Travel Away from the Old Homeplace

A Recent view of the lake, near our home in Vermont. 

It takes a great deal of effort to travel away from home. I want the house in order, the laundry finished, and some baking to be accomplished. We pack many things to take along with us to save money.  Somehow, as I secure a few last things into my suitcase, along with my Bible and hymn book, I think about a way to bring a bit of home with us. 

Just before I leave, I make sure my bed is made, and the dishes are washed. I want to be a good housekeeper even when I am not here. 

Our recent journey to a nearby state was for medical reasons. The drive seemed to take longer than usual. Many of the highways are under construction. There was a detour that took us far out of our way.  The road was being repaired, causing our exit to be closed. We were directed to take the next exit.  I assumed there would be signs to guide us back on track. This was not the case.

It soon became evident I needed to stop at the roadside and get out the map.  I carefully found the correct route to guide us back in the right direction. The trip was tiring and difficult, but we enjoyed the scenery and made light of the situation.  We had to stop for cold drinks and refreshments. This kept up our spirits as we continued to drive longer than we had planned. Eventually we arrived at our hotel and were so grateful for a time of rest!

The next morning, I realized I had been careless with some of my clothing. I needed to iron my sweater. I am so thankful there are housekeeping tools in every hotel room. I knew just where the iron and ironing board would be and quietly set them up for use.

Getting ready to iron at the hotel. 

We headed off to see a medical specialist. Our patient's symptoms had been very unpleasant and painful.  He received excellent care as he continues to recover from this setback.  He is back on track to continue his regular treatments in a few weeks.  I will begin planning and saving up for this next trip to the hospital.  We are getting used to this being a part of our regular lives.

When we arrived home, I had much to do to catch up on housework. I had some gardening and cooking that needed to be done. I made a batch of challah bread and a cake for the weekend.  I looked forward to attending church and tried to rest up for the service. However, I never made it to the end of the sermon. I felt weary and wobbly. I thought I was going to faint. I hated to be rude and leave suddenly, but my health was not well enough to remain in the pew. After this, I had to rest for a couple of days, as I was mostly bedridden. It could have been exhaustion or simply a virus I was dealing with.  I am feeling much better today and happy to be back to keeping house and taking care of the family.

It is restful and peaceful to just stay home. But there are many things that keep calling me away. The basic errands are necessary even though all the driving wears me out.  I have to pace myself and rest and fight off the unpleasant feeling of being "lazy" so I can keep up my strength for these ongoing medical trips.  And while it is always a struggle to come up with enough money for these expenses, these trips are such a blessing. It is wonderful to know our patient is under excellent care at the hospital.  

I will enjoy every moment of being home. When I have to be away, I will take the spirit of homemaking with me. It is in my heart. This is what makes the calling away from the old homeplace a joyful act of service.  The best part of all is knowing that when the work is over, we get to go home. 

Blessings

Mrs. White

From the Archives -

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

Finding Genuine Happiness at Home - Peace be Upon This House.  

Overcoming Worries and Troubles - Reviving the Prayer Journal.

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

 Help for hard times at home - 

House Keeping in Hard Times: Essays and Encouragement from a Christian Housewife

 Paperback, 180 pages

 As you read the entries, you will get a sense of what it is like as a Christian housewife through the ups and downs of life.  Topics include motherhood, marriage, taking care of children, cleaning, living on a low income, saving money, and building up the family with faith as the foundation.

Practical and Spiritual Homemaking

A recent view of one of the lakes near our home. 

It would be very easy to go along with my own plans each day. Many of us do this without thinking much about it.  We know we must make the bed, prepare breakfast, clean the house, and tend to the family.  This is practical homemaking. It is very important.

But what might be missing is the spiritual part.  To begin the day with a prayer and a sense of dependence brings peace.  I need to go to my Heavenly Father and seek His will for the day.  I want to remember that I am placed in an honorable position of serving the Master. In order to remain close to Him, there are often a thousand prayers that go up in a day. These are praises, thanksgivings, requests, and the giving of my fears in these prayers. I am reminded not to worry. This keeps my heart at rest. I am safe. 

This week I have noticed the beautiful view of the countryside. The spring air at the nearby lakes is cold but lovely.  Looking at the scenery brings me comfort.  It is a wonderful experience to be out in nature while in prayer, while the mind is full of old gospel hymns and precious verses of Scripture. This reminds one that there is beauty in each day.

I consider the praises and the answers to recent prayers. Our car has been in the shop and safely returned to us. Our washing machine trouble has been resolved. We have food today and are grateful for the daily bread that we ask for. As more and more needs arise, regarding practical matters of housekeeping and medical worries, I have the experience behind me to know that the Lord will take care of it all, each step of the way.

 The past few days, as I am working on the house, and in the garden, I notice our entire property is overgrown and neglected.  Our lawn mower is not working. It needs to be repaired. It has lasted many years and now needs to be fixed.  It is shocking to see our entire estate looking so bad. It looks like no one is here or that nobody cares about this place. Some may ask, "where is the keeper of that house?" Each time I falter, wondering how these miracles will be solved, I offer up one of those many prayers of the day. I know that the lack of money is exactly what keeps me dependent on the dear Lord. It has taught me to trust Him in all things. This builds up my faith. I am grateful for the provision as I quietly wait for all the needs and troubles to be resolved. This is a gracious faith that builds up the skills of spiritual homemaking.

There are difficult troubles we all must face. There are trials and storms in life as well as in the weather.  When we do the practical work in daily life, we do our part. We must do our daily duties. Yet we must never forget the spiritual side.  Our prayers, our times of family worship, church attendance, the singing of hymns, and feeding on the precious Bible is going to keep us calm and focused. 

I must keep looking up for direction. Every trouble and every blessing comes for a reason.  Why should I fear? Why must I be discouraged? It is only when I forget those precious prayers and to lean on my dear Lord that I begin to neglect the spiritual aspect of homemaking. My heart would look very much like our neglected property without the mower.  Let that not be so!   I will sing praises unto the Lord, and I will live His way every moment of my life. This is a good work that will make my journey Heavenward a joyful walk home.

Blessings

Mrs. White

From the Archives -

Mrs. Spurgeon was one of God's special ones! - All of God's Children Have Shoes.

What it Takes - Old Fashioned Duty of a Homemaker.

Encouragement in Duty - Make an Effort.

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

 

Mrs. White's special book for homemakers:

"Introduction to Home Economics:  Gentle Instruction to Find Joy in Christian Homemaking." 

Paperback, 200 pages. 

Spring Homemaking at the Estate

Our 8-year-old apple tree is beginning to flower.

I have taken many walks over the property, here at our humble estate.  It is restful and encouraging to see all the plants and trees begin to show life after a bitterly cold winter season. 

Indoors, I have many chores that must be done at a slow pace.  I bake and clean and make things look nice.  In order to keep up my strength, I am often walking for up to an hour at a time, on purpose, back and forth in one of the rooms. This helps build up my health and endurance.  To pass the time while walking, I read a hymn book, devotional, or write notes about what I hope to accomplish throughout the day.  Sometimes one of the grown children will call me on the house phone. Talking to one of them makes the walk much more pleasant and the time goes by quickly.

The weather has gotten cold here in our mountain village with temperatures in the 40's.  Our wood pellet stove is humming along with a cozy fire in the next room.  As soon as the days warm up, perhaps this week, I will be able to open the windows once again and enjoy the beautiful fresh air in all the rooms of this old house.

I am trying to think about what I need to bake or cook to prepare for another trip.  We recently returned from one of our medical trips. The patient received treatment which was painful and unpleasant.  They have switched his care away from our local hospital back to the hospital in the next state where they are more equipped to manage his care.  A few days ago, new symptoms have developed. After a trip to the emergency room, and a consultation with his doctor, we need to head back to the next state for another medical trip next week. We hope they can make everything better and more comfortable for our patient.

In order to save money, I need to plan our meals better. We need homemade food to avoid the need to stop at restaurants, cafeterias, and stores on our trip.  I hope to find a way to make the time away from the hospital, on this journey, happy and enjoyable for the patient. We like to see the scenery and try to take walks in the beautiful countryside. This boosts his spirit and brings encouragement.  Then it will be nice to return back home again.

Our calendar is full of school events for some of the grandchildren, including spring concerts.  I have also been blessed to do some babysitting for one of the youngest of the children. He is here nearly every Friday and is such a joy to have around.  We read stories, play blocks, and enjoy the outdoors at our playground. Baby likes to go on the swings with me. He also loves to observe nature and listen to the birds.

I have been so discouraged lately but things are improving. When I dwell on the problems around me, it is no wonder it results in a downcast frame of mind. All I have to do is focus on what matters and lean on the dear Lord for comfort. All will be well.

Blessings

Mrs. White

From the Archives -

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

Practical help for the home - Peaceful Living by Rules.

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

Finding Resources for Homemaking

Morning view of our tulips near the swing.

 It is a joy to keep house.  I wake up each morning with an eagerness to labor in this ministry of home.  It takes a great deal of motivation and dedication to keep up morale and enjoy the blessing of every day. Homemakers need encouragement and support in their efforts. 

I came across a Victory Poster from the 1940's. It was designed for homemakers. It has inspired me to make do with what I have and get by until times are better.  Clearly nobody wants to go without or to suffer. But it is important to find creative ways to manage when times are tough. It makes things easier to bear when there is a plan for better days ahead.

The Victory Poster had 3 specific sections I can relate to during these difficult days:

Clothing

Clothing advice, 1940's, Homemaker's guide, poster #20, LOC.

One of the problems we are facing, here at home, is finding the money to get a few items of clothing for the hot summer months.  Here in Vermont, our summers used to be much cooler and more comfortable.  It was pleasant here in the rural mountains.  This changed in recent years. The heat has lasted far longer and far hotter than what we are used to.  We have plenty of fans and an air conditioner to help. But the need is for decent clothing that will help us stay cool.  I am doing what I can to mend and repair what we already have.  This will get us through, perhaps for another year.  I also plan to go through our older clothing and see if I can make use of the old material. Perhaps I can make a comfortable summer house dress?   Mending, repairing, and refashioning clothing will make money last longer.

Fuel / Utilities

Fuel advice, 1940's, Homemaker's guide, poster #20, LOC.

It is important to keep expenses low.  This includes our use of electricity and appliances. We want things to last as long as possible. We also want to keep the bills at a reasonable cost.  We have all noticed the higher cost of living in telephone, insurance, and electric bills. I have also been surprised at how much new appliances are costing and how they are not lasting as long as they used to.  This weekend, our washing machine finally gave out.  We knew this was going to happen at some point. But we hoped to have a little more time.  My husband said to me, "If the dryer stops working, we will just hang up the clothes to dry. We will not worry about a dryer."  Yet the drain on our resources to replace a washing machine is very difficult. In order to have money for such emergencies, we have to find ways to reduce expenses in other ways, such as the use of electricity, gas for the car, and food.

Conserve! 

Important advice, 1940's, Homemaker's guide, poster #20, LOC.

I am always thinking about how important it is to stock up. However, if I have more than 1 can of coffee, multiple bottles of dishwashing liquid, etc., my ready cash is tied up in household inventory while the money jar is empty.  I would love to do this, but then I will not have enough for emergencies. Those who live on a limited income, of modest means, and through temporary hardships do not have the funds to stock up.  I am constantly using my grocery money to pay for necessities.  This is why we are trying (over a period of years) to build up our garden and plant fruit trees. It is an investment in our future.  The less food we need to buy, the more cash will be available for basic living expenses.  We want to get to the point where we have enough food to eat with little cost. A bountiful table would be such a blessing!

All of these ideas may sound extreme or even depressing, but there can still be a sense of contentment and relief when we have a plan to make things work.

Despite the lack of money and resources, we ought to feel incredibly blessed!   To have a home and a family provides a great sense of joy.  I find comfort in prayers, the singing of hymns, and the reading of Scripture. This soothes and quiets my heart.  I am so grateful each day to observe the beauty of nature all around, in sky, in fields, in the singing of birds, and the wonder of the changing seasons. 

It is an incredible challenge to find resources and solve problems in everyday life.  But this is what makes life an adventure.  I love the old mottoes from Victory Posters which inspired and encouraged homemakers during a difficult period in American history.  

There are always going to be hard times. We must not give up.  Remember the promises of the Lord. Trust Him at all times. Be of good courage and wait on His timing. All that is needed will be provided.   

Blessings

Mrs. White

From the Archives -

An encouraging example - My Mother's Chores.

Finding Genuine Happiness at Home - Peace be Upon This House.  

Practical help - How the Old Time Mothers Survived Poverty.

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

Help For Homeschooling:

Seeking a Thrifty and Simple Life: Encouragement for Christian Homeschooling by Mrs. White

Paperback, 112 pages

As you read this book, I hope you get a sense that, no matter what is going on in the world, every home can be a homeschool. 

A Lovely Example of Gardening

Couple working in their garden, Texas, 1943, LOC.

I was getting ready to do some work in the strawberry patch. There was a chill in the air and a bit of rain falling.  I searched through my closet to find my raincoat.  With my miniature gardening tools in hand, I started for the back grounds of our property. My husband was surprised by what I was wearing. He said, "Why are you wearing that beautiful coat? You will get it all dirty."  I told him it was 15 years old and my oldest one. "I know people are supposed to wear their oldest things to garden," I explained in dismay. "But all my old things are nice."   I was perplexed as to how to solve this but worked carefully to avoid getting my clothes dirty.

Later, I decided that I would wear a sturdy work apron when working outdoors. This would cover my long skirt and provide some protection.  I realize that many people wear jeans and things they don't mind getting dirty. That sounds very wise. It is so good that we have choices in our way of dress and the style that makes us most comfortable. I have several maxi skirts which I wear all year, in every season. I am happiest in this type of clothing. Wearing my pretty things in the garden is much like my wearing pretty things while I deep clean the house. I simply cover my clothes with an apron. I want my work at home, in the house or on the grounds to be lovely. This makes me happy.

I recently looked at old photographs of homemakers in their gardens. They were wearing simple house dresses. One would wear sturdy work dresses around the home and yard. If a lady was going out, on errands, to visit friends, or to attend church, she would change into something nicer.  I was grateful to notice I was not alone in this style of dressing.

The work of maintaining the grounds includes designing the arrangement of the landscape. It involves deciding where the flowers will be planted and the main garden of vegetables and fruits. We may also come to understand that changes can be made. We can remove wild plants and things we don't like or that don't work in the yard. We can replace them with useful plants, pretty flowers, and beautiful hedges. This work takes time, often years, but can make the result of all the effort very beautiful for all to enjoy. 

Students working in a home economics garden, Virginia, 1943, LOC.

Emilie Barnes wrote many books about having a beautiful, organized home. She also wrote about gardening. She mentioned that one of the main things she did was to use the hoe, each day, to keep the weeds under control.  I love this idea.  If we let the weeds get out of control, or to overtake the garden, if will be overrun and difficult to tend. This is similar to how we keep house. A little bit of work, consistently, to tidy the house and maintain a spirit of neatness is easier to do than letting it all pile up.  

When we do these little tasks, indoors and out, on a daily basis, there is often someone watching.  As we calmly work, with grace, diligence, and a cheerful heart of service, this may very well be an example to the next generation of something lovely and beautiful.

Blessings

Mrs. White

From the Archives - 

One of the greatest joys - Mother's Benevolent Society. 

 Remembering my Childhood - When Television was Special. 

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

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

This is a slim, 77 page, paperback book.