I am sure you could not help but notice the interest in vintage relics lately. There is a trend going on. Old barn wood, once useless and forgotten, now has meaning and importance and earns a place in people's homes. Old tea cups, table linens, rusty buckets - well, almost anything old (except me) seems to be sought and bought and displayed with affection. New items are antiqued, painted with paint that cracks to give a worn through time look and sanded to appear well worn and used.
This is a huge contrast to the 60's era, where modern, sleek and shiny was 'in' and anything antique or old was discarded with the trash. Why the resurgence? What is it the young people are missing that is bringing back what held no esteem whatsoever?
I think people long for some connection to the past. The future is uncertain. It never has been certain, but during the developing years through the industrial age, there was the promise of a brighter tomorrow. People are longing for some meaning to their lives now, some semblance of belonging to the tribe, something that does not come from a factory and is mass produced. They want a piece of the past that provides some direction to their futures.
Why is this not extended to farming, or is it? Perhaps there is also a slight resurgence of folks who want a simpler life, want to escape the bustle of the city, the consumerism and dictatorship of what to wear, what to decorate with, why, even what colours are 'in' because the masses do not have the ability any more to choose colours they actually like without being told. Gads, what has happened?
I returned to a simpler life. Always a 'green' person, then an organic person, I am now just a natural farmer person. I donated the majority of my fashion clothing and opted to keep the furniture that meant something to me. For me it is the pieces from the 1940's era, when furniture was made of real wood through and through by skilled craftsmen who took pride in their work. The 40's was the last era to do so, for by the time the 1950's came along, modern was pushing out craftsmanship and by the 1970's, particle board disposable pieces were the norm.
I think the return to a piece of the past has a lot to do with the future. Still, there is the 'fashion' of making items appear old and worn, and collections of 'stuff' that is old are just as apt to be seen as sleek, shiny disposable plastics. But on the farm, none of that matters much. We do with what we have and like it just fine. We do not rely on stylists to tell us how to present our farm suppers. We do not rely on fashion designers to tell us what to wear or colour stylists to tell us what colours are hot for the upcoming year. I remember being critical of my parent's home, how mismatched and hodpodge it was and why they did not update and modernize it. I finally understand. Their home and what was in it had meaning to them. My home and what is in it does too. So does my farm. It took 62 years and a lot of tears and laughter to get this far. I am glad I did.
For all those who are 'finding' themselves in the past, truly enjoying rusty old hinges because ironically speaking, they are beautiful as they are, they are finding meaning too. What do you think?
This is a huge contrast to the 60's era, where modern, sleek and shiny was 'in' and anything antique or old was discarded with the trash. Why the resurgence? What is it the young people are missing that is bringing back what held no esteem whatsoever?
I think people long for some connection to the past. The future is uncertain. It never has been certain, but during the developing years through the industrial age, there was the promise of a brighter tomorrow. People are longing for some meaning to their lives now, some semblance of belonging to the tribe, something that does not come from a factory and is mass produced. They want a piece of the past that provides some direction to their futures.
Why is this not extended to farming, or is it? Perhaps there is also a slight resurgence of folks who want a simpler life, want to escape the bustle of the city, the consumerism and dictatorship of what to wear, what to decorate with, why, even what colours are 'in' because the masses do not have the ability any more to choose colours they actually like without being told. Gads, what has happened?
I returned to a simpler life. Always a 'green' person, then an organic person, I am now just a natural farmer person. I donated the majority of my fashion clothing and opted to keep the furniture that meant something to me. For me it is the pieces from the 1940's era, when furniture was made of real wood through and through by skilled craftsmen who took pride in their work. The 40's was the last era to do so, for by the time the 1950's came along, modern was pushing out craftsmanship and by the 1970's, particle board disposable pieces were the norm.
I think the return to a piece of the past has a lot to do with the future. Still, there is the 'fashion' of making items appear old and worn, and collections of 'stuff' that is old are just as apt to be seen as sleek, shiny disposable plastics. But on the farm, none of that matters much. We do with what we have and like it just fine. We do not rely on stylists to tell us how to present our farm suppers. We do not rely on fashion designers to tell us what to wear or colour stylists to tell us what colours are hot for the upcoming year. I remember being critical of my parent's home, how mismatched and hodpodge it was and why they did not update and modernize it. I finally understand. Their home and what was in it had meaning to them. My home and what is in it does too. So does my farm. It took 62 years and a lot of tears and laughter to get this far. I am glad I did.
For all those who are 'finding' themselves in the past, truly enjoying rusty old hinges because ironically speaking, they are beautiful as they are, they are finding meaning too. What do you think?
Robbie, the ubiquitous border collie, was finding kittens in the old Impala car left here by my son. Even he is in the groove these days, finding meaning in old stuff. Or, maybe he was just having some fun. Or maybe having fun with old stuff is what it is all about?
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