An Old-Fashioned Christmas

Piano in the parlour at the Calvin Coolidge Homestead. Photo was taken on my recent visit to Plymouth Notch, Vermont.

I remember having a piano in my childhood home. None of we children ever had lessons but my mother knew how to play. She kept assorted songbooks inside the storage area of the bench. I loved taking out the Christmas books and trying to play them.

One of my weekly chores was to dust the living room. I took special care of the piano. It always seemed like home to have that piano in the house. It was especially nice at Christmas time. My mother rarely played, but with our urging, we convinced her to play just a few Christmas songs for us. I can still remember us all standing around her, as she sat on the bench. Mother played while Dad and the children sang the songs.

Winters were cold by the ocean at our Massachusetts home. We lived in a beach cottage on an acre of land. The home belonged to our grandparents and was passed down to our mother. We all lived with grandmother and grandfather until they went home to be with the Lord. It was a humble place kept nice by mother's housekeeping and father's maintenance work.

As the Christmas season is coming soon, I have begun to reflect on an old-fashioned Christmas. There was not much money in my childhood home. We wore sweaters indoors and mother was very hesitant and careful when she turned up the heat. We had an 8 -track tape player with a little rack full of Christmas songs. We loved to hear these old classics as we did our chores and puttered around the house.

In those days I don't recall elaborate decorations on the houses. You would not see colored lights on the outside of the house. There was nothing on the yards except snow. The only thing one could see while walking by the houses, in our neighborhood, was a lit-up Christmas tree in each living room window. It was humble, charming, and modest. As I think of it now, the simplicity was lovely and refreshing.

Indoors, we had a tree in the corner of the living room. The only other decoration to announce the season was a nativity scene placed carefully on top of the piano (or on an end table by the couch).

None of us realized there was a lack of money. In those days, it was not common to buy gifts for friends or for those at work. We worked hard, saved, and sacrificed to get a gift for Mother and Dad. We could not even imagine coming up with funds to buy presents for those outside the family. I don't think it even entered our minds. We were just so happy to have enough for the family.

When seeing neighbors or friends, A "Merry Christmas" was cheerfully wished to all and then we all went to our own beloved homes. I think family life was more intact in those days, in the general culture, when Mother was often at home and the relatives lived nearby in established neighborhoods. We all worked hard at school and with jobs so that being home meant everything. It was a place to rest and feel safe. It was even more so at Thanksgiving and Christmas.

I want to mention that the day after Thanksgiving was a family day. We enjoyed a vacation and just stayed home. In those days, Black Friday had not even been invented yet! There was not much emphasis on shopping or spending money. This was in the days before easy credit and credit cards.

This Christmas season will be similar to the ones of my childhood. There is not any spare money available. We need a Kerosene delivery this week to keep the house warm. We have a medical trip coming up soon. The cost of food is rising and we just received notice that our annual house insurance bill has skyrocketed. I have a few little gifts safely tucked away for some of the grandchildren that I managed to buy earlier in the year. I have been thinking how nice it would be to have one little gift, beautifully wrapped, in the living room for my husband and me. This would help make Christmas special for us. (I wonder if this is just a passing thought of selfishness?) We have spent many years without gifts because the children and grandchildren come first. We only buy little, inexpensive things for the family (perhaps for $4 or $10 each). Even then, it is a struggle. I am always so grateful to be able to do this. On what I consider good years; I am able to get my husband a new package of socks or a warm winter shirt as a surprise gift. He is happy and thankful and never asks for anything. We are used to living a life of humble means with great faith in God.

Despite what sounds like a hardship, we feel content and blessed. We have a home to live in. We are always here to welcome the children and grandchildren home. We have learned to be creative and inventive, making the most of life without much money. This is why an old-fashioned Christmas can be so special. We can read from the book of Luke, enjoy homemade Christmas cookies, and bring cheer and happiness to the family from hearts full of love and kindness.

May you be greatly blessed this Thanksgiving and Christmas season and always!

Blessings

Mrs. White

From the Archives -

Peaceful old time Living - Quiet Duties of Home.  

What Many of Us Crave - An Ordinary Life at Home.

Taking Care of the Family - A Covered Bridge and Graceful Living in Rural Vermont. 

- 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

Treasure in the House

Miniature Bible on our table. 

The grandchildren were expected for an early dinner. I went about setting the table for them.  I was looking for just the right thing to make it special.  I remembered the miniature (KJV) Bibles I have for babies and preschoolers. I found one and carefully tucked it beside a candle centerpiece. It spoke volumes of what was on my heart. This little book was the secret of my joy and rest and peace as I go about the Master's work here in the home.

At dinner, one of the younger grandsons noticed the book with eagerness.  He asked, "Is that a little Bible?" He was delighted.  It is cherished in his home as well.  

Years ago, Bibles would commonly contain several pages elaborately decorated with the intention of recording the family genealogy.  If someone would ask grandfather when a grandchild had been born, he would get the Family Bible and find the answer.  In the old days, this was often considered proof of the date of one's birth or to confirm the relation of members of the family.

It is a blessing and a joy to have a Bible to read.  One of the greatest memories, for old time families, is the remembrance of hearing Mother and Dad reading from the Bible to their children.

LOC: Abraham Lincoln Reading the Bible to his son, 1865.

Children who grow up in a home where the Bible is loved, cherished, and frequently read, have a wonderful fondness for home and family.  When they grow up, they tend to keep this precious habit of gleaning spiritual nourishment every day of their lives.  This used to be so common in previous generations. 

Young Men's Christian Association flyer, 1919. 

In our modern culture, where constant advertising promotes materialism and excessive forms of secular recreation, it is sometimes difficult to keep one's spiritual bearings.  We can counter this by keeping the Bible prominent in the home.  It should not be dusty for lack of use. It must be the most loved and respected book, more valuable than piles of gold. It is the treasure of the house. 

As I look back over the years as a wife, mother, and grandmother, life was not easy. Yet I feel so grateful and blessed.  We may have been poor, but we always had a Bible in the house.

Blessings

Mrs. White

From the Archives -


Always Remember this - The House Comes First.

The Beauty of an Ordinary, Simple Life - Standard of Living.

A Blessing in Making an Effort - Peaceful Homemaking.

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

An Old-Fashioned Devotional Book:

"Inspired by the life, writings, and journals  of John Wesley (1700's), Mrs. White has created  a 90 - day Bible study challenge. ."

Early Morning Revival Challenge

Paperback, 116 pages. 

Making Home a Refuge

LOC: Sitting by the fireplace around 1925.

On a recent trip, I stopped at one of the historic 1800's homestead museums, here in Vermont. This was on our way home from a doctor visit.  I am trying to find inspiration and encouragement in homemaking.  I want to keep learning and keep making an effort to make our home a pleasant place to be.  I do this in the midst of whatever else is happening around me. It happens in any leisure moments or while waiting for important things. 

On this visit I saw the grounds of the property. There was a kitchen garden, an orchard, barns, sheds, and a lovely home. I thought about all the work that went into running this home and managing the care of the laundry, the meals, the cleaning, and the welcoming of guests and family. Many of these old properties are surrounded by trees and hedges providing the home with a place of tranquility and rest. 

The landscaping was charming with graveled walkways along the grassy areas. I walked around the property slowly with much thought.

Mrs. White at one of the historic homesteads, here in Vermont.

This home was built around the same time as my own house, in the 1850's.  At the time of my visit, the museum was closed for the season. I was given permission to walk the grounds, however, and someday hope to return when they are open so I can see inside the house. (Whenever this happens, I will share all about it with you here.)

Back at home, I am so grateful for the privilege of having a place to live. Even though our house is humble, old, in great need of paint and repairs, it is a blessing! 

I try to keep a quiet atmosphere. This does not refer to noise, but to a sense of peace. We do our best, as homemakers, to create a meaningful culture around us. This comforts the family and gives them a sense of routine and a love for that which is good. 

 Some things that are common here are the hearing of sermons, the gentle playing of hymns in the background, and the happy sound of chatter. 

Bible time is a much-loved aspect of the routine. It happens mostly at sporadic times. Participants include whoever is at home at present.  This includes the reading of a passage of Scripture, the singing of hymns, and a time of prayer.  Bible time happens informally (at sporadic times) and formally (in the evening).  There are times when some of our grandchildren are visiting through the dinner hour and the sun is setting. The children are present when it is time for our evening Bible time.  We love when this happens as the children get to participate in our beloved family worship. There are other times when grown children happen to stop by for a visit at just the right time. We enjoy a rest from all that is going on in the world as we gratefully read the Bible and pray together.

Other aspects of home life include sewing, mending, washing dishes, sweeping floors and doing laundry. Whoever happens to be here, joins right in to help with the blessing of work. 

We enjoy bringing happiness to others as we serve in the home.  The other day, some of the grandchildren were here for a visit.  I called the two oldest ones into the kitchen. We were preparing an afternoon treat. Grand-girl set the table with plates, napkins, and silverware.  Grandson cut strawberries and served them on the plates. I carefully sliced small pieces of homemade cake for everyone.  When the table was ready, Grand-girl rang the dinner bell to call the rest of the children.  They came running, as they wondered what was happening.  As soon as they saw the delightful cake and fresh fruit at their seats, they brightened with smiles and happiness.  Then I handed a spoon and a container of Cool Whip to Grand-girl. The children had never seen it before and didn't know what it was! It is a rare treat in our house. I reminded her of the duties of a hostess, spreading good manners while serving. She walked around the table asking each "guest" if they would like some Cool Whip. Each responded with a "yes, please," as she dished out a portion beside their cake.  Then we paused for a prayer of thanksgiving before we began to eat.  A lovely time was had by all.

This is how we create a beautiful culture in our homes - by chores, service, and the love and care of the family. We work hard at being peacemakers, forgiving, extending mercy, and cultivating a gracious heart.  This great and noble work of homemaking is essential to passing on the joy and peace of family life. Today, and always, shut out the troubles of the outside world. Then let us keep making home a bright and cheerful place to be. 

Blessings

Mrs. White

From the Archives -

Old Time Living - A Louisa May Alcott Winter. 

Financial Struggles - A New England Winter on a Small Income. 

A Mother's Greatest Use of Time - A Humble Parlour as a School of Theology.

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

Every home can be a homeschool!

Find confidence and courage in teaching your own children at home with Mrs. White's book,

Seeking a Thrifty and Simple Life.

112 pages, paperback.

Pretty Homemaking

Dinner Bell and pretty dishes at Mrs. White's table.

It was announced that some of my grandchildren would be coming over after church. I would make the lunch.  As I formulated in my mind what the menu would be, I started thinking about how much I wanted the table to look pretty.  I wanted the children to feel special that extra care would be taken to serve the meal in a nice way.  I set out napkins and then started a little baking.

I noticed we had bananas that needed to be used quickly. I found a banana muffin recipe but thought I would bake it in a cake pan.  I used a bundt pan and simply cooked it longer than the recipe called for.  A standard cooking time for bundt cakes is about 36 minutes.  It turned out perfectly. I set this aside to cool.

I started a batch of homemade vegetable soup.  It only requires carrots, potatoes, a bit of olive oil, some diced garlic, and water. *  This didn't take very long to cook. As I went about the work of setting the table with pretty bowls and spoons, I stopped to stir the soup.

Soon the children arrived all dressed up in their best clothes. They looked darling!  The soup was served.  It was comforting after coming in from the cold autumn air. Their mother made sandwiches as the second course.  They enjoyed nice glasses of milk before going into the other rooms to play.

It was time for dessert. One of the children rang the dinner bell that we keep on our hutch. This calls everyone to the table. They always smile when this happens. I brought the banana cake to the table, along with a stack of plates. Each child eagerly watched as pieces were cut and placed on dessert plates and passed around.  They enjoyed it very much.  We had a lovely visit!

There was still a little bit of cake left this morning. I set the table and made myself a little morning refreshment.  I had hot peppermint tea and banana cake on my prettiest dishes. A candle and a pretty bell added a bit of beauty to the table.

I will do a little cleaning this morning and set up a new sewing project.  I turned on a CD of gentle Christmas songs played by an orchestra. It is lovely and soothing!  It will be a pretty day of homemaking!

Blessings

Mrs. White

* This recipe is in my cookbook, Serving in the Kitchen.

From the Archives 

The Old Days - The Comfort of a House Coat. 

Simple Way of Homemaking - The Four Little Tasks of Home.

Content at Home - Days Without Spending Money. 

 

- 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

House Keeping in Hard Times - My New Book

       ~ Our newest book, brought to you by "The Legacy of Home Press." ~

 

 This book is a compilation of nearly 3 years of writing about homemaking.  There are 49 entries, gleaned from the blog, and 46 entries taken from Mrs. White's private newsletter, "Letters from the Estate." 

 Essays, articles, and diary entries describe what it is like when there isn't much money and resources are limited.  There are times of dealing with medical problems and trouble within the family. With grace and understanding, we can find joy in the midst of our circumstances.

You will be encouraged, as you read such things as:

1. Finding Perfect Rest in the Lord

2. A Chef in the House

3. Roses for the Table

4. Trust and Faith under Pressure

5. Encouraging Note Cards

6. How to Live on a Low Income

7. A Babysitter for Grandmother

8. Handling Trials Graciously

9. An Evening Routine to Find Rest

10. and much more.

 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.

The book is available in Paperback and Hardcover. The cover photograph is of the front grounds of our property, here in Vermont, after a snowstorm.

 

 

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

 Paperback, 180 pages

ISBN: 978-1956616286

 

 I hope you find the book helpful and encouraging, knowing that we all go through hard times. Caring for the home and family is worth all the effort!  May you be cheered along in your homemaking.

Blessings

Mrs. White

From the Archives -

Frugal Sewing - Making an Old Fashioned Bible Cover. (with a video)

We Must Always Remember - The House Comes First. 

A Blessing to Be - Just a Housewife. (With a little history)

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

Homemaking on a Snowy Day

Snowy Landscape on the front grounds at Mrs. White's House in Vermont. Dec. 2023.

We had a snowstorm the other night.  It started in the early evening. We watched out the window, as heavy flakes of snow came down at a steady pace. The view by the streetlight was so calming and peaceful to see.

Early the next morning, My husband and I went outside. He watched as I took a few pictures of the front grounds.  Our little Christmas tree is set out with a small deer for a companion.  It is a charming sight in the snow.

Then we went back inside the house to get warm by the wood stove.  I started a batch of whole wheat bread. I got this all set up for the first rising and then cleaned up the kitchen.  In just a short while, little grandbaby came to spend the day with me. We played and chatted and laughed.

I settled baby at the table with some playdough.  He chose a red color that matched his shirt.  While he played, I shaped the bread dough into loaves and set them in pans for the second rising. 

At lunch time, baby sat in his highchair while I sat across from him. We said our prayers and then I put up a colorful board book, for him to look at, in front of my plate. I served his lunch using a baby plate and fork.  I have carrot sticks hidden behind the little book.  If he sees the carrots first, he will not eat the potatoes!  Soon his plate is empty and I show him the carrots. He is delighted as he eats them. 

All day long we had snacks and juice and fun.  Then his Mother came over to get him.  I loved having such precious company for the day!

I spent the rest of the afternoon doing those little homemaking duties which bring cheer and happiness to the family. Every time I walked by the front window, I looked out at the snowy landscape. I checked on the deer by the tree and watched the beautiful snow coming down to decorate the property. I am waiting for just the right moment to get a picture of the lit up tree amidst a snowy backdrop.  As soon as it looks just right, I will get my husband and we will trudge through the snow and get the pictures to share with all of you.

My heart overflows with gratefulness for all the many blessings of just being HOME. 

Blessings

Mrs. White

From the Archives -
 

The Virtuous Mother - Amazing Dedication. 

Simple Living in the Old Days with Little Money - Standard of Living.

The Joy of Taking Care of Babies- Playing House in Real Life.

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

 "At Mother's House" by Mrs. White:

  

For Encouragement in Homemaking, order Mrs. White's book, from 2016, "At Mother's House: The Blessing of Being a Christian Housewife."

In this book, you will find essays, articles, and diary entries about life in a Christian home.

There are 40 entries which include:  "Poor and Pretty Living;" "A Home Without Clutter;" "The Money Packets;" "A Church Diet for the Family;" "Bringing Home Baby;" "The Children's Prayers;" "The Shabby Garden:" and "Just a Housewife."

Those who are seeking a peaceful home, with the Lord as the foundation, will find encouragement. (Paperback, 122 pages.)

 

 

Homemaking During a Confinement

Library of Congress: Kitchen with a Quick Meal stove, 1930.

Some evenings, over the past few months, I receive a phone call from one of my daughters.  "You will have a sick child tomorrow," she tells me.  I ask a few questions about fevers and diet to gather information and prepare myself.  We have an agreement, she and I.  I will take any of her children who are sick at any time she needs me.  In this case, she may have an urgent meeting or an essential appointment.  She knows I will take the babies whether they are sick or not.  I am not concerned about germs or getting sick.*  It is as if these children were a part of my own household. I am here for them at any time of the day or night, regardless of the situation.

I had to prepare for one of these days recently.  After I received the notice from my daughter, I did a few things to get ready for the next morning.  I made a batch of homemade jello in case my patient's fever made it difficult for her to eat.  I went into the guest room and took the twin mattress off the frame.  I brought it into my own bedroom and placed it on the floor. (This would be our sick room.*)  My room is large enough for a play area, chairs, and a television set.  The patient would be very comfortable in a cozy bed of her own, in a place where we could all rest together, because any time I have one of the sick children, I am always given the baby to care for at the same time.  I am always delighted to have these grandchildren here and am happy to take care of them.

In this recent case, grand-girl had a fever for almost an entire week. Her mother took care of her for 4 days and then on the 5th day she had to do some errands.  Early in the morning, she brought me the baby and my 9 year old granddaughter.  We had such a nice restful day while I waited on her and cared for the baby.  I kept asking her questions,"Would you like a cool cloth for your forehead?" or "Can I get you something to drink?" or "Are you hungry for lunch yet?"   We all rested together as much as possible, while I did the work of homemaking and the duties of nursing a patient.

Last month, there were three sick children here all on one day.  They enjoyed the care they received at Grandmother's little hospital.  I am grateful for any time I get to spend with them.  Once the children are well and healthy again, they return to their normal routine and go back to visiting me on our regular schedule.  

If I am ever busy or need to go to the store, when one of these calls comes in, I rearrange my schedule, change an appointment, or put off my errands. The children will always come first.

Now there is a new sickness going on at our house.  Early this week, a member of my immediate household found out he has that dreaded, contagious sickness.  He has quarantined himself in the downstairs section of the house.  Groceries for the patient were dropped off within the first day.  I have rarely seen my husband in days, since this happened.  When he needs to talk to me, he knocks on the wall near the location of my upstairs bedroom.  This is a signal for me to go to the top of the stairs to see what he wants.  He will say, "Call me on the intercom." Then he quickly goes back to his recliner.  He has no idea how to use the intercom on our house phone.  This is why it is a longer process for him to reach me.  I use our remote phone and call the unit in the living room.  Then he will tell me how he is doing, what he might need at the store, and that he loves me.  He is very concerned about my well-being and does not want me to get sick.

I have been resting as much as possible to keep up my strength in case I get sick too. At this point I am only very tired.  But I will need to clean and keep things sanitary. I have work to do but will take many breaks. This morning, I need to bake some bread because I don't have enough to get through the day.  I will prepare the dough early and then set it to rise. It should not take very long since I get to rest between risings.  This is necessary work but will happen at a calm and steady pace.

Many of us are going through hard times, whether it is health troubles or financial needs.  These are struggles and obstacles that we all face at some point.  Yet through it all, we keep house, we take care of the family, we manage the paperwork and the money, and we focus on the Lord.

Yesterday, as I was driving home from grocery shopping, the snow was gently falling, creating a beautiful winter scene.  I was grateful for the beauty of the day, but I was very cold. The heat in my car does not work. (It stopped working at the end of last winter.)  I had forgotten how cold the car can be. But I knew I would be home soon. I would be positive through this difficult struggle of being uncomfortable.  In my heart I told myself, "In Heaven, there will be heat in my car."  What a wonderful place we are privileged to go after our life's trials and work are over - we will be comfortable and happy in Heaven.  Whenever things get rough for me, I will remind myself how perfect life will be for all of eternity in the presence and comfort of our dear Lord, forever and ever. 

Blessings

Mrs. White

* For advice on having a sick room and a safe way of taking care of patients at home, please see my post, "A Comforting Sick Room." (I also share my mother's example.)

From the Archives - 

What Many of Us Crave - An Ordinary Life at Home.

Help for when you feel like - Neglecting the Housework.

Something We All Need  - Peace Be Upon This House.

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

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

Homemade Summer School

The Vermont landscape in Summer, near Mrs. White's Home.

The school year has ended for the season. Many of the grandchildren are here visiting. I enjoy having them for entire days at a time, during the summer months.  We need a routine and a plan to keep things running smoothly here at our humble Vermont Estate.  If children are idle and bored, they get into trouble.  

We spend the morning doing a little baking. One of the children always helps me in the kitchen while the others are drawing and coloring at the table.  In the kitchen, we gather ingredients and preheat the oven. We divide up the recipe and we each get an area at the counter to measure and stir. Then we combine the ingredients at just the right time.  Once it goes into the oven, we join the others at the table to do projects while we wait for our morning treat.

We read and color and draw pictures. We play board games like Scrabble, Boggle, and Battleship.  These all require thinking and analyzing. The children are learning great skills as they play games at Grandmother's house. 

When the snack is ready, we clear the table of games and papers. Then we set out the napkins, cups, plates, and silverware. Everyone has their own special seat. Everyone knows where they are to sit so there is no arguing or fighting.  I ask my helper to ring the little dinner bell we keep on the hutch. Then we go to our seats and happily settle in for prayers and eating.

The table is cleared once again and we get out some school books. We have spelling words, math drills, and write sentences and stories.  Then I check their work and they fix any errors. They do handwriting practice and do some drawing.  They solve problems on math worksheets while taking little breaks to sharpen pencils. They get scrap paper to write out all their work so I am able to see how they came to their solutions.  While all this is going on, the youngest is talking, playing, and laughing. We stop to talk to each other and help those who have questions. Then we pack up the books and put them all away. The school work is finished for the day. 

It is time to go outdoors. We have a large playground with slides and swings. This has been on our property for many years. My own children played on it when they were younger. Now all the grandchildren get to enjoy the fun. We have beach balls we keep on the porch. I will say to some of the little ones, "go get the balls."  They bring them back to our play area, and they kick and toss the ball to each other. They run around the playground playing games like "Math tag" (which we made up), "Freeze tag," and do races.  (In "Math tag" the player who is "it" tags one of the players, who has to freeze.  The frozen player is asked a math question. The player is not free to run until he solves the math problem.)  The children run and swing and climb and play. Then it is time to go indoors for lunch.

A simple meal is prepared and then we rest with books or games.  Little ones rest or take a nap. It is the quiet hour.  We often watch something on DVD, such as "Red Boots for Christmas" or "Ziggy's Gift."  Then it is time for the afternoon snack.

We enjoy a little treat of ice cream, pudding, cookies, or crackers and fruit.  Then we go back outside to enjoy the freedom and the beauty of nature, quiet days of home, and being with the family. 

There are chores to do as we sweep, wash the table and highchair, and tidy up the toys. One of the children is always available to help me take clothes out of the washer and put them in the dryer. We divide up the work and happily do the jobs of homemaking.

Soon it is time to prepare dinner. More of the family arrives home and we have a big dinner all together on peaceful summer evenings.

This is an old fashioned, homemade summer school. We are grateful for the privilege of staying home and the joy of being with family.

Blessings
Mrs. White

From the Archives -

Temporary Hardships - Rich and Humble Living.

Reality and Wisdom - Retirement Planning for the Poor.

Inspired by D.L. Moody's Mother - Poverty in the 1800's.

 - 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."

Find stories of home life, with photographs of my home, in this encouraging book. 

 Paperback, 200 pages. 

Do Not Forget the Hymns Grandmother Loved

Stack of Hymn Books at Mrs. White's House.

Children and grandchildren of today are finding a great many amusements that include technology, toy tablets, computer games, and many other recent inventions. They are often absorbed in these forms of entertainment, often using them more than any other form of recreation.  Here at the Estate, on a recent weekend, there were 8 grandchildren visiting us.  I saw them playing with the toys they brought here, and thought, "How can we compete with these toys? They will not be interested in old time skills and education." I realized it is more important than ever that we take the time, each day, to tell them about the precious Bible, to remember our prayers and thanksgivings before each meal and snack, and to teach them the hymns.

I also worry what these inventions will do to their vision. Will these bright, colorful screens with their fast computer animation make it difficult for the children to have the ability to sit and do their schoolwork or to read a regular book?  Will it deteriorate the minds and cognitive abilities of these little children who are still growing?  I quickly suggested we bring out the board games. Soon the children were just as happy with Scrabble, Checkers, and Connect - 4.  I was happy to see these "old fashioned" games being enjoyed by the entire family.

Then I thought about this generation of children and the next generation to come.  Will they remember the traditional hymns from the old hymn books? Churches today are often playing modern praise music with a screen projector. The old hymn books are being used less frequently.  The radios are playing modern praise songs. In years past the radios used to broadcast a segment such as "Old Fashioned Revival Hour" or "Bible Hour."  During these programs we would hear the choir singing such songs as "Heavenly Sunlight," "I Surrender All," and "Amazing Grace." These touched the heart, comforted the soul, and taught the essential gospel message.  Will the next generation remember these songs if the homes of today are not singing them?

In years past, many homes used to own their own hymn books.  One that was common in the 1800's was called "Watts and Select Hymns," which was written by Isaac Watts.  Our churches are full of hardcover copies of hymn books, yet some of us are struggling to attend church services because of illness and such. Many are going less frequently and are not regularly exposed to the hearing of the old hymns. Will these be forgotten?  Shouldn't every Christian home have at least one hymn book in their home, much like they have at least one television set?

Will the lessons of holiness and joy and salvation and peace from such hymns as "In the Garden" and "Oh How I Love Jesus" be lost to the next generation because the melodies have been silenced and replaced with other things?  I pray not.

I learned the hymns because my father sang them throughout our house as he went about his chores, in my childhood home. We had hymn books in the house and we had them in the church. Years later, when I had my own children, I bought each of them their very own hymn book. They grew up reading the books and singing from them.  They know them well. They have the foundation from their childhood of the beautiful songs to help guide them in life.  That is the time to teach them the hymns, when they are young in their childhood days.   Later, as they grow up into adulthood, into this constantly changing culture, with all its distractions, when they don't have time or energy to attend church and it starts to fall away, they will still remember the old hymns and they will be brought to their remembrance as is described in the beautiful old hymn, "Back to Bethel."

As I thought of all these things I wanted to buy a hymn book for each one of my grandchildren. But since that would be too expensive at this time, I came up with a workable idea.  Each day the grandchildren visit me, we do a short Bible time. We each read the Bible, sing a few hymns, and pray. We all love this time together. But I wanted to spend part of our day looking over the old hymn books and teaching all the songs I know to the little ones.  

I have a set of assorted hymn books, including a few old ones I inherited from my father.  The books have different page numbers for the different hymns because they were not all published by the same company.  This makes it more difficult to simply say to the children, "Let's sing number 245." Since I do not have a matching book for each child, I made a little booklet with a general index listing the title of all the hymns I know well. In this way, I can say to each child, "Pick one of the hymns for us to sing."  Then we can search the books to find the correct hymn. At each visit, we will sing one or two songs, over many weeks and years and the children will learn them all and love that they learned them in grandmother's parlour.  They will cherish the lessons and memories when we sang the old, precious hymns, that I love so dearly. 

 

Mrs. White's homemade booklet with a listing of select, well-known, hymns.

When we are constantly singing and hearing the old hymns, it stays in our hearts and minds. One of my granddaughters loved the hymns so much that she sat down and wrote the most precious little hymn you could imagine. One day she sang it to me and I asked her to please write it down for me. I keep it in a safe place. Now, at each of our family Bible times, she sings it for us from memory. It is a blessing! 

The old hymns and Bible times, shared with love and joy are what I want to pass onto the next generation.  The fruit of this effort is the passing on of godly values with a love of the old fashioned home. 

Blessings

Mrs. White

From the Archives -

Advice for a Happy Home - Peaceful Living by Rules.

Careful thrift in the Home - Reducing Expenses.

A Peaceful Old Fashioned Bible Time - The Prentiss Study. 

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

 

For Encouragement in Christian Homemaking, order Mrs. White's book, "Homemaking For Happiness: Wonderful Days at Home."

In this book, you will find essays, articles, and diary entries about life in a Christian home.

Entries are arranged by season, and include:  "Keeping a Frugal Kitchen;" "Missing the Lilacs;" "An Evening Walk in the Garden;" "At Grandmother's House;" and "Chores for Grandchildren."

You will also find a few photographs showing a little of the local landscape.

Paperback, 307 pages.

The Comfort of Daily Chores

Library of Congress: Almoney Family in 1942 at dinner time.

It is so nice when everyone is home and helping with the daily work.  Someone might be doing the laundry, or sweeping the floors.  Mom is in the kitchen preparing dinner. One of the children is setting an inviting table. All are looking forward to sitting together and enjoying the homemade food.  All is done in love.

When my grandchildren are visiting, our house is very full. There is much to do.  The children are happy to help with the sweeping, folding clothes, clearing the table, and picking up toys. In the midst of all the playing, this is part of the visiting.  We work while we talk. We do the daily chores, making the home look nice and pleasant, while we laugh and smile. We are together while we labor in the home.

Some days I will say to one of the older grandchildren, "Will you keep the baby happy while I go in the kitchen and bake cookies?"  They are willing and happy to do the extra work for the wonderful reward of a homemade treat. Our parlour is adjacent to the kitchen, so I can still see and talk to all of the family while I do the baking.  Often, one of the children will set up a chair, at the entrance of the kitchen, to watch the work, at a safe distance from the oven and stove.  They enjoy watching and seeing the progress.

I could not imagine a life without chores.  The daily work is what helps us enjoy the rest.  As we make beds, vacuum carpets, dust furniture, organize papers, and make things look lovely, there is a comfort in doing the chores.  There is a peacefulness, a simplicity in keeping house for those we love. To have a home and family to take care of is the greatest joy in life.

As I walk about the house, I appreciate the old familiar rooms and the way they are decorated. I think about how it is all kept neat by our consistent efforts.  The routine of the day brings comfort and stability.  Often, in the evening, at the end of the day, I will straighten up the couch cushions, tuck in the chairs, and take one last look around the rooms to enjoy the prettiness of everything. All is back in order and ready for the next morning. All is well at home. 

Blessings

Mrs. White

From the Archives - 

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

An Old Time Frugal and Happy Kitchen - Basic Cookery.  

Encouragement - I will do my duty - No Matter What it Cost Me. 

 

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

Find Home-keeping Inspiration, in Mrs.White's book

 -Mother's Book of Home Economics .  

Paperback, 312 pages.

 

Playing in the Gardens

Pink Roses, and a park bench off in the distance, at Mrs. White's Home.

 

This is such a beautiful time of year.  The scenery and the weather are all lovely these days. I have frequent visits from some of my grandchildren. We enjoy playing outdoors and looking at our gardens. 

 Little grand-girl and I were walking the front grounds of our estate.  We looked at a little cucumber garden we have growing on the front property.  We saw a tiny, baby cucumber as it is beginning to grow. She was delighted. 

A few days ago, I had several of the grandchildren on the front porch.  The boys played with beach balls while grand-girl and I worked on a potted, flower plant.  I placed it on the patio table, while little baby sat on a chair near me.  He watched and wondered as we worked.  We had to remove old leaves, discard old flowers, and do a little pruning.  This is the second time this season that we have had to perk up and brighten this plant.  Then it starts to thrive again.  I appreciate how happy grand-girl is to labor with me. It makes it more pleasant, to have company and help while I do the work.

After our garden chores, the children play on our playground. I have a park bench right near their swing-set. I sit here with baby and we watch the children laugh and play. Each time I try to put the baby down to walk, he runs back to me because he hears a truck go by! He would rather sit with me, as the noise of traffic goes by, where he feels safe. 

Each year we try to add new things to the property.  It may be a small garden spot, some flowers, or a little tree that we add to our landscape. This year we added a pink rose bush.  It wasn't much to begin with when we first planted it.  But now it has grown and provided us with many beautiful flowers.  There are often little delicate buds with a charming sight of pink!  One day, when I was walking with grand-girl, she noticed a little carpet of rose petals on the ground! She started gathering them up and wanted to keep them. I was delighted with her joy in finding such a treasure!

All too soon the cold weather will be upon us, here in Northern Vermont.  The children will enjoy the happiness of snow and cozy winter days.  But we will still have our summer memories of playing in the gardens.  

Blessings

Mrs. White

From the Archives -

 A Testimony - Reading through the Bible with Mister - and a Free Gift. 

Happiness in Home Life - Pretending to Garden. 

Old Time Humble Family Life - Standard of Living.

 

  - 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. 

Quiet Duties of Home

"The Garland" by Frederick Morgan.

 

 I have been doing a great many things here at the Estate.  We are having cool summer days and enjoying our little village in our mountains of New England.  The work of keeping house, of being a wife, mother, and grandmother, are works of labor and of dedication and love.

We have been saving money by avoiding the use of paper plates and paper napkins.  I like to have those items on hand in case of sickness or emergency, but generally we do not want to use them.  This, of course, makes more work for me in the kitchen. Yet, it helps to make life pretty when I set the table with my nice dishes.   

Throughout the day, I take breaks from my projects and clean the kitchen.  I polish the silverware with a kitchen towel and put them away.  All the cups, plates, and bowls are washed and returned to their rightful place in the cabinet.  As I work, I hear the rushing sound of the river from our back property. I hear the sweet chirping of birds and the gentle rustling of the leaves in the wind.  It is peaceful work.

I have been sorting through my home library and finding as many children's books as I can.  These have been added to a small bookcase in our guest room.  Whenever the grandchildren come for a visit, they are delighted to look through the books and settle on the couch to read.  They have been enjoying a comic book of "Family Circus," several little biographies, assorted picture books with beautiful illustrations, and the usual assortment of "Little Critter" and "The Berenstein Bears."   I am always delighted when I can add some new reading treasure to the bookcase.  This makes the children happy!

One day, I found some old math workbooks from when my children were homeschooled.  These had never been used.  They were level books focusing on specific math skills such as subtraction or addition. I put these in with the other books for the grandchildren.   Several days went by before they even noticed them in the little bookcase.  They came out of the room, excitedly holding the books, and wondering if they could use them.  "Of course," I told them, as I sat nearby on the couch.  I had only three rules.  They could do any page they liked, but they must write the date, their name, and they must complete an entire page.  They took pencils and their books and rushed to a cozy spot in the downstairs livingroom.  While some of the younger children played, the older ones had a wonderful time occupied with math books, just for fun!

We have had company several days each week.  This includes my grown children and grandchildren.  Their visits are such a blessing and a joy to our days.  I try to make sure we have homemade muffins or some fruit to serve. 

On quiet days, when it is just "us" here at home, I take little walks on the property to check on my flowers, to visit the tiny vegetable garden, and to see our strawberry and blueberry patches by the back river.  These walks are very tiring, but the fresh air and sunshine are beneficial.  Soon I am back indoors to tidy rooms and make our home look pleasant and inviting.

I do some office work of handling bills, writing in my money diary, and making notes in my calendar planner.  Then I do a little laundry before sitting down to read with a bit of tea.  I love the gentle duties of home life, making a nest where we can rest and have peace in our hearts. It is a quiet work of service, dedicated with love. 

Blessings

Mrs. White

From the Archives -

A Restful Place- The Cultured Society of Home. 

What Many of Us Crave - An Ordinary Life at Home.

Wonderful Days of Childhood - Summer Days with Small Children.

 

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

 

 

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.