Holding Fast to [In]Sanity
Monday, January 21, 2013
Caballeros UnPlugged: It's been a week
Monday, January 14, 2013
Caballeros UnPlugged
I started off not wanting to get up at 5AM. Who does? So, I lay in bed awake (couldn't go back to sleep) until 7, at which time BabyJ came in asking for chips. I figure it's time for breakfast. I find Jr. In front of the living room television. It's Diego, so I let it slide with a "After breakfast, no more t.v. for anyone. Remember what we talked about?"
I wake the MacGyverAsawa for breakfast. Wouldn't you know it, he lays in bed until I am starting lunch, watching Netflix on his phone! When I start cleaning breakfast up, I think potty break, then catch my breath. By the time my hands are washed, my mind is spinning on the chance to get to the library. Instead of a MommyMinute, I start packing lunch for three people and a diaper bag. I'm so excited, I could sing! In the nursery, I am putting the wipes in the diaper bag when Jr. Runs in, "Mommy, somebody's here!" I do not believe him. I question him on it, and he continues to tell me he saw someone in our driveway. I work my way to the front door, still not believing there's anyone here... it was my niece and her Mommy.
Tinkerbell had a fever of 101 this morning, and the pre-school won't let her come. Her mommy has work. So, I agree to watch her, and tell her about my plans to walk three miles to the library. This. Does not. Make her happy. I say she can ride in the double stroller. She still does not like it. I reluctantly say I'll change my plans, we can always go tomorrow. Oh, but the school won't let her come back until Wednesday. Great. Weather.com says it may rain Wednesday, and it's almost certain to rain (and get 20 degrees colder) Thursday and Friday. Sigh. Okay.
First thing I do is feed Tinkerbell, and tell her that Mommy won't let us go to the library (she was sad we couldn't go, and complaining in the way I wanted to). I send everyone outside, and take the apples out of the lunch box, and open blinds and windows.
I take wet laundry from the washer, and go outside. The dog loves that we're all outside with him! I hang the wet clothes, fold the dry ones, and come inside to put them away. I do a little kitchen/dinrm. Clean up, getting interrupted by this child or that. Someone isn't sharing, someone threw dirt. I lose my cool and threaten to put them all in bed (at ten in the morning). They straighten up just in time for me to cook lunch (decided against the deer meat, and for chicken, last night). By 11:45, we are all at the picnic table in the back yard. Fried chicken, griddle cake (flower, egg, water, milk left over from coating the chicken), and mashed 'taters.
The kids all help clean off the table. Tinkerbell trips over the dog tether, and my very favorite glass gets broken (she is not cut, but her pride is bruised). Hugs, kisses, everyone stay outside away from the glass. I put away lunch left overs, and sweep both dinrm. And the kitchen (may as well, since the broom is in my hand). Hang another load of laundry, and fold/put away those that are dry. Get the wild eyed idea to rearrange my dining room/pantry area (it's just a stand alone wire shelf). Realize it's nap time. Kids want to camp out, so I lay sleeping bags out on the porch, and decide it's time for a MommyMinute. I get them settled, and start to read Water for Elephants. Tinkerbell's Mommy must have felt the need to make sure I didn't take that three mile hike with her baby, after all, because she showed up with snacks for the kids. LOL Well, maybe she just didn't want to have her lunch alone, either. (I wouldn't take someone else's child some place they didn't want their baby to go, because I wouldn't want them to do the same to me.) We had a great visit, then she went back to work.
I swapped laundry again, and rearranged my dining room, when the kids' nap time was over. (No one slept. They were up and running around 2:30. I put down the book just before 3.)
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Caballeros UnPlugged
When I actually got my day started, I discovered that I had a garden tub full of laundry that needed to be washed. So, I took out a few hand fulls, and designated them my test subjects. I was going to do our laundry by hand, and would be starting with that average sized load. Well, I started out with a bucket of soapy water, and a tub with enough cold water to cover the top of my feet. I discovered that I'll use more water that way, than with the washing machine. The bucket of soapy water gets cold before I can wash an entire load, and the wrince water must be replaced much too frequently.
Were I doing a small load, for example the amount of clothes my family wears in a day, it would make sense to do our laundry by hand. However, as I do not have all the "new fangled devices" for hand washing, it is a waste of water. Once I get things caught up where my laundry is conscerned (by Tuesday night), I will wash by hand.
Using the washing machine doesn't mean I'm totally giving up and going back. I've washed two loads, and am allowing them to hang out on a line in the back yard. Tomorrow, I'll take them in, and put out two more loads. From then on, I'll be hand washing, and line drying everything.
In a real emergency situation, say if we suddenly had a power outtage, I'd be unable to use either the washer or the dryer. Which is why it is important that I keep everything washed and caught up. One never does know when a disaster may hit.
Today, I also started using what we have in the refrigerator and the freezer. Things that have just been sitting there, waiting to be put to use for months, are now being used. As a matter of fact, I'm going to soak and defrost some deer meat that my brother gave me, once I'm finished with this post. By morning, it should be ready for the crock pot. I'll put in beans (going to soak them tonight, as well), and a small can of vegies. We'll use the rice cooker, tomorrow evening. That should make an excellent meal for tomorrow night.
Tomorrow morning, I'll rise at 5 AM to start my day. I'll get another load of laundry washed, and spin it out a second time. I'll make biscuits in the toaster oven, and we'll have apples and cereal for breakfast. I'll clean up those dishes, and will take my wet clothes out to the line. I'll bring in the folded dry clothes (may as well fold them as I take them off the line), and put them away. By 9 AM, we will all be dressed and loaded up (in the stroller) with diapers, bottled water, and a sack lunch+snack for each of us. We will be walking the three miles to the library, so that we can home school. The reason we are leaving so late in the morning, is that the library does not open until ten.
At noon, I'll take the kids out to the grass, and we'll spread out their McQueen sleeping bag as a picnic blanket. We'll have lunch, and read the books we've checked out. Then, at 2:45, we will be off to the grocery store for a few items that we need (vinegar, soap, etc.)... It is the same distance from the store to home, as it is to go from home to the library. We're just going a few blocks south from the Library. Once we have what we need, or by 4 PM at the latest, we'll head home, where I'll put away groceries, serve our evening meal, give the kids baths, and put them to bed. Tonight, they are tired a little early because they missed naps. I bet they will be exhausted by this time tomorrow, after all the activity.
I think I'll turn in a bit early, tonight, so as to start tomorrow off on the right foot.
About thee youtube video: I already posted one for you guys. Now, it's your turn to leave a link to one, for me, in the comments.
Goodnight!
V.
Caballeros UnPlugged
You may be wondering where all of this is leading, or if I've finally lost all of my marbles. Look, I love technology just as much as the next Stay At Home Wife and Home schooling Mother (for those of you who aren't SAHWAHMs, we reeeeeeheeeeally love gadgets). But, they're taking over my family! And I'm tired of it!
I'm tired of having to shout "time to eat!!!" for the kids down the hall over three televisions, just for them to ignore me because "one more level, pleeeease?"
I'm tired of thinking I'll finally get some couple time with my hubby, just to end up sitting on different cushions of the "love seat" (is it, really?) watching another horror movie with the same premise as the last three we saw!
I'm tired of saying I "just don't have time for play group" because I've got to get caught up on my show (General Hospital, if you're wondering), on line. [Yes, I am aware that this makes me both a cliche and the devil, in the eyes of some of you other SAHMs, out there... watching Soaps.]
I'm tired of being tired, all the time, because I don't get enough exercise, and because I just can't turn off late night television and go to bed!!!
So, here's the plan, folks!
Starting today, if it lights up, it gets unplugged. If it heats up in the kitchen, it becomes off limits (except for the crock pot. we don't want to starve)...
Things we'll be keeping (because Mommy doesn't want to go ape-guano-crazy) :
- The Refrigerator (there's food in there that cost a lot of money, and we need to eat it)
- Crock Pot
- Kids' individual DVD Players (for when I need a few minutes of sanity, or for educational vids, or as a reward for a great day)
- Our Cell Phones (they go on line, mine blogs here, they also provide the best walking maps on Google for where we want to go, and provide a life line in an emergency)
- The Dishwasher (if by some freak chance we end up with a large load of dishes, it's a more conservative way to wash them... freak chance means a Tuesday, some times)
- Laundry (all of it... groan... the entire mountain that I didn't get a chance to wash yesterday) will be done by hand in my large bathtub... Aaaaany body wanna come do that for me? No? Eh, had to check.
- Use of the Library. They have movies, books, computers, and now (sweet!) Wi-Fi. I can print out worksheets and such for home school, allow my little ones to utilize educational websites, check out books for both education and leisure... basically, anything we need in the education department, I'll find it here. We can make a day of it, a couple times a week. PLUS, (here's the best part) it's three miles away, and we're going to walk to it. Granted, that means that a trip that normally takes ten minutes will actually take an hour, but I need the exercise.
- We'll also be walking from the Library to the grocery store, and from our house to Grammy's (my mom's) house. All three miles away, which means I'll end up with six miles under my belt each day we have places to go. Once I get really good at this, maybe we'll even go to Church on foot. Obviously, because I have two small children, and I actually have a vehicle at my disposal, if it's raining (or going to rain cats and dogs), or really cold we will be taking the van.
- MacGyverAsaway would only have a 20 minute walk to work (1 mile), but he works on his feet for eight hours, on a concrete floor, in a factory setting. So, I'm not even going to ask him to walk to and from work.
- I will be going on line here at home, in order to bring the blogosphere updates on our little social experiment, and what friends and family think of it all. However, if the quality of education for the kids doesn't suffer, and the rare time we watch a DVD on one of the kids' portable players is good, then I may just have the internet and NetFlix accounts cancelled.
So, come along with us, as we start this new journey, today. Maybe, you'll find there's something you'd like to do, as a symbolic way of joining us (turning off lights that you don't need, walking to work one morning a week, shorter showers). If you do decide to make any changes, let us know. We'd love to hear about the difference it makes in your day.
V.
P.S.--Each day, I'll post about one of the changes, and my experience in coping with it. That's right, I said coping, because I believe I'll be posting on Laundry, later this evening.
Oh, did you think I'd forgotten the music vid? Yeah, right! Here's a little motivational music... I think I'm going to need it, in order to get all that laundry done by hand...
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
To Do Tuesday: Before and After Pictures
To Do Tuesday: Before and After--From Dumping Ground to Craft Room
After five weeks of being defeated by a degenerative disc, and a hubby who barely keeps the kids and laundry clean when I'm out of commission, I decided to do something big for my first To Do Tuesday back: a Before and After picture.
Things that needed to be done: remove everything, assign it all to individual zones, take out things that didn't really belong (hubby's clothes go in another closet, summer clothes should be in boxes, etc...), reorganize the items that do belong, put everything back, set up my sewing table/craft area... I may have left something out, but you'll see it all in the before and after pictures.
From his and hers closet/dumping ground, to her closet and craft room.
Here's the BEFORE:
Check back tomorrow for Wordy Wednesday, when I'll post an excerpt from one of my works in progress.
In the meantime, I'd like to educate you on the dangers of the high five handshake.
Latah Gatah,
V
Saturday, November 10, 2012
How I Shop for Groceries, on a Budget.
Monday, October 15, 2012
The Skinny on Poop...
First, I'll say that I hope you're saving up on TP. We aren't, because I'd like to use cloth wipes for that. Reusable, so they save money and space. However, I'll be the one who has to face the daunting task of washing them. Ew. But if it hits the fan, I'll have all we need without having to worry about running out.
Moving on to where to go, and what to do with the by product when you've gone.
My family and I went camping, not long ago. We took with us TP, and plenty of plastic shopping bags. We lined a large old crock pot (something we'd never use for food again) with three layers of bags, placed a layer of new paper inside the bags, and that's where we went potty. Now, we had a trash can near by to put our waste, and it would be picked up at the end of the week. In a SHTF situation, it's not going to be that easy.
I suggest you invest in a shovel or two, and bury that poop. If you line the bags with enough paper/dirt, you should also be able to go number one, without making too big of a mess.
Of course, you could always invest in one of those fold up port-a-pottys, chemicals included... But a deep enough hole will be a better idea, since those chemicals will eventually run out. You don't even need bags, if you've got a large enough bucket, and empty it two or three times daily (and clean it out, because you don't want it to stink any more than it has to).
I suggest not setting the bucket up anywhere near the general living area, or food prep area.
Once you go, you'll want to wash your hands. Coconut oil is a great disinfectant, and can be used for cooking (at low temps). You could also mix it with a little salt and have a good scrubby disinfectant. I prefer soap and water, or hand sanitizer, but these things can run out, so I thought I'd offer an alternative for if/when that happens.
Along with this article, I'd also like to caution everyone: Be sure to get clean (bathe) on a regular basis. I know water may be scarce. However, if we don't bathe a few times a week, at least, our clothing will eventually cause abrasions, which will cause infections. In a SHTF situation, we'll be short on medical solutions (eventually). It's way too important to keep yourself and your eating surfaces clean, so as to stave off infections. If you get sick, you will not be the only one to suffer from it. Others will have to care for you, and they may get sick, as well.
So, lets review: Poop in a bag/bucket and bury it. Stay clean. Keep your eating surfaces clean.
Next time: Entertainment for the kiddies.
And now, our moment of video joy--