The Simple Life

Afternoon again, friends.

I sit here today writing with both a sense of satisfaction and a bit of glum. Life in Scotland has really taken me back to a sense of simpler things. On the one hand, I am so pleased with our minimalistic lifestyle. I know what you are thinking, a two story fully furnished home is not at all minimalistic. It is, however, a lot less of the materialistic things that we had grown accustomed to in the U.S.
Just this morning, Brian and I were discussing how much we have enjoyed keeping things simple. Right now we have no satellite tv, no video game consoles hooked up, no overwhelming knick knacks or techno gadgets cluttering up our lives. It really does bring out a sense of peace in one's self to have a place for everything and to have everything in its place. We have even seriously reduced the number of times we eat out each week. In Bartlesville, we averaged (ashamedly) 5 or more times a week. Here, we might get take out from our favorite Fish and Chips place once a week. I enjoy cooking for the family (I love grocery delivery!) and have enjoyed having the time with all of them in the same place each evening.

Where the glumness comes in for me is that life has become so simple for me, that I feel as though I have somewhat lost my identity. I have no one to bake cakes for, do projects with, or to volunteer with. I know that these things come in time, but I feel a bit lost. I mean, there is only so much cleaning you can do in a day and getting down on the floor to play with the kids has never been an easy task for me. I find myself spending way too much time playing pointless games on Facebook and with every keystroke, I lose a bit of my day and a bit of my self. I know, that sounds so melodramatic, and in fact, you are right. I just need a hobby! LOL

So, as soon as I can make it back to the cake shop, I am going to pick up some supplies to practice my figure modelling, and I hope that you will indulge me by letting me post a picture of a project or two once in a while.

I mean, there has to be a balance between the satisfaction of simple life and keeping busy. This stint in Scotland will be the test of that. Anyway, I hope you are all well and are not getting blown away by those lovely April showers! Until then.... W