Hello 2024

The old year went out with a virus. Whatever I picked up last Tuesday decided to hang around. I would start to feel better, then not, then feel better again, then not. I skipped church yesterday to avoid passing this on to anyone else.

I tried to be good about resting when I needed to, but oh!—that is so hard when I wanted to be up getting things done. And everything that was on my to-do list from last week has been pushed forward. I’m starting 2024 behind the curve and that is not my preferred place to be.

I did manage to get one generator cover made, which was the #1 item on my to-do list for the week between Christmas and New Year’s. Thankfully, I had the old one to take apart and use as a pattern:

This was a relatively quick sew once I had it all cut out. Certainly, it was faster and easier than drafting one from scratch. It’s that cylindrical piece on top that is the tricky part.

I still have two smaller covers on the list, but I told the husband that I repaired his pants and made a generator cover for him this week, so he has to go to the end of the line and wait his turn again.

I think my voice has improved enough that I’ll be able to record the podcast today—again, that was something I wanted to have done last week. Ah, well. I’ll just have to do the best I can to get back on track.

The word of the year is CULTIVATE, but sometimes you can’t get into the garden because of the weather.

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One of the pervasive myths in the homesteading community is that to be a “real” homesteader, you have to do everything from scratch yourself. (And document it for your YouTube channel.) Hahahahahaha. It’s worth noting that a lot of those people who champion that viewpoint are wearing Carhartt clothing purchased at the farm store. I want to ask them why they didn’t raise the sheep or grow the flax, then spin the yarn and weave or knit what they’re wearing. THEY ARE NOT REAL HOMESTEADERS. 😱

In this day and age, we have the luxury of choosing our activities. I don’t knit socks because I learned a long time ago that I don’t enjoy knitting socks. I haven’t ever made my own underwear, either, but that’s about to change. I’ve been buying the same style and brand of underwear for years. They fit well and have held up—until recently. The latest batch, purchased about six months ago, is beginning to fall apart. It’s most apparent in the elastic, which is disintegrating.

I have all the supplies for making underwear, so I have no excuse. I can make myself the same supply of underwear for a fraction of what new ones costs, and mine won’t fall apart after six months. I may not get started on that project for a while yet, but underwear is on the list of things I want to make in 2024.

In a nutshell, I choose to spend my time producing things of better quality than what I can buy at the store. At the moment, that includes food, clothing, and generator covers. I want nourishing food that isn’t contaminated with glyphosate, soy, high fructose corn syrup, and seed oils, so I grow it and cook from scratch. I want clothing that fits me well and lasts, so I make it myself. The husband wants generator covers that don’t fall apart in a slight breeze, so I make those, too.

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I have mixed feelings about how 2024 is going to play out. All I can do, though, is control myself and my immediate environment, so that is what I am going to do. I’ll spend today getting as caught up as I possibly can. I’ve got my to-do lists for January all laid out in front of me. It’s time to get started.