Symbols of home

The little sentiments of home cannot be measured with money or with market value. The pictures and the objects owned by our mothers and our families may be meaningless to the world, but hold great status in our hearts.

Take for example, the symbols of home life in the 19th century. The Victorians often would present newlyweds with things like birdcages or ivy, to decorate their homes. The birdcages were objects to emphasise the love of home. A proverb says, "As a bird that wanders from his nest, is a man who leaves his home." Birdcages were reminiscent of the protection of the home.

Ivy was often given to new brides to plant around the doorway of the house. Ivy was symbollic of loyalty and everlasting stability. If you are familiar with ivy growing near a house, you might know how hard it is to get rid of it when it begins to cover the house and take over, so it is a plant that stays with you always and is difficult to destroy.

Paintings of old home places that the grandparents used to live in, may have been given, to add beauty to the walls, but also to add sentiment for days gone by. Some people say it is not good to be too reminded of the past, but perhaps this is where some of our problems lie. We remember only the bad things, and not the good things. Paintings of our homeplaces remind us that the things that were good back then, are also good for us today: a home to come to, a place of our own, a family with its own humor and personal ways of communicating, and certain values our fathers held dear. Other things that might have been given would have been hand made quilts and blankets, or herbs for the garden, such as rosemary and sage. These things were much appreciated because, like ivy, they seemed to be everlasting
and even though they clipped off pieces for cooking, the plant had a continuous yield.

In making home "homey" it is important not to buy in too much to modern decorators. If there is something you like, use it and display it and enjoy it, and don't worry too much about it matching or being in the right style. Most children growing up in a homeplace do not remember the perfect decorating, but that the objects in it had a purpose and a meaning. My own homeplace must have looked like gypsies lived there but although I travelled far and wide, I never saw anything I liked better than my own home. Children like what they are around the most, so creating symbols of home can be very useful, especially if you move around often. These things can be placed around your next dwelling, and the next and the next, so that the family will always feel the comfort and reassurance of being at home.

Paintings by Dennis Patrick Lewan, sold here http://www.knottywood-treasures.com/id52.html

(at this point, we don't have comments, due to time limitations, but emails arewelcome (ladylydiaspeaks@comcast.net)

Windows

Two Stephen Darbyshire paintings here show beautiful views from windows. No matter if you live in an apartment or a house; in the country or in town, windows are very important. Consider making a private view of your own with hedges, birdhouses and birdpaths, pathways and seating areas. Little "views" outside a window, even if it is just a flower box, are so restful to the eyes and calming to the blood pressure.It has been said that a picture is worth a thousand words. That is why it is so important to have meaningful pictures in the home.












During Victorian times, artists sometimes painted stories into their pictures. You could guess what was happening by looking at the things in the painting. Here, you can just imagine a woman pausing for a moment to catch her breath and reflect on the beauties of the earth. I hope you all have wonderful views and if you don't, that you will create them.

In case one does not have a window and/or a beautiful view one can be created using fabrics, which are curtains at $39.75 a pair with a beautiful view portrayed on them.

There is "English Garden" T71A, "Woodland Crossing", T71B, "Island Retreat", T71C, "Tuscan Life Vineyard" T71D, "Cottage Garden" T71E, "Desert Garden", T71F, "Park Avenue" T71G, "French Cafe"' T71H, and "Bamboo Beach", T71I and all are available at the window art section at http://www.touchofclasscatalog.com/jump.jsp?itemID=99&itemType=CATEGORY&iMainCat=12&iSubCat=99
There are also wall murals and wallpapers that create views, available from various places.

If you do not have a view, it is even more important to go sight-seeing and look at views. It reminds me of my father, who would take us on Sunday drives on the way home from church, where we could see a view from afar off. Looking at scenery seems to be one of the lost arts of childhood, which we need to revive.

I've temporarily halted comments because, as much as I don't want to admit it, my house is a wreck and I am running behind in just about everything. Comments tend to make me want to sit and "talk" instead of doing urgent things. However, emails are welcome: ladylydiaspeaks@comcast.net

Breakfast Burrito

When cereals and commercial breads began to make their way onto the shelves of grocery stores, hearty high-protein breakfasts that would "stick to your ribs" as they used to say, fell by the way. Men would go to work filled only with a muffin or a cinnamon roll or some kind of toaster tart, and then become tired and irritable before the morning was over. Here is a recipe that may not require much shopping, as it can include things from the garden.

1 cup canned black beans, rinsed and drained
1/3 cup bottled chunky salsa
4 eggs, slightly beaten
2 tablespoons milk
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/8 teaspoon salt
Nonstick cooking spray or cooking oil
1 medium tomato, thinly sliced
1/2 cup crumbled queso fresco cheese or shredded Monterey Jack cheese (2 ounces)
1/4 cup dairy sour cream
4 teaspoons snipped fresh mint
Bottled chunky salsa (optional)
(This recipe from www.bhg.com )

Homemade Soup and Crackers

(Here are recipes for soup and crackers. I found that you could eliminate the bouillon cubes and the tomato paste and it would taste just fine. No need for the hot pepper sauce, either, so almost everything can come from the produce stand or garden.)

Ingredients
3 medium tomatoes, peeled and quartered
1-1/2 cups water
1/2 cup chopped onion (1 medium)
1/2 cup chopped celery (1 stalk)
1/2 of a 6-ounce can (1/3 cup) tomato paste
2 tablespoons snipped fresh cilantro or basil
2 teaspoons instant chicken bouillon granules
1 teaspoon sugar
Few dashes bottled hot pepper sauce
Snipped fresh cilantro or basil (optional)

Directions
1. If desired, seed the tomatoes. In a large saucepan combine tomatoes, water, onion, celery, tomato paste, the 2 tablespoons cilantro, bouillon granules, sugar, and hot pepper sauce. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, covered, about 20 minutes or until celery and onion are very tender. Remove from heat and cool for 10 minutes.
2. Place half of the tomato mixture in a blender or food processor. Cover and blend or process until smooth. Repeat with the remaining mixture. Return all to the saucepan; heat through. If desired, garnish with additional cilantro.
3. Makes 4 servings (4 cups)
4. Chilled Fresh Tomato Soup: Prepare as above, except after blending, cover and chill soup for up to 24 hours. If desired, top chilled soup with dairy sour cream.
(from http://recipes.bhg.com/recipes/recipedetail.jsp?recipeId=R089984&searchResults=true&showSearchNav=true&recipeNumber=8&resultCategory=kitchen&searchType=null&adCategory=&_requestid=291732

Soda Crackers
4 c flour 1 ts baking powder 3/4 c shortening 1 1/3 c milk salt to taste
Mix flour, baking powder and shortening; add milk an blend well. Form a ball of dough and cut into four pieces. Roll dough out very thin. Cut with a cookie cutter or the top of a glass (wet the glass first). Place on cookie sheet. Prick with a fork 4-5 times and sprinkle with salt. Bake at 375 degrees 8 to 10 minutes or until golden (watch crackers carefully so they don't burn).

from http://www.angiesrealm.com/crackers.html

Serve soup in bowls that are set on plates, and then on placemats, for an appealing setting.
Homemade soups and crackers are best eaten right away and do not taste as good as leftovers, so just make enough to eat at the particular meal. Soup can be stored in the fridge and will last maybe another day, but fresh food ought to be eaten fresh, when possible. Crackers can be stored in airtight containers, in the refrigerator, but are best eaten within a day or two.

Getting By Without Buying

The comments we have gotten have stimulated a lot of thoughts about how homemakers used to "make it" and yet devote themselves to the home, while their husbands sought employment.

If you are new at home and feeling confused about making ends meet, you will be surprised at what you do not have to buy, erstwhile making life at home quite beautiful. Eventually when you can afford it, you may want to spend more money, but while you are trying to limit your spending, here are some ideas.

The things that are most pressing, financially are the rent or house payments, utilities, and car expenses and food. There are ways to reduce the cost of all of these.

Find a creative real estate agent who really is an enthusiastic possibility thinker, and ask them to turn your rent money into house payments. By the time you have paid rent for many years, you could have been using that money to make house payments and build up equity, which is a great investment. When you pay rent, you are pouring money into someone else's investment, and you cannot re-sell and get your money back. People who own houses will be much more secure than people who rent.

Fuel is another problem. Natural gas was supposed to be so great and so inexpensive that every American could have it. What we are finding out is that it is costing sometimes more than $200.00 a month for heat and the other things that require propane. You can use less of this if you will use space-heaters, which are small enough to move from room to room, and sometimes cost less than $50.00 at discount department stores like Wal-Mart and ShopCo. If you have no choice but to use this fuel, find ways on the web of making it more efficient. Some people claim that although they pay a big price for it, they are still shivering and not satisfied with the results.

If you go back to the old fashioned way of shutting off lights and turning off radios, computers and other machinery, you can cut back quite a bit on the electric bill. When we were young, we were shown the meter on the outside of the house and told that every time we left a light on, the meter would run, and add up more money that we would have to pay.

Car expenses can be a big drain on the homemaker's budget. If you are really hurting, you can reduce the expenses by sharing a car. In marriage, two can live as cheaply as one, if they do not insist on having two of everything. Instead of cutting back on the amount of expense to run a car, couples sometimes just think they have to bring in extra income. You can actually have money in savings if you cut down on your vehicles. The combined cost of registration and fuel and repairs (flat tires, engine problems, etc), can really be as high as house payments. I am not suggesting that everyone give up their second car, but only if you are really going under and cannot find a way of paying it and feel you will have to go back to work in order to get it. Most full time homemakers eventually do have vehicles, so do not worry that you will never have one.

If you are really under stress financially, it makes sense to sell of things that you are not using. Also, you can give up the newspaper delivery, which can cost sometimes over $100.00 a year. Who needs all that bad news, anyway? Some of it is not even fit to read. There are many alternative newspapers that cost much less, and no one ever went without information just because they didn't get a newspaper. Word of mouth is actually faster than the news these days, anyway.

Magazine subscriptions can be limited only to those that are really helpful to you, and for the new homemakers, I would suggest a good homemaking magazine that really cares about helping women cut down on expenses and prospers. I have saved favorite magazines from days that I had a subscription, and over the years, have enjoyed recycling them. Each month I get out that month's two or three magazines from my collection, and put them out on the coffee table. It is enormously entertaining to see them again, and after a year, they seem like new.

Food is another expense that is overwhelming, so let me give you a good tip here that will help you tremendously: Shop the outer perimeters of the grocery store where the fresh things are, and fix the highest quality food you can.

Live food, or food as close to its natural form as possible, is much more beneficial to your body than processed foods. Processed foods are foods that have been altered by putting them through a process and adding things to them. Live food will give you the optimism and sense of well-being that you need to balance your body and your mind and function well at home. Yes, a bunch of grapes can be high priced, but it is a lot cheaper than being sick. If you feel you just have to make a pie, buy fresh apples for it.

If you cannot always get fresh brocoli, your next best choice is frozen. Sometimes the frozen is even better than the fresh, as it is frozen when it is fresh, and the fresh produce does sit in the store a few days. However, in general, it is better to eat the produce than to eat out of cans. The food inside of cans and packages is dead, and the produce is still live. Choose the firmest and nicest smelling fruit you can find. If it makes your mouth water when you get near it, it is probably pretty good.

Produce combined with dried grocery items such as rice and beans and whole grains, makes very good meals. Buying fresh may seem expensive, but if you eat fresh, you will find you don't have cravings for the expensive junk foods that are available. People complain about the cost of fresh produce, and that salad items are so high, but think nothing of paying five dollars for a bag of chips, which does not have the life-giving nutrients they need.

Someone asked me about vitamins and all I have to say about it is this: Be careful that you don't substitute vitamins for good eating. In order to sell some nutritional products, advertisers will often say that the apples and pears and brocoli and carrots in the grocery store are inferior and you would have to eat 20 pounds a day to get the vitamins your really need. People then buy the vitamins and then avoid the fresh food, buying instead the chips and the pop. Pop is hard on the kidneys and chips and snacks will stuff up your body and make you tired and lethargic. It is still better to eat the fresh produce, even it if it comes from the grocery store. And fresh is better than frozen; frozen better than dried; dried better than canned.

Type in "frugal homemaking" and find ways to avoid shelling out money. If you can possibly live without it and not perish, then do so. When ever I have to pull in tightly and not spend, I find great inspiration thinking of the pioneer women, and my own mother, who didn't have all the niceties of life, and yet lived beautifully, from their own resourcefulness. Though they were poor, they left behind wonderful creative hand work such as doilies and quilts. They knew what was beautiful and would not spend money on anything that was not worthwhile. .

Buying pretty things is a lot of fun, and ordering them is great, but if you want to cut down on expenses, try sending a package of things you don't want, to a friend, and getting the friend to send a package to you. It is a lot of fun and gives you something to look forward to when you might formerly have used shopping as entertainment.

We don't need a lot of clothing if we are staying home. I have one pair of boots to wear outside, and a pair of shoes for indoors, and another pair for church and going out in public if I need them. I have two skirts for winter and two jackets, with two blouses. I have several summer cotton dresses that I sewed myself, and something made of sturdy fabric for working outside. I do not have closet space for many clothes, so I wear them out and then get new ones.

Lots of people recommend going to yard sales. They are a lot of fun and get you out of the house. Children love them, because sometimes there are things for 25c and under a dollar, even a dime. Most yard sales now have a box of things for free, and just before they are going to pack up everything and close, they may give away some things. While you may not want to hang on to the items forever, you can get some things that will tide you over temporarily. Besides that, the shabby look is considered quite upscale these days, so you need not feel inferior about having some of the more worn items. Even worn curtains, when washed and ironed, are quite charming. Sheets are often sold because the owners got tired of them and upscaled their collection. You can dye old sheets and have a lot of fun using them to make things for your home, even without sewing.

No one starts out "on top" and most people have stories to tell of how things were when they were just beginning to establish their home. If we all started out with new things, we wouldn't have stories to tell.

You don't have to buy all those expensive cleaners, or even cough syrups. Recipes for these can be found online, by typing in "homemade (whatever)" and it is actually very satisfying to make a few things. They aren't as caustic as comercial things and don't wear out the clothes as fast.

Even in your tightest stage, financially, you will be glad you invested in retirement funds and other investments. Find one that you only have to put a little bit in --say 25 to 50 dollars a month, and go from there. It will be worth the sacrifice.

Practice not spending. When you see something, think of ways you could substitute. I've been to the grocery stoe and when I saw the price on something, I would think, "Hmmm...I think I could find a way to make my own crackers this week. (yes, there are cracker recipes)." Those crackers become a family favorite that you are "known" for, years later.

You are probably wondering just how much work this all is and who has time for such things, but when you take into consideration how much time it takes to go to work and come back home, you will see it is actually less effort than going to work, and is more fulfilling.

Lastly, there is the old fashioned way of bringing in more money with what you have. I just recently heard that you could make $50.00 for a bucket of pine cones that were not opened, if you cared to do the work. This is excellent activity for children, and can teach them a lot. Some companies buy these so that they can plant tree farms, or send them to other places that order them. If your husband is under a lot of stress, and you still want to make money, choose something that would interfere the least with your home life. In other words, not pet sitting or day care or typing for other people. Do things that do not interrupt the routine of the home; something almost unnoticeable.

Depression era quote:

Use it up,
Wear it out,
Make it do,
Or do without.

Remember that although everything is only a dollar at the dollar store, if you don't spend it, you can have it, and a dollar saved, is a dollar earned.

The husband has to cooperate, too. He cannot go on buying all the "toys" he wants and he will have to do his share to cut down on expenses, whether it be finding work closer to home, taking homemade lunches, and not buying the latest cool shirt or jacket on the market. Our purpose in life is not spending and living it up, but to work together for the ultimate good.

There are lots of blogs out there with great ideas that you can tap into, and lots of great sites.

The Letter That Fell into the Right Hands

My husband was picking up pieces of trash at the airport where he works part time. He found a folded piece of paper that looked like it might have some importance, so he opened it up and read it. He brought it home to me because he thought it said a lot about women who have inner turmoil and conflict with their consciences when they go against their own nature. This letter must have fallen out of someone's pocket when he was being searched, and had been in that pocket for almost a year, as it was dated February 2005. He used this example in his sermon this morning to show how we must put first things first, and how no child cares a whit about the brilliant career of her mother or the income of their father. What they see as real love, is the presence of the parents in their daily lives.

No one remembers the latest car they drove or the nice furniture, or the affluent neighborhood, as much as they remember the moments with their mothers. They aren't impressed with this as much as they are with their mother's hugs and knowing they are in the house with them at night. Children need long, carefree days at home, not worrying about being rushed from place to place, getting up at the crack of dawn to be transferred to some waiting place so mother can go to work. Child labor was outlawed a long time ago, but the stress that a working woman puts on the husband and children amounts to more stress than child labor ever embodied.

Sitting on a swing and enjoying the sunshine in their own yard is better than any organized sport that mothers could ever enroll them in, but working mothers want to be sure their children have the best of everything.

In the end, most of these children have a hole in their hearts for their mothers, and the husbands for their wives. It is one thing for a man to come home tired and discouraged, trying to wind down after a stressful day at work, but it is worse if they both come home that way. It is better that at least one of them are rested and feeling normal, so that it provides an anchor for the one who must battle the world during the day.

This is all more reason for the wife to be at home as a full time career. When my mother was young, no one had to argue with her about staying home to look after her husband and the house. It was just so natural, you just did it. Anyone who didn't was considered irresponsible, unstable and immature, thinking only about her own wishes and not thinking of others.

Feminists have done women much harm. They've made life harder for them. They promise them everything, and give them nothing.

These young mothers are torn between their brilliant careers and their children, and it is a constant tug at their hearts. Feminism has so little to do with what a real, successful family is all about. They reckon it is all about money. I've never met one yet who thought feminism was the right to be supported by your husband and stay home with your children--the right not to be pressured into going to work.

I'm going to copy this letter and hope that by now this woman has decided to choose home. I am printing it because I know it represents the feelings of hundreds of young women today who are torn between taking a once in a lifetime opportunity to work and travel, and the duty to stay with their husbands, houses and children. A woman is replaceable at work, but there is no substitute for the wife and mother at home. Only she will do. There is no one else better.She was taylor-made for that particular husband, that house, and those children.

Dear James,

It seems we have it all right now; good marriage, family is now complete, beautiful home and great jobs. You know, 6 months ago this was to be the dream jobe: corporate position and travelling. It is a lot more difficult than I had ever imagined. Leaving you and the girls gets more difficult each time I have to go away.

The one thing that makes it somewhat easy is knowing you support me 100%. I know we are trying to provide and give to our family in a way we didn't have growing up, and I am working hard to do that. I just want you to know this is harder for me than I thought it would be.

Don't get me wrong, I love my job and all the experiences I have in front of me and I don't regret our decision one bit; it is just I want you to know how hard it is for me leaving you and the girls. I just hope in 10-15 years we won't regret working so hard and wish we spent more time with each other and the girls; that is the only thing that haunts me. I keep convincing myself that I won't, because we will be in a position to enjoy our lives, and provide for the girls in a way we had hoped and dreamed for.

I love you so much and hope the next few days go by very quickly; give the girls lots of hugs and kisses for me. Tell them every night I love them and to dream of me. I will be dreaming of all of you.

With all my love,
Your wife,
Jane

I have printed this because I think she speaks for a lot of breaking hearts out there--hearts that are not able to enjoy fully the pleasure of careers or their marriages and families, because they are divided. They are not able to put their minds fully to either thing. While at work, she dreams of her husband and children.

While at home, she cannot fully abandon herself and relax and be a dedicated wife and homemaker, because looming in the future is the next trip she will have to take on business. At work, she wants the days to go by quickly, yet it is a job she dreamed of. This is the conflict women have today, but I hope they will all come to choose the better part and put first things first. There are plenty of unmarried women and widows, as well as men, who can fill the spaces in these jobs, but there are not plenty of people to replace her role in the lives of her people at home.

We are opening up comments to this one. My husband says the saddest thing he sees when he works at the airport, is the childrens faces pressed against the windows of the airport, crying for their mothers who are on the airplane.


(The photo above is of the children who were with their mothers at the Homemaking Tea in our home a few weeks ago.)

Peace in the Home

We will always be threatened with turmoil, but the homemaker can shield the home from unrest and worry, simply by putting into place a few beautiful rituals. One is the arranging of flowers, and another is the setting of the table. Still another can be the placement of a decorative pillow on a just-made bed, and the unwrapping of a new bar of soap in the bathroom. Reading a good book at night, and eating wholesome food, surrounding yourself in soothing music, or having productive conversation with family and friends, seem to keep a relaxed and safe feeling in the home. Some people have found that a media "fast" for a number of days has helped them tremendously in getting mental balance in their lives. Getting out of debt, and learning to be resourceful to have what we need, can reduce the pressure on the mind. These days, there is enough to be worried about, without adding pressure by bringing problems on ourselves, so the house is a perfect place to escape. The woman at home is a tremendous influence on the mood and destiny of the family. It would take volumes to explain why this is so. If she only knew the power that she has to influence the family and the nation, more women would be putting their energy into making the house a home.

Sunday Tea Time by Stephen Darbyshire

Mantel of Mementos

Please click on the picture for enlargement.
Comments are still temporarily halted til the editors of this blog can get more organized at home, since we cannot spare the time to monitor them. Both Mrs. Alexandra in Europe, and I, in Oregon, are occupied with guests in our homes. We love your input and your ideas, and you are welcome to email me by clicking on the address at the end of the article.

By clicking on the photograph here, you can see a closer view of some family mementos in one of the rooms of our home. This is a special corner that is just for me, and I enjoy bringing out pieces left to me by my husband's mother, handmade items from friends, and gifts from others. I just happened to find this collection of pink things and enjoyed setting them up in an arrangement. To figure out how to best display them, I looked for articles in books, and on the web. Each item has a history or a story. The plate of round things is a collection of sea shells called "sand dollars." The rose on the left is a craft item made by a friend, from colored nylon and wire. The candle stands atop a stack of old books, to give it height. The decorative cake is made of silk petals from fake flowers, and has a wonderful scent called "birthday cake." The runner is an old piece that has been dyed in a tint called "rose." I have seen on the web several places where you can look at "mantel of the month" arrangements. While I try to keep most of the house the same, this is one shelf that I enjoy changing more often, in my own personal style. It is the one section of the home that no one else will occupy or use, which can be arranged for nothing more than pleasure and beauty.



ladylydiaspeaks@comcast.net

Homemaking Day

We were busy with our now annual homemaking day last week, and wanted to show you some pictures, as well as explain what took place. Several of the women brought something to demonstrate: how to prepare vegetables, interesting crafts for the home, tips on making hospitality easy, and helpful household hints. Afterwards, the women shared a lunch on the lawn, allowing their children to play in the grass.


Between demonstrations, one of the young women led the children in character-building songs. This enabled the mothers to keep their children by their sides during the program, which lasted from 11 a.m. til 2 p.m.

One of the speakers talked a little about children's manners, one being that they should not take the most comfortable chair in a room, when there are older people present, and that even as they grow up, they should continue to defer to the elderly. On the point of hospitality, one way to remove hesitation on the part of the hostess, is for the children to be careful not to destroy the order of the house, take things down or create havoc in the bedrooms. The idea was presented that children need to be within sight or earshot of their parents, when visiting at someone elses home, or else stay near their mother, as you see the little girl is doing, in the picture of one of the class presentations.

One of our speakers presented a gardening album that she had made, showing how she planned her gardens and took pictures as she went along. Over the years, she even recorded the month that a certain plant was in bloom, and when her daughter got married, she planned the date of the wedding around the time that plant would be blooming, so that her reception would have the colors she desired. This teacher also showed how to manage the household income so that you could have a profit at the end of a year, by keeping careful track of all money spent and all money coming in, being frugal, and finding ways to get things with a minimum of spending.

Another teacher showed the same concept with recipes. As she tried menus and recipes that really worked for her, she copied them and put them inside plastic pages. As she built her cookbook, she also placed pictures of her own mother preparing the same recipes, and pictures of the family eating the meals. Her plastic pages kept ingredients from splashing on to the book. Since most cookbooks only have a few recipes that people use, this was a way of putting all the recipes she used, into the same collection.

Each guest was presented with a shiny gift bag of silver or gold mylar, which contained

A hand made booklet called "Homemaking With Love:" which taught about preparing for the day.

A pen: for taking notes during the presentations, and writing down ideas.

A crocheted doily - to remind them to add some soft touches and beauty, with a few facts about the history of looking after furniture.

A scented candle - to remind them to put a pleasant scent in the home; the candle need not be lit, and the scent will last a long time. It can be put in troublesome areas that get musty, such as closed drawers, shelves, and corners.

A cookie cutter for children shaped like an animal - to remind them of the importance of the children being part of the functioning of the home, and that they can be tactfully taught to have good habits and appreciate the home.

All of these items were purchased at a dollar store, sometimes at the price of four for a dollar, so in all, we were pleased that such a gift could be presented with minimal expense.

The day began and ended with singing. A good time was had by all, but the person who was most impressed, was my husband, "Papa," who heard the singing through the walls from his office at home. He thought we ought to have one of these events each month. We don't know if we could prepare one each month, but will be considering stepping up the frequency of classes so that they occur more often than once a year. We certainly regret that we did not film it, but will try to remember to do so the next time.

The fake cake in the picture above is a decorative craft made with styrofoam bases and silk flower petals, glued on to look like frosting. It is sprayed with a scent called "birthday cake," which also scents the house beautifully, especially in a climate like ours, which often makes the indoor air damp and cloisome.

Maybe A Typical Day

Quilts in the Home

These quilts are from www.GooseberryPatch.com , where you can order online or get a paper catalog for your home. The catalog is a delight to look at and full of other little tidbits besides their beautiful, homey merchandise.

Quilts don't have to be left in the blanket trunk or the linen closet, or buried beneath other blankets on the bed. They can now be used in any part of the hosue to give it a bit of color and a feeling of history. Originally, some quilts were made with old scraps of clothing, as a frugal way of using up every available piece of material.

A sleeve can be attached with self-stick velcro to the back of a quilt, and a curtain rod run through it for hanging on a dining room wall. They can be laid gently across the back of a couch or draped on the top of a piano, to display the beautiful colors. Some people use them as table cloths for afternoon tea parties, but put clear plastic over them to protect them. It does not seem to damage them to leave them under the clear plastic--the heavier grade--for awhile. Small, pieced quilts can also be used for curtain toppers, or runners for coffee tables and mantel tops.

Another way to display quilts if you have any and don't know where to put them, is folded up and stacked in an open shelf. Just be sure they are re-folded a different way every now and then, to avoid permanent creases or wearing or being faded by the light in only one area.

You don't have to be an expert quilter to make a quilt. Just get out your sewing machine and start putting leftover pieces together, joining them in a sturdy one-fourth inch seam, using a mark on the bed of your sewing machine, as a guide. Hand-sewing pieces together can be a quiet evening activity. Sewing one square to another every day of the month will yield thirty squares that may be a nice quilt top that you can call your own. While it is nice to have the art form all figured out and the colors coordinated, most people agree that a quilt made by the hands of a relative or a friend, is precious, no matter how it looks. Some people would rather have a quilt than money in the bank or jewels in a chest.

Throughout the world, quilts take on different forms. The Welsh quilts of the previous centuries were not pieced. They were made with huge yardages of cloth which were just sewn to a padding and a backing, stitching a design with the thread. Hawaiian quilts are usually only two contrasting colors such as blue and white and take on a floral look. Quilts in India are bright an colorful and sometimes have bits of sparkly gold threads in them.

It is a pity that so many of the mothers and grandmothers of today had to spend so many hours away from home working, and did not have the time to make such quilts that could be handed down to the next generation.

This is one more reason to try to stay out of debt and protect a woman's privilege of being at home, seeing to the welfare of the family and the house. In the end, most children would rather have a quilt that their mothers made them. I heard a lady who ran a daycare for 20 years say that the children always wanted their mothers and always wanted to be home. They did not want to be there.

The parents loaded them with toys and gifts, but the children always told the daycare lady that they would rather their mothers stay home and sew and cook and just be with them.

Quilts certainly represent a lot of time spent by the creators. Children love looking at the tiny little prints in each square, no matter if it is color coordinated or properly themed. A simple quilt can be made in a weekend, using large squares of fabric and a sewing machine. Even a one-foot square quilt is a charming addition for a lamp to set on or to use as a placemat.

If you didn't have quilts in your family and feel you've missed out on something, you can always purchase them somewhere. There are people who make quilts especially to sell, and many new quilts available at craft fairs. Baby quilts are especially popular and do not have to be used in baby beds, but make great lap quilts and warm blankets to wrap your shoulders in on cool days.

Quilts, Tablecloths and Lace

I don't know a lot about the history of crochet, or lace or table cloths. Someone once told me that it would be better to use them, than to have them sit in boxes and trunks, where they sometimes collect rust spots and deterioriate. I have found this to be true, but I know there are now good methods for storing such things in order to preserve them. If I had known more about it, I would have saved a lot of pieces of crochet that were eaten by moths or torn.

I have seen quilts with little pieces of old crochet. It is a good way to preserve some of the item, at least, if you can't save the entire thing. The lady who posted about her aunt's house burning down, made a good point. It is better to get out these things and enjoy them, if possible. They can also be framed.

Lace curtains allow the light to come in, while still preserving privacy.Lace shawls allow some air to circulate, without making you feel cold. Lace and crochet seem to have never lost their charm.

I like the contrast that crochet doilies and lace provide in a house. Against wood, it softens the feeling of a room. Doilies were used as protection for hard wood surfaces, and that may account for the fact that there is still so much of the Victorian furniture available. There was a trend from the 60's on, not to use them, which was interesting, since the furniture at that time was incredibly expensive. One lady I knew had a designer come and do her new home. Not one doily or piece of lace fabric or table cloth was out on anything, because it didn't go with the new furniture of the time, yet she paid quite a price for the furniture.

Homesteaders generally did not use these niceties, but their furniture, made from logs, was much more hardy and did not require protection. It could take the wear and tear just fine.

We have temporarily closed comments, but you are welcome to email. ladylydiaspeaks@comcast.net.

Kristy writes this about quilts; Hi,As a quilter I just wanted to share that if you must store quilts, I have found it best to store them in white or old cotton pillow cases. This way they can still breath (plastic might trap in moisture to allow a mildew smell), are dust free, don’t unfold, store neatly, and by using an old or white pillow case there is no color transfer (don’t ask how I know this last one). The pillow case also protects one quilt from others as often dark colors are used and a little moisture can allow color to run.Not sure if you were looking for info on this after today’s post, but thought I would send it on.I have noticed that hand made quilts are becoming extremely popular not only for bedding, but also as wall hangings, pillows, throw quilts, and table accents or even cloths! A baby quilt with extensive quilting might sell for $150.00, much more if there is an intricate pattern such as a white on white, but a baby quilt can often be made for about $30 in materials.Just some odd tidbits to go with today’s column...Kristy

She's right about storing them in plastic--DON'T. I've see this first hand. It makes the quilts get rust stains on them, particularly in the folded areas.

A Handful of Quiet

This was an article written for my other blog for parents, but I thought the viewers today might enjoy it.

My son in law was visiting with us. During a discussion about parenting, rebellion, etc. he suggested that as a child gets older, parents need to give themselves a promotion. (I don't think those where his exact words, but the meaning was well-taken.)

Now that you no longer have to wipe their faces and change their clothes, you can enjoy other things of a higher nature, with them. You can promote yourself through the indulgence of regular times of quiet, in such things as the Afternoon tea custom in your own kitchen.If you have a teenager or a grown child, it is now time to graduate him from riotous, or quarrelsome behavior, and settle him/her down to a more refined way of living.

Refinement means that you take off all the rough edges and present something without discordance, to enjoy.One way of encouraging this adult refinement, is to practice having a handful of quiet each day, or especially on the days when that particular child will be in the home. Prepare an afternoon tea, such as you see here, and sit in a nice spot in your house or outside. Pour the tea and sip it slowly. Eat tiny bites of things.

High teas in America are just ordinary foods cut in special ways and made to have a lovely presentation. There are many recipes in books now for teas that are easy to follow. They are prepared in small bites so that you can have one of many different things and a taste of everything.

This handful of quiet, if practiced regularly, will go a long ways to teach your children the value of the home. It is not a place for rebellion. It is not a place to flop around and be irresponsible. It is not a place of disregard. It is a high place where you have high tea once in awhile. I doubt they could find such a place in society anywhere, that would be as good, and I mean that.

This little ritual shows the one who is discontent and moody, that life goes on for you, in spite of him. Too many parents, in shock, put their lives on hold, while they try to help the troubled teen work they way out of their problems. Tea ceremonies are really the answer to settling their minds, if they only knew it, and they won't know it if you do not do it.

During high tea, only productive, stimulating conversation, and pleasant things are discussed. The advantages of having it at home, is that the family can talk about things they want to, that are personal, such as their personal beliefs and likes, without feeling self-conscious that they will be over-heard by strangers.It is time for parents to promote themselves.

You may have raised your children and gotten them out of diapers and made them independent enough to function, but it is time now to introduce them to a higher level of life.Afternoon tea is the perfect time to talk about a book you have read, or future ambitions. It is a time to bounce ideas off each other as to what you can accomplish as a family. It is a good time for the parents to reinforce ideals they have brought up in their children.

Sometimes when a child reaches adulthood, his brain gets a bit scrambled from the amount of outside influence that he gets, and he forgets what he is all about. Afternoon tea is a time to reistablish the foundations. They just need to be reminded.Eventually, they will get tired of the world. I know that as a young person, I thought I wanted the exitement of friends and of the worlds' activities--restaurants, movies, parties, etc., but later on I realized that the world had nothing for me, and that my parents house was the place where I felt the most stable.

You might not see results at first, but do not let anyone intimidate you into giving up. Keep up your afternoon tea ceremonies, with a beautiful table cloth, a tiered server with sandwiches and scones, and some very hot Yorkshire Gold or Celestial Seasonings cherry flavored tea, and you will find that child one day will come home at the exact time you are having it, with the express intention of sitting down for a handful of quiet.

The photo comes from a Canadian place :

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.rosegardenteahouse.com/assets/images/Afternoon-Tea-Rose-Gardens02.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.rosegardenteahouse.com/html/tea_room.html&h=461&w=346&sz=126&hl=en&start=3&tbnid=D-YMtTUYGZ4s1M:&tbnh=128&tbnw=96&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dhigh%2Btea%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26sa%3DG

For exquisite pictures of high tea in Australia, go herehttp://www.highsocietea.com.au/high_teas.php

improvementindebtedindelicacyinelegantplainpolishpolishingpromoterefinerefinednessroughnessrusticallyrusticalnesssublimationsubtilizationsubtiltysusceptibiilitytestunpoliteness

Affordable Gifts

Occasionally there is a request for suggestions about easy and inexpensive gifts. Gift giving, although a simple matter in past times, can be quite daunting today.

Life was a lot easier you gave what came from your heart and your hands: a potholder or handkerchief for a lady, pens or knitted socks for the men. One might make for a child a stuffed doll or a set of building blocks.

Children love to open presents. It doesn't matter much what is in them, because they will always be surprised. Some children enjoy themselves enormously just wrapping up their old toys and books and giving them to their brothers and sisters. When a homemaker goes through her things and tries to eliminate the clutter, she may end up with a good collection of gifts that can be passed on. The recipient is then free to pass the gift on to anyone she likes.

The dollar stores are a good source for gifts. It is nice to take a little gift bag filled with scented candles, soaps, or even kitchen utinsels, bought from these great discount stores. Don't think that dollar stores contain products of inferior quality. Some times the stock comes from high-end stores, or have major name-brands on it. The more expensive stores have to make room for the newest lines and will sell the older stock to these stores. If you learn to look for quality, you will get good gifts at the dollar store. Just recently these stores had large cooking utinsels made of high quality stainless steel, costing only one dollar each. In other stores, they are up to $5.00 per item.

For a homemaking High Tea that we will be having, the guests will each receive a bag with a dish towel, scented candle, cookie cutter, and crocheted doily, all from the dollar store. These were purchased in multiples: "four for a dollar," or "two for a dollar," making them even more economical.

It would be a relief if women could teach themselves to be content with simple gift-making and gift-giving. Sometimes they feel that one little thing is just not enough, and they go overboard. If you are very busy and feel pressured, there are a number of young, single girls at home who would probably allow you to commission them to make gifts, such as hand made cards, hair ties, handkerchiefs, hot pads for the kitchen, crocheted items, or embroiderd cloths. For someone who loves a tea party: a tea party box containing homemade shortbread or scones, a bag of tea and a tea cup. Tea cups can be purchased at second hand stores and Goodwill, sometimes for under a dollar. There is no need to match the saucers exactly, as they are most charming when they are slightly different.

A tape recording of a story you read, or tell, or a little hand made book or scrapbook, would probably be a delight to just about anybody.

When you have had family and friends for many years, you might find yourself giving the same thing over and over. Didn't I give my sister in law a candle-holder last year? I can't remember? For this reason, it might be fun to start a gift book to record the occasion and the gift that you gave.

Gifts can be geared toward the interest of the person. For a gardener: a new plant, gardening magazine, special hand cream for gardeners, a pretty pot. For a seamstress: a round box of the new threads on the block with all the metallics and sheens, a new measuring tape that folds up automatically in its own decorative case, a pin cushion.

Flowers are always loved and appreciated. It is better if you have a special cutting garden at home and can give your own flowers. Zinnias are easy to grow, even for those who just don't have any luck at gardening, they come in all colors, are usually long stemmed, and make a beautiful bouquet. A single rose at a grocery store is about $1.00 and can be given in a jar that you have at home. Just cut the stem to fit the jar. One of my favorite jars for flowers is from Motts apple juice. The single-drink bottle has a narrow neck, just right for one flower, and the bottle is shaped like an apple, with embossed apple leaves at the top.

The most cherished gift is the gift of a letter telling the person the may ways in which they have influenced you and the qualities they have that you delight in the most, along with an entertaining bit of chit-chat about every day life.

The best ideas for sensible gift giving will, of course come from the comments on this blog.

"The Gift is Yourself" from Petit Louvre Gallery

The Front Porch

The front porch of homes was commonly used for socializing. Such things as shelling peas or shucking corn, took place on the front porch when friends and relatives came over to help. During the hottest time of the summer, some front porches that were screened, contained beds to sleep in. These were called "sleeping porches." The residents of the home would escape the heat of the upstairs bedrooms by sleeping on the porch in the summer.

Families spent time on porches in the evenings watching other people going for strolls, or waiting to see if someone would drop by. Everyone knew who their neighbor was. If someone moved in, neighbors knew who they were, who their kin were, and where they were from. New neighbors expected the old neighbors to drop by and would have felt very unwelcome if they didn't.

You could tell who was visiting who and who was courting who, by walking past the front porches of the houses. Some people think that the arrival of the automobile moved socialization from the front porch to the front seat of a car, and caused the demise of front porch life, and the front porch itself. With the arrival of the 20th century, many new houses were built completely without front porches. It is a pity, because the front porch allowed everyone to see what was going on in the neighborhoods. Young and old alike were entertained, and everyone was included in activities.

Go here http://www.slideroll.com/publish.php?s=3z6m81h0&browse=1&ref=0 and click on to see a little slideshow of paintings of front porches.

This site shows the rise and fall of the front porch in history:
http://xroads.virginia.edu/~CLASS/am483_97/projects/cook/first.htm

As people begin really living at home more, the front porch is gaining popularity again. Some of the newly constructed homes are an imitation of the style of home that had front porches, and the effect is very beautiful. With the addition of front porches, it seems like the homes and neighborhoods are coming to life.

Be sure to click on these titles:

Origins of the American Front Porch
Stylistic Evolution
Popularization
Cultural Significance
The Decline
Recurrence in Modern Times

The Linen Closet

Linens contribute to the feeling of softness and comfort in the home. They consist of bath towels, kitchen towels, sheets and pillowcases for beds, and table cloths. They can be stored in a closet, or a drawer. Some home makers find it more convenient to keep the table things in the dining area in a drawer or china cabinet, and the bedding in the room in which it will be used. Most older homes prior to 1900 had special linen closets for these items. Wands made with lavender tied in voile and ribbon, were stored along with the linens, to keep bugs away and to add a fresh scent.

Most families determine what is the best amount of towels and sheets and tablecloths for them, depending on what they use and how often they wash them. Whatever the homemaker likes and whatever makes her life more pleasant, should be the criteria in selecting linens.

Two sets of towels for each family member will usually suffice, as one set may be in the laundry, while the other set is being used. Some families like to chose a towel color for each person. In damp climates, most people agree that towels have to be washed daily, so that will determine how many towels the family needs. Sets include the bath towel, the smaller towel, the hand towel and the wash cloth. The linen closet will hold the towels that will be used when extras are needed.

Two sets of sheets per bed is enough, since one will be stored in the linen closet, or the bedroom closet where it will be used. Some people like a summer set of sheets, made of thin cotton, plus a winter set made of warm cotton flannel. Babies and children's beds will require more changes of linens, which can be stored in their rooms, for convenient changes. One handy way of storing sheets is to fold up the top sheet and bottom sheet and put them inside one of the pillowcases, then stack the filled pillowcases in the linen closet. Sheets are used to provide a barrier between the rougher textures of the blankets, and the body, and to keep the blankets and mattresses clean.

The table cloths also depend on the seasons and the occasions. If they are used every day, it will be good to have several for the kitchen table and several for the dining table. While in past times, table linens had to be boiled and starched, dried on the line and pressed with a hot iron, it is a cinch to use a tablecloth today. Many of the new fibers seem to repel stains and crumbs can be easily brushed away. Table cloths provide a clean and cheerful background for the table settings.

Doilies and runners and various laces, can be included in the linen collection. If these are from a grandmother's estate, they fare better when used than if stored. To wash old stains or rust spots, some people soak them in cold water to which has been added the juice of a fresh lemon. For especially yellowed doilies and cloths, the process is repeated throughout a day and then the water is gently squeezed out, the piece is rolled in a towel, and placed on another towel outside, for the sun to dry. The combination of the lemon juice and sun create a bleaching effect without weaking the fibres.

The use of table cloths makes a softer sound on the table, which is a blessing in our noise-ridden world. (Table cloths should not be used when there are babies or small children who will accidently pull it off the table.) Table cloths and napkins can be easily washed in the machine and dry quickly in the dryer, and these days not many of the ones you buy have to be ironed. They can be easily home made from just about any kind of fabric.

If the house does not have a linen closet, perhaps a chest made of wicker or cedar would work, or, a special shelf or hutch can be used. There does not necessarily have to be a door on the cabinet, since it is better for air to circulate around the linens. There are good tips on caring for today's linens here:
http://interiordec.about.com/cs/linens/a/orglinencare.htm

and here for antique linens http://pages.antiquelinens-lace.com/1626/InventoryPage/1650203/1.html

Some people who have overcome sleep problems, have thought that the use of natural, non-dyed cloth for sheets and pillowcases, is helpful.

The variety that is available in linens is very appealing. Having spring, summer, fall and winter linens can be a cheerful addition to the home.

The Poems of Edgar A. Guest

Edgar A. Guest was known as the family poet. Many people grew up hearing these inspirational poems quoted to them. Here is a family favorite:


It Couldn’t Be Done

Somebody said that it couldn’t be done,
But, he with a chuckle replied
That "maybe it couldn’t," but he would be one
Who wouldn’t say so till he’d tried.
So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin
On his face. If he worried he hid it.
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn’t be done, and he did it.

Somebody scoffed: "Oh, you’ll never do that;
At least no one has done it";
But he took off his coat and he took off his hat,
And the first thing we knew he’d begun it.
With a lift of his chin and a bit of a grin,
Without any doubting or quiddit,
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn’t be done, and he did it.

There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done,
There are thousands to prophesy failure;
There are thousands to point out to you one by one,
The dangers that wait to assail you.
But just buckle it in with a bit of a grin,
Just take off your coat and go to it;
Just start to sing as you tackle the thing
That "couldn’t be done," and you’ll do it.

from Collected Verse of Edgar GuestNY:
Buccaneer Books, 1976, pg. 285


Painting: Hilltop Garden by Lene Alston Casey from Allposters.

A Good Morning

Is there anyone among us that has not dreamt of having a perfect day? It would be a day filled with beauty and order, and a day without pressures and worries.

The routine of the day can be pleasant or it can feel like you are running a race against time. Having a good day depends a great deal on what you did the day before! If you practice going from room to room before you retire, putting them all in order, you will not awaken to the nightmare of chaos. You might also put out projects to complete. Laying across my sewing basket a shirt that needs to be repaired and n the desk, a book with a broken binding. Next to it are a few letters to be answered. In the kitchen there will be a bowl and the cooking utinsels and ingredients to make breakfast.

Lay out your clothes for the next day and all the grooming articles you need, so that you don't have to rifle through closets and drawers in the morning. Good days start out slowly, not with a bang. Just listen to the birds in the morning. At the first sign of light, they send out a little warble, and as the day progresses, they chime in a beautiful chorus. Each one is a different sound, yet together there is not one discordant sounding note. The same is with us. We were not made to jump out of bed and mindlessly atttempt our work. We wake up and think a little bit about what day it is, and what we have to do. Then pray. Then sit up and look around at what we have set before us to do.

Victorian Garden, by Rowena

Home Scents

The scent of the house says a lot about the attitude of the homemaker and the family. It can smell like no one has ever washed their hands or their clothes, or it can emit a scent of fresh flowers, or spices used in home cooking. It all depends on the care that goes into it. Spraying scented water around the house will do no good unless the house has a basic cleanliness. Before you can add the delightful touch of scent, you have to roll up your sleeves and get to work cleaning all those areas which seem to collect unpleasant odors. These odors will prevent even the strongest bouquet of flowers from permeating the atmosphere of the home. There is a wealth of ideas in bookstores and on the web, for making the home smell good. Here are a few of them:

The kitchen trash can: It is best that this recepticle be small, and emptied daily, than large and emptied once a week. Bits and pieces of things can sit and accumulate bacteria, which then wafts into the house. Clean the trash can with soapy water and let it dry in the sun, then bring it in, spray it with a pleasant room scent or linen water,or wipe it with some kind of scented oil, like lemon. After that, add a trash can liner. This can be anything from a purchased roll of scented bags, some in colors, to the leftover bag you brought your groceries home in. Hook it over the edges of the trash container, and tie it with a wired ribbon or anything to hold it in place. For smaller trash containers around the house, Emily Barnes suggests in her book, "The Spirit of Loveliness," the idea of putting a pretty paper doily just inside, or over the edge. If it is something you are going to throw away anyway, it can be used to make things prettier.

The laundry: Naturally, laundry done daily is not going to create a smell, but if for some reason you are not able to keep on top of the huge amount of laundry that is accumulated daily in your home, there are some great laundry sorter bags made of mesh, which allows the air to circulate around the clothing while you are waiting to wash it. Dish towels and bath towels can be thrown into their separate sections, making it easier to throw in a load of laundry without sorting every little things. These mesh laundry sorters come with a metal frame that they hang neatly on, and it is very easy to set up and use. If your family is not allergic to scent, a small amount of scented dryer sheets or anti-static softener can be used.

Bathroom: This area must be cleaned daily, and it is helpful if there is an outside window to provide the best ventilation. Bathrooms tend to be very small, and this adds to the problem of odors, but with daily cleaning, they can be the most sanitary rooms in the house. The bathroom can be stocked with a small container which holds disposable cloths and cleaning agents to use on the appliances and the floor. One expert suggests that a person can clean some spot in the bathroom every time they take a shower or wash their hands, with the "clean-as-you-go" method. Unwrapping a new bar of ordinary bath soap, creates the best kind of scent for the bathroom.

Kitchen: One woman wrote that she likes to light a small tea light or votive candle in a pleasant scent, and let it burn in a candleholder in the kitchen while she cleans the area and washes the dishes. It lasts just long enough for her to get the job done, makes the work more pleasant, and helps eliminate the odors. Having clean dishes and a clean sink will prevent bad odors from building up. Happily, there are some wonderful scented detergents on the market now, and some for under a dollar. Green apple, berry, lavender, and many other scented dishwashing liquids are available. Of course, the best scent for the kitchen is the scent of food, or cooking!

Living Room: There is an endless variety of scented tea lights, wax melts, or tarts (short candles) for the home, and they don't necessarily have to be lit. Just buy the highest quality type you can find in the scent you like best, and wrap it in a bit of tissue paper, then place it inside a glass holder. It will scent a room for a long time. Fresh flowers provide a fresh scent for the home. They are not expensive if purchased at a grocery store, and sometimes a rose is a little more than a dollar. Windows with screens are a must, to help keep a fresh smell in the living room. Even a clean house will develop staleness, if closed up all day long without fresh air circulating.

Bedrooms: Closets are a problem with stale odors in bedrooms, mainly because of shoes. For this reason, it might be better if only shoes that are worn for special occasions, such as dress shoes, be stored in the closet, and the shoes we wear the most, can be kept on the back porch near an outer area of the house. Cherly Mendellson, in her book, "Home Comforts," recommends turning down the bedding each morning and letting the sheets air out, and not making the bed til later on. Clean sheets help keep the room smelling fresh, and women in the past changed the sheets once a week. You can avoid sour mattress smells by never letting your body actually touch the mattress. Purchase a foam mattress cover or any kind of mattress protection, to put under the sheets, and nothing will stain the mattress.

Home Office and Library: This room tends to be the most neglected, but old books and papers can get an unpleasant smell after awhile. One technique that was used in the past, was to put baking soda or talcum powder between pages of old books and letting them sit for a few days, then shake the soda out. Cleaning out bookshelfs and wiping the bindings of books can help make the office areas smell fresher. The tops of the printers, desks, clocks, and equipment seem to be overlooked when cleaning.

Live house plants are known for their ability to keep the air fresh and sweet. Some research suggests that: " some house plants are efficient in purifying indoor air. These plants filter out pollutants and toxins, replacing them with oxygen. One plant will purify approximately 100 square feet.Plants for indoor air purification include: Golden PothosSpider PlantHeart Leaf PhilodendronChrysanthemumGerbera DaisyAloe VeraChinese EvergreenFicusEnglish Ivy (see http://d21c.com/Sherry727/seasonal/pgs/houseplants.html)

Every woman's house is uniquely her own. One of the ways to express our love for the home is by attention to details like scent.

Home Sewing, Home Decorating

Simplicity Pattern Co. has some colorful ideas for sewing to lighten up kitchens, living rooms, windows, and bedrooms, here:
http://www.simplicity.com/index.cfm?cat=2&type=0&sec=22&startrow=1
On this site, you can click on the list on the left to see the front and back views of patterns.

These are appliance covers and tea cozies, with placemats and napkins. You can make round place mats for round tables, which take up less space. Just trace around a large round platter or pizza pan or the cardboard piece that comes with a take-out or frozen pizza.

This site has patterns for table cloths, also, but you don't really need a pattern for squares and rectangles. Just make a hem on any length of fabric you choose, and add interesting trim.

The concept of table cloths is a very ancient one, and in a way, is quite like having fresh sheets on the bed. It covers the bare table and makes the use of utinsels much quieter. Some people have whole wardrobes of table cloths and accessories, to suit different occasions such as spring and autumn, or celebrations of various types. You can click on the picture for a larger view.