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. 

Public TV and radio

         I was just thinking over the weekend how much my weekends are enhanced by public broadcasting.  I love Car Talk and The Prarie Home Companion.  My husband loves Red Green and I like Kentucky Afield.  Weekends are almost defined for me by public broadcasts.  When I listen to NPR, I learn things that are applicable to my work and the world around me.  My kids grew up with Seasame Street, Reading Rainbow, Arthur, Wishbone and Clifford. 
    I know that funding of public radio and TV is on the chopping block right now.  I'm not sure if our tax money should go to support these broadcasts, but I know my life has been enhanced by them.  (Yes I am a financial supporter and I did contact my representatives about my wishes)  It's all a matter of budgetary choices and I'm not privy to the whole picture.
     On the other hand I'm planning on getting rid of my direct TV.  It costs almost 40$ a month for the basic package and I don't believe it's worth it.  Mainly I watch the large networks and I can get those for free.  Other shows can be watched on DVD's.  I try to relegate TV to a small part of my life anyway.  I know that I'm probably in the minority in my choices though.

New Technology

   Yesterday I went into the AT&T store and bought a new iphone.  I did this even though my blackberry works just fine.  That really goes against everything I believe in.  (Waste not, want not, use it till it wears out)  It's the way though now with new technology.  My two year contract is up, so I qualify for a new phone.  They had good deals on the iphone 3 too.  I'll be starting a new job and I need to be able to acess information easily.  My old palm wouldn't update anymore, so I was sucked in.  I put it off too, because I hate the learning curve involved with any new technology.  But I work with a great group of people and I know they will help me to learn what I need to.  And my daughters should be able to help too.  So I got an iphone 4 yesterday (the 3 did not have enough memory for my needed apps)  I'm a bit awed by the thing.  It can do alot of things.  I just hope I can get it to do what I want it to.  I hope my thought processes follow those of the apple engineers.  Sometimes I feel like an old dog trying to learn new tricks.

Wintertime

 I some ways I like winter.  I think of it as a nice break from outside work.  We have a puzzle we're working on and since it's dark when you get home from work your time outside is almost nonexistant.  The snow and fireplace makes the house cozy.  I  love to watch the birds at the feeders when I can.  I also can use my time inside to go through things, to clean and organize.

   But on the other hand I'm missing my outside time.  Mostly I miss the sun.  The days lately have been cold and overcast and depressing.  I long for a 50 degree sunshiny day when I'm off and can be outside.  I am slowly getting ready to welcome spring when it gets here.

Water

"The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and strengthen your bones: You shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail."  NKJV
    This is what I had in mind when I chose this title.  It calls to mind a lush, verdant garden in the springtime when everything is growing. I also think of all the bounty that a watered garden produces.  I have noticed such a difference in our garden produce when we water the garden.  It's larger, healthy and more abundant. 
    This is kind of ironic because I'm actively trying to drink more water.  It's hard to do because I don't like it too much.  Diet coke is more to my liking.  I know my body will function better though if I'm at least adequately hydrated.  If I can just make it a habit.