Life can throw a few curve balls. It sucks (lemons) but what can you do? Turn it into a party, is what!
We may be unemployed, but we have been so very miserable for so long that the stress of this is not what you would expect. I was literally waking up sick in the middle of the night at the thought of going to work.
Now the world is open to us! There is some money coming to us so if we can just make it through the next few weeks of struggle then we will be fine. Already we are taking advantage and really trying to establish what it is we want the next step to be.
I have lingering guilt about quitting, but the fact is that the job was harming my health more than I can say. Why are we conditioned to believe we need to stay in a bad situation rather than take a chance? I know there are people who will think that I was better off staying miserable. Whatever. I let that way of thinking hold me back for far too long.
We are to have lots of new products in the shop, lots more writing, Melina will be painting. We may even end up living somewhere else in a year or two dot dot dot.
No spoilers! But the doors are flung wide open, and that is how I insist on seeing it.
Way too much time has been spent thinking about the ways in which 2013 sucked. Time to move on, move forward without looking back. So the question becomes, what will have change by NYE 2014? I have some thoughts.
1 - We will be 'financially better off' (clue as to where we work). All fallout of the Grand Insurance Debacle of 2013 will be a distant memory. YES!
2 - My novel will have been self-published. That simple fact will make it a successful venture. I just can't predict beyond that. Too scary.
3 - Melina will have spent a great year getting back into painting. She's really amazing at it and I can't wait for everyone to see what she can do. I am so excited by this!! She will even have a site set up.
4 - I will have a draft finished of a second novel. That's right, I said it!!!
5 - We will be so totally strong and healthy. Amazon-strong!
Bottom line is that we will be way closer to the ultimate goals we talk about in the site - independent lives living in the Valley in a great house. Writing / painting and crafting full time.
This is our year people! Stand back.
~ Denise
We all have ups and downs. Good times, bad times, blah blah blah. Well, trust me when I say that 2013 was firmly ensconced in the 'low' category. Death, taxes, insurance debacles leading to abject poverty. You name it, we probably dealt with it. But here's the thing - I would like to think about the bright spots that made the year tolerable.
So here goes.
My novel! I finished and went through the editing process and it was amazing. I learned as much as I had hoped and then some. I got publishing advice and finally came to the decision that self-publishing is the direction I want to go. It will be hard, but I know it is the right thing for me.
And the other thing that came out of the editing process and my discussion of it with those around me is that I learned exactly how much support I have for the project. When you are doing something creative you become accustomed to people thinking you are a bit of a flake. I was amazed with the outpouring of support I received when people realized I was serious! Amazed and incredibly grateful.
The
shop was also a bright spot this year. Our sales more than doubled! We have so many fantastic things planned and are excited beyond words for the year to come. Melina has become such a wonderful sewer (is that a word?) that the sky is the limit when it comes to ideas. Trust me, things are about to be shaken up.
Finally, the best thing that happened this year. When you hit bottom you find out who the people are that have your back, and we are surrounded by an AMAZING group of family and friends. Someday we hope to be able to repay them for everything they have done for us. And we will. I know it!
2014, you sexy bitch. You will be our year!
~ Denise
When we started the shop it was with the sole purpose of making money to help us reach our goals. Melina loves sewing and I love jewellery so it seemed like a worthwhile effort. It has helped more then we ever thought it could have and taught us tons of things that we will use in other areas of our lives. For instance, in the midst of a zombie apocalypse, chainmail armour will be at a premium. And a knitting needle roll doubles nicely as container for a weapons kit.
There are other things we have learned since starting the shop that some would argue are more important. I will say they might be of more immediate concern, but not MORE important than zombies. Nothing is more important than zombies.
I am now conscious of the importance of buying handmade. People complain all the time about box stores taking over, the alternative is the wave of handmade items available at the click of a mouse. Let's face it, there is no avoiding shopping at the corporate giants entirely, but I feel great when I buy a gift from a crafter or artist. Maybe in my small way I am contributing to a shift in the world towards supporting the little guy. Wouldn't that be a great world to live in?
In the meantime, I will continue to to plan my zombie strategy.
I had to go a few days without my laptop because the adapter was fried. A few days - no big deal, right? Hells yeah it was a big deal! I felt downright Amish! OK, I did have modern plumbing, but you get the idea. Now that I have back I am a blogging, Tweeting, Etsy-working fool!
I had my computer back in time for the Witchy New Year of Samhain. People often ask what we do that is different than most people's celebration of Halloween. It is always one of the best nights of the year. This year we worked our goals into a brand new ceremony / spell that we will work until next Samhain to help us with our goals.
Let's start with the beginning of our night. This is consistent from year to year. We always take out photos of loved ones who have passed and arrange them in a nice display. Yes, we include our pets in these photos. They are family. Samhain is a time to remember those that have passed on and tradition is to set a place at the table for them. We don't have a lot of space here, so me make do with one place and consider that all of loved ones get along enough to share. lol! It sounds sad, but it really isn't. It is an amazing thing to feel close to the spirits of those who have gone before us.
This year we did a few other things. The past year has been ... challenging. We wanted to focus on positive change and on what we will have happen in the coming year.
We carved spell candles marking our intentions for the year. Melina made a lovely beeswax candle for the season with appropriate herbs and oils, again, for the coming year's intentions. The truly new thing was our spell jar. We cut out strips of paper and wrote one of our intentions for the coming year on each one. We added appropriate herbs to the jar. This will be used throughout the year in our workings.
It was a wonderful night. Today truly feels fresh and new and wonderful.
~Denise
In His Own Words, Sherlock in the Valley
Well, I guess my Mamas are talking about relocating to the country. Pip pip. I have always wanted a country estate. Might I play polo? I must have country pursuits, and I certainly shall not hunt. I will need to order new stationary.
There are so many decisions to make, oh my.
Sherlock's Mama asks, "Sherly, how will you spend your days when you live in the country?"
"Oh, Mama. I shall write letters."
Ummm, is that all?
"I suspect I also will watch the birdies and make odd crying/spitting noises."
Is that entirely appropriate, Sherlock?
"Well, I am a cat. I cannot be something I am not."
But you are always trying to be a proper British gentleman, not a cat.
"Mama, what are you saying? I will not sit here and be insulted!"
Sherlock? Sherly, come back!
-Melina :D
Yesterday was the best day we have had in a long long time. Why? Because we got to visit the BEST HOUSE EVER!
Our friend, Mary, came to pick us up and we went to her house for the very first time. Her gorgeous house outside of the city. YAY! The simple fact of being surrounded by trees was almost enough to qualify this for the BHE title. It has been so long since I have had anything but concrete and loud neighbours around me that I had forgotten what silence was like.
Well, almost-silence, because guess what else there was in the house. ANIMALS AND A BABY!!!! And not just any baby but a baby so adorable that every time a new photo is posted on Facebook, Melina and I both yell "Liiilllyyyyyy" with glee. Dainty little 10 month old girl with the bluest eyes and having of the longest lashes you have ever seen. I will admit that I am putty in her teeny little hands.
Angus
And are you ready to hear about the animals? You can never really be ready for this pure AWESOMENESS! Two big dogs, one of whom was an immense love sponge, seven cats and a wee little foster kitten. There were animals everywhere and it was the most amazing thing I have ever seen. Lily was sat on the floor the entire time we were there and played with toys, and her interaction with the animals was enough to make me cry. They were so comfortable with each other. Anyone who claims "I have to get rid of my cat / dog because I am pregnant and what if they hurt the baby" should visit this house.
Little wee Prince, but I think his name should be Jack
Sorry to invite people over, Mary!
I would show you photos of baby with animals but it is not my child so I want to be respectful. You will have to take my word for it.
Beautiful Ariel and Angus
In so many ways this is the life that we are working so hard for. The house may be further in the country, but the chaos and love of all the animals running around is a dream. It is THE dream.
~ Denise
I got permission for Lily pics!
As so many of you know, we have hit a block in making it towards our goals. Insurance companies SUCK and have led us to creating a bit of a debt and we are working on paying off every penny. We have had to find ways to make our money go a lot further. Cheap and delicious and healthy meals? Sure thing! Enter the Happy Herbivore.
We have recommended the Happy Herbivore to anyone who will sit still long enough to listen. The recipes are super easy, they are all healthy and rely on very easily found ingredients.
The first is probably our very favourite. Black Bean and Salsa Soup.
This
recipe looks so simple, but it is amazingly delicious. I have cravings for this soup. Cravings. Like, I-will-never-live-without-it kind of cravings. And it is so cheap! YUM!!!
Now, as we are vegan, beans are a big part of our lives. Love it! The next great, and cheap,
recipe we love is for Black Bean Burgers.
Now here is the thing about bean burgers - do not expect them to be the same texture as a faux meat burger. Make sure you cook them long enough, and I substitute the ketchup in the recipe for BBQ sauce. A nice bun and DEELISH! Who says vegans don't eat yummies?
And now for something completely different, or in this case without black beans, is this amazing
Chana Palak Masala.
This is super versatile. We usually have spinach and some other veg in the freezer. One time, I had already started cooking when I realized that we had no spinach but we did have some frozen asparagus. And you guessed it - DEELISH!! Seriously, these recipes are no fail!!
It makes me feel like we can do this. We WILL get out of debt and we WILL make it to every single one of our goals, and we'll be healthy doing it. Hells yeah!
** All photos come from the amazing
Happy Herbivore website. Do yourself a favour and check it out.
