tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post2024993745705142275..comments2024-03-28T15:55:53.792+10:00Comments on down to earth: Living a deliberate lifeUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-55762431983901836242015-03-12T20:57:35.844+10:002015-03-12T20:57:35.844+10:00I love this post. I bought a copy of Walden and am...I love this post. I bought a copy of Walden and am slowly working through it.<br />Living deliberately can be a way of giving meaning to the things that you don't enjoy by reframing them. Before I quit my job and whilst I so desperately disliked what I was doing I tried each day to come up with something positive about being in that job and how it was part of the journey toward my dream. (even if it was sometimes just the income) This way I felt empowered that I was making a choice to live each day deliberately. Not just a cog but someone with a plan and on a journey.<br />kxxRapunzels Wild Gardenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04273047547787107088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-37632853588648442382015-03-12T12:11:11.397+10:002015-03-12T12:11:11.397+10:00I think for my family (I am 30 and a SAHM, hubby i...I think for my family (I am 30 and a SAHM, hubby is 37 and works full-time, and we have 2 girls aged 6 and 2.5 years), in this 'child raising season', I just have the mentality of 'doing what I can'. We ARE limited by time and money (isn't everyone?!), but we can still adapt how we want to be living to suit our circumstances. I don't think living simply is an 'all or nothing' way of life, it IS more about doing what you can do with the resources you have, and what gives you pride and pleasure. <br /><br />I would LOVE to learn to knit and sew properly. It would give our lives a whole other level of simple living, and save us money in the long run, but at the moment it is impractical for me to dedicate the time to learn (and I know my 2.5 year old would unravel my hard work!) It bugs me that I can't sit and knit things like dishcloths, but for now I DO have the time to do 'what I can', such as growing fruit trees, and using the fruit to make jam. I CAN dedicate half an hour every few months to making washing powder from scratch. I CAN try our new recipes I find and figure out new ways of cooking and baking food from scratch to feed my family. <br /><br />For me it's a lifestyle, but it's not something that has an end point. There won't be a day in the future where I will have learnt and mastered and applied every single aspect of 'simple living', because there simply aren't enough hours in anyone's day. <br /><br />That's my thoughts on that subject anyway ;) <br /><br />Rhonda, I thought you may be interested to know, I've joined my school's PFA committee and we are hoping to do some different fundraising for the school this year (it's previously just been icy poles and pizza) mostly with 'special order days' where we have a product (eg, home-made muffins) for sale for morning tea, but they are pre-ordered so we don't end up with left overs and wasted money. Part of my job was to source a recipe, and then figure out its costings. <br /><br />I grabbed my copy of Down to Earth and used your 'basic muffins' recipe and calculated how much they each cost (dependant on different flavours) and what could we sell them for etc. Here are my findings: <br /><br />All prices are from Aldi unless specified <br /><br />Plain, unflavoured muffins = $1.24 per batch (approx. 12 large muffins), or $0.10 per serve<br /><br />Blueberry = $1.24 + 1.99 = $3.23 per batch, or $0.27 per serve<br /><br />Banana & choc chip = $1.24 + $0.50 + $2.42 = $4.16 per batch, or $0.35 per serve<br /><br />Apple & cinnamon = $1.24 + $3.00 + $0.18 = $4.42 per batch, or $0.37 per serve<br /><br />Double chocolate = $1.24 + $0.11 + $2.42 = $3.77 per batch, or $0.31 per serve <br /><br /><br />Suggested pricing: $1.50 per muffin, or muffin and a fruit juice $2.50<br /><br />Basically, you're helping my daughter's school make a bit of extra money without out laying much (just some time from parents who want to help!). <br /><br />I hope that all made sense! :) <br /><br />Larissa <br />Larissa Jadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03358389402166363168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-62782727877814228592015-03-12T09:05:17.259+10:002015-03-12T09:05:17.259+10:00I have four children, so simple isn't quiet an...I have four children, so simple isn't quiet and not always easy either. The hardest part is outside influence. Explaining time and time again why we make the choices we do and why we don't go maintream. I firmly believe though, that is deeply important to aim to live according to ones values and that our children will benefit greatly as time passes. I want them to know who they are and what is important to them. I want them to dare to live the way they feel is right in their hearts, regardless. Deliberately living according to ones values. You said it perfectly. I had to smile the other day. When the post came, my youngest opened the box and sighed; "Oh l do loathe these commercials! All they ever want us to do is waste our money on stuff we don't need atall!" Bless him. For me, living deliberately is all about seizing every moment. Loads of stuff is useless, time together is priceless. PamWinkel's Crazy Ideashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17934679165455175289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-19209005257817038312015-03-12T08:41:27.745+10:002015-03-12T08:41:27.745+10:00I ADORE Walden. My old, well thumbed, dog eared co...I ADORE Walden. My old, well thumbed, dog eared copy has travelled with me across the country, and is one of the few books I will never give up.<br />I drink in Thoreau's words when I need to remind myself of the life that is waiting for me in the (hopefully) not too distant future, as our son takes his tentative steps out into the wide world when he finishes Uni this year.<br />A move to a (more) deliberate, sustainable life is where hubby and I are headed, then.<br />Oh, to have a large medicinal herb garden again - a deliberate decision made years ago, to treat myself with herbs rather than synthetic pharmaceuticals, and, one that has reaped great benefits.<br />And to pluck seasonal veggies, fresh and free from pesticides.<br />And, to once more, have dear hens clucking in the garden as we did long ago.<br />These thoughts keep me going.<br />And, your blog here is very inspirational, Rhonda. Even though I rarely comment.<br />Your books are also on my wish list. I know they will be of great value :)Vickihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16023748614942747415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-50347943540639238772015-03-12T06:19:12.149+10:002015-03-12T06:19:12.149+10:00Thankyou for sharing this today. I bookmarked Wald...Thankyou for sharing this today. I bookmarked Walden and will definitely take a boo. It looks like it would be something to read when sitting quietly and alone. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01843191953051910068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-42773023768029653172015-03-12T06:06:10.246+10:002015-03-12T06:06:10.246+10:00Hi Rhonda,
I think this was and is a great post! ...Hi Rhonda,<br /><br />I think this was and is a great post! I have asked exactly the same question: whether a simple life is more difficult to realise when you have children. What if one of those children has additional needs or requires complex care or therapy which is time-consuming, very costly and/or stressful? What if extended family live far away and you mostly do all that's needed by yourself?<br /><br />For me, when things are this much more complicated, it is the very simple things in life that offer a little respite, a A walk in the garden to pick some vegies, making something homemade to nourish everyone's body and heart, a little bit of knitting thrown in if it's possible to catch a moment in time for it.<br /><br />I'd love to hear how others with children who have additional needs incorporate simple living into their lives too.<br />Ellenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06441945773198923228noreply@blogger.com