A Sunny Place

What exactly is simplicity?

I find it interesting (and I mean that genuinely) that I see different blogs listed as being in search of simplicity.  Sometime I see posts of beautiful decorating that they've done in there home, decorative items they've purchased at 2nd hand places etc.  I will admit - I tend to be slightly jealous of those that have  an eye for such things. But the practical side of me - has trouble justifying the purchase of something that I put out only a few times a year and then I have to store it, and remember where it is and that I even have it! :0)  I generally use items that have been given to me and hang them on my wall.  Not much sits around decoratively at our home - it's fairly basic and simple.  Lately I've hosted some events and a couple of the ladies commented on the cleanliness of my home. :0) It is far from what i would call very cleanly. :0) I keep our floors mostly clean - and toys picked up  but you will find stacks.  Part of me wondered if it was due to the lack of decorative "clutter" (as my husband likes to call such things) - it gave it a simple cleaner look?  My SIL is the master of this!  Her home has zero clutter and next to none on decorations - and it generally has a very clean appearance.  She doesn't seem to struggle with "organizational" issues as I often see and read eons about - how to organize all this clutter we drag home - in the name of simplicity!

What does simplicity mean to me? I've sought to think about it as I'd like to simplify here.  To me- paring back - even what we do have - to something more reasonable.  Trying to cut wardrobes back to basic assortment (even if they are 2nd hand or hand me down), trying to cut back toys and play things - so that they will play more with the few things they have (think of those in other countries or our own historical past that had little to play with and the happy times we read about in LIttle House books).  There are some exceptions - I will place on this goal.  I do enjoy having a popcorn popper (although we've done our son the stove lately) and I do like having an electric mill for my wheat... some ofthose things (pressure canner, etc.) I will choose to keep because it helps simplify our life in the sense of making more food from scratch for ourselves.

How would you classify simplicity and your own goals towards it?

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03:19, Tuesday, May 6, 2008 .. Posted by gabbie427

Simplicity to me is a little different (to each his/her own right??), as we simplify in some areas, so that we can focus our lives and yes even finances on others.

We save on groceries and drive used cars so we can have money to take a vacation once in a while. We buy nice things for our home (decorative) but honestly mostly the things in my home were gifts or they were my mothers (that I received when she died). I only keep those things precious to me nearby, and this year I am on a mission to have a garage sale and sell or donate the rest to the thrift shop. We are blessed with much, but it has become a burden because we do not have a home for everything and therefore it becomes to look cluttered!

We try to buy used (especially clothing) when possible and we rarely go out to eat or to the movies now and rarely go out anywhere that requires an extra trip meaning more gas money now.

In some terms we are simple in our lives, in others possibly not. But we are ever changing in our lives and ever changing in our ideas of simplizing our lives and home and saving money. Everyone starts out on a different step or rung on the ladder to simplicity I suppose. I am just starting, so therefore not as far along as others.

I enjoyed reading this blog! Thanks for sharing.

God's Blessings,
Amy Jo

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03:38, Tuesday, May 6, 2008 .. Posted by glenda

For me it is simple I do not want anything in my home that does not mean something to me.. Or that does not help us in our daily life.. For example my computer. Do i need it? NO can i live without it. YEs. however it gives me a chance to talk to others out there that are striving to do some of the things that we are doing.
We do not like clutter and I mean that anywhere in our home. There is only one place that i will allow clutter well honestly two places. One is our book shelves. We love to read so we need more of those items. And two our pantry. There can never be enough there with six people in the house. Other than that we just do not have or allow clutter. If we buy a new shirt or pants from a yard sale or thrift store than something comes out of the closet. Not only does this make it easier on me when it comes down to cleaning time but it also makes it easier on the kids as they dont have to worry about having 20 or 30 outfits to choose from.. If you only have seven outfits to choose from it is easy dont wear sundays outfit on tuesday and dont ware the same thing you did a day ago..
Now as far as the kitchen. I dont like a lot of electrical stuff. Sorry just dont. I have a kitchen aid mixer i just love this.. I have a wheat grinder, can opener, coffee pot, rice cooker, and a slow cooker. For me that is all i need. I dont need any other items. Now i also have my pressure canner for canning season and my boiling bath canner that i double as a large pot to cook beans etc in..
As far as items dec stuff. I do not like what most do. I love old things. I love things from the 50's and back.. The stuff with bright colors... I love useful items to be used to dec with. Example i have my washboards hanging up on my wall.. I love looking at them knowing that i have washed many a loads of clothes on them..
The only other thing i do have a problem with is lamps and baskets.. I love them both.. Most of them have been given to me or i have got from a yard sale. Nothing over 1.00 for a lamp and nothing over 25 cents for a basket.. I figure the baskets get used for the garden, eggs,etc so they are a useful item to have hanging around..
God bless and thank you for this post
glenda