Simplifying Grocery Shopping

Home Delivery of Milk in 1925. (LOC)

I have been feeling overwhelmed the last several weeks. I realized there had to be a way to simplify life.  When one is doing too much, there becomes a burden on one's life making it difficult to remain cheerful, calm, and peaceful.

A few weeks ago, something came up that led me to order groceries online for a home delivery.   Since we live in a rural area, this type of thing has not been common around here.  Delivery from one of the local stores began about a year ago but with an unstable and uncertain time frame. Many orders were delayed or cancelled. I believe this had to do with drivers not being available or enough deliveries to make it sensible for them to send out a few orders on one trip. This seems to have changed, now, for the better!

It has been costing more money than I feel comfortable paying for gas and food this month. The drive to the supermarket from our house is more than 6 miles away. The time and effort involved in the errand of getting supplies and provisions takes its toll on our fragile health and limited pocketbook.  One day, I said to my husband, "why don't we try one of those grocery orders and see what happens?"  This would be an order that included milk, eggs, frozen food, and other perishable items. I have come to understand that this type of order involves a person doing my grocery shopping for me and then bringing it right to my front door.  If this works, I thought, a great deal of stress and worry will be gone from my daily life! 

I chose a time frame for delivery and within a short period of time, all the groceries were carefully placed on my front porch. We were so thankful and relieved! I was incredibly grateful for the shopper who was willing to do this work for us!

Since there is an additional cost to pay the shopper, which they certainly earn, I believe I can only afford to order food twice a month. We will have to be very careful with the shopping list. The food has to last. We will also remember to go without when necessary until it is reasonable to pay the shopper the next time we place an order.

Another incredible blessing is that our local pharmacy delivers. The timing was always off when we thought about using this option. They only deliver one day a week to our town.  A few days ago, our patient needed a prescription refilled. It happened to be on just the right day of the week.  Instead of us having to make an extra trip, a driver came all the way out here (to our rural village) and brought the medicine right to the house. There was no charge for this service! 

I am so relieved to have these options available to us, especially in our rural area.  I now have more moments of peace, rest, and the ability to tend to the duties of home at a relaxed pace.

I am grateful to be here and so very thankful for deliveries!

Blessings

Mrs. White

From the Archives - 

Some ideas - Peaceful Living by Rules. 

Encouragement - Old Fashioned Duty of a Homemaker.  

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. -

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

A Lingering Winter

A snowy April at our house (photograph from last year).

 

I have been looking through seed catalogs and thinking about the upcoming planting season.  While it is still cold outside, I am dreaming about summer gardens and walks on the grounds of our humble estate.

This morning, as I look out the front window, I see snow falling over the landscape. I can hear the sound of the wind blowing through the bare trees while the heat is on inside to help keep us warm.

In the midst of a cold spring, there is much to do this month. There are more medical trips to take, health needs, and the care and keeping of the home and family. 

As time allows, I am slowly working on a new book project. There are certain methods I follow to get started. I set up my card table and put a pretty tablecloth over it. I then stack my research books, notes, and files on the table and keep it by a rocking chair where I will sit and do the work.  Then I do some printing to make it easier for me to do the reading and the writing of notes. The publication is to be a classic reprint of a very special book from more than 100 years ago!   Setting up the pretty table and making the project look nice reminds me of the motivating labor of homemaking. We do our best to keep our surroundings beautiful, so we are able to work with an uplifted heart and attitude.

This cold spring weather is the perfect time to sit by the fire and write and read books. As I work, I take many breaks to clean the house, do the laundry, sweep the floor, and prepare meals. 

I have been listening to the welcome sound of the chirping of birds on the front grounds. It makes me so happy to hear the sounds of spring as I go about the work of homemaking.

Soon we will see the tulips beginning to appear. I will put on my rain boots and walk in the yard to protect my shoes from the challenge of mud season. The fresh, clean air will be so peaceful. I will enjoy the view of the sky and the river, as the snow continues to slowly melt from a long winter.

For now, I will do my best to keep busy on a project by the card table.  I hope I can stay motivated and feel well enough to complete the necessary work within a few weeks. I look forward to seeing it finished.

May our homes be filled with the peace of God, the love of family, and the willingness to serve one another with a precious sense of joy!

Blessings

Mrs. White

From the Archives -

A little history and encouragement - Occupation - Keeping House.

Good manners and thrift - Adding Loveliness to the Day.

What many of us crave - An Ordinary Life at Home.  

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

 

 Help for hard times at home - 

House Keeping in Hard Times: Essays and Encouragement from a Christian Housewife

 Paperback, 180 pages

 As you read the entries, you will get a sense of what it is like as a Christian housewife through the ups and downs of life.  Topics include motherhood, marriage, taking care of children, cleaning, living on a low income, saving money, and building up the family with faith as the foundation.

Remain Cheerful in Hard Times

Winter scene at our house (from earlier this year). 

 

It has been snowing here for days. After a short period of nice weather, a chill has settled in our area.  There is a quiet sense of beauty despite the cold. I am grateful for a warm winter coat, and a cozy fire by the couch. 

I have been making a lot of vegetable soup and freezing it in portions. There is homemade bread, brownies, and a little popcorn for an inexpensive treat.  The prices at the grocery store seem to remain stable. I usually buy the basic items we always need on hand.  These include simple ingredients along with fresh fruit and vegetables.  It is important to save money, to conserve, to keep things simple, and to make sure the family has good wholesome food. This often requires extra labor in the kitchen, but as long as I can rest as much as possible, somehow, the work gets done. 

Saving money is on the minds of many. Yet in the midst of this careful sense of prudence with our resources, there has to be time for joy, goals, dreams, and plans. Whenever possible, taking walks in the beauty of nature will bring us rest and refreshment.  The moments we live through will become memories that either cause discouragement or make us smile. I would rather do things that bring smiles.

One night last week, as we were coming home from church, we could see the moonlight shimmering over one of the frozen lakes.  There was a hush over the landscape as there was no traffic and little noise. As we drove around a corner, looking at the snow and ice on the trees, there suddenly appeared, through the darkness, a large deer. It gracefully leapt across the road in front of us. Somehow the driver was able to slow the car down just in time as we watched the deer disappear into the woods on the other side of the road. I was so relieved that I was not the one who had been driving the car that night! We had been protected, watched over, and saved from a possible accident. Instead of worrying, we were able to quickly regain our composure and just gasp at the awe and wonder of the beauty of nature all around. We thought with gratefulness of the majesty of God and creation.

Going out and about through the days and weeks, we enjoy our way of life and are blessed. In the midst of heavy snow and cold weather, we attended a morning church service this past weekend.  The sanctuary was emptier than usual when we took our seats. The service began and more people started to come through the door.  As the first hymn was announced, it was discovered that the music director was outside shoveling snow. Some were arriving late. Soon the congregation was full and a precious service commenced. It was comforting to see the effort it took for many of us to be there.  It was a priority and it was a blessing. 

In these days of uncertainty, it is important to do our very best to keep the joy of living alive in our hearts and minds. We must remain cheerful, especially in hard times. Trips for outings, church, visits, and errands are becoming more and more expensive because of the price of gasoline.  I have seen our local prices rise at least three times in the last couple of weeks. This does not worry me because I remember rougher days we have lived through. I remember a recession where the price of gas was $5 a gallon. In those days we did not have the privilege of driving very often. Errands had to be less often. There were not as many church events or services we could attend since there simply wasn't enough money available to meet the high expense.  

As we face each new day, we must not let the high cost of living cause discouragement. It is important to accept our circumstances and seek direction from the Lord. We are a people of hope and faith. Every morning is a new start with a fresh set of goodness to accomplish. What a wonderful work we have been given! 

Blessings

Mrs. White

From the Archives -

A Lesson in Beautiful Living - The Quiet Kindness of a Titus 2 Mother.

My Mother's Example - Housekeeping All Day.  

 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. -

Now Available from The Legacy of Home Press:

Old Fashioned Homemaking: Essays and Encouragement from a New England Housewife by Mrs. White

176 pages, paperback

ISBN: 978-1-956616-38-5

A Full Time Grandmother

A comforting painting in one of our rooms.

 

The grandchildren have been actively busy outside this winter. There are also cozy days indoors, and stormy days when they must stay inside. These are the hours of hot chocolate, home-baked treats, art projects, and reading lots of books.  On sunny days, they are ice staking, skiing, snowboarding, and sledding. There is always some adventure happening that gives them cheer and builds wonderful memories of their childhoods. 

When they visit me, I offer them puzzles, drawing paper, books, and games. I have maps, history books, Bibles, and Hymn books. We enjoy studying it all and have a lovely time talking about history and the blessing of being God's children. We often set up the card table so we can gather around for boggle, monopoly, or bingo. A highchair is pulled up to the table so the littlest child can join in our fun.

The children help me with housework. We go along a common routine of the day, times for snacks, meals, and cleaning. Someone does the sweeping. Another will set the table.  One will pour the milk and help serve the food. . . And always, there is someone chosen to ring the little dinner bell, so everyone knows to come running to the table.

I want to always be here for this. I do not want to miss a single minute, hour, or day of being a mother and grandmother.  Many years ago, the name of housewife started to change to being a full-time mother or a stay-at-home mother. This seemed to imply that it would not last. As if it was a temporary plan until the children were older. It doesn't have to be this way. One can choose to remain a housewife or a full-time mother. Eventually this will turn into the title of being a beloved full-time grandmother, one who is always here for the children, grandchildren, and family. 

There will always be some call or opportunity to do other things, to get a job or to join clubs and organizations. There will always be some opening outside the home for mothers and grandmothers. As for me, all I have ever aspired to be is simply a housewife, a housewife for life. May it always be so.

Blessings

Mrs. White

From the Archives -

The Way it Was - Caring for the Family at Home - A Comforting Sick Room.

Contentment with our - Standard of Living.

A Godly Mother is the Hostess at -  The Mission House.

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

 

 Help for hard times at home - 

House Keeping in Hard Times: Essays and Encouragement from a Christian Housewife

 Paperback, 180 pages

 As you read the entries, you will get a sense of what it is like as a Christian housewife through the ups and downs of life.  Topics include motherhood, marriage, taking care of children, cleaning, living on a low income, saving money, and building up the family with faith as the foundation.

Prepping when There is Little Money to Spare

Coal miner walking home with groceries, West Virginia, 1938. (LOC)

 

There have been two major world events, in recent times, that have required action on the part of homemakers.  It was Y2K and the Pandemic.  We were forced to spend money on stocking up, getting extra supplies, and facing the possibility of losing electricity and other essential resources to manage our households. We had to do this whether or not we could afford it.

These days, I am constantly hearing the warning to prepare. This is very difficult when it requires extra money, over and above basic living expenses. When one is living on very little, how can one be expected to come up with extra funds to stock up and prepare?

 It used to be common to gather the harvest, can, freeze and preserve food for the coming year. Clothing was mended and made by mother. String was saved and reused. This was before the invention of scotch tape.  But string was free since it often came on packages from the mailman or at the grocers.  Today, since string is not generally used, people are spending money on tape. Money is being spent in many ways that was not happening years ago.   Yet, in order to prepare for hard times, we have to find ways to cut costs and keep expenses down.

I have noticed that my electric bill is much higher this year. It could be a combination of increased rates as well as usage.  I honestly suspect that charging my laptop computer is part of the culprit.  I can only cut back on that on a limited basis. (I use it for writing, editing, and working on articles and books.)  This is an expense that is difficult for me to manage. I have also noticed my slacking on turning off lights or using the clothes dryer too much. I will make a plan to find a way to cut back on all three of those uses and hope it makes a difference on the next bill. If I can reduce it by $50 or $60 a month, it will free up money I dearly need for other things.

Many people have a grocery budget for the month. They spend only a certain amount for food. But what happens when that budget has to include non-food items such as trash bags, dish liquid, soap, shampoo, toothpaste, first aid supplies, medicine and all the rest?  It would leave very little for actual food items.  This is my current dilemma. This is why my expenses must be reduced so I can afford to buy those basic and necessary items.  I have always worked hard in the kitchen to make as much as our own food as possible. Yet, there are days when I have been sick, worn out, or recovering from a long and tiring medical trip. There is only so much energy. One cannot possibly do it all.

Homemade vegetable soup is a common menu item in our household. Last week I made a batch and froze it in portion-sized freezer bags.  This is an inexpensive, nutritious meal that can be defrosted and heated up when needed. This is one of many examples of preparing in advance so money and energy can be saved.

Last week I had some of the grandchildren here for the day. While we visited, I also had to make bread and do other work in my kitchen. The housework had to continue whether or not there were little treasures in the house. But I kept the children occupied with drawing projects, snacks at the table, lots of chatter, and games. In the midst of all this, I made the bread dough and set it to rise. I checked on it, made lunch, and then later, formed the dough for the second rising. I did the housework in little moments throughout the day while enjoying the company and care of grandbabies.  It takes hard work to care for a family and to save money.

When people have said to me that I need to prepare for a disaster, it reminds me of a time, many years ago, when I had to do our laundry in the bathtub.  When the washing machine is broken and Dad needs clean clothes for work, you find a way.  One year we had plumbing issues. We had no running water for a couple of days.  I washed our dishes in a basin and then walked down a flight of stairs to the backyard to discard the water.  We do what needs to be done, but nobody wants to live that way on a regular basis.  When a crisis comes, it helps to be creative and have a will to find a way to get through.

For the rest of this month, I plan to do a variety of things to get my expenses down. I will set up our oil lamp for evening use.  I will cut back on using lights at night. I must remember that even though it is dark tonight, the sun will be back in the morning. Tomorrow is another day.  We can start fresh with our work when the sun is shining.   I will cut back on computer use to avoid the high cost of keeping the laptop charged.  I will resist the inclination to use the dryer and simply hang the clothes on chairs and a wooden rack by the fire. I will be willing to wait for days as the laundry dries while I practice the art of being patient.  I will do as much as I can to find ways to come up with extra money for preparing for the necessary expenses of life. 

We also have to keep this in mind: There is both a practical and a spiritual side to preparing.  While it is important that we do our daily chores and find ways to get through the hard days, we must keep our focus on the Master. Are we reading the Bible and doing devotions each morning? Are we having both private and family times of worship in the home?  This is our lifeline for help, comfort, provision, and guidance.  For those who are the children of God, we are not alone and never will be.  We must remember to pray when each problem arises. We must be willing to wait for the answer or the guidance. When moments of anxiety or fear come upon us, immediately turn those worries over to our loving Father. It is not our burden!  He knows all about it.  He will walk with us throughout all of our lives. This should bring us such a sense of relief and cheerful happiness!

Blessings

Mrs. White

From the Archives -

Something We All Need  - Peace Be Upon This House.

Always Remember This - The House Comes First.

Through Good Times and Bad - Domestic Happiness.

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

Mrs. White's special book for homemakers:"Introduction to Home Economics:  Gentle Instruction to Find Joy in Christian Homemaking."

Find stories of home life, with photographs of my home, in this encouraging book. 

 Paperback, 200 pages.