Long Time No Post!

The garden fizzled fast...became a huge breeding ground for mosquitos when considerable amounts of rain fell in short periods of time, and I was snowed under many other things...too busy to notice. That is, until I was hit in the face with a mass infestation that greeted me whenever I went through my front door - to the point of having them dancing about my inner sanctum at all hours. Cutter to the rescue. (That and dumping the pots, spreading out the soil to dry out, dumping the plants.
(sigh)

So it's fall. And I'm back on my cruisade to be environmentally, fiscally, and personally responsible. How can I pare down, how can I, in the midst of economic chaos in the world, keep my head above water and not panic?

Are you feeling it, too?

I do remember these words from my only successful attempt to quit smoking (my last attempt!), my yoga class, my Lamaze class, and all the psychological work I did in learning to destress after my heart attack. Very simple words:

Breathe in and count to 4. Hold the breath for a count of 4. Breathe out for a count of 8. Stop. Repeat.

Then, of course, I learned to knit. And went back to sewing.

If you're stressed? And you're so inclined? MAKE SOMETHING. Take paper and scissors and cut out paperdolls or snowflake chains.

Play with the cat. (or dog, if that's your preference)

Then go to these sites on the web:
The Simple Dollar
If You Feel Stressed, Walk Around Your House
Simple Living Network

This might inspire you to get a handle on the things you can control, and stop obsessing over what you're not ever going to control...

(I know. I'm a stresser and an obsesser...it's hard to move past your innate nature and go with the flow, so to speak. But still...remember to breathe?)
(((hugs)))