This is something I've been posting over on Substack. It's mostly a record of my attempts at making my life more sustainable and solarpunk. Not at all meant to be a guide or an example of perfection. On Substack I can us a stock photo really easily, I don't have any of my own photos this week.

Well, I had not intended for this to become a monthly post… but seems like that's where I'm at right now. Hopefully that will change and I'll be posting every week again.

Since I last posted one of these, I have a few updates. Mostly, I've been going through my closet and getting rid of some clothes. I plan to do a few other posts about that, but I'm making progress. I'm hoping that having less clothes will make it easier to put together outfits and repair things when they need fixing. Sustainable for the planet and for me is the goal here.

I've also picked back up a hobby that I originally started during the pandemic: doll customizing. Whenever possible, I try to use second hand dolls, both for sustainability and because I don't care if the hair is messed up or the face is dirty. I care a little if their limbs are missing or if the plastic is truly stained, but like, dolls with cool prosthetics or scars or tattoos? Bring it. I also don't mind picking up a bunch of dolls that only have a few in them I would keep to customize, because I actually enjoy fixing up the ones I don't want to be re-sold or donated. I'd like to take these skills to a repair café or something like that, but finding them in my area is fraught with old groups that aren't doing it anymore, so…

I've really fallen off my own band wagon with "Fix-it Fridays" but I'm still getting my craft room organized, so I don't have one good spot for a repair basket. And I keep finding stuff that needs to be fixed. So the list keeps getting longer. I also keep giving myself projects, because my brain refuses to remember that I have to go back to work Mid-August. Love that subbing comes with a summer break, don't love that I don't get paid for that break. I haven't stopped looking for work that could supplement/replace substitute teaching, but I didn't find anything that was just for the summer.  (If you wanted to buy my book, The Mercy of Dragons, it's 100% a fantasy but does have some greener themes, that would help. Wink, wink)

But my plans moving forward are to repair some of the growing pile and get some more posts out, both Solarpunk and other! I'm also posting on Tumblr, under herebethestories1, if that's more your speed, but I'm also a lot nerdy over there. Fair Warning.

I used to do a lot of photography. I even made a tumblr page for it ages ago (@gardenwindows) but I haven't been active on it in a really long time.

It's so easy to say "get rid of things that don't make you happy" but it's not easy to do so. It's not even easy to decide what even makes you happy and what doesn't. But still it's worth the effort taking a look at all the things you do every day/week/month. Make a list, think about every point really carefully.

It's heavy because you have to be honest with yourself. I can speak for myself: it's the hardest thing!

Take your time with cutting of strings. Getting it done too fast will hurt your mind and heart.

Have a beautiful night/morning/day love!