More cleaning and purging

After moving 13 times in 15 years, clutter hasn't ever really been an issue for us. Every 8 months, we move, and spend a month cleaning out all of the junk that accumulated during that time. No problem, right?

I knew it was going to be a challenge for us now that we've finally settled down. I was right. I am a certified type A personality. I *need* order and cleanliness. Multiply that by the fact that we have a home business and 5.5 children, and I really really need things to be clean and orderly. Reality check is that I just don't have time to keep things to the level that I would rather they be, I married somewhat of a pack-rat, and more than half of my children take after him and not me :)

However, I have made significant progress during my nesting efforts in anticipation of #6.

I cleaned out our master closet. I need to do so again and keep reducing the needless junk.

I tackled the huge pile of stuff that had made it's way to the corner of our room.

I dumped everything that didn't belong in our room in one pile, and dealt with all of it.

Yippee- that was 4 more bags to Goodwill (in addition to a box of junk I found in the garage), and a clean room again! Usually we're pretty good about not letting junk pile up in our room, but for the last year after #5 was born, it somehow just happened. We were both so happy to have our calm sanctuary back after cleaning it up that we agreed not to let it happen again. Master bedrooms that are a true retreat is something worth working for!

The power of music

The power of music
Those who have met me would probably describe me as a no-nonsence, get-it-done, realistic person. All of that is true, but if you peel back those layers you'll find that I'm really just a giant mush ball who is quite sensitive. I just don't allow the time to dwell and absorb. But music- those lyrics can just cut right though to the heart of the matter. Of course, it's not just the lyrics- its never the same just to read the words, but combined with the music makes a very powerful combination.

I love music. I was surrounded by music when I was growing up, and do so whenever I am alone- sewing or driving mostly. Even still, those opportunities don't come up very often!


I must have really been living in a cave, because I hadn't heard the Rascal Flats song "I Won't Let Go" Immediately I fell in love with the song, as I do any song that can make me cry. That's what its all about, isn't it? To have that person or people in our life who can hold you up in your darkest moments- who will be there to do what needs to be done when you can't, and clean up the mess (and tears). I've heard it many times now, and it still makes me choke up.

Then, I heard this one not too long ago- I was in the car with one of my girls, and I caught some of the lyrics, and quickly changed the station. I knew it was one of "those" songs. Sanctus Real - “Lead Me”
I came home and googled the lyrics, and I went weak. There they were- the begging of my heart for the past several years all written out. I locked myself alone and sobbed for a good half hour. Music is so powerful.

I saved off the lyrics and the youtube video of another song. I sent an email to myself, and titled it "for another time, another place" a year ago. Every now and then, I read off the lyrics and watch the video. It's so powerful to me that I cant allow myself to dwell on it- the story of where I wish were, where I thought I would be, and the reminder of where I am not, but the slow process of healing and the question of daring to hope: Faith to be Strong_ by Andrew Peterson.

The power of music to reach an emotional level that we aren't always willing to reach on our own- what speaks to us, tugs at our hearts, and makes us remember a time, place, or feeling. Very powerful stuff.

Now, back to my pragmatic self :)

Time to garden

The last 4 weeks have been a mad dash around here as we prepare hundreds of plants for our spring Master Gardener Plant Sale. It is one of the big events that the children look forward to every year. As well they should, the two oldest make hundreds of dollars each! Well earned, as they work hard from the beginning of Feb through April to prepare their selections from start to finish, and then interact with all of their customers closing each sell.

This year is our biggest yet. We have over 500 plants, and there really are more to do, but I'm not sure that we'll get past this many.

It's hard to keep this clan indoors for any length of time this time of year! Normally, the bulk of our homeschooling is done in winter and summer, but our winter was so mild that we only had about a week of inside-all-day type weather. That means we aren't taking as much time off in the spring as we normally do. Still, lessons are a bit shorter, and I don't mind dropping a few things so that we can spend as much time outside as possible.

We've built new permaculture beds. And by "we", I mean them, not me.

We were hoping the barn would be finished by now, but there was a 2 month delay on the doors, so that's still on the unfinished list. The well is another unfinished item, although we're still plugging away at trying to get that resolved. They will be putting new casing and screening and substrate in very soon. If that doesn't fix it, we'll be drilling a brand new hole.

We are enjoying the fruits of our garden to it's fullest! We have meals several times per week when we realize everything we're eating came straight from our farm. We're rich, indeed.

Dates on a Calendar

A year ago, I wrote a blog post about the importance of remembering and encouraging. Why, as a society, since the beginning of time we have needed and even depended on those things. It was a very eye opening thought process for me.

Life happens quickly while we work work work, and fill our time packed full with whatever we're doing. Rare indeed is the person who takes the time, energy, thought and resources to spontaneously show another person how much they mean to them. Easy it is to put more effort into the everyday than the more important.


As a homeschool mom of (soon to be) 6, work at home, home keeper, and home steader, I have plenty to keep me occupied. I found that I was putting myself always last on the list of people to take care of. I love to serve other people, and will go far out of my way to do so. I forget to do the same for me.


For the past year or so, I've made an effort to do a little something special for myself on those calendar holidates. Without that date, I wouldn't ever make the effort. I'd "get to it later", or "not worry about it". I find that I really look forward to the day, almost as if I would if I were celebrating it in traditional, commercial style. For many reasons, it is a good thing for me.


I didn't take the time to have my little shopping excursion on my own time, so I didn't get around to my dangley earrings and little treat that I had my heart set on. I'll get to it later, I suppose.

Meanwhile, I will continue my little tradition on the next calendar holidate. :)

Status Update

I'm way slower to get my goals completed than I'd like to admit to! The weeks are flying by. Of course, it isn't helping that I'm only getting one, or sometimes two good energy days per week. The other days are spent in survival and nap mode.

Never the less, I'm plugging away.

Here's my desk before:

And after 5 hours of filing things exactly where they belong:

The only thing left is a small order that is ready to be shipped out.

Next up: the cubbies and shelves above the desk. Since those don't have a big pile called "I have no idea what to do with this, but need to keep it", they should hopefully be much easier to conquer.

It is an incredibly busy time. We are sowing seeds, cleaning up gardens, preparing new gardens, and we have the barn project and the well project going on as well. Yesterday we had groups planting onions, cleaning out the barn, weeding the garden, making cheese, cleaning the craft room, sewing, and preparing for a freeze.

What about my 2012 goals?
1. About half the time
2. January was a complete fail, but I did make the menu for Feb. I haven't been that great at following it, though....
3. A constant struggle, but still working
4. ditto
5. Exercising 1-2 days per week. Not as much as I'd like, but better than nothing.
Slow progress, but progress none-the-less.

The landscaping around here is looking different!

First, the huge hole in my front yard is gone.

Next, a barn is being built.

Also, the great clutter and clean-out is under way!
I met my goal of 5 more (small) bags of clutter and trash out the door- hooray! Husband and the children spent a hard 2 hours outside cleaning a huge amount of trash up from the area around the house. Our huge trash can is full, which never happens, so I'd say that was a job well done.

Husband brought some more storage shelves into the garage, so it looks like I'm ready for Round 2 in there.

January Goals- cut the clutter

My biggest goal for January is to cut out a good amount of clutter in the house. Also, I still working on catching up a bit from my 3 months of first trimester ick.

I had gone through the trouble of embarrassing myself and taking a picture of the mess, but it seems to have disappeared.

In short, every counter top was completely covered and piled high with stuff that needed to find a new home, or be put away.

Here's the after: (obviously I didn't stage it!)

Everything still on the laundry counter found it's way to it's proper drawer, so it is all clear now.

To be fair, my wonderful husband actually cleared and scrubbed the two white counter tops. I dealt with the clutter and cleaned the laundry area. There's quite a bit still to do in here. When the barn is built, a lot more of the "stuff" will have a new home, and at that time, I will clean out the cabinets and drawers a bit more ruthlessly. Meanwhile, I had 4 small trash bags full, and 2 Goodwill bags that all went out the door- Woot!

I would also like to do some decorating in this room.

In addition to the laundry room, one large trash bag was filled from the cabinets in the mudroom, and from under the kitchen sink. (What on earth do I keep that stuff for, anyway??)

Two huge arm-loads of clothing was taken to the consignment shop, and another large, but half-full trash bag full of clothes was taken to Goodwill. I already feel lighter!

In light of the de-cluttering, husband asked me to stay out of his office!

My office is also being attacked, slowly, though....the baby can undo as fast as I can clean!

The unfinished project list:
Huge burn piles by the road are slowly being cleaned up.
history planned and purchased
worked on cleaning/organizing craft room

Goal for the week: 5 more small trash bags out the door
Get caught up on make-ahead kitchen items
make mint and oatmeal soap