Happy Days at the Estate

I love having my old furniture around me. I love setting the old chair, just so, in the parlour. I will walk through a room, and do some little service, to make the room look special. Then I look through the bookshelves and find a pleasant book to enjoy during my break.

I spent much of the last few days doing some heavy housework.  A clean and tidy home is the goal and a never-ending task. But the work brings the most joy, and makes my time of resting that much more gratifying.

Did you ever watch an episode of House Hunters on Home and Garden Television? I love to hear how the families say they must have granite counters, or more than one bathroom. I am also amazed when they see a perfectly nice house and announce it needs a major remodeling job in order for them to live there. It has to be their taste - it must be re-done. . .  Have you ever seen someone living in an old, charming house and never did those upgrades? I've had people visit us in our old house and say, "Wow! You have so much work to do here!"  They think the house must be modernized with the latest flooring, newest counters and other such expensive jobs. I just smile. . .

I prefer the charm of my old, antique estate. I love to be here, in the old museum (as I call it), just cleaning and puttering and making a humble home.

These are happy days at the estate.

Blessings
Mrs. White

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Memories of Ironing and other chores

When I was growing up, we lived in a large house in Massachusetts. I remember getting myself up in the morning to get ready for school. I would get one of my skirts and tops and set up the ironing board. We had this charming side porch on the second floor. It was all enclosed and had lots of windows.

I could look out and see the boats going by and enjoy the bright morning sunshine. I would start ironing my clothes. I thought about my plans for the day while I worked. In front of me, would be the single french door that led into our living room.   Beyond that was our old piano and a china cabinet. We had simple, cozy furniture and a large throw rug over a linoleum floor.

I would think about cleaning the house while I ironed. The more I worked around the house, alone with my happy thoughts, the more I wanted to clean and make things look nice.

I took home economics classes in school. I loved to cook and bake and sew and clean. Some days I would call my mother from a  payphone at school and make her a deal. I would say, "If you let me leave school early, I will come home and clean."   She always agreed. It wasn't that she needed me to clean. The house was already clean. She also loved to clean too. But she knew that I needed a mental break from my troubles. I needed to go home and work on the home arts to survive! I always felt better after washing the floors, or folding laundry in the comfort of that lovely childhood home.

This must be why I love housework, even to this very day. I have tried to teach it to my children. I will not know the results of my efforts until they have homes of their own.  But I hope I have passed on a love of home and a love of keeping things pleasant and neat.

Blessings
Mrs. White


‎"The ordinary acts we practice every day at home are of more importance to the soul than their simplicity might suggest." - Thomas Moore

From the Archives - 

Lovely Memories - Creating a 1950's-like childhood.

On those difficult days - Cooking while Holding a Bible.

A Vision - The Comfort of Home.

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Creating a 1950's- like Childhood

Children playing with doll carriage, New York, 1912. (LOC)

When I was a child, we spent most of our time playing outdoors. We would head over to a neighbor's house, walk to the corner store, or head down to our small, private beach at the end of the road. Often children would gather in our yard and we would play games like:

1. Red Rover.
2. Freeze Tag.
3. Kickball (we had four trees in the yard, conveniently set up to make a square- which was perfect for bases.)
4. Dodge Ball.
5. Races

We would also ride our bikes and roller skate in the street. We could all walk to the elementary school and use the playground, tennis court, basketball court and baseball field.

One of my favorite things to do was take a blow-up raft (boat) and use that at our private beach. We also enjoyed skipping rocks in the water and running in the sand.

Summer time would mean outdoor picnics, and the neighbors would sometimes stop by to talk to our parents and share a little food and drink.  There was always homemade ice cream. We loved watching Dad make it. He would use dry ice and a hand crank on some kind of bucket. It would produce sweet, cold vanilla ice cream!

Dad would buy a large watermelon and store it in the downstairs fridge. We would wait for days, excited for when we could eat it. "Dad got a watermelon!" We would say with delight! Then on the day of our fun, we would sit outside at the picnic table and enjoy our delicious treat on paper plates, after having hot dogs and hamburgers.

Sometimes, Dad would surprise us all by saying, "Let's go!  Everyone in the truck!" We children would climb in the back and hang on. In those days, it was okay to sit in the back of a truck without a seat belt.  He would take us to the next town and buy us each a soft serve ice cream with jimmies!  We were carefree and happy!

In the winter, many children would gather in our yard to go sledding down our hill. We had the best time in the snow and we also enjoyed making snow angels and playing until it got dark. Then we would be so cold, we would head inside to warm up by the fire to drink hot chocolate and have our supper.

Mother made supper every night around 5 p.m. That's when everything quieted down. We were healthy and happy and worn out from our playing.

This was a 1950's style childhood and I want to create it for my own children. When I was growing up, we did not have computers, cell phones, or any other contraption that kept us occupied in the house. We wanted to go outside and create our fun. In this current society, we have to help create this for our children. We need to get outside and teach them how to play red rover. We need to work on making our yards the fun place for the neighborhood children to enjoy.  We need to make home a safe and happy place to be.

Blessings
Mrs. White

From the Archives -

Careful thrift - Reducing Expenses.

What Many of Us Crave - An Ordinary Life at Home.

A Simple Life - Days without Spending Money. 

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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. 

Life at Home

It is bright and sunny outside. All the snow is melting. Grandpa (who along with Nana, lives with us) is fixing my clothesline in preparation for warm spring weather. I look forward to hanging clothes on the line.  From what I understand, the Amish do their laundry very early in the morning. A common sight would be driving by the farmland and seeing all the clothes out, drying in the morning sunshine.

I can't wait to sweep the front porch and sit in my rocking chair while the children ride their bikes. I look forward to planting flowers, even though I have never done that before in my life. It will be new for me. This is the year I will have my first garden - come what may!

I need to bake some cookies today.  I will make chocolate chip. I will also make a gallon of iced tea.  I am reading this afternoon, but the supper hour is coming quickly. I need to get in the kitchen, turn on some Frank Sinatra and have a happy evening!

Blessings
Mrs. White

From the Archives - 

Encouragement - What I learned from my Husband's weariness.

We need to remember this all year round - Mothers with Christmas Courage.

We all need this - Peace Be Upon This House.

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From the Library of A. W. Tozer

Book - From the Library of A. W. Tozer - Selections from Writers who influenced His spiritual Journey.

Publisher - Bethany House

I love the life and work of A. W. Tozer.  I was delighted to hear that James Stuart Bell had put together this incredible book.  It is hardcover and more than 400 pages long.  Have you ever wondered what influenced Tozer to a godly life? In this book, you will read inspiring passages from those who "mentored" Tozer through their writings.

Here is what you'll find inside:

 - A biographical sketch of Tozer's life.

- Short selections from writers like Samuel Rutherford, Jonathan Edwards, D.L. Moody, A.B. Simpson, John Milton, John Knox and many more.

- A very brief biography of each of the writers

Here is a sample selection:

"The Holy Spirit is waiting in the far-distant places of the earth for the voice of anointed man to preach, in order that through that instrumentality He may carry on His work of convicting of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment." - G. Campbell Morgan, page 161

"Ah, how rare it is to find a soul still enough to hear God's speak!"  - Francois Fenelon, page 156

My Overall Thoughts

I have been reading this book as a devotional, a little each day. The passages are fairly short - 1 to 3 pages each, so it is easy to read, and meditate, for a few minutes.  This is an excellent resource and would benefit many Christians.


*Disclosure - I received this book for review purposes.*

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Coach Wooden - Christian Inspiration

Book - Coach Wooden - The 7 Principles that Shaped His Life and Will Change Yours by Pat Williams

Publisher -Revell

When I first heard about this book, I wanted to ignore it. I wasn't interested. I don't really read much about sports and this was about a basketball coach. But I was urged to give it a try and I am so thankful I read it!


This book is about a great man who, in my eyes, is a hero. He had strength of character and strong Christian values. In this book you'll learn more about him. You will also learn about his Father, who was a regular, everyday, hard working man. His father gave him a set of principles to live by and this helped shape his life.


In the first chapter, you'll read a brief biographical sketch about both coach and his father. It is both educational and inspiring. The rest of the book details each of the 7 life principles. It is full of stories and details to help us!  Overall, this is a wonderful book and I am so grateful to own it!


“Available February 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

*Disclosure - I received this copy for review purposes.*

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Homemaking Survival

There are certain things we have to do each day, no matter how we feel about it. We have to cook and clean and make sure there is food in the pantry. Sometimes we are so exhausted that we complain or even indulge in crying. This is not the way the old-time homemakers lived.

Many Immigrant mothers came to America with strong backbones. They were used to hard work and ran their homes with dignity and courage. They were not fazed by trials. They knew to pray to God for help, and then got right to work. These homemakers did not give in to their emotions like many of us do today. (I only wish I were as strong as they were!)

My grandmother was in a wheelchair for most of her adult life, but she ran her home with great strength of character and an unbending value system. Her morals were strong and she passed those on to her children.

If the task of homemaking is going to survive, we need hard working mothers who do their job each day despite the trouble and trials that constantly attack us.

Sometimes, the trials are from our own children. Often teenagers and young adults don't want to walk the old paths. This can make us almost want to give up and die...... But we must keep going. We must smile as often as we can and live the godly life and find our joy and strength from the Lord. No matter what anyone around us is doing, we must continue with our work.

For the past couple of days, I have been in a lot of pain and unable to do much. This morning, I am much better and ready to face the family and my chores with new zeal. Today, I will work for a couple of hours and I will plan nice meals. Then I will read my Bible and rest. 

Blessings
Mrs. White

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Find Home-keeping Inspiration, in Mrs. White's book,

 - For The Love of Christian Homemaking. 

 Paperback, 274 pages.

The Charm of Home

It is late at night. The house is in need of cleaning. I will do a little work in silence. I will say my prayers while I work. Then I will get some rest.

Tomorrow will be a lovely day of rest. Everyone will be home. I will get up early and enjoy a slow-paced day.

I will sit in my favorite chair near the wood stove and watch the snow falling out the window. I will drink hot chocolate with marshmallows in my finest tea cup and I will be happy.

But for now, I am going to make the house look charming.  When I am finished, I will sigh contented and look around the dim rooms. I will be grateful and happy for my family and my life. . . and everything will be okay.

Blessings
Mrs. White

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