Simple Life on Hacienda Hill

A New Look at an Old Problem

noreply@blogger.com (M'Lynn McKeethan) — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 11:38:00 +0000

I need to exercise more, more steps in my day, more use of muscles that are or have turned to jello, like those on the underside of my upper arm. I know I need all this and yet, year after year, birthday after birthday...I haven't changed my habits much. Scheesh!

Over time I have made concessions with myself that have made me feel a little better about things. Where possible, I do take the stairs over the elevator. Of course, there aren't either in my day-to-day world, so that one is kinda wimpy...

I do walk...while I talk on the phone. I have a path I walk inside my house that traverses the entire length of my house. To change it up some, I walk circles around the coffee table and/or kitchen island a few times every so often. Just to have an idea of how much walking I was getting in, I kept a written record on random days. It ranged from 30 minutes on a slow day to nearly 2 1/2 hrs another. That's a good average! And this is not some ambling stroll I'm talking about here, oh no! I walk at a clip, doesn't really help much if I don't. I can look my cardiologist in the eye and say in all honesty..."Yes, sir, I walk every day!"

Being at the computer for long stretches at a time has taken it's toll on most of my body. I find I need to stretch more often, especially my shoulders and back. Sometimes I take 'computer breaks' and get in some 'walking time'...wink, wink...to catch up with my friends. Still, I've noticed that is no longer taking care of the needs of either working out or resting my shoulders. I realized I was pulling my arms behind my back or stretching them up and down behind my head with my hands clasped.

One day while washing up in the bathroom room I stood in the mirror and stretched like that and I decided I needed to add some weight in my hands for a more effective stretch. Looking around, I grabbed the large & almost full bottle of mouthwash and held it behind my head as I did the up & down thing with my arms. It was wonderful. It helped and was free!!! I'm not going to pay good money to buy some marketed gadget I probably wouldn't use much anyway, but the mouthwash bottle is just enough extra weight to be helpful and always handy. I made a game of it for my inner child and now I take the time to do 25 repetitions every time I go the to bathroom! On a hunch, I looked under the sink in the 'other' bathroom and sure enough, there was an almost empty bottle the same size. I filled it with water and 'presto' my exercise equipment was ready to go!

Living a Simple Life is all about getting back to the basics and freeing up our time and money. Recycling and re-purposing the mouthwash bottle keeps the plastic out of the landfill, too...a bonus! The shape of this bottle is just right for my small hands to wrap around without strain, so you might think about that next time you're buying mouthwash and your underarm jiggles as you reach up to the top shelf. LOL

Beautiful Morning

noreply@blogger.com (M'Lynn McKeethan) — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 12:51:00 +0000

I am thrilled to report this post is the first ever written on the picnic table on the front deck where my view includes the silhouetted hills of Bandera, the rising of a pinkish gold sun and I am being serenaded by the dueling crows of roosters in stereo. The wind is from the north east and is blowing enough to sing through the trees and move my hair into my face but not so much to drive me back inside. This is the second day in a row I've been able to once again enjoy breakfast on the deck, one of my favorite things to do! It is a morning full of promise and blessings. God dances on the wind and covers my home and life completely!

Most of the time the blog posts are written in the wee hours of darkness, making an outdoor writing experience difficult. It is later than my usual writing time and I am taking full advantage of this glorious morning. My deck is not covered and, for the most part, sadly unusable during the summer months that end up rolling into fall. This makes this time even more special. So I want to share it with you when I can.

The vast number of birds songs gracing my ears is amazing! The cooing of several types of doves and the gobbles from a neighbor's turkeys carry on the wind from near and far. The playful sounds of the three pups next door makes me smile. The buzzing of something large flying behind my head is not cause for concern because I've decided it must be a dragonfly.....no, no, do not try to tell me differently, it is a dragonfly. That's my story and I'm sticking with it!

The feral cats were fed before I brought out my food in self-defense. They are a hungry lot and think each time the front door is opened it surely must be time to be fed. I want them to depend more on their hunting skills and less on my dispensing of food, so they are only fed in the mornings now. I see evidence of their skills, so I know it must be working. While still not friendly pets, they clamor at the front door when they hear the lock turn each morning and make walking to the food bowl tricky but I prefer that to the instantaneous scattering like fearful babes they used to be. At this moment, they are spread out all over the deck, some perched on a bench, the others taking their favorite lofty spots to watch life pass below us. Our treetop perspective gives a feeling of being above it all.

Being in the country during dove season, there is the occasional gunshot, not a sound I relish but my hope is that any dove falling to the sound will make its way onto someone's table. God did give us dominion over the animals for food, even if we don't like the path they have to take to get there.

As the sun gets higher in the sky and the pink fades to a more brilliant gold, the gunshots are coming more frequently. Fly, little doves, fly!!

I have new neighbors in the village. A family moved in across the street to that pretty rock house. I haven't met them yet but I have enjoyed the sound of their young children playing. Yesterday they were imitating the roosters. Apparently said roosters can't tell time and crow randomly throughout the day.

This time of day, 7:32, usually finds me in my office working on some literary masterpiece....(picture me laughing hysterically)...but this morning is so beautiful and pleasant (and it is holiday after all), I just cannot bring myself to go back inside. The long months of unbearable heat have left me longing for such a time as this. Early morning sun is the only kind I can be in anyway, so I am making the most of it.

Life is starting to make its presence known in the village now. Cars revving up, the golf cart puttering down the street bearing the man that reads our water meters and dogs communication on the canine hotline compete with the birds for the airwaves. I'll drink down the last sip of my now cold coffee, gather up my computer and head inside to face whatever this day brings. Having been restored in the masterpiece of God's morning, I am more able to cope with the unknown to come. His mercies are new everyday!

Thanks for stopping in and sharing my morning!

Redirecting Your View

noreply@blogger.com (M'Lynn McKeethan) — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 14:17:00 +0000

Simple Life on Hacienda Hill is not so simple right now. The practical issues of composting, hanging the clothes out to dry, re-purposing items and choosing to live a lifestyle that is more harmonious with the earth is all still in place. It's the 'life' stuff that clouds my sunny horizon.

Sometimes the winds of reality are referred to as the cold hard facts, about now they seem more like the hot breath of hell. Added to the scorching heat of this record breaking summer, relief is hard to come by. There just isn't enough A/C in the world.....

But, my new friend, Terry, said something that touched me when I had to let her know how disappointed I was I had to cancel the mission trip next June. She said, "There is no reason for sadness, because He has a better plan." I'm still walking in the valley where the shadows block out the sunlight, but I hang on to Terry's words and made them my mantra because I know the day will come when I walk in sunshine again. Thank you, Terry.

As God often does, He places what you need to see right in front of you. The first written word I saw this morning was on a blog I read and it was titled 'When real Life Gets in the Way of Your Dreams'. I smiled, I knew it was Him. As I prepared to read the blog, I decided to open the curtains to let in natural light (simple life habit!). The window in my office gets blasted by the hot, west afternoon sun, so I have heavy drapes inside the outer light weight curtains to help keep the heat out. I drew the heavy drape to the left and saw that my view would be of the ugly storage shed, the burn pile we haven't been able to burn in over three years because of the ban and all the pile of junk in the 'To Be Hauled Away Someday' area. Not a pretty picture. I quickly reversed the drape to the right. It hid the ugliness and outlined the garden bed, albeit dried up. It also highlighted the life and new growth of my precious fig tree. My only thought was, "I have a choice; I can choose the ugly and worthless or I can choose that which makes my heart feel good." Talk about a No Brainer!

I shared this little story this morning to say this...even in the worse of times, we have choices. We may not be able to control circumstances that rain down upon us like piercing sleet but we can choose how we conduct ourselves in the face of adversity and the view we decide to take. Dwelling on ugliness does not take away the ugliness. Shifting your view to that which is good doesn't take away the ugliness either, but it gives you a chance to focus on the good that exists beyond the ugliness, a chance to breathe in fresh air of hope and to remember that, as Terry said, He has a better plan.

This coming week my new granddaughter, Lily, will make her entrance into this world. The very thought of her inspires hope in my spirit. It is God's way of reminding me that I will get through the valley to the sunshine and life, as He orchestrated it, goes on.

I pray you find hope and peace in your own simple life today!

It's the Little Things

noreply@blogger.com (M'Lynn McKeethan) — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 11:55:00 +0000

In my pursuit of returning to a more simple life, I realized I've long made it a practice to seek out the little things that add a touch of comfort, familiarity or just plain make me feel good. I've never been a high maintenance girl or had to be entertained to be content. I'm fortunate enough to enjoy time in my head and I take it everywhere I go! LOL

I think we have gotten to a place is space with so many techie toys that many of us are unable to be content without them. We have forgotten how to just 'be' without being occupied by some outside stimulus. Nothing simple about that life. So this morning, as I was enjoying one of the little things I do for myself, I thought I'd share some of them. Hope you'll share yours, too.

Last Bite - As I eat a meal, there comes a point where I know what I want to be my last bite. Maybe it's a favorite veggie, or the last piece of meat, whatever. It's the flavor I savor as I walk away from the meal. My Honey & I were at a seafood restaurant where I was enjoying one of my favorites, oysters, and we were having an exciting conversation because we had just come from the hospital where we met our new grandson, Jacob! Needless to say, my attention was on the joyful event. I realized I had mindlessly finished the oysters. "Oh, no! I don't have one for my last bite!" This was the first my husband heard of my 'last bite' habit. He laughed and asked if I actually planned my last bite and I replied, "Of course, don't you?" He thought it a silly thing I did this but he ordered 3 more oysters just so I could savor my last bite. Since that time, I might add, he often makes a point to choose a 'last bite' and has learned to appreciate the habit. It's a little thing that brings me joy. No batteries required.

Post Breakfast Coffee - My blood does not really flow until I have sipped my way through my first cup of coffee. By this time, I've done my Bible reading and maybe even gotten the Truth in the Morning blog out. I may have a little more but am into my morning routines, so it usually goes cold on me. I don't really drink much during meals, I prefer my libation afterward. Thus was born my habit of Post Breakfast Coffee. I make a point of stopping all activity and sit down to compose myself while I enjoy that last coffee in peace before resuming my work. It is but a small thing I do to take time to breathe deeply and enjoy a short time of meditating on my day's game plan. I come away refreshed, refocused and with a sense of preparedness because I took a few minutes to take care of me. Big rewards from such a little thing.

We often think we don't have time to even think about doing things for ourselves because we have so much responsibility on our shoulders. Friends, we can not maintain to hustle and bustle of modern life without taking care of ourselves. Rarely will you find yourself with extra time so we need to carve out time. I was a single-again mom a long time and learned quickly that if I did not take care of me, no one took care of me. Out of sheer stress and burnout, learning to do the little things was born. I had no money for luxuries like manicures or getting my hair done, that was incomprehensible to me. So I learned to find pleasure in small ways that took neither time nor money away from my family. I discovered it was fun to uncover new 'little things' to appreciate. They are usually there all along, the key is deciding to take time to appreciate them.

Next time you're feeling like life is cheating you somehow and you are not getting all that you deserve or want, go on a treasure hunt. The 'little things' you find for your life add richness and joy when you make a point of taking a moment or two to appreciate them for the treasures they are.

That's my view of simple life from Hacienda Hill this morning.

My Little Purple Friend

noreply@blogger.com (M'Lynn McKeethan) — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 12:24:00 +0000

Let's talk about toilet bowl brushes! We are learning to live a more Simple Life, after all, so anything that moves us toward that end is up for discussion. I have found an awesome toilet bowl brush. Let me backup a minute....

I've mentioned before that it is easier to like my husband when we do not share a bathroom. Man hair...ugh! Anyway, our bathrooms are as far apart in our house as they can get. This works for me! Except, when I would have to transport the toilet bowl brush from one end to the other. For the longest time I've told myself I needed to get two brushes to end that particular insanity. I do not know about you, but I never think about toilet bowl brushes until it's time to use them. Then it's too late, I'm stuck transporting the nasty thing again.

I subscribe to FlyLady, a site dedicated to helping those of us 'organizationally challenged' souls to find easier ways to do things. FlyLady researches common tools we use around the house and came up with the awesome purple toilet bowl brush. I've read the testimonials from people saying it was amazing and wondered just how amazing a toilet bowl brush could be. One day, after having had the TBB (toliet bowl brush) transfer again, I just decided I would order two of them while I was thinking about it and not wait hoping I remembered to buy TBBs when I actually got into town.

On Monday I was being driven home by a friend and I asked if she would stop and let me check my mail. I was anticipating the arrival of the package. I climbed back in her truck, all excited. Another friend asked what I had received. When I said toilet bowl brushes, she exclaimed loudly, "Why would you order toilet bowl brushes when you can get them at WalMart?" I told her she would just have to wait and see. I then pulled out my magnificent new purple toilet bowl brush. It was like Christmas all over for me!

This unique looking purple wonder is cute as it can be but how will it perform on the real test - the hard water rings? I am delighted to say it is almost magical. The trick, of course, is to stay on top of the rings and not let them build up. As part of my morning toilette (I love that word!), I Swish & Swipe (FlyLady language) before I leave the room. This means 'Swish' the toilet bowl with TBB and 'Swipe' the counter, sink and flat surfaces on toilet with rag. I walk out of my bathroom with it spotless and find it welcoming when I revisit later. It is one of my favorite routines because I can walk away not having to worry about the condition of the room the rest of the day. My husband's bathroom....well.....not so much.

This is where the purple FlyLady TBB really shows its stuff -my husband has been Swishing & Swiping ever since I put the TBB in his bathroom!!!!! That's right, he does it himself! Now is that an amazing toilet bowl brush or what?! Yep, life is better around here with our purple TBBs! Ah, the Simple Life!

A Year in Review

noreply@blogger.com (M'Lynn McKeethan) — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 13:59:00 +0000

Good morning, Friends!

I am happy to report that this Saturday we celebrate the first anniversary of Simple Life on Hacienda Hill. We will be out doing work for our ministry over the weekend, and I won't have an opportunity to send out the post then, so we are having an early acknowledgment. I have to say, the year flew by!

Simple Life was conceived to log our progress in change after I saw the need and felt overwhelming desire to make life more simple, go back to the basics, live a greener lifestyle and breath in more peace.

Since last summer, we have made changes that bless us everyday. Life in the world is crazy enough and we have no control over any of it. BUT, we can control the environment in which we live inside our homes, our sanctuaries. No, we can't twitch our noses and have our humble abode turn into a MacMansion, nor would I want to! I have lived in a 6000 sq foot monstrosity and I have lived in a single car converted garage apartment which was basically 2 1/2 tiny rooms. The size of your 'house' has little bearing on the size of your 'home'. Simple Life deals with our homes!

In our quest for a greener, more Simple Life, I stopped using the electric clothes dryer a year ago and still love it. I immediately saw the difference in our light bill, what's not to love there? I enjoy the breaks from the office to hang out the laundry in the fresh air. With my limitation of time in the sun, our clotheslines are under our back porch roof. It has little bearing on drying time and I am protected. It's been a win-win deal as far as we're concerned. Can't you just smell those fresh sheets now?

We have de-cluttered and pared down so much already but 'stuff' multiplies like rabbits and that is an ongoing process. We are still working on our mental de-cluttering...talk about processes! LOL Old ways of thinking can jam up the peace in your home as much as anything else! Just because you've always done something the same way doesn't mean its the best way. Likewise, just because your opinion has always been one thing doesn't mean it's the only way either! De-cluttering our minds of old worn-out excuses and justifications and behaviors is more important than throwing out knick-knacks.

On the practical side, we are about to have to replace our old original A/C system. It's 20+ years old, not every efficient, thought it does still cool the house, it just have to work too hard to do so. Wisdom dictates we replace it before it goes out on one of our 100+ degree days! We are shooting for an energy efficient and allergy sensitive system. Gonna reduce our 'energy footprint' on the earth and help me breathe at the same time.

Over the past year I've come to understand that living a Simple Life does not come overnight and you have to work at in the beginning. Most of us grew up in a time of postwar parents loving the modern conveniences and those of us 'boomer babies' were ingrained believing we deserved them. I'm all for technology, though it is often the bane of my existence, but new and advanced does not always translate to 'better'. I grew up watching StarTrek; I don't want my meals to be wrapped in a pill. I want real food, cooked by real people, and served on a real plate (no paper for me-thanks - think of those trees and landfills!).

I want my hands in the dirt, growing things without pesticides, to feed my family. Can you picture Jesus sitting under a tree with a Big Mac in a styrofoam box? Not hardly. God gave us good things to eat and man turned them into fat-laden, genetically engineered, nutrition-free and emotionally addicting toxic fares in a foam box that will not decompose no matter how long it lives in the landfill. I have composted for years and you can see the quick turnover from kitchen veggie scrapes to useable soil in no time. Is it the easiest way to go? NOPE! But it is a back to the basics, greener and healthier lifestyle de-cluttered of old mentalities and ways.

That's our Simple Life on Haciendas Hill. It's more peaceful and rewarding than I thought possible. Isn't that worth working for? Hope you'll hang around to see what the next year brings! Happy Birthday, Simple Life!

In With the New, Out With the Old

noreply@blogger.com (M'Lynn McKeethan) — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 14:10:00 +0000

My goodness bad habits die hard! Or is it...hardly die? The things we do to ourselves by creating and/or evolving into bad habits! It's sad...

Our A/C unit needs to be replaced. The poor old thing is 20+ years old and we knew a few years ago its days were numbered. After coming home from an single overnight trip to find it frozen up and the house hotter than h....well you know...we knew we could not put it off any longer. An A/C guy my Honey works with is coming this afternoon to see the size of the house, size of existing unit and recommend what we need to get. We need his advice, I'm glad he's coming.

Early this morning, however, I was singing the "woe is me" song thinking I would not be able to get much work done today because I would need to get the house in order for this company. As I walked to the kitchen to prepare my breakfast, I scoped out the place. Guest/My bathroom looks great - check. Living room would take maybe 2 minutes to dust & 3 to sweep. Kitchen maybe another 3 just to sweep, wipe counters/table. The official 'dining area' is sadly a storage area for our ministry while we search for a suitable facility but even that is nicely pulled together - check. That's it for public spaces in our home. A whopping 8 minutes worth of house foo-foo and that's it! Yet, here I was, bemoaning the labor ahead. You know why? Because it is a habit of stinking thing...that's why!

How many times have you wanted to have guest for dinner but didn't because you thought it was too much trouble to get ready? I used to jump every time a car pulled up my driveway thinking someone would want to come in. Sad, that! We had dinner guest a week or so ago. My Honey kept watching me, waiting for me to go into 'manic crazy mode' but I was watching my favorite PBS stuff and kicked back and relaxed. I could tell he was getting nervous.

"What's the matter?" I asked.
"Well, what do you want me to do to get ready?" he asks out of old stinking thinking.
"Could you vacuum the living room?"
"That's it?" he asks.
"That's it."
"Nothing else?"
"Look around, nothing else to do."

So he took a nap! LOL Having decluttered, clean out and pared down, it takes less actual work to keep the house company ready. Ah, a simple life on Hacienda Hill. Who knew? Honey & I are still in the stage where we have to work at keeping the good habits in play, it doesn't come naturally to us as it might you but we are down the road to where we want to be on this. I don't have to stress about it, yet I did this morning out of old stinking thinking. So, the newest habit I want to develop is not to sing the same old tired song of 'woe is me'. You have no idea how delightful it felt to realize there was no 'woe' to be found!

I even scrubbed my Honey's bathroom while in my state of sheer elation! LOL It is much easier for me to like my husband when we do not share a bathroom. *giggle* That may be way more than you ever wanted to know about us but I stay befuddled and confused at HOW he can get that bathroom mirror looking like that! I do not even want to know. I don't ask!

Who's There?

noreply@blogger.com (M'Lynn McKeethan) — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 12:25:00 +0000

Is it just me or do you ever wonder if you really have a split personality, too? I'm not quite sure how many of 'me' there are but I know the main players well. This questioning mode came to me very early this morning when my attention was as diverted by the fluttering of the white paper prescription slip for blood work I was to have drawn in June. Oops!

I knew when the nurse handed me the slip of paper I was going to have to put it someplace 'safe' yet visible. Ah, ha...thinks I, my desk is at my finger tips every day...perfect place. Not so much....

There is just something about paper that brings out The Procrastinator in me. She's not hard to find in the first place, but paper paralyzes her into inaction. In my quest to 'get to busy', I put off dealing with paper stuff. I have work to do, I can't be bothered with paper! I'm a writer; see the glaring error and double-mindedness in my thinking?

So, The Procrastinator puts this small (another problem right off the bat) slip of import on the desk. I see it alright! I see it every time the ceiling fans blows it around till it dances its way off the desk, onto the floor and swirls to the tune of the squeaky fan. I’d be ashamed to say this was a daily event but I know I have to be transparent in my life and writing…so, yeah, it happens every day. No joke…every stinking day. It happened every day till The School Marm’ showed up and stuck a tack in it on the bottom rim of the cabinets over my desk. Not a place I really want things stuck to but she seemed determined so I stayed out of her way. She was mumbling something about “…insanity to let this happen every day…” Yeah, I stayed out of her way.

The question is, why do I keep it up there? It’s outdated, seems to have something suspicious stuck to the front of it (but I’m not getting close enough to find out what it is) and it distracts The ADD Child that lives within! It flaps around in my peripheral vision and she finds herself looking up at it instead of doing her work…watch out, The School Marm’ lurks behind the corner and you never know when she’ll show up.

I just hung my head because it struck me the reason I keep it there is to remind me to call and schedule the Dr’s appointment I’m supposed to have in September…or at least call and ask if I already have one scheduled. *SIGH* The Procrastinator is alive and well.

See why I asked that question at the top of this post? I prefer to think I am multifaceted with character and depth...LOL...wonder which one of me came up with that? Probably The Visionary, sounds like something she’d say.

Foo-foo for You

noreply@blogger.com (M'Lynn McKeethan) — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 11:52:00 +0000

I just looked at the clock and it was 5:15am. I've already been awake more than two hours, grudgingly awake, but awake nonetheless. I was wakened at 2:45 with cramps in my feet and ankles. I hate that! I got up and walked around until they were no longer deformed looking and then tried to go back to sleep. It was too late, I was awake and my day was starting, like it or not! I made myself lie in bed until another cramp at 3:15. Bummer, up and walking again. That ended any hope of dozing.

The bright side, if you can have a bright side at 3:15 in the morning, is that I got an early jump on Truth in the Morning blog! Even that early you can find something for which to be thankful. I had finished writing and sending it out before I heard my Honey rustling around at the other end of the house.

After he left, I resumed my morning routine, and since the blog was out, got dressed to shoes, hair & face. Why do my hair and face at 5:15, you may ask, when I work from my home office and only see the hounds all day? This brings me to the point of this post.

At one time I worked in an office of a commercial construction company. That's important only to make the point that I worked with a lot of men from department heads, to salesmen, to the guys actually installing the systems, I was surrounded. I heard many 'stories' about family life, hunting, etc. The saddest of all was the way some of these men talked about their wives. Work took many of these guys into business offices where the women they saw were dressed, faces made-up and hair coiffed. At the end of the day, they went home to find their wife far more casual, sometimes in the same clothes from the day before, with hair in ponytail or pinned up in bun, no make-up and a day full of stress-filled kid stories, fielding calls from bill collectors, etc. Not glamorous for sure. While it is day to day married life and whether or not they said anything to their beloved or not, these men noticed. I know, because I heard the same story from different men many times over many years. They noticed. It isn't fair to compare what they were seeing in offices with what they found at home, but they noticed and commented to me.

Having been a stay at home when my kids were young, I defended the wives and suggested they stay at home with the kids a few weeks and see how handsome they felt and looked. No one ever took the challenge. Imagine that.

We all know we feel better about ourselves when we know we look good. Let's face it, it's true. I have blonde eyebrows and lashes, if I don't put make-up on them I look like the walking dead. My light yellow skin needs a little rosy blush and my pale thinning lips need all the help they can get. My hair is the sort that either looks very good or very bad. I don't really have middle ground. Mornings, I typically apply (at the very least) brow pencil, mascara, a light swipe of blush, perfume and earrings. Lipstick doesn't make sense in the garden, so I wait for my afternoon foo-foo for that if I'm going to be home alone. I do this for me! I feel better when I know I look better.

I do my afternoon foo-foo before my Honey gets home. Freshen up what I've got on and retouch the hair, a little more perfume and now the lipstick. Full blown make-up isn't required (my requirements, not his), unless we are headed out somewhere. I do this for me! I feel better when I know I look better.

Nothing says 'frumpy' like finding yourself in public looking like you slept in your cloths and lost your brush all on the same day! A few years ago, I was so very thankful for my 'foo-foo for me' routine. My husband had another heart attack, you can't plan for those you know, and I spent the next three days at the hospital in the same clothes with nothing to freshen up. Had I not started out looking okay, it could have been rough for one and all. Before you go thinking it shouldn't matter what I looked like when my husband had a heart attack and I am a very vain and petty woman, let me say this...even in a hospital bed in ICU, men are still visual creatures. When he was scared and uncertain about what might happen, I wanted...no, needed...to be as confident and reassuring as I possibly could. I needed to be the 'strong one' for both of us during the crisis time. You cannot project what you do not feel and I never feel confident, strong or encouraging when I feel frumpy. Do you? Yes, I was thankful I had taken the time to foo-foo that morning because my man needed me.

Ninety-eight percent of the time my husband never comments on the way I look one way or the other. I want to look good for him even if he insists he doesn't care. I know better, remember the men from my old job? I remember well. It's not about vanity or fashion. Lord knows I am NOT a fashionista! It's about feeling like the best me I can be. When I stay in my jammies during my 'work day' of writing, I am less productive. If I dress in real clothes, do my hair and mini-makeup, and put on my shoes, I feel like I am ready to work. I deserve as much effort now as I put into it when I worked in an office. We fall victim to the 'it's just me' mentality and get lazy. There is nothing 'less deserving' about 'just you or just me'. I notice when my husband puts on cologne to go places, it's one of my favorite men's cologne. But he doesn't put it on just for me very often at all. Oh, yes, I notice when the extra effort is made for me.

I know we all need our down time to step away from the pressure and dictates of our day to day worlds. My Honey & I have 'Jammie Day' once in a while on the weekends where we stay in our jammies all day and watch movies, one after another. That's a good thing. Even in my jammies I do the mini-makeup so I don't look dead and my eyes do not disappear off my face. If I'm going to hang around lounging with my man, I want him to be glad he's with me, not wishing I'd go shower or something. I foo-foo for me, so I feel the best I can. If my man benefits from it, all the better but it has to start with me wanting to be the best I can be. So, the moral of the story is Foo-foo for YOU!

Happy Harvest Dance

noreply@blogger.com (M'Lynn McKeethan) — Fri, 20 May 2011 13:42:00 +0000

Oh, happy day! Oh, happy day!!! Picture me doing the 'Thank you, Jesus Happy Dance', first outside around my garden, then through my kitchen and down the hall to my office to write this post. It may seem a trifle thing to you but I brought in my first bean harvest this morning and that excites me, no end!

A garden, no matter how large or small, is vital in our aspirations of living a simple life. Anyone can grow something in a pot - even from an apartment. If you're not growing something, you will have a bumper crop harvest of excuses. Salt with that?

There are a few things I do not like about my personality but I enjoy the fact that I get so excited about the simple things in life. You can pack more thrills into your day that way..hehehe. I was busily picking the morning greens harvest when my eye caught sight of a bean. "What's this?" says I. I placed my greens in the wheelbarrow and went back to investigate. Sure enough, my bean plants are now covered in tiny baby bean pods but there were a few large enough to pick. Not anywhere near enough for a meal, by any means, but enough to make my day!

I inspect the garden carefully every day but have not paid much attention to the beans because they do not produce as quickly as the squash and greens, etc. I've planted 4 types of beans to-date this year. White beans first, then black beans and lentils and lastly, pintos. I staggered the planting times so they are not all ready at the same time. This is my first year for black beans and lentils, so I'm learning their ways as I go. The white beans are the source of my delight and happy dance this morning. If you've had experience with lentils, please let me know what to expect. I try to plant something new every year.

On another note, growing squash is not for the faint of heart. I do intensive planting which means spacing things much closer than recommended to better utilize my water and help keep the weeds down by the the close leaf coverage. It works well with squash. Both the yellow straight neck and white scalloped squash are doing very well. When the plants are covered with ripe fruit to harvest and many brightly colored blossoms, bees are everywhere. I like the bees, they provide a better harvest and they tickle my husband when he slows down to watch them. Harvesting the squash is where having a strong faith comes in handy. Once I spot one ready to pick, I have to stick my arm deep into the dense plants to get it. This requires blindly maneuvering between bees doing their own harvesting of pollen. I have not been stung yet and plan to keep it that way. If you're allergic and/or get scared by bees, growing squash is not for you.

The greens are playing out and next week should be time to harvest any turnips I might get. I planted the bulk of my seed close together for more of a greens harvest but did space some out between the rows of white beans in hopes of some turnips. The last of the radishes have all been pulled. I had under-planted them with the pintos, so as the bean plants started over-shadowing them, I just harvested the last of them. The Swiss Chard keeps plugging along but it does far better in the late fall and winter.

Oh, and this morning I was bitten by the first mosquito I've seen this season. It was vicious! It did not, however, deter any joy from the bounty of the harvest. Thanks, Lord!! No wonder we have Thanksgiving Day! I bet the pilgrims were easily thrilled gardeners, too!

Journal Entry

noreply@blogger.com (M'Lynn McKeethan) — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 14:29:00 +0000

Japanese Tea Garden Journal

April 7, 2011

Tho I am far, far away from anything that actually looks like a Japanese Tea Garden yet, I have found great satisfaction in my daily efforts toward that end. I mentioned that this has been a nine year long dream of mine. What I didn’t address was the impetus for finally starting. I think it important to know why we do what we do when we do it. It’s an integral part of living your life actually aware and plugged in to your own ‘present’ moment.

I was having a discussion with a dear friend that asked what I participated in to reduce stress, something I did ‘just for me’. It struck me that if a friend this close to me had to ask that question, whatever it was must not be evident in my day-to-day world. This friend KNOWS me, knows me well. If she didn’t know, no one would. This sent up all kinds of red flags for me. Then she asked me what I would do for myself if I could.

I ‘do’ all kinds of things. I ‘enjoy’ a lot of different activities. I am blessed to love my vocation of choice. I think part of my key to enjoying life is that I look for things to appreciate in the mundane chores required, as an example – how I enjoy hanging out the laundry on the line or the sense of immediate gratification I get from ironing. I choose not to see it as something I have to do but rather something I enjoy doing. But what do I “do” just for my personal pleasure, something to nourish my soul, if you will?

At first glance, I didn’t see anything. Apparently, my friend didn’t either. Then I thought about my daily tea ritual at 2 in the afternoon. I “do” that for me. Thoughts of my tea ritual led me to my dream for the Japanese tea garden and the serenity I feel when I simply contemplate sitting in the midst of this garden, away from the world and her stresses. That’s what I would do if I could, I would create my garden rather than just dreaming the years away. I would “do” that just for me if I could.

No, I can’t run out and buy the materials to put the fences up and building the actual Tea House may be light years away (even if it is small) in a realistic world but I can DO something. I can start! I can rake and prune trees and plot my vision in color on the computer…all of which I have done already. I walk the “fence lines” looking at the area from every angle to make sure my vision encompasses all the standard elements for a traditional Japanese garden. I ‘feel’ the emotion and peace I anticipate when I finally get to stroll the winding paths admiring the plantings and structure of the garden as I discover each new view all over again every day. I can do that.

For years I have poured over pictures of Japanese gardens in anticipation of actually having one of my own. I will continue to peruse the pictures because it puts a ‘face’ on my vision, if that makes sense. But I am determined to longer just dream. Each day I am one day closer to my vision coming to life and I will “DO” something as often as I can toward that end.

I hope you will “DO” something just for you, too!

Japanese Tea Garden Journal Intro

noreply@blogger.com (M'Lynn McKeethan) — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 18:12:00 +0000

Japanese Tea Garden Journal

April 4, 2011

Today is the first day of actual hands-on work on the Tea Garden. Nine years of planning and dreaming and visualizing have moved on to the next phase…doing! I raked the whole area and staked off the fence lines. It was a labor of love and I proudly wear my new blisters as a badge of progress!

It will be completed, of course, on a pay as you go basis…no debt will be incurred to finish the project. So, progress in ‘leaps and bounds’ may be a bit optimistic but as a confirmation of commitment and an affirmation of intent, I will rake the area when I can do nothing else. Japanese gardens are quite well maintained, you know, albeit a low maintenance proposition.

I measured off the space; it is approximately 25’ X 50’. This is the distance from the side of the house to the property line between us and the Peterson neighbors and from the front edge of the house 50’ back toward the existing shed. The Tea House I see in my visions will sit between two of the Yupon trees that live in the garden area now.

I plan to situate the Tea House to face East. I love the morning sun and this will place the Tea House entrance as the first thing you see when you walk through the Asian style gate in the fence. I want the Tea House to measure 8’X8’. This is large enough for a table for the heating element for boiling tea water and a low table to sit around for the actual tea preparation and serving. I’ll be brushing up on the formal tea ceremony in the meantime. I hope to one day have the Tea House screened in so we can sleep out there when the weather allows. Ya gotta love living in the country!

In my vision, there is a water feature. I am still pondering the type and location but to be in keeping with Japanese gardens, I want the water feature to be seen from a sitting position in the Tea House, as you enter the gate, from the proposed sitting area and from inside the bedroom window that overlooks the garden area.

I hope to use bamboo/reed fencing around the shed (back) side and property line side of the garden. I want a wooden privacy fence on the side facing the back yard/doggy run and the side toward the front yard/street. The gate I envision will be Asian in design and there will be a rock walkway from the back of the house to the gate. One the end of the garden toward the front yard, I want another smaller gate of the same design to give access to the steps we will be cutting into the slope and to give just a hint of the secret garden from the street view up the hill.

So, this is me, excited about our journey to the Japanese Tea Garden. I will journal the adventure and share the project as I go. Hope you'll have tea with me one day...that's the vision!

Day 166! Time Flies

noreply@blogger.com (M'Lynn McKeethan) — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 11:55:00 +0000

WOW, this is day 166 since we we launched Simple Life on Hacienda Hill and our resolve to live a more relaxed life, less cluttered with consumerism and moving toward a 'greener' lifestyle. We have made many changes and have many more to go. There are still old thinking and habits we need to eliminate and/or replace with greener, more efficient ways of doing things.

I am still in love with hanging the clothes on the line rather than using the electric dryer. Only one day, so far, have I not enjoyed the ritual. It was freezing, literally, and I had a load of my Honey's work clothes that needed to be hung out. Cold air dries clothes, too. It also makes your hands turn into red stumps of agony. We don't have many bitter cold days in this part of the world, so I do not perceive that to be an ongoing issue. We did have a recent stretch of foggy, misty days that threw a kink in my laundry schedule but we lived to tell about it without any major life altering issues. I just considered how the families of days gone by would have dealt with the same issue, and persevered in my determination to stick to my guns and commitment. I can honestly say it has only required planning ahead and more careful attention to the weather forecasts. All in all, it was a positive change to my routines and our lower energy bill. I have no plans plans to abandon this life change.

I have a few areas of less than productive results. My raised garden bed has all but been forgotten. It has gone to pot...no, not the brain cell killing, cash crop of pot (LOL) but as in neglected and weed infested. It will be but a few blinks of an eye before it is time to get the spring garden planted. I am not prepared! Nor is my sad, pitiful garden bed.

There is still a ton of 'stuff' of which to rid our lives and home. I'm sad to admit that a cabinet I previously cleared out and de-junked is full again! That's NOT the way to go about things. On a positive note, we've done some reassigning of space allocation. My Honey's studio has become my new office and is smack in the middle of redecorating, as in painting & wallpaper. Working on the book has occupied the bulk of my time and attention, as did the mission trip to Costa Rica. There are only so many hours in a day and I need to re-assess the way I am using them. We all have the same 24 hours a day, many people utilize them efficiently, many more don't. Some days I do, some days I don't. I need to find a consistent rhyme and rhythm that works every day for me. I'm not THERE yet.

I am currently trying to find a good balance and division of time to better meet all the needs I have IF I am to get the book ready for submission, my office cleared out of everything but the necessities of my writing profession and make it esthetically pleasing to my sensibilities and juggle the demands of life in general: meals to prepare, bills to pay, laundry to be done, dust bunnies to chase, clutter to clear, etc. It's difficult to remember that living a simple life is about ridding ourselves of excess so we can manage that which requires managing to maintain a peaceful, less stressful life when you're tripping over paint cans, boxes to sort through and stacks of papers you'd rather just chunk in the trash. There is practical work that must be accomplished if we are to attain that peaceful place. This is where I struggle...finding that balance.

All in all, I'd say Day 166 finds us in fairly good place toward our goal. I am thankful for the positive changes made and am eagerly awaiting the changes to come. Twitching my nose won't get us there, so I must push on.

Let me know about the progress you've made, areas of struggle and ideas to share. I could use some good tips!

Layers of Life

noreply@blogger.com (M'Lynn McKeethan) — Sat, 25 Dec 2010 13:54:00 +0000

I'm happy to say I am writing this from my new office! No longer am I situated a few steps from the fridge..a very good thing! I can resist anything but temptation! Also, I am farther away from the scuffles of the hounds, the road noises, the phone, the washing machine...etc. I am revamping what has been (in chronological order from the time we bought the house)...the office, a little girl's garden decor bedroom, a teen boys beach shack bedroom, my Honey's studio and now...TA DA...my office!

As I take down shelves I can see layers of paint of decors past...ah, a moment to reflect...ok, I'm over it! I've uncovered the original color the room was when we moved in and the lovely fantasy garden treatment I painted. Painting over the beach shack wood plank (looking ) walls was a tad bit sad and the sign I painted (Studio B) for my Honey's studio is still in here, I'm taking it to him when I leave the room. All bits and pieces of life we have lived and family traveling through our home over the years. A bittersweet transition, indeed.

Now, I am claiming this room as my own since my Honey graciously sacrificed his studio for me to have a better place to write. Life is a lot like the layers of paint I've uncovered. It's colorful, diverse, and changes over the course of time. What works for you at one point in time might not be so satisfying or suitable at another. Life is just that LIFE, it should not be stagnant. You've seen the creepy crawlies and gunk that grows in stagnant water...that has no place in our lives! We want, need and should pursue all that is vital, healthy and life-giving. This often requires changes to be made in our environments, our relationships, our habits and ways of thinking.

I have a friend that hates change...a lot. Here's one example. Her home looks very much like it did six years ago. Everything sits in the same place, moved only for dusting. The decor has not changed at all except for a wall color change in one room and that only happened by accident. They were planning on refreshing the paint and bought the wrong shade. The new shade was not so very different but it was certainly a change. This threw my friend into a tizzy. It was inconvenient to take the paint back, so they used it anyway. To this day she isn't happy with it. Two more gallons of paint could have taken it back to the shade she had in the first place, but the effort required was not something they were willing to do, so she lives all these years later with a color that doesn't make her happy. Why? I do not understand that logic. Even when I lived in apartments, I painted them and then painted them back when I moved out. Life is in living color...it's too short and precious to spend being unhappy over something as easily fixed as a wall color! Not all things in life can be corrected that easily.

There is nothing that says, "Simple Life" about being unhappy with that around us. Now, do not misunderstand my position, I'm not saying we should all run out and redecorate our homes in the name of Simple Life. I'm saying the things around us that make life less simple, like the clutter and stuff we hold on to just because we've always held on to it, those things can change to free us from the emotional and mental stagnation around us.

With the guidelines of keeping only that which makes you smile, you love or use regularly, we can eliminate a lot of stuff! No one LOVES everything they have in their home. No one uses everything they have in cabinets, closets and boxes in the attic either. Other than seasonal clothing and holiday decor, why are we storing stuff anyway? If we have to store it, we obviously aren't using it. To add insult to injury, some people are paying to store stuff on a regular basis. Life evolves and so should our possessions. We can't take any of them with us when we leave this earth anyway. Do we really think God cannot provide for our needs while we're still here?

The layers of life I've uncovered in the transition of this room alone are a colorful reminder that life changes and we must change with it. As we come to the end of another year, we are different than we were this time last year. My mirror certainly tells me I am! Our lives in our homes are a constant source of change. I am blessed to have a husband that rolls with the punches. We are no where near where I hope to be this time next year in our process of moving toward a more simple, peaceful, uncluttered life but we are much farther down the road than we were this time last year. It's a process to progress.

FYI - my Honey is totally in love with the 'man space' he created for himself. It's edited down to all his necessities (bass guitar, computer, amp, keyboard, books, TV) and customized by him to fit him. He still needs book shelves and a cozy reading chair, which will come, but he's loving his space. It's much more efficient and he's a happy camper. I think if he had a fridge and microwave, he might not ever come out!
My prayer for us all in the coming year is that we keep the good parts, rid ourselves of excess and focus on living in the here and now.

Loving life at Hacienda Hill...........

Mid-Holiday Check Up

noreply@blogger.com (M'Lynn McKeethan) — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 13:33:00 +0000

How's life treating you? Crazy busy? Stressed? Falling off the Simple Life wagon? Oh, sorry, that one is me...

I have put myself in the 'pickle jar of overload' and my teeth are on edge from the bitter taste it leaves in my mouth. It's all my fault, no one to blame but myself. Don't you just hate it when there is no one else to blame? LOL

Living the Simple Life means ridding our homes, habits and activities of the non-essentials so we have time, energy and interest in the things are most important to us. In overload mode, it often feels that everything has PRIORITY stamped all over it. We become hypersensitive to demands on our time, real and imagined. Life feels like it is moving in fast forward mode and we are not keeping pace.

I've allowed 'busyness' to overtake me. I created most of it for myself. The particulars are not important, they just sound like excuses anyway. The question is, what am I gonna do about it?

I'm going to slow down and do less even though I feel I'm not doing enough already. That false sense of inadequacy is a byproduct of overload and excess. As my good friend, Cheryl, says...I'm going to 'follow the peace.' I need balance in my life or I get wacky. No one functions well in tilt mode!

I started putting my plan in action yesterday by spending some time with my friend, Helen. That was a good start. I also chunked the PRIORITY stamp out the window. Doing a self-diagnostic reality check helped, too. I was being hard on myself in the name of 'brutally honest'. What's up with that? Trust me, it was more brutal than honest! I am painfully aware of my shortcomings and blast myself daily for the standards I do not meet. I would not treat anyone else like that but sure come down hard an myself. Going to take some diligent monitoring to cut that out.

A quick visit with another friend, Pat, brought that to my attention. I saw and heard in her what I was doing to myself. I commented that I wished I could say my kitchen was as clean and looked as good as hers and she started protesting and complaining that it was filthy and she couldn't stand it. FILTHY?! There wasn't even clutter to be seen. It looked great to me, but she couldn't see all that was done and the beauty of it. I pointed out again how nice it was and she still would not hear it. Couldn't even make eye contact with me while we talked about it. I told her if that was filthy to her, she was banned from ever coming to my house again! Egad, what would she think here??

It hit me as I drove home, that's the same way I act about what I do and accomplish. No matter how much I do while I work, I only see what I didn't do. I place more importance on emails left unread, chapters not yet edited, and a long list of 'should have done's' than I do on the good work of the day. I never allow myself to appreciate my accomplishments for more than two seconds before I start zeroing in on all that needs my attention. This can paralyze you into inactivity! I am cheating myself and rolling in the dust when I fall off the Simple Life wagon. Life is far too short and unpredictable for that. So this is me, picking myself up, dusting myself off, and focusing my eyes, once more, on living the Simple Life on Hacienda Hill...What would your mid-holiday check up reveal?

Small Victories Add up!

noreply@blogger.com (M'Lynn McKeethan) — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 17:16:00 +0000

I just received an email from our electricity provider with my next light bill and I'm doing the happy dance in my office chair as I write this...it dropped another 25%....yes, that's right, 25% from the last one that was on the way down, too!

***Do not adjust your screen, all the bouncing is just me!***

I LOVE it when a plan comes together! It's the stuff "Planners" live for. Whoo-hoo!!

Hanging clothes on the line, not using dryer - CHECK
Layering clothes and blankets rather than turning on the heat - CHECK
Full-time Job as Electricity Sheriff - CHECK
Using gas cook-top instead of the electric one - CHECK
Leaving TV off reducing power consumption & noise pollution during day - CHECK
Making sure ceiling fans are turned off in empty rooms - CHECK
Utilizing Natural light over electric light - CHECK

These things add up and the light bill goes down!

I have to say, for me, it is worth any effort and small sacrifices we make. I know everyone is not about to leave the heat off and there have been days when I KNOW my Honey was tempted to turn ours on. Add another layer of clothes and you can be toasty inside a meat locker. LOL We do not get the kind of winter weather some do, so a few days of extra padding is practical for us where it would not be up north. My hands hurt in cold weather and we've had several cold mornings lately. I type all morning long so they are hanging out there, hurting. Last night I bought a pair of gloves at WalMart for $1.50 that are thin enough on the finger tips I can still type but thick enough over most my fingers and hand to make a difference. $1.50....do you realize how much money that $1.50 will save me in the long run? That's a trade-off I can live with. I had to try on several pair to find one that would work for me, but the effort makes a difference far more valuable than the $1.50.

Thanks for listen as I rejoice in my small victories! I hope you will be encouraged to look for ways to build opportunities in your home for small victories of your own.

Three a Day Keep the Dust Bunnies Away

noreply@blogger.com (M'Lynn McKeethan) — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 20:44:00 +0000

In my de-clutter efforts today I ran across an old friend...my Monthly To-Do-Jobs box. It's just a plastic index card box I put a label on. These are jobs you don't have to do every day or even every week but they need to be done on some sort of regular basis.

I made a list of jobs that fit into that catagory, typed them on the computer and printed them out on card stock. There were many on each page, so once cut apart each card is only 1" X 2"...they are cute little suckers!

Here's some examples: Wash down kitchen cabinet doors, Clean inside of windows across front deck, Organize Food Pantry, Clean outside of windows on backside of house, Wipe down living room walls, Dust the top of door frames.....etc.

Each job only takes a short amount of time, so I pulled 3 at a time to do. Once they were done, I put them in a sealed snack baggie which I tossed back into the box. Once all the jobs were completed & in the baggie for that whole month, I would dump them back out into the little box and start all over again the next month. It was an efficient little system. When I worked the system, the system worked. When I neglected the system, well...you know, it didn't take long for the neglect to show.

I was excited to see my little box today. I think it will help keep me on track in my simple life efforts. I am sitting here smiling remembering how handy I thought the box was when the kids still lived with us. If anyone started that "I'm bored, there's nothing to do...whine, whine" I pulled out my little box and had them pull 3 jobs. If they were still bored after doing those, they could pull 3 more. Ya know, rarely was anyone still bored!! Now, THAT's a good system!

Can We Do it? Yes, We Can!

noreply@blogger.com (M'Lynn McKeethan) — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 15:12:00 +0000

Most routine things we need to take care of do not take as long as we like to think they do. We like to think it will take too long to validate our procrastination. I heard Joyce Meyer speak about how she got so angry once because she went into the bathroom and the toilet paper roll needed to be changed. That can be irksome. However, she was livid, justifying her anger by the fact she had a full-time housekeeper so she thought there was no reason she should ever have to change the toilet paper. In the middle of her rage, God popped in to inquire about her anger explosion. This got her attention. She decided to time how long it actually took to change out the empty roll for a new one. 15 seconds! That's how long it took, 15 seconds. She was throwing a temper fit over a task that took 15 seconds to perform. She was stepping outside God's will for her behavior over a 15 second task. Her spiritual fruit was being squeezed into juice over 15 seconds. We know there is more to that mentality than the task but that's not our topic for today.

Her story made an impact on me and I've made a point to be more aware of how long it actually takes to do things. Even when my kitchen looks like it exploded, it doesn't really take that long to get it back into shape. Earlier, I put my cold cup of coffee in the microwave for 1 minute 10 seconds to reheat. While all that was going on, I fed the tribe of cats on the front deck and still had 10 seconds to spare. I surveyed my meds divider while I waited. Tick tock, tick tock...finally the coffee was hot.

Hanging the clothes on the line takes 5-8 minutes depending on what I'm hanging. Taking them down and folding takes about the same time. Yet, it seems like doing the outdoor laundry thing would take longer. It does not. Making my bed, 8-12 seconds, depending on how restless the night.

My point is that we make life less "Simple" by our mentalities more than the tasks we must do. If we decide up front we do not have time, then we won't. We will make sure we don't. Sometimes by not even trying or starting. If we decide we will do all we can do in an allotted time slot, then we will make progress. Progress is defined by the effort, not the results. If it takes three days of assigning 15 minutes a day to accomplish a task, say cleaning out a dresser, then you're still one dresser drawer closer each day than you are if you don't do anything because you don't have time to do it all at once.

Getting order and de-cluttering our lives is a process, it takes time. We need to give ourselves permission to enjoy the process rather than beating ourselves up because we haven't done everything. Doing a piece of a task is far better than doing none of the task. Enough pieces make a whole, like a jigsaw puzzle. I find that on the days I dust the living room, I'm less likely to leave things in there at the end of the day. I do not want my efforts thwarted, so I take 2 minutes to gather up and distribute things back where they belong. One short task begets another..and so on and so one.

As I said earlier, it is our mentalities that need shaking more than our rugs. We get locked into thinking about and looking at habits, rituals, ways of doing things that may have worked for us at one time but could be outdated and worn out for our life today. Just because we've always done something one way doesn't mean we can't look for a new, refreshing way to do it. Procrastination can bind us up when we focus on what we can't do rather than what we can accomplish. For every reason/excuse our mind says, "No way!" we need to list three reasons that say, "Oh, yes we can!" They're out there...the reasons we can...we just have to think about how to get to them rather than sitting on our "no way" bottoms - which, my Friends, is our biggest stumbling block on our way to living a more satisfying and simple life!

Day 111 - Wow!

noreply@blogger.com (M'Lynn McKeethan) — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 14:01:00 +0000

Today is Day 111 of our journey to living a more simple life on Hacienda Hill. Times flies, doesn't it? I started writing about our adventure on August 6, 2010.

Just a quick note to say there is nothing quite as handy as a calendar with any and everything written on it for future reference! I still have calendars from a few years back. They have come in handy many times. Really.

It also contributes to living a more simple life because I know once I commit an upcoming event to the calendar, I don't have to worry or think about it again till it comes up. If it is something that needs prep work a week in advance, I log that on the calendar, too. Takes away the stress of hoping I don't forget. Every December, I sit down and transfer all important dates, birthday's etc on the calendar for the coming year.

I've tried all kind of calendar systems over the years to find what works best for me. I've set up the calendars online where you can choose the people that can see what is coming up thinking our grown kids would contribute and be more a part of each others worlds. HA! I think one daughter posted something, once, maybe. No one else contributed and, frankly, I think they found it annoying. They really didn't care to know.

When the grandkids lived here I had a giant Family Calendar. Everyone's stuff visible at a glance and separated out by person. It was handy. Don't need anything that elaborate anymore.

I tried to have separate calendars for personal family business like paying bills, etc and one for public viewing I could leave out. That was too much trouble! Sometimes I actually did forget things because I wasn't looking at the right calendar. Scratch that plan. I've tried the desk pad type calendar, but that was distracting and ugly. I don't like ugly.

I'm more a hands on kinda girl, a bit technology challenged and prefer a paper calendar I can write on as opposed to an electronic one that fits in the palm of my hand. I've learned never to say 'never' but I don't see that system attracting me any time soon. I like the simple life, don't you know.

I've simplified my system to the one calendar for bills, birthdays, Dr appointments and all. It's a tiny bit larger than a piece of notebook paper and has a spiral binder I've learned I do not want to live without. I've grown picky about my calendars because they are so vital in the day-today management of life here on Hacienda Hill. Chances are, if it's not on the calendar, it isn't going to happen! I rely on it for order and peace of mind.

You cannot live a simple life without order and peace of mind!

I cannot yet say my home, life and world are in the place I want them to be where order and peace of mind are concerned. It's a journey, takes one step at a time. I first had to change my thinking and straighten out my priorities. That part has been done. Now it is a matter of aligning my surroundings, my possessions and my habits to fit the simple life mentality. It is impossible to live the way you've always lived and have things be different than they always were. Change comes from the inside out. The outside can change the way the inside functions. It's a circle of cooperative change making life sweeter, more simple and less stressful. Here's to the next 111 days!

Here's a Kiss for You!

noreply@blogger.com (M'Lynn McKeethan) — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 12:20:00 +0000

This is a busy time of year for everyone. You can see in their faces as they scurry about from point to point with a list in their hand of things they hope not to forget. I stopped by a friend's house to drop off a mixer she wanted to borrow and she was in a complete frenzy over making candy for the holidays. Seriously, she was moving and talking at the speed of light, dashing about like the house was on fire. I asked why...she didn't know. We sat down to visit for a bit and her breathing slowed to normal, her voice lost the manic pitch and we had the best visit we've had in years! We talked about why she felt such stress over making candy...I might point out that she already had several kinds made and was a week away from leaving on the trip to see the family she was making candy for. She's retired...no time hindrance there, no kids at home needing her time and attention...nothing apparent to cause such panic about making candy at all.

The sad part to me was that she was so stressed, she was getting no joy from making all the goodies to share with family on the trip. She used to love holiday baking. What happened? She'd already hired me to bake her pies and cake to help her out. She wanted to make cookies to take, too. Yesterday, she mixed all the various cookie doughs, today she bakes those. She has 5 more days before they leave on the trip. Why the panic?

Listening to her talk, I discovered she was trying to make sure she did all her usual stuff AND the things her mother used to make for the gatherings. A nephew asked last year where a certain candy was that he wanted...her mother used to make that candy but she's with Jesus now. My friend felt the self-imposed pressure of filling her mother's shoes. She didn't say all that, I just put the pieces together from her conversation. She was driving herself to distraction to carry on a family tradition no one asked her carry.

I'm all for traditions, I tried to give my kids family traditions to look back on. I made a special gingerbread, timed to be in the oven filling the house with its aroma while the kids were finding what Santa brought. What could smell better? Then, after all the gifts were opened, we would sit down to a Christmas breakfast of quiche, gingerbread and sparkling white grape juice in wine glasses. A kid friendly bubbly for the special occasion. Now, one daughter makes the Christmas Morning Gingerbread I made, tho not early Christmas morning but they have it Christmas day and the other daughter makes quiche for her family. They've tweaked my traditions to become their own.

I guess the key is finding what works for you without making you nuts! I enjoy cooking, so listening to my kids laugh and play as I made our Christmas breakfast was a joy to me. I didn't spend all my time in the kitchen, I hung out with the kids while things were in the oven, so I didn't have the pressure or mentality of slaving away while everyone else had fun. Memories of those days still warm my heart and the kid's laughter still rings in my hears. My friend will not look back on this holiday baking and candy making with joy, she'll remember the stress, that is NOT a good memory. She will have one funny memory to recall. In her 'hurry, hurry' mode she knocked over a full open bottle of peppermint extract and did not realize it till later. She called me laughing to say her entire house smelled like a giant peppermint stick!

In our quest to live a more simple life, Friends, we need to declutter all the things that stress us and steal our joy. NO, that does not mean you declutter your spouse and kids...just the busy work that isn't going to be remembered later as joyful. A happy and relaxed parent/spouse/companion is a far better gift to your family than a plate of anything you might slave over! KISS, KISS...Keep It Simple, Silly!

Blustery Fall Day

noreply@blogger.com (M'Lynn McKeethan) — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 19:22:00 +0000

What a glorious Fall day! Just a note to say I am still enamored with hanging clothes on the line instead of using the dryer. This day is quite "blustery" to quote Winnie the Pooh making it perfect for hanging sheets and big towels. There is enough wind to snap the sheets as they blow. I thought the thrill might waiver once the new had worn off of my simple life habit of getting back to basics by hanging the clothes out, but it has not! I can also say with great delight, my light bills have dropped considerably!! Yes, the air rarely comes on anymore but not running that dryer makes a difference that thrills me.

PRO's: Less noise pollution, less energy used, no more bending over to get the clothes. I get more fresh air. The clothes get folded or hung as they come off the line. The hounds love having me outside with them. Fresh feel of the things dried outside.

CON's: Occasionally something needs to be ironed. Rainy days (what few we have) hamper laundry days. Failure to plan ahead can bring inconvenient consequences.

All in all, this leg of the journey to living a simple life has been rewarding. It really is no more trouble and the benefits far outweigh any inconveniences. I highly recommend it!!

Vacation Hide Away at Home

noreply@blogger.com (M'Lynn McKeethan) — Sun, 07 Nov 2010 20:33:00 +0000

Came home last night from a wonderful and relaxing trip to Red River, New Mexico, with my friend, Tonie. The weather could not have been better, cold nights, delightful days! Good friends, good food, gorgeous scenery...what more could you ask for?

Sleeping in my own bed last night was pleasant. I especially enjoyed cooking in my kitchen this morning. I grumble from time to time about being in 'Year 4' of the kitchen remodel but there is nothing like sipping good coffee from your favorite cup on a quiet morning after being away for a few days to make you appreciate home...your home.

Last August, our friends, Laura & David, came to town and spent the night with us. As Laura walked into the living/family/den/great room (call it what you like) she commented that it felt like being in a cabin with the wood floors and the wide open (35' X 18') space. It is most certainly a multi-tasking room - our entertaining area, the TV room, my office, the kitchen, and our dining area. She had no way of knowing this, of course, but my grand decor scheme has always been to have our home feel like a permanent vacation home. I guess I'm getting close, in spite of the unfinished kitchen and unfinished floors, if she felt like she was in a cabin. It's not rustic at all but the relaxed ambiance is there. The guest room has a fantasy, exotic feel that contributes to the feel of a vacation get away. I want my guest o walk in and immediately feel they could take their shoes off, prop their feet on the coffee table and kick back to relax. Dinner and/or breakfast on the deck overlooking the hill country sets the tone, too. Our own mini Bed & Breakfast...

It's a nice feeling to come back from a lovely & comfy house in the mountains and still feel like you're in a vacation home. We are blessed. Tomorrow I go back to work and I have a large project in front of me. But at the end of my work day I can turn off the computer, walk a few steps over to our beautiful & relaxing sectional, put my feet up on the coffee table while viewing the distant hills out the front door and windows, take some deep breaths and get my mind into vacation home mode for the evening. The hounds will clamor for attention and jockey for position to snuggle with me and my Honey, our evening ritual complete. A simple life on Hacienda Hill is a good life, it's our life and I'm thankful for it. It's tea time, so I'm off to put the kettle on. Relish the simple things in life, Friends, it is these that make life sweet.

Pack a Bag, We're Taking a Trip!

noreply@blogger.com (M'Lynn McKeethan) — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 15:05:00 +0000

I haven't mentioned decluttering lately...two reasons...(1) I haven't been decluttering myself (2) everyone I talk to is consumed with how busy they are trying to keep up with the pace of their lives.
Both reasons - sad commentaries. If life is a journey, we are driving down the road at such a fast speed we are not noticing all we are missing along the way. Once upon a time, people used to take long relaxing drives for the fun of it. No one has time, gas money or the inclination to deal with the highways and back-roads anymore. I miss leisurely drives.

So, Friends, let's pack an overnight bag and hit the road to ridding ourselves of the excess and clutter of our lives. Pack light...that's our motto! Live light...our goal.

So as not to be weighted down by a cumbersome stack of luggage (possessions) to drag around, we'll use our trip as an analogy for our decluttering.

The days of make-up cases are far behind us, let's leave it there.
I have decluttered my make-up and toiletries to the barest of necessities and love it! I was a 'keeper' of all things make-up no matter how little was left. If I could shake a can and hear anything, I kept it. If it required a Q-tip to dig out the last of the eye shadow, I kept it. No more, Friends! I threw away everything (most older than dirt anyway) but the 1 bottle of foundation I use, 1 tube of mascara, 1 make-up brush, 1 blusher, 1 eyeliner, 1 loose powder. 1 eye shadow (I rarely use anymore anyway, it's on the endangered list) and a small mirror. All these go into my make-up bag, where they live, no longer taking space in drawers and/or counters and ready to hop into an overnight bag when I leave town. I LOVE IT! Same for mousse, hairspray, etc. I have 1 of anything I consider a necessity and if I don't use it regularly, it must not be a necessity.

Start with a clean slate.
Travelers start with an empty suitcase, and select each item that goes into it. Take a similar approach when decluttering: empty the entire contents of the drawer, closet, or room you’re working on. Then carefully consider each item, and decide whether to return it to the space. Choose what to keep, rather than what to toss. Here's my confession...I tried this with the first of my many junk drawers in the kitchen. Emptying out the drawer onto the island was ok, sorting and inventorying all that cr..er, stuff was ok. Deciding what to keep was ok but allowing myself to throw away all the other stuff...EKK! I left it on the island for days because I got crazy & could not make my arm wipe it off into the trash can! There, I've said it! My confession!

Here's a partial inventory list: 5 allen wrenches (really?), 2 compasses kids use in math, 1 protractor, a cup full of misc bolts and screws, a baggie full of batteries (alive or dead, I don't know), several eyeglass cleaner wipes, candles of various size, 1 pair of adult & 3 kid size scissors, 2 screwdrivers, packets of peppers from Pizza Hut, it goes on and on....you get the picture! Once I did push all that cr..er, stuff into the trash, I felt SOOO much better! This brings us to the next point I want to make.

Question every item. In a small carry-on, every item must pull its weight. Demand the same of your household possessions: have a conversation with your stuff, and ask what value it adds to your life. If the answer is “not much,” get it out of the house. I know, I know, easier said than done but worth it when it's over.

Live on the edge. The light traveler addresses her needs as they arise; if she runs out of deordorant in Spain, she simply buys some more. Adopt a similar philosophy at home: instead of stockpiling stuff or holding on to “just in cases,” acquire things on an as-needed basis. This is how I now approach my make-up, toiletries, pantry staples, linens, most everything. An extra set of sheets is fine, but when it takes a closet or chest to contain them, chances are you've got too many. I realized we have 5 comforters, 1 bedspread, 2 quilts and 1 duvet cover...we only have 2 beds. I had several sets of twin size girly sheets and no twin size bed or girls, I gave those away to someone that could use them...the sheets, not the girl. Same with full size linens. Do we REALLY need 6 packs of toilet paper? Would that fit into a sleeper car on a train trip on the Orient Express across Europe? Pack light, live light!

Think versatility. To save space, light packers favor items that do double- or triple-duty (like clothes that can be dressed up or down, and layered for different climates). Use the same principle in your home: choose versatile or multi-functional items (like a sleeper sofa, or all-purpose saute pan) over single-task ones. Reducing my knife stash has worked beautifully! I now have 2 multi-purpose knives, including the ceramic one I tried to declutter my thumb with, and 6 steak knives.

I had a revelation a while back. I kept all that extra stuff thinking we'd need it when we had guest, family celebrations, etc. Well, fact of the matter is, our homes should be geared for how we live today, not how we would live if someone graced us with their company. If we added up the number of days we actually had guest in our homes, subtracted it from 365 X # years we've held on to the extra stuff, we would be amazed at how much time and space we allot to things we rarely use. Sure, it may be handy on those few days but it adds little-no value to our day-to-day life. We surround ourselves with stuff we rarely see or need and pay to store it in environmentally controlled homes. It's a lie you know, the saying "the one that dies with the most toys wins." I'd rather die on the road of life with my small overnight bag than be buried by mountains of stuff that have little meaning to me anymore. I want to live life, not dust it.

Falling Leaves and Quality Time

noreply@blogger.com (M'Lynn McKeethan) — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 18:42:00 +0000

I cannot believe October is almost gone! I have had my head down as I worked to finish the book I was working on and when I looked up, October was almost gone! I love October... and November and December, I do not want to miss all of them as I did October. Please, friends, if you happen to notice I am missing in action, give me a buzz and ask what is going on!

Part of living the Simple Life is making more room and time for the things you love. Yes, I love writing the books but it is also my work, my job, my labor...doesn't really count only as doing what I love. It is a blessing that I am able to DO what I love for a living but it is still work and I tend to get hyper-focused sometimes. Irony is that other times I can't focus at all..LOL Where's that balance I'm always talking about when I need it, huh?

I started writing a new book today; I'm excited, I'm pumped, I'm rarin' to go. I also want to make sure I do not repeat the same mistakes and miss the whole fall season. In whatever you daily, do it well and with a happy heart but make sure to leave time and energy for the things and people you love. When we leave this earth let it not be with regret for all we missed doing: for kisses not given, for the "I love you" not said, for walks not taken. Our accomplishments are not so much measured by quantity but quality. Take time to live a more simple life of quality. We'll all be blessed for it.

Woman, Know Thy Self!

noreply@blogger.com (M'Lynn McKeethan) — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 12:55:00 +0000

Our kids came for a family gathering this past weekend. I thoroughly enjoyed myself. It had been some time since most of them had been in our home and we were discussing some of the changes we have made in our never-ending remodel/redecorating quest. One of the daughters-in-love commented that she didn't have the 'decorator gene' and wouldn't know where to start. I told her she just needed to know herself, everything she needed to know was inside her. Asking a couple of probing questions, we discovered she liked the decor from the 60's & 70's. Ah ha! Now we know she likes Retro! That's a great first step. Her face literally lit up when she said that. Sitting across the room, my son, her husband, looked skeptical. I informed my beloved son that the sooner he acknowledges the inside of the home is his wife's domain, the happier all would be. My Honey knows this and has come to trust my taste and judgment. My son would be well served to support and nurture this in his wife.

My Honey brought up that I liked to watch decorating shows and read design magazines. This is true, a wealth of technical information and inspiration can be gleaned from both, but the bottom line is in knowing what it is that brings out the inner you. Our homes need to reflect our personalities, our tastes and be a safe haven we can retreat within for comfort and peace. I learned I cannot be 'settled' in a room that does not feel right to me. In spite of my eclectic, Bohemian-esque style and love affair with intense color, when broken down, my decor is steeped in traditional style. That's not the first impression you get when you look around the room but traditional elements are everywhere when you dissect the room. I have never been one to follow fads and current trends. In fact, I avoid them on purpose, always have. I think a guest in our home should be able to see more of who I am, not what someone in a magazine or TV show tells us we need to have to be "in style" this season. I do not want my rooms filled with things that everyone up and down the block can run to the local big box store to make their rooms look just like mine, either. We are individuals, our homes should be, too.

This does not mean we cannot appreciate a style or design choices others make. I love mid-century design and decor, though it is not a part of my home. Over the years light wood tones have come and gone, I admire them in other people's homes, I've considered incorporating them in mine...I never do. I am emotionally drawn to warm wood tones, red oak, mahogany, etc. Bottom-line, I go with those, they touch a place in my soul that says "home". I'm not into matchy-matchy furniture either. If you love something, really love a piece, it will fit in some where if your home is reflecting you.

Our entire kitchen remodel was inspired by an antique oak breakfront I bought shortly after we were married. The piece sits in our family room, which is open to the kitchen, with a flat screen TV on it. Not, perhaps, how one might first think to use that antique, but it is the inspiration for the whole area. My kitchen has many brushed nickel elements juxtaposition against the red oak cabinets. There is a cool toned blue-gray along with the warm red-orange of the cabinets, antique piece and the wall color below the chair rail and on the accent wall. Our floors are a terracotta color, and it might surprise you to know it is considered the neutral in the room. Sound odd to you? Perhaps, but thinking about it, analyzing the room, we find blue and orange are opposites on the color wheel. They are complementary colors, and will always look good together. The various (analogous colors, side by side, on the color wheel) shades of red-orange found in the aged oak blend the warm colors of the lower walls, accent wall and floor. It is the balance of the cool and warm in the room that keep either from being overbearing. Balance plays a large part whether or not a room feels right. Balance is vital in my traditional look, though my color choices are not traditional at first glance. This may sound complicated but it is not. A look at a color wheel can help make daunting choices simple. Knowing the colors that 'feel' right to you is the first step.

When my sons were infants, I loved Oriental decor, not the stereotypical red and black combo of Chinese restaurants, but the blue and whites. Today, 30 years later, our master bedroom has an Oriental bent. The blue and whites have been replaced with shades of sage green, gold, silver, and accented with small touches of red. It feels elegant, even though the room is not complete. Why is it the bedroom is the last to be decorated? Or is it just me? The point I am trying to make is that the things you love, when they are a part of you, do not go in & out of style. My words to my daughter-in-love about knowing who you are inside are the best decorating tips anyone can give you. How can your home not feel like a retreat from chaos when it reflects you? Your inner sanctuary determines your outer sanctuary when you are true to yourself. Woman, know thy self! Welcome home.