Hey all,
Apparently, I stink at keeping this thing up, but oh well.  Life is an adventure and I don't consider it terrible that I don't spend all my time posting online.  Anywho, updates.  I just finished reading Tolkien's The Two Towers, there was a lot that I had forgotten so it made for a fabulous read.  A lot like visiting old friends.  My weight loss goals are progressing nicely and I weighed in today at 157 lbs.  Plus, I started the P90x videos, they totally rock!  Yea!  I'm back in Minnesota for the summer, single, working for my mothers business, rocking it out on Etsy.  It's a good time.

I started switching my cats over to a homemade cat food.  Our oldest cat went crazy for it and is enjoying his new meals.  His eyes became bright almost overnight and he's gaining a little weight, which is exactly what he needed.  My only female cat, Sadie, is doing a slow switch by getting the new food mixed in with her wet food dinners.  The young one in the family doesn't consider anything food that is not kibble, he'll be a challenge, but I'm up for it.  I am now a person that posts about her cats, joy.

I hope to spend the summer doing some relaxing, a lot of working, and a fair amount of time fixing up the house.  It's getting gray around the corners in the kitchen and that means a new coat of paint is in order.  Now, to convince my mother that painting is a good idea.  That's right, I live and work with my mother.  Actually, I really love my mother and we're making huge strides towards being roommates.  No weird Mom issues for this girl.  Don't get me wrong, I'd love to be on my own, but I'm only in town for 3 months a year and having the rent free time is quite nice.

Here's to more nice things!

Things I like.

Hey All!~

I want a dog!  And a cat, and some goats, and chickens, and my own land, and my own home, and a bunch of other things.  *sigh*  Anyway, my dream is to homestead on a reasonably sized plot of land and to have all of the pets/livestock listed above.  My major trouble with all these is choosing a breed of dog, but since I plan on rescuing one I think it will all work out fine. 

For cats I'm choosing from three breeds: Balinese, Oriental Short Hair, and Javanese.  They all have these great bat ears.

This is an Oriental Short Hair.  I can't get over those long noses!

Next on the list of eventuals is goats.  I've been looking at Pygora goats and Nubian Dwarf Dairy goats.  They are both small varieties, one is known for its fiber production and the other for its milk production.  I think it may be a perfect pairing for a small homestead.

Above are some beautiful Pygoras, below some lovely Nubian Dwarf Dairy goats.

Aren't they beautiful!
Okay, next up, chickens.  I've been thinking about some Barred Plymouth Rocks.  They're a good dual breed for eggs and meat, plus they are one of the oldest domesticated breeds and are supposed to have decent temperments.

Again, what beautiful birds! 

I realize now that I have forgotten the animal that started it all for me.  The one that first made me think that homesteading with livestock may be the path for me.  Angora rabbits!  I was looking for a pet that would allow me to pursue my fiber-centric hobbies and offer that special, hand made, familiarity.  I've been considering an English or French Angora because they shed their coats three times a year and they are smaller than German breeds.

So fluffy! 
I realize that with these pet/livestock choices I'll be spending a lot of my time brushing and tending to the other special needs of these wonderful animals.  I am so ready to start!
Unfortunately for me, I've got a long way to go before I can realize my dream.  Right now my dream consists of a mason jar full of pennies labeled House Fund.  It's alright though, I have a start and a great idea and a developing plan.  I look forward to seeing where life takes me.  *sigh*  Some day!

Lent!

Lent is coming!  Despite being a non-christian I think Lent is a great way to observe some of the rites of spring.  It's the perfect time to break yourself from the hibernation mode of winter and shake loose the cob-webs.  I've just been reviewing my ideas for this years Lent.  I try to chose things that make me healthier as a person and that have some basis in tradition.  With that in mind I've picked three things.

1. No Alcohol
2. No High Fructose Corn Syrup
3. No Meat

I've been giving up meat and alcohol for the last few years.  I want to branch out this year and get really crazy.  Hence, giving up the corn syrup.  I love soda, so this one may be tough.  Plus, I'm a condiment junky, so I'm going to have to get creative, but that's the whole idea.  To kick off my Lent time fun I'm going to go on a juice fast until I reach my goal weight.  I'm only five pounds shy, so I don't foresee this being a huge ordeal.

I've been interested in fasting for some time now and as I see it this is the perfect time to try it out.  I'm already giving up a bunch, and by starting with a fast I can kick some of my nasty food habits and feel like I'm gaining a lot when I go off the fast.

I've been trying to convince my boyfriend to celebrate Lent with me.  He continues to ask me what he should give up.  I'm sure I annoy him by continually saying that he has to pick something for himself, but that's kind of the point of the whole thing.

Is anyone else celebrating Lent this year?  And none of that "I'm giving up Lent for Lent" stuff.

Taking me back.

I am the paper bag princess, and I am going to rescue myself.  Okay, first goal;

1. Get to goal weight of 160 lbs.
2. Read all 100 books on my book list
3. Write in my journal once a day
4. Exercise at least 3 days a week
5. Eat healthier
6. Save money for life goals (pennies for a house, nickles for a car, dimes for a trip, quarters for clean laundry)
7. Complete homework on time

I think that's a good list, 7 is a good number.  I'm aware that a couple of them intersect, like loose weight, exercise, and eat healthier, but I don't consider that a bad thing.  I'm thinking of repetition more like a fail safe.  Now, to start working on my list, and to update this thing with my progress.  Woo!

New Goals.

Okay, it's been a while, I need some new goals!  I'm still working on my book list, although I'm moving slower now that I'm back in class.  What's a good goal?  I was thinking about starting an Etsy shop and setting myself to make at least one new thing a week.  That would be a good goal and it would benefit me.  I could set myself 15 minutes of yoga everyday.  Or something crazy like getting ready to backpack across the U.S. in a year.  I'm not sure what I'll pick, or if I'll pick a few things.  I would love some extra ideas.

Off to a good start!

I did it!  I started on my book list!

I recently finished reading 1984.  What a book!  I don't want to give away too much, so I wont play fast and loose with the plot.  However, I will say that I quite enjoyed the read in an appropriately darkly reverent way.  I can't help thinking that this book will change my general thoughts on many things.  The parallels to modern governments are many and I don't mean that in a good way.  Still, even though the overall feeling that I had while reading was one of failing hope, and I do love my hope, I am glad of the read and of the incites that this book offered.

Now, I'm on to reading To Kill a Mockingbird.  I read this one when I was in grade school under duress, and I can't say that I read all of it or that I enjoyed any of it.  That said, I'm glad that I'm looking at it with new eyes and I think that this time around I may change my original opinions.

Wish me luck!

First Christmas.

First Christmas is a success!  I was able to finish the gifts I needed to on time and now I've got a little spread before the next celebration.  My brother thought his katamari was very cool, and my mother loved her funny new slippers!  I'm so excited!  Plus, I made out like a bandit, which is no mean feat in its self.  Now, I've got to finish the hot pads for my father and grandmother, I've got to find the soap I made and pack it off to Uncle, and I've got to make the boyfriend some of those funny slippers, and then I can work on a gift for myself!  I'm so excited to start on my hat!  Also, I'm crazy, because I offered to make a friend of mine one for Christmas, but I'm going to give myself some lee way on that one. 

Equally exciting, I got the first five books on my 100 book list for Christmas!  I started 1984, by George Orwell, this evening and I'm tearing through it.  I'm so happy to be reading for fun again!  Wee!