Water

I have a bad habit that I need to break. I often turn the faucet on before I actually use the running water while brushing my teeth. This small amount of water that goes unused surely adds up to an obscene amount day after day. This seems like an easy fix, but I have trouble remembering to break my habit. With Governor Granholm signing a bill to keep the Lake Michigan waters inside Michigan and the Grand Rapids Water Festival happening this weekend, I have ample inspiration to break my habit.

WTHS

I love having a local station to listen to. This is my alumni's radio station and usually it's mellow music that both Jilliann and I can listen to. Then, I feel cool and hip still connected to the college scene. Then, some really loud and rocking music comes on (or just annoying- sometimes our tastes certainly differ) and I feel old, trying to be cool and hip. 88.9fm

Humbling day

On Tuesday, I had a very humbling day and I'm trying to hang on to the good parts about that. I like reminders that I'm not in charge and that mistakes happen...to and because of all of us (at some point). It would be nice to be in the place where reminders are not needed, that everyday life is lived with ever present humility. I'm not there yet. Here, I was giving out advice after a mistake had been made and turns out it was my mistake and me who needed my own advice- pay attention. I'm not there yet. I was planning and scheduling an event which didn't happen. Well, it's not up to me. I'm not there yet. I will get there, though, as I continue on my journey of prayer and reading enlightening books like Ekhart Tolle's New Earth. And, in the meantime, I'll keep having humbling days.

Rain, rain, go away....come again some other day

This is surely a song that went through my CSA farmers mind's this past weekend. CSA means Community Supported Agriculture and means, in my case, a couple lovely young motivated and dedicated women started an organic farm locally and have us buy shares up front. They use our membership costs throughout the year and we reap what they reap and sow what they sow (Jilliann and I go get dirty each week and volunteer at the farm.). We are tied to them, feeling the effects of a drought like last year or a flood like this year. Even when it means less food for a weekly drop-off, I like being connected to a farm. I feel more in touch with the bigger picture of the seasons, weather, etc. on this green Earth instead of the infinitely open and abundant grocery store. I also like that my food creates virtually no packaging, as their boxes for transport are reused as are the bags I fill. And that very little gas is used to bring these things to my table and at the same time, I don't have to worry about Jilliann ingesting pesticides and I'm supporting my local community. It feels good...and tastes really fresh with food pulled out of the soil the day I get my anxious little hands on it. After joining this CSA last year, I never want to go back to being without it....yes, even with the many rutabegas that we try to eat each season. Groundswell Farm has been a great thing to have in my life as it's challenged me to think a lot about the far reaching effects of producing and eating food and to get creative in the kitchen. I've also been blessed by friendships throughout this adventure and able to connect with a lot of people in the community and connect others to the farm who are searching for something like this.
Jilliann helping harvest Kale, Summer 2007

Dad visited!

We had Dad here from Charleston, South Carolina. He was having a good time, so he extended his visit and stayed for a week which we were all happy about. Jilliann warmed up to him and really enjoyed coming down to see him in the morning. He helped us out with projects like painting the living room, which feels so great to have finished! He swept our deck, ironed my clothes, did laundry, washed dishes and took us out to dinner at Pereddies. A great house guest! Honestly, though, we enjoyed having him here to just be around him, to hear that laugh and see him love on Jilliann and to be able to sit and talk. It was such an awesome visit for all of us! Jilliann said "Grandpa" for the first time and she just couldn't stop talking about his truck. We're going to Charleston sometime this year, so we look forward to seeing him again and also visiting with Grandma Barb.

Rainy day

I love rainy days most times. They make me want to listen to Pink Floyd and wrap myself in a blanket. The air is thick with dew and smells fresh...add a little heat to that and I could be back in Belize. The timing is perfect for my plantings, as I just put tomatoes in at our community garden and grass in our pathetic yard. Plus, it's good to get this ground good and wet before our predicted 90 degree record breaking temperatures come!