Prepare With Prayer, Evidence of Your Good Work, Friendship

Home Living With Ease

Hello Dear Ladies,

While taking notes for the next video, I came across some things I wanted to share right away on a post.

Often we who are at home full time will make living at home more difficult than necessary.

One reason for that is being too much up-to-the-moment in our preparations, cleaning, and general house keeping, that we feel rushed and stressed. In explanation, we only do what is necessary for the moment instead of being a day ahead or a week ahead.  I'm going to try for being 4 days ahead in my house, in most things. That will enable me not to panic when the house needs to be ready for something unexpected.

We can live at home with ease if we keep up with ourselves.  If we learn to tidy up as we go, there won't be a big crises cleaning when the clutter and the laundry get piled up.  

Accept the fact that living at home means there will be dishes to wash, meals to prepare, clothing to clean and things to put away. You will be living in your home and it will not be like a hotel with hired help.

However, you can be your own best help by not leaving a trail of destruction. I often look at the work around here and have no one to blame but myself.  It is easier to spend a few minutes straightening things out and putting things away "as you go" and "each step of the way" than to dread a cleaning day that is looming like a thick black cloud in the future, spoiling your current enjoyment of life.

That being said, you may still have to take some time to get it all the way you want it, in the first place, and that will entail a big amount of time. But, once you get it the way you like it, it is easier to maintain.  Just go back and check it periodically and put it to right when you see something out of place or that needs discarding.

I mentioned in a video how a certain place in the kitchen or entry becomes a catch-all and attracts more and more clutter, but these areas can be great practice areas for keeping everything in order and getting in good habits.

Then, you can add your little "beauty spot" somewhere as a crown to your de-cluttering achievement.  

I've perched this cute bag on a ledge here. It was from Wal-Mart for 98 cents. One side is glittered.   I was just reading what people say about we "Wal-Mart people" but they do not understand.  We do not have a high-end department store in these rural areas and small towns and neither do we have the money to throw away on expensive things. Walmart has just what some of us need, and I've got furniture and clothing that has lasted for years and years from there. I began buying at Walmart when everything was Made in the USA because that was one of Sam Walton's policies.  This is coming back now and it is good to see.

I hope the ideas I wrote here can put you at ease in your own home. One of the reasons we create stress is that we copy the job industry and the commercial standards, and even the magazines. Its easier to be at ease when your home is a reflection of your own likes and tastes. It is more enjoyable to care for your home when you appreciate your own things. And, it helps a great deal if you have a habit of cleaning, decluttering  and arranging as you go.

Steward of the Home, Hospitality as a Motivation, Pioneer Ribbons Ep. 3 (Allison on the Oregon Trail)

Country Tea Parties

by Maggie Stuckey

Better Than Your Best, Turn Your Worry Into Work, Speaking When Spoken To

Note: The video playlist is now at the top of this blog on the left side. When you get to the Youtube link, click "sort according to newest posted" and it will start with the recent one.




Hope this listen-as-you-go helps you get started today. Please leave a comment!!


Here is the poem I mentioned in the video

How To Be Happy

Are you almost disgusted with life, little man?
I'll tell you a wonderful trick
That will bring you contentment, if anything can,
Do something for somebody, quick!Are you awfully tired with play, little girl?
Wearied, discouraged, and sick
I'll tell you the loveliest game in the world,
Do something for somebody, quick!
Though it rains, like the rain of the flood, little man,
And the clouds are forbidding and thick,
You can make the sun shine on your soul, little man,
Do something for somebody, quick!
Though the stars are like brass overhead, little girl,
And the walks like a well-heated brick,
And our earthy affairs in a terrible whirl,
Do something for somebody, quick!

Tea cup by Meritage

Patti Reed vinyl bag 

Patty Reed "Daisy Kingdom" patterns

This Patty Reed design is available at Grandma's Patterns, one of the blogs on the blogroll on my sidebar.

Use Your Interests and Talents to Enrich Your Home Life

Grace's China (Homegoods $6.99)

8 cards and envelopes (Dollar Tree $1.00)

Penmanship Book: Victorian Trading Co.

Feel Prepared, Clutter is a Magnet, "Pioneer Ribbons" Ep.2 (Allison on the Oregon Trail)

Here is a fancy dress I recently finished for one of my granddaughters.

The dress is lined with a soft cotton lawn, and all the materials and trims came from Walmart. The fabric is Waverly 100% cotton with a linen-like weave. The rosebud accent at the collar is also from Walmart.  Total cost for 3 yards, the lining, and the sleeve elastic, lace trims: $16.00. 

Here it is with the underskirt trimmed in wide eyelet lace, which I made to wear with it:

Dress Well at Home for More Purpose, The Homemaker's Glass is Full

Native American (First Nation) Long House

Prints of paintings on the walls behind me are:

Pride of Dijon by William John Hennessy

The Recital by Sandra Kuck 

This is a commercial picture I got at Target way back in the early 1980's.  I have never figured out the artists name so I am putting it here to see if any of you know who this is or how to find this painting or others by the artist. It is depicted in the first photo at the top of this post, behind the group of flowers.

Here is the name up close:

Homemaker Radio: Instant Change, Do One Extra Thing, Make a Card, Your State of Mind,"Pioneer Ribbons" Ep. 1 (Allison Campbell on the Oregon Trail)

Lovely dimensional rose art stickers from Dollar Tree:

Sleeve protector pattern: McCalls 7487, possibly from the 1980's. There is no date anywhere that I can detect, on this pattern. Would be great if this were reprinted.

Please remember to leave a comment and tell me what you accomplished while listening!

Lydia

Homemaker Radio: Politics and Prayer, The Home Retreat, Being a Good Coach

Four new shades of blush pink roses from Dollar Tree:

March/April Victoria Magazine:

Listen While You Work: The State of the Union (Your Home)

💞

Hello Dear Ladies,

I hope you enjoy today's broadcast and you get a lot done at home. Please leave a comment and let me know how you are doing and what all you accomplished while listening.