I am…

I am…gulp…going to be 49 in just over a week!!

Good Lord – where did the time go!!!

So – I just had an epiphany while in the shower – I have been looking for inspiration and what the hell?? in the shower!! – OK so here goes.

I am a simple person. OK – so not so simple…perhaps minimalist is a better choice of words.

I have a beautiful home – I really do – I have the home of my dreams.

My home is not a “show home” it is furnished with odds and ends and chairs from Value Village with a borrowed dining room table – BUT – I do have a fine collection of Escher prints, some lovely oil paintings and some amazing photography (courteously of Photos By Jones – really need to start that website) that grace my walls.

My sweet cats have felt the need to scratch my walls which I will cover with barn board from my circa 1950 barn – it will be magnificent and art in itself.

My furniture is new – my TV – not so much. I don’t care – it still works.

I am in desperate need of new cutlery – yet you can still eat with it.

My home at times smells of cats. Sorry to all those who don’t like that smell – I have 5 cats – they are my family – deal with it.

Take your shoes off -don’t take your shoes off – my floors are washable. I draw the line at muddy boots – just saying!

My dishes don’t match – yet I can serve an amazing meal – family style – just remember I cook – YOU CLEAN!!! 🙂

My barn is still a bit skewed – it’s a work in progress which I surely hope will progress before winter. It keeps my herd out of the wind and they are happy. My tack is mismatched. I am pretty sure the horses don’t care. They love the attention.

I love clothes – too much I am afraid. While I was working at putting away summer and bring out winter – I noted – holy CRAP I have alot of clothes – I paired and purged and played with shoes and boots and eventually found room for everything. I may buy my clothes at discount stores and shoes at Payless – I challenge to tell me I am not stylish.

 I love my Louis Vuitton – and take very good care of her – next I will have a magnificent Coach Backpack – but not this year – Hay is more important.

I think really what I am trying to say is that stuff is just stuff.  Really it’s just stuff.

I would rather have the family style dinner with my unmatched dishes around my mismatched table than stuff.

Or my Value Village find than paying 50 bucks for a tshirt. I’m sorry but my Payless Shoes will surely outlast your Jimmy Choos and are probably more comfortable.

I can and will stretch a dinner into leftovers. I can and will buy the cheaper wine. I can and will go without to insure my children do not.

I was brought up by two amazing parents. They did not have much – quite frankly they did not have anything. They raised 9 (ya no shit) amazing individuals whom I love deeply.

Life is short – I am learning that because I am almost at the “top of the hill” – looking down – it’s not about the stuff – or the pretty home – or the coolest shit you own. It’s about love and fun and wonder and peace and family.

My family – we are fighters – all of us – brothers, sisters, cousins – ya you know who you are – we are scrimpers and savers and bargainers. We love the “deal”, we love winning the bid.

I used to worry when I was growing up. My friends, they had the cool homes, the neat stuff. I was at times embarrassed how our furniture did not match or was second hand. My parents – they did what they did to have food on our table and love in our home. We were not perfect but we had clean clothes and a roof over our head and so much love.

Stuff – its just stuff. Sure I could have all that stuff – but I don’t need it or want it.

I want love and fun and food and wine and bonfires and crazy family and drive bys and friends who will go above and beyond to help and community.

All of the above – that is who I am…

Who are you?