Remember to See the View

View from a bridge in Vermont. (Aug. 2025)

 

I love the old ways of quiet living. The rush and excitement of society around me is not something that blends well with a simple way of life. I have seen so many changes over many years. I remember sensing beauty and quietness of the soul from the old days. This was before many changes happened in our modern world.  Knowing  what life was like before these changes, makes it possible for many of us to remain steadfast on a quiet path of stability.

Despite all this, it is possible to remain on the old paths. As we walk, our thoughts are lifted upward, with a child-like faith in our Heavenly Father.  We go through days of difficulty, joy, weariness, and rest, with a steady sense of contentment, knowing we are serving the dear Master.  In this world, we are living as if in a temporary dwelling place. We long for day's end, when our work is finished, knowing a precious eternal home is being prepared for us. 

While we wait and serve, with a cheerful heart of gratefulness, we must remember to enjoy the blessings of each day. One must not get caught up in thorns of sadness and the anxiety of our time. There are many lights of goodness all around us. We have the churches, the Lord's children, and much goodness and kindness to cheer us along. Everything will be okay. All will work together for our good.

Some may go through this life seeing messes, corruption, fear, and hopelessness. The eyes have been distracted away from that which is lovely and good.  We must not focus on our trials. We must not dwell on the troublesome ways of the world. 

There are better ways to occupy our minds with such things that are hopeful. I was taking care of our medical patient last week. He was not feeling well. We were on our way to the hotel so he could prepare for a procedure at the hospital.  I noticed an incredible view over the bridge. A parking area was nearby. I asked him if he felt up to a quick walk to get a better view. He was cheerful and looked all around before trying to go with me. He was not able to  manage even a short walk, but encouraged me to go on.  I quickly walked to the middle of the bridge and got a picture of the scenery through a security fence. The water and the rocks and the trees and the sky brought a sense of awe and quiet. In that moment, there were no problems. All was well in the world as I looked at the view before me. This is what we have to remember. It is more than just stopping to see the view. It is absorbing the view. It is dwelling on the view. It is delighting in whatsoever is lovely and good all around us. Focus on the beauty instead of dwelling on the pain.  When this is done, when we remember this, stress will fall away. The things of the world will lose their glitter. The mind is renewed, and the spirit will soar with a sense of peace that passes all understanding.

Blessings

Mrs. White

From the Archives - 


Old Fashioned Advice for taking are of the family - - A Comforting Sick Room.

My Heritage - The Blessing of Being a Half- Southern Mama.

Hard Times - Living in Reduced Circumstances.

 - To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -

Mrs. White's nostalgic book for Mothers:

"Old Fashioned Motherhood: Baby and Child Care Advice from a New England Housewife." 

62 pages, paperback. 

Managing a Large House

A New England Cottage, 1800's painting by Edmund Garrett.

 

In the 1950's it was common for many houses to be small and manageable. These were little ranch houses with 3 bedrooms and a bath, in family neighborhoods.  In this time period there were modern appliances to help with the housework.  It was possible for the routine duties of housekeeping to be handled by one person.  Today, I am noticing the construction of larger houses. There is a great deal of work and upkeep to manage such homes. 

As I think about what it is like to take care of a large property, I am reminded of a beautiful old house we used to live in, many years ago.  I hope this will give you some ideas.

First, I will tell you about the house. I was the mother of three small children, with a blessing on the way.  We had just rented a large 1800's Victorian house near the ocean in Massachusetts. The home had 3 bedrooms of servant's quarters on the third floor. There was an enormous wrap-around porch and an oversized front door. The main entryway was very large with a big fireplace. A bench was by the hearth for sitting to get warm, or to wait while a maid notified the mistress of the house that a visitor had come. 

To the left of the front door was a formal dining room. It was cozy with old fashioned wallpaper, windows with thick drapery, and a door leading to the porch. The entire house was furnished with old items that were worn but solid. Across the wide entry hall, on the other side of the house, was a large living room. It had a big fireplace on the back end of the room. Windows were all around 2 sides of the room, which showed a view of the porch. 

Back in the entry hall, near the front door, was a wide staircase. After walking halfway up, there was a landing to stop and turn to the left before continuing up the next part of the steps to the second floor. The back wall contained a stained-glass window. 

The downstairs rooms were dark without much light, until one went down the back hall to the enormous kitchen. It had a finish of burgundy counters with dark wood cabinets. But the most beautiful thing about this room was the large picture window, behind the breakfast table, which showed a stunning view of the ocean.

Off the kitchen, there was a laundry room, bathroom, and back entrance to the porch.  Just around the corner from this was a servant's staircase to the second floor, followed by another set of stairs to the third floor. 

There were three bedrooms on the second floor, along with two bathrooms and a large fireplace in the center of an open foyer. 

The three fireplaces were the main source of heat for the entire house and looked like it would keep the house warm and cozy. This would have required domestic help to keep the firewood loaded and the home-fires going.  The house also included a modern oil-heating unit but was still difficult to stay warm all winter without the use of the fireplaces. There were doors on every room, including the kitchen, living room, and dining room. This helped close them off, when necessary, to keep the warmth and coziness of heat inside each of the rooms. 

At first, I could not even imagine how I would ever keep this house clean! But something wonderful happened shortly after we moved in. Relatives came to pass part of the winter with us.  We gave a second-floor bedroom (with a large picture window) to my parents. They had a peaceful and lovely view of the ocean.  A third-floor bedroom, right near the back stairs to their room, went to my teenage sister.  They were in the process of relocating and had just sold their house. It turned out to be such a wonderful blessing to have them there with us for a few months. There were many people to help me with housekeeping, cleaning, shopping, and kitchen work.  

During those lovely months in that great big house, we enjoyed homeschool days, welcoming company, baking and cooking, and helping each other. When the baby was born, my parents were there to help make special meals. The first night home from the hospital, a dinner tray was brought to my room so I could rest in comfort with the baby beside me in a bassinet. I knew my other three children were being well cared for and were much loved. I enjoyed hearing the laughter, talks, and play in the other rooms throughout the house while I recovered.  The routine of home and order continued and there was happiness.

My sister told me recently that her favorite memory of living in that house was seeing me sewing in the old dining room by the dim lamps. I was making dresses for my girls for Christmas. It was so cozy to have the snow falling around that large house while we enjoyed an old-fashioned way of life. 

When it was time for our relatives to move to their new place, we missed them greatly. I was thankful, however, that my husband was able to be home a great deal of the time.  I remember bringing him the 2-year-old so I could make lunch. That little boy loved sitting with his father!  Or I would bring him the baby to hold just so I could take a shower.  I was always quick because I loved having the children with me and near me.  

Without that extra help from my parents, I had to think of ways to maintain the house.  It was too much work for any one person! There would be stress, worry, hassle, and poor health if I tried to do it alone.  

I will share with you some ideas that I have found to be helpful:

1. Divide the Work

We should have a written outline of the daily and weekly work that needs to happen. This can be divided up among family members based on their skills and abilities. For example, a 5-year-old can fold laundry. A 7-year-old can sweep floors, etc. 

In large homes, you might even consider assigning certain rooms to family members as their responsibility. For instance, a 10-year-old could dust, vacuum, and tidy 2 of the bedrooms, as well as the living room. 

When everyone is working together, they are forming a bond of unity. Each child will also learn to have a good work ethic and a dependable character. 

If the work is shared among the family, it will free up a great deal of time and energy. 

2. Close up the Rooms

When there are too many rooms to manage, some can be closed up for a season. This would be done by giving the room a thorough cleaning and then covering furniture with sheets to protect them from dust and damage. Then simply close the door.  Later, when the room is needed again, it can be "opened" by removing the sheets and doing a quick cleaning. 

3. Add Maid Service

In cases where it is not possible to manage all the work, it makes sense to hire domestic help.  This helps provide work to someone in need while helping the lady-of-the-house manage her home without being overwhelmed. 

4. Invite Relatives to Stay

This is my favorite option. When there is plenty of room it is so nice to have family come and stay. In the old days, an aunt, grandmother, or cousin in-need would come and help the family in exchange for room and board. One would want to make sure the relatives were of good character, honorable, and dependable. Their addition to the household ought to be considered a blessing and not a hindrance. I imagine a dear grandmother who loves to cook and bake. She has a pretty room, with a view of the landscape, all to herself.  When she finishes helping for the afternoon, the children often find her reading the Bible in a rocking chair. They are grateful for her company and help in keeping house for her beloved family.

There are many ways to manage a large house. We have to consider our standard of cleanliness and order. Do you have high standards or moderate ones? Consider what is most important and what you are capable of doing.  One does not want to be fretting, nagging, and suffering to keep to a higher standard than is possible. When a housekeeper is able to face the day's work with a sense of calm and cheer, her level of work is right where it should be. 

Whether the house be small or large, the same routine of daily and weekly work is required.  Even though it takes much longer with a large house, it can be a lovely way to spend one's days. May you find a way to manage things beautifully with joy and a love for family.

Blessings

Mrs. White

From the Archives -

Old Time Manners - Waiting for the Door to Be Opened.  

A Simple Life - How to Stop Buying Things that Clutter up the Home. 

Ration Books from 1942 and helpful advice - Adapting to the High Cost of Living.

- To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -

 

Find cleaning inspiration and encouragement in Mrs. White's book, "Gracious House Keeping."

"Gracious House Keeping: Advice, Encouragement, and Cleaning Help for the Christian Housewife."

Complete with Encouragement and Work Charts to cheer you along in your homemaking!

115 pages, paperback.

 

Adding Loveliness to the Day

Flowers and fingerbowls at our table last night.

 

I have been going through a great many paper napkins lately. The cost is getting to be too much.  But with frequent company of little ones, and a need for good manners, I use napkins at the table for all meals and snacks.  The use of cloth napkins with small children would require many changes of table linens, unless we use fingerbowls. 

Last evening, I set out a tablecloth and prepared a few things for company. Grandchildren were expected to arrive this morning. I wanted to present them with my new plan and delight them with the beauty of an elegant table.

During our time of morning refreshments, I showed the children little dessert bowls. This was to hold crackers, cheese, cookies, or even blueberries from our garden. Whatever snacks we expected to enjoy would be served in the little bowls.

Animal crackers and homemade cloth napkins at our table this morning. 

The grandchildren looked at me with happiness as they sat at the beautiful table. I used a pretty creamer as my water pitcher.  I asked grand-girl, "Would you fill up the water pitcher?" She was delighted with this special chore. Then she walked around the table filling up the little crystal bowls with water. "Only half full," I told her.  These are tiny 2-ounce cups that look so pretty at the table. 

We always ring the dinner bell when serving meals or snacks at our house.  Someone stands in the doorway and rings the bell. Soon all the children stop whatever they are doing and come running towards the table. 

I showed them the fingerbowls. I explained, "The napkin goes on your lap. After you eat, or whenever you need to use your napkin, carefully swish you fingers in the fingerbowl and then dry them with the napkin." Then I demonstrated how this works. Soon they tested it out for themselves. I watched throughout our time at the table and noticed that even the 4-year-old did this with great care and interest! 

When it was time for lunch, I removed the tablecloth and became more practical. I set out placemats at each spot. This would be much easier to keep things neat. I would not worry so much about the children getting everything messy. 

Placemats and fingerbowls at our table. 

The children did so well with our new formal way of enjoying meals and snacks.  It added a touch of class and manners to the atmosphere.  Part of the routine of our day often includes the teaching of etiquette and courtesy. These lessons can happen naturally throughout the day. 

Living in an old humble house can either be pleasant or difficult, depending on the attitude. We have limited resources here, but this can lead to creative ways to add beauty to our lives. I want to be cheerful and happy as I come up with ideas for making the best of our circumstances. 

My whole purpose had been to save money on napkins. It turned into something far more special. Whether we have something as simple as grilled cheese sandwiches or chicken with potatoes, it is a joy to linger at a well-set table. 

Today, as we said grace before our meals, I was so thankful for the opportunity to add a little loveliness to our day. 

Blessings

Mrs. White

From the Archives -

To Cheer up - Surrounded by Good Things in the Home. 

Financial Struggles - A New England Winter on a Small Income. 

A Mother's Greatest Use of Time - A Humble Parlour as a School of Theology.

 - To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -

For happiness and cheer in the kitchen:

Mrs. White's old fashioned cookbook focuses on serving meals and setting the table in a humble home.

"Serving in the Kitchen: Cookbook with Recipes, Advice, and Encouragement for the Christian Home"

152 pages, paperback.

The Little School at Grandmother's House

One-room schoolhouse in Plymouth Notch, VT. (July 2025)

 

Whenever the grandchildren are here, they come alongside and share in activities that I love.  We cook and bake, keep house, read books, sing hymns, and do school.  There are a great variety of old-fashioned things to do here at the old homeplace. 

The children are always happy when I suggest they get out the instruction books for drawing. I give them white paper, pencils, and crayons. They practice drawing comics and landscapes. They make miniature books, pretend-restaurant-menus, and write adventure stories.

I produce blank index cards, rulers, and scissors. They enjoy making their own flashcards and decorative items. One of the little ones invented a little club and designed membership cards, just for fun, using the index cards.

I select old textbooks from the bookcase and hand them out to the little ones.  These are McGuffey Readers, Ray's Arithmetic, and old history books. We read, make up spelling tests, copy lessons, play math games, and linger over the fascinating entries in the history books. 

Some of our old school books, still in use after 30 years. 

I have a packet of reproducible math drill sheets.  I have had this packet ever since my own children were little. It is stored inside the original envelope and holds the answer book inside.  I use these papers to make copies of worksheets for the children. The youngest ones use an abacus as they start the process of doing these fun math games. From the youngest to the oldest, they all enjoy the challenge of solving multiplication, division, addition, and subtraction problems. 

Often, in the quiet of the afternoon, many of us rest on couches and chairs and read books while someone plays the piano. 

Piano and Christmas song book at our house. 

The piano bench holds song books and instructional materials to teach beginners how to play.  My piano was a generous gift, received some years ago, for which I am so grateful! Personally, I have no idea how to play, but I love to practice with the little booklets.  My grandchildren love to learn, at their own pace, while I sit nearby and listen.  This afternoon, one of my older grandsons played (using both hands), a lovely melody with beautiful notes from the Christmas book. Hearing him play O, Come All Ye Faithful was such a peaceful and beautiful way to pass the afternoon. 

We have board games, blocks, puzzles, lawn games, and a variety of old-fashioned toys. The children also help me sweep, set the table, clean the kitchen, vacuum carpets, and do their part to keep house neat and orderly while they are here.  Whenever we run low on treats, I have helpers to bake cookies and cake and serve to the others as we enjoy the blessing of homemade food. As we work, we talk and smile.  We help with the baby, serve those who are tired, and remind one another to watch our manners and show kindness and patience. The children work right along with me as we go about our ordinary days at home. 

I have kept all my school supplies and books and expect them to remain in continued use from generation to generation, here at the old homeplace.  This is just a little school at home which, for as long as I am living, will always be open for my precious family. 

Blessings

Mrs. White

From the Archives - 

The Blessing of Home - Retired from the World.

"There is No Ambition" - Simplicity of Old Fashioned Homemaking.

 The Inspiring Example of D.L. Moody's mother - Poverty in the 1800's.

 - To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -

Help For Homeschooling:

Seeking a Thrifty and Simple Life: Encouragement for Christian Homeschooling by Mrs. White

Paperback, 112 pages

As you read this book, I hope you get a sense that, no matter what is going on in the world, every home can be a homeschool. 

The Benevolent Housekeeper

Yesterday's view of part of our property, here in Vermont.

 

In the old days, when it was difficult to travel, relatives might drop in unexpectedly. The family would invite them in and expect their company to stay a few days to visit and rest.  The house was always open to their extended family. This kind of living required a neat and organized home. There must be food in the pantry so one is not taken unprepared. The rooms ought to have regular cleanings and be keep neat. The housekeeper would see to this work daily, as a normal part of life. 

The lady of the house would not be selfish. She did not save the best room for herself.  She would work hard to make the common rooms (of parlour and living room) look inviting and restful for herself but then welcome any one of the family to enjoy them as well. She would not shoo them away, as if she were the only privileged one to enjoy the little nest she had prepared. This was because she worked hard to make all the rooms as nice as she possibly could. She knew others needed rest and quiet moments as much as she did. She did all this, not for herself, but for her family and guests.

She had a spirit of cheerful service. At any moment, a child or adult might need help. She would stop her work and attend to the call. Did one need a snack or drink?  Was one overheated from the summer air and in need of special care? She oversaw all the work of the house. She did not weary herself with overwork, nor did she do it all alone. There was a restful pace and much help from the residents of the home. The main portion of her time was happily spent in playing house and tending the family. Her kind heart and cheering ways brought smiles to those around her. They wanted to be in her house and to come alongside as a help to her. And because of this, she thrived in such a life work! 

She was the tireless worker of the home who found her strength and joy in a close walk with the Lord. She was much loved and dearly appreciated. Her presence helped make the house into a real home.   It is a post, a lot in life, to be a housekeeper on duty. It is a great calling and a much-needed way of life. 

The lady of the house can be on call for the household. She does her daily chores with skill and efficiency. Yet, even though there are flaws in her methods and trials in her day (as it is impossible to get through life without mistakes), she continues on, much like a child learning to walk who falls but keeps getting back up. There is a childlike joy in being home and doing our very best with laughter and peace! She will find joy in serving the home and family. For in this, she serves her precious Father in Heaven. 

There is a sense of benevolence when serving in the home. It is a spirit of goodness in a lady. She is gracious and kind and loving. She is productive and industrious. But the most important part of her character is that in any moment, she is prepared to stop whatever she is doing to help and to serve for the glory of God. 

I will give you an example of this from my own childhood days: My Father was a southern gentleman, a preacher's son, and an Army Veteran.  He liked to see us happy and enjoying our play. We never had to wonder what we would wear, what we would eat, or where we would live. He provided it all. This gave us stability and a great sense of trust and freedom from worry.  He expected us to do our chores, to do as we were told, and to be good children. We read the Bible, went to church, and sang hymns. He led by example. He did all this with a great love. It was from the heart.  Whenever he would call me, I would drop whatever I was doing, as if it wasn't important. I would get right up and say, "Yes, sir?"  I was always ready to serve. 

In like manner, I want to do this for my Heavenly Father. I will go about my days, keeping house, reading books, enjoying the blessings of home and food and family. I will know that at any moment my Lord and Master will call out for me. I must always be listening and watching in case I am needed. When he calls, I want to drop whatever I am doing and gratefully get right up and say, "Yes, sir? What may I do for you?"  How wonderful it would be to live such a dedicated Christian life!

May we seek and strive for the beauty of being known as benevolent housekeepers.

Blessings

Mrs. White

From the Archives - 

Beautiful Living - Feminine Grace.

The example of my Parents - Minding my own Housekeeping Business.

Unwanted Advice for the Family - Quieting Myself for the Good of Others.

- To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -

- It is an honor to be the bookkeeper for the house! - 

Find detailed instruction and inspiration in budgeting on a small income, along with a method for keeping a handwritten ledger, in Mrs.White's book:

 -An Old Fashioned Budget: Humble Financial Management for the Christian Housewife. 

 Paperback, 77 pages.