if there’s one thing besides amazingness that you should know about my hubs it’s that he loves coffee. quad tall americanos left & right. i needed to open up some cabinet space & also wanted to make a few coffee cups more accessible… the space under the cabinet that holds the coffee supplies seemed like a perfect place to start! 4 brass hooks & one dollar later, ta da!

who knew that something so simple could make such a difference! we love the easy-to-grab mugs & you can find our coffee maker here. we HEART it a whole lot… here are a few other under-the-cabinet ideas… all via pinterest. of course.

arts & crafts…

so much easier to read a cookbook this way while working!

love this idea for hanging pots & pans.

genius.

smart, sweet & so usefull.

oh, & please share any under the cabinet tips you might have… the options are endless! be curious!

]]> http://maxedoutnow.wordpress.com/2012/06/24/two-days-later/ Sun, 24 Jun 2012 15:44:05 +0000 suzannegss http://maxedoutnow.wordpress.com/2012/06/24/two-days-later/

…beginning to load up stuff in a 17 foot U-Haul.

Do I have a sense of loss after letting go of so much stuff? What are my feelings and thoughts after letting go so much of my ”stuff”? I guess I should share some photos of the project. In the photos it all just looks like junk and garbage. Nestled in the boxes and clutter that we pulled out of my house is my history…so much of what used to identify me. It was a tangible evidence that I lived, I was here. In those piles are pieces of my career, family, joys and sadness, homes and places I’ve been. I can not underestimate what letting go of the stuff means and I think I’m still in shock. I do feel some relief for tackling this project, but I’m feeling a lot of anxiety and maybe some disconnect. I do dissociate to protect myself at times and I’m sure I’m doing some major dissociation right now…how could I not. I really haven’t shared what I did with many people…well only the people who helped clean this out, hired workers, know what was removed and what I let go of. Perhaps doing this alone was not the smartest way to tackle such a huge job, but I was worried it might be even more difficult if there were more minds besides my own, questioning what should stay and what should go.

It was difficult to take pictures of things, but I’ll share what I do have. We filled this U-Haul more than 3/4 full by the time we were done! (I’m having a hard time formatting this so photos are showing up out of order…bear with me.)

…beginning to pile stuff to load in the U-Haul.

This is the quintessential Deliberate Living Space.

Ron

Not that everyone can do that, but if you can get away from your possessions for any period in any way possible…I think it can be helpful. When I  returned I had a sense of detachment with what I’d left behind. Much of what was in the house lost its hold over me and the power of memories, attachment and perceived need was greatly diminished, if not gone. When I walked in I knew the first project I’d take on wasn’t a million things I might have usualy done…the first thing I thought of was gutting this place.

So, finding a way to back off, break attachments and gain perspective was a wonderful gift. It wasn’t something I had set out  to do, but it was a great side effect of what I did do.

Well today is a big test since what is in the garage has the most “ghosts” for me. I’ve always kept most of this stuff in my old studio and rarely saw it. I knew it was all safely tucked away out there and when I did go out to the studio the emotions were dizzyingly overwhelming…so I hope time/distance will have helped me with the garage as well. I’m just focusing on how well the house went and trying to hold on to that. It would be easy to let the fear overtake me, but that would really make for a miserable day.

It’s going to get very hot again today so maintaining stamina is going to be important…part of that is keeping my wits about me. We’ll see. I will take pictures of what we removed and perhaps where the house is now. The house still needs a good cleaning and more organizing and another phase of selling off some stuff. But I think it is livable now and I’m happy with that…just for today.

I have sold several items on Craigslist and we are planning a “progressive” sort of yard sale to help pay for this phase. A cleaning company isn’t cheap, but if you have a major entanglement of clutter I think having some professionals for a short period can be key. If you don’t know how to sell things on Craigslist, it’s really pretty easy to learn…if you know how to do Ebay…awesome! Don’t just throw stuff out…get it to people who will love and use your stuff while you earn. It will help with some of the emotions. By selling items, you’re not just tossing stuff, which can seem such a dismal and depressing end to the story, you can rehome and make a profit from your efforts.

Selling things is one reward system you can employ in the process and seeking out other rewarding outcomes will help offset some of the hopeless feelings that can arise. Even donating items vs. throwing them away can help and if you can use a tax credit make sure you donate to a group that can give you a receipt for your donation.

I’ll have to take some pictures today…I think sharing that will be helpful. Before and afters can help encourage I think. I’m feeling tentative but hopeful so let’s keep our fingers crossed. The people I’m working with are patient and empathetic. The owner recently lost a parent and had to go through their parent’s house to get rid of stuff and understands the pains and attachments and what “clutter” really means. Thank god for that!

So I’m finishing up the coffee phase of my morning. I’ll have a smoothie that’s high in protein and make sure I remember to eat small amounts throughout the day. Hunger and fluctuation blood sugar is an enemy of anxiety. Other things I’ll remember today is to take time outs if I feel overwhelmed. I have several activities I employ to refocus and settle anxiety. I like reading my Facebook page since that takes me out of myself and many folks I know post inspirational clips that are supportive of remaining calm and focused. I also have some simple games that I can take a few seconds to engage in and do successfully. I never try to do something I can do easily when anxiety is high. In those times, simple is best and succeeding easily is the name of the game. If the weather was cooler I’d take short walks just around the block (with my dog).

Now I also have a dog who stresses when things begin to be packed or moved around and I have to consider her in the process. I suppose it’s true that pets are a reflection of their owners…we share a lot of characteristics. I have to remember to give her attention and reassurance throughout the day and of course some treats. She’s a smaller dog and can get under foot so I need to remind people to keep an eye out for her.

Well wish me luck today and I’ll try to keep it together enough to do my writing. Doing what writing I did do yesterday was choppy at best, but it did help me start to sort through some root causes of anxiety that I have in relationship to my “clutter”. I know I will experience stages of grief after going through this so I’ve forewarned those around me of what I’m doing. I don’t need to hurt or entangle others in my little drama here. Well it’s not little for me….but  you know. I can expect my friends to support what I’m doing, but I can’t put them in harm’s way with some of my rocky emotions.

So today I will:
Write in my blog
Think of reward systems to employ
Eat a high protein breakfast
Remember to eat small meals today
Take time to defuse if my anxiety peaks
Communicate effectively
Pay attention to my emotions and not let them rule me
Pay attention to my dog

Like they say: Every journey begins with the first step.

https://sites.google.com/site/clutterersanonymous/Home/am-i-a-clutterer

Why are objects so important? What is the hold they have on us? What do these objects mean? And maybe the most important question is: Who, what, where, and what time in our life, do the objects represent?

You see, where the relationships, events, or ways of life may have gone by the wayside in our life’s journey, we carry with us not only the memories in our mind…we also carry forward objects with which we develop a kind of relationship, with attachments and all the meanings of what they represent. It’s complicated, so don’t underestimate the power “clutter” can hold.

When were surrounded by all the comfort, familiarity, and perceived permanence our clutter provides, it serves as a surrogate for that which is no longer physically present in our life. But our clutter is physically present and a strong relationship develops. We often think little, if at all, about the complexity of a small trinket, a ticket stub, a feather or memento. We look fondly upon it when ever we see it and it’s always where we expect it to be when we walk through the door. It offers consistency, comfort and permanence of sorts…all the things we got from the person, pet or way of life which we once experienced. With people, places and things long gone, the items carry on the ties which we as humans form with people, places and things. It’s part of our humanity…attachments are natural, necessary and healthy.

But at what point do we decide that perhaps these memories needn’t live on through the objects…after all who hasn’t heard that  “___ will live on in your heart and mind”?

Don’t underestimate the power of objects in our life, nor should we look negatively on the attachments we form with objects or why we’ve formed these attachments. When it’s time…we’ll deteremine when the attachments cause more anxiety than comfort and we’ll do what we need to do to deal with the attachments, when and if they become problematic. Only you can make that decision. It’s a deeply personal decision. It’s a decision I’ve made because I believe that too many of my attachments are causing me more stress than the comfort they once offered. My life has changed and so there are some other adjustments I must make.

My decluttering efforts terrify me as much as deciding to end a relationship would terrify me…because that’s what I’m deciding to do. And it’s not just one relationship I’m choosing to end, but many. While I’m well aware that the memories will always be there for me to access in my mind and heart…I fear the cutting of the ties to the physical reminders. Maybe I fear forgetting and even being forgotten. You see objects also represent us and passing them on to future generations and others serves to carry on the memory of us. It’s also about mortality. You see, the more you inquire about the safety of objects, the more complex you discover the relationship is. Why do you think we have museums and maintain historical sites?

But, for me, if I want to make new memories in my life I need to make both emotional and physical space for that to happen. I fear being stuck as much as loosing my memories and things that will carry on the memories of my personal history and even the memory of me.

Two years ago I moved from a 23 acre farm with multiple out buildings. I moved into a 700 square foot house with a decent garage and tiny lot in town. I was already emotionally shredded from having to give up my farm and home for 15 years. It was the first place I owned and I’d never lived anywhere longer than a few years and so much was in that place. So many memories, family heirlooms and my life.

Now I had gone through some major reorganizations and decluttering at the farm and while I had a lot of “stuff”, it all had its place and was in its place. I had room to store a lot of things and on a farm…well, you may need it. My whole story and way of life changed when I moved to town. Even disposing of things was complicated and expensive.

It’s been two years now and I’m making yet another attempt at cleaning and organizing my living space. I’ve done this several times since I moved here and still never made a dent. I had no idea how much stuff had come with me from the farm. Those other attempts were not small and several dumpsters were filled and many people have tried to help and still…”my cup runneth over”!

Six months ago I did something drastic. I don’t know exactly why or what I expected to accomplish. I put only what would fit in my Prius, locked the front door and took off on an indefinite road trip. I drove and drove. It was a sweet release from the anxiety and confusion I had also collected. My house, relationships, my life situation had all become overwhelming. So, I did something I do well…I just ran.

After visiting some old friends and checking out where they lived, I drove and drove and finally ended up in northern California. It felt right there and so I rented an apartment and unpacked my car. I suddenly was in a new place, with a new outlook and no “stuff”.

I’m 49 and two years ago my life was turned upside down. Several events lead to the upheaval and I really wasn’t prepared for where it would take me. I’ve always wrestled with varying degrees of anxiety, but the anxiety I began to experience just prior to the major event was more like a unremtting terror that was blinding and deafening at times. I just can’t describe it fully, but it was incapacitating and the paralysis that came from this degree of anxiety manifested itself in several ways.

So what I’m trying to work through on this blog is a major “house cleaning”. I hope this project will leave me with a reasonably simple and organized living space. I think that having a living space that doesn’t cause stress is a good place to start. So trying to go to the root of the issues that brought me to this point in my life is the strategy I will try to impose on myself.

I live in a small town that is far from any major city…so the help that’s available is limited and you just have to be resourceful and creative. And if I ever want to move forward as a counselor of sorts, I need to be able to help myself and resolve my issues before I can help anyone else with theirs.

I will share that I’ve nearly completed graduate studies in counseling at a state university and worked in the field on and off for over ten years. So, I’ve been on both sides of the “couch” so to speak.

I’ve sought a lot of help from various sources: medical, nutritional, spiritual…you name it, I’ve tried it. So, I’m thinking one of the sources of anxiety is a disorganized and overwhelming situation in my house. Not that addressing this will solve all of the issues I may have…but it sure couldn’t hurt.

I do believe that the state of one’s living space can often reflect the state of one’s mind. Cluttered, disorganized living space = cluttered, disorganized mind.

This time around, I’ve employed the help of a business that cleans out scenes of unattended deaths, and hoarding, etc. I try to seek some counseling to deal with the resulting anxiety and I do take some medication. I’m someone who’s family structure has been in disrepair for the majority of my life so “things” have taken on greater meaning than relationships. Having to get rid of certain items/mementos is nearly tantamount to breaking a relationship and so there is the resulting anxiety that is equal to breaking those ties. The anxiety I experienced the other day when I cleaned a closet, sorting items to donate. I got rid of some of the work clothing my mother handed down to me over 20 years ago! The panic attack was unreal and driving to the Goodwill shop was terrifying. So if I could barely navigate that experience, how will I survive taking on my entire house/garage?

we’d already decorated our wedding with them but here in the land of living small, we needed a solution. my list of projects for this château is long but i knew if it involved books, i had a better chance of getting the husband on board quickly {smile} & we had the perfect bookshelf sized nook to the right of our fireplace. i’d used it as an office space with an antique desk & shelves a while back, but lately it was empty, un-used space… & un-used space does NOT work when you’re living small.

i wish i had counted the books we used in our wedding… it was such a great reflection of us!

here’s henry doing his usual chewing thing in the space pre-bookcase…

after a lot of research & a few estimates my dad recommended a long-time friend of his. i sent some measurements his way & voila! he had it built-in no time & we set up a saturday for him to come over & install it. i was SO excited & stood close by the entire time {i’m sure making it more difficult for him to focus} i’d overestimated how “quick & easy” installing something like this was. it was cereal. cutting & ripping out baseboards, measuring & making holes in the casing for outlets we wanted to be able to use & lots & lots nailing. not to mention the finishing touches of filling holes, caulking & painting. carpentry is a fabulous art! here are some photos of it all coming together…

prep work.

going in! {excuse the paint, it’s finished now!}

complete!

it turned out more gorgeous than i expected & had ever hoped! the detail is perfection and we LOVE the solid adjustable shelves. i did decide to keep them evenly spaced to create some harmony since there’s so much going on in such a small space. our entire first floor is one large open room {foyer, living room, dining room & kitchen.} i was completely inspired online by books organized via color & used this photo to lead my imagination as i filled the shelves up…

now, here’s our finished product!

top shelves detail.

bottom shelves detail {we love having our Bose player hiding down here… oh & i’m aware that the wars aren’t in order. my husband asked for those to be rearranged… i love him.}

ta da.

do any of you have built-in bookcases?! i’d love to know how you arrange your books & whatnot! be curious friends!

What else can be said?

Lamar is such an interesting guy, and you gotta admire his independent spirit. His Simple Solar Cabin is surprisingly within the financial reach of just about anyone.

So here is Lamar talking about his cool little cabin.

“Basecamp – a main encampment providing supplies, shelter, and communications for persons engaged in wide-ranging activities, such as exploring.”

Nobody is more surprised than us. We’re buying and renovating a small, one-bedroom condo on St. Simons Island, Georgia, which we’re calling “Basecamp Gallivance”. The biggest surprise was that we really weren’t seriously looking for a house!

For years we’ve been casually searching for a small, inexpensive home base in the Southeast USA. The home had to be small, easily maintained, and capable of being locked up and left, so we could continue to travel. While living in a one-month rental on St. Simons Island, we stumbled across a little condo – a very low-priced foreclosure – that had always been a rental and needs a ton of work. The condo was vacant for over a year, and thanks to a water main break, it was flooded. Consequently, after the remediation company did their job, it has no floors (just bare concrete) or baseboards, has huge sections of missing sheetrock, etc. It’s truly a “distressed” property, but it has “good bones”, and will be a fun renovation project.

As to why we’re looking for a base, our approach in the past has been to buy a house or condo, live in it while completing the necessary renovations, and then sell it a few years later. We weren’t really flippers – we just liked experiencing new places, and taking this approach enabled us to live in lots of great cities. For us, each place lasted as long as it lasted. And fortunately, we’ve always managed to sell at a good profit – it’s helped us fund our travel all these years!

Previously, when we sold a house, the next step was to move all our belongings into a storage unit, and hit the road. This meant long US camping trips, RTWs, six-month trips living in Europe, etc. However, after years of this process … and many moves, we realized that what we really needed was a low-cost US base. We wanted to find an enjoyable place to live (and St. Simons Island certainly fits the bill!), that we could leave for long periods of time to go traveling.

So that’s the update from Basecamp Gallivance. We will continue to post on our blog about our travels, and will definitely throw in a few renovation posts. In the near term, our rolling backpacks will stop rolling, we will be enjoying life on St. Simons Island, camping out in our condo (sleeping on a blow-up bed), and finishing projects before we head out traveling again.

Happy Trails,
James and Terri

If you’re curious about our Letters from Basecamp Gallivance Series, these posts will give you a flavor … or look for Basecamp Gallivance under the top menu tab titled Global Cottage.

So It Begins
The Pace Quickens
Totally Floored
From Chaos to Cozy
Back in the Saddle
Chaos for Christmas

1. It affords him a lot of flexibility – because his little house is on wheels and he can move around to wherever he wants.  Sometimes he stays for months… sometimes for a few weeks.  As a wanna-be nomad – this is hugely appealing to me.
2. Clearly – he is saving MASSIVELY on everything!  No expensive home-loan bonds to pay, no huge rent, no massive water & electricity bill… and clearly – his house is very, very friendly to the environment.  Talk about only using what you need!
3. Oh… and the wonderful simplicity of tiny living!  Only having a few things… a small, manageable space… just the fact that he has relieved himself of the burden of mountains of clutter and “stuff” makes me hugely envious!

Here’s some pics:

The teeny, tiny house….

I think if I were single… or even if it was just Nick & I…  I think I would definitely consider the option of this way of life. However (!!) – with 2 small kids… hmmmm – not so much.  I don’t know how small kids fit in to this idyllic little scene.  The thought of 4 of us trying to share that weeny space isn’t a pleasant one.

That said – I can’t wait to scale down significantly!!!  I have already been donating small mountains of clutter and “stuff”… trying to simplify my life as we prepare for our family adventure.  I want to live far more consciously, simply and frugally.  I want to collect memories – not “things”.  I want our family to invest in experiences – not “stuff”!

I guess – although I’ll never live AS tiny as the Tiny House guy… I look forward to a simple life of considerably less.  Less debt.  Less stuff.  Less admin.  Less up-keep.  Less mess, etc.

Yay!

My former bigger is better mindset  has given way to the realization that less really can be more, especially when it comes to housing.  Our family’s living space has gotten progressively smaller every year. Not necessarily due to lack of funds, but more to increasing our sense of freedom by decreasing the need for excess square footage.

We have gone from nearly 1800 square feet in Texas down to aprox 620 sq ft at our mountain house in Mexico. We have a live/work combo house in N TX that is only 820 sf and it seems huge!

In the process of my mental “sea change” I have discovered and become a major fan & proponent of what are known as Tiny Homes. You will see me post frequently on this subject. But my heart and mind is also open to other living space alternatives. Those such as full time RV living, to living in one’s car/truck/van.. Other options include “stealth living” in unexpected venues and nomadic life using sources such as CouchSurfing.

So off we go…

I’ve had a life-long fascination with tiny abodes. Tree houses, gypsy wagons, deep-woods cabins, and Airstream Bambis have all sparked my imagination over the years. When we lived in London I discovered Ikea and was totally enthralled by the tiny “model flats” they’d set up throughout the store showcasing ingenious solutions for spaces ranging from 80 to 300 square feet. And today’s “Tiny House Movement” makes me smile with it’s creativity and contemplation of how much space we really need to live a comfortable life.

On our recent RTW we had a chance to live in lots of “petite apartments,” and our favorite was the very cool Athens studio. Measuring in at 26 square meters (280 square feet) it was a great example of stylish form AND function.

So when we were planning our re-entry to the US, we brainstormed all the special cities we wanted to live in for a month. Savannah was at the top of the list. Our goal was to stay in an apartment in the Historic District, but that’s not a cheap proposition. I needed to find a small place to fit our modest budget.

And I found it! We’re staying in the “Architect’s Cottage.” Wrapped up in 309 square feet of bliss, this is the handsomest small house I’ve ever set eyes on. When I spoke with the owner (and architect) he explained that the cottage dates back to 1900 when the row of homes was built as lodging for railroad workers. The development later became apartments, and this unit was the office and laundry room! Not long ago the buildings were rescued from neglect and converted to condos.

You’d be surprised what you can squeeze into 300 square feet. The cottage features a great room with living, dining and kitchen together, and uses clever solutions like space-expanding mirrors, slim appliances, and a TV tucked in the fireplace! Add to that: heart pine floors, maritime accents, and African carvings and you’ve got the warmth of home.

Next is a pretty Pottery-Barn-meets-MId-Century-Modern bedroom, with a door leading to a space-expanding covered deck.

Finally there’s an elegant bathroom with washer and dryer. Not only is the cottage aesthetically pleasing with its eclectic mix of old and new – its smart solutions pack a punch. Not bad for such a small package.

Of course, living in small spaces is nothing new to New Yorkers, Europeans, Tokyo residents … and the list goes on and on. But after doing some research, it appears that 300 square feet is the magic number.

For example, the innovative “Katrina Cottages” were designed by talented architect Marianne Cusato as an appealing alternative to the dismal FEMA trailers provided as temporary housing for the survivors of Hurricane Katrina. How big are the cottages? 308 square feet!

My sister Nancy and her husband Jim designed and built their very own small cabin in the woods. It is so cool! Knowing my love of small houses, Jim introduced me to the Tumbleweed Tiny House Company that provides plans and tools to build tiny structures that are so clever they will boggle your mind. One of their popular plans is called The Harbinger … and you guessed it – 310 square feet.

Last, but not least is one of my personal faves. The Austin American-Statesman reported on newlyweds Mike and Natalie Young who renovated a school bus as their love nest.

And I bet you know what the square footage adds up to. Yep! 300.

Although living in 300 square feet may not be everyone’s cup of tea, we have found it an interesting exercise in learning just how much space we really need. We’ve discovered that we love an outdoor space to sit and garden, and we need several different task areas inside (just like those Ikea “model flats”). As James likes to remind me, we camped for 5 months in a 9’ x 7’ tent … that’s just 63 square feet! But we did have the “great outdoors” as our playground.

What about you? Any experiences in small space living out there? We’d love to hear from you.

Peace and Love,
Terri

Photo Credits:
1. Evelyn Simak via Wikimedia Commons
7. Courtesy Ben Brown
8. Courtesy Tumbleweed Tiny House Company
9, 10. Ralph Barrera/Austin American-Statesman

- moved into my own apartment

- gotten a new job

- de-boned my first duck

All of those things are true. Except for the duck. Because eewww. Duck is slimy (sorry, France.)

Speaking of ducks, have you ever heard D‘s favorite joke? Here goes:

Q: How is a duck like a bicycle?

A: They both have handlebars. Except for the duck.

That one gets me every time.

So, now that I have a new and awesome job, and now that I have moved into a little tiny place all by my onesie, I’m very excited to share the details in the upcoming weeks. And to start, a little sneak peek of the newest residents of my apartment:

My little place has been christened The Treehouse by my friends, because it’s very high up, and it’s in the trees! Bonus points for the ocean view and the insane cardio workout I get going up the 75 stairs every day.

Do come over and visit won’t you? The birds, and the ducks, and the owls, and the raccoons, and possibly even my crazy landlords would really love it if you did.

…is what my parents would yell when dinner was ready and we were to come to the table. Oh the memories that come rushing back when you have your own kid! As of this week, we have this adorable face right at the table with us, thanks to his new (actually used) Tripp Trapp high chair!

http://www.stokke.com/de-de/highchair/tripp-trapp-product-concept.aspx

With this chair, he can sit up to the table from now until he is in school. He is no longer whining during mealtimes because he wants to be part of the action, and we love having his beautiful face and fun expressions right there at the table.

we hope you’ll come visit The Depot this Saturday & Sunday. bring your friends & family! have a delicious lunch at the quaint little diner & hunt your hearts out! the place is huge & i guarantee you won’t be able to leave empty-handed… our booth has the gold roof & keep your eye out: all sale items will have a colored dot sticker on them!

here are a few sneak peeks… have a fabulous weekend & be curious!

*sale is this Saturday & Sunday only*

TUMBLEWEED TINY HOUSE COMPANY
“Since completing Tumbleweed, I have continued to make little buildings. How each house gets used depends on the occupant’s particular needs. What one person would enjoy as a quiet studio in their backyard, another couple might choose to inhabit as a full-time residence. What some people see as the perfect weekend hideaway in the country, others will use as a beautiful free-standing addition to their existing home for accommodating an elderly parent, an adult child, guests, or as office space. My houses have been composed with meticulous attention to light, warmth, energy efficiency, and proportion. I have made the most of each cozy interior by minimizing transitional areas like hallways and stairwells and by using otherwise unusable space as storage. The simple, formal designs that have resulted are the best way I have found to order most any space and make it beautiful.”

“At Tumbleweed Tiny House Company its our mission to make the plans and tools available so you can build your own little building based on my designs, ready-to-build kits, and even already manufactured tiny homes ready to be transported to you.”

so here’s your how-to! it was seriously SO easy, took me around 10 minutes and cost about $12. {with supplies left over for future projects.}

step one: i cut a 6 inch wide strip of burlap off of some yardage i’m using for the curtains… i didn’t measure the length but made sure it was about the length & 1/2 of my chandelier chain/cord.

step two: i bought “sticky back velcro” at michaels. first i cut both sides (of velcro) in half so i’d have thinner strips to work with. cut strips the total length of your burlap fabric. {i also made sure to buy the “beige” color so you wouldn’t see black or white through the burlap.}

step three: laying fabric flat, attach both pieces of velcro to burlap. {both pieces of velcro should be facing up.}

step four: wrap burlap around cord (with velcro facing outwards) & start velcroing! you’ll want to wrap the edges around & inwards so you don’t see the seam when you’re finished… keep scrunching it as you work your way down. {spread scrunches out for best results!}

step five: step back, take a gander & enjoy! ta da!

hope you like it, try it & love it! let me know what you think… & be curious!

“It’s a gift to joyfully recognize and accept our own smallness and ordinariness. Then you are free with nothing to live up to, nothing to prove, and nothing to protect. Such freedom is my best description of Christian maturity, because once you know that your ‘I’ is great and one with God, you can ironically be quite content with a small and ordinary ‘I.’ No grandstanding is necessary. Any question of your own importance or dignity has already been resolved once and for all and forever.”   – Richard Rohr

What’s the difference between “I” and “i”? The answer pure and simple is the love of the Creator for all of creation. Once we accept that we are beloved children of the One who created everything from the chaos of nothing, then we are free to begin to really live. Instead of worrying about acquiring, possessing, and positioning, we are free to expand our horizons, interact with others, and celebrate every day.

The need to define oneself as a big “I”  is transformed into the gift of the little “i”–the you (or me) that is not consumed by self, not curved inward toward want and desire. The big “I” seeks to always become bigger. The little “i” constantly finds ways to give part oneself away. The funny thing is this: in the giving of self, one receives more than enough to be filled and fulfilled. In acknowledging the love and acceptance of God, there is no need to constantly try to fill oneself with the praise and acceptance of others. All are equal in the sight of the Maker. Ordinary  becomes extraordinary when the Spirit of God is allowed room to move and breathe in us. Small becomes enough.

The apostle Paul writing to the believers at Philippi said “. . . for I have learned to be content with whatever I have. I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me ( Phil. 4:11b-13 NRSV).

Living as a little “i” is indeed a big gift that keeps on giving. It’s a gift that improves with age and experience, and it’s a gift that comes to us wrapped in grace. Open your big gift and start living small today. i promise you’ll live life larger in the end.

Peace and blessing to you and yours!

PS: For more information on Fr. Richard Rohr, click the link on his name to be connected to his website.

Photo by mRio used under Creative Commons License. This images shows a cornea transplant from an organ donor that gave new sight to the recipient–just one small example of the big gift of little “i”.

You can access the entire Weekend Highlights series to date by clicking on that category in the sidebar at left.

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The Author's Home - Courtesy Mother Earth News

Let’s begin with something new. In fact, there are two new Blogs on our list this week.

Living in a small space certainly puts things in perspective, a perspective only those who choose this lifestyle can discover and fully understand. “A Dozen Other Places Doesn’t Exist in a Small Home” is precisely about the occasional disconnect between two worlds, but it is always with good humor that they reconcile each other. It is not a battle, after all, but simply a difference in lifestyle and there are as many styles as there are personalities.

The author’s small-scale living was featured in a Mother Earth News article. The Blog is titled Living Large in Our Little House. It brings to light that people who choose to live small often have a very broad vision of the world. Living small changes our attachment to things. We cherish the afternoon reading in the corner chair for the peace of the moment and the joy of reading, not because of the chair! It is a matter of personality though and at some point in life we all downsize some aspect of our circumstances; sometimes it is our living quarters, sometimes it is how much time we spend at work.

“If you live in a small space,” asks the author, “what is the biggest mis­con­cep­tion you face about the size of your home? If you don’t live in a small space, what do you believe to be true about a small space?… It is a trade-off, this small house liv­ing, and it’s why small home dwellers embrace the William Morris quote, ‘Have noth­ing in your houses that you do not know to be use­ful or believe to be beautiful…” [Read Full Article]

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“Something has to be done about the fighting,” casually announces Cecilia of The kitchen’s Garden, or Miss C for her current audience, which happens to consist of roosters, hens and sheep. “I had a discussion in the barn last night about the cockfights in the farmyard,” she begins and they promptly respond. Little Chick: “It wasn’t me! I never broke it!  I didn’t even know you had one! I never did nothing!” Miss C: “You never did nothing  is a double negative.” Little Chick: “Yeah, yeah I never did that neither…”

No worries, every one of the creatures in this cast of characters is pampered and loved. This is why they are so nonchalant, carefree and playful. This visual blog, interspersed with dialog between Miss C (the author) and her farmyard friends, is a pleasure to read. It seems it could be the beginning of a long series. I pictured her standing amidst the creatures, speaking out loud as she imagined the conversation, inspired by the looks on their faces. Perhaps when she walks away they make up a story of their own. [Read Full Article]

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Another one to add to our list…

“While searching for a can of soup in my pantry at the last minute before running out the door, late for work with no leftovers from the night before,” recalls Canning Granny, and finding nothing to my liking… the idea popped into my head… why don’t I can up some GOOD soup, with ingredients I recognize… The idea progressed… I could can the soup in wide mouth pint jars… reheat at work IN THE JAR, and eat. How easy would that be? *Head Slap* Why had I not thought of this before???”

In the three Grab ‘N’ Go Canned Soup articles that follow this head-slap realization, the author offers her own recipes. We are familiar with dried soup mixes in jars in country stores. These make elegant and useful gifts, but they require an extra step: cooking. We all make large batches of soup at some point and store portions in the freezer for later use, but how often does it occur to us to make soup portions to grab ‘n’ go? This idea takes a common practice to another, even more practical level. It combines convenience and wholesomeness.

Each recipe includes a printable version that may very well inspire your favorite concoctions. “There’s also no rhyme or reason for the order the layers go in,” points out the author about her own process, “I chose by color, light colors and white, followed by bright colors of carrot, green been, etc.” Soup in a jar that shows me the wholesome ingredients I have poured into it myself seems far more appealing than the best of soups hidden behind a commercial label, and just the sight of it surely brings to mind the aroma that permeated the kitchen while it cooked. True comfort to go!

Part 1: Hamburger Vegetable Soup

Part 2: White Bean Chicken Chili

Part 3: Layered Chicken Veggie Soup

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Thank you for stopping by to read this Weekend’s Review. Please take a moment to leave a few words on the Blogs you enjoy, if you feel so inclined that is.

We will be adding the following lux touches: drywall and more insulation, a gorgeous window (found on craigslist for $40) to the south wall, laminate flooring, combination ventilation fan and heater, built in shelving and even electricity! We still have a month until we move in to get it all done.

my mom & i are teaming up to open an antique booth at one of our favorite local spots: The Depot At Gibson Mill in Concord, NC! we’re calling it “maison number eleven.” mixing my love of french style & my moms enchantment with gardens we’re offering an eclectic mix of furniture, artwork, antique dishes, gifts, vintage clothes, home furnishings & to-die-for custom garden work benches that my parents design and build from scratch…

just in time for spring, we’re throwing a grand opening soiree Saturday March 10th, 2012 from 10am to 7pm. The Depot has 85,000 square feet of trinkets & what-nots for you to explore… not to mention a fabulously delicious diner open all day so that you can take a break & nosh in between shopping. {try the blackened tilapia tacos, you’ll thank me later.) & our booth is actually directly across from the diner in the design center… look for our grey flannel walls & gold shingled roof, you won’t miss it! we’ll be mingling all day, passing out fresh cupcakes to visitors & of course shopping!

we still have a lot of work to do to get ready so spread the word & we can’t wait to see you on March 10th… be curious!

our gorgeous floor!

my incredible parents hard at work... they're so sweet to put up with my over the top designs!

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