I warned you two days ago this blog was going to be about what is on my radar at the time.

Today I finally watched a short 5-minute clip that was posted a couple of days ago. I ignored it the first time … maybe even the second … but watched it this morning when it reappeared in my feed reader on another blog I follow.

And as God so often does, it vividly reinforced what I believe He is already impressing on my heart for my personal life. No … my situation is not as grave as his (nowhere close) but I have been guilty of ~ and continue to be guilty of ~ the same indiscretions.

I’m still trying to wrap my head around all that I believe God is showing me and the personal implications that has. So, I’ll just leave you with the video:

This is the story of Zac Fuse, he works at NewSpring Church in South Carolina. I love what Tally Willis said about the video: “It’s worth an hour of your time but it only lasts 5 minutes.”

I’ve heard a lot about folks wanting to get “back to the basics” lately. Most folks cite the economy for this refocusing but I think this is actually a good thing. One of the things I’ve learned {and enjoyed the most} this past year is to slow down and cull out the things that aren’t essential. This paring down has brought some things into sharper focus and caused me to question why I put undue emphasis on unimportant things in times past.

Your personal brand of “back to the basics” may look quite different from mine. For you it may be dinner at home connecting with your family in conversation around the dinner table while saving $$$. For others it may be canning, gardening, or making soap and sewing your own clothes.

Whatever your ‘flavor’ of basics, I think you’ll find some of this useful.

One of my favorites sites has a back to basics series going on right now, but her site is chock full of all things to assist you in living simply. In fact, her tag line says it all:

Take a look at her Back to Basics series:

• Menu Planning
• Create a Weekly Routine
• How to Get out of Debt

You’ll also find other gems on there like her Spring Cleaning Series and Home Management Notebook and useful downloads for planning.

Back to Basics Videos:

Franklin Springs Family Media has a set of videos featuring skills that my grandmother’s generation considered common knowledge. Mind you … I’m not a proponent of the garb they’re sportin’ but the videos look good.

Each video focuses on things like: Canning, Gardening, Herbs, Candle Making, Soap Making, and Bread Making.

Check ‘em out here: The Complete Homestead Blessings Series

And here is a promo video for the set:

Personally, I’d love to learn how to can veggies for use during the winter months. I think it would really be a great skill to acquire.

What I’ve Been Doing:

Besides culling down my schedule (and reading what everyone else is saying about simplicity) I’ve been actively pursuing some ways to get back to the basics around here. I’m well aware that other times when I’ve tried to do this the busyness of life has crept back in, so I’ll try to keep you posted on my progress.

Have you been getting back to the basics? What have you been doing and what resources have you found useful?

Many regulars around here may have noticed a short hiatus from regular blogging, for most though it hasn’t even registered, I’m sure.

Part of the reason for my momentary silence is conflicting ideas as to what was the best way to utilize this blog. I started it with the intention of using it for scrapbook related items, then I moved to Savannah and it became a way to update all my friends in TN and beyond on my life. Since that time, I’ve shared updates on all things Broxton as well as things I’ve discovered online and off. Sometimes it felt disjointed to me, and sometimes I felt like I was just talking to myself, so I gave up on the updates for awhile.

Well, I am a diverse individual and therefore I’ve decided that it’s OK for my blog to contain diverse info too. So, from this point forward be prepared to see anything on here. Topics will range from geeky to the mundane, from projects around my house to adventures abroad. Don’t be surprised if I start to rant about certain things or choose to direct your attention toward stuff I am passionate about.

With that said … feel free to delete anything from your email or feed reader that you are not interested in reading :)  And please be sure to comment on the posts. (Psst … conversation is good.)

So, what can you expect from the blog?

Well, here are some upcoming post topics:

• Nutella Challenge entry (love Nutella)
• Family Night ideas and links
• Homeschool stuff
• Ministry in and around Savannah
• Geeky projects and great gear, online and IRL
• General stories from everyday life here

So, buckle up. It’s gonna be a fun ride.

Picture by House of Sims

I’m noticing there are things, once entrenched in my memory, that seem to have faded in the years I’ve been away from the Deep South. (In case you don’t know the boundaries of the Deep South, let’s establish that now. They extend from south Georgia to South Carolina or somewhere just inside the NC line and westward to Louisiana. The panhandle of Florida can be included to some extent but the peninsula of Florida is definitely NOT Deep South to me. Even wikipedia agrees with my definition of the Deep South.)

OK, now that we’ve firmly established what the Deep South is (and is not) I can continue. This region is, in and of itself, quite a unique corner of our great United States, and they definitely have their own mannerisms and way of life down here. I guess each region does, really. But this is my special region and most of what occurs here is commonplace to me. I was raised on its charm and taught its ways, but during my years traveling around the US most of what is normal here was lost on me.

Here are a few things I’ve had refreshers on since living back in the Deep South.

1. People shoot things here. For Fun. And it’s normal.
   Case in point: a real estate lady was showing us around a while back and commented that we were “in a good neighborhood” because she could put out her real estate signs without them getting shot full of holes. Seriously? That’s the qualification for a ‘good neighborhood’ ~ one where no one levels a shotgun at your signs and uses them for target practice.
2. Ribbons and bows
   OK … this one I had completely forgotten was a true Deep South thing until Heather mentioned something on her blog, but it’s so true. All girls ~ from birth straight through to sorority age and older ~ wear ribbons and bows in their hair, especially when pulled into a pony tail.
3. Mason Jars aren’t strictly used for canning!
   To be a true Southerner one must also be comfortable drinking from Mason Jars. The beverage of choice is typically syrupy sweet tea – another staple in these parts – but you might occasionally find Coke or some other beverage in there. (Oh yeah … mason jars can also be used as spitoons for those who chew or dip tobacco. Definitely one of the less attractive uses for the Mason Jar.)
4. High beams are necessary
   In Nashville I rarely used my high beams at night. Typically all streets were well lit and there were always plenty of on-coming cars. So, high beams were not warranted. Not so in the Deep South! It’s “country dark” down here. Long, long stretches of no street lights and you only pass the occasional car or log truck. So, high beams are most definitely needed to avoid the other night visitors to our streets: deer, armadillo, possum, etc. The only time you might not opt for high beams is on a bright night with a full moon. Then you can drive strictly by the light of the moon and stars.
5. Oh yeah … the stars
   Speaking of the stars ~ they are still there! Can you believe it? For years in N’ville I would see a glimmer in the sky at night and you could make out the stars fairly well, but down here they take over the night sky.  Bright and gleaming orbs in the sky that even on a bad night can be seen quite well. Thankyouverymuch!
6. Passing is allowed and expected
   OK, back to the road rules here. You are allowed, nay expected, to pass slower moving vehicles here. It’s all about catching, overtaking, and then triumphing over the vehicle in front of you. Most roads are single lanes of opposing traffic and I was routinely being passed. Even if I was doing 15 over the speed limit and approaching a curve, cars — usually very large pickup trucks — would come barreling past me and the driver would be looking at me like, “Dufus, don’t you know how to drive?” Hello??!?!? I’m already speeding, dude.
7. Country music isn’t just music, it’s an ANTHEM!
   Even after living in Music City for 14 years, I had forgotten that what is coming out of Nashville isn’t just music — it’s truly an ANTHEM! Most of the folks from the Deep South embody the songs that others think are just lyrics providing paychecks to artists in Nashvegas. From “She’s Country” to “Chicken Fried” never were truer words spoken. I live in the town that Billy Currington hails from and they, like many others, do sell turnip greens from the back of pick up trucks and yes, they eat pork rinds, you’d need directions to find the interstate, and there is most definitely a old country store in nearly every little town.
8. Monster Truck aren’t Dead ~ they just moved South of the Mason Dixon Line!
   My sister is visiting me and she’s helping me to notice just how comfortable I’ve become with the ways of my homeland once again. Yesterday in traffic she rubbernecked at a vehicle that I didn’t give a second thought to.  The jacked up pick up that passed us on the road was so high off the ground I could have easily driven underneath it in my Altima.
9. Dirt Roads
   Yeah, I know, dirt roads are everywhere, but here they feel like home. Lots of wildlife, funky combos of trailers, old houses, and even some modern houses all sharing the dusty, bumpy beauty of a dirt road. I used to hate them because in middle GA they are comprised of red clay that gets onto and into EVERYTHING. Here they are mostly dusty so it’s easier to deal with.
   Best of all, add a little water and the road becomes a redneck dream spot that they can bury those monster trucks in!
10. Camouflage
    Speaking of redneck dream … it must be an unspoken rule that everyone here in the Deep South must own (and proudly wear) at least one piece of Camo. It can be clothing, hats, car accessories, shoes, anything really. Mostly it seems to be split evenly between Mossy Oak and Real Tree. Even girls wear it ~ and I’m not talking about the dressed up pretty pink camo.  They wear the same stuff as the boys!

Well, those are my Top 10 Things I Forgot about the Deep South. I’m sure I’ll remember some more as time passes. What can you add to the list??