A family member recently commented that my quest to simplify (by doing things like air-drying laundry and darning socks) is really just a way to fill idle time.  From the mass consumption perspective of most American lifestyles, maybe that sounds true.  We have driers.  We can buy more socks.

I don’t always choose that.  In fact, I find great joy in embracing tasks that I have simplified or greened up a bit.  The idea that I only do these things because I have nothing better to do is absolutely frustrating.

Is cooking homemade meals something you do because you have idle time?

Is decluttering your house something you do because you’re bored?

Now for me personally – if I start ironing towels, it will be an absolute sign of idle time.  With everything going on here right now, we’re lucky if our towels get washed. But I still won’t use a dryer.

There is a very small revolution going on in much of the developed world where we’re seeing that happiness can come from simplifying and reverting to more of the things that people used to do 50 or 100 years ago.  I think that many of you are discovering that very same thing.  That’s why you hang out with me on Making This Home.

Meanwhile, everyone else thinks we are nuts.

Are we?

(One of my favorite walking paths… parallel to a packed 6-lane street in Berlin)

Another family member – one who adores more simplicity – sent me some life rules that have certainly cooled me down from my frustrations.  I think you might enjoy them and reflect on what they mean in your life.

1. Free your heart from hatred.
2. Free your mind from worries.
3. Live simply.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less.

What do you think?  Are you simplifying your life because you don’t have anything else to do?

There’s something about autumn that captivates me.  Here are two pictures taken at approximately the same time of year in two very, very different places.  Both of them are on a return trip from the grocery store – just about two blocks away from my favorite stores.

This one was via bike in Berlin, Germany at the beginning of November.  I tried to balance my bike with maybe 50 pounds of groceries in saddle bags.  It is gray and rainy.  The leaves take forever to slowly turn yellow and fall to the ground.  I think it is beautiful.

This picture is from the United States on a one-way road via car last week.  It’s sunny and warm; I wear sunscreen and have no idea how heavy my groceries are.  I don’t have to be able to lift them all at once.  But any day now, we will get a heavy frost.  The leaves will immediately wilt and fall to the ground.  I think it is beautiful.

Did you know that Martin and I like to embrace greener, simpler holiday celebrations?  We really just like to slow down, buy less, and go handmade.  I’m sure you guessed that!  No surprise there.

Last year, I compiled all of the tips and tricks we love to celebrate with in a compact and beautiful ebook.  All our favorites are there:  from creating repurposed wrapping paper to sending (free!) green thank you notes and hosting parties.  Repurposed craft tutorials, green tree tricks, and peeks into our Berlin apartment at Christmas… oh boy!  I can see why some of you have been knocking on my virtual door, hinting,

“Kaaaaatie?  When are you going to offer that ebook again?  We’re reeeeeady…”

Clearly I am behind.  I finally bought my first candy corn since 2007!

Or maybe some of you would say I’m early.

Either way, folks, I’m so happy to report:  A Green Christmas:  Reduce * Reuse * Rejoice * Recycle is up and ready at Gadanke.

Like always, I use Paypal to keep your personal information secure.  However you absolutely don’t need a Paypal account yourself to shop at Gadanke.  Yippee!

Happy, happy holiday prep!

This week has been really busy but also really fun around these parts.  (Oh yes.  I feel the western twang slipping into my vocabularly…)

I’m thinking a spontaneous post here and there couldn’t be so bad.  This little red gal from the shop was in complete agreement.  She immediately jumped into place for a photo shoot.

See you in the morning in America with something simple + green + fun.

One of the 3 things on my decluttering list from our recent challenge was to whip up our bookshelf.  It meant getting rid of books we don’t need and books we’re not crazy about.  It also meant reading the books that I’ve always wanted to read.

As the cold slips into the neighborhood and we spend more time snuggling up with blankets and hot tea, it feels like the perfect time to introduce the books pulled from my shelf and onto my reading list right now.  All three of these books feel like really inspiring pieces – a little heavy reading, a little light reading.  Why keep it to myself or interrupt Martin from his school work every time I stumble on something fascinating?  Here they are for you, too:

1. Good Calories, Bad Calories

by Gary Taubes

My neighbor says this book is a must-read for people who want to understand more about our food system and our bodies.

I’ve been warned that this book is pretty dense but really, really incredible.

It’s perfect for reading piece by piece.  That way you can digest the thoughts (what a pun!).  It gives you things to think about as you grocery shop and prepare meals so you can ideally make positive changes.

Next up….

2. Mirror Mirror

by Gregory Maguire

I’ve loved every book by Maguire, author of Wicked.  Have you seen the Broadway play or read any of his other works?

He completely transforms the old fairytales that we know so well, and he tells them from the villain’s perspective.  Fascinating.  I love how his fiction make me question the truth and reality of what we think we know.

I’m excited to see if this book offers the same thrill with beautiful descriptions and prose.

And to wrap it all up…

3. Conscious Living

by Gay Hendricks

A friend suggested this book about a year ago.  I’ve completely forgotten why she said to dig into the pages of this one.

The theme of the book is “finding joy in the real world”.  It’s all about awakening creativity and letting go of what we cannot control.  It’s all about being true to yourself, which makes me think I know just why this book has been suggested.  Being true to yourself versus doing what we think society says we should – well I’m all about that!

So that’s the list happily piled on our little shelf, ready for blankets and, okay – I’ve changed my mind.  Not tea.  Rather, this apple cider.  Have you read any of these?  Any like them?  Or do you have another book you just can’t get enough of right now that you’d like to shout off the frozen rooftops about?

We have a lucky winner of this beautiful handmade camera case from Robin.

It’s a woman who knows her creative fear is something I think we can all really, really relate to.  The lucky woman hesitates with a fear of failure.

But hopefully this lovely little bag can help her venture out a little more with camera in hand.  And that lucky woman?  Well Kristin!  Congratulations, Kristin.  And a big thanks to Robin for sharing her handmade story with us.