Life Transitions and Simplicity

 

Photo credit: Freepik.com

It's that time of year again when I decide I'm tired of winter and yearn for the warmer, sunnier days of spring. That usually coincides with some type of weather event. LOL! The third storm in the last two weeks arrived today. It will gradually turn to rain on Sunday. 

The more time I spend at Modern Prairie, the more I begin to appreciate the simple things in life. Throughout the last year, I found myself buying fewer pre-made or pre-packed items. Breads, sauces, seasoning mixes, and more are often made in my kitchen. I can't remember the last time I bought a frozen dinner. I've been meal planning for months, which allows me to buy what we need for the week and only restock staple items. 

Impatiently waiting for spring, I ordered my plants and seeds from Burpee. I even bought a seed starter kit and good soil to start early. Broccoli, brussels sprouts, potato, onion, celery, and strawberry plants/seeds will arrive at the appropriate times. I will wait for later in the year to plant herbs. No one will ever call me a homesteader, but I enjoy spending time outdoors. 

Photo credit: April Cornell

I'm buying clothes made with more comfortable fabrics and in styles that I can work in. Weekends off--not that there are many--are spent organizing the house to make life easier and tending to self-care. I won't channel my inner Caroline Ingalls in an attempt to make clothes--that would go poorly--but I do love me a simple camisole under a sweater. 

Part of this is possible because of the stage of life I am in. We might be empty nesters this summer. I'm not emotionally prepared for that transition, but a lot of what I am doing now should help ease some of the pain. I'm thinking of taking up drawing or some other creative outlet in addition to my writing. I've been able to log on to some of the Modern Prairie weekend events, which is great for social interaction, so maybe I won't feel too lonely once the girls don't live here full time. 

I've been putting into place a plan for retirement. Though it is several years in the future, I really feel like we need a solid plan to get it all to come together in the timing that works best for me. 

How have you handled life transitions? What did you find the most challenging and the most rewarding?

I Feel Your Pain Charles Ingalls

In the episode "100 Mile Walk," a hailstorm destroys Charles Ingalls' wheat crop. A devastating event for the family, months of work tending his wheat crop has been destroyed in a matter of minutes.

This week, Tropical Storm Isaias traveled up the east coast leaving destruction in its path. You can see photos of downed trees and power lines from around us in these photos. We were without power for a little more than 24 hours, but the arbor fell into the garden and uprooted the grape vine I've been tending. The branches had finally gotten large enough to start wrapping around the arbor, so I figured within the next couple of years we might have grapes. My tomato plants took a beating, too, but it's the destruction of the grape vine that breaks my heart. Thankfully, it doesn't mean I can't feed my family, like it did for Charles.

I can admit that I'll never be a master gardener. I don't have enough time to dedicate to the daily tasks of tending the plants, nourishing the soil, and  weeding. I think of working toward becoming self-sustaining, but don't know how I would manage it by myself. I've even started looking at chicken coops--which I swore would never happen.

It's hard, however, to be so susceptible to the whims of Mother Nature. How did Charles Ingalls and Almanzo Wilder do it? How do today's farmers do it?