Nearby town and stereotypes

Folks in Appalachia often are type-cast; barefoot, with car parts in the yard, and a zillion snotty nosed kids.  Poverty has sure been part of these hardy people's history, as well as perseverance and makin'-do.

There are still many small homes with people living in them, surviving, and perhaps thriving.  These people are happy to go off to work each day, and have something to eat each evening for their families.  This is the case for those who can work, which sometimes isn't possible for everyone.

Many people in North Carolina's small towns and mountain coves have more limited ammenities than suburbanites enjoy, and certainly most don't have a pool, or something we'd call a deck.  It's either the front or back stoop, or maybe a porch.

The architecture is usually what our fathers learned how to build from their fathers or uncles, and it's a plan that works for this area, where a flat piece of land is pretty unusual.  Having a contractor build a house wasn't an option until maybe 40 years ago.  And houses certainly live longer than that.

So today I share my opinions that old houses need care...and if they receive a little bit, it goes a long way.  Even the lower cost houses can show sparkle, or not.

Here are some homes that I call "factory-family homes" that sprung up around many of the NC industries of one type or another, providing housing for laborers who were glad for the jobs. 

I like seeing how additions are stuck on them hither and yon.  And these may be rentals with one maintenance system taking care of that lush green lawn that beckons bare feet.  No fences between them, and this is the back side.  I notice an old TV antenna on a chimney which no longer works. 

And here's a house in the same neighborhood, which makes me sad.  This house is sad too.

It's what you do with it that matters.

Today's Quote:

Rings and jewels are not gifts, but apologies for gifts. The only true gift is a portion of thyself.

Ralph Waldo Emerson