I often hear people talking about going back in time and living as the old timers or pioneers used to. I've also found myself dreaming of a simpler time...
That brings me to the word "simpler". We often ask how they did such hard work back then and why would anyone want to go back in time and do such back breaking, time consuming work?
Yes, it was and is hard work but, they knew nothing else. They did not know the technology that we know today. They did not have the options we have with the click of a mouse, walking into a grocery store or the flyer's in Sunday news paper.
No TV, Internet, cell phone or home phone for that matter. No game consoles, toy stores, malls, swimming pools and the many activities we have in our daily life to take up their time and take away their family values and time spent on the important things in life.
So, I would say yes, it would be very difficult to go back in time and live as a pioneer because we got used to living with all the extras.
And no, it was not as difficult for the "old timers" as we seem to think it was because, that is what they knew.
If they did not have farming, gardening, mending, cooking, soap making, dress making, baking and so on, What would they have done with their time, what would they have to live for?
Not only was it a more meaningful time in history, it was a more compassionate and valued time in our past.
A time we could all learn from if we turned off our TV, cell phones and Internet for a short time and spent time on the important things. When families were happy with what Pa harvested and what Ma cooked. When children were raised with values and respect for self and others. When the family worked together to keep the home a happy place and each member had their role as an important family member.
Technology is a wonderful thing but, it has been abused. Technology and society took so much out of the world today that it would be near impossible to go back in time and really live with the true values and hard work that our ancestors lived with.
Both generations have their pros and cons...........
If you never tasted mayo, seen it advertised on TV or heard about it on the Internet, would you miss it or even know about it?
So, when I hear people say "a simpler" time. I can agree with them........
Hard work and going without a few things is much more simple then running the rat race of today.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Thursday, June 2, 2011
A friend asked a little more about me..........
About me;
I am a wife, a mother of 4 adult children and grandmother of 8 beautiful grandchildren (I'm not that old yet). I have been married to the same man for 25 years. He is an awesome husband, father and grandfather. Our youngest daughter is back home and our next to the youngest moved into an apartment that we manage in the back of us with her husband to be and 2 daughters. We share a yard and therefore get to see them and our grandchildren daily.
Like an idiot (no, I don't mind saying I was an idiot) I moved my family out of a nice quiet town in Maine to a good size city in N.H. 11 years ago.
I now know that I do not like things that sparkle, a lot of electronics, having everything my neighbors have and most of all a husband that has to work long hours to support this life.
After living here for about 3 or 4 months, I found out that I had ovarian, cervical, and uterine cancer. (I am cured) Praise the Lord !!!!!! My mother was also ill with cancer at the same time and we were able to spend her last days taking care of her.....What a blessing that was. I had my 1st of 4 surgeries on July 1st and she had her lung removed on July 6th. My husband took care of both of us for months. He is such an awesome soul. So maybe I was not such an idiot after all.
I now have issues with fibromyalgia, PAD (Peripheral Artery Disease) and a couple other things.
About my daily life in the city;
I am working hard to learn to live with less and enjoy the things we have, such as God and each other. I am also learning to do things the "old fashioned" way, with a little hard work.
We used to garden, raise pigs, chickens, meat rabbits and so on. We used to fish and hunt and enjoy all the things nature had to offer. Now we are unable to do most of it being in the city and my husband having to work long hours to take care of us. I spend my days learning new things such as pressure canning, using non electric appliances, making our own soaps and again, learning to live with less so we can have more. By more I mean the enjoyment of knowing God, each other, nature and being self sustaining.
I would like to learn all I can to make life as simple as possible when we do get out of the city and I guess while we are here as well.
My dream home;
My dream home is unlike most. I would love to have a small 1 or 2 room (not bedroom) cabin with the minimal amenities. Wood heat and cooking, little to no electricity, running water or no running water, either is fine with me. It has been done before and can be done again. Wood floors that can be swept easily with maybe a few handmade throw rugs. Few dishes and cooking utensils that HAVE to be clean before the next meal, to be used again. A bed, a place for clothing, a table with a few (4) chairs, a couple easy or comfy chairs (maybe 1 couch in place of chairs). I do not want a lot. The less there is, the less we have to take care of and the more time we can spend surviving, enjoying nature and spending time with each other. More time for fishing, hunting, gardening, preserving and so on. Imagine camping every day of your life? How wonderful that would be.
My dream homestead;
A small piece of land. Big enough for a few farm animals, chickens, a hog or 2, meat rabbits, bees and maybe a milk cow. A good sized garden so we can preserve for ourselves and sell the extra. And I can not forget a spot for our clothes line... I'll still have to wash laundry......LOL
When our children were very young I used to hand wash our laundry in the bath tub and hang them out to dry. I did not mind it and actually enjoyed to chore. I am sure I could do it again if need be.
I can not forget a place for our grandchildren to run.
What I am doing now to prepare.
Learning to preserve foods other then freezing. My mother in law will be teaching me how to pressure can soon ( thanks ma, I love you)
Learning how to live with less and compromise with the things I already have.
Learning how to cook on an open fire. (I can do it but feel there is always something to learn.)
Learning how to make my own soaps and household products.
Learning about solar power, ovens and dehydrators.
Learning about smoke houses to preserve meats.
Learning how to make furniture (you can see pictures in this blog page)
Learning how to make my own clothes, blankets, curtains and so on.
Most of all, I am learning how to be thankful for the blessings that each moment in life brings.
One thing I am not, is a writer. Please forgive my (OOPS) throughout this post. If I forgot anything, please share your ideas in a comment?
I have to say as an ending statement that without God and all his blessing, I would not be who I am today. He could take all I have from me in a blink of an eye and he has not. I am so thankful to him.
Also my husband, children and grandchildren play a huge role in my happiness. I love them dearly and without them, my life would be not be the same.
And to all my internet friends who I also love dearly, Thank you for your encouragement and input.
I am a wife, a mother of 4 adult children and grandmother of 8 beautiful grandchildren (I'm not that old yet). I have been married to the same man for 25 years. He is an awesome husband, father and grandfather. Our youngest daughter is back home and our next to the youngest moved into an apartment that we manage in the back of us with her husband to be and 2 daughters. We share a yard and therefore get to see them and our grandchildren daily.
Like an idiot (no, I don't mind saying I was an idiot) I moved my family out of a nice quiet town in Maine to a good size city in N.H. 11 years ago.
I now know that I do not like things that sparkle, a lot of electronics, having everything my neighbors have and most of all a husband that has to work long hours to support this life.
After living here for about 3 or 4 months, I found out that I had ovarian, cervical, and uterine cancer. (I am cured) Praise the Lord !!!!!! My mother was also ill with cancer at the same time and we were able to spend her last days taking care of her.....What a blessing that was. I had my 1st of 4 surgeries on July 1st and she had her lung removed on July 6th. My husband took care of both of us for months. He is such an awesome soul. So maybe I was not such an idiot after all.
I now have issues with fibromyalgia, PAD (Peripheral Artery Disease) and a couple other things.
About my daily life in the city;
I am working hard to learn to live with less and enjoy the things we have, such as God and each other. I am also learning to do things the "old fashioned" way, with a little hard work.
We used to garden, raise pigs, chickens, meat rabbits and so on. We used to fish and hunt and enjoy all the things nature had to offer. Now we are unable to do most of it being in the city and my husband having to work long hours to take care of us. I spend my days learning new things such as pressure canning, using non electric appliances, making our own soaps and again, learning to live with less so we can have more. By more I mean the enjoyment of knowing God, each other, nature and being self sustaining.
I would like to learn all I can to make life as simple as possible when we do get out of the city and I guess while we are here as well.
My dream home;
My dream home is unlike most. I would love to have a small 1 or 2 room (not bedroom) cabin with the minimal amenities. Wood heat and cooking, little to no electricity, running water or no running water, either is fine with me. It has been done before and can be done again. Wood floors that can be swept easily with maybe a few handmade throw rugs. Few dishes and cooking utensils that HAVE to be clean before the next meal, to be used again. A bed, a place for clothing, a table with a few (4) chairs, a couple easy or comfy chairs (maybe 1 couch in place of chairs). I do not want a lot. The less there is, the less we have to take care of and the more time we can spend surviving, enjoying nature and spending time with each other. More time for fishing, hunting, gardening, preserving and so on. Imagine camping every day of your life? How wonderful that would be.
My dream homestead;
A small piece of land. Big enough for a few farm animals, chickens, a hog or 2, meat rabbits, bees and maybe a milk cow. A good sized garden so we can preserve for ourselves and sell the extra. And I can not forget a spot for our clothes line... I'll still have to wash laundry......LOL
When our children were very young I used to hand wash our laundry in the bath tub and hang them out to dry. I did not mind it and actually enjoyed to chore. I am sure I could do it again if need be.
I can not forget a place for our grandchildren to run.
What I am doing now to prepare.
Learning to preserve foods other then freezing. My mother in law will be teaching me how to pressure can soon ( thanks ma, I love you)
Learning how to live with less and compromise with the things I already have.
Learning how to cook on an open fire. (I can do it but feel there is always something to learn.)
Learning how to make my own soaps and household products.
Learning about solar power, ovens and dehydrators.
Learning about smoke houses to preserve meats.
Learning how to make furniture (you can see pictures in this blog page)
Learning how to make my own clothes, blankets, curtains and so on.
Most of all, I am learning how to be thankful for the blessings that each moment in life brings.
One thing I am not, is a writer. Please forgive my (OOPS) throughout this post. If I forgot anything, please share your ideas in a comment?
I have to say as an ending statement that without God and all his blessing, I would not be who I am today. He could take all I have from me in a blink of an eye and he has not. I am so thankful to him.
Also my husband, children and grandchildren play a huge role in my happiness. I love them dearly and without them, my life would be not be the same.
And to all my internet friends who I also love dearly, Thank you for your encouragement and input.
Using God's word to suit your own wants.....
There was a young boy about to turn 16. He went to his father (who was a minister) to asked for a car for his birthday.
Dad, I was thinking how great it would be to have a car for my birthday, then you wouldn't have to drive me around all the time.
Dad says; Let me see son. If you can bring your grades up, study the bible some more and get your hair cut, I will think about getting you a car.
A few months go by and the boy returns to his dad; Well dad, I did like you told me to. I get better grades and I studied the Bible more but I didn't get my hair cut because the more I studied the Bible the more I realized that Jesus had long hair.
Dad says; Well son, if you studied the Bible like you say did, You would also notice Jesus walked everywhere he went also.
I like to think of this story because so often we use the bible to suit our own needs. Jesus said; I am the way, the truth and light. No man shall come to the father except by me. He did not mean for us to use him or God's word at our own
convenience
Dad, I was thinking how great it would be to have a car for my birthday, then you wouldn't have to drive me around all the time.
Dad says; Let me see son. If you can bring your grades up, study the bible some more and get your hair cut, I will think about getting you a car.
A few months go by and the boy returns to his dad; Well dad, I did like you told me to. I get better grades and I studied the Bible more but I didn't get my hair cut because the more I studied the Bible the more I realized that Jesus had long hair.
Dad says; Well son, if you studied the Bible like you say did, You would also notice Jesus walked everywhere he went also.
I like to think of this story because so often we use the bible to suit our own needs. Jesus said; I am the way, the truth and light. No man shall come to the father except by me. He did not mean for us to use him or God's word at our own
convenience
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