I have been putting my summer garden "to bed" most of today. It's been sunny, breezy, and uplifting to be able to be out in the fresh air for another day. The laundry is actually getting dry! The vegetables have been harvested, except for beets, spinach, chard, and collards. I even still have strawberry blossoms and a few berries. The chickens are laying enough eggs that I can still sell some. A friend of mine at church has started making butter, so I swap her eggs for that. The hay is in. I finished a knitting project. Indeed, it feels pretty good today!

I love doing this. And I love homesteaders, too. You know why? Because they take the initiative to do things. They fix stuff. They identify and solve problems. They help neighbors. They take charge of getting things done. You know some of the good folks on this forum who are like that. I am inspired quite often!

What they don't do is equally inspiring. They don't whine. They may have problems, and they may discuss them, but they don't just bitch about them. They look at issues, try to figure out how things got the way they did, or why somebody may have made a choice to make a decision. They understand things. They may not agree with any number of things, but they problem-solve. They ask questions. They keep things in perspective, although usually within their already established perspective. (That's human nature, though. The important thing is they keep trying.)

If I read someone's post that discusses a problem (or for some posts a whole laundry list of them) I like to read someone's idea of how things could be different...how to make it better. Whether the issue is about making bread or creating a government that better represents us, I for one, appreciate it. From my keyboard to your monitor, I thank you for keeping the homesteading mentality alive. Thank you SO MUCH to those of you who don't just whine on this forum.

-- sheepish (rborgo@gte.net), October 21, 2000

Answers

Sheepish, you're making me feel so incredibly whiney (and bitchey) for my grumblings about fixing our irrigation pump. It leaks and we cannot undo the pipes. Can't I whine... just a little?

Good stuff: got the greenhouse door back on (a miracle with the directions we got), have enough money to get fencing, etc. to prepare for animals next spring, we have sunshine (it is raining elsewhere in WA), and I planted some daffodils today and some plants I got in an internet plant exchange, the sun is setting and all is peaceful. Amy

-- Amy Richards (tiggerwife@aol.com), October 21, 2000.

Sheepish, in your second paragraph in part you wrote : "And I love homesteaders, too. You know why? Because they take the initiative to do things. They fix stuff. They identify and solve problems. They help neighbors. They take charge of getting things done."

I'm not sure how much difference there is between homesteaders and farmers, but some years back when farmers were doing pretty good and Washington had a rapidly expanding deficit, it was said that since farmers are known to squeeze a dime out of a nickel, that they should take over politics for a while and let the politicians farm. Folks figured that within just a few years the budget would be balanced, then the farmers could go back home to straighten out the mess their farms would be in, while the politicians would go back to Washington to begin the cycle again.

Good post sheepish, I'll try not to whine too much.

-- Notforprint (Not@thekeyboard.com), October 21, 2000.

Notfor Print....they forgot to finish that story! If the politicians were doing the farming...most people wouldn't be eating! Except for homesteaders!

Awww, what a bunch of warm fuzzies. It's really almost like a cyber hug! Thanks, Sheepish....and I will try not to whine about my favorite subject.

-- Doreen (animalwaitress@yahoo.com), October 21, 2000.

Beautiful post Sheepish!!! That brings me back to when I was younger living in the city. I could make money but I had no confidence at all! Now being a homesteader I feel I can do most anything! I've been building this stone house by myself for years. I can fix, mend, build, you name it. I think its called living a FULL life!! We should all be very proud of this lifestyle and thank you for reminding us......Kirk

-- Kirk Davis (kirkay@yahoo.com), October 21, 2000.