The Slacker and the Messy House

Floral painting by Mark Stilleven Van Bloemen (1792-1844)

(Note: I originally wrote the following in July of 2019.)

Just before seven in the morning, on a hot summer day, I needed to wash the floors. I started out by cleaning the bathroom. Then I moved kitchen stools, little carpets, toy boxes, and the step-stool, out of the room so I could thoroughly sweep every corner. The last bit of work is to wash all the floors. This is part of my schedule of weekly work. It keeps the house looking pretty and neat. Then I go for a slow, little walk on my treadmill, and listen to a peaceful sermon. 

But every week, just before I start cleaning, nagging thoughts of a slacker enter my mind. I tell myself I am too tired. I say that perhaps I should just sweep and not bother with the washing afterwards? I suggest to myself that a short break would be nice. I practically talk myself out of doing the work until the moment I am finished. This happens every single time I have something difficult to do in the home. 

Late this morning, I had to make homemade pizza. I was tired and wanted to sit with a nice book instead. I thought frozen (processed, convenience) pizza, or something else, might be a better idea. Those nagging thoughts of a lazy housekeeper plague me throughout my chores. It is an amusing battle between prudent-and-pleasant-housewifery, and the-slacker-with-the-messy-house.

I decided I would compromise by making the pizza early in the day. It would be all ready and, in the refrigerator, ready to bake at the appointed dinner hour. This way, I could do the work but have much of the evening off to rest. I listened to beautiful hymns on my kitchen radio as I worked.

I have learned to do the hard work while doing pretty and pleasant things at the same time. I will either listen to something peaceful or I will do some happy adventure after the work is finished.

Sometimes I may just take a walk on the grounds to enjoy the fresh air and sunshine. Other times, I will sit in the parlour with a lovely book and some tea. I enjoy accomplishing all the hard work so much more when there is some pleasant reward. The house looks so pretty, and the homemade food is nicely made and served.

I cannot even imagine how messy my life and house would be if I listened to that nagging slacker-of-a-housewife, who is constantly invading my thoughts! It is a daily battle, where I am found smiling and laughing while I ignore that little voice which says, "You deserve a rest. You won't make it through the day if you keep this up!" I would much rather set up a workable plan, doing a few difficult things each day, to bring me great joy and happiness in a pretty home.

Blessings

Mrs. White

P. S. This post can be found in my book, "Homemaking for Happiness."

From the Archives -

Is this true? Only Rich People Have Clean Houses.

It doesn't have to cost much - Basic Cookery.

Peaceful, Old Fashioned Living - Retirement Planning for the Poor.

Mother inspires the Family - The Cultured Society of Home.

 

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

For Encouragement in Christian Homemaking, order Mrs. White's book, "Homemaking For Happiness: Wonderful Days at Home."

In this book, you will find essays, articles, and diary entries about life in a Christian home.

Entries are arranged by season, and include:  "Keeping a Frugal Kitchen;" "Missing the Lilacs;" "An Evening Walk in the Garden;" "At Grandmother's House;" and "Chores for Grandchildren."

You will also find a few photographs showing a little of the local landscape.

Paperback, 307 pages.

A Tea Break with Video

Tea is served at our table. 

In the midst of domestic duties, phone calls, and taking care of the family, it is so nice to stop and have tea.  I recently did a brief video about this to encourage you to have a pretty time of rest. 

Here is the link to watch for those who are interested:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwoBXmtnjfU&list=PLdjNiA5yPfo46l2_O8L5taQscGSPbfgfX&index=13

I hope you have a wonderful week. I will write more soon.

Blessings

Mrs. White

From the Archives - 

Finding Happiness in - Poor and Pretty Living. 

A Gift of lovely dishes - A Temporary Sense of Wealth. 

A Blessing - The Quiet Kindness of a Titus 2 Mother.

Do You Have This? - Amazing Dedication (to Motherhood and Home).

- 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. 

Extreme Thrift

Reading a mail order catalog at home, North Dakota, 1942, LOC.

 When it comes to being careful with money, we consider our work done well if we stay on budget and live within our means.  This is no easy task in the midst of hard times. It is something to be praised.

In our society, we are overwhelmed with ideas of spending, shopping, and buying. Ads and messages are unrelenting and come to us in many different ways.  We are being quietly coerced by displays and ads that we need things right now. We often live in a way that we see happening around us.  This is common. It will take an understanding and a firm conviction to do things in a different way.

Real old-fashioned thrift is considered extreme in these modern days.  Looking back in history we find that families were not exposed to nearly as much adverting as we are today.  For example, in my childhood home, we had a large copy of a Sears catalog. It was kept inside a cabinet in our living room. It was an annual publication, and we had all the time in the world to look through it and think about what we wanted or needed. There were not any ads to say there was a sale or that we had to buy within 24 hours or a week in order to get the markdowns. There was no pressure.  

I don't think my mother ever went to a shopping mall until she was much older. Even then, it would be very rare for her to have gone to such places.  We went to a stand-alone department store, seasonally, for back-to-school clothes-shopping at the end of each summer. There was really no other need to go to such places. We did not buy new things as many are accustomed to doing today.  My father fixed things that were broken and my mother took good care of what they owned. (To this day, I am still using some towels and sheets that belonged to my mother from long years ago.) These days, it is common to buy some new kitchen items (such as hand towels and oven mitts) to cheer up the kitchen and bring new excitement into the home.  In the old days, one would simply keep the kitchen in good order, nice and clean, and serve homemade meals at a carefully set table. This is what brought cheer and comfort to the family.  The purchase of new towels and oven mitts and other lovely things were more commonly given (to homemakers) as gifts for birthdays and Christmas. They were most welcome and much appreciated!

To live quietly and modestly, with as little necessary cost as possible, is a great accomplishment. Studying the old ways of frugality and thrift will bring us wisdom and encouragement.

 Saving money and living carefully is so important, especially when we have trials involving our health.  I was notified this morning that a medical trip at the hospital is scheduled for our patient (one of our sons) next week. As I am preparing for this journey into the next state, I am looking over the finances and making plans for this to be as low cost as possible.  I am thinking about the old days and how families were not battling the marketing industry as we are now. It is hard to keep our bearings and to stand strong and still. If we can just avoid falling for the shopping-bait, we are more likely to have money for emergencies.

Many of us have financial struggles we are enduring.  If we can live cheerfully and peacefully with a bit of extreme-style thrift, it will be much easier to get through the ups and downs of the cost of living.

Blessings

Mrs. White

From the Archives -

Old Fashioned Living - Retirement Planning for the Poor.

Encouraging children to clean -  Nobody wants to Clean a Messy House.

Finding Genuine Happiness at Home - Peace be Upon This House.  

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

Learn How To Manage Money on a Small Income, with this helpful book:

- 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, with lots of thrifty ideas, in Mrs.White's book:

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

 Paperback, 77 pages.

Getting By with Little Money

Using a Wagon to bring home groceries, 1942, LOC.

In the 1940's, residents were encouraged to save resources and find creative ways to avoid the waste of gasoline and other necessary supplies. Money was scarce. Families worked hard to put food on the table and to maintain a place to live.  One of the campaigns that was broadcast was called, "I'll carry mine."   Photos were taken of a variety of children and adults doing their part as they walked home from the grocer holding bags or hauling parcels in little wagons.  They were choosing to walk rather than drive so they wouldn't use any gasoline.

War ration books were issued around this time as well.  A certain portion was rationed to residents, with limited amounts of sugar, butter, and other basic items. Homemakers had to get creative with what was presented as meals for the family. Gardens were prevalent and this helped make sure nourishing food was available, especially in hard times.

 We are facing hard times today. One of my biggest struggles, each month, is to have enough food for my family.  Our bills have increased. Our annual car insurance bill just arrived with a staggering increase of $100. This is a burden when one is having a difficult time just getting by and making do. I have noticed the cost of groceries has increased again. I am already avoiding what I call luxuries (such as hot chocolate, and store-bought treats).  We avoid restaurants and unnecessary spending. There simply isn't enough money on a limited income for such comforts.

We need a good dose of old-time homemaking.  Getting back to basics is essential for survival.  When the most basic living expenses are high, we have to find a way to come up with enough money and resources to simply feed the family. It is the old saying, of putting food on the table. This has become an ongoing challenge these days!

I am inspired by the creative ways homemakers managed their homes in the 1940's.  I am thinking of more ways to live on less so we can come up with money for food:

1. I need to conserve gasoline. I am avoiding going out as much as possible, often putting off necessary shopping for a day when there is an appointment. In this way, I can stop at the store on my way home from an essential errand. Combining crucial trips is important for us to save money on transportation. The less often I need to put gas in the car, the more often I will have a few dollars to buy basic items like sugar, butter, and orange juice.

2. Repairs and maintenance on the house are put off for as long as possible. Some things we have simply learned to live without because money is needed for more basic needs. 

3. Whatever we can fix or mend ourselves, for free, is done in order to make everything last as long as possible. 

4. I am seeking happiness and joy in things that don't require money. This is one of the most important things we can do because life should be happy and pleasant and peaceful. If we are content in our circumstances, finding ways to turn hard things into an adventure, we will keep up our morale and walk ahead to victory!

I realize many people are struggling with health issues as well as enduring financial trials.  We can find peace through it all as we travel on these difficult roads if we remember to have trust and faith in our Heavenly provider.  If we can remember all the blessings and the things for which we are thankful, it is easier to bear the times of going without. 

 Better days are always ahead. In the meantime, we keep up with our daily chores and duties. We keep up with prayers and hymns. We find strength to keep going by staying close in our walk with the Lord.  These daily actions are much like the promise from Matthew 6:33: "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

Blessings

Mrs. White

From the Archives -

Is This True?  - Only Rich People Have Clean Houses.

A Peaceful Work - The Simplicity of Old Fashioned Homemaking.

I will never regret staying Home - A Humble Parlour as a School of Theology.

- 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. 

Making an Apron - Sewing by Hand Video

Sewing supplies at our table.

I had an apron project in mind for quite some time. I had been putting it off for months because the hardest part, for me, is making the effort to lay out the pattern pieces and cut them all out.  A solution was presented to me, one day, by a dear grand-girl who wanted to do it for me.  She was such a great help, and we were able to get the pieces cut and put aside. 

My favorite part of making something is sewing by hand.  Prepping the work is exhausting. But the actual sewing is such a peaceful form of recreation as I sit to sew or mend. 

There was a request for a video to show the process of making an apron by hand. After a very long wait, the video has been finished and is ready to share.

For those who are interested, here is a link to watch:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lS7HB4GQINI&list=PLdjNiA5yPfo46l2_O8L5taQscGSPbfgfX&index=10&t=314s

This is just a very basic introductory video. I hope you find it helpful. 

I will write more soon!

Blessings

Mrs. White

From the Archives -

Peaceful living From the Old Days - Sunday Driver. 

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

Living on a Small Income - Standard of Living. 

 

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

 "At Mother's House" by Mrs. White:

  

For Encouragement in Homemaking, order Mrs. White's book, from 2016, "At Mother's House: The Blessing of Being a Christian Housewife."

In this book, you will find essays, articles, and diary entries about life in a Christian home.

There are 40 entries which include:  "Poor and Pretty Living;" "A Home Without Clutter;" "The Money Packets;" "A Church Diet for the Family;" "Bringing Home Baby;" "The Children's Prayers;" "The Shabby Garden:" and "Just a Housewife."

Those who are seeking a peaceful home, with the Lord as the foundation, will find encouragement. (Paperback, 122 pages.)