Monday, January 21, 2013

Winter Days at Home

The Study

I am mostly home-bound this time of year. The bitterly cold Vermont days make it difficult for me to get out much.  This morning, I will read some of Jane Austen's "Persuasion."   I have been working on this book for the past few weeks.  I read a little here and there. The story is fascinating and makes one enjoy the culture of home-life.

I shall have tea in a pretty cup, and have toast while sitting near the heater.  We have lost the use of our wood pellet stove this winter.  There is a coolness in the house that makes one a little weary. But we will get a new stove for the next season.   We are getting by, and will endure this temporary trial, just as we endure all the burdens that come our way - with patience and a hope for better days.

Yesterday, I was in several of the rooms in this old 1800's house.  I wasn't sure what I wanted to do. I had suffered an eye-injury in the morning and needed a warm, cozy room to rest in.  I went to the third floor and tidied up before deciding to listen to an audio-drama from Focus on the Family. It was Les Miserables. (Radio Theatre) It was amazing.  (A review will be posted soon.)  It kept me occupied for three hours, long enough for the pain in my eye to subside. I was then able to get back to a slower paced homekeeping schedule.

Each room that I enter, I see something that inspires me to clean, or make it look inviting and pleasant.  You can always tell when Mother has been in a room, because of those little touches that make home precious.  A home should look inviting and ready for hospitality, even if the only guests are the residents.

We have an abundance of snow outside.  Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to spend winters in Florida. But Mr. White assures me that he will fix our heating troubles very soon.  He will make sure I am happy and warm in our humble estate here in Vermont.  I will be patient and trust him.

Blessings
Mrs. White

From the Archives - 


Life at Home - How a Housewife Passes the Time.

Remembering my Boston Aunt's Influence - Manners Learned at the Finishing School.

Happy Childhood Days -  When Television was Special.



For Home-keeping Inspiration, order my book - For The Love of Christian Homemaking





17 comments:

Anonymous said...

I UNDERSTAND ABOUT A CHILLY HOME.i LIVE IN A LOG CABIN IN THE WOODS AND OUR FURNACE IS NO LONGER WORKING. WE HAVE A NICE SIZED FIREPLACE & THAT KEEPS US WARM, BUT IT IS BRISK:) 12 THIS MORNING HERE IN KANSAS. STAY WARM!
BECKY

momma-lana said...

I grew up in Florida and it can be quite cold because it is so damp. Way down in south Florida near Miami it is pleasant and the flowers bloom all winter but is comes with a price because the cost of living is so high and there are so few believers.

I am usually fine with cold weather as long as the sun is shining!

My husband and I had a rare treat and saw Les Miserables in the theater this weekend and it was well worth the price. We usually only see a movie in the theater every 2-3 years. Do go if you can!

Housewife59 said...

I love the picture with the cosy fire. It is not nice to be cold, so I'm glad things will be fixed for you soon

Lesley

Heather at Farm to Fork said...

I truly enjoy reading your blog.

There is nothing so cozy as a nice fire when it is bitterly cold out. It sure does make you feel safe and sound to have that bit of warmth keeping the cold out of the house. I hope you will be able to get your stove replace a bit earlier than planned.

Our home is so drafty in the winter time and the cold is getting to us a bit as well. We are drinking tea and curling up with a nice warm blanket to keep us warm when we sit down to relax. Like you said, we are getting by and making due.

Stay Warm,
Heather

Jenny said...

We have snow and ice here in England! I would love to stay warm and cosy at home but I have to drag myself out to work.

I like to sit and write to pen pals (hand written letters!) and listen to music or an audio book. I have a few from Vision Forum that I have yet to listen too.

Your blog is so relaxing to read and yet inspiring too! x

Anonymous said...

I live in an area that is going to be bitterly cold for the next week. The high this morning is 20 and it will be downhill from there. Almost everyone is cold, no matter what their home heating situation is. The cold just seeps in through any little crevice. There is no escaping it! The best we can do is bundle up, cook hearty food and go to bed early under lots of blankets! Remember, spring will be here in no time and there is more sunlight every day.

Kathy said...

I am so sorry about the loss of your wood pellet stove. I hope that you will be able to replace it soon.

It is so cold here in Virginia as well. We lost electricity for a few days, but thankful for our gas logs.

Thank you for your blog. It is a blessing to many of us.

Illinois Lori said...

Thank you for your wonderful posts, your writing helps keep us warm on these cold, windy, winter days! It is snowing outside my window today, so pretty! Wind chills are below zero here, so it's turtlenecks with sweaters, blankets, and thick stew and homemade bread for dinner. Thank you for blessing all of us, Sharon!
Blessings and Warm{{{HUGS}}},
Lori

Deanna said...

Mrs. White, I'm so sorry about your eye injury. May you heal up really soon. God bless you.

I've had to sit by a little heater down by my feet before to stay warm when the rest of the house is cold. It's not fun. Taking a drive in the car with the car heater on did help.

Ready for spring.
So ready,
d

Camilla said...

I have been enjoying perusing your blog since discovering it through a friend's blogroll. Such a sweet spirit in your writing!

I too enjoy tea in pretty cups. I don't keep too many mugs in my kitchen, but the ones I keep are all pretty and I delight in using them! We have had a super-cold week here in Ohio, which means school was moved into the kitchen next to the cozy woodburning stove, and I've been known to serve hot chocolate or hot raspberry chammomile tea with honey, and cinnamon toast while we are doing our work!

I posted some links to your blog today on my blog--one to this post, and one link to "My Husband's Money" (as I was sharing about New Year's Resolutions!).

Thank you so much for sharing! God bless you!
-Camilla Anderson

Mrs. B, a very peculiar person said...

Hello Mrs. White,

I too find that I do not get out much during the winter months. Mid January to Mid February brings below zero temps. and lots of wind out here on the rolling prairie of Montana.

We can totally relate to your heating situation. The ignition system on our gas fireplace went out right before Christmas & since we are more that 180 miles from the nearest city, we've been on the repairman's "list" for 5 weeks and counting.

I will bake some hamburger buns this afternoon which will help warm up the kitchen.

Blessings,
Mrs.B

Kathy said...

I just noticed that you are taking a temporary break from writing. I hope that you will soon regain your strength. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

Anonymous said...

Mrs White-
It is very cold here in Iowa today. We cancelled all of our appt and spent the day at home.It was a blessing! I hope that you get your much needed rest. Your blog has blessed many of us but take care of yourself dear lady- we will be here whenever you decide to return. ;)
Mrs O.

Anonymous said...

Dear Mrs. White,
I hope you are relaxing and keeping warm inside.I just love your blog, and every day I visit, I find something I didn't see before.
God bless you and keep you in good health.

Janet said...

Mrs. White, I hope you and your family are okay. I miss seeing your regular posts, but hopefully this means you are busy with your grandbabies. God bless you.:)

Mama Said No said...

Dear Mrs. White--I noticed that you haven't posted for a time, and I am concerned about you. I know you have delicate health, and I am hoping it is something mundane that is keeping you from posting.
Praying for your well being

Mrs. Crane said...

I pray you are feeling better! You have been on my mind a lot the past couple weeks. Praying for you. Love, anita