The Shabby House

A Kitchen in 1925. (LOC)

 

In our old 1800's house, there are many things that need attention. When I compare this place to what is seen on commercials and on television programs, it would seem that my house is not in very good condition.  A visitor might think we need new flooring and carpeting.  New paint in many of the rooms would certainly freshen things up. Many of the rooms would also look dreamy with new pieces of furniture. But all these changes would cost a great deal of money.  I could not even imagine spending money for such things when cash is needed for much more important items.

I recently looked at some pictures of my childhood home.  I grew up in the same house where my grandparents had raised their own children. The old wallpaper, furniture, and flooring, were old and worn. While we were living there, it just felt like home to me.  It was loved and cared for. We decorated and made things look nice with our cleaning and organizing.  We were happy in our humble home and considered it to be beautiful. Is it possible that just a few generations ago, people were less likely to spend money on fixing things up?

There is a motto of making do, making things last, or going without. This is a thrifty way of life that encourages us to take care of what we do have, while living within our means. It is certainly nice to have pretty things and to do repairs and maintenance as we are able. It is nice when we can get new curtains or blankets, bringing cheer and comfort to the family. These are lovely things to do when it is possible. But it must not be the entire focus of our spending. 

The other day I got out the ironing board and was ironing scraps of fabric for a home sewing project. I thought about the home arts and the comfort of old-fashioned, domestic life. I was grateful for my surroundings and the ability to be at home and to be here for my family. I felt thankful.

The money we do have must be prayed over and spent in a cautious way. The basic expenses of food, heat, car maintenance, and electricity cost a great deal. It requires budgeting and careful planning to make ends meet each month. 

 In just a few days, I will need to take our patient on one of our medical trips into the next state. It takes effort and sacrifice to come up with enough money to meet this need.  When there are medical trials and expenses, it really makes you think differently about modern ways of spending. The goal should be to always try to save for rainy days. 

This is why I cannot even fathom the idea of buying new things or upgrading our house. We do our best to live simply with few wants or needs. Our house may seem shabby to some, but it is a place for which I am so grateful to have. My surroundings, and all that we have, reminds me of a museum of graceful and humble living of quiet days at home, from many years ago. 

Blessings

Mrs. White

From the Archives -

A Blessed Way of Life - Old Fashioned Duty of a Homemaker.

A Bit of History - Just a Housewife.

We Must Learn -  To Earn and Not to Spend.

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

Now Available from The Legacy of Home Press:

Old Fashioned Homemaking: Essays and Encouragement from a New England Housewife by Mrs. White

176 pages, paperback

ISBN: 978-1-956616-38-5

Homemade Living

Yarn ready for crocheting project, on our table, earlier this year. 

 

As I walked about the house, doing little projects and making things look neat, I noticed a kitchen towel had developed a little hole in the center.  I got out my sewing basket and settled in the chair to start sewing.  I was thankful to have a spool of matching thread. In the quiet of the afternoon, I threaded the needle and did some mending.  It did not take long before the towel was all fixed and back in its place.

I know there are socks that need to be fixed in this house.  Sometimes I wonder why I don't do them immediately after taking them out of the dryer.  I hope to remember to take the time to mend on my next laundry day. It is always a choice of what to do with one's time.  Repairing our clothing, towels, and linens is an important part of keeping house. It is also rewarding and a pleasant way to spend our time at home.

With the passing of summer, and the arrival of cold weather, I have been thinking about the upcoming holidays.  I have not been able to do very much to plan for Christmas gifts for some of the grandchildren. Since there is no money to spare, I thought I might make a few little things myself.  The little ones would love to have homemade, pretty gifts from Grandmother. It would also be so sweet to sit quietly, each day, and work on their gifts. 

I have some pretty scrap fabric and have been considering making a tiny doll quilt for one of the younger grand-girls. I am sure she would be delighted. I have a full-size pattern for this in my book, "Gracious House Keeping," but will adjust the size to plan out a much smaller version. 

The hand-sewn quilt I made, as described in "Gracious House Keeping."

This quilt project is very simple with just little squares sewn together by hand, and then adding a backing (without a cotton filling). The hardest part will be setting up the sizing and cutting out the squares.  

I would also love to do a little crocheting, but the cost of supplies is more than I can manage at this time. I will have to wait and see. 

I might also consider doing a little drawing or painting (in little homemade books) to send along to the little ones (who live a distance away), as thoughtful gifts to bring them cheer and happiness. I will have to save up some money to pay for the postage. I remember that, years ago, my mother used to buy holiday candy and mail it to her grandchildren who lived far away. She knew it made them happy. 

I want all my children and grandchildren, whether they live close by or at a distance, to feel loved and cared about, especially during the holidays. Some little thoughtful note or gift will be greatly appreciated.

I expect to make homemade sugar cookies and fudge when December arrives. This is an annual tradition, and I give these out to all the family.  These special treats are always much enjoyed.

There is a great deal of thought and creativity that goes into homemaking when there is very little money available.  It is a style of homemade living that brings a sense of warmth and gratefulness to the giver as well as to the receiver.  

Blessings

Mrs. White

From the Archives -

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

The beautiful testimony of the Mother of D.L. Moody - Poverty in the 1800's.

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. -

Find cleaning inspiration and encouragement in Mrs. White's book, "Gracious House Keeping."

"Gracious House Keeping: Advice, Encouragement, and Cleaning Help for the Christian Housewife."

Complete with Encouragement and Work Charts to cheer you along in your homemaking!

115 pages, paperback.

 

A Life Dedicated to Good Works - The Amish Example

A Newly Settled Amish Farm in Vermont. 

 

I have noticed some new Amish families have moved to our area in the last several years.  Their quiet way of life is calming and inspiring.  From my observations of how they set up their new homes, here in rural Vermont, I see that they build their homes slowly, over time. (In the photograph above, you might be able to see that the siding on the house is unfinished.) I am assuming they do this as time and money are available. Some have been able to buy existing homes on farms. Others buy land and have to build their own house. In each case, it is instructive to see how they manage and set up housekeeping.

During necessary travels, over the last few weeks, I have noticed 2 Amish homes. In both cases, laundry was on the clothesline. Some of the children were seen in the yards, helping the family. One Amish lady was walking on the main road, with a grocery bag in her hand. She nodded to me, in a neighborly way, as I drove by. Everyone was busy and peaceful.

We can see how the Amish live from a distance.  At other times, some may hire them for construction work, or stop in to buy baked goods from their produce stands.  We are able to converse with them with a gratefulness for good neighbors.

For many years, I have enjoyed reading books by Rod and Staff publishers. These are Mennonites with a similar way of life.  To really understand about the daily activities of both the Amish and Mennonites is by reading their letters in "The Budget" newspaper.

A sample copy of "The Budget" newspaper. 

The newspaper is very large and contains letters from a variety of residents in places such as Alabama, California, Kansas, Maine, Iowa, Costa Rica, and even Ireland, along with many other locations. The letters are newsy about family, gardening, mission work, the helping they do with neighbors and relatives, as well as their normal daily life of hospitality.  These letters are eagerly read by readers who often know them personally and appreciate an update from life in their community. 

Another helpful resource for finding out about their daily life is a book I have had for several years, called, "A Day in the Life of the Amish."

A book about the Amish way of life, from their own writings.

More than 30 years ago, a publisher made arrangements with several Amish families who were willing to write a one-day diary and send it in to be compiled into a book. This was designed to help readers understand and appreciate the Amish way of life. The diaries remind me of the letters from "The Budget" but are much more detailed and interesting.  The book also includes pictures of farms, jars of preserves, and many other scenes of home life.  As I was re-reading their diaries, I thought of how busy they are.  We often see them slowly riding by in a horse and buggy. They are not in a hurry. Their life is slow-paced but practical and productive. They are doing good things and good works every day of their lives.

While we may think that the Amish live isolated lives, that is far from the truth. They have an amazing community and large families. They enjoy each other's company and celebrate birthdays and weddings. They work together, helping each other with harvesting, sewing, building, and even make it an event to gather together to help someone in need.

It is a common habit for them to read Scripture, sing hymns, pray, and attend church services. Faith and trust in God are the strong foundation for their way of life. In this constantly changing world, their example is like a lifeline of hope or a lighthouse of guidance. I am grateful to have them as neighbors.

Blessings
Mrs. White

From the Archives -

A Blessing - The Light in a Messy House.

Beautiful Living - Feminine Grace.

What many of us crave - An Ordinary Life at Home.

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

 

For happiness and cheer in the kitchen:

Mrs. White's old fashioned cookbook focuses on serving meals and setting the table in a humble home.

"Serving in the Kitchen: Cookbook with Recipes, Advice, and Encouragement for the Christian Home"

152 pages, paperback

Housekeeping in New England

Mountains in the background, here in Vermont, this month.

 

A chill is settling in the air, here in New England. The leaves are falling like snow. The colors are vivid and beautiful in the sunlight.  Our garden is nearly forgotten. A few tomatoes are still on the vines, but I am no longer taking my daily walks to check on all the flowers, trees, and garden spots. I am settling myself indoors as much as possible.

Benches by the lake, not far from our home. 

There is still much to do to prepare for a cold winter.  I am working on getting rid of excess items to make room for easy cleaning throughout the cold months.  Our first kerosene delivery arrived a few days ago.  I need to save a great deal of money to keep this house warm this season. 

We have not been able to do very much stocking up of winter groceries, canned goods, coffee, tea, sugar, baking items, etc.  It has been a struggle to manage it all. As long as I can bake bread and other homemade food, and make things last, we can do our best to keep costs low in order to buy some necessary things.

The scenery all around us has brought a sense of awe and quietness. If I focus on that which is good, seek nourishment from the Psalms and prayer, find comfort in old fashioned hymns, and remember to trust the Lord, it will not be possible to worry. 

One day last month, we drove by a beautiful red covered bridge, here in Vermont. It reminds one of old-fashioned days, when the horse and buggy were the only form of travel. In a time before cars were invented, outings were much more involved. Going out, away from home, did not happen as often. I wonder if this kept the heart calm and the beauty of each day more vivid in the mind.

A red covered bridge, here in Vermont.

The work of homemaking will go on this week. I will do the laundry, the mending, the dishes, and the cleaning. I will bake and cook and putter about the house each day. I will be about the business of making home a restful place for the family. And every so often, I will take a little walk to see the beauty of nature all around me. It will bring me a sense of gratefulness and rest.

Blessings

Mrs. White

From the Archives -

Always Remember this - The House Comes First.

Overcoming Worries and Troubles - Reviving the Prayer Journal.

Wisdom from Colonial Days - To Earn and Not to Spend.

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

Now Available from the Legacy of Home Press:

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. 

Household Planner - My New Book - Updated

A peaceful planner to simplify homemaking is now available. Our 224-page book is designed to make your daily life at home more organized.

~Available in both paperback and spiral-bound editions.~

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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

Begin using this perpetual calendar at any time. If you write in the book with a pencil, you can erase the markings later and re-use this book year after year. 

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

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Here is a sampling of pages from inside the book:

This perpetual planner can be used year after year. There is a page inside the book to write your name and the current year. 

Each month begins with a black-and-white photograph of the scenery here in Vermont. There is also a KJV Scripture verse. 

There is a page for each month's budget.  The entries have been typed up for you. There is a place to write the date each bill was paid, so you don't need to worry, or wonder, when (or if) it was paid. 

Every month begins with a page of Standard House Menus. This covers breakfast, lunch, and dinner for 7 days.  These are your favorites and the basic meals you normally serve, or plan to serve, on a regular basis. By using a pencil, you can change your entries at any time to meet the needs of your household. 

There is space for notes and appointments for every single day throughout the months and year. 

There are pages in the back of the book for addresses. 

This planner was designed to be a homemade, simple planner. It is very basic and will help keep your days organized. I hope you find it helpful for managing your household!

(If you like this book, I hope you will consider writing a review on Amazon. It would be a great help to me. Thank you!)

Now Available in both paperback and spiral-bound editions:

Paperback:

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

224 pages, paperback, Retail: $12.99

ISBN: 978-1-956616-39-2

Spiral-bound:

(Please note: this edition is produced by a different printer and has more costs involved for production and shipping.)

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

224 pages, spiral-bound, Retail: $17.99

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Note: A 2026 wall calendar is also available. It has all the same photographs from the perpetual planner, but in full color:  

Our 2026 (full color) wall calendar with spiral-bound planner. 

For more information about our 2026 wall calendar:

The Legacy of Home Press: Our Wall Calendar and Planner (for details)

Here is a direct link to the 2026 wall calendar to buy:

The Legacy of Home 12-Month Wall Calendar (to buy)

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Blessings

Mrs. White

[Post updated on October 12, 2025.]

From the Archives - 

Encouraging children to clean -  Nobody wants to Clean a Messy House.

Humble Tea Time- The Importance of Formal Ceremony at Home.

Joyful and Peaceful Living - Simplicity of Old Fashioned Homemaking. 

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