a few months before I see her again. I want my home to be a place that she can hardly wait to return to.

It doesn’t take a lot to make a 4 year old happy. She likes to play “dress up” and put on play lipstick. She has a doll house that’s taller than she is that she spends hours playing with. She goes through the house with a toy flying pegasus that tells a story and carries Dora on it’s back. She is in the process of potty training her “Baby Alive”,which (according to my grandchild) “pee-ed” all over my kitchen table today. She spends a lot of time playing with her kid size kitchen stove, pots and pans, tea table, and all it’s accessories, or dancing through the house with a 2 ft tall victorian porcelain doll. Her little world is happy, full of wonderment, and magic. Just the way it should be.

She is healthy,smart, strong and beautiful.  It’s hard to believe that she came into this world only weighing 1 pound 8 ounces, and so premature that her lungs could not function on their own, had to have heart surgery before she was a week old, or that her little life laid in the balance for many weeks.  She is definetly a miracle. Every time I see her I am reminded of the power of prayer and the goodness of God. She is such a blessing in our lives, and I love being her grandmother.

Next week, I hope to come here a bit more prepared, but for now, I am baking cookies, making candy, shopping for cutesy girl clothes, watching cartoons,playing with dolls, and loving every minute of it! (Try it some time. Your inner child will thank you. *laughs*)

See ya next week!

(My mother:Mary)

My mother celebrated her 75th birthday this past Saturday.  I took her out for lunch and then treated her to one of her favorite past time activities: Bingo.  I don’t care for the game, but it was her birthday and I was going to spend time doing whatever made her happiest.

I arrived at her house at 11 am Saturday morning as promised.  She was all dressed up in a pink and maroon pants outfit and already had her make up on. She was looking sharp. She commented as we sat in her living room that she didn’t feel like she was 75 years old and she just couldn’t wrap her mind around that number. She told me she felt as young as she ever did.  I think that’s testimony enough that we are not our bodies, but spiritual beings having a physical experience. The spirit is forever young. Forever youthful. 

My mother has certainly seen a lot during her 75 years on this planet. She has suffered with rhuematoid arthritis since she was 35 years old.  She lost her husband (my father) due to a freak accident when she was only 38 years old.  Her own father died from cancer a couple of weeks later.  Her mother died from bone cancer 7 years ago.  She lost her youngest son to cancer when he was only 39 years old, and her youngest daughter was killed in a head on collison in 2006.  I feel she has known more grief than any mother should have to experience in a life time.  Yet, she has managed to carry on.  She is strong.  I feel she has extra angels that have helped carry her through all the rough places.

My mother is also smart.  She has always loved to read.  It’s not unusual to find her somewhere sitting quietly with a book or a word puzzle most anytime.  And now at 75 years old, she has enrolled in computer classes because she wants to learn how to use a computer and to stay in touch with her family through email. She is even learning how to use yahoo messenger, so that she can “chat” with us online. :) 

I had a great time celebrating her 75th birthday with her.  I watched her as she sat with bingo sheets all spread out in front of her and she never missed a digit as the bingo announcer rolled off those numbers.  I couldn’t keep up with her. *laughs*  In fact, toward the end of the game, I just handed her my bingo sheets and let her have at it.  Fortunately, they now have what I call “Bingo for Dummies.”  It’s a hand held electronic device that keeps up with how close you are to having “bingo” and also tells you what pattern you are supposed to get, etc.  You just type in the numbers as they are being called. If you have that number it marks it on the computer. If you don’t have the number you entered, then nothing happens.  When you are one number away from having “bingo” that number you need starts blinking.  Never again will I use bingo paper sheets. It’s “Bingo for Dummies” for me from now on out. :)   Incidentally, I did get to hear my mother yell “BINGO” on her birthday.  She kicked one leg up, threw one hand up, and hollered proud and loud. *laughs* 

Another thing about my mother that I admire is her generous nature.  She has never had an abundance of money. She has always lived on a tiny budget.  Yet, she always has something to give.  I showed up at her house on Saturday to take her out and to show her a good time, but she would not be out done.  Before I left, she had loaded me up with 3 dress jackets, a pair of slippers, and 2 books! She amazes me.

I hope when I am 75 years old that I still have the same passion for learning that she does.  I hope I will remain just as strong in spirit as she is.  I hope I carry her generous nature with me all the days of my life.  She is a good soul.

Happy 75th year, Mama!  I love, admire and respect you.

I am in the middle of a major transition and doing something that I said 7 years ago that I would not do again.  I am moving.  Which is why you are getting a “I love blogging” post instead of an article of some kind.  Today, I am just going to talk about my life, thoughts, and experiences in the past week.

The move has been a cleansing experience for me. I am not a pack rat, but even so, it’s still amazing the stuff that I found in closets, shelves, and cabinets that I no longer needed.  So, I did something that I very much enjoyed doing.  I gave it away. I didn’t sell it. I gave it away. I could have had a yard sale and made a good bit of cash from all the bags and boxes of surplus that was stored away in my house, but I like the message that giving sends into the Universe.  It’s like telling the Universe “Thank you for giving me more than I need. I am abundantly blessed and you can trust me to pass this blessing on.” It’s one of my ways of giving back.  I LOVE to give things away. I like it so much that it’s been a source of some conflict in my home this past week.  I have been letting go of things and trying to give it all away, and my dear husband has been holding on with all his might, and once or twice,  I believe I even heard some kicking and screaming in the other room. *laughs*  But I intend for him to get a blessing from all this sharing whether he likes or not. *laughs* He can thank me for it later.

Another almost experience came from shredding up about 26 years worth of old receipts, tax forms, and lots of old and assorted other misc. baggage that I had been holding onto just in case I needed that paper for proof for some reason or other.  I felt so free and light after I shredded all that stuff.  It was like a hundred monkies had jumped off my back as I trashed it.  Some of those documents served to remind me that I have come a long way, and have survived some very difficult times.  I am happy for reality check, and twice as happy that I feel like a brand new woman in her brand new and better world.  I plan to keep on traveling light.

I found a box of old photos stuffed way back in my closet too.  I sat and looked through those photos and got very distracted as I took that long walk down memory lane.  I found an old picture of my husband. I almost didn’t recognize him.  He looked so young, handsome and healthy.  I also saw some much younger versions of me in that photo box. Pictures don’t lie, ya’ll. Times they are a-changing. *laughs*

Having to make this move really has me out of sync with all the holiday happenings.  I just haven’t been able to get into the spirit of things.  I am too focused on feathering my new nest. Hopefully, I will have most of my stuff in my new home this week, and I can become more focused on the season, and I might even get some baking done too.   Keep your fingers crossed for me that I will be able to get everything in place and still pull off all the expectations that come with Christmas also.

I trust all of you will have a great week!  Until next time, I remain…

Your’s truly,

Rita

Most of us do not recall what it was like to live during the economic depression of the 1930’s.  In comparison, we have had it easy.  We don’t know what it’s like to have our pay cut drastically, or to wander the streets looking for work and food, and not being able to find either. 

I didn’t live during those times but I remember my grandparents talking about their experiences and how devastating it was.  Those that lived during those times were forever impacted by them.  Even when the economy was much improved, they would not live beyond their means, would not buy things on credit, and still they wasted nothing.  I think they even passed their fear and extremely frugal ways onto their children, and caused them to become “pack rats” “because you never know when you are going to need something.”

Those that lived during the economic depression would not throw away anything. They hoarded everything. They re-used things as many times as possible. Clothes were patched and clothing that was outgrown was passed down. Blankets that were wearing out were sewn together and made into quilts and covered with mulit-colored scraps of fabric left over from other sewing projects or from clothes that were beyond repair. Left overs at meal time were converted into soup or casseroles. Stale bread was transformed into bread pudding, and left over rice became dessert in the form of rice pudding. They couldn’t afford to go out and buy cooking oil, so any meat grease from frying bacon (if you were lucky enough to have it) was saved for cooking later.  Vegetable gardens were not a hobby, they were a necessity. Everyone who managed to keep their own homes had a garden.  The gardens were huge and they canned their own vegetables and made sure they had enough to carry them through the winter.  They also raised their own chickens for meat and eggs. They couldn’t afford to buy bread. They made their own. Biscuits were a daily staple.  People also bartered a lot. If one person had something that another needed, and the other had something of value to exchange, then a swap was made.  And of course, there were those soup lines for those who simply had nothing at all if you brought your own bucket.

I am sure most did without electricity, and they had wood stoves to keep warm in the winter. They did without the conveniences we take so much for granted now.  I would think that sunrise and sunset took on a whole new meaning when you cannot afford to keep oil lamps burning for hours on end.

My grandfather once told me that if my generation were to experience an economic depression like the one that they lived through that we would not survive, because we spend more than we make, we buy homes on credit that our beyond our real means, we buy too much of everything on credit, we save very little if at all, and we don’t know the first thing about living off the land, growing our own food, and how to make something out of nothing.  We are a spoiled generation. I think he was probably right.

We watch the news daily and hear that the stocks are bottoming out, that businesses are closing, banks are folding, the auto industry is going bankrupt, and that people are losing their jobs and their homes. Currently, unemployment is at 9 percent.  Yet, we hear this news as if it’s in some distant land because it hasn’t touched most of us in any real way yet. But it’s going to touch us. I sincerely feel that by next year this time, if not sooner, we will all feel the crunch of the economic crisis that our country finds herself in.

We can take steps now to make things less painful for us later. 

•  Look at your 401k plan.  If you haven’t already done so, move your money away from stocks, and invest it in Cd’s or other things that are secure.  Your return might not be as great, but we are focusing on security right now. With banks folding up, the auto industry in despair, and companies going bankrupt, nothing is a sure gamble. So don’t!
• Stop spending and start saving as much as possible. This is going to be difficult during the holiday season that is fast approaching, but don’t get caught up in the “guilt of giving.”  Limit yourself on what you can and will spend.  To repeat myself in a past article “What can you honestly give another adult that they cannot give their own self?”  If you have been brainwashed into believing that the dollar amount of your gift shows how much you care, it’s time to trash that concept, and get back to “it’s the thought that counts” belief system. 
• Practice the art of being frugal. Stop tossing out the left over meals and get creative and turn that meal into something entirely different, or if there are enough left overs, just freeze it and serve it again another time.  Save on electricity by turning off lights and keeping the thermostat turned down.  Clip store coupons,and buy only what’s on sale at the grocery store, and plan your meals around that.  There’s lots of things you can do to cut away the excess that’s eating up all of your money. ( Please leave your frugal tips in the comment section!)
• Start planning for your own vegetable garden this Spring. Vegetables are expensive! Have you noticed the price of tomatoes at the grocery store? You will do your wallet a big favor if you start growing your own vegetables, and you will benefit from the exercise also.  Plant some fruit trees while you are at it. The dwarf variety mature faster. Oh, and if you have the space for it, build a small chicken coop way in the back yard. If you do the proper maintence and clean up there’s no horrible smell premeating your property. You will love those fresh eggs, and you will have enough to share. Those that you share with will remember you when they have something extra to share also. (Special thanks to Berly who keeps me well stocked in some of the best country eggs this side of North Carolina!)
• Hone up on those hunting and fishing skills. Get back to nature and the abundance that is all around you. If you have never had venison then you are missing out. When it’s cooked right it tastes just like beef! Not only that, it’s super lean and much better for you. You can serve it as a roast with potatoes, onions,and carrots, or as a stew, or country fried steak with gravy. You can make your own breakfast sausage, or venison burgers. You can even make your own barbque served on hamburger buns with cole slaw. Anything you can do with pork or beef, you can do with venison. It is super good!  Hunting will keep you stocked with meat in the winter,and fishing will keep you well supplied in the summer, spring and early fall.
• Avoid eating out every week. We all spend way too much money on eating out at restaurants or fast food places. Pack your lunches for work, and instead meeting your friends for lunch or dinner out, take turns eating and socializing at each other’s home. It’s not only less expensive, but it’s more comfy also.
• Learn the art of bartering. Bartering is when you trade goods or a service in exchange for the same. Money is not involved.  You may already know those who have a skill that you could exchange for a skill or something that you have that they need.  There is a great place on the net called “Craig’s List” that has a place to post what you are willing to barter for anything you might need in exchange. It’s nationwide.
• Recycle. Americans are probably the most wasteful people on the planet. Stop throwing stuff away that you no longer need or want. Just because you don’t use it, or like it, or need it anymore, there is someone else who does. It’s junk to you, but it’s needed by someone else.  There’s a great organization online that allows you to post what you want to give away. You post the item, and someone else emails you to tell you that they need it and then you set up arrangements for them to haul it away. I have seen everything given away on there. Anything from whole living room suites, bedroom suites, washers, dryers, stoves, refrigerators, swings sets, exercise equipment, toys, books, tv’s …you name it…sooner or later they have it. And it’s all free!  Check out www.freecycle.org  for a group in your area.
• Stop wasting money on entertainment. You don’t have to rent movies anymore. Your local library now has DVD’s that you can check out. Instead of buying a book that you will only rend once, check one out at the library also. Put those libraries to good use!  You can also check out what’s going on at your local community colleges too. Very often they have plays you can see or an orchestra that you can attend for very little and very often for no fee at all.  Search for the free entertainment that is taking place in your own area.

The list doesn’t stop there. I am sure many of you have many frugal money saving tips that you can pass along to educate and help the rest of us.  Please leave them in the comment section. So, tell me…How frugal are you? 

I heard my youngest son say the other day that he couldn’t wait until it was Thanksgiving and it made me smile that it’s a day that he looks forward to.  I am sure his anticipation has a lot to do with the feast that our family always prepares, but I think he equally enjoys our family getting together to share the feast and each other’s company.  Holidays are great for making memories and also for trying out new recipes.

I plan to serve a lot of the same traditional recipes that will be shared all over our nation this Thursday.  There will be turkey, dressing,gravy, sweet potatoes (in one variation or other), pumpkin pies, collard greens (you haven’t lived until you try them), cranberry sauce, rolls, sweet tea, and a host of other side dishes to weigh the table down.  More importantly, there will be family gathered around keeping family ties strong and enjoying each other’s fellowship.

It’s also a day that we set aside to remember our blessings. Not that we dare forget to give thanks the other 364 days of the year, but on this day, we do it as a family.  In times past, my family has each had taken a turn at speaking aloud what they are most thankful for in the past year.  Those are special moments that I remember fondly.

The men in my family have their own Thanksgiving tradition. They go deer hunting.  We usually have our Thanksgiving meal later in the day so that they can carry on with their tradition.  I have grown to appreciate having a Thanksgiving “Supper” because it gives me all day to cook and prepare without feeling rushed and frazzled.

This year while we are waiting for our hunters to return, and our meal to finish cooking, I hope to incorporate some game time for the rest of the family, begin a new traditon, and create some more fun memories.  It’s great to get together to eat, but it’s twice as nice when you get together and play.

I trust all of you will take the opportunity this Thursday to create fond and lasting memories with all of your loved ones. Sharing your food, your time, and coming together as a family to give thanks.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Much love,

Rita

P.S. Drop me a line in the comment box and tell me about your thanksgiving traditions. I might even borrow some of them. I also would appreciate any family recipes that you care to pass along!