FIMBY

Today I'm tired, very tired. But I'm also thankful for the sun finally shining on our little corner of the world. The first day nice enough this month, August 13th for pete's sake, to go to the beach.

So, I'm sitting at the beach with one eye on my fish and the other on this notebook*. In the warm sunshine, listening to the splashing and laughter I'm able to forget the mess I left behind at home.

We've just had an intense 2 nights and one day visit with three Appalachian Trail thru hikers. A visit that included a potluck supper last night opened up to coworkers, homeschoolers, friends and pretty much any ol' stranger that wanted to come.

This morning Damien drove our new friends back to the trail in the mountains about 1.5 hours from our home. I was left to face my own "mountain" of clean up. Three disheveled guest beds (I'd like to point out we don't actually have a guest room so these beds are located here, there and everywhere in the house), a front porch full of trail debris left behind by smelly backpacks and mounds of dishes and food littered floors from hosting 20 people, half of them rugrats 9 & under, for supper last night. Faced with this daunting reality I did the only sensible thing to do. Left it all and came to the beach.

I'm so thankful for the opportunity to have hosted and met the three hikers who left this morning, they had trail names (an AT thru hikers tradition) so this is what I'll use to describe them.

(Sm)ellie, the quiet, well prepared and easy going woman from Georgia. On her way to grad school (2nd time around) to further her studies in the interconnectedness of anthropology, bio-medicine and computer science(!). Philly, the storytelling cartoonist from Virginia and Kentucky. Also on his way back to school to pursue a playwright and acting career. And of course Vagabond, also known as Daren Wendell, the man walking around the world on the Earth Expedition to raise awareness and funds for the Blood:Water Mission in Africa. A guy who literally owns only the what he is carrying on his back (Myke you would of loved meeting this guy).

What an awesome experience and privilege to host these folks in our home. If you ever have a chance to put up AT thru hikers in your home - do it! I'd do it again in an instant once the fridge was re-stocked and the sheets washed. People who have been hiking 15-20 miles a day for months, sleeping in the rainy woods and eating ramen noodles and potato flakes for days are pleased as punch with whatever hospitality you have to offer. Just make sure to have lots of food on hand. Hot water and laundry soap doesn't hurt either.

Someday when our family is trekking through North American mountains, backpacking across Europe or doing mission work in Costa Rica, carrying our beds and shelter on our backs I hope we'll be able to crash on someone's floor and get a fresh meal. Afterall, as our guests told us "on the trail, hikers take care of hikers". We're all on a journey, a trek through life. Too bad more people don't live by the creed "travelers on this journey of life take care of fellow travelers". What a nicer world that would be.

Show hospitality, share your table and your garden veggies, make up a bed on your floor. Although you'll be providing rest to the weary you'll be the one enriched. Let's take care of fellow pilgrims on this journey of life.

*post written yesterday in my notebook while at the beach.

Ack! I haven't blogged for 3 days. I'm starting to twitch.

It's been a busy weekend. The sun shone (hallelujah!) and once the flood waters in the backyard receded I tried to rescue the beans and staked leggy perennials. We had a supper around the firepit with friends and watched an outdoor movie at a riverfront park in our community. Ah... summer.

But mainly we started to pack and plan for camping later this month. My contribution was to spend 5 hours yesterday, our anniversary, at the laundromat washing and drying our down sleeping bags. Which take like, forever to dry. But are oh so warm, fluffy and light so I guess are worth the extra time and expense of cleaning them.

At least I didn't just sit there mindlessly watching the tube. In between swiping my "laundromat debit card" a gazallion times (coin-less technology but alas no wi-fi) I finished putting together the kid's portfolios for their yearly homeschool review which takes place this week.

An evening out with friends at our favorite restaurant in the Old Port redeemed "the anniversary" aspect of the day. Wonderful Japanese food, with lots of laughs and these lovely gladiolus given as an anniversary gift.

As if that wasn't enough activity for the weekend we also prepared to host Daren Wendell of Earth Expedition, for a couple days this week.

My best friend Damien (my date yesterday night) has been following this guy's trek for months and invited him to stay at our house on his way through Maine. We weren't exactly sure when he'd be here, sometime in August. When you're walking around the world it's kind of hard to pinpoint these things exactly.

Well, we now know exactly when he will be here. In a couple hours. Damien's picking Daren up right now, along with 2 extras. Apparently, when you find friends on the trail you stick together.

I'm so excited. Finally we're having some strangers stay, something I've wanted for years. To host travelers and pilgrims, practicing real Christian hospitality.

We're also planning a potluck supper for tomorrow night. If you're reading this you're invited. Daren's not just hiking the world for fun. He's doing it to help raise awareness for Blood:Water Mission. And we're hosting a potluck, hopefully the RSVP list will outgrow our home, to help him spread the Blood:Water Mission message, "to build clean wells in Africa, to support medical facilities caring for the sick, to make a lasting impact in the fight against poverty, injustice and oppression in Africa".

So, we're all really jazzed around here. To have someone stay in our home who's hiked the Appalachian Trail (something my crazy family aspires to), who's walking around the world, and who's raising awareness for something we believe but haven't done much about. Lets face it, "life" easily gets in the way of all our convictions to fight poverty, injustice and oppression..

Woo-Wee. There is some serious fun happening in my back yard...

PS. If you want to come to the potluck you have to RSVP for directions and such. Contact me here.

As you know I'm taking a break from writing long philosophical rants and soap-box posts. But I have so much to say about local and organic foods being for everyone, not only those who can afford to shop at Whole Foods (we certainly can't), that sticking to this writing break is killing me...

Oh well, the photos will have to speak for me. The kids and I attended the Local Foods Festival at our farmer's market this week, organized by our favorite community organization, Lots To Gardens,

That pretty much says it folks. Oh, and my kids learned their first parade slogan this week "We want local foods. When do we want it? NOW!" My children are community activists and I'm darn proud of it!

Farmer's Market Flowers

Not too many years ago in the past I almost exclusively shopped at Wal-Mart (shh... don't tell anyone), it was cheapest after all. The only thing local there was the poorly paid and under-insured "associates". To be fair our family budget was tighter. We were still paying down consumer debt (a folly we won't ever repeat) and saving for a house down payment. I wonder if my miserly shopping helped us save money? Probably, but now we're choosing to save money other ways so we can purchase food according to our values.

Our biggest money saver is owning a small home (we rent out the basement), on a small lot in the community my husband works in, walking distance from his job. A huge blessing and a choice I realize not everyone can make. But even if it weren't "easy" walking distance away he'd hoof it on foot, longboard or bike, that's the kind of guy he is. Living close to employment, and sacrificing a larger lot in the "country", enables us to live very comfortably with only one car. In fact, it goes days not being used and during those times we sometimes lend it to friends so they don't need to own a car.

But wait, don't we have children? Yep, 3. And don't we camp? Yep, every month. How can we manage with just a car, not even any roof rack, trailers or other "carry more stuff" storage? Light living is the name of the game.

Owning one, small, old car and not driving it a lot, having no debt and a smaller urban footprint (fancy speak for living on a small city lot and renting part of our house) are three biggies that enable us to buy more local food.

I heard the other day on NPR the "average US family" is now spending $100/week for gas (I nearly croaked). I'd rather pay $30/week and use the "savings" to buy more I-know-the-farmer grown food. To be sure, we're not driving in luxury. Our car is 15 years old, there's little squirmies living under the booster seats , and the AC stopped working years ago. But who cares we're eating well.

But what about those who aren't so blessed? Those who are on very limited incomes and can't even afford to own a car, never mind limiting their car usage.

Stay tuned for next week's (and the last - I'll get off the soapbox, promise) local food post on making sustainable, local food affordable for everyone.

One last question. Where would you rather spend your money and time?

Local Farmer's Market

I gleaned peas from the farm this morning. No altruistic motivations here (wish I could say I donated them to less fortunate folks), just taking advantage of stocking the freezer with free, organic veggies. This isn't the norm though. Obtaining local, organic and sustainably grown foods costs, sometimes a lot. So why do we do it?

Basically, our family has made the choice to value the health of our bodies, community, planet and the farmers who grow our food. Incidentally, these are also the reasons, more or less, for us choosing a plant based diet.

But the health benefits of sustainable foods aren't just physical. Knowing your farmer is good for your whole health and well being. Buying food from local farms is spiritually grounding and a return to our roots. I am connecting myself to a person, not a corporation, brand or store. That person is directly connected to the land - blood, sweat and tears. My connection to them connects me to the land, albeit somewhat vicariously, and returns me to the original Divine mandate to tend the garden, the task we were created to do.

Valuing everyone's health and "returning to the garden" is all fine and dandy but let's get down to the nitty-gritty, what about the cost? I'm not even going to address the long-term environmental and health costs of eating a fossil fuel dependent diet, that's a book. But if I did the cost question would be blow out of the water. However, I know most people think of cost in terms of next month's paycheck so I'll stick to the here and now.

Good things are already starting to come out of our weekly love your neighbor flower bouquet deliveries. During last week's delivery of patriotic inspired red Gaillardia, white Chrysanthemums and blue Hydrangeas (to celebrate July 4th) we met a relatively new family to our neighborhood. While talking I found out that they are interested in organizing a block party. Yippee! I've always wanted to plan a block party but each summer zips by before we have a chance to put any grand ideals into action. Not only that, the husband/father/man of the house makes home brew. Now, this sounds like someone I want to get to know!

Then today a different neighbor returned a vase and delivered home baked rhubarb bread. So we ignored the kid's gluten "issues" and enjoyed some while at the beach this afternoon. Took care of this morning's "what snack should I pack for the beach" dilemma. I think that's the first time I've ever received something baked from a neighbor.

Hum... maybe we're starting something here. Or, just a part of something already started. Either way, we're getting to know our neighbors and hopefully making our street more of a community not just a group of houses.

Looking to change your neighborhood for the better?

Flowers and gardens are an amazing way to brighten, beautify and build community, and children can play a big part in that. The kids and I recently read Glenna's Seeds by Nancy Edwards. A book with a pay-it-forward type idea. The kids loved how it showed simple acts of kindness (simple enough for kids to do) improving a neighborhood. Another wonderful, and better book in my estimation, on urban transformation is Home by Jeannie Baker. A gorgeous picture book about one family's garden changing their city neighborhood over time. A book worth owning.

Read, dream, be inspired to love your neighbor. Plant a garden, bake bread, share your lawnmower. Build community.

We greeted the first day of summer early so we could get into the White mountains mid-morning to avoid late afternoon thunderstorms. Maybe it was the early morning or the huge meal (Damien's birthday supper) the night before but I was cranky and sluggish all the way up. We had a little shower up and on the way down but the summit, although gray and foreboding, was dry and we ended the hike in tree-dappled sunshine.
Top of East Royce Mountain: View to the west, yes those clouds were coming our way

Down East Royce Mountain: I was out of my state of self-pity by this point
After our hike up the 3,100 foot East Royce Mountain we headed back towards home and out to The JED Collective, "a group of organizers, parents, cultural workers, farmers and healers", for a potluck party to celebrate the summer solstice. In addition to the great locally grown veggies, meats & breads we enjoyed the company of friends, the privilege of meeting new folks, a soccer game in the summer evening light, and lots of romping around in a field of wildflowers.

Solstice all ages soccer game

Wildflowers: Celine's holding homemade doll Isabella in arms while picking wildflowers

It was the perfect Tougas family summer solstice. A hike up a gorgeous Maine mountain with a breath-taking view and then supper, consisting of many Maine grown foods, with friends and community folk.

Vanessa and Manis: JED friends

I don't think Jesus Christ made life any easier for his followers (although I don't like labels I'm comfortable calling myself a follower of Christ) when he simplified all the law of the Hebrew Scriptures into the two commands to love the Lord your God and love your neighbor as yourself. Simple does not mean easy. Although Christ said his yoke was light, loving others can be downright difficult.

I can't love my own family to the extent they deserve, how on earth can I love my neighbor as myself.

Loving neighbors is difficult on several layers. Firstly, just who exactly is my neighbor? Probably everyone in some context. Wow, that's a lot of people to love. Even if we narrow the definition to let's say the people on our street, in our subdivision, or down the lane the questions don't get any easier. What about the neighbor whose cat digs up your garden and uses it for a litter box or the neighbors who have drunken brawls and hurl insults and probably other stuff at each other behind closed doors?

Putting aside people's behaviors, which are hard enough to overlook when loving them, you still haven't answered the the very basic question of how to love people. People are so suspicious of love. Assuming you can even meet your neighbors in our backyard-private-deck society.

Sometimes I wrestle with these questions. Most often though I shove them to the back of my brain and pray that as I live out my daily life of family and home care I will be sensitive enough to the Spirit to live out the questions and find answers in the living, not just the seeking.

And then sometimes an answer comes, straight forward and simple. In a still small voice, or a quiet thought if you will, cut flowers from your garden and deliver bouquets to different neighbors each week. Hey, I can do that! That's easy and fun. I LOVE my garden, I LOVE my flowers and I LOVE sharing them. So, that's what I'm going to do.

Our first delivery last week week included a Laurent original sketch of an elephant as well. And in the words of our neighbor "we made (her) day". Well, that's cool because giving those flowers made my day too.

We spent Saturday night camped out in our friend's yard. It was a wonderful time together on Saturday afternoon and then a night of gentle rain and a little thunder and lightning.

The rain canceled our Sunday hike plans but that meant spending more time chatting with our friends about sustainable living, healthy eating, organic farming, ending world hunger, city living, Jesus for President and a whole bunch of other stuff. All while monitoring the activities of 11 children plus a few neighbor kids. Ah, the chaos and community of the Russell-Hogan (two non-related families sharing one small roof, not a hyphenated family name) household.

During the course of the weekend Laurent lost his third tooth. I couldn't resist snapping pics of all three of my kiddos smiling faces. Their smiles are certainly genuine. They love all the perks of visiting the Russell-Hogan community; all the playmates and friends, yard space, ducks, chicks, turkeys, chickens, dogs, fireflies, lizard and the neighbor's pool.

Remember the Mister Rogers or Sesame Street song (I can't remember which) "These are the people in your neighborhood"? Well these are the people, whom we have the privilege to call friends, in our neighborhood.

Introducing The Faire Bande à Part Housing Cooperative, friends and fellow community members: