My mommy (lol) just passed me the link to this Yahoo article:
First Person: 10 Ways the Recession Has Made My Family More Self-Sufficient
And I seriously thought it was awesome. Those of you who read my blog on a regular basis know that we are much the same. I bake from scratch, we use a fireplace, *try* to grow food (albeit, this one has been a disaster. lol), and boy, would I ever LOVE to have chickens. (Our yard really isn't big enough to let them free roam during the day) So I scrolled down to read the comments, hoping that maybe there might be some ideas here and there I could learn from and maybe try out.
Wrong! I was shocked at the comments, calling it a return to the 19th century, Little House on the Prairie, and not good for those living in the city.
Really? My home doesn't look like Little House on the Prairie to me. (I kind of wish it did!) OK, so maybe that comment touched a nerve with me - I've heard it one too many times - even once from the doctor! - and I'm tired of it. Tired of hearing people whine about global warming, yet they buy their stuff from big box grocery stores and eat out every day. Tired of hearing people whine they never have money, yet they buy everything new and have a brand new phone every nine months. Tired, tired, TIRED.
I must be completely out of touch?! I really don't think I put that much more effort into cooking from scratch and tossing food scraps into a compost bin outside my door. Alright, tossing wood into a fireplace isn't for everyone, but nothing beats the toasty warm feeling of wood heat. But how hard is it for most of us to brush your pet yourself, or trim their nails? Take a reuseable bag into the dollar store to pick up cleaning products?
Have people just become that lazy?
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5 comments:
Out of touch? I'd say you were really on the ball. Based on all the stories I've read of your lifestyle, I'd say, come what may, you'll always land on your feet. You strike me as a very prudent, sensible homemaker.
As for the snarky comment, I'd much rather eat at your house than the that person's house. All the food recalls in the last few years appall me, as well as the growing realization about how many chemicals are dumped on and in our foods. I do most of my cooking from scratch now, partly to save lots of money, partly because it's much healthier. Of the list in the Yahoo story, I do most of those things, too. We don't have pets or chickens, nor a fireplace (alas). I haven't managed canning, but we do all the rest. I rather enjoy the challenge of it all. I ignore all the snotty comments and looks that we get because of our lifestyle. I'm also very proud of the fact that we had enough money saved to send our son to any college in the country, fully paid. When he graduates, he won't be burdened by massive debts. He may have resented our humble lifestyle, but someday he'll appreciate what we did for him. I say, you go, girl. We share the same values. Keep those ideas coming.
No, you are smart!
We have chickens and ducks for eggs-the best eggs ever! Scraps? What our dog cannot eat because he is old, etc. goes to the chickens, ducks, and goats. They love it and no waste!
Cook from scratch? Heck yeah! Want to be healthy-you better! I could not survive on fast food! I care what we eat. I even make fermented keifer, soak and grind almonds into flour and bake my breads from that. Try to buy as many organics as we can but cannot raise much produce because of gophers.
We live in a very nice neighborhood and our home is decorated very nice inside and yet we do as much as we can for ourselves. Fixing, renovating, repairing, etc.
Are people lazy? Well, maybe not interested or think we are crazy, but I know how doing certain things make such a huge difference. We exercise, eat well, buy at estate sales, etc. etc. and do not go into debt. That feels good.
Good for you! Feel good about what you are doing. We do.
Thank you, to both of you - hearing there is more of us made me feel a little better this morning. :)
And anonymous - that is AWESOME that your son will graduate debt free! It's so rare these days! (I wish my inlaws had been like you!)
No, you are not out of touch and should be applauded for trying hard to help your little family living a healthy life!
By the by, I must agree with you. Anonymous is a wonderful success story! Sincere applauds to that family!!
And hang in there! I agree (again) with Anonymous, you seem to land on your feet no matter the trials!
Blessings to all,
You're not out of touch, you're awesome! Stuff like what you do should be taught in schools; society nowadays is suffering from learned helplessness, I think. Have you ever seen those shows on PBS about people doing things the way it was done in times past (1900s House, Frontier House, etc)? I'd love to do one of those shows but I'm not sure I'd be able to because of my Epilepsy and the modern meds I'm on. Back before the meds were available people like me were dumped in insane asylums.
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