When home is a hospital room
The hospital was my literal home, but I soon realised I had to spiritually embrace my time there as well if I wanted to get out and make a recovery. I filled my room with little things to empower me to say ‘this isn’t just another nameless, faceless hospital room, this is MY space and goddammit, I’m owning it!’ With that ownership slowly came empowerment and a slow, slow process of finding myself again.
A Beastlie, shotgun shells used in decor, and Darth Vader snowflakes in this week’s reader photos
Start your week with our collection of interesting articles on the web and photos from our readers. In these Clicky Links you’ll find lots of sites to waste a little time on.
Click through, too, to find our links on submitting YOUR stuff to Offbeat Home!
Danielle lives in a barn built against bluffs along the Mississippi
I love so much about my barn. The original wood and stone is still visible despite all the renovation. The house is completely covered in ivy, which I thought looked really cool when I moved in this summer, but it completely blew my mind when it started turning red and gold this fall. I LOVE that it still has an open hay-loft type layout. I think that all of the old-timey features that make this place completely unique fit in with my personality (out front I still have a hitching post — A HITCHING POST — for realz) since I’ve always wished I was born in my parent’s generation. There was much better music back then.
How to build a Festivus Pole: 6′ tall, aluminum, unadorned
FESTIVUS IS THIS WEEKEND! It’s my household’s most-anticipated party of the year. We drink mulled wine, air our grievances with each other, perform feats of strength, eat donuts, and then all guests must wrestle my husband before they may leave. It all happens in the cold aura of the Festivus Pole.
This is how you build a pole. The right way. All these supplies are available at your local hardware store — and they’ll be cheaper than Amazon, so use this list for familiarity or the odd bit you can’t find in town.
How can we weatherize our drafty busted-ass house without using plastic?
How can we weatherize our drafty busted-ass house without using plastic? Because we’re using plastic right now, but… you know. IT’S PLASTIC.
And I don’t mean rugs on the wall like people do in Russia, because rugs are expensive.
I installed a fireplace in my apartment
Want a fireplace to bring the warmth, on a budget, in your apartment? It’s totally possible, I promise! See how I installed a fireplace in my apartment for less than $200.
The happiest dog ever, a studio cat, and a gecko: Adorable photos of your offbeat pets!
Start your week with our collection of interesting articles on the web and photos from our readers. In these Clicky Links you’ll find lots of sites to waste a little time on.
Click through, too, to find our links on submitting YOUR stuff to Offbeat Home!
Get started with apartment composting
When I was in Seattle for the Offbeat-empire-weekend-of-awesome, I commented to Ariel about how impressed I was at the public compost bins. I’m a big believer that one of the best things we can do for the earth is to compost. Then I casually mentioned that I had ordered a Bokashi composter to try out and she was all “Offbeat Home post?” Then I told Cat and she was all “Yes! Please!” Then we became adults again. I swear.