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Cultivate Simple 9: Random Musings

December 10th, 2012

In this weeks show we discuss some random thoughts and musings that we have been having lately and some of the things we feel have made us successful in cultivating a simple life.

Mt Rose Herbs Tea
Traditional Medicinals Teas





Heirloom apples and other Edible Plants

Books of the Week

18 Comments to “Cultivate Simple 9: Random Musings”
  1. Brenda on December 10, 2012 at 5:15 am

    Love the Brady bunch photo!

    Reply to Brenda's comment

  2. Wendy on December 10, 2012 at 6:29 am

    Great Christmas cards! So glad the podcast is back–Monday was missing something last week :)

    Reply to Wendy's comment

  3. Andrea on December 10, 2012 at 7:34 am

    Love the creativity you and Brian have together!! :)

    Reply to Andrea's comment

    • Andrea on December 10, 2012 at 7:36 am

      Also, just when I decide that I am not doing cards this year, you show beautiful ones of your own that make me want to send some out :)

      Reply to Andrea's comment

  4. pam on December 10, 2012 at 8:20 am

    Love the Brady Bunch style card!!!

    Reply to pam's comment

  5. Denimflyz on December 10, 2012 at 10:34 am

    I just love the canning jar photo. Very home-y and peaceful.
    Both of you are very creative and blessed.
    Thank you for sharing.

    Reply to Denimflyz's comment

  6. whit on December 10, 2012 at 2:39 pm

    Your cards inspire me, with this year’s greetings still needing to be tackled. We send out a letter in the style of radio show script, sportscasters, plays. This year, i am stuck, because those themes are more complimentary of the life we left in the city. Maybe a facsimile of an early 1900’s newspaper? Needing to think of something…

    I’ve always admired my friend’s mom’s approach to Christmas. She wanted to keep the holidays focused on creating things with her daughter’s and being present for her family during the season. She sent her greetings to friends and family after Jan 1st. She also said that felt that she was not distracting other’s from their family during the holidays by doing that. Even though she is gone now, i still remember how wonderful it was to receive a letter then, after the holidays, when every word and photo could be poured over and enjoyed.

    Just so you know: your Brady Bunch reference wasn’t lost on my 10 year old daughter….she’s enamoured with the idea and is currently sitting beside me, planning a card in that style featuring all our chickens. :)

    Merry Christmas to you all!

    Reply to whit's comment

    • Susy on December 10, 2012 at 9:42 pm

      Would love to see your daughter’s Brady Brunch chicken card!

      Reply to Susy's comment

  7. tj on December 10, 2012 at 4:13 pm

    …[singing] “Here’s a story, of a lovely lady.
    Who was living with three very lovely girls.”
    “Each of ’em had hair of gold, just like their mother.
    The youngest one in cur-rls.”…hee,hee,hee

    …And yes, I echo the other’s comments above – love the Brady Bunch photo! You guys are adorable! ;o)

    …Did you make your cards from your computer or did you have those made? I love them. :o)

    …Oh and btw, your lil’ gingerbread family is missing some ducks and some chickens. Just so ya kno’… :o)

    …Enjoy your day!

    …Blessings.

    Reply to tj's comment

    • tj on December 10, 2012 at 4:15 pm

      …”Who was “bringing up” three very lovely girls.” Geez… :o)

      Reply to tj's comment

    • Mr. Chiots on December 10, 2012 at 10:13 pm

      We design them in Photoshop but then get them printed at gotprint.com

      Reply to Mr. Chiots's comment

  8. Rhonda on December 11, 2012 at 9:41 am

    Very cute! Seeing the kitties on there made me think of Little Softie, the black kitten. Is she still around?

    Reply to Rhonda's comment

    • Mr. Chiots on December 11, 2012 at 6:24 pm

      Yes. Little Softie (a.k.a. ‘The Sweets’) made the trip to Maine with us. She is happily living in the garage and is keeping it and the chicken coop rodent free. That card with the cats is about 5 years old. That was before Dexter or Little Softie.

      Reply to Mr. Chiots's comment

  9. Melanie in California on December 11, 2012 at 12:20 pm

    Once again, informative, thought-provoking and entertaining. The interaction between you is part of the charm of each podcast and I love the last one where we could hear Lucy in the background. I carry you with me on the iPad and while baking last Sunday re-listened to each ‘cast, pausing to make notes as my own random thoughts and stuff resulted.

    I’m thinking hard about value-for-value. I agree, a forced subscription wouldn’t be in harmony with your goal of making the information available to everyone. What about, perhaps, a voluntary annual subscription with some kind of small, but meaningful to us, incentive? Like, say, a desktop-sized Chiot’s Run calendar? The subscription amount would need to be meaningful for you and still underwrite the cost of the incentive but I’d much rather have a Chiot’s Run-themed something than yet another coffee mug from my local PBS station (which, by the way, I decline because yes you CAN have too many mugs but I still want to support them).

    Reply to Melanie in California's comment

    • Mr. Chiots on December 11, 2012 at 6:26 pm

      That’s along the lines of what we were thinking. Susy is going to start writing e-books (maybe to one day be published as a compilation) and we were thinking about making those ‘free’ to subscribers. Or maybe a special mention on the show?

      Reply to Mr. Chiots's comment

      • Melanie in California on December 11, 2012 at 7:43 pm

        I like the e-book idea!

        And while you’re in brainstorming mode…. I would happily purchase (independent of membership) a t-shirt or sweatshirt (both?) with one of Susy’s awesome pictures.

        “I support Chiot’s Run” http://www.chiotsrun.com

        to Melanie in California's comment

  10. Megan on December 11, 2012 at 8:17 pm

    Enjoyed the podcast as always. I especially enjoyed the section on priorities. People always ask how I “have time” to train for triathlons, work part time, raise my kids, and cook mostly from scratch including bread, and raise my own chickens and beef plus have a garden. But you are right about it being my priority. I try to explain that I don’t watch TV and just budget my time well. And having a spotless house is NOT a priority of mine!
    Good luck with the orchard. If I ever get more land I would love to do the same.

    Reply to Megan's comment

  11. Penny Gibbs on December 13, 2012 at 4:05 pm

    I enjoy the podcast, and think you asked for us to share ideas…what’s funny is I had them down until I started typing. :)

    I remember thinking you could recommend people get in touch with their local Extension office. They have classes that range from mortgages & home buying to garden pest control and canning and ours has hotlines for gardeners.

    You seem to manage many things by being efficient. Perhaps it would help those who say “they don’t have time” if you could describe some of the ways you multi-task or double up chores. I am told I seem to be so busy, but really I just multi-task. It may be a way to follow up or bolster your ideas about time.

    Good luck to you, I enjoy you sharing parts of yourselves with us each day and week.
    Best Wishes~
    Penny

    Reply to Penny Gibbs's comment

About

This is a daily journal of my efforts to cultivate a more simple life, through local eating, gardening and so many other things. We used to live in a small suburban neighborhood Ohio but moved to 153 acres in Liberty, Maine in 2012.

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