A "Shabby Chic" Frugal Farm Lifestyle ~ Diary Entry #1

This last week, as I was reading the book Living on His Income, a flood of memories flowed through my mind of these past five years, when we first arrived on our homestead from the city. While our life was never one of wealth, and I mean never, moving on to the farm took it to the next level of frugality. We were going to start from scratch and with a clean slate. No credit cards, no loans. If we could not afford it, we would not buy it.

"Of course if my husband were to say to me, "finances are going to be extra tight for a little while. I need you to cut back on some of the bills." I will gladly do what I can to economize, lower the utility bills, and be more creative with our kitchen resources. We will put off certain expenses and go without some things. This is how we work together to get through the rough times."

~ Mrs. Sharon White, Living on His Income

You see, dear reader, my husband and I had a similar conversation before our move. As most of our savings was going to go into the farm equipment, I knew very well that operations were going to be tight and for awhile. The old farmhouse was about 100 years old and not well maintained. There was no hot water in the kitchen (something I took for granted all my life) and only one area with a little sink, three drawers and a cabinet which was called a kitchen. There was an old fashioned beveled glass oven hood which I decided to appreciate with all my heart. For when we began this journey, I created a frame of mind in my head to survive and hopefully thrive on. We would be living a "shabby chic" lifestyle.

For those who are not familiar with this decorating style, it is basically a rags to riches approach on taking the old and worn things, cleaning them up and appreciating the simple beauty in them (in the brand name sense it means lots of roses and antiques too). It would be like finding the pretty in the imperfect. This would be my motto for our frugal farm life.  While he would earn the money, I would do my part to maintain it, stretch it and preserve it while appreciating the little things along the way. It would be a challenge but as the Good Book says, "in all labor, there is profit".

The walls are crumbling in some areas of the house, specifically the living room. I love old architecture and tell myself that I am living in an antique building. As I wipe the constant dust that accumulates on the walls, paint chips away. These walls have character is how I must think. It can be beautiful like an old weather-beaten statue. Many of the Victorian novels share how the virtuous poor women always had a neat and tidy cottage though she had little. While I don't consider myself "poor" by any means, I think this is something we can all learn from. Making the best with what we have will make all things beautiful. Keeping everything clean will maintain the home's integrity. Letting the walls go by ignoring them because you are unhappy with them will make them look ashamed and dismal. Keeping them fresh and pleasing will bring out their charm.

During the spring, we will get a plague of what we call "storm bugs" before a storm. These gnats can really frustrate things. Legions come in through the crack above the front door. The only barrier we could think of is duct tape across the top opening which keeps them away. Yet in the other months of the year, when you peel the tape off, I am left with cracked paint to welcome our visitors. I have resolved to call this the "shabby chipped paint" look. I try and keep the door clean and consider it a part of the distressed cottage decor.  People do this to their furniture. Why can't walls and doors be included? Changing our perception helps us to enjoy what we have.

I remember the day I walked around my home and thought, what is God providing for me here in the outdoors? This is when I discovered the loveliness of flowers and herbs as being a part of our daily life! Decorative, medicinal and so forth. But that is best left for another day, for another entry, my friends.

And I have learned many things in this new path! For instance, having one car can stimulate the creativity in a woman (did I mention I had to let go of my extra vehicle?). When she stays home for longer periods of time, she begins to see things in a new light. An ordinary act of organizing and cleaning the home can become a moment of art and adornment. Homemaking becomes a hobby. If I am going to look at that item every single day, how can I make it pleasing on pennies?

To share in detail what kind of lifestyle it brought would be hard to manage in one post. I know many are interested in simplifying, frugality and budgeting and so I thought to write as much thoughts and in very fine detail on the "little, everyday things" concerning this (for it is the small details that make up the big picture!). I am thinking of random posts as a mini-series so you can get a clear idea of what this meant (and means) in our life, something along the lines of "miscellaneous musings and  mentality of our frugal journey". Well, it is time for me to step away from the computer and enter the "real world" called "home".  I am wondering if there is interest in this sort of thing? I think I might enjoy typing it, but the question is, will you enjoy reading it? Have a lovely week!

Next in the Series:

From A - Z {Alpha to Zucchini} ~ A "Shabby Chic" Frugal Farm Lifestyle ~ Entry #2
From Beautiful Books to Blueberries ~ A "Shabby Chic" Frugal Farm Lifestyle ~ Entry #3
From Curtain Covers to Regal Repairs ~ A "Shabby Chic" Frugal Farm Lifestyle ~ Entry #4
Budgeting and Beautifying in the Bathroom ~ A "Shabby Chic" Frugal Farm Lifestyle ~ Entry #5

All the fine print. This post may be shared with some or all of the following link-ups: The Art of Home-Making Mondays, Modest Mom Monday's, Monday's Musings, Make Your Home Sing Monday, Good Morning Mondays,  The Scoop, Titus 2 Tuesdays, Tuesdays with a Twist, Raising Homemakers, Wise Woman Link Up, Homestead Blog Hop,  Wow Us Wednesdays,  Coffee and Conversation, Homemaking Thursdays, Home Sweet Home, Our Simple Homestead, Awesome Life Friday Link Up, Five Star Frou Frou Friday, and Shabbilicious Friday. Thank you lovely ladies for hosting these. This post may contain affiliate links (which are merchant links that help to support this site at no additional cost to you if you purchase an item through them).

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