Today's rude awakening

I've known for a while that eventually the oil would run out. Today as I pumped my $50 tank of gas into my car, I really "got it". I mean, I GET it. I know we are entering a new phase of life where we will have to learn how to do things w/o oil, and I've thought a lot about it. But today was different. Today I really dove deep into my thoughts on it.

I thought... well, I can sew our clothes, so I won't need to buy clothing imported in elsewhere. And then I realized- what about the fabric? I can't make fabric. It has to come from SOMEWHERE. Which led me to think about all the other little things that we take for granted. So, so many of our things are trucked in from elsewhere. In my house we use a lot of cloth products, but what about those who don't? How will they conceive of not having things like toilet paper? Will they actually pay a premium price for it? And what about food? Most people don't even know how to buy fresh food or where to get it even. Myself included. I know about the local markets, but they are very limited in selection. I would have to learn an entire new way of cooking to cook seasonally and regionally. I would *like* to do it, and I have a true admiration for all of those people out there on the "100 mile diet", but man, that would be HARD! Especially with kids.

For a while I've wanted to be more sustainable and self-sufficient, but really- it's a necessity at this point. Maybe not today, maybe not 10 years from now, but ONE DAY we will all need to be more self-sufficient. I don't think most people realize this.

A few weeks ago I was talking to a friend and made some comment about how the oil is running out. She actually said to me "yeah right, whatever!". UH..... yeah..... WHATEVER! It's a fact, honey!!! I think that's a common mindset today- that everything will remain.

But some of us know that everything changes.

Last Night's Lunar Eclipse

I was worried the cloudy skies would keep me from seeing the eclipse, but they did not! I watched it from start to finish. It was a beautiful red color most of the time, but my camera captured a really cool image that came out blue tones.

I took some more photos, but nothing too terribly amazing. I just have a little point-and-shoot Canon Elph digital camera. Nothing fancy. But I got a few more nonetheless.

More Reason to Buy Local....

I just saw this article on yahoo news: News Article on Beef Recall.

I buy my beef from a local ranch- Hodge Ranch. I feel 100% confident in Mr. Hodge's product. Not only do I KNOW they are well taken care of (you can visit the ranch if you are so inclined), I know the producer, and I trust him.

What really bothers me about the article is the fact that 35 MILLION lbs of this meat when to school lunch programs. I've long worried about the crap my children are served at school, but this just makes me worry more. I want the best for them. I used to make their lunches, and then I got lazy. I think it's time to start making them again.

Simple Living Naturally

Living closer to Nature. Living as man was intended. What does that mean anyway? I believe in Voluntary Simplicity- CHOOSING not to be materialistic is one aspect. Living mindfully is a bigger aspect. Know where your food came from. Buy organic. Buy local. Don't just know your food, know your farmer. Don't just know your beef, know your rancher.