A Simple, Frugal Life

 

I was watching one of my vlogs awhile ago and was slightly shocked when the woman who does it, said they were living an antiquated lifestyle by being frugal, living simply and mindful.... What!!

I have never thought that way as doing those things, while second nature now, I still am considering myself a beginner on the journey. It really seemed to me like she was not aware that being frugal, living a simple lifestyle and being mindful of what one spends is making a very dramatic comeback. 

There are lots of news agencies now posting ways to save your hard earned cash, ways to cut expenses and not feel deprived, and ways to make sure we are looking after mother earth. 

I am really not too sure of what she was getting at. She kept on and on about living in the same house since 1987, planting a garden since 1990, wearing secondhand clothes and decorating their home with mostly secondhand good. At one point she mentioned that their table was 40 years old... The one I am using now was Harvey's Mom and Dads and bought in 1979, I love the table and since Harvey refinished it, wow. 

There is often a thought in my mind that many people think that living simply and frugally is doing without, or trying to one up another person. I feel that we can all learn from each other and believe me there is always something we can learn. 

I had never realized that living simply actually took a great deal of organization and planning. I don't mean planning when and how to go down to beat our clothing on rocks to wash them, but planning how to downsize, what is a need and what is a want, and planning maintenance on our homes and yards. I have learned to organize my pantry (need to do so once again), small maintenance tasks that I can do on my own, and even how to store dried goods and frozen. 

Learning how to use things up, mend, and substitute in recipes when necessary. These are not easy things to do each and every day, but all of us do them mostly without thinking about it. 

Take today for instance. You all know my back often gives me grief when I work and today Harvey wet down the perennial bed to make it easier for me to pull quack/crab grass and other weeds. Let me tell you the whole bed is over run with weeds and grasses of all types. While I relished getting my hands into the soil and actually getting them dirty, I found I could only manage about 30 minutes of work with rests in between bouts of pulling weeds. This means I only got about 1/3 of the bed completed, but I so enjoyed that time out doing something. Simple and fulfilling. 

I came in, had some leftovers for my lunch and after resting a bit, decided to finish sewing the skirt. Got that done and started on a dress. I did have to get up and walk around, but the pleasure I found in the hum of my sewing machine was wonderful and eased the fact that I am slowing down task wise. Guess I need to learn to be frugal with what I expect to accomplish.

I, made my way around the garden and one of the pear trees (the oldest) is blossoming, the cherries are budding out and the haskap bushes are putting out flowers. Our garden is awakening and that brings me a great deal of happiness. The kiwi isn't putting out feelers yet, but will be soon. 

Noticed lots of dandelions starting so I may go out and forage this upcoming week to make some dandelion salve. I learned recently one should add some Vitamin E oil as a preservative to those homemade salves and lotions.  

As usual I have had a frugal week doing all the regular frugal things. Tomorrow I will wash off my umbrella clothesline and perhaps on Monday I will be able to hang clothing outside thus saving more on electrical costs. 

Using up leftovers and cooking from scratch (well except for the day I was so sore and tired that Harvey said order in but we got a free add on of dry ribs that would usually cost us $16.00).

Sewing to use up bits of fabric leftover from other projects made previously.

Working on the embroidered quilt blocks from Mom to make a second quilt.

Cut up some old socks to use in the garden to tie up plants. These socks are so darned I would be darning over darning.

Baked bread, made desserts, walked to pick up a prescription. 

I will be walking to the bank later next week (we live in a very small city of 10K and during daylight hours there really isn't much to fear) and picking up my script. 

I am pushing off shopping a few days once again as we are going to go and visit Kris next weekend. Probably won't go shopping until perhaps Tuesday which is about 3 days instead of 2 later. 

So that's how my week has been, and my thoughts on living an antiquated life style. How do all of you feel about that designation.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.