Simplify! Simplify! Simplify!

In a space as small as this, function dictates form.

I have no cupboards, but I have an oven which has become a damned good storage space. I have no closet, but these magnificent, huge beams cross the entire width of the cabin. Some rope tired between two beams, and voila! Instant closet!

my "closet"

my bed, and the wood stove

Function dictates form: antlers make a great hat rack

Today, I drove to Manistique for a free chest freezer for the 50 pound blocks of meat I received recently for the dogs. Chunks of meat are chopped off with an axe and thawed in buckets...and once again, function dictates form: the buckets go in the shower.

Yes, buckets of beef thaw in my shower.

A word about the showering process.

The small six gallon water heater

It is far easier to live modestly in this small cabin that most would likely think. Even with a six gallon water heater, I've not once missed the large farm house I left in Ohio. I did worry about showering with my long crazy curly hair though. But it's been simple.

Step 1. Heat the cabin well with a toasty fire in the wood stove. This is important :)

Step 2. Get naked

Step 3. Turn the water on. I already know the exact location on the knobs for the perfect temperature quickly. Get everything - including my long crazy hair - wet

Step 4. Turn the water off. lather up the crazy hair

Step 5. Turn water on and rinse the crazy hair. Conditioner.

Step 6. Turn water off. Lather up everything else.

Step 7. Turn water back on and rinse everything off.

Sometimes I stand there for a few minutes of bliss under the hot water that remains. But mostly, I am thankful every day for a hot shower and to be clean, and thankful for a lesson in simplicity.

Simplify! Simplify! Simplify!

My crazy 10-dog team stopped for water on a training run

"Simplify, simplify" - Henry David Thoreau

Lao-tzu, a great Taoist master of 6th century B.C. China said when we let go of what we think we are, we become what we might be. When we let go of what we think we have, we receive what we need.

"and she lets them come;
things disappear and she lets them go.
She has but doesn't possess"

It's funny, how we cling to things we think are ours. "Stuff" fills our lives to the brim. And yet, we don't really possess any of it. Even our houses, our cars, things we invest so much of our lives in - they're just things.

I've been letting go of a lot. Moving from the house I've lived in for the last six years has really enabled me to simplify, simplify!

And yet, moving brings up for me a lot of emotions I didn't foresee.

This has been the only home my youngest daughter and my Siberian, Jack, have ever know.


Baby Jack circa 4 months

Waking up to the fussing of my youngest in her bassinet in the very bedroom I type this post in. The excitement of owning our first home. The renovation projects! - so many memories.


Me and Elise, who was about a year old in this photo

We'll leave behind a few pets too, buried back in our little pet cemetery.

Oliver, the best black kitty ever, who was born on Friday, August 13th, 2000 and died in this house; Oliver is buried in our backyard.


Oliver, back, and Simon, front - two of the best black kitties ever

And Zero, Chris's 4 foot iguana is also buried back there, along with a few hamsters and Molly, the ferret.


Miss Molly, the smallest ferret

Letting go can be difficult, even though letting go opens up a whole new chapter - and one I have dreamed of for awhile.

If I'm being honest, I admit I get a little nervous. Leaving the familiar for unfamiliar territory.

Who, me? The adventurer? The one with the self-proclaimed wanderlust?

Yes, it's true.

But there will be many more things I will not miss about our current living situation.

We are fairly close to a large interstate - so close the constant hum of vehicles is a constant background noise. I won't miss this.

We (surprisingly to most) have neighbors fairly close. It will be nice to stretch out on seven acres.

The best part will be running dogs right out of the yard. Ohhhh, man! I can't WAIT for this fall, and it's only Memorial Day!

Enjoy the day - Namaste!