Old Fashioned Homemaking - My New Book

 

Homemaking is hardest on those who are struggling as they live on a small income. What many do not realize is that living on one income is incredibly common and has been for generations. Yet there is a style of homemaking that has stood the test of time. 

In my new book, "Old Fashioned Homemaking," you will find help, encouragement, and advice as you read 68 articles, essays, and diary entries which have been compiled from the last 2 years of this blog. 

You will be encouraged as you read about mending, gardening, benevolence, motherhood, taking care of children, saving money, retiring from the world, and living a life of feminine grace. 

From snow days in Vermont, practicing extreme thrift on a limited budget, to managing health trials within the family, you will be cheered along in the ways of old fashioned homemaking. 

The foundation of the book's message is the faith we are to have in the Lord. This will bring us great comfort and peace as we serve Him each day in the mission field of home.  It is a joy and a blessing to be a wife, mother, and a keeper of the house. 

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

Blessings

Mrs. White

From the Archives -

Encouraging Testimony of the Mother of D.L. Moody - Poverty in the 1800's. 

Some History of Being - Just a Housewife. 

A Precious Example - The Quiet Kindness of a Titus 2 Mother.

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

An Update

A place to rest by the back river at our home in Vermont.

 

We left on Monday for a medical trip.  The scenery was beautiful. The leaves are beginning to change all over New England.  When we reached the hospital, the patient (one of our grown sons) had tests and treatment.  Later we were so grateful to rest for the night at a hotel after such a tiring journey. 

The next morning, as we were heading back home, the patient was so discouraged. Yet there was a sense of peace all around us.  There were hymns and old gospel playing on the CD player in our car.  The mountain view, and the beauty of the day, brought us comfort.  By the time we were halfway home, the patient had been cheered up and was more positive. All would be well. 

Our next medical trip is coming up in a couple of days. We are doing our best to prepare for this expense. It is a joy and a blessing as we know the Lord goes with us and is with us through it all. He will provide.

In other news, I have completed my new book project. I expect to announce its release in a day or two. Thank you for your continued interest, prayers, and encouragement! 

Blessings

Mrs. White

From the Archives -

Following His Will - The Day Goes its own Way. 

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

Living on a Small Income - Standard of Living. 

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

Encouragement from the 1800's:  

~ Daily Devotional ~  

"A Year of Blessings and a Blessed Year: The Legacy of Home Press Classic Edition" by Rose Porter.

220 pages, paperback. (5 x 8)

A Classic Reprint, brought to you by The Legacy of Home Press.

Making Ends Meet

Setting the table in 1937, Vermont. 

 

Many of us are struggling with rising costs. Our housekeeping expenses must be kept under control. We are always facing some increase in utilities, gas, and food.  The cost of living is a challenge but with great care and planning, and the blessing of God over our households, we can find a way to manage.

We are running out of things and learning to get by until the next payday. Many live paycheck to paycheck or month to month.  We can only spend a certain amount each month. When a grocery item is gone, we need to manage without it until the next pay cycle comes along.

In our house we have run out of coffee a few times this past summer.  This has been a hardship for my husband. We talked about how much the price of coffee has skyrocketed. My husband said he would start rationing his coffee, making it last much longer than normal. In other words, he will have less.  We also started rationing butter and other goods. The portions are smaller. This should help us get through the rough times.

However, there is nothing pleasant about going without things, especially things for which we feel are necessary.  This is a temporary hardship.  We want to recover from the strain of high expenses. We need to be creative. One of the greatest and most expensive needs of a household is the cost of food. We need to put food on the table. In these days, this costs hundreds of dollars a month. 

We are saving money to pay for our annual property taxes, and the cost of kerosene to heat the house this winter.  We must not use this money for ordinary grocery costs. Money saved for such things cannot be replaced.  

When household repairs are needed, or new items need to be purchased, we have to bide our time and wait. Our toaster oven broke this year, making the toast feature unusable. To get by until we can afford to replace it, we use the "cook" feature on the dial to make toast. It is not ideal, and it is not the same, but it works for now. 

In these days it is harder to eat whatever is put before you. So many are plagued with allergies and health limitations, making food choices more limiting. We should not be buying luxury items or expensive groceries.  But if we have a basic idea of certain foods that are affordable, we can try to keep these on hand for when the money runs low. A dinner of oatmeal with fruit and toast is nutritious and easy to put together.  These days I am able to find produce from our garden and have a fresh salad each afternoon. This is such a blessing!  

Through it all, we will not dwell on hardships!  Getting creative and remaining cheerful is essential for a joyful life and for a happy home.  If we can set a pretty table and serve with grace and kindness, the meals will be more pleasant. 

We must focus on that which is positive and good and lovely. We will not dwell on hard times. Today, there is gas in our car. The lights of home are on. The birds are chirping, and the rain is gently falling. As we do our best to make ends meet each month, let us always remember to pray to the dear Lord for our daily bread. He will never let us down. We are grateful!

Blessings

Mrs. White

From the Archives -

Peaceful living From the Old Days - Sunday Driver. 

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

Living on a Small Income - Standard of Living.  

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

 Mrs. White's detailed explanation of keeping a financial journal and budget:

 

For old time encouragement in living simply on a limited income, order Mrs. White's book:

"An Old Fashioned Budget: Humble Financial Management for the Christian Housewife"

77 pages, paperback.

Mending for the Home

A living room in Virginia, 1929. LOC

 

On our walks throughout the rooms of home, it is important to see that things are in order.  A clean and tidy house is a restful place to be.  There may be a bit of clutter on a desk. There may be books on the table. Toys on the floor may also be a common sight. But if things are clean and decently mended, it brings a sense that there is a beloved housekeeper doing her part.

Sometimes I will notice old paperback books are starting to deteriorate. This often happens with children's books as well since they are handled frequently. I use clear packing tape to hold the binding and covers in place. This is part of mending in the home. It makes things last longer.

If a ruffle or hem in a curtain is coming undone, put that on the chore list. Or, if you have a few spare minutes, use a hand-sewing needle and put in some stitches to make the curtains nice and pretty.

Older towels and washcloths eventually begin to unravel around the edges. We can fold up the fraying ends, folding them over twice, and hand-sew a new hem. This will prevent further damage as we put them back in good shape.

When making the beds, we are careful to notice any holes or tears. These can be repaired quickly with a hand-sewing needle and a little thread. 

Worn carpets and rugs can even be mended when necessary.  In our old 1800's house, there are thin carpets in some of the rooms. They were here long before we became the current residents.  Around the perimeter of the room, it looks like whoever originally installed them, used some scrap pieces which are not attached to the rest.  This makes it difficult to clean when vacuuming.  The options include installing a metal strip to hold the two pieces down and in place. Or one could simply hand-sew the carpets together, which is what I would rather do since there is no additional cost for supplies. It is also a discreet and almost invisible method and will help retain the beauty of the room.

We certainly do not need to spend all of our time mending and fixing or even thinking about such things. But there is a tendency to put off repairs when we think it might take too long.  We are often too tired to manage it all and just need tea-breaks and rest!  It is not possible to accomplish everything in a day or even in a week. This is why it is always good when helpers are available.

We have an old fabric couch-cover on a small sofa in our parlour.  Hidden away, across the entire back of the fabric, is a large tear. I know how to fix this but have put it off for a long time. One day, as I was straightening the couch, I showed grandgirl the large tear in the back of the fabric.  I told her, "One day we will fix this."  Looking for something new and interesting to do, she responded with, "Why not right now?" I told her I thought it would take years! She just smiled and asked for the fabric. I set her up at the card table with my sewing box.  She had a lovely time with the rest of us all around reading, playing, and enjoying the day.  Soon I noticed she was ready to draw and color at the table. I said, "Have you had enough? Or are you taking a break from sewing?" She smiled as she told me, "I am all finished." I could not believe it as I looked at her work. There was not a single tear anywhere on the fabric.  She laughed, "And you thought it would take years!"  I was so thankful!

Getting help from the younger generation is a lovely way for them to experience thrift, old-fashioned values, and the cheerful joy one feels when doing good things for the home. I am also incredibly grateful for their help in homemaking!

Blessings

Mrs. White

From the Archives - 

My Mother's Example - Housekeeping All Day.  

Beautiful Living - Feminine Grace. 

 Unwanted Advice for the Family - Quieting Myself for the Good of Others.

 

- 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.

Remember to See the View

View from a bridge in Vermont. (Aug. 2025)

 

I love the old ways of quiet living. The rush and excitement of society around me is not something that blends well with a simple way of life. I have seen so many changes over many years. I remember sensing beauty and quietness of the soul from the old days. This was before many changes happened in our modern world.  Knowing  what life was like before these changes, makes it possible for many of us to remain steadfast on a quiet path of stability.

Despite all this, it is possible to remain on the old paths. As we walk, our thoughts are lifted upward, with a child-like faith in our Heavenly Father.  We go through days of difficulty, joy, weariness, and rest, with a steady sense of contentment, knowing we are serving the dear Master.  In this world, we are living as if in a temporary dwelling place. We long for day's end, when our work is finished, knowing a precious eternal home is being prepared for us. 

While we wait and serve, with a cheerful heart of gratefulness, we must remember to enjoy the blessings of each day. One must not get caught up in thorns of sadness and the anxiety of our time. There are many lights of goodness all around us. We have the churches, the Lord's children, and much goodness and kindness to cheer us along. Everything will be okay. All will work together for our good.

Some may go through this life seeing messes, corruption, fear, and hopelessness. The eyes have been distracted away from that which is lovely and good.  We must not focus on our trials. We must not dwell on the troublesome ways of the world. 

There are better ways to occupy our minds with such things that are hopeful. I was taking care of our medical patient last week. He was not feeling well. We were on our way to the hotel so he could prepare for a procedure at the hospital.  I noticed an incredible view over the bridge. A parking area was nearby. I asked him if he felt up to a quick walk to get a better view. He was cheerful and looked all around before trying to go with me. He was not able to  manage even a short walk, but encouraged me to go on.  I quickly walked to the middle of the bridge and got a picture of the scenery through a security fence. The water and the rocks and the trees and the sky brought a sense of awe and quiet. In that moment, there were no problems. All was well in the world as I looked at the view before me. This is what we have to remember. It is more than just stopping to see the view. It is absorbing the view. It is dwelling on the view. It is delighting in whatsoever is lovely and good all around us. Focus on the beauty instead of dwelling on the pain.  When this is done, when we remember this, stress will fall away. The things of the world will lose their glitter. The mind is renewed, and the spirit will soar with a sense of peace that passes all understanding.

Blessings

Mrs. White

From the Archives - 


Old Fashioned Advice for taking are of the family - - A Comforting Sick Room.

My Heritage - The Blessing of Being a Half- Southern Mama.

Hard Times - Living in Reduced Circumstances.

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

Mrs. White's nostalgic book for Mothers:

"Old Fashioned Motherhood: Baby and Child Care Advice from a New England Housewife." 

62 pages, paperback.