choices

I absolutely love the sounds of a productive and busy home. I simply wasn't tired last night.  I struggled to fall asleep and woke up at 3:30 am.  I tried laying around in bed, but my brain was arguing that it was definitely not a productive use of my time. I simply wasn't tired.   It's rare that I wake before Hubs, so the fact that I did and had an incredible amount of energy was a combination of disappointment (I am usually the one that stays up to give Beau his meds) and exhilaration. 

I gave up by 4:00.  No point in lying there wide awake.  I had soaked some beans yesterday and wanted to get them canned today.  I am serious when I say I am sick of chemicals in my food.  I'll buy organic beans, I'll process them, I'll store them on my shelves.  I will feel better about what I am feeding my family and friends.  Easy peasy.  Right now there are two canners steaming and coming to pressure.  In the next two hours I will have plenty of kidney and red beans for many pots of chili and soups.  I hauled the great northern beans down to the cantry yesterday.  It feels good. It feels like I am doing what I am supposed to do. 

So muted this morning, 
you can almost see the chill in the air

This morning as I was looking at a few sites I follow there was an intense discussion about ferments, something I have been longing to seriously dip my toes into.  I know they are amazing for you.  Natural probiotics far outweigh the functional nutritional value of capsules.  Not to mention the cost difference.  She was talking about the fermented apples that she had made.  It got me to thinking I still have some apples downstairs, if I haven't waited too long.  It wasn't originally on the schedule for today, but I think it might move there.  Or maybe tomorrow at the latest.  Ferments are so good for you, we just moved away from them as a standard method of preserving and storing food.  Might be time to move back in, I know it will be an adjustment to the taste-buds, but honestly, I am a huge fan of things that are tart.  

Yesterday was fire and brimstone time....

In addition to the slight rattle of the canner coming to pressure the wash is almost finished.  Far too cold outside to hang anything to air dry, but by the time this snow storm moves in, if it does.  My plan is to have a perfectly clear schedule to relax and enjoy.  Do some sewing and watch some movies or tv with the Hubs.  Or even better waste the day away playing cards.  

What do you mean no walks?

Sadly the pups won't be getting a walk for a few days.  I draw the line at zero or lower wind chills.  My Belle doesn't have a thick coat like her brother and even a sweater won't protect her long enough for a walk.  She's more of a southern type pup, he is part husky (I'm sure of it!) hard to believe they are actually litter mates.  He has that nice thick double coat.  Sadly, she doesn't.  It's all good they have a fenced yard for the burst of snow fever they will both get, if it falls. 

Beau was letting Dad know he could
fish come springtime... he loves fish

I was wasting a few moments while my canner was coming to pressure the other day, and doing a bit of doom scrolling.  I have my own thoughts about the enzymes they use to make cheeses, and it was a hot topic, I was reading in awe the feelings people were sharing.  I'm a very firm believer that life is about choices.  And we all have to navigate where we are, how we feel about things and what we will do with the information shared with us. 

I am a very traditional homemaker.  By choice.  It soothes and centers me.  This morning as I was wiping up the counter and starting the canners, my sweet Hubs came up behind me to tell me he was heading up to shower.  A soft kiss, him calling me his little homemaker and he was off.  I was in heaven.  Being acknowledged and appreciated for my choices felt amazing. 

Great Northern beans, ready for storage

Making cottage cheese - still not perfect...
but coming along

As I read those comments, I felt sadness and some shame as a woman.  Shame that other women would attack someone for trying to teach people to make a simple cheese. A way to help you if you chose to go that route.  Some of those females were downright nasty.  Saying their time was too valuable to waste on such stupid stuff, especially when you could simply buy it at the store. 

Here is how I see it.  If you want a high powered career, more power to you.  If you despise homemaking, okay, I get it.  If basic cooking, causes you immense stress of angst, okay.  I appreciate those choices. But if someone wants to be a traditional homemaker, if that is their "career" choice, why do you have to be so stinking ugly? 

I personally feel it is all about choice.  For me, I love being responsible for all things home.  I mean I'm not a huge fan of dishes, dusting and poo patrol.  No lie there.  But the rest of it fill my spirit to over flowing.  Some seasons are crazy, there are moments that feel like I will never catch up and sleep becomes a dream that isn't going to come to fruition.  Other times are calm, full of peace, plenty of time for just being.  

For me it is about control.  Yup, I definitely can go to the grocery store.  I can buy products off the shelves.  I can hope that the chemicals and high processing won't impact us too greatly.  I mean we are at the tail end of our lives, it might not be so bad... right? And honestly, it will definitely cost less for some of the items. But... and it's a huge but... what is the trade off?  A bit more time to doom scroll, in exchange for poor health?  Not driving to the next town to pick up my raw milk, cream and butter... what is the cost associated with that 45 minutes of my life?  When I weigh that out.  I'm good with it. 

Hubs had a meeting with his whole health doctor this week.  They did his whole body scan.  Not only has he lost a good amount of weight, he's also gained healthy muscle, lost dangerous fats and inflammation that weren't something you see with the naked eye.  He's in incredible shape, probably better than men half his age. He'll be 74 in a few months and other than that pesky back issue (jumping out of planes in service of his country definitely played into that issue) he is super healthy. 

I'm not going to say you are less of a human if you are shopping at the grocery, if your priorities don't lean towards buying raw milk and meats fresh from the farm, those are your choices.  I don't believe that makes anyone less than or more than.  I just believe that we have different priorities, different beliefs.  It's all good. 

I'm thankful for my choices.  Hubs is always saying he still works when he is scheduling appointments or things like that.  I laugh in my head a bit, because yes technically, I am "retired", but only from the corporate rat race.  I work harder than I have ever worked in my life.  I spend countless hours doing activities that I know will require a mineral bath and some healing lotions to calm my poor body afterwards.  I also know that my choices will never have an "end" date.  A time where I pull up the welcome mat and just stop.  Well, at least not when I will still be here on this plane.  I will still be working, because that is what we are here to do.  And I will be happy doing it.  Even on those days where the muscles ache, there isn't an ounce of energy left and I long for my bed or a hot bath.  And I am so thankful for that!

Hubs is fond of quoting "do something you love and you will never work a day in your life" or something like that - I'm more of a paraphrase kind of woman.  He's right.  

Well, my choices are calling.  The laundry needs folded and switched over and I need to call Beau in from his morning romp. 

If you are in the path of the extreme cold and possible snow, please be smart.  Please stay warm and definitely don't go traipsing around if you don't need to.  There is very little we actually need, we're just programmed to be out and about. 

take care & much love, 

b