Do you ever find yourself comparing your home and garden to those you see online, and feeling bad because you don't measure up? I decided to throw this post together because I've found myself playing that game recently, and I think it's good to have a gentle reminder that there's more to people's lives than you see on the internet. We all want to put our best work forward for sharing, but I'd like to give you a peek at what you don't see in the photos.
Those who have been with us for a while know that I like to use my own photos. I like to write about what I know. As I've worked on the blog longer, my photos reflect that experience.
The gluten free strawberry shortcake still tastes the same, but as we used to say in the catering business, “The eye eats first.”
That's another thing not seen or mentioned much here on the website – my family owned a catering business for many years, and that was my summer job through high school and much of college. I'm not a super fancy cook, but I have done a lot of cooking. 🙂
Backdrops and Fancy Lighting
So far I haven't taken the plunge and invested much on photography equipment. I've got a 4 year old Canon Powershot D10, which is water and impact resistant and has served me well. Since it's not the latest and greatest, you can buy it used for under $100. I did splurge on some photo backdrops – fabric samples from the thrift store that cost 25 cents. 🙂
You might recognize them from the recent pancake post. The wood in the background is the side of my kitchen cabinets.
What else is going on in the kitchen? Today, from left to right, we have:
- a 50 pound bag of flour that I'm going to split with a neighbor.
- pieces of a rocket stove I'll be reviewing soon
- bulk honey that I just purchased through a group buy
- 72 hour kit I recently reviewed (on floor, husband was swapping out some items)
- Sodastream, Berkey water filter and Mavea filter pitcher
- Bin of onions and potatoes I just brought up from the root cellar
- Collagen peptides, personal water filter, daises from my husband, binoculars for spying on the deer in the back yard, and a pile of the boys' homeschooling books
Another corner:
- Kombucha brewing way in the back under the towel
- Vitamix with ear muffs – it's loud
- Drying plastic freezer bags from fruits and veggies for reuse on old olive oil and vinegar bottles
- yogurt tubs for collecting egg shells and coffee grounds for the garden
- Drying out a Mavea filter for recycling
- knives and some garlic bulbs
Real life isn't all sunshine and rainbows and perfectly manicured everything. Real life gets messy. My floors are not always clean, my clothes are sometimes stained or torn or mended, I squawk at my kids now and again. Recipes sometimes flop, plants don't grow, and cats get into mischief and tip over trays of seedlings.
Don't be afraid to try new things because you might fail. The only people who never fail are those who never try. You don't have to do everything, just do what you can. Know that I am here for you to help if I can with advice, or hook you up with friends who can help if it's a topic I'm not familiar with.
I'll be back to more “how to” posts later in the week, and we've got some great giveaways coming up soon with water filtration systems, rocket stoves, great books and other items. Don't forget to subscribe to updates. I never sell or share your email. Don't forget to open your emails, too, because I boot people off the list who haven't opened any for a couple of months. (I have to pay to maintain my mail list, so I want to make sure I'm mailing people who are actually interested.)
Onward!
tammy says
March 23, 2014 at 7:31 pmluv it!!! my kitchen is a wreck in most people’s eyes… but if i “clean” it.. i can’t find anything!!!!! luv luv luv this!!!!!!!!!! and can totally relate to drying the plastic bags!!!!!
Irene Garner says
March 24, 2014 at 7:18 amThank you. I need to be reminded that things aren’t always looking picture perfect. Also thank you for the reminder about failing and not trying. Awesome .
Caitlin | The Siren's Tale says
March 25, 2014 at 9:37 amI love this post! It’s so authentic and down-to-earth. People easily forget that what we see on blogs is real, but it’s also staged to catch readers’ eyes quickly. I love these behind-the-scenes posts 🙂
Laurie Neverman says
March 25, 2014 at 12:57 pmThanks, Caitlin. I don’t do them very often, because they’re not the sort of thing that gets shared much, but once in a while I like to share a peek at the more mundane side of things.
Pam Baker says
March 26, 2014 at 9:12 pmThanks for keeping it real!!
lydia larae says
March 27, 2014 at 12:59 amI’m going to go ahead and agree with the other commenters on this one, I totally appreciate the realness of this post. It’s nice to see the cute photo-edited project images on pinterest because they’re inspiring, for about the first 50 then after that I start to wonder if something is wrong with me. Where are all the toddler toys spread on these people’s floors? lol. maybe I’ll do a behind the scenes post on my blog one of these days soon.
Laurie Neverman says
March 27, 2014 at 10:41 amThe cleanliness of one’s home is in no way proportional to the kindness in a person’s heart. The most loving people I know run the gamut from spotless to can’t see the floor under all the projects.
Lauren says
April 1, 2014 at 10:12 amThank you so much for letting us see real life in action. So many times we feel like we cannot measure up to all the glossy photos and you tube clips when in reality it is just like you pictured!
Laurie Neverman says
April 1, 2014 at 10:41 amYou’re welcome, Lauren.
Linda Shaw says
April 3, 2014 at 3:42 amI so totally appreciate this as I’m getting ready for a craft show this weekend and the farmer’s market starts the 1st of May. My kitchen counter, beautiful mahogany dining table, and every other available space will be covered in product in various stages, supplies, and inventory. Maybe I will be able to stop apologizing for the mess when someone drops by. Working out of my home was not the plan when I bought it and there is no “work space”. Feeling lighter and ready to read my scriptures.
Laurie Neverman says
April 3, 2014 at 10:57 amIt’s a strange thing in our society that we feel the need to compartmentalize very space, just like we compartmentalize people. It’s a fairly recent phenomenon. In days past, extended families, from young to old, uses to live together under one roof, and work together, with skills and information passing from young to old (and sometimes the other direction, too). Why shouldn’t the things that fill our lives fill our space, instead of being tucked off in an out of the way corner? I vote for sharing what you are passionate about and no more apologies.
Cheryl says
August 17, 2014 at 9:09 amThank you for this! I love your page, following you every day on facebook, and appreciate this so, so much.
sarah says
October 27, 2014 at 5:33 pmKeeping it real! And awesome! I enjoy the blog and I hope someday to write about gardening after I learn a bit more. Keep up the good stuff!
Laurie Neverman says
October 27, 2014 at 9:53 pmThanks, Sarah.
Mercedes Rego says
February 8, 2015 at 12:47 pmHi Laurie!
I’ve been subscribed for a few months now and I was snooping through some of your posts, LOVE your blog. I was wondering if you ever posted anything on bees and beekeeping? I was snooping through some of your posts but I didn’t see anything about it. Do you have beehives?
Thanks and keep up the amazing work!
Laurie Neverman says
February 8, 2015 at 1:07 pmNo beehives yet, since we have a number of local apiaries close by and an abundance of native bees. There’s one guest post on the site about beekeeping – “Getting Started Beekeeping – Iron Oak Farm’s First Hive“.
Thanks for your kind words about the site. I’m glad you enjoy it.
charlene says
September 19, 2015 at 4:09 pmWell that’s a big ‘ole sigh of relief, here I thought I was just sloppy or a slob. I get so nervous when people want to come over, they can be so judgemental, especially if you’ve been to their house and it looks like a magazine. I love your blog, please don’t boot me because I don’t come as often as I like. Tho’ I suppose if you can find time to write it and do all that you do I can find time to read it.
Laurie Neverman says
September 19, 2015 at 4:50 pmHi Charlene.
I don’t boot folks too often, but every once in a while I do go through the list and remove folks who haven’t visited in over half a year or more, since I have to pay per month to keep sending, whether folks open their emails or not.
I always figured that homes were meant to be lived in, so as long as it doesn’t get too crazy messy, I figure it’s good. 🙂
Beth Jablonski says
March 9, 2019 at 7:23 pmThanks for the peek “behind the curtain”! It’s always a good reminder that much of what we see on the internet is not real life. As someone commented earlier, it the perfectly staged representation of real life. This is one reason why I like your blog and emails – you are down to earth. You share your successes and your, well…um, we’ll call them “challenges”. 🙂
Laurie Neverman says
March 9, 2019 at 7:34 pmThanks, Beth. My husband calls them “opportunities for improvement”.
Terri Morris says
March 9, 2019 at 10:03 pmI love this blog I have never really done anything like grow food or cook. City and microwave. I have started 8 pots of seedlings. Now I love in the middle of ranch land. Finding your place has given me hopes for a richet . Life I have an older houses moved to here. I will join next month I have had pneumonia and just started moving around after 3 weeks. I’m making my own root cellar. Thank you so much for your quality of ideas.
Laurie Neverman says
March 9, 2019 at 10:26 pmThank you, Terri. I’m glad you enjoy the site. Just tackle projects one at a time and you will get where you need to be on your journey.
Bill says
March 9, 2019 at 10:43 pmYour kitchen looks like the people who use it, do stuff!
Laurie Neverman says
March 10, 2019 at 2:57 pmI’ve been doing my best to clear the kitchen counter tops in preparation for the upcoming classes and people coming through the house. My husband came in and asked whose house it was. 😉
Mar says
March 10, 2019 at 1:05 amAlways wanted to get that sign to hang – Sorry you couldn’t come yesterday when my house was clean and neat.
Laurie Neverman says
March 10, 2019 at 2:55 pmMy mom always said that if they don’t like the mess, they can help clean it. Lately I’ve been vacuuming or sweeping some area each day, and the fallout still keeps spreading. Ah well, at least boredom is never an issue.
Melissa Page says
March 10, 2019 at 7:39 amThank you so much for sharing your thoughts and ideas.
Laurie Neverman says
March 10, 2019 at 2:53 pmYou’re very welcome. Thank you for your kind words.