Comments on: A Note on Simplicity

By: Lindsey

Lindsey — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 17:34:03 +0000

A very good point indeed. I’ve been both working mother, SAHM mother, work at home mother, and homeschool mother; and a combination of all those sorts of “titles” at one point or another.

And in all those different seasons of my life, I’ve found that the MORE WE KEEP IT SIMPLE, THE EASIER IT IS TO MANAGE AND ENJOY.

The Paradox of Choice is an excellent essay if you’ve never read it. (methinks you probably have)

By: link-o-rama 16 (The warm fuzzies edition) « A Quiet Simple Life

link-o-rama 16 (The warm fuzzies edition) « A Quiet Simple Life — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 15:28:31 +0000

[...] A Note on Simplicity from Lanier’s Books [...]

By: Lanier Ivester

Lanier Ivester — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:13:56 +0000

I love Bess Streeter Aldrich, Jodi!! I did not know that wonderful bit about the family diaries, but it’s no surprise that her stories were based in fact–they are all so wonderfully alive, peopled with characters that you feel like you know. The Rim of the Prairie is the next on my list, so I’m glad to hear that it’s your favorite!

By: Jodi

Jodi — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:02:41 +0000

I’d like to read Lark Rise to Candleford. Have you ever read Bess Streeter Aldrich? Two of her books, Lantern in Her Hand and A White Bird Flying, follow several generations of a family. These have a similar theme to what you described–old giving way to new, then new looking back to the old for strength in times of trouble. While the stories are fiction, Aldrich said they were based on information she gleaned from family diaries. My most favorite of hers is The Rim of the Prairie.

By: Claudia Adams

Claudia Adams — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:21:58 +0000

Oh the war with “stuff”!! I struggle with all the items in our home that others have outgrown , left behind or we inherited. William Morris says it very well…”Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.” Some of my most “beautiful” items were made by small hands of now grown children or ones that belonged to my most loved family members now with the Lord. My mother in law’s flour bowl that never left the pantry and was always covered with her sifter is now my favorite salad bowl. I believe it to be useful and beautiful where she only saw it as useful. My Grandmother had a saying concerning the freshness of food items..”When in doubt…throw it out..” That works pretty well with “stuff” also. Unfortunately I do not have much doubt about a lot of things that are in our home…but to me it makes home HOME.

By: Judith

Judith — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:18:05 +0000

I love your conclusion – and have to agree! Tea and conversation over suff (do books count as stuff?!?) any day. Simplicity makes room for lots of wonderful things in our hearts and lives.

By: Deanna

Deanna — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 21:55:03 +0000

I have a simple home, and I love it. Less to care for and more time for tea and friendship! I am going to have to read those books.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 20:53:52 +0000

How true this is! About twice the year I am seized by the urge to simplify. It is difficult, for me, to balance my love of beautiful things and my desire to live more simply. I’m going to keep striving for that balance, though!

By: Katie

Katie — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 16:49:39 +0000

I do so love your blog, Lanier! This post was a delight and refreshment as yours always are. My heart thrills at your love of books that are so dear to my heart.

By: Stacy

Stacy — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 15:44:07 +0000

As our family prepares to move we’ve stepped back and looked at what we can really live without. Do I really want to be the caretaker of so many things…things that are often stored in boxes in the basement? I’ve decided that if I don’t absolutely love it, I don’t need it. As I pack these boxes of unnecessaries I feel free. I am moving forward with the motto “Simplicity, Beauty and Order”.