Weird or Interesting? You Decide
I am one of the new writers over at Simple, Green, Frugal Co-op, head on over there today and check out my post. I wrote about how most of my friends either tell me I’m the weirdest or the most interesting person they know. Why? Because I grow some of my own food, collect rain water, keep bees in my backyard, shop at farmer’s markets, buy raw milk and make everything from scratch (I mean everything, even crackers, oh yeah and maple syrup).
Weird or interesting, what do you think?
Normal. It’s all a matter of where you live.
.-= kristin @ going country´s last blog ..The Carrots Win =-.
to kristin @ going country's comment
Both.
I find the idea that they could be mutually exclusive weird. :)
.-= Chicago Mike´s last blog ..The Coolest Kid In The Neighborhood =-.
to Chicago Mike's comment
True, I don’t mind either label actually. Being “weird” isn’t a bad thing in my mind!
to Susy's comment
What I want to know, is if the garden is named after the dog – why is it not called Lucy’s Run?
And is it pronounced Chee-otts? hard Ch like chief or is it a sh sound?
I should google it, instead I just let the question simmer in the back of my head every time I read your blog.
I vote for interesting. It does seem like you are asking the choir if they believe. I had a friend once who was a brilliant woman but a woman who’s life was made up of happy hours and shopping, manis and pedis, who’s who in Hollywood and who is the current American Idol. She’d never even consider reading your blog. And if she did she’d never, ever understand.
But I understand. My friends and family are amazed at my new gardening obsession. My mom who grew up on a sustenance farm cannot conceive of _wanting_ to can. It was something you had to do. My only regret is not finding this passion earlier in my life.
to Seren Dippity's comment
Chiot is the french word for puppy (it is pronounced “chee-oats”). When we got Lucy her bag of dog food said “pour chiots”. So we started calling her “The Chiots” and the nickname stuck. She actually is called that more than Lucy.
to Susy's comment
You make your own crackers? I have no idea how to do that but it sounds yummy. I don’t find you strange, but then I grind my own wheat and bake my own bread, preserve my harvest… So maybe I am the wrong person to ask!
.-= Jaspenelle´s last blog ..Corolla =-.
to Jaspenelle's comment
We grind wheat as well! Crackers are actually pretty easy to make, I have a cookbook that has tons of recipes. I particularly like to make really think flatbread crackers. I use my pasta roller to roll them out. They’re a perfect chip alternative when you’re wanting something thin, crispy & salty.
to Susy's comment
I am not sure which you are but I get the same comments all the time…and I am not as hard-core as you. I’d like to think interesting and awesome!
.-= warren´s last blog ..Cider Press Plans =-.
to warren's comment
I think weird and interesting usually go together.
.-= Daphne´s last blog ..Collecting Lettuce Seed =-.
to Daphne's comment
you know you’re both :) that’s why i love you:) but you’ve also helped give me direction in getting to the point where we can be more self sustaining. i’ve always wanted to, but didn’t know where to start. a lot of people are probably just jealous that their life isn’t set up like your’s so they call you weird! :)
to deedee's comment
People have been programmed by culture, society, and advertisement / media to act and behave in certain ways. Anytime one does not follow mainstream they are considered, by the masses, weird. It is those who think and work for themselves that, in my opinion, are blessed with a freedom some never attain. To be able to be as self-sufficient as one can be, to not depend on the big machine, is a very powerful thing. I believe what you do at Chiot’s Run is amazing, liberating, and very inspiring. Keep it up; being different is good.
to Louise's comment
MY family totally thinks I’m weird. Thankfully, all of my friends have similar interests.
I had a question for you— a while back you had a poll about what to build with your Home Depot gift card. A beehive was one of these options. I know you already have some bees, but did you build or buy the hive? Where did you find plans for the Warre hive? I’ve been trying to found plans for a beehive, but haven’t really found anything that looks reliable. Do you have any tips for finding plans to build these? Also, where did you get your bees?
.-= Christine´s last blog ..Chicken Coop! =-.
to Christine's comment
Here’s the link to the Warre Hive, http://thebeespace.net/warre-hive/ at the bottom of the article he has a link to the plans to build one. Our current hives we bought (actually my dad gave us one, we bought one). We want to do Warre hives because they’re more natural.
We bought a package of bees from a local guy for one of our hives and the other hive is a split off of our first hive. We bought a queen from the same guy we bought our bees from.
to Susy's comment
Hello,
I have so enjoyed your blog. I am considered weird too. I so wish I had like mined women here. It is nice I can meet other weird women on the web.LOL
Elizabeth
.-= Elizabeth Quigley´s last blog ..Are You Hungry? =-.
to Elizabeth Quigley's comment
Well, the maple syrup is a little weird. ;)
You know how crazy I am. lol! I think we are the ‘good’ kind of crazy though. Someone once said to me “Financial freedom does not come from having money. It comes from not needing it.” and I firmly believe that in my soul. The things I do this time of year may deam me ‘crazy’ in some circles, and ‘wierd’ in others… but I am the one that will spend $50 a week on food for a family of 5 for the whole winter. Crazy? I don’t think so.
I could go on and on…….. Love you blog posts… as always.
Val
.-= Val´s last blog ..In my kitchen at 4:29pm on Tuesday, Sept. 15th, 2009 =-.
to Val's comment
Hi Susy, I think you’re interesting as well. Our families thinks my husband and I are weird too. The ignition on my car went out at the end of April and we purposely haven’t fixed it. We’ve been getting along fine with one car but the families just can’t stand it! I do a lot of making food from scratch and crafting. My favorite thing right now is homemade yogurt. As far as the maple syrup goes, do you mean you tap your own trees or do you make it with sugar, water, and maple extract?
.-= Kristin´s last blog ..$100 Home Depot Gift Card Giveaway =-.
to Kristin's comment
We tap our own trees, here are a few posts with photos:
/2009/03/13/maple-sugaring-at-chiots-run/
/2009/03/17/sweet-success/
to Susy's comment
Weird and interesting. That’s the best combination. But when you’re among like minds, you’re neither. So I say, bring it on.
P.S. Loving your blog.
.-= LeLo´s last blog ..And the tomato love continues: canning chili sauce =-.
to LeLo's comment
I’ll dodge the question ;) but would love tips on crackers. I’ve tried a few times, and my crackers are just awful.
to Carol's comment
The recipe in Jam It, Pickle It, Cure It: And Other Cooking Projects is really good I’ve heard from others (I haven’t made it myself yet. I usually use the recipes from Bernard Clayton’s New Complete Book of Breads
I also really love these crispy flatbreads (they’re better than crackers) http://www.wildyeastblog.com/2008/02/21/sesame-semolina-flatbreads/
to Susy's comment
Thanks! I’ll see if the library has those.
to Carol's comment
Who would want to be anything but weird AND interesting? Go for both. But this is from someone else who taps maples and gathers eggs and bakes her own crackers. Fortunately, my friends are just as weird and interesting, which keeps everything lively (and good-tasting).
.-= June´s last blog ..Stillness: September =-.
to June's comment
Does “weird” mean “dedicated and purposeful”? Then I guess you are. Interesting goes without saying.
.-= Helen at Toronto Gardens´s last blog ..Behold, my first (possibly only) tomatoes =-.
to Helen at Toronto Gardens's comment
My best friend has affectionately called me “weirdo” for years. She just sold her house in “Pleasantville” and is moving to five acres in the country. I think you are fantastic! Carry on…
.-= Beegirl´s last blog ..Short and Sweet =-.
to Beegirl's comment
Yours is such a wonderful site, Susy. Just Lovely.
On the subject of pronunciation, I just thought I’d put my french two cents in here. Chiot is french for puppy, yes, but like many words in the french language ending with a T, la terminaison est muette (the termination is mute ?). So it’s actually pronounced Shee-O (with a soft ‘ch’) in both singular or plural forms, as the plural S in french is also mute.
I don’t know how Lucy will take to the new nick ! :)
to Kri's comment
Thanks for the clarification. I only speak English & Spanish – no french.
to Susy's comment
Seems to me like you are completely normal…that makes us both weird I suppose. But in this day and age weird is a very good thing, I certainly wouldn’t want to be typical! Kim
.-= the inadvertent farmer´s last blog ..Friday Funnies…Here Comes Trouble! =-.
to the inadvertent farmer's comment
Interesting. You should be very proud of your accomplishments.
.-= MAYBELLINE´s last blog ..Sweet Peas =-.
to MAYBELLINE's comment
I’ve been reading your blog for a few months now – 1st time to post – but I’d say you’re “authentic” which in this day and age makes you both weird and interesting. Those that fight authenticity deem you weird, those that seek it – find your pursuit of it ABSOLUTELY interesting.
I live north of you, north of Akron in a rather upscale suburb…homeschooling…big garden…5 chickens….in this neck of the woods I guess I’m leaning heavily on the weird side – but I don’t mind a bit. Our “real” life feels like bliss to me most days! :-)
p.s. any help info youmcould offer on the raw milk would be greatly appreciated – it’s hard to come by!
to Mija's comment
you are VERY VERY INTERESTING!!!!!
I FOUND THIS SITE BY LOOKING UP JALAPENO JELLY RECIPES…
My husband and I made our first batch of jelly last week…and then he decided to also make a batch of jelly using his sweet red hot peppers from our garden…It turned out awesome…. ALSO WE HAVE 2 COMPOST PILES. IT IS AWESOME THAT OUR KITCHEN SCRAPS CAN MAKE SUCH GREAT SOIL…MY FLOWERS WERE EXCEPTIONAL THIS YEAR….
I WILL DEFINITELY CHECK THIS SITE AGAIN. I LOVE ALL OF THE TOPICS TO CHOOSE FROM
to Sylvia's comment
I just found your blog today because I’ve been online striving to be a “weird” person too! This is my very first baby step into the world of self-sufficiency/localvourism :-) I only hope to become as “weird” as you! :-)
R.
to RHonda's comment
Thanks, I hope to become even more weird as time passes!
to Susy's comment
beautifully put. I hear the phrase ‘you’re so funny’ quite often. Or ‘you’re bonkers’. Or ‘again!’ when I say I’ve been making chutney/jam/jelly for the tenth time!
to nic@nipitinthebud's comment