Back to Basics

Back to basics. That phrase seems to be in vogue right now. What does that mean exactly and why is it becoming so popular? Americans everywhere are waking up and realizing that we can't keep going in the direction we are going without hitting a brick wall. Somethings got to give. Not only at the national level but at the personal level as well.

What are the basics of life? Our needs. For me it is God, people to love, good food, a roof over head, and medicine when I am sick. Everything else is extra. As Americans we seem to focus a lot of our time and energy on that extra stuff. 

We are time starved. You never get any more time. When it's gone that is it. Yet,we spend it in persuit of things that will never make us truly happy. And everything suffers because of it. We are too tired on Sunday mornings to get up and go to church. We're too tired to pray. We're to tired to learn. So, our faith suffers. We don't have time to spend with our families, so our marriages suffer. Because our marriages fail our children suffer. We don't have time to cook a good home cooked meal so our health suffers. We don't have time to clean our homes so they suffer. We don't have time to garden or cultivate good relationships with produce stands, butchers, and farmers so our food supply suffers. We don't have time to volunteer so our communities suffer. We're too tired to think and we don't have time to care. Our time is wasted.

Because we are unhappy we try to throw money at the problem. We try to feel happy by seeking entertainment. We give money to different industries that have been created just for this purpose. Cable T.V., the movie industry, the music industry, the porn industry, the video game industry. When were done with that we try to relax with some retail therapy and a quick bite (because we don't have time for much else) from the food industry. We pay for pills for depression and therapy. Then it's back to bed because we have to get up in the morning and earn some money so we can start all over again. Money (and the entertainment it buys) is not evil. But, mistaking it for happiness will cause you grief. This is the "extra stuff."

Since we've already wasted our time and we have all this "extra stuff" all of our resources are tied up in maintaining the lives we have created. Why am I a part of the back to basics movement? Because I realized that I was suffering.

We have to learn to embrace our suffering and let it move us onto a new path. People are afraid of suffering. But, without suffering there would be no reason for us to change. It helps us to better ourselves and to shed bad habits. It helps us to learn new things. It teaches us to empathize with the suffering of others. Because it teaches us it is o.k. to reach out to others when we are in need and in turn we help them when they need us. In short, it helps us to grow up.

Think of the people who lived through the Great Depression or the Second World War. They were strong people. All at once self reliant and they had a strong sense of family and community. They were "the greatest generation". But, they didn't start out that way. They were wounded and their scars healed and made them tough. They grew up and learned. And when they got knocked down they got up and stood taller then ever before.

The back to basic movement is going strong because like our great-grandparents. We've learned from our suffering. We've found a need to reassess things. We need to change the ideas of what it means to be happy and secure. 

We're getting back to basics. 

The Lenten Season and Maple Sugaring Time

March is a busy time for us. But, its a good time too.

I actually love Lent. If it is March that means it's Lent. And Lent means fish fry's at our church. We walk down to the hall every Friday during lent. The fish is great and the people are too. It feels like a real community. But, my love of Lent doesn't end at the fish fry's. 

 All of the customs of Lent help me to remember God more throughout my day. I pray a little more and it really sets the pace for the rest of the year. I've been trying to remember to pray even while I'm working on something. Sometimes when I get busy I forget. And they say that's when you need it most. I never would have thought I could learn to love a time that centers around fasting, prayer, and alms giving. But, I do. 

We just finished the first harvest of the year. March is maple sugar time. Every year we tap the trees in our front yard. We fill buckets full of sap, and when we get enough, it is all boiled down into syrup and sugar. Boy starts it outside but, when it gets to the syrup stage we finish it off in the kitchen. It makes the whole house smell delicious. This was a very good year for it. We have over six pounds of maple sugar in our cabinet and I have 1/2 a gallon of syrup in my fridge. It didn't all come from our trees. Boy and his cousin get extra sugar for us by volunteering at the county park. Our family is a little sugar crazy. We even went down to the Maple Sugar Festival in Southern Indiana.

If your wondering what on earth I am going to do with 1/2 a gallon of syrup, well I'll tell you. I'm going to eat it. It isn't just good on pancakes. Its good in yogurt, oatmeal, drizzled on bread, brandy (yeah, that's right) , and a new recipe I fell in love with called pumpkin griddle cakes. As for the sugar, most of it will be used for our group at various French and Indian reenactments that we do throughout the year. But, some of it will wind up on pork loins... And, some is going to go in my tea. Don't tell. 

 Boy does theater with the kids at school. The end of March means that it's showtime. It starts in November and he finished up just this past week. It means the end of lots of long workdays and long nights. I'm happy to have him back at home. 

The end of March also signifies that my daughter is going to be one year old. Amazing. 

The Great Thaw

I woke up late this morning and I could hear birds outside of my window. The baby was still sleeping beside me. I laid there listening. Something was wrong. The light in the room felt different. So, I got up and  pulled the curtains back. The snow had melted, leaving little white islands in a sea of brown mud and dead grass. The thaw WAS here.

A gray squirrel ran across the sidewalk, carrying something that resembled a chocolate chip cookie. I realized I wasn't wearing my glasses. He crawled up the side of a maple tree, found a branch and started munching away. I breathed in deeply, spring was coming, I could smell it. Binker woke up and I carried her from room to room, opening the windows. I wanted to blow the stale winter air right out the windows and let in a little springtime.

I can't help but, think of my husband. He works in a building that is sealed up. You can't even open the windows. The same stale air is recycled through the vents. Over and over again. Day in and day out. He works in a ziploc bag. It's inhuman, especially, on a day like today.

I realize my celebration is a little premature. I know better than to assume winter is over. But, I am so happy to get a little break from old man winter. And, just like the squirrels and the birds, I feel like I need to move. Something I haven't felt in awhile.

 I can smell spring.

Hibernation

This winter has been a strange one for me. I have often coveted a bears ability to remain inside through the cold. I could picture her there all warm and snug in her den. Not truly hibernating, but, just being dormant and only coming out on the warmest of days. Because, I'm now a stay at home mom, I've finally been able to do just that.
 No cursing the snowstorms, no cleaning off the car in the morning, and no white knuckled, butt clenchingly cold ride to work (my car didn't have heat). I love it. While the rest of the world wages war against old man winter, I can stay in my warm little house and watch the snowfall.
After all the rush from the holidays things have been quiet. We've all been working on our winter projects. Boy is finishing up a new piece of furniture for the dining room. It's a buffet! I can't wait until it's complete. I've been trying out some new art projects, reading, and trying to plan out next years garden. Binker is crawling now and she is quickly discovering the joys of solid foods.
But, before you hate me too much there are a few drawbacks. I'm alone with a baby, and sometimes a couple extra toddlers (I babysit), most of the day during the week. And because I spend so much time with little ones I've developed some odd habits. Like announcing to everyone, adults included, that I have to go use the potty.
 But, its a fair trade. At least for me. I'm happy for right this moment, snug and warm in my den. Let it snow.

Neighbors

I love Trick or Treating. Even now that I'm an adult and I'm the one passing out the candy. Trick or Treating brings everyone out of their homes and into the night. As a child it gave me the excuse ring doorbells and knock on doors I normally wouldn't be welcome at. Perfect strangers would look happy to see me and give me candy.
I like to think we live in a pretty typical neighborhood. Although, it's quiet here. Our neighbors to the north and south of us moved out within months of each other. And that was when I realized, we've been in our current house for over two years, and I didn't even know the people living only feet from my house. I would see them getting into their cars in the morning, or letting their dog outside, but, we would just sort of wave at each other. I suppose I "knew" the people who lived to the north of us. We introduced ourselves one time. Our neighborliness only went so far as politely pretending we didn't see each other running our recycling bins out to the curb, wearing only our p.j.'s. But, the truth is, I remember their dogs name but, not theirs. It's easy enough to remember a name, especially if you hear someone calling it from their back porch often enough.

Now we've received a fresh batch of new neighbors. So, I've been determined to do better this time. When the first pair moved in I made a point to go over and introduce myself. I really wasn't sure what to do. Do I take a casserole? On T.V. there always bringing new neighbors jell-o molds and welcome baskets. I didn't have any of those things. I took the baby. Well, if anything she's a wonderful ice breaker. Complete strangers will stop me on the street, if I'm carrying the baby. Some of them will even talk directly at me, others will direct all the questions at the baby in a singsong voice. "And who are you? We'll aren't you the cutest thing. Are we crawling yet? And, oh, those eyes... " Etc. Etc. Anyway, the meeting went well enough. In fact, not only did they tell me their dogs name but, theirs too. And during our garage sale they brought me over a cutting from one of their cactus plants I had been admiring. Bonus.
Then, the opportunity came up to volunteer and go door to door, passing out information about the Leukemia and Lymphoma society, and to collect donations. And to my surprise, I took it. Door to door anything did not seem like me, but, it was the perfect excuse to introduce myself to my other neighbors.
So, armed with a new sense of neighborliness, I packed the baby in her sling and I went around knocking on doors. To my surprise, no one called me Ned Flanders and slammed the door in my face. I actually got a few donations. Plus, I've had some nice encounters with several of my neighbors since then.
A women who lives in the house down the street, brought a new outfit over for the baby. She saw it on clearance and she said she couldn't resist. My neighbors across the street have two little ones. They let me borrow a car seat one day, when I forgot to grab the baby's out of the car before Boy left for work. I felt like such a nerd going over there to ask them. The only thing that convinced me was a vision of my baby in the cat carrier. But, they were really sweet about letting me borrow it. The husband even helped me get it in the car. I was so thankful, I gave them a loaf of homemade bread when I returned it. A few days ago, they saw me outside raking leaves and they brought over a whole bag of baby clothes that their daughter no longer fits into.
Last week, the for sale sign came down in front of the house on the south side. This time I'm going over there with some homemade bread. But, I'll still take the baby.
 

The Summer Knows

The summer smiles, the summer knows,And unashamed, she sheds her clothes;

The summer smoothes the restless sky,

And lovingly she warms the sand on which you lie.

The summer knows, the summer's wise,

She sees the doubts within your eyes,

And so she takes her summer time

Tells the moon to wait and the sun to linger,

Twists the world 'round her summer finger,

Lets you see the wonder of  it all.

And if you've learned your lesson well,

There's little more for her to tell;

One last carress - it's time to dress for fall.

- Barbra Streisand, 1971





From the movie "Summer of '42" 

It is official summer has come to an end. We're starting to get  squashes and small pumpkins from the garden. And the dog days seem to have disappeared rather quickly. The weather has been nice and cool lately.  This time of year is always bitter sweet for me. Autumn means Boy is back to work. The days are getting shorter. The blueberries and strawberries are all eaten up or sitting in ziploc's in my freezer. No more beach days, no more campouts, fireworks or parish festivals. Gone are days of  waking up, drinking coffee and sitting on the bed watching the baby wake up slowly,  while fighting over the crossword puzzle.

Bitter sweet though it is, I could never live somewhere that didn't have four distinct seasons. I love the feeling I get when the season's change. It's a process:
 First, there's denial (there's plenty of time to go blueberry picking again)
Then Second, comes the guilt (I should have started a fall garden this year and why didn't I
 weed more?)
Third, anger (Friggin' WEEDS!)
And then, depression ( Goodbye corn on the cob...*sniff*)
The upward turn, ( I look better in sweaters than I do in shorts)
Then comes reconstruction and working through, (No more mosquito's, awesome)
And finally hope, ( What kind of ridiculous costume can I force Sweets into this Halloween?) 


The changing seasons give me that ability to reflect on the past and still have hope for the future. Well, enough pining for summer. Time to look forward to autumn. I'm going to go eat some squash. 
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