Gritching

I just received my copy of a certain homesteading magazine. And I find myself mildly disappointed.

By no means am I the expert homesteader, I am still a novice at many things, and tend to relay on these magazines for not only help and tips, but inspiration. This time it fell flat. I realize, that possibly, I am at a different stage of homesteading now, but the articles presented to me where very beginner, all of them. There wasn't anything available for, let's call it, 2nd level homesteaders. The magazine seem to only be reissuing the same stories from a few years back. Then some of those articles of how-to's are not feasible in some areas of the country, like those counties with certain laws. One article ticked me off with it's misleading statements and inaccuracies. It's enough that one is willing to publisher their own magazine, one that does include different stages of learning.

And then there is the preachy feeling that the writers give off when discussing the environment and going green. I now skip the articles that say "going green" in title or description. Most the time these DIY project would not pass inspection. Once again something not feasible for most people because of laws.

There is also a trend of focusing the articles to the more social urban homesteader. Predominately seen in their frugality articles. Half the suggestions about how to save money makes me wonder, if you want to save money, just don't do those things. Like flying off to Hawaii? What? How many homesteaders do that yearly? When would we have the time? Who would care for the livestock?

I have also seen the trend in blogs. Money and importance comes from the suburbs, the urban, not from the country folks. So articles and posts start to change, to be more geared towards these type of people. Nothing wrong with it, but you do start to lose your country people. The ones that don't go to the opera or movies. The ones that couldn't get any greener because their lifestyles are already as green as possible without living in a cave, eating grasshoppers. But of course we are also the ones that don't have the money to keep magazines and blogs/websites going. We once again become less important because our status and will never raise above the suburban homesteader, or want-to-be steader. Nothing against suburban homesteaders at all, it is about the people that need us, yet look down their noses at us.

My subscription to the magazine has been canceled. Hey I just made myself a little greener. ~wry grin~ You get to a point in your life that you tire of being talked down to, being told you are less of a person because you are not as green, or as sophisticated as your townie counter parts.

Any of my fellow homesteaders, no matter the place you live, interested in creating our own e-zine? ~sigh~

I write here to remember what I have done, right and wrong. I also share my experiences so that hopefully others, no matter their social status, do not make those same mistakes.

Housemovers

I realize that house moving isn't a daily thing. Yet one would think that there would be more than 1 person in half a state that did such a thing. Our local phone book, that covers south centralKansas has 2 businesses listed, yet one is located in S. Dakota. Word of mouth seems to work just fine for one business not listed. I placed a call into that company last week, no word back.

However I did manage to get a hold of one of the local companies. He has been moving houses for 50 years. He drives while his 2 sons and 4 grandsons do all the heavy work. How wonderful. Fist off he wanted measurements. So my husband and I found ourselves back out at the farm house with a 20 ft PVC pipe. The highest point of the house, foundation to peak, is 19 ft. Problem. This height means moving power/cable/phone lines. The truck the house will be moved on will give it another 4 feet. The gentleman on the phone informed me that it might not be worth moving it. But he will be out sometime this month to look at it. Meanwhile he will keep an eye out for other houses that would be good for us.

Did I mention that I want this house?

A House for the Homestead?

Things often start off innocent enough, like reading through your local rural paper.

For sale Farm house
must be moved
$4,500 Inman

Inman is only a 30 minute drive, so I called on it. The woman I spoke to informed me that another couple was interested nd they had already brought out housemovers to look at it. The house is 1 1/2 stories with the 2 only bedrooms upstairs. This home would not be big enough for us.

Out of curiosity I searched the Internet and found another house, not too far from us for $1,000. I emailed the man and was informed it had just sold. This 100 year old farm house did have 3 bedrooms, but is not in the best condition.

I found one other house listed in Kansas. Built in 1908, it is listed as having 3 bedrooms. I called the gentleman selling it. He seemed very relaxed and not in a big hurry to sell. I told him we were interested in looking at the house, he informed me to go on over, it would be unlocked. The reason the door was unlocked, is because it is missing.

We walked about the house, admiring the remaining wood work and flooring. All original to the 99 year old house.

The kitchen is small, but that is to be expected as part of the kitchen was renovated to add a bathroom without adding onto the house.

As we looked around with our parents {my parents and my husband's} my mother informed me that what was called the living room, was originally the master bedroom. My husband and I smiled because we were thinking about turning it into the master bedroom. We are also discussing turning the attic into a bedroom. This would make the house a 5 bedroom home, but we don't need that many bedrooms. One of the rooms is right off the bathroom and kitchen, this is were all the plumbing is. This side room we think would be the best place for a utility {washer/dryer, hot water heater} and office.

The house still contains most of the original hardware
and built in bookshelves

And a wonderful surprise hiding behind a curtain in the master bedroom aka living room

Frosted glass!

I have a call out to housemovers for an estimate.

More photos can be seen here.