I have a lot of stuff & how I deal with it

OK... I admit, I have a lot of stuff, but then again I have been married since I was 17. OK, not to the same guy but that's a whole nother story.

The House Elf called me a hoarder.  I am not but I looked it up anyway. You can walk through my house and when I have my house in order it's awesome but moving three times in a year and a half kind of puts a kink in that ability. So, I looked at; http://sodomesticallychallenged.com/hoarder/ and on her scale of five color levels I am a green. Check it out and see where you fall in this chart.

Green:

Structure and Zoning • All doors, stairways and windows accessible • All plumbing, electrical, HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) systems fully functional • Installed and functional fire and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors Animals and Pests • Appropriate animal control (behavior and sanitation) • Number of animals in compliance with zoning regulations • No evidence of non-pet rodents or insects Household Functions • No excessive clutter • All rooms being used for intended purposes • All household appliances fully functional • Consistent routine housekeeping and maintenance Health and Safety • Safe and maintained sanitation conditions • No odors (animal, food or natural gas) • Medications: quantity within normal limits; appropriately stored, current dates and child-proof lids as indicated Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) • PPE Optional • First aid kit, hand sanitizer, flashlight and insect repellent.

With a few "issues".... 

• my "garage" stuff: tools & nuts and bolts are in the kitchen or on the porch, waiting for the tool shed.
• My kitchen stuff: dishes, pots & pans, canning & baking equipment & supplies are all in totes in the kitchen waiting for the cupboards.
• My books are in boxes in the living-room waiting for the bookshelves that are in storage.
• My studio equipment is in boxes in my room waiting for a studio.
• Isaac & Alissa's stuff is in boxes in my room and the man-child's room waiting to be taken to them.
• Electrical: I need an electrician to come and figure it out. We bought this house as a half finished remodel. The electrical box has new breakers and all of the outlets and lights that do work that have been updated. There are still whole walls; one in the living-room and one in the House Elf's room, that obviously haven't been connected to the new box. We also need lights and outlets moved for the new kitchen design but this will have to wait till the cash comes in from the sale of the other house. 
• Plumbing: It all works but we have plans for a second bathroom and need to move it around a bit for the new kitchen design, again a money project. Remember I had to have a new well drilled, yes, I am still paying on that.
• Structurally: the back of the house needs to have the brickwork finished, all of the brick is around, I have been gathering stray bricks from all corners of the property since we moved in. This will be a spring project. There is a lot of little things that need to be done but that is why we got such a good deal on this house. 

These things are works in progress and not intended to stay that way.

Most of the things here in my house that the House Elf squawks about is a matter of opinion and taste. She hates anything that looks country and thinks my house needs to be stainless steel and glass topped. (Hello? Have you met us?) Btw: she HATES the color red I put on the wall in the living-room but it "feels" warm and cozy to me. 

So, as we have concluded, I am not a hoarder but I do hang on to things and I have a lot of things that aren't necessary, in "other" peoples opinion, like my apple, peeler, corer. Don't call me a hoarder because I have a tote full of jeans (Yes, one whole tote full) that has jeans in it that I can wear for any occasion; hippy campfire evening, yuppy casual dinner and drinks, work, a cob work day... and the pair I am wearing that I got when my oldest son was a toddler.... that's NOT hoarding, that's being thrifty, well rounded and prepared.

Since I am always trying to figure out why I do things I began a little further research and as I dug I found a bit of psychology behind "hoarding". 

• Trauma; neglect & abuse, physical brain damage (loss of cognitive ability)
• Loss; death of a loved one, abandonment & divorce 

Understanding Hoarding
Hoarding is the persistent difficulty discarding or parting with possessions, regardless of their actual value. The behavior usually has deleterious effects—emotional, physical, social, financial, and even legal—for a hoarder and family members.

Reasons for Hoarding
People hoard because they believe that an item will be useful or valuable in the future. Or they feel it has sentimental value, is unique and irreplaceable, or too big a bargain to throw away. They may also consider an item a reminder that will jog their memory, thinking that without it they won’t remember an important person or event. Or because they can’t decide where something belongs, it’s better just to keep it.

Hoarding is a disorder that may be present on its own or as a symptom of another disorder. Those most often associated with hoarding are obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and depression. 

Although less often, hoarding may be associated with an eating disorder, pica (eating non-food materials), Prader-Willi syndrome (a genetic disorder), psychosis, or dementia.

Also; we have a special needs child that hasn't the cognitive function to NOT be a "hoarder". If he has something in his hand and is finished with it his hand goes down and it falls where ever he happens to be and it is forgotten, forever & always, whether it is a toy, clothes or trash.... the psychology of this is pretty obvious too.

This is obviously where people need help.

https://challengingdisorganization.org/content/clutter-8211-hoarding-scale

Hoarding vs. Collecting
Hoarding is not the same as collecting. In general, collectors have a sense of pride about their possessions and they experience joy in displaying and talking about them. They usually keep their collection organized, feel satisfaction when adding to it, and budget their time and money.

Again; the Craft-room is a whole page onto it'self. I don't have time to go into that today.

 

About Me:

I was raised by my grandparents. My parents got divorced when I was three years old and my mother went back to school and my dad went to work. I guess it was easier for everyone for me just to be at "Mom's". There is a whole weird control issue here too but I am not opening that can of worms, at least not today. Here's the abandonment and trauma psychology issue.

My grandparents were married and lived together through the Great Depression which caused my grandfather to say, "Don't use all of that" about everything, all the time, over & over... for years. When I was married for about ten years I went to my bathroom cupboard and I realized had a dozen bottles of shampoo in there with about an inch of shampoo left in each bottle... and the echo's of "Don't use all of that." in my head. Once I realized what I was doing and why, I used all of the shampoo in the bottles and use things all the way to gone before opening a new one. This ran over into lotions, toothpaste, make-up. Let me tell you that part of the legacy ran deep. It took me a few years to recover from that one, I think,  I actually didn't have to buy shampoo for at least a year. More obvious psychology.

 Fifteen years ago, when I got divorced I was devastated. I packed up 20 years of my life in boxes. I was in mourning for a husband that didn't exist, for a life that had been and would never be again and it stopped me in my tracks. I moved into a house and I unpacked the things I used daily, pots & pans and the like but the things that were part of my "past life" stayed packed away, crouching in boxes in the basement, taunting me with memories. My whole house was packed in a few short days by three of us, just grab a box and fill it, that was the objective, no sorting or even writing on the boxes, tape them shut and move on.  As the years went by I began going through the boxes that I had no idea what was in them or I what memory it would invoke when I opened it. It took me about 5 years after my divorce, before I opened the last box and sorted it. The psychology of this pretty much speaks for itself. 

I use things the way they were intended to be used, I don't use a kitchen knife to open a can of paint, I use the paint opener for that, so, I own another thing. I have a couple of round nose shovels for digging, one flat nosed for scraping, a heavy metal snow shovel, a light big flat snow shovel, a couple of short pointy shovels, hand trowels, a rectangle shovel for digging trenches, does this mean I am a shovel hoarder? No, it means that I have collected what I need when a project arises and I have taken care of it and I still have it, duh! That is pretty much how I got cookie sheets, cake pans, bread pans, muffin pans, wine making supplies, craft supplies, gardening supplies, and all the other stuff I have. That's not hoarding, that again is getting what you need and using it as you need it. The other day, as I looked around, I asked my husband, "Do you think I am a hoarder?" He looked at me and grinned... then he said, "No, You use everything you have." Thank you very much!

When I moved (in my past life) from Indiana back to Michigan I filled two 4o foot semi's with my life. when we moved back here I filled a 20 foot truck and a 20 foot storage unit. (The equivalent of ONE semi). In those years I cut what I owned by half. Read on to find out how.

When I lived in a house with closets and shelves and a garage for tools and Christmas boxes and everything had a place, I began teaching a class. This class was called the "Gentle Art of Soul Crafting." This class was geared towards women being taught by woman, the idea behind it was that years ago woman were taught by the older woman, neighbors, sisters, mothers from their community in all things, from how to deal with a colicky baby to what to use on your hair to make it healthy, how to craft and cook and all these things that quite a few woman's spirits' hunger for but in this day and age. In an age where people move far from where they were born and do not root deeply this class became a solid foundation for a beautiful circle of women. 

One of the things I taught was organization of stuff. 

72 Hour Survival Bag

Putting together a Basic 72 Hour Survival Bag One Step at a time.

I like to do things step by step. That is why I am putting this step by step building of a Basic 72 Hour Survival Kit together. I am going to add items for you to get for your Basic 72 Hour Survival Bag one or two at a time. If you want to skip the weekly posts you can jump to the bottom and check out the FEMA pdf that lists everything.

Week One

• Choose a good sturdy gear bag, backpack or heavy duty suitcase on wheels.
• Water, one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation.

FEMA 72 Hour Survival Bag

Sweet Violet Syrup and other Recipes

Who are the violets now That strew the green lap of the new Come spring?

                                                                      Richard II

Within Christian symbolism the violet stands for the virtue of humility, or humble modesty, and several legends tell of violets springing up on the graves of virgins and saints. European folktales associate violets with death and mourning.

The leaves are tasty both raw and cooked. They are a wonderful addition to fresh salads for a vitamin boost. The flowers are sweet and tangy, and make a gorgeous garnish on salads and desserts.

Medicinally, violet is a gentle but potent remedy. It is classified as an alternative (or "blood purifier"), which means it helps the body restore optimal functioning by aiding metabolic processes, especially the elimination of waste products. Violet stimulates the lymphatic glands, helping the body get rid of bacteria and other toxins. It is especially useful for swollen glands. Over time, violet can help clear stubborn problems like eczema, psoriasis, and acne. Taking Violet after a long winter is a wonderful way to get our bodies ready for a healthy and energetic spring.

Violet also supports the immune system, helping to clear infections of all kinds. Soothing and cooling, it helps reduce fever and inflammation. It can be useful in treating sinus infections, bronchitis, sore throats and coughs.

Violet leaves can even help to shrink tumors and cancers. They are most effective when taken both internally and used externally as a poultice. They are also helpful in clearing up other growths and lumps such as cysts, mastitis, and fibrocystic breasts.

Making Violet Syrup

The first step is gathering violet flowers.  Fill a one quart canning, packing loosely.

Pour boiling water into the jar, over the violet flower and filled it to the top. Put a plastic lid on it and let it sit to cool for a while. Once it was cool enough to handle put it in the fridge to cool over night. 

Strain the water from the violet flowers using a fine mesh strainer, measuring and pouring into a large kettle as you go along.

I averaged about 2 and 1/4 cups to 2 and 1/3 cups from each one quart jar I strained.

Use equal amounts of sugar to make a light syrup. You can use any kind of sugar you like. I used raw cane sugar to make my syrup.

Add the sugar to the strained liquid and bring to a boil, continue on a light boil for 10 minutes. Remove from heat.

At this point you may either preserve your syrup in canning jars according to the manufactures instructions or you may put it in a clean and sterilized jar or bottle of your choice to refrigerate for near future use.

You can use your Violet Syrup over pancakes, scones, waffles, you can add it to your tea, or use it on Derby Day and make some Violet Julips.

Violet Julip

1.5 ounces bourbon

1.5 ounces Violet Syrup
1.5 ounces lemon juice

4-6 Violet flowers

To a tall glass add bourbon and violet syrup. Fill with crushed ice and garnish with violet flowers. 

In the same fashion you can make
Violet Vinegar.

Fill a pint jar, loosely packed, with violet flowers. In a small sauce pan heat a cup plus a splash more of apple cider vinegar to boiling. When hot remove from heat and pour in jar over the violet flowers. Cover with a plastic lid. Cool and place in a cool dark place from 1 to 6 weeks until desired color is reached.

Strain and decant into pretty clean and sterilized bottles.

Uses: 

• Full strength on a cotton ball is very cooling and good to relieve bug bites and itchy spots. 
• Makes a lovely hair rinse; assists in soap removal, can help control dandruff.
• Add 1/2 to 1 cup to bathwater for some softening, skin soothing and anti inflammatory properties. If you add Epsom Salts to the mix the synergy becomes more powerful; add equal amounts of both. 
• Dilute to half strength and store in a micro mist spray bottle in the fridge for sunburn.
• Micro mist spray on your face for Rosecea.
• Mix: 3 parts Witch Hazel to 1 part Violet Vinegar for after shave splash.
• Sooth tired achy feet in a foot bath.

Violet Vinaigrette

Combine:

• 3 Tablespoons light oil
• 2 Tablespoons Violet Vinegar
• 1 Tablespoon crumbled bacon
• 1/2 teaspoons chopped onion
• 1 teaspoon maple syrup
• salt and pepper to taste

Shake together in a covered jar and let stand for 20 to 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld together. Shake again and pour over salad. Recipe may easily be multiplied.

Note: Violet Vinegar should be stored in a dark cabinet as the light will fade the beautiful color. It will keep at least a year though the color is most brilliant during the first months.

Thank you for reading. I would love to hear from you. Please note that the information here is not to be used in place of professional medical advice from your Doctor. I am not a medical practitioner but a woman who loves nature.  Do you have any other recipes and uses for violets that I could add to this page? Do you like to use natural ingredients? What are some of your favorites?

Peace, Kirsten

Keep Scrolling for the Iroquois Legend of the Violet...

Many Moons before the white man came to the land of the Red Indian, there lived a young warrior who was the pride of his tribe; for dangerous deeds had he accomplished for the good of his people. He had slain the Great Heron that destroyed their children, and he had brought back from the Mountain of the Witches the healing roots that cured the plague.

Once when he led a band of warriors against another tribe, he saw in the lodge of one of his enemies a maiden so gentle and lovely that he longed to have her for his wigwam. But because of the strife between the two tribes, he could not buy her with quills of the Wampum Bird.

So after he had returned victorious with his warriors to his own village, he often thought of the maiden, and how, unless he could light his wigwam with the brightness of her eyes, he would no longer lead out his young men to battle.

At last he went forth alone, and hid in the woods near the village of his enemies. There he watched patiently for the maiden whose eyes had softened his heart.

He sang her praises so often that the little birds took up his song and carried it in their flight, over valley and meadow. The Bear, the Fox, and the Beaver heard him murmur her name in his sleep, and thought that a bright new flower had been born in the woodland.

With the calls of the song-birds, he wooed the maiden from her lodge, and lifting her, bore her away toward the hunting-grounds of his people.

But, alas! a suitor of the maiden saw her carried swiftly off upon the shoulder of the dreaded warrior. He dared not follow, but fled to the village and gave the alarm. The braves left him—a coward—in the hands of the women, and hastened in pursuit of the maiden and her lover.

They followed them over mountains and plains all through the dark night. And as the morning dawned, they found them in the forest. And when the braves saw the maiden, they were filled with anger, for she had plaited her hair about the neck of the young man, to show that she was a willing captive and had given him her heart.

Then her people, enraged at their foe for his daring, and at the maiden because she had deserted her tribe, killed them both, and left their bodies lying where they fell.

And from this spot in the forest sprang up the first Blue Violets. And the winds and the birds carried the seeds of the flowers and scattered them over all the Earth. So they did, that in the Springtime youths and maidens might pluck the little blue flower that breathes of constant love.

Spring has Sprung

So, spring has finally decided to show it's pretty face today, here in Southern Indiana (Zone 6b). I was outside bright and early, this is the first year for me to actually be able to do this since we moved in June 2014.  I have been growing in pots and tried to create a raised garden which ended up being too shady for all the greens that I planted in it. (The garlic that over wintered there looks good and should be ready in about April) The pets played outside and enjoyed the sun too, I will show you some more of them as we go, the above picture is Silver, she is a very loving young cat.

Today I began digging a new garden spot to concentrate my herbs in, it's in an area that has quite a bit of clay but a lot of humus matter that the little red worms seemed to like because they were in every forkful I lifted and turned. They were in every size imaginable and the large worms had nice sized clitellum (egg making sacks). If you would like a fact sheet on the red worms you can find it here at the Earth Matter website. I was happy to make new little red wiggler friends because when we moved I dumped my indoor worm farm outside in my "old" garden.

Zazoo walks back and forth on the fence watching over everything and everyone, here he in in stalker mode.

Above is the columbine and to the right is the row of marigolds and the radishes. You can see the chunks of clay in the soil along with the leaf litter that I have been mowing with the lawn mower and just turning into the garden area.

I am still working out where gardens and walks will be. I spend a little time staking out my chicken yard fence so I can live within these boundaries and  see how they work before I actually get the fence up. The chickens are roaming the whole yard at the moment but this needs to end quickly because they kept coming to my newly turned garden area. I did turn some soil for them to play in away from the new garden but when I came back to gather up tools I noticed there was a fresh wallow on the marigold and radishes.

  Elsa roamed in the sunshine today too. This was her first real play outside day since her surgery when she was spayed. She wasn't interested much in me so I didn't get any pictures of her beautiful eyes while looking at me.

The man child came home from school just in time to help me plant the garlic, gee, you'd think I planned it that way. It was so nice that he was eager to help out. I have a feeling school will be getting hard to go to soon. He was excited because they are offering swimming lessons at the YMCA and he's signed up to go.

Good job planting the garlic!

Nice and evenly spaced all in a row! 

Here is the man child letting off some after school wiggles by sword (stick) fighting with bad guys (the tree). I love the nice weather when the boy can get outside and run off that steam instead of saying, "can I watch tv now?". It's easier to distract him from it when he's outside than it is when he's inside.

Here is something that might make you giggle. After we planted the man child wanted to do a little bit of a photo shoot so while he was off to get his cape I wandered out into the back yard and was delighted to find this stripe of lush green grass that was warmed by the sun.



So as I lay down and wallowed in it a bit I started thinking about it... I sat up and looked around and began to giggle, this must be where the septic tank is. You know what the old saying is, "Life is always greener over the septic tank."



Then I had the man child lay in it so I could take a picture.

Nothing quite says, "Spring" like a boy in a tree.

Christina

Raffe

Maddox

All in all it was a very good day and I got to spend the end of it with my hero!

   

Peace,
      Kirsten

Bird Feeding Zone

When we moved here we put a lot of stuff in storage and my gardening things were some of them which included all of my bird feeders. Now I have some really nice ones so I acquired one more... but when it didn't seem like the birds realized it was there I knew I needed to have more feeders. I looked about and came up with some ideas that could get me through and this is the first one.                                                                                                                                                                      



 I used a large plastic pretzel container I had saved and then I found this plate in the camping box, it is also plastic.


I put three holes in the bottom equal distance apart using a high heat glue gun and a paring knife. I then put some Original Gorilla Glue on it and weighted it down with a heavy book.


The next morning I reinforced it with three self tapping metal screws. I wrapped the top with 20 gage wire to hang it up with.





 and filled it with Black Oil Sunflower Seeds.

I hung it out in an oak tree and the birds began to come.


If you build it they will come.

Tuffed Titmouse

Cardinal

 This is a dark eyed Junco (male)

 This is a Tuffed titmouse again

This almost looks the same but then again it looks different.

Predators: Remember to hang your feeders high when planning your Bird Feeding Zone.

The Chickens have found the Bird Feeding Zone too...

This cardinal has taken charge over this feeder, he has been chasing the chickadees away when he feels like feeding. That is why I filled the second feeder so they won't have to go too far while he is around.

I have really enjoyed watching the birds over the last few days. As I see more birds I will add them to the page as they come along. Also, this is just a spur of the moment Bird Feeding Zone. I will plan one out this winter and create it in the coming summer. Please share with me any and all your birding secrets.

Peace, Kirsten

I got some of my bird identification from wonderful this page.