11.10.08 Live Long & Prosper

The house was chilly but not to cold, it holds the nights heat very well. It's actually almost 40 according to the thermometer on the porch.

Just a few more weeks before Thanksgiving Feast Day and we have so very much to be thankful for.

Yesterday was a fun, interesting and prosperous day. In the morning we did some more work on the big henhouse. I ended up giving up on straightening it till next summer so we just added boards here and there, filled cracks with old feed bags and finished the nest box shelf. Later I'll stuff hay wrapped in plastic bags into some of the larger cracks. I'll take some pictures soon.

The we headed into Springfield of all places to pick up some wonderful Freecycle things. I was actually born in Springfield but grew up across the South, mostly Florida and Texas. When we moved back here about 13 years ago we did live in Springfield for about a year and then on the edge, at my grandparents farm, where I looked after my beloved Grandfather who had dementia. We've been living in the country at the edge of the forest now for about 10 years and go to Springfield very rarely. We used to travel the 30 miles every Sunday to attend the UU church (Unitarian Universalist, I think ) but the motor in the Trooper blew about 2 years ago and we haven't been back since.

Anyway, We ventured in yesterday and had a very good time. Traffic wasn't to bad because it was a Sunday but compared to country life it was still pretty interesting. No such thing as Sunday drivers in the city. Cars darting here and there, never waiting till you pass even if there's not a soul behind you. Everyone in a hurry to be the first one to wait.

The first thing we did was get gas about halfway there at a station that is usually pretty easy to get into. Gas was only 1.89 ! so what used to give less than half a tank filled it all the way up :)

Then we headed to the North side of Springfield and picked up 2 bags of babyfood jars with lids from Rachel, Thank you soooo much. I really needed them for salves and balms and even have some salve ready to go but nothing to package it in. Now I have plenty :)

With our booty of little jars we headed into town, right to the middle, to pick up a metal sign for the yard. On the way we stopped at a little day-old bakery store and got 4 loaves of bread for 3.40. I actually never buy sliced bread, I make my own or buy it from the bakery and slice it myself but I couldn't pass up the price. The reason we went in at all is because it's the very same little store that my grandmother used to take us to for bread when I was a little girl ! Back in those days the only things that were between my grandparents farm and the bakery store was one small grocery market and many cow fields. Now cattle isn't even allowed anywhere for miles and there'd be no place to keep them anyway for the wall-to-wall houses and stuff. It was still very cool to see the little store still there and take Nik in to see it. And that it was actually open on Sunday *o*

So after the store, with our growing booty of jars and bread, we picked up the wonderful metal sign from Christina. And not only got a great sign but also made a new friend :) We talked for quite a while and honestly, meeting her was worth the trip alone. The sign itself would have also been worth the drive alone, it's bigger and sturdier then I had even hoped for. It's just perfect for our need :) Thank you sooo much!

Then, tired but happy, we made the trip back home and were so tired we did nothing else but a few small chores the rest of the day, and contemplated how very lucky we are. There is a city vibe that affect and effects things so very differently in than the country or even small towns. I think it must be the way each individuals chi flows that they're either energized by the city's vibe or drained by it. We get quite drained by it but it's not a bad thing at all, just different and seems to flow against our own chi instead of with it as the rural life does. Actually, the further out I am, the healthier and more energized I become.

Regardless, it was a great adventure and we returned home far richer then we were when we left :)

Today the plan is about as busy, we have to take recycling, pick up cat food and toilet paper and then to the feed store for hay and chops and home. This afternoon will be cleaning out the chicken pen and the henhouses.

Todays menu is .... Chocolate cake and bananas for breakfast. Sweet n spicy beans with cornbread for lunch. Chicken sandwiches with spicy oven fries for supper. Cinnamon toast and hot tea for dessert.

I'm also hoping to have the time and energy today to try this pita recipe, also from Rachel.

Then I'll just pass out :)

Merry day everyone !!