A little housekeeping



C and I have a personal challenge to get rid of 25 things a month through the end of the year (4 months, 100 things total). A few of those things I think you guys might want?

Medium flat rate priority mail box of vintage patterns
Medium flat rate priority box of fabric (you'll just have to trust me that I have excellent taste!)

I'll also be adding a few things to my etsy shop that might be of interest. One thing I know is going in the shop (no pics yet, grrr) is a pair of men's size 10 Vintage Pecos Red Wings western style top stitched leather boots for $50 (just like these but in a different size).

And another round of clear-out-the-studio-for-dirt-cheap-prices is coming up this week. You'll find some old prints I'm ready to send to new homes and some seconds quality newer prints.

Want to be notified when the sale starts? See something on the list you want? Let me know and we'll get it all worked out!

Breathing easier


After an emotionally tough week (capping off with the toddler's first cold of the season), I cheered myself up wandering around my favorite nursery while Sniffly slept in the Boba on my belly.

I also spent the last $2 and some change at the farmers' market on a couple stems of flowers, then came home and snipped a wild looking bouquet of zinnias, marigolds, a naked lady (shocking!), and some anise hyssop.

The weekend wasn't any easier than the week (since we're all getting sick now) but it sure was prettier, and with all the added greenery I believe it was also easier to breathe.

Changes in season


Fall is here! Time for apples, root crops and greens.
Get your garlic and onion starts planted. 
Enjoy the crisp evening air.

Feel the changes to weather and welcome those changes
reflected in the day to day.


*  *  *


Don't forget the gift certificate offer for the Owego fundraiser. If you've been waiting for pay day to give, I've extending the offer through Monday. Give $20 or more to the Owego Flood Relief and send nobiting {at} gmail {dot} com an e-card (it's an option at checkout) and I'll send you a gift certificate for $20 towards any print in the shop!

Owego flood relief

Of course, you'll also get lots of karma and good tingly feelings in your heart, 'cause that's what doing good for others does.

Bees, Permies and Assorted Sustainable Living Links

Beekeeping
Anarchy Apiaries - I love how this blog is much more like a zine than a blog
Backwards Beekeepers - Naturally keeping bees naturally just makes sense.

Canning
Food in Jars - Philly based canning extraordinaire.
Pie and Beer - Lianna Krissof's Canning for a New Generation made me want an even bigger garden, plus I love that she addresses using Weck jars in her book.
Saving the Season -  the title says it all.
Tigress in a Jam and Tigress in a Pickle - while not dedicated solely to canning, a great resource on the subject of both (you guessed it!) jams and pickles. 

Cooking
CB and J - Meals even the most novice of cooks can make...and every single one I've tried is delicious!
Honest Fare - Simple, beautiful, straightforward fare.
Local Kitchen - also includes some tasty ideas for canning. 

Growing
Florida Backyard - A beautiful site with gardening, music and recipes. 
NC Alternative Crops and Organics - a lot of info for farmers, but still some great NC gardening knowledge

You Grow Girl - Long time favorite, and maybe the site that single-handedly got me hooked on the internet. Gayla's books are also my top 2 go-to resources every time I plan a garden: You Grow Girl (crafty, affordable gardening ideas) and Grow Great Grub (an encyclopedia of the basics).

Herbal Healing
Holli Richey's blog - Full of interesting quips and plant based folklore, you'll learn a bit about the plant and its uses.
Way of the Wild Heart - Leans towards the feminine/spiritual side of herbalism, a concise resource.
Whispering Earth - An holistic approach to the plant world. 

Homesteading
Brooklyn Homesteader - One of the truly urban-est homesteading blogs with perhaps the most beautiful graphics ever.
The Hip Girl's Guide to Homemaking - Covers everything. Everything.
Oliver and Abraham's -  Setting up farm with a sheep named Bill Murray.
Rurally Screwed - Urbanite moves to a farm. It's something like a country song, one very hilarious, often updated country song. And no pigs named Arnold, at least that I know of.
Small Measure - NC gal who writes books and an informative blog with a gentle approach to the earth.

Making Beautiful Things {while being easy on the earth)
Alma Allen and Nance Pearce 
Andrea Zittel

Nurturing Family
A Foothill Home Companion
Simple Living Media has several different sites that include simple ways to care for kids (and kids' minds), the home, and ourselves. 
This Vintage Chica:  Crafty, simple and thoughtful ways to engage the entire family
Urban Organica: Precise and poetic musings about connecting with loved ones

Permaculture
Oakhouse Permaculture - Lots of amazing info on plants; each post concentrates on the specific uses of plants. Also has some descriptions of the cosmetic uses of herbs.
Romany Rest - Formerly a B&B, now they're teaching permaculture classes; their descriptions of guilds are a phenomenal resource.

Find ease

For those of you who do yoga, the following phrase may sound familiar: Find ease in the difficulty of the pose.



To say it's a difficult time would undercut the breadth of living. Sounds cryptic, but there are so many aspects of the day-to-day that require thought and attention and difficult is not necessarily bad. Not everything should be easy. Call the process of experience a tool for internal growth, one that I hope will prepare me to be self-attuned while finding wisdom to carry through parenthood.

These moments in life are nothing short of Dandayamana-Dhanurasana - a strength gaining exercise that also requires coordination, balance, grace and patience within. All the while your teacher reminds you to keep your face muscles and jaw relaxed, finding the ease...


One shining light {ease} this week has been the response to my gift certificate offer for the Owego fundraiser. If you can give but are waiting for pay day to be able to, I'm extending the offer through Monday. Give $20 or more to the Owego Flood Relief and send nobiting {at} gmail {dot} com an e-card (it's an option at checkout) and I'll send you a gift certificate for $20 towards any print in the shop!

To brag on you Wolfie and the Sneak friends, that's already $160 in gift certificates! It's amazing to be able to help in such a creative way. Thank you all for helping us find ease in the difficulty of the pose.