Throwback Thursday: Remember Glamour Shots?

June 26, 2014 8:38 am / wvfurandroot / 2 Comments

Remember Glamour Shots? Yes, I succumbed to the nonsense. On a blistering hot summer day, my mother and I went to the JC Penney’s and got all gussied up. There was a ton of makeup involved not to mention the wardrobe of bustiers and boas. It really was a lot of fun.

I decided early on that this was going to be my obituary picture. I think it suits me. I’m not in any hurry to die, but it’s good to have plans!

So, this is my Throwback Thursday offering. I hope y’all enjoy it as much as I did the outing with my mother.

It’s mine and I love it and I’m never moving and you can’t make me.

June 22, 2014 11:04 am / wvfurandroot / 6 Comments

I’m busy procrastinating so I’m watching home remodeling shows.

Whenever I watch these tv shows, I see my house as others might see it. I see all the problems and the dirt and the projects. I see the mistakes. I see my bad taste. I see all of its flaws. It’s like plucking my eyebrows with a 10x magnifying mirror.

But I love my house. I can’t imagine selling it. (Never mind actually finding someone to buy it.)

It used to be a barn. Well, not even a barn. It used to be an outbuilding used to store animal skins and drying herbs hence the name of West Virginia Fur & Root. The Ex and I began turning it into a home. We gave up after a decade and hired a pro, but ran out of money.

It’s a mess, but it’s my mess. There isn’t one like it anywhere on the planet. It’s quirky. The layout is downright strange. It’s mine. I love it.

I watch these shows where people destroy the charms and quirks of their home to install the latest trend in home design. Almost invariably, by the time the renovation is done it looks like every other project I’ve seen on these shows.

I think one’s home should be a reflection of the people who live in it. I think every home should be infused and steeped in the character and quirks of its inhabitants. I don’t like cookie cutter design and that’s what all these shows seem to showcase.

Since I have always planned this house as if I would die in it, I’ve never been concerned about its resale value or if someone else likes it. Oh sure, we all want to hear nice things about our home, but I came to terms a long time ago with the fact that folks either “get” the barn or they don’t.

Of course, there are things I’d change if I could. There are projects I hope to get to when time and money appear in droves. All in all, though, I’m quite happy with where I live which is a good thing, because I’m going to live here happily ever after.

Carruthers

June 20, 2014 6:37 pm / wvfurandroot / 2 Comments

Photo by Roy Welburn

I’m snuggled on the couch with the puppy drinking coffee. After complaining about the heat for days, I’m enjoying the storm waging outside The Barn.

I promised myself I would not complain about this summer’s heat after last winter’s cold. I meant well.

But there’s nothing like feeling safe inside while the rain rages outside. I feel snug and loved as the puppy is using this opportunity to cover me with sweet puppy kisses.

I joke that Carruthers should be here. Whenever she visits, West Virginia is dowsed in torrents of rain – tropical monsoons the likes of which we all marvel at. But Carruthers is turning 25 while doing fieldwork in Indonesia. I bet it’s more tropical here today.

Her birthday isn’t technically until tomorrow, but it’s tomorrow today where she is, so I wished her Happy Birthday as she ate Mexican food and listened to salsa music in an Indonesian restaurant. Isn’t it a wonderful world!

One of the greatest blessings I received from Doug is his daughter, Carruthers. I would never have gotten through this past year without her. I hope she knows how much I love her.