Advent Calendar 2012

Every year after Christmas I carefully take down and store our advent calendar because I always plan on using it the following year.

And at the beginning of the next Christmas season I make a new advent calendar.

I can help it.  I'm a compulsive crafter.  

(You can see our 2010 calendar here and our 2011 calendar here.)

This year I wanted to use the silhouette.  

And chicken wire.

And old fencing.  

This is what we celebrated with this year.

Each tag is actually a pocket which held our daily activity.   

The pockets have a front piece and a back piece that were sewn together.  (Did I mention that I also wanted to use my sewing machine?)  

 We used ribbon and twine to tie the tags to the chicken wire.

 I made the frame with some old fencing and staples.

Definitely my favorite yet.  This may actually be fantastic enough to ward off my craft addiction and need to reinvent the advent calendar next December.  Perhaps I could pour the effort into homemade stockings... or a tree skirt... or ... hmm...

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P.S. I have already uncovered my Valentine's Countdown Calendar already.  Come on February!

Living Off the Land

Just for fun... how much land do you need?

I loved this graphic and found it interesting to think about. We are no where near living off our 1/2 acre but we are slowly moving towards that. If disaster hit tomorrow? I think we would still be very unprepared although not as much as those who may live around us. I hope we could continue to get into a position to stay afloat in such a situation and perhaps help others along the way.

Visit the website for more information and to better read the details on the graphic. What are your thoughts? How much land do you need? Are you living off the land?

Farm Sights

Last weekend we spent an afternoon into evening bailing hay. It is a day I look forward to several times a season living in the country. (Maybe I enjoy it because I'm in charge of counting kids and taking pretty pictures rather than being dressed in long sleeves and pants in 90 degree weather throwing 40lb square bales into an even hotter hay loft. Maybe...) As I was sitting on the wagon behind the baler with a half naked toddler on my lap, I looked north and saw my older children on a tall pile of hay swaying back and forth on another wagon. Further north I saw more family unloading bales into the barn and even further north I saw the cows grazing on a field. It was a magical feeling, seeing all my family actively involved, smelling all the smells in the beautiful late afternoon sun. It can't even be conveyed in words... maybe pictures.

Kids eating unripe (super sour) apples in the orchard

Finding a butterfly in Grandma's herb and flower garden

Rustic farm stuff

All the cut hay raked into rows waiting to be baled

Kids seeking shade

Fresh cut alfalfa hay... wish this was a scratch and sniff

Burdock - nature's velcro

oh no! BURDOCK FIGHT!!!!

Old grainary and a beautiful blue sky!

Most of my memories are recorded in pictures, either mental or with my camera. I literally think in images. Try and get me away from my desk without my camera. I feel naked without its weight slung across my shoulder! This group of pictures (plus the hundreds, thousands you don't see) is how I see life through my eyes. So many good memories and feelings. And I want to remember each moment. Every single one. Therefore, I take pictures of every day life. A life full of simple pleasures and big ideas, dotted with plenty of accomplishments and plenty of setbacks. I feel incredibly lucky to live this life here this way and give my children these experiences, hoping they never take them for granted, which I'm sure they will. Hoping they will always find a sort of peace helping on the farm, perhaps escaping temporarily from a busy life, like I once did. Always seeking peace and finding it in something as simple and family and the land.

Decisions, decisions...

Sometimes living the homesteading life is no fun. Sometimes we have to make tough decisions. But we are always counting our blessings.

Last week our family was offered a free above ground pool with all the trimmings. This sounded like a dream to the kids. Who wouldn't to spend the summers of their youth around a pool? I spent all of my vacations as a kid and teen at the pool, whether in my neighborhood or at my grandparents and I can verify that it definitely made my summers sweet. Collapsing at the end of the day, shoulders and nose pink from the sun and body drained of all energy. It was lovely. The idea of having the same for my children always motivates me so I said yes, we will take the pool.

The a bit delayed as usual reality sets in. Keeping a pool is an expense we are not prepared to undertake. Chemicals to buy and hours to spend over our new free time activity overwhelm me with our already gigantic list. I begin to weigh the convenience and luxury of having a pool over the alternative, starting to build a barn and keep animals.

With such unimaginable destruction in the country due to both flood and drought, lives and dreams are being uprooted. It seems silly for me to be fretting over whether or not to get a pool when so many are going without basic needs. Food prices and gas prices rising compromise my daily decisions. Not in a worry sense but more of just being aware. Aware of the possibility and responsibility I have to do serve the best of my ability to those around me. I have six acres and instead of my gut chanting "pool," it is saying "provide." Plants, seeds, animals,... Whatever I can do, I will do. Save more seeds. Scavenge for supplies to build a barn. Barter for quality animals. Spend my summer and fall, winter and spring with my family on my mind instead of my body relaxing in a pool.

Living a homesteading way of life is sometimes an escape and sometimes a healthy dose of reality. I have given up plenty in my mind to live here like convenience, concrete and city water. Fun stuff often ends up on the bottom of our list with other "more important" chores. In the end, I know the pool was a distraction, and a valid one. However, in this case the right thing and the hardest thing are the same. So even though it kills me to say this, we will be forgoing a free pool at this time and instead choosing more work. I know it sounds contrary to everything our culture and generation believe but I still have a smile across my face. I am making a good choice.

Yes, we are always adding to our work, but it also adds to our blessings. Rummaging through old pictures of our life here so far remind me of all the great things the country life has to offer...

Like my kids growing up with chickens and unlimited fresh eggs...

Boys covered head to toe in mud...

The family gathered in the garden during harvest...

Hosting all kinds of parties with plenty of parking...

Campfires, hot dogs, s'mores, music and wine...

Baby animals, so cute!

Having the resources to plant, harvest and can a garden this size...

And of course views like these...

Rather than dwell on what you want and what you are going through, take a moment in your life today to be thankful for all you have and what you have gotten through. I guarantee that list is going to be pretty uplifting and we could all use a few more reasons to smile today!

From my point of view...

A few ways I live intentionally everyday...

(The view out my kitchen window.)

People will think the collection sitting on my window ledge are there by chance, but they are not. Each item serves a purpose.

Paper hearts - a Valentine decoration made by sewing paper hearts together... no patterns or talent necessary just appreciation for simple things

Paint brushes - a daily reminder to do something creative and make a mess

Lotion - raspberry winter by giovanni for after dish washing sessions

Spider plants rooting in a ink well... pretty and the plants are known for purifying indoor air

... and yes, that is a blue Ohio sky in the background.

Enjoy your weekend. See you Monday.

Barter: Trade instead of Pay

Lets be honest. Money is tight. It's not just you but your neighbor and your boss and even his boss. But we still want and need things. Stuff to get projects done or prepare for the future. Things to help us get where we are going and to become who we are to be. Some of the things we want we really can't go without. I say we bring back bartering. After all, we each have something to offer to get that something we want.

source

Trading is far from a new idea. From pre-currency societies to the elementary school cafeteria, we have relied on it to use what we have to get what we want. And its not only juice boxes for twinkies, but paper clips for houses! Its a super way to save cash, get to know neighbors and go green!

Bartering is saving money. By definition, it requires no money whatsoever. You are not spending needlessly to acquire items that are single use or project specific. The parties involved are the ones determining an equal exchange, eliminating the middle man (and tax). And the best part is you can exchange something you already have for something you want or need for no cash. Always think about what you don't need before you get something new!

Bartering is local. Neighbors exchanging with neighbors builds community.

Bartering is green. Recycling at its most basic. Its giving a second life to items or personal expertise.

What more motivation do you need to get rid of that pile in your basement and trade it for something you can really use! Truth is bartering is well on its way for a comeback. There are plenty of sites that facilitate swapping. Have you been to...?

BarterQuest is site where you can both list and search for bartered items. Did you know you can exchange cookies for a laptop?

Listing 10 books is all that is required to get you in at paperback swap. As your books are requested you pay to mail them out and earn credits. Then use your credits to request other listed books for free! This site is a personal favorite of mine!

Is your daughter finally over her Hannah Montana phase? Your teen not playing that video game as much as you had hoped? At swap.com you can trade books, movies, music and video games. They recently began hosting swapaholics events where women gather to trade high end clothing and accessories in giant pop-up boutiques. Swap.com also encourages you to get involved and host your own local swaps. Sweet!

craigslist

And if you have been living under a rock, you have not yet discovered the wonder of craigslist. Not the prettiest site but it gets the job done. I purchased my sons bike and sold my extra bamboo flooring. Love the free stuff and check it often!

Really the possibilities are endless. Trade webdesign for childcare, cooking for car maintenance, patio furniture for photography, lawn care for power tools...

Inspirational Quote

"We cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails."
-Bertha Calloway

I don't know about you but with only two more days until Christmas I am feeling a bit stressed. Thinking I will get all the stuff done on my list before now and then will only happen when pigs fly. I have decided to re-adjust my sails. Slow down and enjoy my step son who had me laughing and doubled over in Home Depot last night. Enjoy my baby who can sit up from a reclined position now all on his own. And enjoy my husband being home for some quality time. What I get done. I get done.

Merry Christmas.
Quote is courtesy of www.getalifethatdoesntsuck.com

Christmas Giving: W.R.I.N.G.

I don't know how most of you feel about gift giving at Christmas time and I am not against giving gifts but there are times where the materialism that surrounds Christmas just overwhelms me. Christmas is a historically a Christian holiday. Celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, God's gift to the world. A gift that no one can surpass. Then there is the ultimate gift of Jesus giving his life for us and the wise men who traveled long and far to give expensive gifts to Jesus, the Son of God. Clearly gifts aren't a bad thing. Now whether you celebrate Christmas as a Christian holiday or a secular one you may still wish to impart more meaning to your gifts than just buying the biggest big screen TV you can or can't afford.

I have long ago, prior to the current "recession", decided to living a life more intentionally. But living intentionally can be easier said than done especially if you share your finances with other people. Growing up I distinctly remember the J.C. Penny's Wish Book arriving and fighting with my brother to look at it. I would earmark the pages with presents I was dying to receive and feeling fully justified in wanting. Most of those presents involved expensive horse related toys because everything to do with horses is expensive, toys or not, and I was horse CRAZY. I don't really recall getting many of the toys I so eagerly earmarked but I never had a terrible Christmas. My mother and father worked hard to instill the "real" reason for Christmas into my greedy little heart.

My 91 year old Grandmother tells a story of how during the Great Depression an orange was the Christmas gift that she received. An ORANGE. The fruit many of you have in your refrigerator right now. Now I don't know about you, but I can give my son more than an orange, even if it meant pulling out the credit card, right? But is that the lesson I want my son to learn? Is that the tradition I want him to have growing up? It certainly doesn't apply to living intentionally.

OK. So I made up the acronym WRING. Wear, Read, Indulgence, Need, Give. After a session of my family sitting down at the kitchen table to go through the Sunday paper ads and "circling" what they want and my step son mentioning how he would like a drum set, "even though they usually go used for like $600." I decided it was necessary to put some guidelines on gift giving. So we will be keeping our categories down to four types of gifts to receive.

Something to wear, practical or trendy. Something to read, a book or magazine subscription. Something to indulge ourselves (something we want), fill in the blank (within reason). And something we need, this should be something we would die without to actually fill a "need" but lets just say it will be something to make our lives better. Then there is another element. Besides giving gifts, many of which we are making, we are giving money to a charity or cause we believe in. I would love for this idea of giving of time and money to grow and the idea of needing to receive to grow smaller. Let's face it. We aren't rich but we have soooo much!!!

Now my family can stop madly "circling" the ads and get on with the meaning of Christmas. I look forward to developing other meaningful Christmas traditions as our family grows and I will keep you posted on our success along with some of the wonderful gifts that have been made.

What do you do to live intentionally during the Christmas Season? How do you keep your gift giving and gift wishing under control?

Ten Thousand Villages

Ten Thousand Villages

I have been shopping online for Christmas gifts for years. But not just gifts to fill a need but gifts to support a cause and make a difference.
This company guarantees its artisans a fair price for labor and supplies, a long term relationship between itself and the artisan, and that their products are environmentally responsible using local and/or recycled materials. Those are not easy promises to keep while keeping products marketable and prices affordable. But they are and they do! Underneath each item is the craft group responsible for its creation. Its great to see a face for the people you are supporting.

Ten Thousand Villages

Celebrating Christmas All Month Long : Advent Calendar

Oscar Diaz via designmom.com

Oh December! I want to love you with your holidays, family get togethers and feasts. But every year you bring me such stress. Its really my fault with trying to squeeze in so much into so few days. Rather than waiting until January to wonder where you have gone, I will choose now to intentionally celebrate you ALL MONTH LONG!

There are so many gorgeous advent calendars out there! Some of my favorites are this one and this one... I have good intentions of making something amazing like that but with December days, literally hours away, I knew I needed to act quickly. I did a quick assessment of what I had on hand and I quietly vowed not to let my perfectionism get the best of me.

And here's what this blue house has hanging over our fireplace this Christmas season!

Its as simple as 4.5" X 6.5" cardstock rolled into a cone shape and held with a dot of hot glue. I printed numbers on water color paper and cut them with a scalloped punch. The frame is a painting covered in scrap fabric!

The absolute best part is what is inside the cones...simple activities for us to do as a family.

1. Read every Christmas themed story we have in our library for bedtime.
2. Peppermint hot chocolate!
3. Make graham cracker houses
4. Watch a classic Christmas movie
5. Put together and send a package to a friend
6. Bake! Bake! Bake!
7. Stamp and paint our own wrapping paper
8. Go to the kids Christmas program at church
9. Decorate the tree
10. Go on a drive to marvel at light displays

... and other fun stuff! Things that I always say we are going to do but we never really do it. On Sundays there will also be scripture for us to read as a family tracing the story of Jesus' birth, which of course is the real meaning of the season! My whole goal is to really embrace December instead of just watching this happy month slip by. I want to choose each day to live and celebrate intentionally.

How about it? I want to challenge you to get away from the commercialism and hype of the holidays and focus on family! (a homemade advent calender is a super place to start!) Two blue houses wants to help and we will be posting a bunch of ways to celebrate and give intentionally this season! And these posts are not simply posts, friends. This is how we live our life. Get on board!