24 June 2007
Having a lovely weekend. Actually, I've been having one good day after another since I returned a week ago. I think it's that pleasant combination of hard work + new project + little grey cat. I went to the farmer's market yesterday and came away with lots of goodies.
Five days into the shopping moratorium, and it's going smashingly well. I did have an hour or two yesterday where I couldn't decide what I wanted to do, because what I felt like doing was going to the shops. Two revelations so far:
-- Shopping has become an obligation. I feel like a ought to get out of the house, and so I ought to go shopping. It's not always a 'pleasure' thing; sometimes it just feels like one's (ridiculous) duty. By taking shopping out of the equation, I'm left feeling much more free! I was floating around the house on Thursday, playing with the cats and tidying things up, and I realized it felt like the weekend. All my time is my own, to do useful things like sewing and walking; I don't owe any of my time to the shops. Does that make sense?
-- I'm not really doing this experiment to save money. It would be nice to have more money to squirrel away in savings, but I don't feel like I need to scrape together my pennies. That said, I will be saving money by doing this. I was at the co-op on Friday, and I realized that not spending my money on 'manufactured needs' (new clothes, gadgets, etc, etc) means that I can instead spend it on quality food. Fresh mozzarella, fancy olives -- things that I really will enjoy but usually do without. To me, this is a huge bonus -- and makes me think I'll have to continue my experiment for much longer than one month!
Look, look -- my first harvest! One head of broccoli, plus four broccoli-coloured caterpillars. I will have this broccoli with my lunch; the caterpillars went back outside. I hope they turn into lovely butterflies and not, er. . . . bees.
I expected to feel very triumphant about my first garden feast, but it wasn't enough of an effort! I just put the plants in the ground and watered them every day -- they did all the work. Here it is still in the garden. You can also see a soon-to-be-red (but currently green) pepper, if you know it's there. Maybe when I'm under a pile of homegrown tomatoes, zucchini, eggplants, etc, etc, I'll feel properly satisfied.
One last photo -- the cats keeping an eye on the neighbourhood squirrels. Apart from an occasional hiss when they startle each other, Booty and Beany have really been getting along. What's more, they appear to be playing together. Lots of galloping around the house (at five in the morning) and games of under-the-table-on-top-of-the-table. That was my great hope when I got a second cat: that Booty would have somebody to play with -- so it warms my heart. Beany has even cuddled up to Minnie a few times now, which seems to make Minnie slightly uncomfortable -- she knows that this one has pins and isn't to be trusted!
Beany is adorable! I'm glad he's getting along with Booty.
I went to the farmers market yesterday and came away with a large haul of veggies and flowers. It's nice having it now as a Saturday morning ritual.
posted by sara at June 24, 2007 06:12 PM
What I'm curious to know is, do you still keep the cat dish in your china cabinet? I was fascinated with the idea and wanted to copy it, 'cept my kitties are rather sloppy diners and so there is always kibble scattered around their bowls. Does Beany dine with Booty in the china cabinet?
PS. I love your blog!
posted by jean at June 24, 2007 08:36 PM
It's nice to see Booty and Beany get along well. Reading your entries makes me wish for a cat even more than normally, but I live in a flat on the second floor without balcony so I'm not allowed to have one.
Your no-shopping-project and the first entry about it made me think a lot. I realized days jsut melt and so far I did not even realize there was the beginning of summer and how much I waited for this time for the year when I was still in school. So I started thinking, wether I have projects and what I can do to use the summer days for my happieness :) No I'm keeping a summer journal and so far it's fun to write in it.
For the shopping thing I simply can't join, because I discovered swap-bot.com and it's so much fun to make little presents for actually strange people. If shipping rates weren't that high *sigh* Perhaps I can reduce the swaps I take part in and join your project :)
By the way I'm reading your blog for quite some time now and it's so enjoyable for me to see there are more people that love being domestic and crafty. Keep up the good and inspiring work!
posted by Elisa at June 25, 2007 09:26 AM