This weekend has been chock full of self sufficiency. The cowboy and I were left to ourselves while D put in some very, very long hours moving his office to a smaller suite in the warehouse building.

I made the decision that I would spend lots of quality time with the boy, seeing as he regularly gets dragged to places that are little fun for 4 year olds. A picnic in the park today with his buddies and the farmer’s market are two of his very favorite things to do.

I have been thinking a lot about self sufficiency and how reliant my little family is on convenience. Now that gas is at the highest  price I have ever seen it, I am thinking more about resources and how we expend them unnecessarily. I read a few blogs where folks are questioning the same ideas and doing more urban homesteading.

I settled up my debt to the Enoch Pratt Library and checked out a few books to help in my quest.

Bread Machine Magic

I really love this book. The Sunflower bread is WONDERFUL. I made 2 loaves this weekend in no time flat. I am slicing and freezing some of the breads as to have fresh bread for the week. I have a buttermilk cinnamon raisin loaf in the bread maker right now.

I also checked out Elizabeth Zimmerman’s Knitting Around. I want to try to wrap my head around her process.. I would like knitting to become more of an organic exercise for me. Less pattern oriented and more innate.

My other book that has me all jazzed is a book on Middle Eastern cooking. The New Book of Middle Eastern Food. I love Middle Eastern cooking. I also am looking to make my own hummus and babaganoush this summer. I buy them at the grocery store so frequently and feel that I can make them just as easily and way less expensive.

The overall feeling that I am getting right now is to do more for our family and not cash in the convenience chip as often as we do. I live in a city that is chock full of resources that do not rely on wasting resources. I have a fully planted garden and a membership in an organic CSA. I am making our bread (way too easy!) and getting our milk locally (and delivered! Yup…Mama has a milkman!)

Who else has great ideas?