72 hour kits, starting a business, chickens and gardening

Hmm, well, it has been a while since I last wrote. I was venting over political and world events. I have been purposely staying away from such news as it does nothing more than aggravate the heck out of me! I do want to know what is going on in the world, but I think I was just overloaded during my last post.

We, my husband and I, each have a 72 hour kit that we keep in case of disaster. They are basic necessities, toiletries, first aid, food, clothing, folding cook stove, water supply, etc. These are contained in a regular backpack you can buy at Walmart. I have added my meds to each of them, They are equipped for two people if necessary. The news showing disasters world wide makes it very sensible to have one of these. Bob keeps his in the car, I think I will put mine there as well, so in case of a need to evacuate it will be in a good location. I suppose if the car is being worked on, I will just bring it home with me. I thought about carrying it around all the time, I mean, you never know where you will be when disaster strikes. But I'm keeping it in the car.

I know I have talked about giving plasma. It is really not much different than giving blood and a lot more rewarding in a couple ways. The center I go to there are about 24 stations of recliner-type chairs you sit on, and you're hooked to a machine. The blood is drawn, plasma is separated from your blood then your blood is returned to you through the same tube with saline to rehydrate. It takes about 45 minutes if you are a quick bleeder like I am. They tell you it can take anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour and a half. I have yet to have it take an hour and a half.

The rewards? Well, there is an entirely new group of people you get to know. You see them and it becomes somewhat social. You are donating something that can't be manufactured to be used in drugs to save a life, and you are paid for your time. You get a good feeling knowing you are helping someone else. The money is electronically placed on a visa card that you can use at a store or call in to activate it with a PIN number so you can use it at an atm. I'm really happy that there is a center for this so close to us. But because I have come down with an infection I don't know if I'll be able to donate for a while, but I will continue to when I am able. If you have the place available for such a thing as this I would encourage it, if for nothing more than the good feeling you get. A few extra dollars to pay down some debt is a bonus.

I have decided to start a business. I'm going to call it, "You've Got the Stuff!", a "use what you have" concept for decorating. I will go into someone's home and we will "shop" their house and find the furniture, lamps, rugs, shelves, art work and I will arrange it and put the things on the walls in an attractive way. I've done this before for a few people and I was a set designer for many years both in Michigan and Iowa. Those are my credentials including the fact that I have been a graphic artist for 28 years both in regular jobs and freelance. So if you are interested or know of someone who is, let me know. I think it will be fun! I figure since I have been out of the traditional job market for ten years, I thought going on a new adventure is appropriate. So wish me luck.

Bob and I haven't been doing much of anything exciting really. I go to Next of Kiln ceramic studio and sculpt and glaze and paint preformed ceramic things at a low cost and gives me hours of enjoyment. With my illness, it is a self soothing exercise that I can afford. I have made a good friend in the owner of the shop, Regina Rhodes. We have just clicked from the first meeting. Going to her studio is like a kid in a candy store. Or to think of it, like me in a candy store.

We have saved money by renting movies in the "nearly new" section of the video store getting two movies for a $1 for five nights. We don't watch movies as our only source of entertainment. We are in the middle of a book that I'm reading aloud about a girl from Switzerland who ends up in the Canadian wilderness after an abusive childhood. It isn't graphic, just the way she starts out in life. We are not going to sign up for net flix I don't think although their advantage is they have a huge selection of titles whereas the video store only has so many. We'll see. We may sign up down the road.

This year we are going to vacation in our own yard. There are things we want to be doing, landscaping, felling a tree to have logs for around our firepit and we will be home in the fall to harvest our peaches and grapes. We have received blackberry bushes in the mail and hope they will bring something this year. We will be planting a garden and I will be doing canning for the first time. I am in a better place mentally. There were years that I couldn't even do laundry or wash the dishes because I was on the couch. I'm looking forward to a garden and canning. We are looking at getting chickens both for the eggs and to butcher if necessary. I'm hoping Bob will teach me how to fish in the river behind the house. We want to become much more self sufficient. Getting out of debt is just part of it.

We are also planning on getting a dog. We'll get one from a shelter who needs a home. I can hardly stand to go in there because I want to take them all home! But hopefully we will be able to find a golden retriever or other dog that communicates with us that "I hid under your porch because I love you" type of sentiment (from the movie UP!)

We are very proud of our daughter for getting a job offer she tried to, but couldn't really refuse. That will help her and her husband get out of debt faster than they are able to now.

I suppose buying chickens isn't something college students would do, and planting a garden might not be either, but we think it is something that will be good for us in the long run. And I have been waiting for my husband to teach me how to fish for 30 years. I actually cast a line a little over a week ago and reeled it in about five times, so I guess I didn't have to wait for him. And with a river behind the house I won't wait for him. We have poles, I am going to do it myself. Then go "eww" when I learn how to clean the fish.

And that's all I have to say about that. Till next time, have a great day!