A New Blog

Hello Everyone,

Miss Lillian has created her sewing blog here. When her blog comes up, click on the title to enter and see what she wrote.

I will add it to my blog roll soon. 
 

Talking About Ordinary Things

Hello Ladies,

I hope you are doing the best you can in your current circumstances and have great plans for improvement.

Today I read from the diary of a 16 year old girl from the book by E. Prentiss, "Stepping Heavenward."  I also read a section about the importance of natural darkness in nighttime for good rest and ultimate good health, from Bryan Kowslowski's "The Jane Austen Diet. From "Simple Social Graces" (The Benevolence of Manners) I read how housekeeping was a shared family value, not entirely relegated to the woman of the house. Though she guided it, she had plenty of willing helpers. I mentioned that homemaking is a matter of good character, in that it requires knowledge, courtesy, love, determination, and steadfastness. 

A gloomy sky did not deter me from my

sipping and today I did not walk far from home to rest my fanciest cup on

the abandoned old truck. Every farmer has one. It has become a form of art.

This blend I call "Old Truck Elegance."

Please enjoy your work or your walk or your rest while you listen today:

Reducing Anxiety at Home

Greetings and Welcome.

Today spent a little time talking about two ways (there are many more) to reduce anxiety at home; one being a way of breathing, and another being reducing other obligations not directly related to your family and house.

I also read from the book by Elizabeth Prentiss called "Stepping Heavenward" about a 16 year old girl who was trying to do better in her life.

The article I read is HERE and I suggested with any exercise that had step by step instructions, you have someone read it to you while you do it. 

There are some anti-anxiety poses HERE and stretches HERE.

In past times, ladies at home prevented anxiety by taking time to:

Going for a leisurely stroll

Baking

Washing their hair

Singing

Reading

Knitting

and many other things.

Some "stealth sipping" here today by a tree with purples leaves.

 

Please enjoy being home and getting some things done while you listen to the broadcast today:

I am sorry, I do not know the name or artist of the lovely 1800's painting at the top.

Homemaking Business

Greetings Homemakers and those who would like to be!

Today I spoke a little about authors of current times who write novels in the Jane Austen style, based in the Regency era,  and post their audiobooks online.   One of them I mentioned was Letters for Phoebe.  I enjoy listening to stories while I am doing big jobs in the home by myself. The labor of cleaning a kitchen is hardly noticed while listening to one of these books.

I read a page from The Jane Austen Diet by Bryan Koslowski.

I also want to include some new moves I am making in the fitness area, with easy moves and poses for posture HERE. These are not videos, but step by step instructions easy to follow.

On this site, all you need to do is write in their search area: "Stretches/Poses for (back ache, digestion, belly fat, weight loss, sinus, nausea, numbness, anxiety--and much more.) It is possible to find one stretch that improves your health more than 30 minutes of vigorous exercise.

Another subject I covered was the definition of "minding your own business"---that it means focus on your own work. The homemaker's work is the work that manages the home and family, guides and guards it.

 

Please enjoy your work at home while you listen to the broadcast today. 

Keeping in Touch

Another painting by William Henry Margetsen

I haven’t forgotten you !

It’s been extremely noisy around here while a new window is installed. 

These strong young men came  for a few days to do the work and the place looked like a construction sight for awhile. Feeding a construction crew is a much more involved. I had to compensate them with more than tea sandwiches 😊 . Consequently I was absorbed in this great effort to keep them nourished.

I am busy with cleanup because, as you know, the thigh bone is connected to the knee bone and so on. Areas totally separate from the construction project are no longer untouched by it.

I’m looking forward to a broadcast very soon so keep checking.

Thank you for your encouragement.

It keeps me interested.

Lydia 

 

Sipping Update

Hello, and welcome to my “stealth sipping” report for the last week.

The children’s fort was a nice prop for Sunday Sipping. I’ll name this Fortress Tea. It was raining and the fort sheltered everything nicely and provides a quick outdoor seating area and refuge from the weather. Now I feel justified in keeping everything including toys.

The Manse had been going through more small repairs. Some of my descendants are  here doing the planning and work with great gusto. With the commotion, I have not found a refuge area to make a broadcast but I am thinking about it and that’s what counts, eh?

As The Manse is just not show-worthy yet, I will share some stealth sipping pictures. It’s getting colder here now and I am anticipating unusual places indoors to secretly sip some sweet solutions.

I noticed a few months ago at the Hobby Lobby the many wall pictures depicting old sheds and barns, so I tried a sip of “ Vintage Shed tea” for Monday stealth sipping. You will have to listen to one of my recent broadcasts where I explain that this is my safe substitute for the more adventurous and risky hobby of stealth camping. I’m too vital to sneak around camping on borders and fancy hotel property like the experienced creative stealth campers. This is a more refined option— less drama and no one will call the local sheriff.

Tuesday tea was juniper tree tea. I understand the juniper berries also make a nice tea for indoor scent but I’m not sure about drinking it so I created a blend with berries and mint.

I like the contrast of the fancy cups in a rustic background.

This was Wednesday’s blackberry infusion using the last of the season fading blackberries. Blackberries are very expensive but most of us have been taken over by them. If we were not right on the job cutting them back, the Manse would be hidden.

On Thursday there was a-quiet-time-in-the-field sip.

Always happy for a Queen Anne’s Lace photo opportunity, here is Friday’s Queen Anne’s Lace Appreciation sip.

I hope to add more soon.

There are more places I can go with this recreation, and when I have experienced all possible tea cup scenes, I might go into stealth- sorting in The Manse. There are books, sewing supplies, kitchen shelves, recipes and old letters that need sorting.  Wait and see my progress. Have a look at stealth camping channels and you will see how skillful these people are (and why I’m not allowed to do it.)

Until I can talk to you again, I hope you will be uniquely creative ( but not unwise) and enjoy your home. 

Lydia

 

A Couple of Essentials for the Homemaker

Today I have been "stealth sipping" a new flavor of tea out in the brisk air, for only one moment, due to the cold weather:

The guest room, containing Grandma's vintage furniture, and other things from her home, has a new look this season:

I found another painting by William Henry Margetson (British 1861-1940)

This one is called "Fresh Lavender."

Homemaking Radio--Listen as You Go About Your Day at Home

Part 1

          

Part 2

The Value of Home

Greetings Ladies,

I have been on my stealth sipping adventure early this morning, so that I could show you this photograph of tea on an obliging fence post.  Do you know the history of the word "post", as in post office, posted, The Post, etc.?

Today I read about the way the 19th century women regarded the home.

Coat made from this pattern:

New Look A6585