Monday, November 28, 2016

Home Life at The Estate


Mrs. White's Parlour in Vermont (This is the same photograph on the cover of one of my books.)


We had a lovely Thanksgiving Holiday.  It was so nice to have all the family home.  I was thinking about Black Friday this year. I have never in my life done Black Friday shopping, though some of my grown children have.  They love the excitement of it all.

I realized that this event was not even heard of during my childhood and early years of marriage.  It made me wonder what started it.  I was told that it did not take root nationwide until possibly the late 1980's?  Honestly, I don't really like how it has crept in to take away some of the Thanksgiving family time, with stores opening on Thanksgiving night. But I know there are many who do like it.  So I will just enjoy being home, and keeping the home, while family and friends venture off into the stores if they want to.  Mother will be here at home!

One thing that is extra special about the holidays is when everyone gets all dressed up in their church clothes. It is the perfect time to take pictures.  I don't share pictures very often, but I have one to share with you today.  This is me with my youngest (grown) child.  He gave me permission to share it!



Mrs. White with one of her Children On Thanksgiving Day 2016


I am wearing my favorite apron. It is my "dress up" apron. I made it several years ago, using a pretty burgundy calico fabric.  It is hand sewn using "See and Sew" pattern number B5125.   There are some adjustments to make when you hand sew rather than using a machine.  But it is nice to take one's time doing hand stitches while sitting and visiting with the family.

The other afternoon, I cut out some fabric to make a toddler dress for one of my grandbabies.  I will do a little sewing as I have time.  It is a nice project to keep me busy while "resting." (gentle smiles)

The last few weeks, my son (in the picture above) has been my chauffer. He has driven me to church. I don't like to drive, so I have been delighted that he has taken me.  He found a modern song that I like, which is "Bless the Lord - 10,000 reasons." by Matt Redman.  We listen to it  as he drives me on these rural roads to the country church.   This is the only modern Christian song that I have liked. I am so used to old gospel, from artists like "The Kingsmen Quartet" and "The Inspirations." I even love the gospel songs of Elvis Presley. So I was shocked to hear a modern one that I actually liked.

I hope you have a wonderful week!

Blessings
Mrs. White


From the Archives -

Homemaking - Cleaning the Museum.

Craving Simplicity - An Ordinary Life at Home.

What it is Like - Living without Credit Cards.



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



Mrs. White's special book for Homemakers
- "Mother's Book of Home Economics."


312 pages, paperback. 




 

 



13 comments:

Karen Andreola said...

Hello Mrs. White. So nice to see you with your youngest on Thanksgiving. It is nice, too, that you asked his permission - with all the snaps taken freely. You look elegant. The apron does not detract from this. It actually adds something sweet. I find it hard to believe that shops are open on Thanksgiving Day. We didn't grow up with this much commercialism surrounding a holiday. My children, also like to find deals the day after. Avoiding the hub-bub of traffic I made a purchase of a pair of much-needed shoes over the week-end online. I hope the shops do not open on Christmas Day next.

Sarah Coller said...

Beautiful! It's great to see you happy and smiling and enjoying your sweet family. Hope you have a lovely week!

Unknown said...

Lovely, lovely picture! Thank you for always encouraging us to be Mother. Just being home and content. There is so much to be said for just being HOME. I haven't shopped for quite some time . We have been sharing a vehicle for 3 years now and I drive much less. I don't know if this is why, or just getting older, but I do no like driving much either.
It makes me sad how fast paced and commercialized our holidays have become, and what a good reminder that we have a choice to just not go out into it.
God bless
Mrs.O

Tammy said...

Thank you for sharing more pictures of your home, it is really lovely. And I really enjoyed seeing you and your youngest son!

He's very handsome, and I'm glad to hear he's ferrying you about. That's good raising right there. :)

I like 10,000 Reasons, as well. It is a beautiful song.
Happy (almost) December!

Mary Ann said...

Another lovely post! Your son is a very nice looking young man. Your parlor is very pretty.

I am slowly going through your older posts 'cause I am pretty new around here! So very interesting.

Melinda said...

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family. I've been enjoyimng your new book, by the way! I especially love the chapter on "Plain Homemaking."

susie @ persimmon moon cottage said...

That is a very nice photograph of you and your son. I like your apron. My son is stationed overseas and I missed him this Thanksgiving.

I don't mind the stores being open on the day after Thanksgiving, but I really wish that they would stay closed on Thanksgiving day and evening so everyone could enjoy some family time without the pressures of keeping to work schedules.

Lori in Missouri said...

Mrs. Sharon, so glad you had wonderful holiday with your family. I ordered your new book last week and read it in two evenings -- I've had your others also and find them to be a sweet encouragement, so thank you for that.
When I first heard 10,000 Reasons, I loved it so much, I went to Christian bookstore and had it "cut" to a CD which I then would put in my "boombox" in the mornings when I got up and dialed it to REPEAT. It would sour in my heart and I'd sing at the top of my lungs and tears would always come to my eyes. God uses contemporary men and women (as He has done in every age of time) to express themselves in song and words that minister to the hearts of the current generation. I think some present-day music will continue on and on just as our beloved hymns. Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs is kinda like a time-line of description!
God bless you and yours this Thanks-Living and Christ-mas season!!

Lori in Missouri said...

Wow. That should really be read "SOAR" in my heart -- certainly NOT
"sour." oopsie!

God bless your ministry!

Mrs. Laura Lane said...

I love that song! It's so worshipful!
Thank you for reminding me of it.

I was delighted to see you with your son. You're as beautiful on the outside as you are on the inside. I love the way you en-courage us by sharing your journey.

Sharing your courage and determination to be happy and enjoy your home and family even amidst disappointments is so valuable to us all.

Thank you.
May God bless you with a Jesus focused Christmas season!
Laura Lane
Harvest Lane Cottage
Carthage, Missouri

Deborah Montgomery said...

So nice to see a picture of you Mrs. White with your son. And what a treat to be chauffeured by a kind and thoughtful son. I try to avoid stores most of the time, but especially this time of year. I'm grateful that I can shop online if I need to! I would much rather be home, too. Blessings, Deborah

living from glory to glory said...

Hello Dear, What a nice young man you have! And you look so happy...
I agree with you about all that Black Friday shopping, but I guess it is a buyers market. We also had a lovely Thanksgiving and it all goes so fast!
I loved as you put it Mother will be at HOME!
Enjoy and keep warm!
Hugs, Roxy

Diana said...

You do NOT look old enough to be his momma. You look beautiful - GREAT photo of you both. Love your home here, will come back and visit! Blessings to you and yours!