Oil prices?

Wow so I can't help but follow articles that talk about rising oil prices.  I know I really have no need because we don't have a car.  But I feel we still need to stay informed.  Oil prices have a significant effect on many things in our economy and I feel that sometimes many of us forget that our groceries and milk come from other places besides the shelf of a grocery store or even behind the grocery store.  You know they don't milk cows out back!  I was recently in a grocery store and a woman was protesting very loudly about the rising price of milk.  Remember that now Deisel trucks are paying 2x the amount they paid last summer! That is a huge increase.  Last year they paid $300 dollars per tank of gas now what is it at least $600! No wonder our food costs have gone up. Not to mention produce and other things.  I think it makes a person step back and really evaluate there part in a community. 

One thing that I have noticed recently is an abundance of gardens! I love seeing people just take a small plot of land in their yard and start a garden. Many of these gardens are no more than 10x15 or so.  But they are combating those high prices by becoming self sufficiant.  Kudos to all of you who have heeded the counsel of your leaders or who just plain love to garden!  

Anyway back to oil prices.  I found  a little blurg the other day about how many people were looking to find alternative ways to work. Even if you have a long/hot/dangerous commute, you can still car pool! Fun you get to have a conversation with someone besides the disc jockey.  Car pooling to the store is just as fun! Any who I recently saw some articiles that mention how many fewer miles America is driving this year (here).  It is an overwhelming number! Well to me anyway.  I know my husband and I cut our miles down considerably from last year.  We put 18,000 miles on our vehicle in a year! and that was without driving for 5 months! Needless to say we haven't seen our family much this year :( But you do what you can. Hopefully you all are thinking twice when taking a quick trip in the car. Let's all contribute to the lowering of Americas highway miles by buying local and supporting our friends.  

You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours.

Krysta

Hauling stuff with bikes

Zac and I really have come to love our bikes so much.  I am amazed everyday with what we can do.  I am very grateful for the wonders that have been built to make our bicycling lifestyle easier. Namely 2 items the xtracycle and the chariot.  I am not saying that you have to have these things specifically but the wonders that they have done for us are very numerous.  

Zac and the xtra and our bike trailer carrying Rens new book case.  ($10 yard sale find! Ya)

Laundry, grocery, Dale and Ren carrier.

Headboard and carseat carrier.

This was meant for tech stuff but that didn't pan out.  Still great set up for hauling small stuff.

 Plus bikes have opened up a lot of opportunities for us to meet new people. Saturday we hit up the Provo farmers market.  Which is wonderful and we get to meet like minded people. We met a really great lady and hopefully talked her into riding her bike more! She is already great about it, but still looking into going bike dependant.  It is always neat to meet other people who choose alternative methods other than cars.  It's fun to learn new things and share stories and ideas. We really have noticed a change in our attitudes I guess you could say.  We no longer are in a hurry.  I definitely don't have road rage anymore.  We get to enjoy not only one anothers company but we meet new people and we see new things everyday.  It's fabulous! I like having a sense of community, understanding and knowing your neighbors. It always opens opportunities to serve people and often times to share the gospel. Big bonuses in my book.  Sunday of course was Father's day.  A very wonderful day.  We rode the xtracycle to church with 2 paniers full of Father's day cookies.  It was so much fun.  Ren gets a kick out of having the wind blow on her face, and I love the reactions on peoples faces when they see me riding on the back of the bike.  Priceless! Anyway think about riding a bike! Try it you might like it, plus you can just do it for fun or excersize.  Just do it cuz it feels soooo good!

Krysta

It's easy! Just try it once!

We have some really wonderful friends. These 2 other couples only have one vehicle between each couple.  I am pleased to say that they are both using alternative transportation and only minimally using their cars.  This brings a smile to my face.  Every chance my husband and I have we try to get them on bikes.  The other day we needed some things from the store (only 3 blocks away) so I took my friend and the xtracycle to the store.  She was super nervous to ride because she hadn't been on a bike for years. She did fabulous! We hadn't even gone even a block and she turned to me and said "This is absolutely wonderful! I need to get a bike!". Chalk one up for another bicycle conversion.  Conversion isn't even the correct word because we were all in love with bikes when we were younger right?  Who didn't love the first time that there dad took their training wheels off! Think back.  A little bit farther. There it is. That wonderful moment.  Freeze and keep it right there in the front. Don't let it go. Now imagine having that feeling everyday, or even once a week! Oh absolutely wonderful.   Just makes me smile.  

Take the time.  Ride a bike.  Remember how good it feels! Just around the block or around the driveway! Take the kids along.  Share a smile!

Krysta