"Step one, well be-gun" You can sort of hear that being chanted as you try to master a new dance step or sewing technique. It seeps into your soul and rests there, constantly giving encouragement and reminding you that you are only on the first step.
It has been a long journey for me and I am happy to say that there is much left still to go, this blog is my way of sharing those steps and just maybe helping others along the way. I really don't much care for blogs because everyone can use them and post on them and there are millions out there so the chances of my blog making a big difference is slim to none but still, this is for me. Please pardon my run-on sentences, they are my worst fault in writing.
I don't anticipate that I will update more than once a week or so but I am going to try. I suppose I should just launch into it then hrm?
Well last night my boyfriend (let's call him Pat 'kay? ;) ) took me for a walk in the "woods" near our apartment. It was fun even though it is the season of the sand spurs. We took Ein, our chihuahua something or other hopefully terrier, as well. He didn't like it as much but then again he isn't very adventurous. I got to teach Pat some woods stuff that was kind of cool and we found several downed branches that we could break and turn into firewood. There is a type of grass that grows here in Florida that has still bristles on four to five short bracts at the top. If plucked while still green they can be used green or dried as toothbrushes. Not that we are going to but it is still really cool. The grass had sent runners over a concrete area in the vacant lots on the other side of the woods and I told him about how the grass normally would be hard to use because those runners would root to the ground but since they were on concrete they could be used like any normal rope. If you soaked them and then used them and left them to dry they could be used as ropes for thatching, fire bundles, mats, anything woven or braided. I also got to tell him about the uses of cattails and which plants made good tinder when dried and which you could harvest and use immediately.
We found wild blackberries growing in that vacant area this summer, also found our three kittens there so it is a fun spot for the two of us to visit and get in touch with our wild side a bit more. I do think I will wear my slip-shoes or at least socks next time though because the sand-spurs/prickle burrs were a pain. I have to pluck them all out of my house dress now. Either way I have a little more firewood to use against the chill of winter. Am thinking about leaving the windows open and using it now or tonight honestly.
I am going to go make sculpy food and start getting dinner defrosted, Pork chops cooked with applesauce and vinegar as a marinade with squash and zuchini on the side, Yum!
Really easy re-use idea! Take pringles cans or anything that is tubular and burnable (paper towel tubes also work, just pinch shut the "bottom") and stuff them full of paper, sawdust, small and medium sticks, moss, basically make a tinder tube. When ready to use merely open your tube on at least one end, both is preferable, then light from the middle or whichever end has the most "soft" tinder that will light easily. You can even use dryer lint for these tubes and don't worry if they don't work right away, getting the right amount of easy lighters and burnables in the right spots does take some practice. Don't forget to save or recycle any plastics or metals that are left over. I love this idea and really want to try it on camping because if built correctly you have all you need to start your fire in one easy to light, durable, lightweight package. Also since most paper towel tubes and food tubes are waxed they can withstand a little bit of water like what might leak through a zipper or small hole. Food tubes are also not always recyclable because of the grease from the food. Personally I like to use pizza box parts because the grease from the pizza is not only not recyclable it is an oily conflagration waiting to be used properly. I only use pizza box parts inside my tubes and I try to do so with pringles can that i can close up so no bugs can find it and use it for a new tasty home. I would post pictures but the camera is dead...guess I know what I will be doing next!
