The storm is late...

True to form, the weather forecast has been less that accurate.  I've always wondered if there were another profession wherein you can be wrong 70% of the time and not only still get paid but are invited to come back tomorrow?

OK, enough bashing of meteorologists.  I know that some jobs are harder than others and I don't pretend to know the weather.  Well, actually, I do pretend to know the weather but the people to whom I am speaking don't see me when I stick my arm out the window just before I declare "rain."

The new Cool, Welcome to the 21st Century

I've already begun to downsize my "stuff."  I've managed to eject several things that have been simply occupying space in my universe by passing them on to someone who will appreciate them more and possibly use them.  I didn't use these things that have left my grasp but I did appreciate them.  That's why I didn't simply throw them away.  Admittedly, simply disposing of things may have an adverse affect on our environment so the second part of my two pronged attack on consumerism is to want less; to buy less, and to appreciate and use the things that I do purchase.  Here is a great article from Ecominima that I found about facing the New Minimalist Century.

Homemade Prosperity by Shannon Hayes — YES! Magazine

This article by Shannon Hayes is just great. She has outlined the precept of escape from the monster of consumerism:

Caught in the consumer trap? Radical Homemaker Shannon Hayes discovered that producing what she needs at home lets her live on a fraction of what she thought she needed.

Shannon has decanted the elements of sustained living in her review of the evolution of consumer mentality. I know that this is probably not new news to many but the direct presentation of so very refreshing that I fell in love with this ideal the first time I read about the shift away from the "buy it now" mentality that I was awed. I strongly recommend that you stop by Shannon's blog as well as read her article: Homemade Prosperity by Shannon Hayes — YES! Magazine

More than a little weird

This is the movie poster from the 1988 Rowdy Roddy Piper movie, They Live, although it doesn't really convey the real message of consumerism that is being foisted on the American public.

This is a real cheesy movie about some aliens that have taken over th earth but the message is very relevant to the issues facing our country, our economy, and many of those struggling to make ends meet while conforming the "rules" or standards of what society considers normal.  If you decide to watch this film, I would suggest at least a six pack and maybe a 12 pack to get through the entire ordeal.  And smile, cause you just gotta laugh at some of the acting and actions sequences.

From a Tiny House perspective, this fuels the fire for opting out of the ideal that bigger is better and that maybe we don't have a responsibility to shop our way out of an economic crisis.

Very green idea for your chainsaw

I'm off topic again but I found this article this morning and just had to share it with you because it's so very weird-like me.  While searching through some news links I discovered a recommendation to use Canola Oil for your chain saw bar oil to lessen the effect on the environment.  How cool is that?!

living small is enticing

Well, I've searched all of the blogs that I've been reading lately to find that most of my fellow bloggers seem to be distracted or are not posting much new news.  So, I've broken out of my comfort zone to research some new areas of interest to discover Ms. Francine Jay.  A.K.A. Miss Minimalist and her blog.  I confess that I have been fascinated by the general topic of living simply for a long time and have been intrigued by uncluttered space as well as the minimalist mindset.