Finally our new home is in some semblance of order. I no longer have to invite my dog to be a guest writer! It's a little embarrassing to admit we have so much "stuff" that it took almost a month to sort, organize, and place everything. We have fewer rooms and less square footage than in our previous home, so our aim was to downsize.
"Be ruthless," we told each other while we were sorting and disposing of years of accumulated possessions on our previous country mile. We were so pleased with the results of our labours: many items shared with our children and their families, bags and bags of donations to the local used goods charity, even more bags of recyclables carted away, and box after box of garbage set out on the road several weeks in a row. We sold many superfluous pieces of furniture as well as freezers, heaters, a riding mower, and even a hot tub!
And, no sooner had we begun unpacking at our new address, than we realized that we hadn't been ruthless enough. Out went another couch, several chairs, small tables, many ornaments, knick knacks, and pictures, a chain saw, and all kinds of miscellany. You're probably thinking that there can't be much left but the truth is that despite all the shedding of extra goods, we still have a lovely, comfortable, and well-appointed new home here on our new country mile.
So why am I embarrassed? What we disposed of with two rounds of weeks of work added up to enough goods to provide for several families in a third world nation. And the groceries and clothing we moved to the new home would likely feed and clothe those families for a long time also. It doesn't feel right that two people should be in possession of such wealth when so many people in the world are cold, hungry, and needy.
My new life resolution is to strive to live more simply, use fewer products, shop less, recycle more, and be content with the riches I have. I'm more blessed than I ever suspected, mainly because I wasn't paying attention to all I have.
Tuesday, August 18, 2015
Friday, August 7, 2015
We Moved!
Hi, it's me, Daisy again.
Mommy says I should post again because she's still so busy with moving. I really wish she would sit down and rest more. Then maybe her feet wouldn't hurt so much. It seems silly to me: we moved because Mommy's arthritis in her feet is so bad that she needs a smaller house and smaller yard with not so much work to do. But ever since we got here, all she does is work! It just doesn't make sense.
I think the problem is those things she calls boxes. She's so pleased every time she empties one but I don't think she realizes that opening a box and taking things out merely messes up the room she just finished organizing. She should just ignore those boxes and put her feet up.
I really like our new home. We're still in the country but we have lots of neighbours close by. Mommy's happy because we have lots of trees and so do all our neighbours. Lots of other dogs live here, too and I make sure to bay at every single one that's walking his Mommy or Daddy in the evenings. I just learned how to bay and I can do it really loud, even louder than Baxter.
Baxter likes it here too, although he's not pleased that we didn't bring his favourite couch. The only couch he and I are allowed to be on is the one in the sunroom. We're not supposed to go on the living room furniture but I do anyway when Mommy isn't looking. What does she expect, that we'll just lie on the floor?
See, I do lie on the floor sometimes but surely she doesn't think I'm going to live there?
Anyway, we moved and we're all busy figuring out where everything is now. I like running on the smooth floors and sliding to a stop near the end of the hallway. It's so much more fun than the carpet that was all over the old house. I'm having such a good time and trying so hard to behave myself, I don't understand why Mommy still calls me "devil dog" so often. Even Daddy calls me that sometimes ... And he's the one who usually says I'm so cute. I think moving has changed them both and, even though it was fun, I hope we never have to do it again.
I think the problem is those things she calls boxes. She's so pleased every time she empties one but I don't think she realizes that opening a box and taking things out merely messes up the room she just finished organizing. She should just ignore those boxes and put her feet up.
I really like our new home. We're still in the country but we have lots of neighbours close by. Mommy's happy because we have lots of trees and so do all our neighbours. Lots of other dogs live here, too and I make sure to bay at every single one that's walking his Mommy or Daddy in the evenings. I just learned how to bay and I can do it really loud, even louder than Baxter.
Baxter likes it here too, although he's not pleased that we didn't bring his favourite couch. The only couch he and I are allowed to be on is the one in the sunroom. We're not supposed to go on the living room furniture but I do anyway when Mommy isn't looking. What does she expect, that we'll just lie on the floor?
Anyway, we moved and we're all busy figuring out where everything is now. I like running on the smooth floors and sliding to a stop near the end of the hallway. It's so much more fun than the carpet that was all over the old house. I'm having such a good time and trying so hard to behave myself, I don't understand why Mommy still calls me "devil dog" so often. Even Daddy calls me that sometimes ... And he's the one who usually says I'm so cute. I think moving has changed them both and, even though it was fun, I hope we never have to do it again.
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