MARCIA
POWELL -- Blog article – December 5, 2013 – Moving!
Picking up
from my last blog of Sept. 15, a neighbor and I drove 60 miles to
take a tour of a 20-acre organic farm. They had cows and pigs in
addition to growing produce—even a small food forest and bee hives.
Very inspiring!
I was the
first to sign up as a “case study participant” in the Savanna
Institute program. Kevin and his team met me at my acreage and we
laid out the 6 rows where next spring we will plant 2 acres of food
forest. Exciting!
Of course
I continue to run The Affinity Exchange. I recently uploaded another
six success stories on the home page,
http://www.affinity-exchange.com.
Anyone can go there and read them. More to come!
In late
September the chairman of our county chapter of the Libertarian Party
and I drove to Chicago for the state convention. I learned a lot and
got to meet the “players.” One of the speakers was Thomas Woods,
a main contributor to the documentary “Nullification.” He is
currently working with Ron Paul making videos for Ron's home
schooling program. Our chapter continues to show films once a month.
We've shown G. Edward Griffin's talk about the REAL war on terror,
and, most recently “Take Back Your Power” about the adverse
effects of smart meters. Also, my Letter to the Editor about the
party got published!
Finally
attended a County Board meeting, just to get some reality on them.
Met the fellow who will be my representative after I move. You can
be sure I'll be getting to know him.
In
October, my daughter Ashley and her boyfriend, Ethan, paid us a short
visit on their way to Toronto. A neighbor generously loaned me her
guitar so Ethan could play for us (he's very good)—which inspired
grand-niece Maddie to take up guitar!
While at
sister Jane's, we discovered that they have 3 pear trees loaded with
delicious pears, inspiring a pear-picking party. Took what family
and friends couldn't use to the local food bank (hate to see good
food go to waste!).
Found
myself “shucking” some dried green bean pods one evening so that
I would have the seeds to plant next spring--felt very “primordial.”
After
showing my Urbana house to numerous people (I have to sublet it till
August), I finally found a young man who seems like a “perfect
match” for the house. Since it was taking longer than I
anticipated to finish my Ogden house, I leaned on the interested
parties and managed to pull off signing an “Early Occupancy”
agreement which allowed me to move on November 12th.
My
wonderful sister Jane came with my grand-niece Katie and helped me
pack. There was snow on the ground on moving day, temperature in the
20's! And the new house did not yet have power and heat! I had to
sleep at my sister's house (1-1/2 miles away).
The next
day I had to unpack just enough to pack for my next day's trip to
Florida. I was prepared with a bread pan, tea candles, and 2 clay
pots to heat the house enough to work; but—miracle of miracles—the
power company arrived 2 days early and turned on the power, giving me
both heat and light. Whew!
Early the
next morning I drove to Indianapolis and took a flight to Tampa.
Spent the next few days in Clearwater attending the big events for
the grand opening of the new building. Was great to be able to take
the tour and truly grasp the magnificence of the building—not to
mention what will take place in it!
Enjoyed seeing old friends,
making new friends, and meeting with some of the choir members there.
Got to stay with my friend, Koreen Brennan, who is a leader in
Permaculture (Google it). Also met Bob Lawrason, another
permaculture expert, who is going to relocate to Illinois, become my
roommate, and help me create my sustainable farm.
Arrived in
Indianapolis at midnight and couldn't find my car. I cried. A nice
young Latino fellow took pity on me and drove me around till we found
it. I tried to be very quiet entering my sister's house at 1:30
a.m., but they forgot and thought I was a burglar. Lucky I didn't
get shot!
Up early
the next morning to be at my new house when the guy came to hook up
my internet. Plumbing still wasn't hooked up, so had to make a trip
to Jane's house when nature called. Finally got a message that the
guy had come and I wasn't there. I cried. Called the company and
told them to tell him to come back. He never arrived. Finally found
out he went to the wrong house 3 times. Then I realized I have not
yet put up my mailbox, so there was nothing showing the house number.
Duh. So the next day I waited all day for him to come, only to find
out at the end of the day that all the tech guys were in Gifford
repairing the lines that were downed by the killer tornado on the
17th!! (Gifford's only 8 miles north of my place!) Finally on
Friday I got hooked up! My laptop allows me to do the irreducible
minimum, but only on my desktop can I do everything I need to do.
Plumbing
finally got hooked up (yea!); appliances got installed; bought food,
and finally started to feel at home. The “a place for everything
and everything in its place” project took over a week, particle by
particle. Hanging pictures on the wall, and placing my “objets d'
art” around added the finishing touches.
A local
public radio station interviewed me (45 min) as the person in charge
of the Thrive Movement in Central Illinois. Of course, afterwards I
figured out how it could have been better. Overall, even though
there are still numerous threats to our survival, I'm feeling more
optimistic about the good things that are happening to bring down the
“bad guys” and allow us to create a better world.
Hope you
all are flourishing and prospering (thriving)!
Please
write and give me an update on your adventures.
Love to
all, Marcia (217) 582-2112 home (818) 552-2211 cell
