What it's all about.

I never really wanted to ever 'do' anything but be a wife and mother. I didn't have any dreams as a kid of being a teacher or a doctor. I didn't even dream of being a movie star or a princess. I had visions of making dinner and food shopping. I tried different career paths. I worked in Corporate America for a few years. I went to school to be a pastry chef. I worked in a bakery, tried a non-profit. All of these had their pros. Money was the biggest pro, it paid the bills. However, I would find myself dreaming about being home. Wishing I had time to make dinners and garden. When I looked out the window of my office building at the sun shining and the breeze blowing on a summer day, I would think about hanging laundry out on the line in the backyard. I understand that these are not the dreams of most but, they made me happy.
So, I now find myself home full-time. My house is cleanish and dinner is made...but I am a complete drain on my families finances. I even adopted an awful little dog who barks, bites and has health problems and vet bills. I'm not sure why my husband has agreed to support me...I'm thinking its the background as Pastry Chef.
So, I am home. And I love it. And I have come up with an idea to feel like I am accomplishing something more than dinner at the end of the day. The Red Barn Project. A year of living life sans excess. A year of making it from scratch. Growing it myself. Finding it second-hand. Doing without. A year of avoid grocery stores and department stores. A year of limits and work that I hope brings satisfaction, reward and happiness. A year of sweat, laughter, love, homemade hard cider and family dinners.