Tuesday 20 March 2012

Pinch me!

There's so much to do, my mind is spinning.  Garden plans to finish drawing up, more seeds to start, water collection systems to plan and implement, a large list of indoor finishing work, some painting, 2 sheds to fix, a greenhouse to build, a quonset shed to re-purpose and re-cover, fruit trees to prune, bird feeders and bat houses to build, a strawberry bed to create, a new compost structure to build, chicks to order, a natural wildflower meadow to seed, a back patio to construct, a coop to clean out and disinfect, a new deck/front entrance to build (the last of the major renovation work), an outdoor wood fire brick oven to build...  The list could go on forever and ever!

 I'm coming to realize how truly complex this simple living journey is and it's truly incredible how challenged I feel on a day to day basis.  Boredom simply doesn't exist in our lives.   Problems and challenges present themselves constantly and require tremendous creative thinking to solve.  The added challenge of sticking to a tight budget adds a whole new higher element of creativity and tenacious persistence to the mix.  

Patience never was my strong point, so it's fitting that I'm squarely in "Patience Boot Camp".  LOL.   Things don't happen quickly here.  We've got a lot going on and because we can't (or won't) spend a small fortune to buy ready made structures and equipment, we employ a healthy dose of good old fashioned elbow grease and we learn to be patient.  Good things come when we work slowly and steadily.

Put simply and succinctly, there is always something new to learn about and always something to do every single moment of the day.  The challenge is to force ourselves to rest in between it all to enjoy the beautiful moments that present themselves...


This just never gets old.  Every morning it's different, every day more beautiful than the one before.   I'm in paradise at long last, on our modest little parcel of 2.5 acres.  

Pinch me, I must be dreaming!

10 comments:

  1. There is nothing more magical than a paintbox sunrise like yours, or a sunset for that matter. People who sleep in are being robbed of a beauty that is free and there for the taking. That sky really is beautiful.

    Cheers - Joolz

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  2. I've been posting about this very same subject for a while. It is easy to get overwhelmed. A blogging friend in Enland, Elaine, at Pear Tree Log, reminded me to "breathe". So,today, I'm passing that on to you. It's funny, because I have my list out today, trying to decide what are the most important things to accomplish this week. Breathe....

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  3. Thanks, Joolz - it's so pretty here - we appreciate it every day!

    ROFLOL, thanks, Meggie :) I get myself all in a dither flitting from one task to the next accomplishing little.... I know that I need to simply purge all the ideas and "to do's" out onto paper and number the list. That always works, doesn't it? Cross one thing off at a time and take it one day at a time :)

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  4. How beautiful! We moved back home to TX after living in KS for 9 years. One thing I miss there is the beautiful sunsets.This picture reminded me of how beautiful they could be and made me just a little homesick for the KS prairie:)

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  5. Eek, my list is ever-growing, too! I love your words, today - they are all so true for me as well. I think my baby has stuck me straight into "patience boot camp" also! Lol :)
    -Jaime

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  6. Oh, yes, Jaime, babies DO position us squarely in "Patience Boot Camp" and so it should be! That's the best reason of all to be working slowly at the list :) Those days are too precious and fleeting to wish them away sooner... Soak it all up and revel in the last months of your wee little daughter's babyhood, for soon, she shall be a toddler and then a little girl!

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  7. We too are trying to live simply, but getting there does takes a lot of very hard work and organisation. I am trying to enjoy the journey while we do it. Whenever I get overwhelmed by the sheer number of jobs on our 'to do' list my husband always reminds me that the only way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time.

    You are so very right when you say that boredom does not exist!

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  8. You know I understand how you feel, and the love for where you are. Gorgeous photos. I think the breathing advice is good and don't forget to buil in your margin!

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  9. Oh yes, Alison... MARGIN!!!!! Ever precious :)

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  10. I know the feeling. We have been on our 5 acres for 1 year next week and I have only built 3 garden beds. However I got sick of not having a compost so we went and got $2.50 bales of Hay from a nearby farmer and built compost bays. We love them. They took about an hour to build rather that the few days and large cost my husband would have created building a fancy one. I am here to live simply...can anyone tell me how to teach a husband too??

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