azul

turning dreams into reality requires manifestation

through words, thoughts, actions, and surrounding oneself

with energy that aligns with your hopes and intentions.

rather then daydreaming in bed all day

i try and connect on every level i can with that which i want.

flipping through magazines with pictures that attract me.

watching documentaries or films that inspire me and reflect my desires.

journaling my intentions 

meditating, vision boards and activities and hobbies related to my goals.

for several years now being self-sustainable, 

finding ways to travel (and explore the world) as a family and solo,

learning farming skills, and continuing to pursue outdoor adventures

have been the goals that i feel most connected to.

i have been cultivating these throughout my life

and when i get off track i always seem to make my way back to these aspirations.

 as we prepare for our new family member this winter,

gaining skills and prepping for a future life on land, ie;working towards

being fully self-sufficient, living close to the earth and its cycles 

                                               and adapting a more simplistic lifestyle

are my focused pursuits.

 today we found ourselves picking blueberries under a hot sun.

as we filled up our buckets, and our mouths, my mind grew still.

as a former gardener and landscaper i have always found planting, weeding and harvesting

such a meditative and connective task.

thoughts of blueberry jams, pies, cobblers and smoothies made me smile.

first up is blueberry jam.

we plan to go back next weekend to pick more for freezing.

along with this being cost efficient, this practice of seasonal harvesting

and storing and preserving for autumn and winter is an important

task in homesteading and one i plan to work at as best i can

without the actual land to glean from.

the recipe i used was from Real Simple

and it was that...simple and yummy.

keeps in the fridge a month and freezer for up to a year.

next i will try my hand at a blueberry pie...

and of course we will be gobbling cobblers, pancakes, and muffins.

some other endeavors coming up:

- the art of butter making

- yogurt making

- cheese making

- more veggie and fruit preserving

- and breads