Post # 100!

Ok, so this is my 100th post. Yeah, I'm a little slow. I started this blog a long time ago and it has taken many turns along the way. For those who know me, you remember that I started blogging here because I needed an outlet to the outside world while I took care of my terminally ill Mom. When things changed and I decided to blog about dreaming of living off the grid, I decided to keep posting on my original blog. So now I'm finally at 100 posts.

About my car - I've gotten lots of private feedback and have decided to keep it and put some money into it. I found a super deal on a parts package for the front end and will even have some money left over for something else important. The sun it out so I'm about to go wash it, condition the convertible top, detail the inside, and give it some love.

I'm heading out to The Home Place in a few days. I haven't been out there in months and I hope everything is ok. The old fifth wheel out there has never been broken into and I've never had trouble, but there have been a lot of high straight-line winds and messy weather. I hope everything is intact and it's still critter-free.

Choco-Latta Craving

Those who know me well know that I have a history of yo-yo'ing weight-wise. About every 3 or 4 years, I have to face the scale and lose the weight. And I am in a period of facing the scale. My plan of choice is always Weight Watchers. It works for me and there isn't a thing that's off limits. I can still have wine, cheese, chocolate, a beer, etc., as long as I record every bite. I've lost 8 pounds since the Saturday after Thanksgiving and I've enjoyed Christmas dinner and lots of good stuff over the last few weeks.

Chocolate is my weakness. When I trek to The Home Place for a weekend, I always take a cake or brownie mix with me because I'm sure to have a chocolate craving, especially after a day of hiking or moving big rocks around. I don't have refrigeration at The Home Place, so eggs are an issue. I usually take half a dozen eggs with me and then have to ration them. (Did I mention that I like sausage and eggs for breakfast?)

So I was excited to find a modified recipe for chocolate cake on the Hungry Girl website. I love anything chocolate, especially cake with cream cheese frosting. This super recipe is just two ingredients: one box of chocolate cake mix + one can of pure pumpkin (the unflavored kind - not the pre-seasoned/sweetened pie filling). It's so easy and much healthier than the traditional prep method of adding eggs and oil. No egg refrigeration or rationing required! I was skeptical at first, but I swear, you can't taste the pumpkin at all and the prepared cake doesn't dry out as fast, either. It fits nicely into my Weight Watchers plan, too. Try it!

Decisions, Decisions, Car Decisions

I am at a crossroads with my car. It needs some work. The front end needs to be rebuilt along with some other stuff. It runs fine but this day has been looming for a while and now the work must be done. Mechanically, my car is in decent shape but anything could happen at any moment. It's a '95 with almost 180,000 miles on it. I just bought new tires about a month ago.

I have a very good and reliable source for parts. It's going to cost about $1500 to $2000 to fix it. So I have a decision to make. Should I sink that money into my 15 year old car or should I just buy something else? Something 4-wheel-drive that allows backcountry driving and the ability to tow a utility trailer? I'm not interested in getting a big car loan, so I'm talking about taking $4000ish and buying something else. I don't want to end up with a $4000 problem either. I don't have a lot of money lying around and this would basically wipe out my financial backup plan, but for me, a reliable car is necessary. I'm a little stuck because I don't trust my car on road trips with the front end like it is. I haven't been to the property in several months either and a 4x4 would get met back out there. It's not the end of the world, for sure, but I need to make a decision in the next 3 weeks.

So, advice please!

Prayer for the Lady Next Door

I'm sitting in the recliner in my RV looking around the place. I really love living here and am glad I finally did it. I'm listening to a recorded radio broadcast made by the very knowledgeable Wretha about her life off the grid (Wretha's blog is at http://www.wretha.blogspot.com/ and the broadcast is at http://www.donttreadonme.tv/121409/).

While I'm listening to Wretha recount her first night at her home place, I'm looking out the window at my next door neighbor. I don't know my neighbor at all. I always wave and say hi to her, and sometimes, I talk to one of her three kids. But my neighbor is very guarded and I respect that. I don't know what's going on, but it appears that she and her husband? significant other? are arguing about something. I can't hear them yelling - my place has double-pane windows and is very well insulated - but their facial expressions and flailing arms say it all. Occasionally, she throws something, but not directly at him. Finally, husband/significant other takes off on his motorcycle. I watch her grab a pack of cigarettes and sit down on the RV steps. She lights up and puts her head in her hands. As she's puffing away, she sometimes shakes her head. She wipes her forehead every once in a while. My heart hurts for her. I feel bad, kind of like I'm spying on her, but I'm not making any special effort to watch. I can only see what's in my window frame.

I don't know what's going on and it's none of my business, but it occurs to me that I need to say a prayer for her. I ask God and the universe to make things better for her and her family right now, to ease her pain, to bring her peace.

Winter Break is on the Way!

I'm roughly 1/2 day from an almost two week winter break. I love working in education because of the extra time off this time of year. The pay isn't so great, but the payoff is worth it.

I'm looking forward to a nice dinner with family on Christmas Eve. I'm cooking, but I love doing that, so that's no problem. I have proclaimed it a "no gifts-just experiences" Christmas this year. I always say that, but somehow, the gifts come anyway. And I'm not complaining. But this year, seriously, I'd rather "experience" some togetherness, some peace and love in a kitchen warmed by an oven that's been cranking out baked goodness all day, some contented curled-up-on-the-couch reading or movie viewing or scrabble while it's cold outside and warm inside, a noisy family dinner with the dogs underfoot begging for nibbles, some pumpkin pie with fresh ground French pressed coffee for dessert.

To all who stop by, I hope you have the "experiences" that your heart desires this holiday.

One Man's Trash

I was thinking back to the event or story or example of alternative housing that I recalled had a big influence over my decision to try things a different way. Of course, when I saw this story on Texas Country Reporter about Dan Phillips and his unconventional method of house building,



I was living in a big house in a big neighborhood, one of those neighborhoods with lots of houses with the same oak tree in the same spot in the same-shaped front yard with the garage and driveway, for the most part, to the right. You know the kind of neighborhood I'm talking about.

Now, that house served us well as it is where I spent a year taking care of my mother. She lived comfortably in her own "suite" that was about the size of a one bedroom apartment. I'm so grateful that we were able to give her that life. But I could hardly wait to get out of there once I had the time to think about it (which ironically, was when I was taking care of Mother). My mom was sick and dying, and I was sick of living like that. I felt a lot of guilt over my feelings. Please don't misunderstand me - I certainly didn't want my mother to die. But the reality of it was that as long as she was living with us, I was there for the long haul and I would have had it no other way. I had to put my feelings of wanting to downsize and get out of the city on hold. It wasn't easy. But I'm glad I did it - took care of my mom, that is. The fun we had (yes, we had fun in spite of her illness) and the heartache are things I will not soon forget.

Watch the entire video about Dan Phillips. It's very heartwarming.

Rain Gutter Garden

I saw this interesting post on Anna's Living the Simple Life blog.

It's about Rain Gutter Gardening. I can't do this myself on the motorhome, but I think it's a good idea.










I tried to find out to whom the photo gets credited, but I couldn't find the link.

What To Do

What to do when it's too cold to go outside.

 

Snow Day!

Snow day! No work, no school, all play!