Trials of Winter Homemaking

Winter Scenery at a lake near Mrs. White's Home.

This is such a cold time of year.  I have frequent errands during the week and the bitter cold is making me feel numb and weary.   I am grateful, however, for a warm house and a warm car.

Our heat was not working properly last week.  We called a technician who came right over.  He was able to replace a part in the furnace and that fixed the problem.  I am amazed there are people who will leave a warm house and drive out in the freezing cold to help others!  I am very thankful.

A few days before this, our kitchen oven stopped working. I have been told that modern appliances don't last as long as they used to.  We have had this one for about six years.  Since I am used to this kind of trial, we immediately switched to stove top cooking only.   I stopped baking muffins, cookies, pizza, etc.  It is not possible to run out the door to buy a new oven.  So we adapt and make the best of what we have.  I have also noticed that the price of new appliances is unbearably high. We will wait it out.

I started having oatmeal in the morning instead of my homemade muffins.  I am making homemade soups and spaghetti. We will still eat well.  We will be okay.

Some of the things I wanted to do this year include walking each day.  To keep track of my commitment, I write it down on a calendar whenever I walk. Some days I will walk twice, which is wonderful.  I either walk on the treadmill for 30 minutes, or I will walk about the house for a steady 30 minutes.  This is a good goal for maintaining my health this year.

I am also reading a daily devotional. It is very brief, and takes only minutes to read, but it is packed with powerful spiritual food which I love.  The book is called, "Daily Food for Christians" and was originally published around 1830 by the American Tract Society.

 

Interior pages from "Daily Food for Christians."

 

I first heard about the "Daily Food" book from the writings of Elizabeth Prentiss. She owned one of these and loved it.  It has been recently republished by the Legacy of Home Press and I am so happy to have my own copy.

 

"Daily Food for Christians" - The Legacy of Home Press edition.

 I wrote the preface for this book and added beautiful floral illustrations from Currier & Ives, from the 1800's.  You can find more about this book at the Legacy of Home Press publishing blog. 

The other day I was visiting at the home of some of my grandchildren.  Their Uncle was expected to visit at any moment.  One of the older children and I were watching for him out the front window.  There is a steep hill to get up to the house.  We finally saw him driving up the snowy road when his car got stuck.  The tires were spinning and he was only half-way up the hill. I immediately cried out to the Lord in prayer to help him get up the hill.  Very quickly, his car moved and he easily drove the rest of the way without further trouble. My grandson turned to look at me in surprise.  We were both so grateful and blessed by a quick answer to prayer!

Homemaking in winter is a challenge and an adventure.  Each day I try to do as much cleaning and decorating as I can to make things look pleasant around us.   We are living in very difficult times, but each day I find great joy in listening to hymns as I clean, or singing hymns as I go about the work.  I offer up quiet prayers for help, or thanksgiving, as I go along.  This brings me a peace and closeness with the Lord that is comforting and sustaining.

The other day, I opened some of the windows in the upstairs parlour, as if it were a pretty spring day.  There is snow outside and some icicles on the house, but there was little wind.  I was able to get some beautiful mountain air into our home and it was lovely.  After a little while, I shut the windows and the house was cozy and comfortable. We have a wood pellet stove on the second floor and we often turn it on in the early evening hours.  Sitting by this fire reminds me of old stories by Charles Dickens, such as "Dombey and Son."  I love to read by the fire, even if I only have a few minutes. I have books all over the house so I can read a little whenever I get a chance, and then save my place with a bookmark for the next time.

Winter is a beautiful time of year, but spring will also be here before long.  Happy days are ahead for us all.  

Blessings 

Mrs. White

From the Archives -

Homemade Lessons from my Aunt - Manners Learned at the Finishing School.

Finding Happiness in - Poor and Pretty Living.  

In case you wondered - The Secret to a Clean House.

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.