O.K. I want you to bear with me now. Something is bugging me and I need to sort it out, so I am kind of thinking out loud while I type: the thing is this…
Do I surround myself with itty bitty pieces of this and that because I can’t afford to buy the things I really want? If I could afford a Bang and Olufsen Sound system would I be a minimalist, because I would understand that there is beauty in perfection and therefore no need to compensate myself for the things I can’t have with lots of the things I can? Am I a housekeeping addict because I’ve got nothing better to do…
I woke up this morning and felt positively panicky about all of this. I know- I am The Vintage HouseKeeper and I have a duty to stand by all things vintage and homely, but I am no Martha Stewart (though how I wish I was!) and occasionally I doubt myself, and feel that I should be seeking something more worthy than the best way to clean my laminate.
Please don’t lose all faith- this doubt lasts about five minutes and then my mind wanders and I start to dwell on the possibility that the pink pages of the Financial Times contain a magic formulation that makes them just so pinkly perfect for cleaning windows and wrapping whimsical presents. No, really, this is how fickley obsessed I am with the most trivial parts of keeping house: I make a special journey to the newsagents to buy the Financial Times, then take it home and without even looking at it, scrunch it up and pop it into my powder pink HouseKeepers Caddy. God forbid, I should lower the tone and use the Liverpool Echo!
Do you see? Do you see how thoroughly single minded I am? How strangely vacant my mind is of politics and poverty and pop music? I can’t help feeling that if I had a higher purpose I wouldn’t make the time to dwell on such trivia…
And then there is the house itself; it is stuffed to the scrumptious roof with all kinds of yummy little whatties and yet we can’t afford the new kitchen floor we so desperately need. When I am feeling sorry for myself because I don’t live in Sharon Osborne’s house, I take myself on a creative excursion to purchase lots of little things I don’t need, and rather than saving up to buy an exquisite example of modern craftsmanship or artistry I satisfy my urge for beauty by buying the chipped remnants of yesteryear.
Is my love of all things vintage nothing more than COMPENSATION?
What a terrible thought. I am a traitor to my own cause.
"I wrote an essay in second grade, entitled "Being Greatful." I mis-spelled grateful and I was reprimanded, but I now believe we become great in proportion to how grateful we are. You receive vitality and comfort every time you are grateful" …
Welcome to my world. A world where the grass may not always be greener but you can be sure its scattered with daisies. Welcome to BrocanteHome… Support the Honeypot Childrens Charity Here.
One of the things I was dreading about Autumn drawing in was suddenly finding myself trapped behind drawn curtains night after night… I’ve always loved Winter evenings: snuggly socks and hot chocolate, blankets tossed over the back of my armchair and stacks of library books. But until now there was someone on whom to rest…
"We shall hardly notice in a year or two. You can get accustomed to anything." Edna St Vincent Millay. Last year something happened, some kind of wonderful, that I chose not to tell you. It was in the midst of my Winter terrible, when my whole body was screaming something was wrong, but I, in …
Some day’s we need shoring up by the teeny tiny things. The things that pass unnoticed. We need to open our eyes, prop them open with matchsticks if need be and sensually consume life in all it’s silly, scrumptious, everyday glory… Today is one of those days. Here for my own pleasure is a list…
Something I read in American Vogue this morning has bothered me all day. Joan Didion’s newest book tells the story of her heartbreak after the shock of her husbands sudden death. Reviewed by Dana Goodyear in Vogue, the words that brought a lump to my throat are below… " Born fearful and born in California,…
6 Comments
Oh Alsion! How I know what you mean! We want a new kitchen floor too! And yet just Saturday I was at an outdoor antiques market buying a set of ten pretty flowered dishes I didn't need, but wanted oh so bad! (AND bought a set of purple flower cotton pillowcases, AND a faded pink tin to hold my laundry powder!) Sometimes I think, "Ok, as the Mama I've got to help save money so we can buy new tile, or double paned windows!" What shall we do?!! 🙂
we all go through this at sometime, in some way , Alison. Just this past week or so since finding your site, it has been the same for me. Those 'voices in my head' keep asking me if all this fluffing and pottering is important in the scheme of things, when people are dying, suffering and starving all over the world, is it that important to have *pink newspaper* to clean our windows? YES ! I think it is..we all need a little beauty in our life to escape the sadness and depression that is constantly bombarded at us through the media I remember reading once in a magazine about Princess Diana and Mother Theresa of Calcutta ~ Diana asked Mother Theresa what she could do to help the world ~ Mother Theresa's answer " go home and look after your family ' ( not the exact words ) so what you are doing at home is YOUR purpose in life at this stage, it will change over the years …enjoy what your family..bringing up children is one of THE most important things we can ever do ~
Our dear Alison…Your honesty is a breath of fresh air and we all have thoughts like you do…(oh boy, I sure wish I could articulate my feelings like you do!!) You are being true to yourself and following your heart…there is nothing wrong with that, if anything you are one of the brave souls in this world who actually do have the courage to do what makes you HAPPY, and I for one admire you…you have touched many in your own special way….thank you Hon! You are a gem…
Lets face it Alison, if you had the money to go and buy the latest, most expensive Bang & Olufsen sound system, you would come back from your shopping trip with a wind up gramophone and several copies of "his masters voice" records. Likewise if the choice was between a new kitchen floor and a fabulous 19th century Vienesse cake stand, I think I know which one you would choose!
Lets face it Alison, if you had the money to go and buy the latest, most expensive Bang & Olufsen sound system, you would come back from your shopping trip with a wind up gramophone and several copies of “his masters voice” records. Likewise if the choice was between a new kitchen floor and a fabulous 19th century Vienesse cake stand, I think I know which one you would choose!
{"id":null,"mode":"form","open_style":"in_place","currency_code":"USD","currency_symbol":"$","currency_type":"decimal","blank_flag_url":"https:\/\/brocantehome.net\/wp-content\/plugins\/tip-jar-wp\/\/assets\/images\/flags\/blank.gif","flag_sprite_url":"https:\/\/brocantehome.net\/wp-content\/plugins\/tip-jar-wp\/\/assets\/images\/flags\/flags.png","default_amount":300,"top_media_type":"featured_image","featured_image_url":"http:\/\/brocantehome.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/tipjar-2.png","featured_embed":"","header_media":null,"file_download_attachment_data":null,"recurring_options_enabled":true,"recurring_options":{"never":{"selected":true,"after_output":"One time only"},"weekly":{"selected":false,"after_output":"Every week"},"monthly":{"selected":false,"after_output":"Every month"},"yearly":{"selected":false,"after_output":"Every year"}},"strings":{"current_user_email":"","current_user_name":"","link_text":"Leave a tip","complete_payment_button_error_text":"Check info and try again","payment_verb":"Pay","payment_request_label":"BrocanteHome","form_has_an_error":"Please check and fix the errors above","general_server_error":"Something isn't working right at the moment. Please try again.","form_title":"BrocanteHome","form_subtitle":"Help Me to Keep BrocanteHome Online","currency_search_text":"Country or Currency here","other_payment_option":"Other payment option","manage_payments_button_text":"Manage your payments","thank_you_message":"Thank you so much: helping me keep Brocantehome online really means the world to me.","payment_confirmation_title":"BrocanteHome","receipt_title":"Your Receipt","print_receipt":"Print Receipt","email_receipt":"Email Receipt","email_receipt_sending":"Sending receipt...","email_receipt_success":"Email receipt successfully sent","email_receipt_failed":"Email receipt failed to send. Please try again.","receipt_payee":"Paid to","receipt_statement_descriptor":"This will show up on your statement as","receipt_date":"Date","receipt_transaction_id":"Transaction ID","receipt_transaction_amount":"Amount","refund_payer":"Refund from","login":"Log in to manage your payments","manage_payments":"Manage Payments","transactions_title":"Your Transactions","transaction_title":"Transaction Receipt","transaction_period":"Plan Period","arrangements_title":"Your Plans","arrangement_title":"Manage Plan","arrangement_details":"Plan Details","arrangement_id_title":"Plan ID","arrangement_payment_method_title":"Payment Method","arrangement_amount_title":"Plan Amount","arrangement_renewal_title":"Next renewal date","arrangement_action_cancel":"Cancel Plan","arrangement_action_cant_cancel":"Cancelling is currently not available.","arrangement_action_cancel_double":"Are you sure you'd like to cancel?","arrangement_cancelling":"Cancelling Plan...","arrangement_cancelled":"Plan Cancelled","arrangement_failed_to_cancel":"Failed to cancel plan","back_to_plans":"\u2190 Back to Plans","update_payment_method_verb":"Update","sca_auth_description":"Your have a pending renewal payment which requires authorization.","sca_auth_verb":"Authorize renewal payment","sca_authing_verb":"Authorizing payment","sca_authed_verb":"Payment successfully authorized!","sca_auth_failed":"Unable to authorize! Please try again.","login_button_text":"Log in","login_form_has_an_error":"Please check and fix the errors above","uppercase_search":"Search","lowercase_search":"search","uppercase_page":"Page","lowercase_page":"page","uppercase_items":"Items","lowercase_items":"items","uppercase_per":"Per","lowercase_per":"per","uppercase_of":"Of","lowercase_of":"of","back":"Back to plans","zip_code_placeholder":"Zip\/Postal Code","download_file_button_text":"Download File","input_field_instructions":{"tip_amount":{"placeholder_text":"How much would you like to tip?","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"How much would you like to tip? Choose any currency."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"How much would you like to tip? Choose any currency."},"invalid_curency":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Please choose a valid currency."}},"recurring":{"placeholder_text":"Recurring","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"How often would you like to give this?"},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"How often would you like to give this?"},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"How often would you like to give this?"}},"name":{"placeholder_text":"Name on Credit Card","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter the name on your card."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Enter the name on your card."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Please enter the name on your card."}},"privacy_policy":{"terms_title":"Terms and conditions","terms_body":null,"terms_show_text":"View Terms","terms_hide_text":"Hide Terms","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"I agree to the terms."},"unchecked":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Please agree to the terms."},"checked":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"I agree to the terms."}},"email":{"placeholder_text":"Your email address","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your email address"},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Enter your email address"},"blank":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your email address"},"not_an_email_address":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Make sure you have entered a valid email address"}},"note_with_tip":{"placeholder_text":"Your note here...","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Attach a note to your tip (optional)"},"empty":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Attach a note to your tip (optional)"},"not_empty_initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Attach a note to your tip (optional)"},"saving":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Saving note..."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Note successfully saved!"},"error":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Unable to save note note at this time. Please try again."}},"email_for_login_code":{"placeholder_text":"Your email address","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."},"blank":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."}},"login_code":{"initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."},"blank":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."}},"stripe_all_in_one":{"initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your credit card details here."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your credit card details here."},"success":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your credit card details here."},"invalid_number":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card number is not a valid credit card number."},"invalid_expiry_month":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration month is invalid."},"invalid_expiry_year":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration year is invalid."},"invalid_cvc":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's security code is invalid."},"incorrect_number":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card number is incorrect."},"incomplete_number":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card number is incomplete."},"incomplete_cvc":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's security code is incomplete."},"incomplete_expiry":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration date is incomplete."},"incomplete_zip":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's zip code is incomplete."},"expired_card":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card has expired."},"incorrect_cvc":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's security code is incorrect."},"incorrect_zip":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's zip code failed validation."},"invalid_expiry_year_past":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration year is in the past"},"card_declined":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card was declined."},"missing":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"There is no card on a customer that is being charged."},"processing_error":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"An error occurred while processing the card."},"invalid_request_error":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Unable to process this payment, please try again or use alternative method."},"invalid_sofort_country":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The billing country is not accepted by SOFORT. Please try another country."}}}},"fetched_oembed_html":false}
Oh Alsion! How I know what you mean! We want a new kitchen floor too! And yet just Saturday I was at an outdoor antiques market buying a set of ten pretty flowered dishes I didn't need, but wanted oh so bad! (AND bought a set of purple flower cotton pillowcases, AND a faded pink tin to hold my laundry powder!) Sometimes I think, "Ok, as the Mama I've got to help save money so we can buy new tile, or double paned windows!" What shall we do?!! 🙂
we all go through this at sometime, in some way , Alison. Just this past week or so since finding your site, it has been the same for me.
Those 'voices in my head' keep asking me if all this fluffing and pottering is important in the scheme of things, when people are dying, suffering and starving all over the world, is it that important to have *pink newspaper* to clean our windows?
YES ! I think it is..we all need a little beauty in our life to escape the sadness and depression that is constantly bombarded at us through the media
I remember reading once in a magazine about Princess Diana and Mother Theresa of Calcutta ~ Diana asked Mother Theresa what she could do to help the world ~ Mother Theresa's answer " go home and look after your family ' ( not the exact words )
so what you are doing at home is YOUR purpose in life at this stage, it will change over the years …enjoy what your family..bringing up children is one of THE most important things we can ever do ~
Our dear Alison…Your honesty is a breath of fresh air and we all have thoughts like you do…(oh boy, I sure wish I could articulate my feelings like you do!!) You are being true to yourself and following your heart…there is nothing wrong with that, if anything you are one of the brave souls in this world who actually do have the courage to do what makes you HAPPY, and I for one admire you…you have touched many in your own special way….thank you Hon! You are a gem…
Lets face it Alison, if you had the money to go and buy the latest, most expensive Bang & Olufsen sound system, you would come back from your shopping trip with a wind up gramophone and several copies of "his masters voice" records. Likewise if the choice was between a new kitchen floor and a fabulous 19th century Vienesse cake stand, I think I know which one you would choose!
Lets face it Alison, if you had the money to go and buy the latest, most expensive Bang & Olufsen sound system, you would come back from your shopping trip with a wind up gramophone and several copies of “his masters voice” records. Likewise if the choice was between a new kitchen floor and a fabulous 19th century Vienesse cake stand, I think I know which one you would choose!
Alison, I love you, you are unique with your wonderful view of this sometimes crazy world.