Our family is very blessed to be in a location that often times we are unable to leave due to various weather conditions. In addition, I have a profession that allows us to stay back here sometimes weeks at a time without having to enter today's society. Some may think we are becoming hermits, but not really. We just thoroughly enjoy our simple way of life and truly feel we are just blessed to be able to live this way. It is a choice. Because of this gracious opportunity we have been given our mindset is very different than most and this is because our needs and wants are also different.

Living simply just means less is really more…?? Some will understand that statement others will not….

Once you go frugal, simple, traditional and living a self preserving lifestyle there is no desire to go back. We are sitting down and relaxing to good conversation or maybe a good book or a desired project while the average person is out heading to the mall or chain store to purchase the latest and greatest item which was inspired by the commercials on tv or by the new purchase of a friend.

Our life is simple. We are off-grid in the northern Idaho wilderness.   Some of our days are challenging and yes, at times the work is harder, but it is also so much more rewarding and we wouldn't change a thing. Our son is learning skills from the past. He is living a wholesome life and always wanting to learn more.

I challenge you to take as much time as you can with older relatives and friends. Learn as much as you can. The traditions of the past are so very priceless and they are no longer being passed down to this technological generation.

We found a quote today which reflects our life:

“The master in the art of living makes little distinction between his work and his play, his labor and his leisure, his mind and his body, his information and his recreation, his love and his religion. He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence at whatever he does, leaving others to decide whether he is working or playing. To him he is always doing both.” James Michener

A new found friend, Karen Nelson from Kentucky inspired today's post. She posted this picture on Facebook this week which had a caption something like this, “This was the old way of getting some muscle. How many remember these things?”

Well, I responded to this post while chuckling because I willingly gave up the gym for that wonderful tool right there as well as many more tools just like it…. 🙂

Our goal out here is to be completely self reliant. Able to provide for ourselves, have tools that will work without power and get the job done better than their modern counter part and live a richer, more fulfilling life. Our goal is to be able to make everything we need. Whether it would be a pair of new boxers sewn on the treadle sewing machine, knitted socks, growing our own food, our own butter and sour cream, soaps, deodorant, handmade tools – either on the forge or hand carved from wood – you name it.

Our unfinished walls are actually decorated with antiques every where.  These antiques are really not just decorations, but tools used regularly.

These are just a few…    Most of our tools are over 70 years old and have character and life.  Can you go to the store today and purchase anything that you could honestly expect to last even 50 years?  In all reality you will be lucky if it last 1 or 2 years.

Thank you Karen for reminding me how blessed I am to be living my dream.  Less makes life more wholesome and appreciated and old is perfect for our lifestyle.