going backwards!

Convenience kills skills.

The other day in the midst of the chaos that is my current life, while doing what seemed like an everyday thing for me lately, I heard those words on a podcast I was listening to.  

It's been rattling in my brain like a fire poker for days now.  The person speaking went on to explain their reasoning, their thoughts on the whole matter.  Oddly, it wasn't on one of my homesteading, gardening, homemaking type channels.  It was simply a random one that I stumbled on.  One I used to listen to all the time, but rarely take the time to listen to lately.  

I'm not the only one feeling it.  That's all I could think, that's all I could feel. I've struggled so hard lately with understanding the losses in skills.  They simply seemed to vanish. 

Convenience kills skills.  

I heard those words while I was making a batch of granola for Hubs' to enjoy on his yogurt.  A fresh batch of yogurt was almost done and ready to be strained.  Knowing how much he loves "yogurt & granola" and hating how many "chemicals" are in even the cleanest granola has, I decided it was time to learn. 

It's stupid easy, and I can add any fruits, nuts, grains, or spices that he loves.  I've stumbled on a combination or two that we both really love, but I am still searching for healthier options. The options for dried fruits at the store are pretty darn limited and they still have things in them that I don' want him to be eating.  I will start experimenting with both dehydrated and freeze dried fruits in the coming batches. Slowly, I am removing the things that I do not want in our lives. I am killing convenience so to speak. 

This weekend while Hubs and I were out and about we ran into one of the big box stores, the ones we usually avoid at all costs.  He needed a new swimsuit, he's lost over 50 lbs and all of his others were about to be a legal issue if he wore them to the pool. 

Since the fabric stores are disappearing at an alarming rate, along with you ability to make the things that one might need, and as he is still losing weight we didn't want to buy a super expensive one.  I have to tell you, I felt like I was experiencing an allergic reaction.  I was overwhelmed by the smells, the feels, the intensity of it all.  I didn't want to shop there, I didn't want to be there, I didn't want to be experiencing the glut of big commercialism. And was slapped in the face with the glaring difference between commercialism and capitalism, but that is a topic for another time.

I think I will keep killing convenience.  

In the evenings, while I sit with Hubs, I am working on a winter sweater for him.  It isn't as quick as running to the store, or ordering online.  It takes time.  Each stitch is intentional, each row is custom.  It's made of 100% wool.  It will keep him warm, it will fit perfectly, because it was made just for him.  No one else will have one like it.  It's an original.  I have found a few patterns that I like for myself and another one or two that I will make for him.  By the time the cold weather arrives, they will be finished.  I will be remaking the beautiful brown one I made for myself.  I've lost too much weight to wear it, I love the yarn, I will not waste it, I will use the yarn, I will make another sweater to love and cherish.  

As I was cleaning out closets I found a few beautiful pieces that I can alter for each of us.  Alter, repair, re-purpose.  Those things are all possible when you aren't buying fast fashion.  Things that are made with real material, not some varying version of plastics and chemicals.  Items that will end up in landfill, pollution and waste for faceless corporations to gather wealth. 

The items that were still in great shape, but simply not going to be altered or worn, I drove all the way down to Crystal City.  By happenstance, I found out about a great volunteer run "thrift store".  I use the "thrift" part loosely.  

I will make that drive from now on, it's only about 40 minutes each way.  They only charge a quarter for anything someone needs to buy, they will gladly give it away if someone can't afford that amount.  The sign on the wall said $1 donation required to help keep the lights on.  While I was unloading everything I watched a woman wheel out a bike for her son, her eyes glassy a huge smile on her face.  She didn't have a dollar, she did have some things to donate instead.  Creating a circle that was beautiful and made my rotten day (it was definitely one for the books, nothing was going as planned) turn completely around.  Blessings abound if you are willing to pause and look for them.

Yes these things take time.  LOTS of time. That was stolen from us, along with the skills to make it happen. My daughter blessed me with a beautiful old wooden table this weekend, it's been abused a bit, neglected and in need of love.  I am so excited to work on it, to see what kind of difference I can make with it.  Some of those skills I learned in the past, some I will need to learn, some will require a learning curve. I'm game.

I learned to create an AI assisted photo of my pups
and install a screen on my car to cool the interior.

I'm sitting for a moment.  Relaxing, catching my breath. I've already been super busy today, Hubs had to rush to work around 6ish this morning, so after I packed his lunch and got him off, I kicked it into high gear.  It's 11:30 now, and I have accomplished so much. 

So far the gardens have been tended, watered and ready for a new day.  Some of the front flower beds have been weeded.  The laundry has been done, just waiting on the last of it to dry.  I've tidied the house, dusted and swept, still need to mop.  Just thought I'd wait until I quit walking back and forth over the floors I want to clean.  In the midst of all that I have cleaned out the fridge made a huge batch of fire starters (again, getting ready for winter is not something that one should wait until November for).  I gave Beau his mani/pedi - Belle took off to hide so I might forget about her's... Jokes on her I have it on my to do list, there will be no forgetting. I've climbed more steps than I wanted to (it was a busy weekend - I really wanted to be lazy) and for a moment, I will rest. 

shhhh... mom can't see me.

I'm a good boy!  There were treats promised.

I spent some time with some delightful young people not to long around, they were lamenting the skills that are no longer readily taught.  Cooking, sewing, wood working, gardening, auto mechanics, basic life skills. They were voicing concerns over how difficult it is find a way to learn those things, how even in the family home aren't being passed down.  As people are too busy just trying to make a living.  How they've stopped making a life. Personally, I will continue to learn and grow.  I will continue to kill convenience. If I can't do it myself, I will either learn or find someone that is doing those things I can't and either purchase it or learn from them.  I will also share my skills and knowledge with anyone that longs to learn.  

We really do need to refocus.  We need to stop being consumers, we need to become producers.  We need to support one another on that journey.  And frankly, I am praying there is a will to do just that.  This weekend was full of adventures, some of which I am still processing, because wow, just wow. 

I hope you take a moment each day to be inconvenienced.  I hope that you take that moment to explore doing something the hard way.  The richness of the reward is so fulfilling.  It's incredible how much more important something becomes when you work for it.  Not pay money, but work, sweat of your brow and fully self engaged in it.  The amount of appreciation you have for the finished result, there are not words. 

bowl + sweater

My sweet Hubs made me a new yarn bowl - I broke my last one.  I love it. And even more than how beautiful it is.  I love the memory of watching him carefully paint the layers, knowing he was thinking about me while creating it.  Sure he could have ordered one from Amazon, but it would just be stuff then.  It wouldn't be the treasure it is.  He made that for me, he cared enough to work on it, to learn the skill and execute the finished product.  In my world, that screams love!  I wasn't just a task on his to do list. 

We've been blessed with a beautiful day, in fact we've been blessed with a series of them.  So in a few moments I will go outside to build my last two flower beds and line them, get ready to fill them with dirt and an unbelievable amount of zinnia seeds. 

I guess I should stop sitting around, I don't know about you, but sometimes if the chair feels too comfortable, the rest goes too long, the momentum of the day goes right along with it and that is the end of things being accomplished.  I have work to do, things that make life meaningful and rich... so back to it!