Tuesday, October 31, 2023

For Listening While You Do Something Else


Hello Ladies,

I appreciate your visit more than you know.

Today I began by encouraging ladies at home to give yourself a big lift by taking care of yourself as soon as you are able, and try to give yourself a good start with a good appearance. 

I referred to Anna Bey who speaks about the sloppy dress trends.

We ladies at home have our own style that works for us at home, and we are not subject to any trends. However, the "cottage core" style, which is timeless, is trendy now.



I added interesting sleeves to the simple dress pattern I usually sew.


I had been wanting to see how this sleeve  from this pattern was constructed:

I found it challenging and I am enjoying the results. 


With apron— for staying in…

with cloak…for going out

I sewed this many years ago for the “fog fashions” posts. To find them go to the search area on top left and write “ fog fashions”.

We have a stack of spruce wood outside and the scent is very nice. 


I ordered a set of Jane Austen books from Regency Marketplace via Amazon. I like the soft covers with the leather-like texture and each volume was a little under $7.00.



This book was from the dollar store many years ago and there was no date on it, so I know not if it is available today.  You  might do a search for it and order it. It has tea stories, recipes, facts, quotes, history and other tidbits.

The Clever Factory
P.O. Box 150722
Nashville, Tennessee 37215



I read from a church bulletin:

Phones and Bibles:

What if....
we carried it in our pockets or purses,
we turned back to go get it if we forgot it,
we flipped through it several times a day,
we used it to receive messages from the text,
we treated it like we couldn't live without it,
we gave it to our children as gifts,
we used it as we traveled,
we used it in case of an emergency.

Unlike our phones, we don't ever have to worry about our Blbles being disconnected, because Jesus already paid the bill!!

I also read two poems by Edgar Guest:

Education
My Goals 

(You can do a search for these online).

Please enjoy your time at home while you listen today:


Lydia Ruth


Front of the flexicover book I received. 


Also, Bibles from World Bible School have the soft flexibinding that has the texture of leather . 


Friday, October 20, 2023

Living on the Upside During Bad News

Hello Dear Ladies,
I hope you will try to enjoy a sunrise, at least once, just to say you did it, to experience it, and to write about it in your daily gratefulness journal.
"The Jane Austen Diet" book has a chapter about "the blue light" comparing the detrimental artificial blue light to the benefits of natural blue light before sunrise. 

One definition of blue light:

"During the blue "hour", red light passes through space while blue light is scattered in the atmosphere, and thus reaches Earth's surface. Blue hour usually lasts about 20–96 minutes right after sunset and right before sunrise. Time of year, location, and air quality all have an impact on the exact timing of blue hour."

The five one-minute "start" activities I spoke of could be:
-personal preparation (bathing, dressing, grooming)
-prayer 
-stretches (find some illustrated on the web)
-a formal cup of tea or favorite refreshment
-write one thing in your gratefulness journal

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

I referred to a quote by General Douglas MacArthur  (1880-1964). See more of his meaningful quotes HERE. Print them and keep in a notebook.


I am concerned for the security of our great Nation; not so much because of any threat from without, but because of the insidious forces working from within. - Douglas MacArthur




Today I addressed the problem of letting bad news keep you uneasy at home.

I included lyrics to the following songs we used to listen to "in the olden days" which put our minds on things that were happy and hopeful:
Hymns: (listen) SE Samonte channel

Popular songs: lyrics: Keep on the Sunny Side of Life --listen here
lyrics: It's A Good Day Listen here
lyrics: An Ant Can't Listen here
lyrics: The Impossible Dream Listen here




Uplifting things to hear that will inspire and elevate your mind at home.

                 Please enjoy your day at home while you listen, and you know you can pause it anytime and take it up another time.


I love your  comments and I hope to come back soon!! Thank you for your encouragement and for all you do for me.
Lydia Ruth





 

Tuesday, October 17, 2023

The Last Few Weeks

Sunrise

Dear Ladies,
The last few weeks were very full and busy at The Manse.
Besides that,  I have been trying to get rid of a little cough which only occurs when talking. I know what you’re thinking!! So that means I’ve not been able to bring you any verbal encouragement via video yet. 


Other than that pesky little problem, I’ve still been stealth sipping and doing some organizing and decluttering. 
  
While you are waiting for my next broadcast I hope you will pull yourself up from any discouragement and lethargy by attempting some one minute things :

-Enjoy the sunrise if you are able, while sipping from a favorite cup.
-Take care of your appearance.
-write a list of 3 things that are the most important to do today and three things you would like to do if you could. 
-Pray that you may do all, and pray for your family members. 
-Read one verse ( aloud, carefully and and mindfully), from “The Good Book”.
-Find an illustrated morning stretch exercise or video and yet do one minute of the routine. While doing these exercises you might think on the wisdom you read from the scriptures. 

You might be able to combine these things by doing several at the same time.

You can create your own routine based on your personal responsibilities and health requirements. One-minute “events “ are as beneficial to life , or maybe more, as as one great experience. Enjoy each small thing at home by journaling in your gratitude notebook. 

To avoid absorbing the tension of this world, look at most what goes on in Washington DC as a clown show. Nothing they do there will help us get our personal lives at home in order. 

Lydia Ruth 




 



 

Saturday, October 07, 2023

Simple Events at Home




Hello Ladies,

My granddaughter and I set up a table outdoors and enjoyed a handful of quiet.

This looks like a real camp fire, made from  tree branches and yellow leaves.


I had some old fabric that was cut in small lengths. I put it in a shelf called "to keep or not" and it was perfect for this set up, so it will be to keep. Miss Lillian looks good in the shawl, too.

Miss Lillian and I were talking about sewing and pictures we have seen where the sewist poses her sewing projects in her own house. Every living room and kitchen in some of their houses make perfect stages for modeling a new apron or dress, and some girls make and picture them in their own back yards. We wondered if the days of "top models" and "runways" are waning, in light of the many DIY people showing their own creations at home...and more inspiring than any "top designers".  

These are from Pinterest, so be sure and go look at my Pinterest and see what I have added there.


We enjoy sewing "cottage core" garments and we get some ideas from Pinterest. I think white eyelet goes so nicely with any kind of gingham or plaid. Plaid can consist of rectangles and stripes and multiple colors. 

Gingham is not the same as plaid, or is it? Gingham is always one color with white. Plaid is much different. The dress, above, would be a plaid. 

The fabric print on this dress is called gingham because it is in square shapes only, with one color and white.


As the temperature was unbearable (over 80 F out here in Oregon) with almost 50% humidity, we left our outing and came indoors to look through 1980's and 1990's Victoria Magazines to see what we reproduce for sewing and home living.

Thanks for visiting, and I hope to get back in touch with you soon.
Lydia Ruth












 

Tuesday, October 03, 2023

A New Measurement: “Some”

Greetings.

Thank you so much for coming to visit. I’m sorry not to have a video for you yet.

I have had some cotton fabric in a shelf for quite a long time and I’m hoping this might be the autumn I get some time to sew it.



My grandson taught me about the rivers and currents all around us in the air, so I’ve been making an effort to go outdoors more often but going for walks close to The Manse.


I saw this cute Jane Austen books hair clip on Pinterest, and it is sold on Etsy.




I made some pumpkin spice latte and here is my recipe:

Some Pumpkin Spice Latte

Whip some heavy cream til it is thick. This goes on top of the drink after it has been poured into the cup. It helps to get this ready first.

In Australia there was double cream and triple cream, making it unnecessary to spend any time whipping it into a froth on the mixer. I found double cream here at a private dairy. They don’t identify it as double cream. Instead, they say they can’t sell it because it is too thick to pour out of the container. We knew what it was immediately and eagerly accepted the free double cream. I’ll be giving her a donation for it. 

In a saucepan pour some half and half or milk of your choice (almond, coconut, oat, etc.)

Add some puréed pumpkin—note, puréed texture is different than canned pumpkin, but canned pumpkin can also be used. I use a spoonful per cup ( not a measuring spoon).

Add some pumpkin pie spice — or make your own spice mix from a pumpkin pie recipe.

With a wire whisk, stir this into a froth while on medium heat. 

When it begins to steam and rise in the pan, pour some into a cup and add some whipped cream and some nutmeg on top.

In a thin stream, pour some pure maple syrup on top, forming an initial of
your name.

You can always do a search for a real recipe on the web. 

You can sometimes find these wood signs that look like jars, at the dollar store. My recipe has no coffee but you could add some if you like.



Be sure to:

Make your list 
Have a serious cup of tea
Pray
Get bathed and dressed in something cheerful 
Do a few minutes of simple stretching (search for an illustrated  set of stretches or exercises that suit you )
Walk through the house 
Go outside for air
Read something pleasant 
Sing while you work 
Clean as you go
Keep the wet areas caught up — kitchen, bathrooms, laundry)
De-Clutter 
Relax a little between every task
Do a small, achievable creative task or thing 


You can go to my Pinterest to see some of the pictures of dresses I’ve added. The link is on the upper left of this blog.  I like this print with the aqua blue background:


I read in one of my broadcasts from an old book (Do’s and Don’ts of Yester-Year by Eric Sloane) which said don’t follow dictates of fashion, and stay with classic styles that are sensible and withstand tests of time.

 My observation is that a current style cannot give you confidence or social acceptance if it is not right for your coloring, body size, or shape or your personality. 

 Being trendy doesn’t get you anywhere unless the trend is just perfect for you.

 So while the cropped wide-leg trousers and sleeveless tops might seem exciting, think not only about what the style covers, but also what it uncovers. The bare parts that a fashion exposes might not be something you want others to see if you are concerned about your personal body privacy.

Even garments that cover from neck down can be unflattering and reveal more than you want. Some ladies say they have never found T-shirts to be modest unless worn under a blazer. Knit garments like t-shirts and leggings tend to show every unwanted pound and extra roll of skin on the body.  

It has often been said that “What was underwear 50 years ago, is now outer wear.” T-shirts. chamisoles, cropped tops and leggings used to be underwear. How far we haven’t progressed!

 Also, some trends, by the shape, texture and color can make even the most young and physically fit person look awkward, sloppy, unhealthy,  thick-waisted, less refined, and unladylike. This includes footwear. 

We can get comfortable shoes that are also pretty. We aren’t running any races in the house, so we don't have to wear track shoes, but at the same time we need not be dangerously casual by wearing flip flops or footwear that doesn’t protect the feet. 

Homemakers need fairly loose, cheerful clothing they can easily adapt to the dozens of roles they have in the home. My solution is a long dress with an apron that has similar colors. When it’s time to go do business errands in town or see anyone, remove the apron and add a matching cardigan or little jacket or pretty blazer.  I like the “cottage core” clothing I’ve seen on the web and Pinterest, which is more natural in fiber content  (cotton, linen, etc) and better for the skin.  Cottage core looks back to the pretty clothes worn throughout the ages and has withstood the tests of time.

So when considering what to buy and what to wear, don’t use current styles as a guide unless the style will look good when it’s not in style anymore and unless it meets other clothing criteria and standards:

Does  it adequately conceal rather than reveal the skin?
Are there holes and cuts the garment? (are you paying for something that isn’t even there?)
Does it reveal more skin than it covers? A sound style should cover more of the body than it leaves bare.
Does the garment draw the eye to  private areas by being too low, too short or too tight?
Does the color and print adequately suit the complexion, age and body type? 

Please add some of your own requirements in comments here if you get a spare moment. It is much appreciated.

I enjoyed watching this from Sweet Magnolia Home