Saturday, November 19, 2011

Making the Most of Home

An Alley of Rome Where a Woman Sitting on a Chair is Working at a Piece of Crocheting




Did you ever see that movie, The Dollmaker*,  Starring Jane Fonda? It is the saddest, sweetest, most educational movie I have ever seen. It encourages you to be extremely thrifty, and a hardworking, loving Mother.  I will never forget seeing Jane's character moving into an apartment that she didn't want to be in.  Her husband made a decision she hated, but she left her little rented house in the country and moved into this little place. The very first thing she did was get on her knees and scrub the floors. She was going to make the best of things.

There are all kinds of homes - apartments, condos, mobile homes, and houses. Some are old and worn out. Some are generally dirtier and in need of repairs, while others are clean, and new. Whether we live in a state of almost poverty or with wealth, we have to make the most of what we have.

Through our attitude and plenty of hard work, we can make our homes look clean and pleasant. Add to that a loving, tender smile to brighten the hearts of our family and guests, and home will be a sweet and precious place.

Blessings
Mrs. White

* This movie (from 1984) is so valuable! I dearly wish it would be made available on DVD.




Reality - What Kind of Queen are You?

Are you Worried Today? - If Home Were a Happy Place.







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5 comments:

Kathy @ Teaching Good Things said...

I'll have to check that out!

Blessed Homemaking said...

It is available here for only $9.95 on DVD! http://www.onlyclassicmovies.com
I might have to order one myself. You have made it sound so good!

Joyce Ackley said...

A very thought-provoking post. I've never seen the movie, but I'd like to now.

A few months ago, I stumbled across the most amazing, inspiring blog post. I can't remember who wrote it or the name of the blog or even how I found it. But I kind of have the feeling it was an older, archived post.

The story was about a woman who truly made the most of her home. I hope the details I'm about to give are correct as I recall them. She was married to a military man and they were transferred to Philadelphia, I believe. And it seems as if they had a little girl, maybe three years old. They moved into a dingy, run-down apartment building that overlooked a shipyard. Smoke and grit billowed into the environment. The building was infested with roaches and housed some unsavory characters, such as prostitutes.

But this was where the family was in that season of their lives, and they could not change things. So the woman made the best of her situation. She scrubbed and cleaned each day and sprayed for roaches. Every day. She hung curtains and pictures and set out her lovely decorative objects and accessories.

She greeted everyone and had a kind word and a smile for all the tenants. All of them.

Some of the other tenants insisted that this woman's apartment was larger or had a different lay-out from their own, but it was actually the same. She'd simply scrubbed her place until it shone with pristine cleanliness, and it exuded charm and warmth from the homey touches she'd lovingly placed here and there.

It was a wonderful piece. I wish I could find it again, for I could read it over and over for inspiration.

When I read your post, I thought of that and the scene in the movie brought it into sharper focus. It's a lovely Saturday morning post. Thank you.

Chaos Cottage said...

I remember that movie. I need to look for the DVD too. It told a very good story.

Anonymous said...

Oh I am so glad you mentioned this movie! !!! It has stayed with me since I saw it years and years ago! Maybe I can see if my family can get it for me for Christmas next year. We can watch it together. Sarah