Slow and Steady at Home

The Ashley Family at home in Maryland, 1937 (LOC). 

 

The wood stove has been such a comfort these last few mornings. We have had a frost warning, with some cold wind.  The warmth from the stove has been such a blessing. It is nice to be at home.

There have been many appointments and activities. I have been babysitting grandchildren and going to their school events.  There has been a need for many errands which take me away from home more than I would like. It is difficult to get enough rest.  Yet, through it all, being with the family is wonderful.

Being with one's own family, having quality time, is like taking a break from the world and getting a good rest. To talk and visit and share a meal brings such encouragement and refreshment.  I have to remind myself to stop worrying about problems and just enjoy the moments before me.  

Whether sitting quietly by the wood stove drinking tea or surrounded by children at the table, nothing else really matters.  Life is a precious gift.  It is best to enjoy every moment.

I need to get busy with baking, cooking, and housekeeping. This type of labor is what brings joy to the household.  This is done at a steady pace with many breaks. The breaks and the rest are the secret of a peaceful heart.

When taking care of the home and family, it is important to minimize stress and unrealistic goals. When we are doing too much, we may lose our patience, become grumpy, and be unpleasant to everyone around us. Overworking only brings burnout.  It is important to remember that one cannot do anything without the dear Lord.  When we rest in Him, we are reminded of the frailty of life. We are not to be burdened with too much work.  With this realization, we learn to do things in an unhurried manner.  This is like a light of goodness, inspiring others as we go about our duties. We may be doing less, but we can do it beautifully.  

Doing things slowly, with a greater focus and care, is a gracious method of life - we quietly trust the Lord as we calmly go about the day's work. Regardless of the stresses of life or the behavior of others, there is a sense of quietness for the mind.  It should be no surprise that trouble and difficulties are mixed in with the good.  With this understanding, we are able to appreciate, and enjoy, the precious time we have with family. 

Blessings

Mrs. White

* For those who are following our Medical trips, there is an update:

https://thelegacyofhome.blogspot.com/p/help-with-our-medical-trips.html

From the Archives -

Advice for a Happy Home - Peaceful Living by Rules.

Careful thrift in the Home - Reducing Expenses.

Always Remember To - Make an Effort. 

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

- 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.

Getting Ready for Hard Times

World War I (Canadian) poster, around 1918, LOC.

 

It should be no surprise that hard times are often on the horizon. There is a great deal of work to do to manage one's home as well as one's finances.  Yet, despite all this work and preparation there must be a beautiful way of life which provides good memories, plenty of smiles, and a lot of gentle kindness.

As I was walking the grounds of our property these last few days, I noticed the growth of our fruit trees and berry bushes. Even though I have longed to enjoy the warmth of spring and the delight of the season, I know how short the summer will be.  I have a great deal of work to do to get ready for a bitterly cold winter season, here in Vermont.  Yet, this walk, among the peacefulness of nature, calmed my nerves. It filled me with a sense of gratefulness. 

Flowering cherry bush at our home.

I have been saving money for several months to pay for our annual order of wood pellets.  Each year, if we order enough for the next winter, by the end of May, we receive a discount.  Since prices have been so high with food and gas and utilities, I am hesitant to part with this money.  It almost feels like I have some security to have this money put aside. But it is for a purpose, and that purpose is to pay some of our heating costs for next year.  I will have to place the order soon. Once this happens, and that money is gone, I must remember to find joy and peace and contentment in our way of life, rather than from having my security in money. I must trust my Heavenly Father.

There are good times that provide a quality of life with little cost. Our family got together and helped provide a way for us to visit our relatives in Massachusetts. Some of the grandchildren, along with their mother, wanted to go with us.  The little ones had never seen the ocean. We took this short trip last week. 

My view of the ocean from last week.

In order to make this trip cost as little as possible, it was scheduled at an off-season time of year.  There were no tourists crowding the beach.  There was no cost for parking. The expenses were very low.  However, we had to endure the cold, the ocean wind, and the rain as we walked along the shore.  I took some pictures and a few video clips, but the wind was very intense, making it an almost humorous endeavor. 

The children ran along the beach, enjoyed the seagulls, and were enamored by the crashing of the waves.  Since they are used to freezing Vermont temperatures, they didn't mind the cold spring days by the sea!

A view of the water at the Yacht Club in Massachusetts.

We packed nearly all of our food from home. We had sandwiches, salads, fruit, and homemade baked goods. We enjoyed visiting relatives in their 80's and 90's.  We went to the cemetery to say a prayer and leave flowers for my grandparents, aunts, and others in the family who have gone ahead to their eternal rest.

Benches by the ocean in Massachusetts. 

Now that we are back home, I am trying to find ways to manage a limited budget to pay for groceries.  The cost of living keeps increasing, making it necessary for me to get creative and to work harder at home.  I will be enjoying homegrown salads and fruit from our gardens, once these begin to grow on our property. This will save money but also give us joy as we gather the harvest with thankful hearts.

It is important to conserve, avoid waste, and to make do. But this must not be a harsh life of deprivation. There is joy in observing nature, being kind to others, and making life comfortable and pleasant for the family. 

There may be many hard days ahead. There may be financial struggles or trials with health.  Through it all, it is important to take time to have devotions, pray, attend church, and focus on getting our strength from the Lord. I want to spend my life walking with the Lord, staying close to Him, and doing His will. The result of all this will bring a light of happiness and cheer that will encourage everyone we meet, in good times and bad, every day of our lives.

Blessings

Mrs. White

From the Archives -

An encouraging example - My Mother's Chores.

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

Practical help - How the Old Time Mothers Survived Poverty.

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. -

 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.

A Peaceful Spring

Our tulips in the sunlight. 

 The flowers are blooming here for the first time this season. It is amazing to see flowers come back year after year - just as beautiful as ever.  We have been resting and trying to keep warm. The temperature outdoors is still low with cold winds. There is a need for the wood stove to keep us cozy inside.  Despite the chilly weather, it is lovely to look out the front window at the green grass and flowers thriving on the landscape before us. 

I spent a recent morning dusting, sweeping, and making some of the rooms look extra pretty.  I had a CD playing in the parlour as I worked. It was a gentle sound of a choir singing old fashioned hymns.  This brought me a sense of peace. 

The windows are open throughout the house. The cool spring air is refreshing as it airs out the house from a long winter. This is part of spring homemaking. It is a peaceful work. We clean and delight in the labor of keeping house while enjoying the beauty of nature all around. We are not to worry or allow stress to take away our peace. 

While I am overseeing the cares of this house, I will not be concerned about the fears and worries of the world. (We live in this world but are not assimilated into it.)   I have an important task and that is to create a sanctuary of comfort for the residents and guests of my home.

It is a blessing to smile and to be cheerful.  It is helpful to be calm with confidence in the promises of God. There should be no fear in our faith. Trust our Heavenly Father as we lean on Him for our strength.  To spread a light of goodness with precious deeds of kindness should be the goal of every homemaker.  This will help brighten up the home, just as the sunshine of spring cheers the heart. 

Blessings

Mrs. White

From the Archives -

Busy at Home - Occupation - Keeping House.

Old Time Living - A Guarded Life. 

Precious House Keeping - Mending for the 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.

A Mother's Day Giveaway - Updated

Our table set with flowers and candle. 

It is so precious to be a Mother. To take care of children and grandchildren is such a blessing. I like to think about the old-fashioned ways of keeping house and preparing meals. There is a great deal of love displayed when one is feeding the family and providing a comforting home. 

Working in the kitchen, 1920's (LOC).

When I was a child, Mother's Day was a special day of getting dressed up and attending church. It was a day to show extra kindness and just appreciate the family.  It felt like a holiday and a time for rest and good food.  

To help bring a bit of cheer, I would like to offer a Mother's Day gift. 

The Giveaway

I would like to give away one copy of my Household Planner. This is a perpetual planner which you can begin using any time of the year.

  ~ ~ ~

This is a beautiful organizer for the home. It is a 224 page, paperback book.

Features include:

~Daily calendar for appointments and notes
~Monthly budgets and financial planning forms
~Menus 
~Housekeeping reminders

Also includes pages for gardening notes, a prayer list, goals, and a section for addresses

Includes 12 black-and-white photographs of peaceful scenery in Vermont along with KJV Scripture verses.

                                                 ~ ~ ~

One winner will be randomly selected to win a copy of this book. 

To enter

All you have to do is leave me a comment telling me about what Mother's Day was like when you were a child. Or, you could share something special you appreciate about your Mother or Grandmother.   Or, perhaps you want to tell us what your plans are for this coming Mother's Day. Whatever you are able to share will be a blessing for us all to read!

For additional entries:

- Subscribe to this blog for updates.

- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel.

- Share this post with others.

One random winner we be selected on Monday, May 11, 2026. (U.S.  Entries only.)   If I am unable to reach the winner within 48 hours, an alternate winner will be selected. Your entry is only valid if you include a way for me to contact you. 

(Once the winner has been selected, this post will be updated.)

I hope you have a wonderful Mother's Day!

Update: This contest is now closed. The winner is: barbaradougherty126. 

[Thank you so much to everyone who entered. I loved reading all the comments about Mothers and grandmothers and the blessing of family!]

Blessings

Mrs. White

From the Archives -

Inspired by D.L. Moody's Mother - Poverty in the 1800's.

Finding happiness at Home - Days without Spending Money.

It is an Honor - The Blessing of Homemaking.

You Can Do It! - Housekeeping with a Will. 

  - 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. 

A Beautiful Organizer for the Home:

Household Planner: Perpetual Calendar to Organize Daily Life for the Home and Family by Mrs. White

224 pages, paperback

Includes monthly budgets and financial planning forms, daily calendar for appointments and notes, and much more. 

Review - Home Economics Curriculum

Home Economics Course Books

 

- The following is a Homeschool Review - 

All through my years of homeschooling my 5 children, I always wanted them to take a course in Home Economics. I tried a few different books that were available, but nothing that I wanted to stick with.  I recently came across a one-year program of study that is perfect for homeschooled students. 

I do have to say that while I did teach my children a great deal about Home Economics, from my own experience, as well as a three-year course of study I took as a teenager in school, I would have liked an overview program for them to complete as well.

This program was published by Landmark Freedom Baptist Curriculum. It is a 2-semester (one year) course of study. 

The course includes 4 paperback books:

1. Student Workbook, 226 pages.

2. Study Guide Answers, 34 pages.

3. Test and Quizzes.

4. Test and Quizzes Answer book.

A look inside the student workbook.

Details

- There are 5 lessons for each week. There is a brief daily assignment to complete (directly from the student workbook).  

- Quizzes are given at the end of each week. There is a total of 34 quizzes, to cover the term of an entire school year. 

- There are 4 quarterly tests, given at approximately every 2 months.  All instructions are clearly laid out in the student workbook so you will always know when it is the right time to assign a quiz or test.

A page from inside the quiz book. 

Lessons include some of the following:

Food and Nutrition, Grocery Shopping, Meal Planning, Cooking and Baking, Canning, First Aid, Child Care, Relationships, Basic Sewing, Cleaning, Budgeting, and more. 

Charming comic illustrations are inside the student workbook.

Specifics

The text is interesting and enjoyable to read.  There are adorable comic illustrations throughout the workbook. 

The entire course provides a practical study of Home Economics. It will help build a strong foundation of overall skill and experience in managing one's own home.

The lessons are designed for teenagers. As I was reading through the workbook, I thought that any middle to upper school student, at any skill level, could learn from this course. In other words, no prerequisite is necessary for either teacher or student. 

Throughout the entire year, the student is assigned the ongoing task of creating her own family cookbook. There are ideas, help, suggestions, and instructions for working on this project.

By the time the student has completed the course, she will have gained a great deal of knowledge. She will also have her very own cookbook!

For more information, please see the publisher's offering of this course:

"Home Economics – Landmark's Freedom Baptist Curriculum"

https://shop.landmarklfbc.com/products/home-economics

*Disclosure - I received this for review purposes.

Blessings

Mrs. White

From the Archives - 

It doesn't have to be Difficult - "Simplicity of Old Fashioned Homemaking."

It is how we make it -  The Cultured Society of Home.


- 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."

 Paperback, 200 pages.