Ever had your confidence shaken about your SS lifestyle?

[Wifezilla]

I bring those folks on a tour. I show them my fruit trees, and my grapes, I show them my chickens and my latest SS project.

I have a friend who's hubby makes WAY more than us. Her house is 4 times bigger than ours. Her jewelry is worth more than my entire wardrobe. Where does she like to spend time? In my back yard on the swing under the grape arbor

I show them my house through MY eyes and funny thing is THEY are usually the ones that go home feeling deficient and asking me for gardening instructions or wanting soap making lessons.

There is a basic need inside of most people to want the good things we have. They often try to fill up the need with new carpet and fine furniture. Just remember people have a need. They just don't know how. They can't judge you if you show them what it is they are missing.

 

[Farmfresh]

You have a porch swing under your grape arbor too?

Funny how we all seem to think so much alike!

 

[Wifezilla]

With candle power lanterns hanging from the supports, pieces of logs for end tables and an old wood frame couch with lawn furniture cushions on it.

I have had to remodel since the hawk attack. The swing is now out from under the arbor since that is now part of the duck run. We are going to train the vine to cover it again. Audrey (my grape vine) puts out plenty of greenery

 

[Beekissed]

Oh, honey! THAT is the house you are so ashamed to show to little miss perfect home down the road?????

Come on over to my place for just a mo'....I'll show you shabby chic...without the chic!

Your entry way is lovely and I can only guess the rest of your house is just as pretty. Man, oh, man I would be struttin' it to have a house that sweet!

You have NO worries!

 

[big brown horse]

Oh, honey! THAT is the house you are so ashamed to show to little miss perfect home down the road?????

Come on over to my place for just a mo'....I'll show you shabby chic...without the chic!

Your entry way is lovely and I can only guess the rest of your house is just as pretty. Man, oh, man I would be struttin' it to have a house that sweet!

You have NO worries!

I totally couldn't agree with you more! I love it!

 

[meriruka]

noobiechickenlady, I've always wanted french doors. Here they were absolutely necessary to keep the cold air from sweeping in.
Here's when they were first hung up:

I did scrape the paint off the glass, but I still need to put trim around them to hide the gaps.

I didn't have cool old stuff with character and history to it. I had old junk no one else wanted. Believe me, it was not better than new stuff. I never meant to imply that other people's old stuff is junk. some of it is very cool. Mine wasnt'. It was junk.

Trust me, I know about junk. Everything in the pic above was no more than $10 (except the tv). Thank heavens for doilies to hide the scratches on furniture!

My bedroom is junk central:

The dressing table was $10, & the chair $5 ( I covered w/ new fabric & stuffed with fluff & old towels) It's all covered w/ stuff I made or got at yard sales so you can't see how dilapidated it is.

The dresser in this one was $25, again covered with tons of stuff to hide the surface. The round circle on the chimney used to be a big hole (for woodstove pipe?) that I filled & spackled because the birds/bats wanted in.

 

[hikerchick]

there is a huge difference between old stuff and junk - your stuff is far from junk - it's cool looking. Your house looks way nicer than mine ever did. You should be proud of it.

 

[Blue Skys]

I think we are all protective over the things we cherish and take pride in.

My house is a run of the mill double wide - it is clean but a little cluttered inside - we've got some things that need to be picked up outside - but not too trashy. When family comes over I couldn't care less - but hubby had a friend and his wife over yesterday and I was a mess.

It was a last minute plan and really I was freaking out. The reason... The chili I was cooking had chunks of vegetables in it. There were carrots and parsnips, turnip greens and big chunks of tomatoes and of course peppers.

I humbly served my chili with homemade rolls. And they loved it!!! She asked for the recipe and I relized how silly I had been for thinking these people would judge the way I do something in my home.

The way I do it is best for my house, the way you do it is best for your house. Who cares if no one else like it.

edited to add, your home is lovely.

 

[FarmerChick]

AAAhhh----what I see are pics of a nice house!

I find it very pretty and neat actually. Seems very cozy to my eyes.


OH---AND I own that round table with 3 legs by the french doors also..LOL
I love it!!!!!

 

[meriruka]

Thanks again everyone. I'm happy to say that I'm over my momentary lapse of priorities, I spent some time with the chickens yesterday (56 degrees outside! That's what January should be like!) and wandered around making big plans and lists for the garden & property. If I get even half of it done, I'll be the hardest working woman in the county.

Edited to add: a city friend just sent me an invitation to play Farmville. You've got to be kidding.
Talk about a busman's holiday.

Blueskys - I'll bet that chili was great! So many people no longer know what real home cooking tastes like anymore. I like giving out my recipes and having people say "it wasn't as good as yours" (yes, I know, feeling like that won't get me into heaven, but I can't help it.)
The reason is they didn't just pull the ingredients out of the garden and snip the herbs fresh and add well water/real milk/an egg you just grabbed out from under a chicken.