start where you are, do what you can

This the title of Angela Wheelock's post, at Deep Green. Accolading her post on the caring for a river.
I  am fortunate enough to live among rivers that are still basically unaffected by humans, my rivers don't seem to need clean-up or protection. And when  protecting is at hand here, I always fear that it will create more damage then when the area was left un-named, by the increase in people visiting the place. Yet, I am all for people enjoying these wild places i live among. My view here on keeper of wild places, when i share them with you they will continue to exist.

When I think about; do what you can, for me it is more about realizing the effects of everything i do on the environment. As what i wrote about in the previous post this month, when I use a little less electricity, that will make a big difference over  let's say ten years, less diesel has to be burned at the electricity plant in Whitehorse, where my electricity comes from. It is a hydro plant, but they use diesel when they need to.

To me every increase in power demand, means some of our wilderness has to step back.

Sometimes I too get caught in thinking that it would be hard to take a step back, but here i want to explore what and how much and what we gain by stepping back. Because somehow I keep feeling that, there is a fine line, it is a balance, and I as most people are way beyond that line, our lives to greedy, to be fully enjoyed. We are still very far away from starting to suffer when simplifying our lives.

I am turning the computer off, to go for a walk in freshly fallen snow.

Joie de vivre

well whatever makes one tick.
I was out on the ice again. Yes, that brings me joy,  but what exactly? For me it is very playful, I just like to be out in the elements for no particular reason. I am the forever explorer, I like new routes, never been on before lakes, what's on the ice? how thick is it today?, the patterns and lately what's underneath.

But hey I was happy already this morning before I went out on the ice. The electricity bill came in and it was 40 dollars total, it is a monthly bill. I take pride in it, for it to be so low.

I read on the bill,that the meter was read oct 3 . Before I started the fridge thing? yes, I started that on the eleventh. So will that mean the bill can even be lower? that seems almost impossible.
Oh I read now it was 9 cent more then last month. Oops and August was even less.

But reading it now more careful  to get it clear for you. The actually energy we used was, $23.31, 192 KWH.

I know I am a penny pincer, I take joy in that when it come to this. believing and standing for more joy. I will never suffer just to spend less. For me it is always about a better quality of life.

So are this few cents important?

I know they are.  But i like to put words to it one day. trying here.

To have the fridge have to work less hard, is working well. The fridge is one of the few electrical things we use all day long. A freezer in the cold room in the garage and the phone is plugged in and we have an electrical water heater.

a few flakes

Today a few flakes fell down from the sky. And when I say a few I mean a few, I maybe seen three, and now when I go look outside on cold flat surfaces I can't find any.

More will come.

And I do like to write about  more quality of life. I do love winter.

But today's post is about... a bladder infection I had, or still might have. First I was not too worried, I had had a few bladder infections some 30 years ago, and after once gone to the doctor, and probably been prescribed antibiotics, I  learned how to instantly recognize them and by drinking lots of water and cranberry juice have them go away. I also learned how to avoid them.
Over the years I might have sometimes had those first symptoms, of wanting to pee frequently and a a burning feeling while peeing, but none ever developed in a full blown infection.

So 12 days ago now, indeed I was not to worried, I drank lots of water, ate cranberries and made my own herbal teas, avoided sweets, and no sugar. After 3 days the symptoms were still there. Now I was worried, I phoned 811 ( the nurse)  All she could tell me, that I sounded confused a better go to the doctor right away.

No I did not, I phoned another nurse, my sister-in-law in Holland, and she said, drink water as much as you can drink or more. I liked that much better. And googled some Dutch sites on the matter and they confirmed what she said.

But now I was worried about drinking too much. ( it is a real thing)

oh dear

My symptoms would come and go. sometimes  a whole day with out symptoms for them to only be back the next day.

After 10 days I finally went to the doctor. As I don't have a doctor I went to the walk-in clinic, which is apparently cheaper on tax payers money then going to the hospital at emergency.  I did have to wait for two hours, which was maybe worse for me then the symptoms so far. Although I had called the burning sensation an 8 out of 10 on the pain level. Which maybe was the wrong answer, but it was a sharp pain for that 2 seconds of the last drop,  only a few times an intense short lived 8.

Finally at the doctor's, it was a short visit, I am sure she studied at medical school, and learned how to recognize a bladder infection through an urine sample and, as she said, to prescribe Ran-ciproflox twice for 7 days.

No exception for people that might think there are other ways.

Oh she also said, "now you are getting older your body might not be able to fight an infection on it's own".

What do you think should I take the whole cure, as we were taught to do with antibiotics, or keep up the good work, drinking and all, and quit a few days early?

And least but not last, I am proud to say, this might be only the second time in life I take antibiotics. Or any prescribed drug. As a child I have a vague recollection of being on prescribed drugs, which I hated. And I might have been prescribed things.. for minor things... a few times... lucky lucky lucky.

blessed.

Thriving

It's that time of year again, and it is looking good, clear smooth ice has formed this year.
It was a little early to be on, the ice sprung a few cracks as i skated, and i decided to turn around carefully sliding back.

The Joy to be on the ice, the joy of what can be seen on the bottom of the lake, and the Joy of musical sounds, clooks, pinggggs, whooos. ahhh any many more.

So back to the fridge at home, as Angela in mindful green living, suggest for next week; how to change.

Btw i was also inspired by the upcoming carbon tax, Finally! I 'ld say. It is about time we pay for what it costs.

Yet I do believe that changing our habits is essential.

Those changes FOR THE JOY, FOR MORE and not less.

And yes to continue my last post, my fridge is turning on less, the noise of it running disturbed us, as it is the only electrical sound in the house when the computer or/and the radio are turned off.
And yes we have been noticing the extra silence. The peacefulness during the day, with that beautiful sunshine flooding from October sunshine. ( no trees with leaves blocking it and at a right angle coming through the window)

For not going into the fridge so often, well that works well too.  less fuss, but as it turns out I do like to cook for two days, leftovers. I will try to cool them off on the porch, stepping outside in the evening is always a treat. with the clear days, the stars are amazing and last night I did spot a falling star. ( Northern lights where out last week for sure)

deep green

Inspired by Angela, you can check out her new blog;  Deep Green.

It seems we all try to live the best we can. 

And in celebrating that,

I will  work on changing certain habits that seem opposite to what i stand for.

What do I stand for?

At the moment, one thing is

Joy.  for me and All.

I feel  Joy when i look and see a sight that reflects peace and harmony and beauty.

lol this is funny trying to explain why should  I change anything, and yet i feel a need.

following Angela's top ten

I will today

focus on how i use the fridge. opening it less, minimize left overs, eat everything that is in there within the expiry date.

How do you use your fridge

Or better yet how do you have more Joy without a fridge?

I was thinking, maybe leave things on the steps before I put them in (as it is fridge temperature here in the Yukon now) but is that more work less simplistic? I will look at that and see if there is Joy in that.

haha simple crazy things, you think it will make a difference?