I had the cable TV downgraded to basic cable (four major networks only). Last week when it was raining a lot, #2 daughter asked me to watch a movie with her. The only thing on TV at that time of day were the soaps or shows giving prime examples of how not to live your life (tested 19 men to be the father). I told her to go pick a VHS/DVD out, she picked the Wilderness Family.
A quick synopsis is a family leaves the city hassle behind to go to the mountains and live off the land. It’s entertaining but not a very realistic set of movies - outrun a grizzly, tangle with a cougar and only get a scratch. But what I have liked about these movies is the idea that it can be done. I also like their enthusiasm, to awake each morning and find something new and amazing. Some people move to the country and try changing it to be what they left instead of trying to immerse themselves in their new enviroment.
So after having watched these movies, I was on the internet and saw on a blog “what ten things you would not be able to give up to go green.” And with my mind still thinking about the Wilderness Family, I wondered what I would not give up to go live off the land…indoor plumbing, computer, digital camera, Tylenol, possibly a washing machine of some sort, maybe the greenhouse and then I couldn’t think of anything else. Now the man could not downgrade more than we already have, take away his power tools and remotes and he would be lost.
The Wilderness Family makes it look so easy. In reality, there are days now with all the modern conveniences and tools that it gets discouraging looking at the to do list to survive. The price of grain and hay has skyrocketed. Sometimes I think it would be easier to just get rid of all the animals/gardens, move to the city and buy from the store-sort of doing a reverse Wilderness Family. It would give us hours of extra time-no barns to be cleaned, fence repairs, feed runs, hay baling, weeds to pull, canning/freezing, public transportation instead of a garage/gas bill. The kids could go to museums, plays and go to the zoo for an animal fix. The downside being, I would be on drugs or in therapy to deal with all the people and noise, the kids would be afraid to leave the apartment, and the man would be a couch potato. We would not be happy.
So after a week of playing chauffer with a gas bill to match Trailways, I awoke yesterday to eat a breakfast of wild black raspberries picked on the way to the garden. 
I may end up giving the paycheck to the animals and garage/gas station but those raspberries go hand in hand with this lifestyle and I think it even tips the scale in its favor. I may not give up things to live off the land but I can’t give up the land to go live in the city.
there but when I went to flick him up into the woods he rolled over 
and made his way on his own. #2 Daughter came inside to find that he was a Red Bellied Racer. 
I can not wait to try these so it was a great find on the first day of summer. I have to go check the large garden because I think I might even have a head of broccoli down there! Actually I now that the greenhouse garden is completely planted and under control, I have to turn my attention to the large garden, weeding, mulching and hilling.
The most adorable puppy ate the tip off one of my needles....the same set that the children broke two of ...so I have no spare to finish the second sock hence my knitting time has become my spinning time. I may even take the wheel outside and enjoy the day. 
To say the timing of this was a little off is an understatement! It was an Early Renewal Certificate....now here is the good part and plays right into my fantasy of being a customer whose business matters. It states "Want to know a secret?...this offer is just for our loyal subscribers." 
That makes my heart go pitter patter I am loyal to them but I have to wait. But it goes on to say how renewing now will save me money for more fiber! I feel so much better I am gonna let them know a little secret too. I am not renewing. Why would I pay for delivery when I get it later than I can get it in the store where I have the option of viewing it to see if it is even worth paying for? Am I being unreasonable and asking too much? Maybe... but I won't be waiting at the mailbox and I will be a happy ex-customer with even more money to spend on fiber.
It takes me a couple of minutes to work up the nerve to get in as it is still cold but then I don't want to get out.
6 miles/4hours. He had a blast but even with sunblock on received a sunburn from his shorts to his knee. This did not deter him from fishing Saturday evening. #1 Daughter and her boyfriend (for blog purposes we will call him Sir T ) came to visit and wish the man a Happy Father's Day. Sir T is a fisherman like the man so we had a picnic by the river while they fished. The man showed Sir T how to do some hookup with a hellgramite and Sir T caught one of the first cast! #2 daughters friends were put to work locating hellgramites! Isn't that what you would want to do when you go to a sleepover?! Well they did it because they thought Sir T was cute. So far as Sir T, the man has lots of fishing holes to show him, if he can keep up!
A much better companion to have watching you than say this...
The sound of cicadias and crickets are welcome. The sound of gypsy mothes munching away at the woods around you is not. It has been years since we have had them this bad....they were not missed.
Red socks for my daughters friend. When they were done, I washed them and took them outside to dry. I look up and there is my rose bush blooming.
Isn't he cute? I have to keep reminding myself that he is just a cute puppy. Why, you ask. Because after getting bored when the chicks wouldn't play with him, he decided to leave. 
And by leave I mean take off. I was back in the red because when I called him he stopped, looked at me and when I called him second time he went running away. I got the leash and went after him. He either didn't remember how to walk on a leash or decided he didn't want to because it was a fight every inch of the way back home.... He starts obedience classes next week. It better be a quick week because he needs to start listening before he grows into those paws. 
Florida uncle stayed several days with mom, went fishing a couple of times with local uncle and then went to NJ to visit his daughter, her husband and his grandkids. Early yesterday morning they all came back for a BBQ. The kids all went swimming in the river between thunderstorms and the adults talked and moved food in and out of the house between the same thunderstorms. It was an exhilerating, exhausting, and HOT day. They left about 8 PM so the kids would all have time to take showers and get ready for school tomorrow. NJ cousins have school until the 20th whereas we get out this week so there was some ribbing going on there!
Saturday had been a pretty good day also. We went to get feed, put a/c units in for a friend and stopped at the farmers market. We picked up some really great goat cheese, a Jaune Flamme tomato plant and a Black Futsu squash plant. I hope they end up as good as they sounded.
And Friday after having gone to Grace's for spinning (I knit) I came home, took out the wheel and spun! Definitely needed that. Then as we were going to get the pizza we saw a great wheel. The man told me to buy it but I maintained. I will however keep an eye on it as Idon't think she will get what she wants for it and will be more receptive to bargaining later! 
So yesterday was a great day, a perfect end to really good weekend. Nothing got accomplished but sometimes you need those down days especially when it is tapping 100 degrees.
the Mollis azaela, 
clematis,
and the blackberries are just starting to bloom. We will be making jam from those in no time.
There is one thing growing that I am not happy about and that would be the gypsy moths. Look at my poor apple tree. Last year we didn't have a big problem with them but I think this year is going to be bad. 
and a batch of strawberry jam 
because #1 daughter's BF wanted some and we aim to please. By the time we finished that we needed a break so we cut up the rest of the rhubarb and froze it. If sister is lucky there might be some left when she visits in August...if not she can take back a jar of jam! Maybe we can bribe some weeding out of her!!!!
#2 son walked in the Relay for Life on Saturday and nursed his blistered feet in front of the TV on Sunday. #2 Daughter had a friend stay over and I got some fiber work done. I ripped out the neck of the poncho and reknit it, then gifted it to my daughter's friend. I also started crocheting a doily pattern with worsted weight yarn for a small lapghan.