I have a growing little world in one corner of my home. Right now, the king of that world, Sir Chirpsalot, is twittering and chortling while Ave Maria is being sung by a choral group on the radio. Sir Chirpsalot is a green and yellow English Budgie (large parakeet). His cage is surrounded by a dozen orchid plants, half of which have started to send out spikes for next spring's blossoms.

The orchids provide wonderful subjects for contemplative painting and I dry their blossoms to use in collages and other crafts. I don't buy a lot of expensive orchid supplies. Except for the occasional jar of special fertilizer, which lasts a long time, I use what I can find around. Bark and leaves, for example, can be gathered up and shook out to eliminate hitch-hikers and then used in place of the special mixture that might cost $6 in the store.  I place plastic bins out to catch rainwater and usually have enough to keep them happy.

I find really nice frames in the Goodwill and St Vincent de Paul stores and so even the humblest art looks very fine on the wall.

The result is a little oasis of beauty that speaks of a kind of wealth that cannot be measured in dollars.  It is soothing and encouraging to look upon that corner of the house and listen to Sir Chirpsalot's happy little songs.

As pets go, he represents another way to live well on very little money. A larger parrot would cost a great deal to keep because of the fruit and nuts but a budgie eats so little that a sack of seed lasts a long time. I figure the cost of owning a parakeet like this at about $5 a month, compared to $20 or more for most pets, and that doesn't count the pet deposits many landlords now require for dogs or cats.

What are your ways of bringing beauty and tranquility to these economically stressful times?

The result is a little oasis of beauty that speaks of a kind of wealth that cannot be measured in dollars.  It is soothing and encouraging to look upon that corner of the house and listen to Sir Chirpsalot's happy little songs.

Why don't you take a picture of your oasis and post it here so we can see what it looks like :smile:

 :reading:
"Tranquility" is an ancient word. In times past, human beings spent most of their days in quiet conversation and song. Children were allowed to play games of their own invention while the adults looked after their fields and shops.

This was the Paradise Lost, before the coming of the age of Industrail Anarchy and the launching of the drone-assasins.....

*sigh*

Samurai, I was listening to Taiko drummers last night. Wandering from Christmas carol to Christmas carol in Youtube, must've been the Little Drummer boy led me there...

powerful stuff.