The Transition

We looked for short term rentals and were struggling to find that so we decided to try an Airbnb. We’ve been there for a week now and it’s going well. Their house is in great outdoor air, but would likely not be a mold avoiders first choice bc they’d get caught up in the indoor mold and miss a good enough place in great air. There’s been 2 storms since we came and the outside air stays ok. We’re just renting a room, but have full access to the kitchen, common spaces, and property aside from the barn. This gives us a normal kitchen I to work with. Huge yay!! We also have indoor laundry to experiment with. It’s gone pretty well so far. They have the same washer I got in my office in Williamsburg, which is a Whirlpool duet steam washer. We’ve had really good success with clothes coming out ok using oxiclean, very hot wash water and the steam option, generally only losing a sports bra instead of half of the clothes. The bedding has consistently come out good enough, which is perfect.

The husband has a business cutting down trees so while they live in great air, they often go into bad air for work. Occasionally I can feel toxins on them or laundry, but it’s pretty good overall. I learned how to use a log splitter today. It’s fun learning new things. They also have chickens so I’m learning some things about chickens. They have 5 cats and 2 labs that are all indoor/outdoor, though the two youngest cats prefer to stay indoors. The fact that I can cohabit with 7 indoor animals is a miracle! That’s always been an allergy disaster for me so that’s just one more area of immune dysfunction that’s self-corrected with our journey and avoiding mystery toxin.

I picked a midwife before leaving FL who I’ve had a really hard time finding someone I like in OK as much as her. The first midwife here was a clear mismatch and the second one we talked to seemed like that might work until we drove by her office, which was a hard no bc of the air. It left us with a few choices: go back to FL, find a new midwife in OK, or not have one. The great news is I posted in the holistic moms of Oklahoma FB group and the midwife we’re now working with and love, contacted me. I had my first appt with her last week and she’s beyond perfect for us. She’s also a Natropath, a biblical counselor, and a homesteading momma of 10. During my appointment, she took the time to teach Wesley how to palpate the baby, which was great for him. I wish you could’ve seen his smile! We’ve been to their farm and seen all their animals. She has a desire to teach people skills she sees as essential as our world gets a little crazier each day. It’s renewed the bug in my heart to be as close to self sustaining as possible on a homestead.

Things are going well and while a monkey wrench in things going well is common on this journey, we’re grateful God has blessed us with this opportunity.