Dress Your House

 

Today I talk about dressing yourself for your beautiful home and dressing your home for the beautiful people who live there.

In the lesson today I talked

a little about the fires and the 

smoke out here in 

Oregon.

Here is the picture I took of the darkest and most red colored atmosphere,

during week one.  This is from the front window of the Manse.

During week two the color changed and visibility was very poor. That's the sun in the middle.

The third week we could see the yard in front of us.

The fourth week we got some rain. The strong smell

of burnt everything (which, when we tried to list,

was everything you could imagine from

garden hose to old barn) lingered many days.

Rain: Instead of burnt-everything, the atmosphere smelled like wet everything that had been burnt.

It rained for several days, enough to form puddles and streams. The green grass and green leaves returned. 

Masks were ineffective to filter out the smoke.

Someone tried it and showed me the inside

of the mask filled with soot!

The one thing that does work well in smoke

is a wet bandanna tied around the face. 

You know it works because with it on, you cannot

smell the awful stench of burnt everything and smoke,

but when the bandanna is removed , you can really

smell the difference.

Pumpkin Craft Instructions--two ways to make pumpkins. One is a square or rectangle and one is a circle.

from Pinterest (Martha Stewart instructions)

Homemaking and a Healthy Mind

Teacup: Meritage

Dressing Well At Home

 Hello Everyone,

Today I was able to get only 30 minutes in my video to you because of something that needs fixing with the video maker, but I thought something is better than nothing and I hope you can get a little inspiration from it.

The challenge to dress well at home is a big one these days, as we have become more casual when not in public. I checked around to see what else was being written about this, and found there were some good posts and videos about the importance of dressing up at home.  As more people are home these days, they are finding they can be productive and efficient in what ever they choose to do, when they are prepared and dressed as though they were going to do something important.

Details of sewing project:

Dress: Fabric Traditions all cotton - buy or order online from JoAnn fabrics: 4 yards $25.00

Zipper: 22 inches-$3.00

Thread: yellow $2.50

Piping for neckline: $4.00

Other: Elastic for sleeves

Pattern: Dress - McCalls 6958 (2014, still in catalog) $1.99 during pattern sale

Sleeves, McCalls 8033  (2020) $1.99 during pattern sale.

Total cost $38.50

Dress: McCalls 6958

Sleeves McCalls 8033

Stitching notes:  I raise the necklines a little more and leave out some of the tucks in the dress.

The sleeves look longer in the pattern picture. They are a few inches below the elbow.

Rain at Last, Homemade Home Decor, Tea Station

 

Hello Everyone,

We are getting some rain here and the smoke smell is gone. This was the first heavy, adequate rain in this part of Oregon for almost 5 months. 

Today I am sharing some pictures from the Manse, of homemade pumpkins that create some bright spots.  My pumpkins did not grow well this year so I got out old worn out towels, worn clothing and other interesting textiles to make these pumpkins.   I created the ones in the first picture to reflect the colors of the painting behind the wicker settee. 

The mint/sage green ones are from worn out towels.

These next ones I made from some satin scraps of fabric I have had in the sewing stash for more than 20 years, and it feels good to finally use it. Although I don't recommend keeping supplies "forever", this really has been a good thing in my case, since I'm trying not to go out or spend money on fabric.  For you crafters who want details of this project, Dollar Tree had burlap wired ribbon in the craft section and I cut the wire off for the tendrils, using the burlap for the stems of these beauties:

 

Old toys are good props for this, and in the Manse where space is scarce, toys can be used for containers and corner fillers ;-) It doesn't suit everyone but I like it.

One of my children gifted me with this ceramic sheep back in the day and 

I keep it out, always. It looks nice with the background picture and the

two little satin pumpkins.

The dark green ones are made from an old table runner of brocade, also from the dollar store.

Current sewing project here:

Cinnamon sticks smell so nice after all the smoke.

Platters and plates of several sizes were used as patterns to trace around on the fabric. After cutting the circles, hand-stitch around the outer edge of the circles and pull up to gather, stuffing with fiberfill before sewing the opening shut. Then, insert a cinnamon stick, or a piece of wood, or twist a stem from brown paper. 

One of the five refreshment centers I have placed around The Manse:

Another display behind a chair:

To save on space, I sometimes use toys in my decor for the delight factor and as containers for other things: books, florals, even rocks and sea shells.

Another toy that is not in the way when used for pumpkins:

This is an older photo that has been posted before but I couldn't resist including a cup of hot tea:

I hope to be back here pretty soon with a new message for all of you who are so busy at home.

Keeping on Track, Education, Conversation

 

Please enjoy the video while you go about your home today.

I read from George Washington's Commonplace Book, which you can see here.

How to Spot a Scam

 Dear Readers,

There is a new video for your working day at home, on the previous post.

As I have been talking recently to you about reading comprehension and life comprehension, I thought it would be a good time to share with you something I have saved from my email, as a lesson.

See if you can find the spelling errors in this letter. If you can't at first, find the nearest 8-year old, who might be a bit more alert.  I found myself mentally correcting the spelling and ignoring it upon my first reading. 

Spot a couple of grammatical errors, too.

Also look for punctuation errors, such as common words beginning with a capital inside a sentence.

See if you can spot the business errors--things no legitimate business would say in a customer letter.

See if you can detect the expressions that are not generally used in the US.

Have fun looking, and possibly use this as a spelling error lesson.

This also is a good letter to look at, as a warning , since it is one that is commonly being sent around by email to trick people into giving up their information.

You can also look up the company name and find out if it is legitimate, which is something you should always do.

Dear Customer,

Thanks for using Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection. This is an important notification. The Subscription has been Auto Renewed for 2 years & Your account has been Pre Authorised for $299.99

It has been auto Renewed as per E-Sign Agreement Singed by You at the TIme of registration. Thank you for the Completion of your 1 year.

We tried to contact you on your registered number for queries but could not get through

Payment Information
Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection Fire Wall & Network Protection	$299.00
Total $299.00

P.S if you did not place this order then Please call us to Support Team on+1 855-361-4720

(claims Department) Kindly ignore if aleardy claimed.

You have 24 hrs to refund this charge from the date of the transaction without being charges.

Our support team will gladly assist you with any questions or requests you may have – simply contact us through our dedicated channels:

It may take a few hours for this transaction to appear in your account.

Cheers,
The Billing Team

+1 855-361-4720

This Email was sent from a notification-only address that cannot accept incoming email.please do not reply to this message

Good, Better, Best

Hello Ladies,

The new video is at the end of this post, and here is the poem I recited for the "lesson":

Good,

Better,

Best.

Never let it rest

Til your good is better,

And your better, best.

Tea cup: Brew to a Tea

Fabric: Brother and Sister Designs sold by Hobby Lobby

Dark pink gingham check for ruffle: 100% cotton from Hobby Lobby

 

Pattern: McCalls 6958

 I used a sleeve from a different pattern 

Note about piping on necklines: It has to be sewn between the facing and the main piece when sewing on the facing because it will buckle and not have a smooth look. It cannot be "added" after the garment is sewn, if you want the desired results.

Changing Scenes

 Hello Ladies,

I hope to have another talk with you soon.

In the meantime, I'm offering one of the many changing scenes from my window view. Every day I look forward to "take a picture" on my appointment list, and I like the way the colors and the mist and the haze makes the same scene so different each day.

I had company a few days ago and they were remarking about my "new" chair.  It is not a new chair at all. It is Grandma's old chair, which I enjoy changing now and then with different colors of fabrics, covers and blankets--an easy, uncostly way to change the decor.

Speaking of  "changing scenes", I notice this the third stanza of this song contains those words, which I wrote below the video.

Please enjoy the song during your routine at home and I hope it plays in your mind later on too!

My Jesus, as Thou wilt! All shall be well for me; Each changing future scene I gladly trust with Thee. Straight to Thy rest above I travel calmly on, And sing, in life or death, My Lord, Thy will be done!

An Offering, Comprehension

 

                                           There are two parts to the video today.

Part 1:

Part 2:

Fabric: Cranston

Pattern: 1980 Laura Ashley

Tea cup: Brew To A Tea