Japan earthquake

  My heart goes out to all the Japanese people.  Living on the new madrid fault, I give some thought to earthquakes.  The ice storm two years ago, also gave me so idea of what it's like without electricity for a short amount of time.  I can't imagine what it's like to add a tsumani and nuclear meltdown.  My heart just goes out to people that have lost loved ones.  Loss of property can be unsettling.  It can take a long time to find normalacy again.
   My daughter's boyfriend has been in Japan since last fall.  We've been worried about him first because of the earthquake and now because of the nuclear reactors.  He is there helping out on a farm that teaches community leaders about sustainable agriculture.  I  think that mission would take a back seat to other work that would need to be done, but I don't know.  It's possible he could be come home early.  We just pray for his safety whatever happens.  And we send our thoughts and prayers to all the people in Japan.

Stuff continued

   My last post was posted actually before I finished it because I was trying to edit it.  So I thought I'd go ahead and finish those previous thoughts.
  Stuff- it just seems to take over.  After you're married with kids it's no longer just your stuff, it's also your husbands and kids.  It really seems to pile up.  Even if you want to get rid of things, it's really no longer in your control.  And often that's the big issue in all of this -control. 
   I regularly donate to Angel's Attic, the library and the recycling center.  I love to reuse or re purpose items.  I shop stores or go to auctions where I can buy used items frequently.  My mother taught us not to be wasteful, if she taught us anything.  My parents frequently moved and so they did not accumulate a huge collection.  I believe in thrift and making use of what you have.  I also believe if I own something it should be used and not saved for Sunday or a special occasion.  I love usefulness in an item.  That to me is what beauty is all about.
   So I am going to keep refining my methods and regularly donating and looking for homes for things that we need to get rid of.  Now if I could just convince my husband to do the same.

I've been thinking about stuff lately.  I have been watching American Pickers.  I love old things so I like the show.  Sometimes though stuff seems like it takes over.  You spend so much time taking care of it all and acquiring it.  It makes me tired just thinking about it.  On the show you see these people with huge barns, outbuildings and basements, full of all kinds of stuff.  It's great when they find treasures among all the junk. It's even fun to look through it all.   Some people are really attached to their stuff and have problems parting with anything.  We have a barn and a garage both containing alot of things and we have only lived here 16 years.  I think I can get rid of things but I do understand  emotional attachments.  I have trouble getting rid of any handmade gifts.