Simple livin'?

I am a minimalist, I think.  I feel a sense of pride in not being possessed by things and keeping up with the Jones'.  I don't like to shop just for sport; I make chicken stock out of my once a week free range bird from Met Market, after it is picked clean; I bring reusable totes to the co-op....and I don't usually like two of anything if I an get by with one. But, can I really know what true minimalism is whilst residing in the most consumer-oriented culture in the Western world?  Doubt it. Do I really live a materially minimalist lifestyle like someone in a nomadic culture would? No way. Do I know what living without means when one has no choice in the matter, i.e. living in deep poverty. I think not.

After re-reading the book, Voluntary Simplicity by Duane Elgin, I'm realizing that I can do better; there is value in being conscious of that which we take from the earth. How am I paying nature back? Nothing is free, after all. We all need to be more conscientious of our consumption habits, especially here in America. It would serve us all if we consumed less. Everything, without question, comes from the earth. We need to be frugal in all that we take from her and she will repay us for this respect in her glorious bounty.

A Good Hair Day....

Armand Pacheco

I had a GREAT hair day today.  I got a cut and color from my favorite hair stylist, Armand Pacheco, owner of Salon Armand. I have been going to Armand for my quarterly coiffe for over a year now and continue to be highly impressed with how this gent runs his business. He and I usually seem to chat about the state of our world and our place in it and today I learned about his commitment to green and sustainable business practices.  After reading his mission statement I felt the need to share it with the blogosphere:

Salon Armand

Supports a Green World  

Maintains the highest level of efficacy

Provides superior services using sustainable practices

Promotes high-performance natural and organic products

Creates an idyllic and regenerative salon experience

Nurtures our Guests, Ourselves and our Environment

It is a dream of Armand's to have a completely sustainable salon with solar panels for energy and even a gray water processing system on site that would recycle water from shampooing / rinsing, etc. I don't know how many salons make sustainability a priority, but it made me realize that every decision we make, including the hair salons we choose for our coiffe's can make a difference in the state of our planet.

Moi - and new do!

Thank you, Armand, for my awesome do! And for all that you do to make the world a better place, one cut and color at a time!

A Walk at the Beach in Early November...

Before I lay me down to sleep,
Beneath the too few stars that grace my urban sky,
I walk, walk, walk.

The waves are sharing their peaceful and enduring song
With those that care to listen to its
Lap, lap, lapping.

The endless chatter in my head quietens
And I forget the worries of the day.
I am not the problem, nor the problem solver
And I have forgotten the score.
I simply AM.
That is enough.

Suddenly, it seems, the November chill startles me awake
To the endless possibilities of my life,
Like a child greeting a new day.
I feel grateful.
I am inspired.

And, I walk, walk, walk
Back to my car
And head home.

Local Urban Vino...

This past weekend at Seattle's Eight Bells Winery I, along with a few other volunteers, helped make Pinot Gris wine....process the grapes, anyway! It started with these lovely grapes from McMinnville, OR. Who knew the grapes would be purple when Pinto Gris is actually a white wine?

Pinto Gris Grapes

We tossed 5 huge crates filled with pound after pound of gorgeous grapes into a destemming machine.

 

They then made their way into a large contraption that actually crushes the grapes.

From here the juice is sucked via hose into a vat to settle...click here to read what happens next.

April, a volunteer who will be the next generation of vinters...

While it was impossible to learn the whole wine making process in just one afternoon of volunteering, I did learn a lot. It is hard work! A lot of manual labor is involved in this craft. But, in any craft, including music making, there is manual labor involved. And if you love the process, the hard work doesn't matter. The end result makes the road a delight to travel. For our work, we received a bottle of wine, an experience and camaraderie with other volunteers. 

I encourage you to check out this local winery and support your local vinter!

Listen to Your Mother...



Non-GMO Seattle Volunteers



I'm happy to have a guest blogger today...my mom, Margy Laughlin. She and my dad Bill attended a potluck last night in Seattle with other activists that are working toward a GMO free world. Read about the dangers of GMO's here.  Big thanks go out to people like Margy and Bill who are fighting the good fight against corporations and government that make decisions in regard to how nature does its work. Here are some questions to ask yourself. Do you know where your food comes from? Do you know the difference between industrial and organic produce? Do you know what goes into processed foods? Do you know how certain foods can negatively impact your body and the environment? It comes down to this for me....doesn't mother nature know best? When did this change? Would love to hear what readers have to say about this important topic.

The Folks...Margy and Bill Laughlin



          

Rose asked me to blog about my first meeting with a new organization with a very important mission, GMOFreeSeattle.com.

Last night Bill and I attended a meeting of the grass roots organization Non GMO Washington.  We discussed our goal which is to make Washington state a GMO (genetically modified organisms) free food state.  Action committees were formed with volunteers on each committee. The meeting was conducted by Dr. Les Berenson, a leader and expert in GMO health hazards related to GMO foods. Volunteers came from as far as Bremerton, Tacoma, and Port Towsend.

It was an exciting evening to be involved in this issue and we will continue to participate and work with our fellow volunteers to work for labeling of GMO foods and promoting a GMO free Washington state.

We have six excellent reasons to work for a Non GMO Washington state and that is the health of our grandchildren and for that matter the health of everyone’s grandchild.

Margy Laughlin

Bill Laughlin

Yes! Please..

http://www.yesmagazine.org/

I decided against monetizing my blog with random advertisements because during these revolutionary times I feel it is very important now more than ever to be mindful of the businesses we support. I can't have a blog about folk, farming and "FREEDOM" and use ads that support industry that is unsustainable simply for my own monetary gain. Not gonna do it! But, that being said, I would like to support businesses and missions that I believe in. I recently discovered Yes! magazine. It is a non-profit, independent and subscriber supported magazine that promotes "powerful ideas and practical action" for people wanting to make a difference in their communities and the planet. I contacted Yes! magazine and asked them if I could post an ad on my site and they gave me three different photos to choose from. Of course, I had to choose the ad featuring the grandfather of modern activisim, revolution and legendary folkie, Pete Seeger!   

In Yes'! own words...

 

"Powerful Ideas, Practical Actions

Today’s world is not the one we want—climate change, financial collapse, poverty, and war leave many feeling overwhelmed and hopeless.
YES! Magazine empowers people with the vision and tools to create a healthy planet and vibrant communities. We do this by:

• Reframing issues and outlining a path forward;
• Giving a voice to the people who are making change;
• Offering resources to use and pass along

YES! Magazine is printed on 100% post-consumer waste, chlorine-free paper. We reach more than 150,000 readers quarterly. More than 140,000 people visit our website each month, where we post new stories every day."

Hey, if it's Pete Seeger's favorite magazine....maybe it is time to subscribe! YES! I will!

Fall...

My gigging and farming season (as far as I know) is officially over until next spring. It was a good, good run  promoting my new album and also dabbling in the art of farming.

Though we're just in mid Autumn, I'm beginning to feel the pull, pull, pull of winter....it is whispering in my ear...."eat more comfort food, Rose....take out your winter coats, boots and gloves....get ready to hunker down and hibernate!" I don't mind it though. As much as I love the warmer months of the year, and the freedom of it, the change of the season is welcome, too.  The rains will come soon...but I will read more, learn some new songs....drink lots of tea and hot lemonade and get ready for the holidays....and before I know it, spring will reappear and it will be welcomed, too.