annaraven - more random update stuph

[AnnaRaven]

Well it never snowed here. Which is good - cuz Californian driving skills are abysmal.

DH and I have been watching the Good Life, the old britcom about the couple in Surbiton who go in for self-sufficiency... and tonight, DH was telling me how he likes that we are doing a good job of doing semi-self-sufficiency. We're not trying to go it alone, but we are trying to gain skills and be frugal so that we can have a higher quality of life for less, and survive better if TSHTF. He encouraged me to pursue whatever I think would further the cause. He was even musing about eventually retrofitting the solar panels so we can go off the grid! Wow.

I mentioned that the front yard could handle some veggies - things like lettuces and other stuff that needs a little shade in summer. He was positive about the idea. He also asked about our water storage! Wow. Pretty nice to have him "on board". (As long as he doesn't have to actually do any of it... )

 

[Wifezilla]

 

[HEChicken]

That's really cool. Its so nice when you're in it together and can bounce ideas back and forth, instead of having to go it alone. I'm so glad my DH is on board with all this and often offers suggestions or helps me work on various projects. He had some ideas of his own before we even met, so that makes it easier. I can imagine suggesting something like collecting nitrogen-rich "fertilizer" to someone who wasn't SS minded, and having them completely flip out. DH just kind of went "Oh, okay, we can try that....."

 

[LovinLife]

I wish my DH could be that involved in my SS plan. He just gives me a pat on the head and says "sure honey, whatever you say". So I reply "now go put that fence up!".

 

[AnnaRaven]

Well, my DH is on board in that he's encouraging me to do this stuff. He is *NOT* the kinda guy to say "go put that fence up". He'd say "huh? How?" Brilliant engineer, incredibly romantic and sweet, but handy? Not so much.

Him helping declutter or sitting out to "commune with the chickens" is about as much as I can expect from him in terms of active support. But at least he's behind the idea in theory, if not so much into "practice".

So today, I canned ragu, chicken stock, mushrooms and artichoke hearts. Dinner was artichoke hearts with shrimp and pasta - some of the artichokes were didn't fit in the prepared jars. He was quite happy with my "inventive" use of the leftovers. I also refreshed our first aid kit this morning and added to our stores of water.

 

[framing fowl]

Even if he doesn't "do" anything, have the emotional support and the green light to do what you want as far as pursuing more SS is fantastic!

 

[AnnaRaven]

So we were walking the dog today and walked by an empty lot that's been "pending sale" for months now. I started musing aloud about how we could buy the lot and garden on it, and maybe even get a couple goats. DH sez: "yeah, the dwarf ones would be great there." I nearly fell over as he continued speculating about how much the lot would cost and what would be a reasonable amount to pay for it. Then I found out he's been telling people proudly about our plan to put vegetables in the front yard! The lot looks like it's way overpriced for our musing, but it was interesting seeing he's thinking the same way about stuff.

 

[AnnaRaven]

Oh - and I just ran the numbers on Mint.com and we've dropped our two-month grocery bill by almost half compared to the previous two months! And that *includes* my stocking up runs in January!

 

[Denim Deb]

That's always good to hear.

 

[AnnaRaven]

Wheeeee! I'm capturing rain! And I did it myself! Okay, I know it isn't that hard to attach a flexitube to a downspout and stick it in the barrel, but but but... but I did it myself! I got the old downspout unscrewed from the wall and removed from the connector that goes to the gutter, and got everything attached and screwed together and set up in time for the rain. And now, there's *rain* going in my rain barrel!

I am inordinately pleased about this.
ETA: I can't wait to water my plants with my new caught rainwater!