Day #2 THANKS FOR NOTHING MONTH

Day #2     THANKS FOR NOTHING Month                               Sunny/Frigid

“Just for today I will touch the arm of every person I speak to face-to-face.  This one act has the power to create a connection between us.”
Mornings during THANKS FOR NOTHING MONTH are a challenge during these beginning days of the month.  Each year we forget how much thought goes into the process of having hot water.  And hot water is the first thing needed in the morning, and nearly the last thing required in the evening.

The wood stove in the living room is the only active source of heat for our home, an “Earthship” designed by the architect Michael Reynolds.  The home is constructed with rammed-earth tires, cans, bottles and lots of other re-purposed items.  Because the basic premise of the home is to use the concept of thermal mass for heating and cooling, the house naturally never falls below 55 degrees F, even with no heat source.

The only sources of hot water include a large old-fashioned enamel water kettle, and a small modern metal tea pot which are heated on of the top of the wood stove.  This hot water is used for washing dishes, filling up the solar shower bag that’s used for an evening shower, and, most importantly, for hot tea and coffee.  It takes a bit of planning to not run out of hot water, and that’s where our month of no electricity and money gets off to a rocky start.

For example:  Unless someone gets up in the night to put wood into the stove, in the morning the water in the tea kettles is only lukewarm.  The room is still plenty warm, and the stove is still hot, but the tea kettles loose their heat rather quickly.  Since Jay loves his morning cup of coffee, and I crave a proper cup of morning tea, this causes us to huddle around the stove, waiting for the smaller tea kettle to begin to “sing” that it’s finally hot enough.

After the first night, I’ve decided that if I wake up, no matter how much I hate to get up, I’m going to refill the wood stove.  Last night I did wake, and I tried telling myself that it didn’t matter, we could wait for our tea.  But then I remembered that there would be people joining us for a consulting visit and we would not have the luxury of hanging out until we’re good and ready to begin the day.

With my head lamp shining brightly, I wandered down the hallway like a coal miner and filled up the stove.  Unlike a coal miner, I had the added hazard of avoiding stepping on any of the cats that sleep wherever they find a bit of warmth.  Then back to bed, to dream of warmer days.

Last year I tried hoarding hot water by filling up insulated water carafes.  It didn’t really work.  Lukewarm water just doesn’t make a great cup of coffee or tea.

I’d love to hear an idea or two about how I might keep the water hot enough over night to have a nice hot cup of tea, and not have to wait around for 30 minutes to get the day in high gear.  I’m considering putting some clay bricks on top of the stove (slight thermal mass) and putting the tea kettle on top.  My hope is that the bricks will hold more heat then the top of the stove.

The saga of how to keep the water hot over night continues.  I hope to hear from folks about possible solutions.

Menu
Breakfast:
Fresh fruit with yogurt

Lunch:
Left over butternut squash/potato soup
Rye bread with butter
Fresh hot pepper raw milk goat cheese

THANKS FOR NOTH…

THANKS FOR NOTHING MONTH                      January 31, 2012            7:00 AM

69 F indoors                 44 F outdoors

My vacation from the world – that’s what this month has been for me. 

 

The days of the THANKS FOR NOTHING month have been filled with writing, doing chores, milking goats, mucking out stalls, receiving visitors, and savoring the moments.  Frankly, I don’t know where the time goes.

Since I’ve based my writings on my definition of the HAPPINESS FACTOR, and written daily about some part of it I thought I’d write my last blog for this month with a little summary that is told more in photos then in words.

 

Meaningful work 

 

High expectations    University of Dayton ETHOS engineering students working on the Earthship eyebrow

 

Education  New recipe:  Sweet Potato fries – YUCK!  They turned out to taste horrible!  We’ll do better next try.

 

Friends   Four of interns enjoying their time together – Anne-Lise, Beth, Marie and Sarah

 

Community  Annie leading the OEFFA Women in Ag summer tour

 

Health   Covered in critters while reading an interesting book

 

Family  Annie, Jay and Miss America at the McConneslville Opera House for our 25th anniversary celebration

 

Personal freedom/personal values   

   Loving other people’s children, making time for others, investing in the future

 

Sense of security

   The dream of the land, the lifestyle, and the freedom of Blue Rock Station

I’ve shared my thoughts, and my stories with anyone who cared to read about them.  And, at the end of the day there was no live news, except for Jay’s and other visitors’ summaries; No real trauma, except the young rooster dying suddenly; And one big change – Miss America announcing that she is taking off a year and not going to the university next year.  This has been a month of some normal worries but mostly no worries at all – the stuff that dreams are made of and I’ve loved every minute of it.

One thing I am sure about though is that I’ve been re-written in so many ways through the experience this month has given me.  And, I have not suffered, or felt deprived of anything but a hot cup of water for a proper cup of tea when I wanted it. 

As time goes by I think I will see just how significantly this family has been influenced by the month we lived without spending money, or other resources.  I could make some predictions but I won’t.  Today I am going to weed strawberry and onion raised beds, and clean out the barn so I can help unload 100 bales of hay.  Tomorrow is February 1^st, and it will be the beginning of the next big adventure in our lives.   I’m ready.

 

 

THANKS FOR NOTHING MONTH DIARIES – Day 28

THANKS FOR NOTHING MONTH             January 28, 2012                      7:34 AM

65 F indoors                 34 F outdoors

TODAY’S HAPPINESS FACTOR:  8 OUT 10

   Sophie and Cadeau, waiting patiently for me.

When I opened the door to the chicken chalet I saw his beautiful body resting on the floor, and I knew he was dead.  King Ferdinand, grandson of Antonio Banderos had just died before I opened the door.  He was young, healthy, and good at his job.  As I carried him to the house I felt worried about who would take his place.

King Ferdinand enjoying life with one of his hens.

Animals have been a big part of my January experiment.  Because the weather has been so good I’ve had more time to connect with them, and they have been happy to be my partners. 

Every single time I get ready to go out to do chores the dogs are so excited – really thrilled at the idea that the door will open into the outdoor world, and off we will go to the far off barn (800 steps from the house) to meet up with chickens, goats and llamas.

Sometimes when they are at the door dancing around, and Cadeau is turning in circles – just at the mere fact that we’re going off together – I think about how great it is to be happy about the smallest things in life, and I am grateful that they remind me of this.

I’ve taken a lesson from the dogs, I must admit.  On many days, when I am about to sit down to eat with my family I feel incredibly happy at the thought of it.  When Jay and I go to town together, or explore some new place I have this same sense of delight about life.  During my time in France I felt delighted almost every moment – looking at familiar things I cherished when I lived there, experiencing new people and new ideas.

This month has provided me with delight at every turn.  Each morning and each evening when I walk up to the barn I feel a sense of being nourished.  It is a great thing in life to have meaningful work, and I definitely feel that taking care of our livestock gives me a strong sense of purpose, a life connection.

Rosie, resting after a hard morning of guarding the livestock.

In the morning when I wake up I often feel energized by the thoughts I have when I begin to think about what I will write about that day.  Even if no one reads my words, I am pleased that I have the skill to put them into print.

Whenever I am sitting at the computer and one of the cats jumps up to sit on my lap while I work, I never fail to stop what I’m doing to pet them.  This month I have particularly enjoyed their attention, and appreciated the happiness they bring to my life.

The wind in my face as I walk has made me feel refreshed.  The stories I’ve relived and told this month have inspired me to think about what adventures must be waiting for us in the future.  The thoughts of new interns, and old friends visiting make me feel appreciative of what will happen this year.  I have really loved this time that we are alone together, and the fact that spring will come around again.

Staying put for one whole month has taken away some sort of expectation I’ve been carrying around – I don’t know what that means yet but not having any place to go has felt like a security blanket that keeps me warm and safe.

Michelle Belle playing the part of the jungle gym for two tiny goat kids.

Living without money has been so much more then just not spending it.  Somehow this month has erased barriers, and given me a new sense of myself – a re-writing of a small part of the core of who I am. 

I’m no Pollyanna though.  Don’t confuse me with anybody who puts her head in the sand.  It’s just that I want to live in a different world – a simple place where we focus on what we have in common.  And this month, I’ve spent a lot of time savoring the fact that I have things in common with everything that surrounds me.

The month’s not over yet, though, although I am not hoping to repeat what I found in the hen house last night – that’s just life happening in my real world, but it feels painful.  Instead, I am anxious to see what will come out of our experiment of living without money – and what has turned out to be my vacation from the world.

THANKS FOR NOTHING DIAIRIES – Day 27

THANKS FOR NOTHING MONTH                                  January 27, 2012            7:40 AM

66 F indoors                 37 F outdoors

TODAY’ S HAPPINESS FACTOR: 7 out of 10

Family meeting day

    Jay and Annie on their wedding day – his first waffle iron

This month has given me a new perspective on Jay.  In many ways our lives haven’t been any different then our everyday existence.  We work together and spend our spare time together, for the most part.

But the act of shutting down the computer during the day has given Jay some new incentives to do things differently.

But I am getting ahead of myself with what I wanted to say…One of my most embarrassing moments happened when Jay and I were first going together.  We had known each other a couple of months, so by now he knew that I was pretty serious about life, which he refused to accept about me, and told me so in every way possible.  I went out with him anyway.

This particular day Jay taught me cribbage, and a few other card games.  He won every time.  Of course I was calm and good-natured about all it because otherwise he wouldn’t take me seriously.

But then he suggested we play shuffleboard.  It had been a long time since I’d played so after refreshing me on the rules he offered me the first go.  As I shoved the disk I let go of the stick.  I don’t know what made me do such a stupid thing, but down the alley the stick and disk went without skipping a beat.

When I turned around to look at Jay he was laughing so hard  – it was the sound of music, of sweetness, of tenderness and love.  I’ve never stopped loving to hear that sound from him, even though he’s continued to find me quite humorous over the past 31 years.

   Jay and his youngest brother Roman in front of the Geppi’s Comic Shop, Clearwater, FL (Jay’s first management job)

This month Jay has been slightly different though.  Each morning around 9 AM he stands up from his computer and asks me what I want for breakfast.  Then, after a brief discussion he goes to the kitchen and, I do not exaggerate, he makes me a gourmet breakfast served on the tablecloth with a napkin.

This is the guy who asked me to dinner once, and then took me to the grocery store to buy a can of Campbell’s tomato soup, which we ate out of saucepan after he heated it up.  I went out with him anyway.

He’s always been a very helpful partner (even with the soup episode he shared his spoon), but this month he’s taken to keeping every dish washed as well.  When I come in from chores he loves to announce in a singing sort of way, “Did the dishes…”

I had an inkling he’d be a good partner when I first met him.  At the age of 23 he had no dishes in his kitchen, but he had a washer and dryer.  To me that seemed to say he had his priorities in the right place.  I even bought his philosophy on having one pan and one spoon – no dirty dishes to accumulate. 

Last night, as we sat in the candlelight eating the supper he helped me prepare (I started the food before I did chores and he added his own personal touches so it was on the table the minute I returned) I was filled with a feeling I have had often this month.

We were eating, and talking, and laughing together.  I am not sure why we never run out of things to tell each other, but we don’t.  I don’t remember what Jay was saying.   I looked into that face that was reflecting the candlelight and I felt so nourished by him.

Oh, I know it all sounds so silly, especially after 31 years of sharing his life.  But this month has given us an opportunity to move more smoothly together.  Some of that has been me, but, as usual, most of it is his patience and insightfulness into life.

I was right, all those years ago, to decide to love his laughter, rather than to be wounded by my awkwardness.  If things had been done differently I would have missed this month of giving thanks for nothing.

 

 

THANKS FOR NOTHING MONTH DIAIRIES – Day 26

THANKS FOR NOTHING MONTH                                  January 26, 2012            7:20 AM

65 F indoors                 37 F outdoors

Rain, rain, rain

TODAY’S HAPPINESS FACTOR:  8 out of 10

 

Meaningful work…Annie mucking out stalls and Jay, the breakfast chef 2012

January has been a time of reminding me that life cannot feel secure unless those around us are safe as well.  Safety comes in many forms – healthy food, affordable health care, adequate energy for heating, a safe place to live, and meaningful work at a living wage.  I would also add good friends and strong relationships with others.

A huge part of being happy in life is rooted in our personal values and a sense of security.  And values and a sense of security are rooted in feeling free to make decisions.  It seems like we use the excuse that we don’t have time to do anything else, when it really amounts to the fact that we don’t know “how” to make more meaningful decisions about how we use our time.

Turning off the TV or the computer at a regular time and giving the gift of time for reading, playing games, or just sitting around the table talking is a big step towards a higher HAPPINESS FACTOR.  This is such a simple thing to do; yet we hesitate because technology is an easy way to spend our energy.  Creating a quieter environment actually takes less energy, and, as we’ve found this month, gives back energy.

Another idea is to step out into society to volunteer, or just fill in when needed.  It often feels like we have so little control over what happens in our world, but volunteering to help others (and not just at Christmas) is a terrific way to replace consuming habits, and fill up that space with a sense of being worthwhile…an exchange of something besides money for making the community around us safer in every way.

My freedom to choose is so much more then just a bumper sticker.  This month has made it clear to me that I can choose to step away from the world for a period of time so that I can decide what is important to me at a deeper level, or I can learn new skills or even new things about myself.  I am more determined then ever to fight for my right to have this kind of freedom from technology, from consuming, from commercialism or the opinions of others.

This month, as I’ve thought more about what it takes to be content, I can see that a big part of my HAPPINESS FACTOR came from working for the rights of other abused women, and by going to places I’d been told to never go, or that I’d never be welcomed into.  Prisons, halls of great power in far off places, on trains across foreign unfriendly lands, and finally building a house out of trash.

My journey from those experiences, and now from taking time this month to be on vacation from the world, only led me back to the place my grandparents had shown me – a simple life.  At this point there is just no going back to the old me, or the one that my culture demanded.  Even though I know this, I need to be reminded that there are ways to live my life without consuming, without shopping, without wasting things and taking away from the future.  After all I am an American, filled with her ideals and dictates.

Please don’t think I have all of the answers.  I’m trying to find my way, the same as lots of folks.  But I do want to find and hang on to the energy that is at the heart of feeling secure, and free to be a happy human being.  The ultimate foundation for living a life rooted in THE HAPPINESS FACTOR.

THANKS FOR NOTHING DIARIES – Day 24

THANKS FOR NOTHING MONTH                      January 24, 2012            7:45 AM

34 F outdoors              59 F indoors

TODAY’S HAPPINESS FACTOR:  6 out of 10

 

NOAA weather radio and touch tone phone – TFN month news

 

This month has been a vacation from the modern world.  Jay corrected me when I said that the other day – he is still thinking it is “a month without spending money.”  That’s how he sees it, but I’ve whizzed past him to the bigger picture.

For the past few years I have de-toxed from daily newspapers.  I used to be such a news junky when we lived in Europe (THEY have great newspapers).  As news reporting has taken on an “everything celebrity” air, including the news gatherers, I’ve sworn off the daily newspaper, and taken up the art of hearing it all second-hand.

The latest headline is bombarded into the brain of anyone reading about it (in the newspaper or online), watching TV or listening to the radio.  The bombarding takes the form of hearing or seeing the same thing over and over and over.  By the time someone shares it with me, I only hear it once.  Plus we now can have a real discussion about the implications of the story.  Wow…what a novel approach to news.

My news process allows me to filter what I want to learn, and who is teaching me the information.  It also allows me to savor the things I do read and watch.  Jay says I am just being smug.  I say that it’s taken me a long time to be able to filter out all of the crap and I’m sticking to it.

How do I get my news? 

WEATHER RADIO:

My trusty friend, a 1970’s NOAA Radio Shack box that flips on with the touch of a finger pushing down the tab, gives me the weather.  The batteries in that little unit came with it over 12 years ago (I found it in a box of junk I bought at a farm auction).  When I’ve had access to cable TV, the first thing I do is look up the number for the Weather Channel, and then look at Jay to say, “Now that’s what TV was made for.”  He does not agree.

TELEPHONE:

The telephone I’m using this month is old-fashioned according to some of our younger visitors.  I think they called them “Touch Tone” phones.  When Mike Voellmecke, the engineer was here he touched that phone gingerly and, I swear, he said, “So that’s what they look like.”

There’s no caller ID, and it only extends as far as the cord will reach, but it requires no electricity, except what comes over the phone line.  Jay hates this phone, and sometimes switches the phone cord over to the cordless in the daytime announcing that it won’t reach to his desk and he’s working. 

THE PRINTED WORD:

Of course I read email and posts on Facebook.  That’s part of my job at Blue Rock Station during the day. 

Once a week the FARM AND DAIRY JOURNAL, my conservative connection to rural America, and THE GUARDIAN, a refreshingly informative publication (in other words liberal) arrive in the US mail.  I do confess that this month has made it difficult to have the stomach to read the FARM AND DAIRY JOURNAL but I will look at the stack after January 31^st.  Even THE GUARDIAN has seemed a little stale and I have just glanced through the pages to see if there is anything of interest.  The serious reading will wait – it feels like I have ADHD for the news at the moment.

THAT’S IT:

I never watch television, even when I’m not living without electricity.  When Barack Obama was on TV to accept the historic nomination for President I went over to Brenda South’s house to watch him.  That was the first time I’d seen what he really looked like.  It was a treat to watch history being made. 

For this month though, I have not even listened to the radio. 

As the month has worn on I realize that I just don’t care about the news, for the most part.  I discovered this quite by accident (not really, but it sounds good) when Jay, who hears the car radio on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons when he’s driving to Newark to teach his class, came home to report that Newt Gingrich’s second wife held a news conference.  Before he could even finish this juicy tidbit I asked him, “Why would I care about the former Ms. Gingrich’s opinions?”  Jay answered in rare form, “Because it’s good gossip.”  He looked wounded that I just didn’t care.  I couldn’t believe HE was using the words “good” and “gossip” in the same sentence.

I do confess that for the past few years I’ve taken the tact that if someone wants to tell me about a TV show or a film they’ve seen, I will listen.  The reason I like this strategy is that my life does not get wasted by spending hours watching some program or film that is uses up my life.  Once I hear the summary – two or three minutes versus hours and hours of watching – I can decide if I want to see it for myself.  Usually I don’t feel motivated to spend the time.

You might be thinking that I miss out on a lot of really important information.  I do admit that I was shocked on Sunday to learn at the Chinese New Year luncheon that Al Gore and Tipper were divorced.  I had no idea.  But generally I am well informed because visitors and friends are more then happy to share their latest video or film views, plus tell me the headlines.  Again, I spend far less time involved in getting the updates, then if I viewed or read any of it.

At the end of the month I’ll go back to using the wireless phone, although I like the Touch Tone phone’s ring.  But little else will change for me as far as newsgathering.  I’m more determined then ever not to be bombarded with what to buy or what to think.

THANKS FOR NOTHING DIARIES – Day 23

THANKS FOR NOTHING MONTH                      January 23, 2012

65 F indoors                 48 F outdoors

Rain, rain, rain

 TODAY’S HAPPINESS FACTOR:  5 out of 10

Catlyn has introduced the idea that she won’t go to college – WHAM!

 

“Stuff”- the nightmare.  Having enough vs. having more then enough…this is a theme in my life, maybe everybody’s life.  Possibly it is the human quandary.  To me, it seems even poor people in this country tend to have too much of it. 

When I used to travel a lot for my work I would have a nightmare a few days before I was supposed to travel back home.  In the nightmare I dreamt that I couldn’t fit everything into my luggage. 

From the time I was in junior high school until I switched to the lack of luggage space nightmare, I dreamt that I could not get everything from my school locker home at the end of the school year.

When I was younger, and just started swapping things for my birthday, my friends announced that there was a “12 Step” program for my clothing addiction.  They completely ignored the fact that I was moving, and that they took home garbage bags of clothing, hats, and other cool stuff to put into their closets. 

Annie’s cleats for standing up in the ice – no more falling down on a regular basis. YEA – they really work.

JAY ADDS TO MY ANXIETY:  When I returned from France in November, Jay had emptied out the laundry room to begin earth plastering the walls.  Many of the things in the laundry room ended up in our catch-all bedroom.  Jay has a habit of re-organizing my work areas and only putting back what he thinks is necessary.  I might not disagree with his abilities or choices, but I definitely don’t want to share the bedroom with the leftovers from the laundry room.

I used to tell myself that there is a lack of space in this house.  Since I can’t have a bigger space, and really don’t want one, I have slowly accepted the fact, after a lifetime of nightmares over “stuff” that I am going to reform myself.

One of my first acts is to daily gather up a bag of things that can given away.  This weekend is a friend’s birthday swap and in March there is another one.  The best things will be bagged and ready for those swaps, and the rest will be either thrown out or taken to the charity shop.

As any of our interns will attest, the Bunk House storage area is a terrific treasure trove of boxes, bins and miscellaneous stuff.  Ryan Evans was just here and he announced twice that I should “get in there and get rid of some of that stuff”.  My biggest problem is knowing what to part with – treasures from living in four different parts of the world, plus Catlyn’s lifetime accumulation of stuff.

OK, I’m brave, I’m smart, and I am good at organizing.  I can do this.  I have to downsize.  The THANKS FOR NOTHING month has continuously pushed this thought into my brain.  Ignoring my soul’s cry is only asking for more heartache, and possibly new versions of old nightmares.

Once again I’ve confessed that I am not perfect.  The next time you’re coming for a visit, or touring Blue Rock Station, please remember that it’s fine to bring a gift (people often do) but make it something we can all consume together, and I don’t mean illicit drugs

THANKS FOR NOTHING MONTH – Day 22

Jay Warmke, Chris Lofromento, Deb LoFromento, Annie Warmke, Chris Luers, Karrissa Hahn enjoying a Chinese New Year feast 2012

THANKS FOR NOTHING MONTH                      January 22, 2012                      7:30 AM

27F outdoors                           65F indoors

 TODAY’S HAPPINESS FACTOR:  8 out of 10

If food is the heart of sustainable living, then friendship is the soul…

The table was all dressed up in red for the Chinese New Year luncheon. 

Our small gathering of friends braved the icy road to bring fruit and avocados (for later), a chicken dish, a noodle dish (for a long life), freshly made bread, and lots of good moods.  Jay and I had prepared shrimp spring rolls, and a rice dish.  The teapot was steeping with a Jasmine blooming tea flower.

There were decorations of Yen (Chinese play money), tissues (in Chinese packaging), paper cuts (beautiful little designs delicately cut out by hand), chopsticks (cheaters for Chris Luers, who is a novice at eating this way), and a big red sash in gold letters that ran down the red and gold table covering.  I have no idea what the letters say, but since my friend, Ginger Swank sent it to me last year from China, I’m pretending that it wishes us all a happy and prosperous year to come.

 

Carolyn joining in as part of the Chinese New Year decorations

The conversation was wild and intelligent.  After about two hours we might have solved many of the world’s problems, but it didn’t matter because we were laughing and agreeing with each other at almost every idea.

After we finished our broth (the official signal of the end of the food) Jay read us our Chinese horoscopes.  Karissa Hahn and I are rabbits.  There is nothing in the definition of a “rabbit” that fits either of us, which only added to the delight of the horoscopes.  When Jay said we are submissive we couldn’t stop laughing and protesting at the same time.  Nothing could be further from the truth.

Chris Luers and Deb Lofromento think there might be some truth in their horoscopes.  But Chris Lofromento was full of jokes about his reading.  Strangely Jay’s was relatively accurate so we were all sure he wrote his own just to be “smart”.  He vehemently denied any responsibility.

By the end of our time together the dogs were jumping at me to get my Carharts on so the evening chores could commence.  They can tell time, even when they can’t see the clock. 

After everyone left and I was alone with the critters doing my routine at the barn I was thinking about the energy of friendship.  Friends, at least in Jay’s and my life, are people who have taught us things.  They bring hugs, and love, and their opinions to share.  They create souvenirs – memories, and these souvenirs sustain us when they are not around, or in times of trouble or need.

My best friend since my childhood is still connected to my life.  We’ve taken to having a bit of a holiday together annually.  To have time with her goodness is like a drink of fresh cool water.  Our history carries us through things – when I’m at my saddest and have no words, she is at the other end of the phone telling me the truth, or giving me nourishment.  How could I live my life without her – just knowing she is my friend gives me energy.

And at last, there are friends here in this place we love so much.  They are like a cool breeze that floats into the room and leaves nothing untouched.  Their friendship lends courage and goodness to my life.  We hold birthday swaps (one this Saturday), and share food, politics, and life.

Beyond them there are friends around the US that have been in our lives for a long time.  They have been through good times and hard times with us.  They show up in times of trouble or to celebrate life with us, and we miss them every day. 

And beyond them are our friends in far off places.  We stay in touch, and sometimes we even get to work on projects together, or actually see each other face-to-face.

A while ago I read that people who have long-term friendships live happier, longer lives.  If that is true, then my wish to live to be at least, I repeat, at least, 94 years old will come true. 

In spite of being opinionated, loud, passionate, and not normally knowing my place in this world (not like a rabbit at all), I’ve managed to achieve one of the big goals of my life – friends.  For sure I am going to live a long healthy life even though I did not eat any of those delicious-looking Chinese noodles.

 

Menu

Breakfast

Cinnamon Raisin Toast

Scrambled Eggs

 

Lunch

Potato Cakes

Salad

 

Supper

Shrimp and Rice leftovers

It was love at…

It was love at first sight over 30 years ago  Photo by Keith Bowers

 

THANKS FOR NOTHING MONTH                                  January 21, 2012            7:00 AM

65 F indoors (burr)   21 F outdoors

Ice, ice, ice

TODAY’S HAPPINESS FACTOR:  8 out 10

 

Yesterday the ZANESVILLE TIMES RECORDER sent out a reporter, Holly Richards, and a photographer, Trevor Jones to talk about our THANKS FOR NOTHING month.  Their visit was a time of re-hashing what I’ve been mulling around in my head these past few days.

I keep getting asked what this month really means to me, and how much money has been saved?  Right now I’m working through, as much as possible with one third of the month to go, what I think.  As for saving money, that’s never been my focus.

At this point I have finally accepted that I have not found any type of reward in making money – in fact I have said from the beginning of my adult years that I do what I do because it is valuable to me, and I would do these things if there was no money for me. 

In fact some of my work has been unpaid because I did not want to be manipulated by people with money – I wanted the freedom to make the right decisions without finances being held over my head.  Fortunately I had the luxury of Jay being my benefactor during those times so that I had the freedom to do what was needed.  Not having debt gave us that autonomy.

But today I realize that all of the things I’ve cared about – social justice, relationship-building, creating community, re-using things, raising/rescuing animals, raising/rescuing children, saving things for tomorrow’s re-use and so much more – are what has made my life such a challenge, and such a joy. 

Nans Thomassey (my French counter part in this month’s experiment) is right when he says that the focus on cash and money makes a barrier between people.  I am grateful to him for saying it again and again until I could make that concept make sense to me.

Nans Thomassey (holding the mug) & Guillaume CHARROIN making crepes at Blue Rock Station

When Jay and I met with the reporter I wanted to be able to talk about all of the things I’ve been thinking about, but in a way that she could “hear” me.  I told Jay that I don’t want to sound like I’m fucking crazy.  He said, “Well, then don’t talk.” 

After some thought I decided that I would talk about taking a vacation from spending any kind of energy related to money or electricity or petrol.  Most folks take a vacation from their work.  I don’t need a vacation – I love my life.  But my soul has always needed vacations from the world of finance, and this month has been just such a vacation.

During this month’s financial vacation I realize that whatever I do from this point on has to be more rooted in trading things, inviting people to share, and pushing myself to learn more about how to have a simpler life.  The models of simplicity I need do not surround me in this culture.  I’ve also decided that I want to take a trip to work on a project somewhere – some place where people struggle with the daily issues of having enough water and food. 

Most of the important lessons I’ve learned in my adulthood have been from making myself really uncomfortable –spending time organizing women in prison, hanging out with Muslim women, writing tracts for prostitutes, living with immigrant women, and visiting people who live in poverty in other countries (where I did not speak the language).  Every one of those experiences re-wrote something inside of me.

What is the next step?  I’m not really sure yet, but for now I’m thinking of today’s gathering of friends.  Each of them has had a part in some way in our THANKS FOR NOTHING month.  They’ve lent support, brought food, offered levity.  I’m going to savor our moments together as we celebrate the Chinese New Year.

 

Menu

A variety of Chinese food surrounded by decorations that were sent to us by our wonderful friend Ginger Swank when she taught in China

THANKS FOR NOTHING DIARIES – Day 20

Annie in front of the Earthship with her treasured French pussy willow cuttings – the first of the 2012 season

 

THANKS FOR NOTHING MONTH                                  January 20, 2012            7:20 AM

61 F indoors            6 F outdoors

Bitter cold and more on the way – 2” snow on the ground

 TODAY’S HAPPINESS FACTOR:  8 out 10

 

It’s already spring in my brain…the pussy willows have set their little catkins, and some of them are slowly bursting out of their shells.  Bliss on a stem – spring will be here once again.

The first time I saw a pussy willow I must have been in grade school.  Those little white puffballs caused me to fall instantly in love – in love with something so alive yet the snow and cold were still holding onto the earth outside.

When we moved from Europe to live at Blue Rock Station I wanted to make an outdoor room like the one my Hadleigh England neighbor, Sabrina Bloomfield had in her garden.  I loved the space she created with plants and bushes.  We often ate lunch, or had a snack in that out door room – some times even sitting with blankets on our laps so we could enjoy being outdoors before the long dreary winter of England near the North Sea took a hold of us.  One time we even ate out there in the snow – Sabrina was German so any excuse to be outside seemed good to her.

When we first bought this acreage I ordered two pussy willow trees.  Some of the guys who worked for me thought I was silly.  They told me that I should wait until I lived in Ohio to grow a tree.  Trees take time so I wanted to have nice trees – scarlet maples, pussy willows and crabapple trees that would bring life in the earliest part of spring and the latest part of fall.  They thought I was crazy.  Today those trees are magnificent – giant trees at the entrance gate. 

The more I learned about pussy willows, and gardens and beneficial insects the more thrilled I was at the idea of using them as giant bug hotels hosting more than 100 beneficial insects.  They also bloom so early in the spring that they provide the first big feast for all of those loaner pollinators and honey bees that are looking for a one-stop buffet.  They can be a bush, a tree or something in between.  What’s not to love?

Today the willows create a hotel in a very wet spot right next to the garden.

In 2005 I took some cuttings from the large willow trees at the entrance and shoved them into the ground where I wanted to form the outdoor room.  Each winter since then I’ve cut back each of those small trees into bushes (5’ tall after pruning).  Some of those cuttings have gone to the local florist shop.  Some have been sold as whips so other people can start their own willow patch. 

Honestly I don’t know which is better – the job those willows do for my garden by hosting all of those great insects, or the fact that I have to get outside during the winter to cut them back.

As I shape the trees into bushes, deciding which limbs will be good for forcing the catkins for bouquets, and which ones can be used for starting more plants, I am dreaming of spring.  It’s hard work cutting above my head, so I don’t get cold, which helps me dream even more about the smells and sights of March and April and May.

Elyse Perruchon wrote yesterday to say she’s dreaming of her garden – planning what she’ll grow.  For me, that’s the next step into spring.  Today I’m dreaming of catkins and pussy willows.

 

Menu

Breakfast

Fruit shortcake

Greek Yogurt

 

Lunch

Chili

 

Supper

Left Overs

Salad