The Wilderness Childe

Shaking It Up

2013-05-19T11:16:00.001-04:00

Well this has been a curious week.

I'm on countdown to my next trip to Knoxville on Tuesday. I still don't know whether I'll have the day off work so I can leave in the morning, or if I'll have to wait until after work. It's gonna be a busy week, taking care of car insurance, the DMV, banking, and all that other fun grown-up type stuff.

More puzzle pieces have come together over the last week, totally shaking up what I thought my life might look like in Knoxville. As it's been from the start, I'm following my gut and my heart (hey, that rhymed!) I'm just letting the gods guide me to whatever and wherever I'm supposed to be. They seem to have led me to an interesting place as of late.

I'm hesitant to say too much about it yet, so as not to jinx it. I promise to fill in the gaps when I get back from Knoxville next week. It just feels so strange to think I might be getting everything I've always wanted, and that it's just on the horizon.

And really, that's all I have to say about that...

802 Braised Woodchuck with Sweet Potatoes

2013-05-05T22:06:00.000-04:00

Nothing makes more sense than braising woodchuck (the animal) in Woodchuck (the cider.) Am I right?

I've been wanting to try woodchuck (the animal) for a while, and finally I got the chance. Simply put, I'm a fan. It's very much like squirrel, only... well, ya get a lot more meat.

*** Note: This recipe also works well with pork, for you less adventurous types. ***

Ingredients:
-1/2 woodchuck
-Woodchuck cider*
-1 Onion
-1 Apple
-Bob's Red Mill GF Cornbread Mix**
-Butter
-Salt & Pepper

* I used 802, but you can use any flavor you like.

** Cornbread Mix is optional, for anyone wishing to keep it as Paleo as possible.

Start by patting meat dry and coating in cornbread mix seasoned with salt and pepper. Heat butter in a large oven-safe pan or dutch oven.

Dice apples and onions and saute med-high. Add woodchuck meat, browning the outside, turning once, giving it a good sear.

Pour in one entire bottle of cider to deglaze the pan. Scrape the bits that stick to the bottom. Cover and bake at 300 degrees until meat is tender.

While the meat is cooking, dice and fry sweet potatoes in butter, season with salt and pepper.

Serve side by side, or meat and gravy atop the potatoes. However you prefer.

Seriously, even if you don't eat wild game, you really have to try this with pork. It's incredible.

What's It Worth?

2013-04-28T14:35:00.000-04:00

Money Talks.

We've all heard, and probably at some point uttered this well-known phrase, usually in cynical reference to those who have money have the power to get what they want. Well, money does talk, and you have a voice too. It might not be as big or as loud as some guys, but it's a voice just the same. How are you using your power?

Your dollars are a vote. By purchasing one product over another you're voting for that company over another. You financially give your approval to one, and your disapproval of the other. The basis for that vote varies, but often relies on price, opting for the cheaper product. Times are hard and money is tight. We all want to get a better deal, after all. However, with that lower price and voting against expense, do you also take into consideration the compromise you've made, and the things that you are voting for by default?

It doesn't matter what your cause is... animal rights, American jobs, non-GMO food, better work conditions, small business, social issues... are you backing up your beliefs? Do you put your money where your mouth is?

I know, it's easier said than done, but here's a good example- a cause that I've started taking a more active role in. Animal testing.

Most of us are generally against testing products on animals to ensure that they're safe for use on people. It's a cruel practice and if asked, most people would say that it shouldn't be done. Some will also speak out against it, protest, or make their opinions known via social media. How many of those same people will pay 50% more for cruelty-free products?

Think about it. If even 75% of the people who say they're opposed to animal testing took the initiative to find and use cruelty-free products, how incredibly successful would those companies be? People complain that big businesses and corporations are greedy and unethical, and yet don't support the good guys and buy their products because they're more expensive.

For a while now I've been using cruelty-free cosmetics and soaps. Not only have they been better for my own skin, I haven't noticed an exorbitant increase in expense either. Maybe it's because I use just a little bit less. It works better than the cheaply made chemical soups that I used to use, so there's no need to use a crap ton of it. (And not all of them are crazy expensive. Look at E.L.F. cosmetics, where you can buy many products for as little as a dollar!)

If you're passionate about jobs, buy American. It might cost you a little more, but you're getting something that's made well. Chances are it's not gonna break in 2 months and need to be replaced.

If you're passionate about limiting the power of Monsanto and keeping GMOs out of our food system, start buying organic and items labeled as non-GMO. Don't rally against Monsanto and then send your food dollars to them just because the Kraft mac n cheese is cheap. You'll pay more for that organic sweet corn, but you know Monsanto isn't getting a penny of it. Or you can go to the extreme I'm going to, and starting my own farm.

However you choose to use your vote, something can always be said for getting your money's worth and buying quality. One thing I've learned is that it's worth paying more for something that's going to last. When it comes to food and cosmetics, it's a no-brainer. It's my health and my body, and it's worth every penny. Everything else, I've come to appreciate having a few very good quality items over a lot of "stuff."

The truth is, you get what you pay for. Not only does that matter for the quality of the stuff you buy, but also the ideals of the companies you support. If you pay for GMO-laden food, shampoo tested on animals, or Chinese-manufactured furniture, you're just going to get more of the same.

In the end, it's about authenticity, and I think that's what we're all sort of searching for- in our relationships, our friendships, our spirituality... in the material items we buy. We're all looking for something real, and genuine. Never feel guilty for choosing the best for yourself. You deserve it... and who knows, you might just be a little voice helping to change the world.

Them Mother Earth Veggies

2013-04-14T21:55:00.002-04:00

It's a balmy spring day in New York, which means a whopping 40 degrees. What a perfect opportunity to review some of Mother Earth Products' dried vegetables. Chilly, wet weather almost demands soup. And soup is what I made.

Sometimes I like to put all my love and effort into making a meal. Sometimes, I just need fast, hot food that nourishes the body and soul. Comfort food. Fast. That's the kind of cooking we're talking about here.

Besides an array of dried veggies, provided by Mother Earth Products, the only other ingredients I needed was broth, meat, and some salt and pepper. Really that's it.

Piece of cake.

I pulled a package of pork sausage out of the freezer, and bought a couple boxes of organic beef broth. Wham, bam.

With the sausage thawed, I chunked it up into little cubes (because that's how I like it,) and gave the pieces a quick fry in the pan.

Next, I heated the broth in a large pot. I picked out some vegetables that sounded good with pork sausage - cabbage, carrots, onions, green beans - about 2 cups worth total, and dumped them into the simmering broth. Lastly, I threw in the pork pieces, and let it all get hot and delicious.

(See, wasn't that easy?)

I quite like all of the Mother Earth Products I've tried so far. The veggies were really nice. Especially the cabbage. It's amazing to think that I can keep several months worth of vegetables on one shelf in my cupboard.

Not to mention a confession... I tend to overcook my soup and I get mushy vegetables. I know, sad, right? The dried veggies were a HUGE help for that.

Even better, Mother Earth Products has ready-made soup mixes. With those, you can get soup for just $1 per serving. Before I move, I'm definitely going to be stocking up on a few of these. I guarantee there will be those "I'm broke, I'm tired, and I don't have time to do any more than boil water" type of nights.

And it beats the heck out of Ramen.

A photo journey of Knoxville

2013-04-09T14:10:00.004-04:00

The new wee place. Gonna have to find a name for it. :)

Haven't even moved yet and I have a garden!

Onions pulled from the Snow's previous year's garden. They smelled amazing!

You know we had to go!

I can see this becoming a very dangerous addiction.

This is my favorite city scene. LOVE that sign.

Incredible Mesquite Chicken Fajita Salad from Downtown Grill & Brewery

My dinnertime view at Downtown Grill & Brewery. Cool huh?

Incredible pie at Knox Mason. Tennessee Derby Pie, Olive and Sinclair Chocolate, Jack Daniels, Pecans and Whipped Cream.

A delicious tart martini, crafted by a very talented bartender at The Crown & Goose.

After church cupcakes with Joey, Justin and Cannon at Cafe 4
Almond Raspberry :)

So many sweet treats at Mast General Store!
All kinds of old fashioned goodies.

Don't Miss It. I'm Fine, Thanks

2013-04-08T19:39:00.000-04:00

That was the Pastor's sermon yesterday at Knoxlife. As I sat there in the balcony, the first church service I've attended in some time, I considered how entirely appropriate the message was. I couldn't help but smile the whole while. In fact it was just minutes before the sermon that I had one of those "don't miss this" moment.

I stood in the coffee line, waiting for Joey and Justin to arrive. I overheard two guys talking about Michigan winning out over Syracuse, and I couldn't help but join the conversation. As it would turn out, one of the gentlemen is a fellow transplant from upstate New York, and the other would turn out to be Pastor Sean. Any nerves or apprehension I'd had about the morning was instantly gone. I no longer felt out of place there. Everything was just right.

Pastor Sean played a YouTube video that I'm sure many of you have seen.

A world-class violinist, playing one of the most difficult pieces, in a busy subway station. There are people who would pay thousands to hear his music and here in this place, the public carries on with little more than a glance.

The lesson? Don't miss it. God speaks, and is with us in the people and the moments we least expect. Magic is everywhere.

All moments are sacred, not just those hours spent at church, in meditation, or during ritual. It's all the time and in all things. Pay attention.

I believe this. I've shared with you how I believe the gods have encouraged my journey, if not dictated it. I absolutely believe that the universe has brought people into my life with a definite purpose. Everyone I have met, and everything that has happened, has meaning. Perhaps this has always been so, but now I'm awake. I'm paying attention.

Among the list of amazing new friends is Kristin and Jason Snow. I've really only just met them in person, and already they're inspiring me more than I think they realize. They're doing what I'm doing, in a way, only bigger, and one step ahead. Their incredible journey is supporting my incredible journey.

What they're doing is starting their own business, restoring and renovating a 1965 Airstream trailer, and going forth to explore and enjoy the world together. All the while they're doing that, they've opened their home to me so that I can make real my dreams in Tennessee. In return, I've promised to help them any way that I can. We're all sort of taking a leap into the unknown, and we could all use what help we can get.

During my visit this week we watched a fantastic film called, "I'm Fine, Thanks." It was exactly what I needed on this trip. It was a reminder that it's not just me, it's not that crazy, and it can work. If you want to understand why I'm about to do what I'm about to do, you need to see this movie.

"In a word, 'I'm Fine, Thanks' is a movie about complacency, or why so many settle for mediocrity in their everyday life at the expense of a greater passion. It's a collection of stories on the choices we make and the paths we ultimately decide to follow. And - most importantly - whether or not that path is truly connected to who we are as individuals. First-time director and Wilmington native Grant Peelle narrates the film from the perspective of a fledgling filmmaker acting on his long-held passion to make movies. Together with four other crew members and a trusty van, Peelle takes the audience on a 42 day, 10,000 mile road trip to capture stories of complacency and triumph from all across the country. "For 15 years I had placed my dreams on hold, choosing to create a 'responsible' life instead of chasing my dream to be a filmmaker. This movie is my stand against complacency. It is a dream come true."

Needless to say, I've got a fire under my ass now. I don't want to wait until July to get this thing started. It starts right now. The new plan is to move once all my extra stuff is sold.

It's time.

Knoxville Day One & Tupelo Honey

2013-04-04T14:05:00.001-04:00

My view from my cozy leather chair at Cafe 4

It's the first full day of my trip and I'm already stuffed silly with gluten. But it's ok. It was worth it. I'm sitting at Cafe 4 with Kristin, each of us doing our respective work after an amazing (and filling) breakfast... err... lunch at Tupelo Honey.

I have a feeling I'm going to be spending a lot of time at Market Square.

The drive down was good. Long, but good. It was 13 hours in a car. What else can I say about it? I jammed out with Pandora the whole way. (Thankful I decided to pay a few bucks to upgrade to Pandora One for a month.) I'm seriously impressed by my little Droid. He played music and used his GPS to keep me on track the whole way. Seriously, this little guy is a beast!

Road Trip Dinner

Road trips always have the potential to be hazardous to the Paleo eater. It seems that the only option is fast food, unless you pack your own. I am not a great pre-planner, and failed to pack a true meal. I did, however, make a quick stop at Wegmans to pick up some necessary road trip provisions.

For me, this blends the best of both of my worlds. It's relatively clean, and it fulfills the psychological needs of "road trip food." Caffeine-laden energy drinks are required, as is beef jerky. It's sort of a road trip rule. You also need something snacky and crunchy. Instead of chips, I poured a bunch of my Mother Earth Products freeze dried fruit into a tub. It took 2 seconds, it's snackable, and it's healthy. Win!

I got in super-late. Or super-early, depending on your perspective. It was wonderful to sleep in a comfy bed though, and not my car. Today is a bit cool and rainy, and just begs to be lazy. And eat comfort food.

So about this food! While Tupelo Honey does offer a gluten-free menu, I couldn't resist the urge to splurge. I needed tomato soup and grilled cheese, and they offered up a combo like I've never seen before!

Seriously, how could I resist this?

Homemade biscuits with butter and honey.

Easily the most amazing grilled cheese and tomato soup I've ever had.

The rest of today's plan is to drop off my application and resume to Three Rivers Market and McKay used book store in hopes of landing a job (that I'll like) long before July hits. I'm seriously enamored with Three Rivers and I can't wait to check it out.

Later I'm off to relax with Joey and Tooie, and enjoy some chardonnay. Tomorrow is a bit more rain, some art, and lots more Knoxville. Also, stay tuned for the "Mini Home Makeover" edition, coming this spring. :)

Mother Earth Products Review: Strawberries

2013-04-02T14:23:00.000-04:00

I would like to formally welcome my new sponsor, Mother Earth Products to TheWildernessChilde! Over the next few weeks and months, please watch for reviews of several of their products. They were kind enough to send me some samplings so that I could give you first hand recommendations for their products!

Now, I'm not really that experienced with dried foods. At least nothing beyond beef jerky, raisins, and some dried fruits. Or sad to say, the dried bits you find in cup o' noodles. You could say I'm more or less starting from scratch here. Not knowing where to start, I went with the most familiar. Berries!

My first surprise for the berries where how "intact" they were- probably because they were freeze dried and not dehydrated. Truth be told, I kind of hate to do anything with the raspberries except eat them straight. They're just so tasty! I did decide to get a little cheffy with some strawberries though.

Start simple. Hot cereal with strawberries.

It's still cold as fuuuuu... in New York. Sometimes you just need hot cereal. I like Bob's Red Mill Mighty Tasty Hot Cereal. Gluten-free, and I'm generally a fan of Bob's Red Mill products anyhow. (Oh wait til I tell you about the chocolate cake!)

Anyways, we're doing hot cereal right now.

First try though, I made the cereal and the berries separately, just because I wasn't exactly sure how it would work. It did. So then (because I wanted hot cereal again) I made it by mixing my ingredients together and then cooking. It still worked, and it tasted better.

Preparation is simple. You just follow the directions on the hot cereal, but add in enough extra water to rehydrate your berries. So if you're doing a full batch of hot cereal with 1/2 cup of dried berries, you will need 3 1/4 cups of water for the cereal, plus 1/2 cup of water for the berries.

All of the cooking directions are exactly the same otherwise, and you end up with delicious fruity-flavored hot cereal.

Note: If you like it sweeter or creamier, add some milk and honey to the steaming bowl of cereal. That is a real treat!

So far I'm absolutely thrilled with Mother Earth Products, and I can't stop snacking on the fruit. If I'm not careful it's all going to be gone before I get the chance to write another review!

Check back soon. I'm heading to Knoxville this week to visit friends, do a little work, enjoy the Dogwood Arts Festival and maybe... just maybe land a job!

Conspiracy Theorist

2013-03-27T21:16:00.000-04:00

Sometimes I feel crazy. Sometimes I wonder if people think I'm a whack job for the things that I think and believe. I don't think I'm a conspiracy theorist nutcase, but it begs the question...

If you're crazy, do you know it?

The "Monsanto Protection Act" slipped into law today. While everyone was distracted by Prop 8 and DOMA, and changing their Facebook profile pictures, the government sold us out once again. Everyone knows that when watching a magician, you keep an eye on what the other hand is doing. In this case, the other hand signed the spending bill.

What does this mean for us consumers?

It means that no matter how dangerous GMOs are proven to be, the act bars the federal courts from being able to halt the planting or sale of genetically modified or genetically engineered seeds.

If you want to read up a bit more on what the "Monsanto Protection Act" means to consumers, there was a good piece in the International Business Times.

For more information on GMOs, USA Today did a surprisingly good job of laying out a Q&A.

But this isn't the only thing making me feel crazy. For years now there has been a war waged on raw milk producers and small farms. I'm hoping to be one of such producers, and I'm expecting that even though I intend to follow the law, my farm will one day be raided.

The government doesn't like people like us. People who think. People who are self-reliant. People who believe in freedom and liberty.

And if I don't feel crazy enough, let's throw in homeschooling too. There are some serious questions and concerns about the new "Common Core" curriculum being implemented in schools throughout the country. Concerns range from whether it "dumbs down" American students, to whether it presses a progressive agenda. Texas rejected Common Core, and adopted CSCOPE instead. Not much better. One mother was especially outraged after seeing these questions on her son's test.

No wonder I want to educate my own children. But will I be allowed to? A German family, once granted political asylum on the grounds of homeschooling, may now be deported and face losing their children. It appears, according to our government we have no right to homeschool our children.

Excuse me?

Oh and don't even get me started on gun control.

So you see why I feel crazy? I certainly don't belong in New York, and perhaps this is all a part of why I need to be in Tennessee, as soon as possible.

In other news, I'll be heading down to Knoxville in a week to enjoy the company of friends, do a little job scouting, and check out the Dogwood Arts Festival. Check back soon for updates and pictures from the trip!

Bay Leaf Wish Spell

2013-03-25T20:11:00.000-04:00

Sometimes the most effective magic is also the simplest. This spell is one that I've used ever since I was a little girl. My dad first taught it to me, and I still use it to this day whenever I need the gods to grant me a wish.

All you need is a bay leaf, a marker, and some fire. You can use a bonfire, a candle, a matches... whatever you have on hand. Just be careful. If using a candle or matches, you'll also want a fire safe dish to put the burning bay leaf in.

Simply write your wish on the bay leaf. Take it outdoors and burn it, sending your wish to the universe.

(I've noticed that writing is very effective in my spell casting. Once written, I can almost always count on my desire becoming manifest. )

My favorite way of doing this spell now is to build a tiny fire in my littlest cauldron, and take it out onto my porch. A few little twigs and bits of wood is plenty. Once I have a tiny fire, I just lay the bay leaf on top.

Do More With Less

2013-03-10T20:43:00.000-04:00

Four months to Knoxville and counting.

As the date moves closer and closer, I'm working on paring down my belongings to only the things that I really need, or are really important to me. Ideally, the number is somewhere around 150. I'm not exactly sure what my 150 are yet, but one thing I've learned is that you can do a whole lot with very little.

In other words, make fewer things more useful.

Prime example. Coconut oil. Seemingly infinite uses.
Besides cooking with it you can:
     1) Moisturize with it.
     2) Shave with it.
     3) Oil pulling.
     4) Polish furniture
     5) Remove makeup
Essentially, coconut oil has just replaced lotion, shaving cream, furniture polish, and makeup remover. Instead of 6 products, you only really have to buy one. That's not even to mention making mayonnaise, deodorant, toothpaste, sunscreen... and the list is endless. From one product.

More ways I've found to do more with less:

Replace shampoo and shaving cream with hair conditioner.

Now, I don't typically wash my hair with soap at all. Every once in a while I do feel like my hair has gotten a bit too gunky from a hard workout at the gym, or a grimey day working outdoors. Instead of having shampoo AND conditioner, I just use conditioner. It strips the excess oil and dirt just as well as using shampoo, but it's half the product, and far less damaging than using a harsh, drying soap. I also shave with hair conditioner. It makes the hair soft and it moisturizes the skin.

Dish soap is not just for dishes.

It can wash laundry too.

I discovered this one by incident- in that I was sent a free sample of dish soap (3 large bottles) that I didn't really need, and I had laundry to do. Google told me that dish liquid can, in fact, be used in place of laundry detergent, so I tried it. Sure enough it worked! Not only did I get the grease spots out of my clothing (perpetual Paleo problem) but my clothes smelled wonderful!

Go All-Purpose

Sometimes All-Purpose products really are ALL purpose. Two of my favorites include Tropical Traditions All-Purpose Cleaner (which really does clean everything from apples to windshields) and Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps. Between these two products, I can clean EVERYTHING in my house. No joke.

It's not just soaps and housekeeping either. Sometimes items can pull dual purposes.

A pie plate is a salad bowl. A ramekin is a soup bowl.
A mason jar is a glass. A large glass is a rolling pin.
Tongs, a flat spatula, and a slotted spoon are all the cooking utensils you need.

This list is far from complete, and I'm learning new little hacks as I go along.

How do you do less with more? I'd love to know!

My Experiment with Oil Pulling

2013-03-05T21:26:00.000-05:00

Typically I'm pretty skeptical of certain home remedies, especially if it seems a little hokey or "out there." Oil pulling, while I knew practically nothing about it, seemed to be pretty nutty.

"So I'm gonna swish oil around in my mouth for 20 minutes a day, and it's gonna absorb toxins from my body, and cure everything from canker sores to asthma?"

Ok, maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration. But, like kombucha, there are dozens of health claims made for oil pulling. A virtual cure-all. Of course I'm going to be skeptical. Truthfully, I probably never would have tried it on my own accord, but after noticing some damage to my gums from my labret (wear the shortest post possible, by the way) I freaked out a little. Most of the internet said that this damage will be permanent. I refuse to accept that, so I went looking for answers.

A poster on the MDA forum suggested I tried oil pulling, to which at first I kind of rolled my eyes. The least I could do is look into it though, right? I did, and here's what I found...

First, there's a site called oilpulling.com. I guess there's a website for everything. According to this site, "Oilpulling heals totally “head-aches, bronchitis, tooth pain, thrombosis, eczema, ulcers and diseases of stomach, intestines, heart, blood, kidney, liver, lungs and women’s diseases. It heals diseases of nerves, paralysis, and encephalitis. It prevents the growth of malignant tumors, cuts and heals them. Chronic sleeplessness is cured.” It also says that doing it before a meal ramps up your metabolism... yada, yada.

The seemingly less hokey oilpulling.org suggests that oil pulling can cure "Common diseases like allergies, common cold and cough, dental caries, gum diseases, infections in the mouth, ear, nose, throat, eyes, and pains like headache, migraine, tooth pain, neck pain, back pain etc, allergic sneezing, lip cracking, fevers, irritability etc cured. 758 cases cured. All felt energetic, active and well."

I don't know about all that. Some of it makes sense... toothache, and lip cracking perhaps, but still... back pain?

But then, good old Wikipedia to the rescue! "Oil pulling or oil swishing is a traditional Indian folk remedy that involves swishing oil in the mouth. It is mentioned in the Ayurvedic text Charaka Samhita, where it is called Kavala Gandoosha or Kavala Graha. Ayurvedic literature describes oil pulling as capable of both improving oral health and treating systemic diseases such as diabetes mellitus or asthma.^[1] While scientific evidence is lacking to support any systemic benefits of oil pulling, some studies have suggested that it may reduce oral plaque, halitosis, and gingivitis."

Finally a little sense here. I'm not looking to cure diabetes or paralysis, just heal my damaged gums. It seems there are indeed studies on the benefits of oil pulling for dental health. That I can wrap my brain around.

I'm satisfied that oil pulling could possibly help my dental situation. Not that I don't have 5 gallons of coconut oil in my house right now. Might as well put it to good use. The process seems simple enough- swish it around like mouthwash for about 20 minutes, then spit.

For extra measure I opted to add a few drops of tea tree oil to my tablespoon of oil. It may taste wretched, but it's good for killing germs.

Over all, the process isn't bad. I don't typically eat breakfast, so as I head out the door for work I take the coconut/tea tree oil combo, and swish it around on my 20-minute drive to work. When I get to work I spit it out. I have to be mindful not to swallow at any point, and goodness knows if I have an accident, I'm gonna have a mess on my face. However... so far so good.

I haven't noticed much by way of my gums improving, but I did notice a tiny bump on the back side of my gums at the bottom, right in the middle. I have no idea if this is from the oil pulling or if it's just a fluke. Some of the oil pulling advocates would probably tell me that it's the toxins coming out. I have no idea. Maybe, maybe not.

I'm curious what experiences you may have had with oil pulling. Did it help a condition? Was it a waste of your time?

Warrior Dash 2013 - Supporting St Jude & Giveaway

2013-02-25T15:40:00.000-05:00

It's that time again! After surviving Warrior Dash NY last year, I've decided to make a commitment and registered for Warrior Dash Tennessee.

Last year's fund raiser was an awesome success. You all were absolutely amazing, helping me raise more than $500 for St Jude.

One lucky donor won a $50 Amazon gift card. This year I'd like to up the ante a little bit, so here's what we're going to do:

For every $25 donation, you are entered in a drawing for an Amazon gift card.

The size of the gift card is dependent upon how much the total donations are on September 1st, 2013.

Total donations > $500, the drawing will be for a $50 gift card.
Total donations > $750, the drawing will be for a $75 gift card.
Total donations > $1000, the drawing will be for a $100 gift card!

That means you'll not only want to donate, but as your friends to donate to increase the size of the gift card.

The more donations we have, the bigger the prize!

You can enter once per day. Smaller donations are welcome and encouraged , but only donations of $25 will enter you in the contest.

If you have any questions, please leave them in the comments below. :)

DONATE HERE

GOOD LUCK!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Vegiful Pumpkin Chili

2013-02-18T20:49:00.000-05:00

It's cold outside, and I mean COLD. Twelve degrees cold. That means comfort food. Then it dawned on me... I haven't made chili in a really long time. I was due. And... it would be the perfect opportunity to make use of all that pumpkin puree I made this fall.

I figured I'd get a little bit creative with this chili, and use up some of the extra veggies in the house. You can cook it any way you like, but I opted to use the crock-pot so I'd have a nice hot meal when I got home from work.

Vegiful Pumpkin Chili

Ingredients:
2 lbs ground beef
3 carrots
6 celery stalks
20 medium tomatoes
2 medium onions
1 bell pepper
9 garlic cloves
5 cups pumpkin puree
1 cup brewed coffee

3 Tbsp chili powder
2 Tbsp ground cumin
1 Tbsp oregano
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp sea salt
1 tsp ground black pepper
1 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

First, season the ground beef with cumin, salt, and pepper and cook until slightly browned. Add it to the crock-pot and pile in the rest of the ingredients. Cook on low for 8 hours, stirring occasionally.
I will definitely be making this chili again. It was extremely filling, somewhat low in calories, and loaded with vegetables, but lacked that satisfaction that my dad's chili always had. You may want to add more fat to this recipe. I think his had more fat in it. I forgot to take into account that my beef is grass-fed, and probably has a lower fat content than what I grew up eating. I will have to keep that in mind in the future... and probably add bacon.

Lent, as a Pagan

2013-02-12T15:08:00.003-05:00

A Pagan practicing Lent? What?

Just blew your mind a little bit, didn't I?

As a Pagan, why can't I observe Lent? Or Ramadan, for that matter? (Which I fully intend to do this year, being that it falls just as I am moving to Tennessee. How serendipitous!

So back to this Lent thing. I'm guessing you're wondering why a Pagan would participate in religious practices of faiths they don't really believe in. For those who are unfamiliar with Lent, a little background...

Lent typically lasts six weeks, leading up to Easter, and the observance is usually begun on Ash Wednesday. It's a period of fasting and prayer, as well as through penance, repentance, alms-giving, and self-denial, (which are practices found in many faiths, just not Christianity and Catholicism.) Certain foods or luxuries are abstained from, for about forty days. How these days are calculated varies among denominations, some counting Sundays, some not. There are numerous ways to observe Lent, and I would say there's no wrong way to do it, so long as the intent of sacrifice is there.

Ok, so it's a lot of fasting and prayer, and being observant and obedient. A Pagan doesn't need to do those things, does she? Or does she?

This one does.

Times are a little tough right now, financially speaking. Sometimes it's hard to have faith that I'm doing the right thing, and sometimes even the signs I see all around me aren't enough. I need all the spiritual bonuses I can get right now. Maybe the gods will see my sacrifice, be pleased, and bestow blessings upon me (more so than they already have, for which I am ever grateful!) That's besides all the practical functions that come with participating in Lent. I'll spend less, and hopefully my waistline will reduce with my expenses. I've been... well let's just say, a bit more than indulgent lately, in many areas of my life.

I got to thinking about all of the things I could possibly give up for forty days.

Internet? No.

Sex? Hell no.

Television? Possibly. That's not a huge sacrifice. I barely use it as it is.
I certainly need to give up sweets, and alcohol, and cheat grains for a while. That's a definite yes.

Dairy? Probably should.

Negative attitudes? I have many of those I need to work on. Especially about myself.

So I'm giving up sweets, alcohol, and cheat grains, and maybe dairy. I'm going to stop judging myself so badly for my mistakes. I'm going to try to fast throughout the day, and eat my single meal in the evening, as was done in earlier times. Or at the very least I'll skip breakfast.

There will be permissions, however. Valentine's day (maybe,) St. Patrick's day (just a little) and my birthday. Not that I will go overboard at any of these times, but I will technically be breaking lent by indulging in sweets or alcohol on these days. I don't think the gods will judge me for that.

Besides being a religious observance, at the very least, it's good for us to practice a little bit of self discipline on occasion. It doesn't even have to be a part of our typical religious practices (or lack there of) in order to be meaningful, but for me I find it adds a certain significance that can help me keep focused and dedicated.

Wish me luck. It's gonna be a long forty days without chocolate and wine. But tonight... Tonight is ice cream for dinner.

They don't call it Fat Tuesday for nothing! "Laissez les bons temps rouler!"

Faux Pho

2013-02-08T21:40:00.001-05:00

In the middle of a snowstorm I decided I wanted pho. Except I didn't have any of the proper ingredients to make pho. So I made faux. Faux pho.

On top of everything, I've never had actual pho, so I wouldn't know if I was eating a knock-off or the real thing anyways, so this probably doesn't taste anything like pho. So if you're expecting some sort of pho-like dish, this is not your place. You will, however, get a delicious meat and noodle soup that I'm going to pretend is pho from here on out.

SO... let's start with what I did have, and go from there. I had...

Pork breakfast sausage
Carrots
Celery
Onions
Garlic
Bone Broth
Vegetable Broth
and some sort of sweet potato starch noodles from the Asian market.

Well... that's pretty close. Sorta. Ok, not really, but this is my blog, so we'll say it is.

And here's another test. Let's see if I can finish this blog post before I can finish this wine. (See, we New Yorkers know how to handle a snowstorm.) Now if only Facebook would stop interrupting me.

Where was I?

Oh yes. Faux pho.

After tallying up my ingredients I started warming the bone broth in a large pot. While that heated, I browned the sausage in a pan, and sliced up the vegetables. I like long, thin strips. Very pho-like.

When the meat was mostly browned I added it to the broth. Next it was the veggie's turn in the pan with a little added fat. Bacon grease works well for this. Only cook them long enough to make them slightly soft.

Add the cooked veggies to the meat and broth. Salt and loads of pepper too. And crushed garlic. Oh, and a bay leaf.

Since most everything is pretty much cooked, all you really need to do now is warm it through and let some of the flavors marry.

I didn't forget the noodles. Promise. I hate losing noodles all in my soup, so I do those separately.

Therefore... (yes, therefore,) in a separate sauce pan, I set the vegetable broth to boil (because I hate flavorless noodles, and vegetable broth helps a little bit.) and cooked the noodles.

Strain off the broth into the soup, and put the noodles in the bottom of a wide bowl. Top with soup and eat with chopsticks, so that it feels authentic.

And that's Faux Pho... because I don't know what else to call it.

Not Enough Cream Cheese

2013-01-30T21:25:00.000-05:00

There is nothing worse than a bagel with only a thin film of cream cheese. If you're going to eat a bagel, it needs to have almost an equal thickness of cream cheese slathered on top of it. How else can one enjoy a chewy bread puck?

No, I'm not eating bagels, though don't think I haven't considered it. My brain has been playing a lot of tricks on me lately, trying to get me to jump off the Paleo wagon again. So far, I'm not falling for it. *crunches another macadamia*

I do kind of feel like that cream cheese though, and my daily life is the bagel. I've been trying like crazy to hermit myself away from all unnecessary obligations and responsibilities, and have been failing. Miserably. It's time for a serious battery recharge. I really want to disappear from the whole world for about 7 days. No rest for the wicked, as they say.

But the diet has been good at least.

Small victories.

The job hunt is going a lot slower than I would like, and imagine my freakout to realize that I'm approximately 159 days away from moving. In other words... I feel like this ostrich.

That's not to say I'm not being productive at all. I'm re-batching eight gallons of knotweed wine (which has my kitchen in a state of disaster.)

Yup. That's about it right now.

Oh, and I started putting things into a box that I'm eventually going to sell, or give away. Seriously, this stuff has got to go. I'm about to start camping in this apartment soon. Dammit.

And I have a wedding to help plan, because obviously I don't have enough on my plate right now. On the bright side, having to wear a bridesmaid's dress is damn good motivation for getting my butt back into shape! What can I say? I always find a silver lining.

I don't know about you all, but I can't wait for the real adventure to begin.

Another Blessing

2013-01-19T12:59:00.002-05:00

My excitement about the move is building by the day.

I got a few minutes to talk to my future landlord about our living arrangements. The internet has a magical way of bringing amazing people into your world- people who can, quite literally, change your life.

About my landlord- Kristin is super cool, she's Paleo, she does web design, and you may have seen some of her work over at FastPaleo.com. While she didn't design FastPaleo, she's making it SO much more functional so that it's faster and easier to use. I know, right!? Too cool. One of my favorite Paleo recipe sites. (Oooh... and look for the super-handy app.)

Total serendipity!

By the end of our conversation, we agreed that for the use of the guest house, I would pay for my utilities, and do physical labor as payment for rent. I'm totally cool with that. Best of all, I am able to stay there as long as I need to so that I can save up for my homestead.

*giddy*

With that agreement, it turns out I'll be able to make an additional trip down to Knoxville in March to see everyone and check out the guest house. There's so much planning to do yet, but I got my resume nearly finished and have started narrowing down the list of prospective employers.

And because Kristin is giving me such an amazing deal, I offered to give her a shout out on the blog. I highly encourage you to check out Boondock Marketing and consider her next time you need marketing services. Shoot, just look at FastPaleo as an example!

More puzzle pieces coming together and the big picture is getting clearer. It's indeed a very exciting time for this Wilderness Childe.

6 Months to Liberty

2013-01-09T21:12:00.000-05:00

Today marks the 6 month countdown until my adventure in Tennessee begins! It's really feeling real now. It's go time!

I've been busy putting things together- my resume mostly. It's harder than I thought, but easier than I thought. Thanks to a wonderful boss I have a large, transferable skill set that I can highlight, and the offer of shining references. The trick is just getting everything to sound right on paper. I'm starting the job hunt, researching possible employers. Thanks to a handy little book called 48 Days to the Work You Love, I have absolutely no doubt that I'm going to not only land a job, but land a great job... with great pay. I'm very excited to put Dan Miller's advice to the test, and I plan to keep you updated as I do.

So many puzzle pieces are coming together, and I'm getting a clearer vision of what life is going to look like in the next several years. For a time I'll dabble in urban living, being the not-so-Wilderness Childe. Like a true coyote, I'm going to have to learn to adapt to living in civilization... while I search for my property. Then the real adventure begins.
Goat milk products, eggs, honey and bee products... I'll not only be able to sustain myself, but I'll have things to contribute to my community. I certainly plan to be very active in the food revolution. Perhaps a CSA? Maybe I watch a little too much Glenn Beck, but I've been inspired to not only follow my bliss, but to do something to serve people, to defy the system and to live in the spirit our great country was founded on. I don't want to just consume. I want to produce. I want to be part of a new movement.

I want liberty.

Sometimes I wonder... if when you meet someone, can you tell instantly what kind of impact they're going to make on your life? I've met some incredible people over the years, and the last several months. Even more I have yet to meet in person, but it's only a matter of time. I think about the people I know, and the days I met each of them, and I think in my spirit I knew what sort of relationship we'd have... and how long it would last.

I have to tell you, I think my spirit is telling me something. No... it's telling me a lot of things. Good things are coming. Very good things. I don't dare say it aloud for fear of ruining it.

So right now it's a lot of investigating, looking for a place to serve and use my skills. Bit by bit I'm starting to pull items that I'm no longer going to need, either giving them away to friends, donating them to the Salvation Army, or setting them aside to be sold. I'm getting used to the idea of having, and using fewer plates, cookware, and utensils. (Chopsticks are amazingly useful, even when not eating Asian food!)

First goals to reach:

Finish Resume
Choose at least 10 businesses to "court."
Sell 3 pieces of furniture.
Oh... and figure out how to squeeze in not one, but TWO trips to Knoxville this spring.

And lastly, I really must share with you a pair of blogs that I have been absolutely devouring over the last few weeks. The Pioneer Woman & Homestead Survival.

So many great bits of information, helpful tips, tricks, recipes, and stories of rural living. Please visit them and enjoy!

Turmeric Chai

2013-01-07T14:25:00.000-05:00

Typically when I think of turmeric, my mind goes to curry, or mustard, or flavoring other savory dishes. I hadn't considered the possibility that it could be used as a sweet, warming beverage. However, I found myself in need of turmeric's healing anti-inflammatory properties and was looking for a way to increase my turmeric intake.

I came across this post at Mark's Daily Apple and decided to use it as inspiration for modifying one of my already favorite beverages. Chai. As it turns out, this may very well be more useful than just making one feel warm and cozy, or healing an inflamed body.

Turmeric Chai

Ingredients:
16 oz of milk
2 bags black tea
3 cardamom seeds (crushed)
1 thumb-size piece (or more) of ginger, peeled and crushed
1 tsp turmeric
1/8 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp nutmeg
1 Tbsp honey

Warm milk in a saucepan with tea bags, cardamom and ginger. (I like my chai very strong in ginger, so I add more.) Stir regularly to keep it from scorching. When milk becomes steamy, add turmeric, cinnamon, and nutmeg, and whisk until completely blended. Add the honey, serve hot.

The great thing about this chai is that, not only is it full of healthful spices, but it has some lovely magical properties as well.

Cardamom is a feminine herb, ruled by Venus and is powerful in lust and love. The seeds are often used in lust potions, love sachets, and incense.

Ginger is opposite to Cardamom, in that it's a masculine spice, ruled by Mars. Its main influences are love, money, success and power. Eating ginger before performing spells lend them additional power, thus enhancing the strength of other herbs in this chai and ensuring their success.

Turmeric is a purification herb, long used in Hawaiian magic.

Cinnamon is a very magical herb. Masculine like Ginger, but ruled by Venus, it's useful in spells ranging from power to protection, to love and lust. It's also healing and cleansing like Turmeric.

Nutmeg too is a Masculine herb. Ruled by Jupiter it is concerned most with luck and money, but also lends its power to health and fidelity (tying it in with uses in love and lust magic.)

Honey is a known aphrodisiac, and is useful in many types of love spells.

I don't know why I was surprised that this might be a useful magical "potion" and does have all the trappings of a quite powerful one. If you're especially looking to fresh, cleansing, healing love (or lust) potion for you and your lover, this might just be the one you need.

2013: The Year to be Fearless

2013-01-01T15:10:00.000-05:00

Another obligatory "resolutions" post? Yup, because this year is going to be EPIC. Trust me on this.

I was chatting with a friend about resolutions, and I told him I resolve this year to be fearless.

"Fearless against what?"

Against what? I thought that was obvious!

Truth be told, in a lot of ways I'm a big chicken. I'm afraid of failing. I'm afraid of my own limitations. I'm afraid of what some people think of me.

Not all people, but some.

I care about what people think of me, more than most would guess by looking at me. With my brightly colored hair, facial piercings and tattoos, most people would say I don't give a crap what anyone thinks of me. Generally, this is true, but for some reason there are some people whose opinions matter to me, for no rational reason at all. In fact these are typically people whose opinions matter least. Why is that? I really need to let that go and learn to live out loud, as myself, no matter what anyone thinks. That's gonna take practice.

But back to being fearless. Part of it is not caring what certain friends or acquaintances think. Not worrying so much about pleasing everyone, being nice to everyone, or saying "maybe," when I really should just say "No." And not have to justify why I'm saying no, for that matter.

I'm moving 700 miles across the country this year. I'm giving up the safety and security of my apartment, my job, my (too many) belongings. That's some scary stuff! I can't be afraid though, because if I'm afraid I freeze, and I fail. Failure is not growth. That is unacceptable. This year is about letting go of attachment and embracing adventure, and having faith in the gods that no matter what happens, I'm gonna be OK.

This fear of failing makes me take a step back and question, "What is failure? What is success? What would that look like?" Is failure not having a job, a way to get food and shelter? Is failure having to move back to New York because it's "too hard" out there? Or did I succeed just for the sheer fact that I tried it. What happens if I have to admit it was a mistake, that I was wrong? Will it matter what people think of me, if that happens?

Lots of big questions.

I think the ultimate fearlessness would be trying, failing, and facing the world as a (perceived) failure... and not caring what the world thinks of my results. That would be the ultimate victory, wouldn't it?

That's not really the kind of winning I want though. I want to stand up on my own and not have to explain why I didn't reach my dreams. That means smashing through the limitations that I put on myself, and not ever excepting "CAN'T." "Can't" doesn't exist.

I can sell all of my things. I can raise the money I need to move.
I can get a job. I can have a place to live. I can take care of myself.
I can make friends.
I can climb that wall in Warrior Dash.
I can follow my passions. I can inspire others.
I can know what my purpose is. I can serve the gods. I can serve my country.

This is my resolution.

I resolve to live out loud, with passion, and inspire others.
I resolve to have a life that others look at and say "Man... I wish I could do that!"
Then I can say, "You can do that, because even I did it, and I'm just me."

This is my resolution.
I resolve to be fearless.

Make Your Own Marshmallows

2012-12-29T15:35:00.000-05:00

Snowed in again. On days like this there is absolutely nothing better than a big cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows to make a grumpy girl feel better. They don't call them comfort foods for nothing!

If you buy marshmallows at a grocery store, the list of ingredients probably looks something like this...

Ingredients: Corn Syrup, Sugar, Dextrose, Modified Corn Starch, Water, Gelatin, Artificial Color (Includes Blue 1), Natural and Artificial Flavor, Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate.

Umm... no thank you.

Luckily marshmallows are super easy to make, and take relatively few ingredients. Oh, and the texture is absolute heaven. You'll be surprised how much more satisfying they are than store-bought ones.

Ingredients:
2 Tbsp gelatin
1/2 cup cold water
2 cups sugar
3/4 cup boiling water
1/8 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
coconut oil

Start by warming the coconut oil and greasing a baking dish. Put it in the refrigerator to chill.

Dissolve gelatin in cold water and set aside.

In a pot, combine boiling water, sugar, and salt. Whisk and boil to 236 degrees, stirring occasionally to create a syrup.

Add the syrup, vanilla (or other flavoring, and any food color you might want) to the gelatin and beat on high until it doubles in quantity.

Pour into chilled baking dish and refrigerate to stiffen.

Cut into squares and roll in confectioner sugar.

Some tips:

1) Coat any of your tools (spatula, knife) with coconut oil to keep marshmallow from sticking.

2) When mixing the marshmallow it won't look like much right away. You'll mix and mix. Nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing... then *BAM!* marshmallow!

3) Allowing the marshmallows to warm back to room temperature before removing them from the baking dish will make the process infinitely easier. Just gently peeeeel them loose, one at a time.

4) Some flavors are more concentrated than others. You may need more or less flavoring, depending on whether you are using orange, mint, vanilla, or something else.

5) You can go as high or low quality as you like, depending on the type of sugar and gelatin you use. I highly recommend Great Lakes Gelatin. It's the best quality that I've found and it's not crazy expensive.

6) If you need marshmallow cream (like "Fluff") for a recipe, you can simply make your marshmallow and not chill it. I'll admit, before I chill the marshmallow, I like to plop a spoonful of the mixture into a cup of cocoa.

Sure, it's not Paleo. I'm going to keep tinkering to see if I can actually make a relatively "healthy" marshmallow, but for now this is a lovely treat. Real ingredients and they taste 1000 times better than those stale foam balls at the grocery store. You'll be amazed at the difference.

How I Do Eggnog

2012-12-23T20:36:00.001-05:00

There are a million and seven recipes for eggnog on the internet. Or something like that. Make it a million and eight.

I mike my eggnog without sugar, using liquid stevia instead (which I absentmindedly left out of the photo.) I like NuNaturals Alcohol-Free Stevia because it actually tastes good, and doesn't have a weird aftertaste. I get enough of an insulin rush from all the other treats (hello macaroons!) so I figure I don't need to be drinking 8 tablespoons of sugar on top of it all.

So this is how I make eggnog...

Ingredients:
6 eggs
3 cups of milk
1 Tbp vanilla
70-80 drops liquid stevia
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 cup spiced rum (optional)

Throw it all in a blender, and let 'er spin.

Merry Christmas!

** Typically I get my eggs from the butcher, but I couldn't get to them before the weekend. Kudos to Wegmans for yet again being awesome. Cage-Free Organic eggs for $3.00 a dozen. You saved my eggnog!

Somebody Make It Stop

2012-12-14T23:36:00.000-05:00

We need to stop this. Somehow, it has to stop.

The outcry on Facebook and Twitter. Everyone is looking for someone, something to blame. He was crazy. He shouldn't have had a gun. Why did he have a gun? Why didn't somebody stop him? Why didn't he get the help he so obviously needed? Mental help should be more accessible. Guns should be less accessible.

Somebody make it stop! Stop people from killing our children.

How do we stop this?

More laws, more rules, more restriction is not the answer. More love is the answer.

I don't think it's ironic that just yesterday I was speaking with a fellow of the Twelve Tribes about the state of people and the meaning of community. I don't think it's one bit ironic. I believe it's divine providence.

Our gun laws are not broken. Our souls are broken. Our community is broken. Don't you see? This man... he is us. We are no better than the worst among us for they are our responsibility. Yours, mine, everyone's. Why did this tragedy happen? Because nobody loved this man enough to help him. Nobody thought they had a right to interfere.

Gun restriction only treats the symptom, not the disease. Today a man in China used a knife to slash 22 innocent children. The most common murder weapon in the United States is not a gun, but a baseball bat. You want to stop this kind of tragedy from happening? Good. Don't enact more restrictive gun laws. DO love your neighbor. Start being a community. Talk to people, be kind, share, listen. Love your fellow human being.

Schools, shopping malls, movie theaters, our places of employment... people just going about their business, and their lives are taken. We need to wake up and start paying more attention to the things which matter most- our souls.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that the bible should be required reading as part of every school curriculum, and that children should be made to pray every morning when the bell rings. That's not what I'm talking about at all. What I am suggesting though is that we need to, as a culture, get our priorities straight. It doesn't matter who you worship (so long as they're not telling you to chop off your neighbor's head for believing differently.) Honor any gods you want, or none at all, but start realizing what is most important.

We fight each other too much, and we spend way too much time trying to limit and restrict one another. Instead of eliminating one another's rights, we should be uniting on the things which we agree, for increased liberty for all. Some of the greatest injustices in our society are not that we have different opinions and cannot agree, but instead that it's becoming such that we are not allowed to disagree!

"But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods or no God. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg."
-Thomas Jefferson, Notes on Virginia, 1782

It wasn't but a week or so ago that I was accused of "being a Christian in disguise" because I advocated an end to the bickering between Pagans and Christians over who owned the rights to Christmas traditions. Because I didn't hold a popular opinion I was told to "shut up" and stop calling myself Pagan. Fine. I am a Christian. I am also a Catholic. I am also a Buddhist. I am a Jew. Hindu. Atheist. And every other faith under the sun and moon. I am, in belief, a Pagan, but I see something happening in the world.

People are coming together for something important. Something greater than us. You can call me crazy. That's fine, but I think it's why I'm meeting the people that I'm meeting over the last several months. They're from different paths, different cultures, different world views... and yet we have this one thing in common. I don't know yet what the big picture looks like but the message has been fairly constant.

Love one another.
Have compassion.
Listen, even if you disagree.
Have integrity and personal responsibility
Give and be charitable of not just money, but time and your attention.
Choose liberty over security.
Do good.

If we want these senseless acts of evil to stop, we have to start understanding that it's our own responsibility to make it happen, at home, in our own neighborhoods. The government can't do it. We have to do it ourselves.

"Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these."

"Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law. Love is the law, love under will."

Little Pink Houses

2012-12-13T22:48:00.001-05:00

Ok, well maybe not pink houses, but I've had little houses on my mind. I've recently become absolutely obsessed with tiny houses, and small life in general. There's something to this.

The fasting has been on hold this week. I had a weekend of excess (alcohol mostly) and my aging body is taking its dear, sweet time to recover. Sunday was one of the worst hangovers I'd ever had. I figure I'll get back into the swing of things this weekend, and vow not to go off the bend with the booze again... at least for a very long time. I'm getting too old for these shenanigans.

I visited Ithaca today for some of the best sushi around, and I knew I absolutely had to stop at Mate Factor (owned by the Twelve Tribes community) for their amazing chai. It's by far my favorite. I didn't realize it would also be one of those "god" moments. As we stood there, chatting with Zahar, I just knew that this was a piece to the puzzle- The Twelve Tribes. How it fits, I'm still not sure, but I'm compelled to find out. Not exactly my kind of theology, but they have something about them worth investigating. There's something here I should learn.

Reduction has been an ongoing theme, especially these last several weeks. Fasting, minimizing my material comforts, small houses. Simpler living. Less stuff, less clutter, eating less food, or no food, spend less (or try to,) being less critical, less impatient, less judgmental. I'm finding it's the small things that make me happy, and that I can be quite happy with very little.

About this tiny house thing. I don't think I could live in a micro house. Those things are absolutely dinky. It's like living in a camper. I couldn't do that. But... 800 square feet? Yeah, I could probably do that. Imagine it. Lower floor contains a nice size kitchen, open to a living room. To the side a bathroom/laundry room. Loft bedroom above the kitchen. Small wrap-around porch. Easy peasy! Five acres, a couple goats and a handful of chickens, and I'm a happy girl. And maybe some guinea pigs. I hear they're delicious.

Check out some of the amazing spaces I've stumbled across so far!

Aren't they gorgeous!?

If I'm gonna get myself a tiny house, I need start editing my lifestyle. I really need to start cleaning out my things and letting go of my attachments. I'm getting really anxious to start getting rid of things, but I have no clue where to start. It's a struggle to get the house organized as it is. When I finally do it, I know it's going to be so liberating.

We also saw Lincoln today. It was an absolutely incredible movie, and so moving. I'll admit, I pulled a Glenn Beck. I cried. There's something about this journey that I'm about to go on, that this movie touched a place in my spirit. I think some of us... we're sorta... I don't know. Divine Providence. It's just... magic.

There's something amazing on the horizon. I don't know what it is yet, but I know it's gonna be great. I know it has something to do with having a bit of land, some animals, homeschooling, homesteading and kicking myself out of the system. In the coming days there will be fasting and prayer, and hopefully gaining some spiritual insights to what I'm supposed to be doing and how to do it. Whatever it is, it's got the gods behind it. I keep finding puzzle pieces and sticking them in my pocket. I can't wait to see how they fit together.