Home building, (a subject not spoken of so much these days)

[grahamg]

A comment on another thread prompted me to set up this thread, (I'll leave you to guess which one!).

I seem to remember the "art of home building" being much more spoken of "back in the day"!

Perhaps more thought is necessary than generally given to the idea, or need to build a home life, especially in days like these when the "work/life balance" is said to be under threat for many younger people at least(?).

 

[grahamg]

"What's happened to all the little women in this world", (who did the big job of making a good home! ).

 

[Gary O']

My lady retired

Raised our kids, and (like gramma) grandkids

Just me to take care of now

Heh, her hands are still full

 

[grahamg]

Some research on the thread topic to give it a boost:

https://www.milkround.com/advice/what-are-soft-skills

Quote
"The importance of soft skills in professional life, and it has more to do with how you behave rather than what you know — Employers want you to have the knowledge required to do the job obviously, but this does not mean they won't also be seeking soft skills, such as conscientiousness, (the tendency to be responsible, organised, and hardworking), drive, adaptability, open to new ideas and experiences, empathy, and a desire and ability to learn."

I've found another good website, (unfortunately most sites seem to think I mean buidling a house with bricks and mortar , rather than building a home, (like my mother used to do!):
https://www.peoplescout.com/insights/soft-skills-in-the-workplace/

 

[grahamg]

More research here, through the lens of women's magazines, (going back to my mothers day):

Quote:

"Examining magazines issued in 1948, Chapter Five surveys Woman’s Weekly during the third year of peace. Helping its readers cope with the domestic privations caused by the post-war Labour government’s programme of austerity in the UK, it probes the apparently bipartisan publication’s engagements with governmental politics. Its attitudes towards housework and etiquette offer means of classifying its class-conscious readership, whose contribution to the rebuilding of post-war British society is, apparently, domestic.

Finally, Chapter Six examines Woman’s Weekly magazines produced in 1958. Within a post-austerity culture of consumerism, a more modernised Britain is emerging: the magazine acknowledges the advent of television and the increasing availability of domestic appliances, helps readers update their homes, accepts that some of its married readers may have jobs, and reaches out to newly-categorised teenage girls. Moreover, it seeks to legitimise a more domesticated masculinity; despite this however, similarities between Woman’s Weekly’s domestic culture and the domestic culture criticised by Betty Friedan in The Feminine Mystique raise feminist concerns about the status of housewives in the magazine."

https://pure.roehampton.ac.uk/ws/po...estic_Culture_in_Woman_s_Weekly_1918_1958.pdf

 

[grahamg]

My lady retired
Raised our kids, and (like gramma) grandkids
Just me to take care of now
Heh, her hands are still full

Have you got any pictures of your good self doing some actual house building, (as folks don't seem so interested in the "home building" theme)?

 

[Gary O']

Have you got any pictures of your good self doing some actual house building, (as folks don't seem so interested in the "home building" theme)?

Just cabins


From shop model;

To fruition;

 

[grahamg]

Just cabins


From shop model;

To fruition;

View attachment 199950


View attachment 199953

If you get five minutes can you pop over to the UK and build me one?

 

[Gary O']

If you get five minutes can you pop over to the UK and build me one?

Shop model?
Yes

I do have a few cabins left in me.
Might just build a few and sell 'em
I've got enough property to build a trapper's cabin
I've also got two buds that can haul 'em

It's in the back of my head
Might happen

 

[OneEyedDiva]

"What's happened to all the little women in this world", (who did the big job of making a good home! ).

We're not little women anymore. The state of the economy dictated that we become breadwinners. Finally being able to get college educations just like men, our intellect has lead us to become businesswomen, CEOs, lawyers, etc. despite the glass ceilings that are still in place. I remember the first woman who was hired by the state to do the job I wound up doing years later. Women were discouraged from become Public Health Representatives in the STD program. But guess what they found out? We are damned good at it. The job requires empathy as well as special medical knowledge. We did better interviews, especially with the gay community, we often got more contacts. So LITTLE women....save that title for the book.

 

[grahamg]

We're not little women anymore. The state of the economy dictated that we become breadwinners. Finally being able to get college educations just like men, our intellect has lead us to become businesswomen, CEOs, lawyers, etc. despite the glass ceilings that are still in place. I remember the first woman who was hired by the state to do the job I wound up doing years later. Women were discouraged from become Public Health Representatives in the STD program. But guess what they found out? We are damned good at it. The job requires empathy as well as special medical knowledge. We did better interviews, especially with the gay community, we often got more contacts. So LITTLE women....save that title for the book.

Thank you for taking the "Little Women" bait, (here is a movie clip for you to enjoy!):

 

[Paco Dennis]

Remember the phrase "Home is where the heart is." It used to be that the home was a very concentrated group, consisting mainly of relatives. Each home was different distances apart. Some very close, and others miles away. So communities had varied priorities. We moved into a period of extended families. People who were not relatives that we shared our home with. As recent as 20 years ago this extended family can sometimes include others from all over the world in seconds. I would suggest that a nuclear family home that was so valuable in the past has slowly grown into our home and family is global, and we are becoming aware that they are our mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters.

 

[grahamg]

Remember the phrase "Home is where the heart is." It used to be that the home was a very concentrated group, consisting mainly of relatives. Each home was different distances apart. Some very close, and others miles away. So communities had varied priorities. We moved into a period of extended families. People who were not relatives that we shared our home with. As recent as 20 years ago this extended family can sometimes include others from all over the world in seconds. I would suggest that a nuclear family home that was so valuable in the past has slowly grown into our home and family is global, and we are becoming aware that they are our mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters.

Very good points!
I've found a short exposition by William Golding related to the thread topic, (and the superiority of women!), when I can I'll post it for you.

 

[grahamg]

Here we go...............!

 

[grahamg]

Shop model? Yes
I do have a few cabins left in me.
Might just build a few and sell 'em
I've got enough property to build a trapper's cabin
I've also got two buds that can haul 'em
It's in the back of my head, Might happen

As a child I spent almost the whole school holidays building "dens", (supposedly secret places, made in any corner of a field on my parents farm, made of branches, sisal bale string, fertiliser sacks etc.). I did once attempt a more substantial affair, with a makeshift bricks and mortar fireplace, (used only once I seem to remember, chimney stack only four feet high, so smokey!).
My parents eventually had built a retirement bungalow on the same spot, so well chosen site don't you think, (adjacent to the farmhouse, so not very hidden this "den"!).

 

[Gary O']

I did once attempt a more substantial affair, with a makeshift bricks and mortar fireplace

It looks hard to do
It's a lot harder to actually do

 

[grahamg]

It looks hard to do
It's a lot harder to actually do

Aye, smoke dunna go where its supposed to if yer dunno what ur doin!

 

[Gary O']

Aye, smoke dunna go where its supposed to if yer dunno what ur doin!

That's the biggie
Learning proper 'draw' is critical

 

[JaniceM]

Aye, smoke dunna go where its supposed to if yer dunno what ur doin!

Can you please translate that into English?

 

[Gary O']

Can you please translate that into English?

I'll step in here;

'Aye, smoke dunna go where its supposed to if yer dunno what ur doin!'

Yes, smoke doesn't go where it's supposed to go, if you don't know what you're doing

In other words;
If you aren't well versed on proper draw and draft when building a fireplace and piping, you'll most likely get smoked out.

 

[OneEyedDiva]

Thank you for taking the "Little Women" bait, (here is a movie clip for you to enjoy!):

You're welcome Graham....my pleasure. I never did see that movie and it's not likely I will. Anyway...home building...It would be a scary process for me. I often think that when I see the people on those home buying shows that choose building on a lot rather than homes that are already standing. I imagine the cost of materials has jumped too with price hikes due to COVID.

 

[grahamg]

I hope you will all allow me to deviate a little from the thread topic, by posting this Christmas version of a very well known passage from the bible, (though thinking about it there is a lot in there to fit the thread topic isn't there):

Christmas Version of 1 Corinthians 13,

"If I decorate my house perfectly with lovely plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights, and shiny glass balls, but do not show love to my family – I’m just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals, and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family – I’m just another cook.

If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home, and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family – it profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties, and sing in the choir’s cantata but do not focus on religion, I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child.

Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband.

Love is kind, though harried and tired.

Love doesn’t envy another home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.

Love doesn’t yell at the kids to get out of your way.

Love doesn’t give only to those who are able to give in return, but rejoices in giving to those who can’t.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things."

 

[JaniceM]

A comment on another thread prompted me to set up this thread, (I'll leave you to guess which one!).

I seem to remember the "art of home building" being much more spoken of "back in the day"!

Perhaps more thought is necessary than generally given to the idea, or need to build a home life, especially in days like these when the "work/life balance" is said to be under threat for many younger people at least(?).

"What's happened to all the little women in this world", (who did the big job of making a good home!

I don't know what it's like in your country, and perhaps many in this one have a different viewpoint, but from where I stand the popular expression in your post ("work/life balance") is your answer.

A few years ago, individuals on another forum really 'tore into' me when I remarked that when men are out in the workforce all day earning a living to pay the bills, put food on the table, etc., they should not be expected to start 'helping out around the house' when they come home. In other words, men should not be expected to 'pull double-duty'... but neither should women.
While I know in some parts of this country it's been the way for many generations, seems to have become more widespread when I was a young adult and individuals began to believe 'guys' were not responsible for providing for their households, and young women even if there were small children at home were expected to Work- dismissing the fact that 'making a home' is itself a contribution.

Not long ago I happened to surf into one of those 'men's rights' sites... individuals were referring to stay-at-home-mothers and housewives in such disparaging terms as 'leeches' and 'gold-diggers.'

In other words, you can't have it both ways, bud.

 

[grahamg]

"What's happened to all the little women in this world", (who did the big job of making a good home!

I don't know what it's like in your country, and perhaps many in this one have a different viewpoint, but from where I stand the popular expression in your post ("work/life balance") is your answer.

A few years ago, individuals on another forum really 'tore into' me when I remarked that when men are out in the workforce all day earning a living to pay the bills, put food on the table, etc., they should not be expected to start 'helping out around the house' when they come home. In other words, men should not be expected to 'pull double-duty'... but neither should women.
While I know in some parts of this country it's been the way for many generations, seems to have become more widespread when I was a young adult and individuals began to believe 'guys' were not responsible for providing for their households, and young women even if there were small children at home were expected to Work- dismissing the fact that 'making a home' is itself a contribution.

Not long ago I happened to surf into one of those 'men's rights' sites... individuals were referring to stay-at-home-mothers and housewives in such disparaging terms as 'leeches' and 'gold-diggers.'

In other words, you can't have it both ways, bud.

You've hit a lot of nails on the head there I must admit!