Sunday, April 29, 2012

On the road again...

Unfortunately, I get the pleasure of working forty-five minutes away from the homestead. The drive to work gives me plenty of time to try and figure out how to get our homestead self-sustainable... the drive home gives me lots of time to contemplate all the things I could of been doing on the farm...   But hey, until we are self-sustainable, I gotta' keep the bacon coming, right?   It does seem awfully depressing though,...  it seems like the only sunny days are the ones I'm at work on. And I miss so many things that happen when I am work! I have lots and lots of side projects in the works to get home: a novel I'm writing, eBay, adsense, managing Amber Fox Apothecary, prepping rain barrels to sell, selling eggs, the list goes on..  I once heard somewhere that to be optimal, you must have monthly income no less than three times your monthly rent or mortgage. Sounds right...   Wish me luck! And to all those out there struggling through the same or similar circumstances: Press on!

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Everybody will visit eventually....

Here at our homestead, we schedule weekly clean-up chores that tend to get put off until the build-up is immense and all of a sudden we have guests scheduled to arrive. Sounds typical, doesn't it? Well, I am starting to realize I have to think like the guests are always ready to arrive...  that way, when I get time, I clean...   I found I can do more with my "to-do lists" if I actively look for the time to do it & schedule it among more enjoyable activities! How about vacuuming? No problem, let me read a chapter, then vacuum, then read another....  Dishes? Got it! Let me watch the podcast, do the dishes, then watch another....   Rewarding each and every chore harkens back to the days when I was a kid and my mom gave me an allowance....   Having great time management skills does slip away from you...  but like riding a bike, you just gotta get back on!