Here’s the little house where my parents brought me home from the hospital. Although the subsequent owners replaced the front porch, the little side porch is the same stoop I played on as a child. I believe the driveway is the same one my dad poured, too, although it looks like they have widened it on the sides.

Claire Staats at home

Here’s my Great-grandfather Claire Staats in front of his home.

Craft Table

Here’s the new cabinet under the craft table for Kylie to enjoy when she’s at Granny’s house.

Simple Life

I’ve decided it is definitely time to simplify my life. At my age (undisclosed), if I haven’t used it in 10 years, I probably will never use it again. Therefore, I am downsizing my cabinet supplies to make things easier to find, clean, store, and use. It is simply not necessary to keep 3 cans of half-used bathroom spray when I haven’t used it in 10 years (or more). I do, however, have an extra cabinet in the garage where I may store things I rarely use just in case I decide later that I do need them. After all, we live 30 minutes from the nearest town, and sometimes needs arise.

All my life, I have hoarded things, not willing to give them up if they still have a useful life. Now, however, I find the desire to hoard abating. In its place is a desire to live simply, peacefully, on less, doing less, having less, saving less—a restful feeling. I hope it stays.

Log Cabin

Here’s the log cabin Virgil’s helping to build for his sister, Patty.

Dorrel’s

Here’s the unpretentious home and garage of the mechanic who’s working on our motor home. No worries about locking up at night.

Marcellus Carpenter homeplace

Here’s a picture of the restored home of Marcellus “Cell” Carpenter, father of my grandmother and her eight brothers and sisters.

I really should trim these vines off the house, but they make such a pretty frame of leaves around the window.