Thoughts About Older Women at Home

 

Hello Dear Homemakers,

I hope you are doing well at home and have great plans to make it pleasant.

Today I shared the sketches I made for future sewing,

and talked a little about this pattern from 2002 that I have often looked at and always

have the intention to sew:

In all these posts and videos I am simply talking about dressing for the home. The designer, Laura Ashley, stated in an interview, that her cotton clothes were designed for the home. They were so loved, that people were wearing them in public and at posh events.

This is not a posh outfit. I wear it at home.  It might not work with the plaid shirt, for a formal event, such as a wedding, but it is sensible and decent enough for regular errands and anything else. I can also attend church in this outfit. I think it is a matter or neatness and coordinating the colors and styles, something anyone can learn just by wearing nice clothing at home. Whatever I wear, I have to feel happy in it.. I have changed clothes when I'm not feeling certain about an outfit. This outfit suits the climate and country area and is comfortable for the home. 

I have saved several formal outfits and I will share those some time here.  I can wear them for family celebrations.

Plaid shirts are much loved in this area, and here are some ways I might wear this shirt:

Remember those stretch belts back in the 1980's? They are still available in clothing stores and online. The one on this outfit is shown above. In rain I will wear boots rather than the cloth flats I wear at home.

The shirt can be worn as a cardigan,

It is worn over a black outfit...which needs a good ironing, but I didn't notice until the picture. This black outfit I got at the Walmart 30 years ago.(I know, it looks like it ).  I wear aprons over clothes at home and I wash with cold water. If things tend to shrink I can re-stretch them when still wet, while on a clothes hanger. I don't know if you have ever done that. 

...or tied on like a shawl.

In reality this outfit is much prettier that the photographs. It doesn’t appear at best on the dress form . 

Here is the company I spoke of that sends out a catalog with skin care samples. I liked Velvet Skin Coat as a primer for under makeup. 

DHC

I hope you heard me advising never to put makeup directly on your face but always use a primer or some other thing that goes with your skin type. Velvet skin coat is not oily. You can order a catalog that has samples of their products. 

My little granddaughter has published her first novel. The picture on the cover is actually a photo of her, dressed in something she sewed. The book and description are also on Lillian’s blog HERE. 

I have recently interviewed this author, below:

What is your book about?

I'm so glad you asked! The Lawman's Daughter is a mystery, a Western adventure story, and a coming-of-age story. If you combined a Janette Oke novel with an old western like Gunsmoke, you'd be in the right genre for this story!

Open the book and you'll meet Maryan, the daughter of a legendary sheriff and a young woman who struggles with discontentment, bitterness, and envy of her best friend, who is leaving for a big life in the big city while Maryan is left behind to help care for her large family. But if Maryan thought that was what life going wrong looks like, she's in for a big surprise. When challenges test the very core of her strength, will her character be refined or will bitterness at an unfair situation take over?

The Lawman's Daughter actually has two main characters, and if authors are allowed to play favorites, the second protagonist is probably my favorite.

Meet Alan McKinnley. A young man who introduces chaos into Maryan's life just by moving into town. Thinking he's landing a good job in a good town, he is excited to be hired as a deputy to Maryan's father. But he's got problems of his own. He's not exactly happily accepted in Currentsville - which seems like the least of his worries when things start to turn serious. Arson. Robbery. A gang who he's not a match for. What started as a simple deputy job becomes an all-consuming life that requires more courage, strategy and maturity than Alan thinks he's got. He's not alone in that opinion, either. As time goes on, the townspeople's distrust of him becomes more and more evident. What happens when protecting the town depends on their support?

Does right always triumph over wrong?

Will love take root in chaos?

Meanwhile, a mystery is brewing that Alan and Maryan never expected. You'll want to read all about it!

How long was the writing process? Is this your first book?

I started writing this book four years ago! I wrote on it sporadically for a while, then in early 2025 I finished the manuscript. I spent the next 11 months editing, formatting and publishing!

Yes, it is my first published book.

Would this be a good book for my homeschooling daughters? How will it influence them?

Definitely! The themes in Maryan's life - selflessness, respect, family, and good character - flow in tandem with Maryan's journey to find what is truly important in her life. Readers will find Maryan's growth inspiring, sympathize with her weaknesses and rejoice in her victories over self. (Warning: reading this book may also cause young women to want to marry upright and courageous men like Alan...)

You can find The Lawman's Daughter on Amazon in paperback form. Kindle E-book version to come soon!

Thanks so much for interviewing me today!

Please enjoy your home today while you listen and please leave me some comments.

Here is a documentary on Laura Ashley Laura designed clothing for women to look feminine, not "sexy".

Dressing with Dignity and other Topics

 

Hello Dear Ladies,

I hope all is well with you and your home and that you have great plans for improvement.

In the video at the end of this post, I shared how to make these simple apple or pumpkin decor items (you can use different colors depending on the season) with rolls of tissue or string, a cinnamon stick or a small twig and some artificial leaves.

I like to sew my own clothes, but for those who do not sew, I am showing store bought clothing for the home. 

The outfit I wore was purchased years ago at the Walmart to wear at home and is 100% cotton. 

Here it is with an apron...

…and with this embroidered shawl for comfort at home…

...and  to go out away from home, here is the outfit with a jacket and a pair of those woven cotton (also from Walmart) shoes I showed you in a previous post.

These are the books I mentioned in the video,

...and here is the favorite page with the  country/cottage core outfit from The Book of Looks, shown above.

For men, listen to this video and read the comments, which are good. 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8xPH-smDeJo&t=11s&pp=ygUUTWVuIGNhbiBkcmVzcyBiZXR0ZXI%3D

As the blue light approaches over the Manse, I pray you all have 

a relaxing evening at home and hope you will take care to have something edifying to read, watch, or do.

There was no crowd here on Thanksgiving but I prepared everything on the previous day and refrigerated it, then re-heated it today. Later I will put single meal size left overs in the freezer.

Part of the table setting here with the salad and cranberry sauce.

I spoke a little on the concept of edifying, which means to build up and improve the mind. 

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. Ephesians 4:29

Please enjoy your home while you listen:

Lydia Ruth

Subscribe?

Hello Ladies, 

Some of you have asked how to subscribe or be notified of new posts and videos. A lot of the subscription services are no longer available for blogs and some of them won’t apply to my blog. The best I can do is suggest you subscribe to my YouTube channel. Go to YouTube and search for Lydia Sherman. You will recognize it by the tea cups on the videos. I am not sure if you will get notified through your email or just by checking YouTube. Another way is simply to check my blog regularly to see if there is a new post. If you subscribe to my YouTube channel, you will know there is a blog post when you see a new video. 

We are having very nice weather. 

This is the outside reflection of the view in the window. 

Here is a reflection of the sun setting. 

I have changed the colors inside, using towels, blankets and other things in the color “ winter green.” 

Marrying At Home: Victoria Magazine 1990

 

We are happy to see that some couples are having very sweet, simple weddings without all the performances and loudness. I described one of these weddings in the video at the end of this post.

I had an old Victoria magazine from 1990 about a wedding at home. Even if I am never privileged to use my home for a wedding, It gave me inspiration to have a reception (not necessarily wedding) for someone in my home.

This one is similar to the tea events we sometimes have here:

I like the arrangement on the wicker coffee table here:

This could be done for anniversaries. 

Priscilla of Boston sewing patterns:

 Please enjoy your home while you listen:

Clothing At Home part 7 and Video

Hello dear ladies!! I hope all is well with you and that you are enjoying peace and contentment with your home.

The video is imbedded at the end of this post.

The rain left a nice puddle, so I floated my little boat, just for the peace and quiet.

The outfit I wore today was a purchased cotton skirt and blouse that when worn together looks like a dress.

Walmart was originally a store for people in the country where they could get shoes, clothes, 

household items and fabric all in the same store. It is now located in higher populated areas. I bought these items there and at the dollar store and the tractor farm supply store. 

I’m trying to share how ladies at home can dress in cotton fabrics and feel dressed up. I know some of you don’t make your own clothes as much as I do, so I am showing how you can dress just as nicely with store bought. 

I would like to share here how I make this one outfit work at home and when going elsewhere. Add a coat or cardigan in colder weather. 

                                                      

For housework, I try to wear one of my aprons that matches the color of the outfit.

There are different ways to pose this outfit. Above, the plaid scarf, (also from the dollar store) and 

below, the lace shawl,

...and another dollar store scarf with colors in the print similar to the blue navy in the blouse.

The

gloves are from the dollar store, and the cloth shoes are from the Walmart.  

By the way, Walmart got its name from its founder, Sam Walton.  I saw an amusing answer to a younger person who asked "Why is it called Walmart?" The person who was with her did not know, so he said, "Because they used to sell walls, and now they sell everything else."

You will be encouraged by what I read from this book:

This is the song with the words, "help me Lord, to do the best I can."  It is good to include singing in your curriculum at home and this is a great song to sing that feeds your mind the best!

Enjoy doing something at home while you listen .

All is Well

Hello Dear Ones,

Thank you for being so patient and checking back here often. All is well here but I have been so busy  and time constricted due to pressing things here at home, as is common in an older house: an old floor in the kitchen was replaced, a new front door installed, leaking pipes fixed, and roof repair. I do all Mr. S.' s errands, since he doesn't want to drive anymore. We often have one of our children or a grandchild come and do that but last month was very busy.   

In the morning I caught this foggy scene, which looks like castles.

In the evening, this came.

I found the most red pumpkin ,

and after the descendants went to their respective homes, I changed the living room look with white covers.

Of course I get a chuckle out of photographing my own "Pemberly" reflection after a rain leaves a lake. 

I have my notes all ready to give you a nice long lecture and run your lives once again, and hopefully the rush will be over soon so I can attend to that sacred duty.