What Belongs Where

Soup's On

Here is a recipe for soup from your kitchen. While I make it by "eyeing" the amount, or placing a handful of this or that, for the sake of precision, I'll use measurements.

In a medium sized sauce pan, place two tablespoons of oil or butter and heat til it begins to bubble.

Then add 1/4 cup of finely chopped onion.

Fry them until they are transparent, but not too well cooked or carmelized.

Put in 1 cup of tiny cubes of potatoes.

Pour enough water, approximately 1 cup, to just cover it, and then put on a lid.

Bring to a boil and boil until soft.

Then, take a masher and mash the potato mixture until somewhat fine. Its okay to leave some bits and chunks.

Now add fresh chopped tomatoes and again, bring to a boil, and mash some more.

After this, pour in 1 cup of half and half, or heavy cream.

Then sprinkle over the mixture about a fourth teaspoon of Italian Seasoning or Basil, and another 1/4 teaspoon of dried parsley.

Add about 1/4 or less of sea salt.

Bring to a boil again, and serve in small bowls. This serves 4 adults, but is so delicious that you may want to make the recipe much larger.

What tastes good with this? A toasted cheese and turkey sandwich. Just butter one side of Italian bread and put in a fry pan which has been heated on medium heat.

To this add a slice of cheese or some grated cheese, and layer over it a couple of slices of roasted turkey. Put another piece of bread on top and butter it. Then when it looks like the cheese is melting, flip it over to the other side to toast.

Cut into fourths and serve on a plate with the bowl of soup.

You can adjust this recipe to what you have in your kitchen. For instance, today, I used the butter, onion, brocoli, carrots and cream. I added a pinch of nutmeg.

The Streamlined Home

Some families have a problem with housekeeping because they cannot see any progress from one end of the day to the next. They may start out picking up and cleaning everything but by the end of the day, everything is a mess again. I tried an experiment regarding this, during the weekend. I first observed the things that I was having to pick up every day, or all day, over and over. Then I looked around to see how many magazines, books, papers, and projects were on every surface, including the kitchen cabinet tops, the tables, and other surfaces like mantels, tops of bookshelves, piano, and so forth. Then I observed the floor. It was not bare, but strewn with things that had been temporarily set down, and managed to remain there permanently.

(By the way, the small photos you see here are from the home decorating section of Butterick patterns online.)

My daughter and I decided to end her frustration with books and papers, which seemed to dominate her home, by putting them all in a book room. Every single item that was a book or a paper, including the telephone directory, was put in this special book room. When I say room, I'm not saying that a person needs to sacrifice an entire room for this, but at least have a section of a room where all the papers and books go, no matter what.

The only paper that was left out was a shopping list, a message pad for the phone, and the small church directory, where she also writes her other favorite numbers.

We decided that nothing was to be put on a surface or table unless it was beautiful and gave us peace. No clutter, therefore, would be allowed, and because putting things down, here and there, or not putting things back after using them, can be a type of addiction, we made a rule that at the end of the day every surface had to be clean.

The three rooms we streamlined were: the kitchen, the dining room, and the living room. If we could maintain these three rooms throughout the weekend, then we would move on to the bedrooms and bathrooms.

After all tables and tops of things were cleared, we arranged pots and vases of flowers and greeenery, picking our bouquets from her own yard. She had tulips, rosemary, heather, hyacinths and ferns, all which made splended bouquets. We put them in various jugs and glassware that made wonderful vases. We searched through her fabric collection and found pieces that matched the bouquets, to fold and place under them.

Another rule we made was that the floors had to be plain and uncluttered. Nothing could rest on the floors except the furniture. Children could not come in and play with a dozen tinker toys for awhile and then abandon them and let the mess lie there for days and days, only to add to it more messes in the form of leggo or bridge building. With a baby in the house, it was important that we not trip over anything, so toys and shoes all had a box they were kept in.

At the end of the weekend, we were pleased that there was no longer the problem of having the same mess twice in the day. The paper problem seemed to have been conquered. However we knew that we could never again allow even a receipt or a piece of mail to be temporarily put down on a surface if we were to ever get control of our homes. Her mother in law provided her with a wall shelf that held keys, mail, wallets, cellphones, lists, etc. and this was most helpful.

I phoned my daughter a few days later and pretended to be the house inspector. I asked her three questions:

1. Are your floors bare? (no clutter, no toys, no shoes, no papers)

2. Are your surfaces bare except for the vases we placed there?

3. Are you maintaining those three rooms we cleaned?

I found that not only had she EASILY maintained those three rooms, but that the success she was having, gave her the energy and enthusiasm to tackle the other rooms, and enjoy doing it as well.

When you have been sitting somewhere, make sure when you leave that area that you pick up after yourself. Don't leave a magazine or book or a blanket and a pillow and your shoes and socks, a potato chip bag and a can of pop lying there. Remove the evidence!

Two other important things had to be established: The laundry had to be caught up, and we had to see the floor of the laundry room, and the dishes had to be done.

If, after cleaning the kitchen, someone wanted to use a cup and get a drink, and then set it aside to drink from again during the day, I suggested that if the sink were clean, she put the cup inside the bare sink. That way, it does not become clutter and will be out of sight. When you have a family of 6, that type of thing can become an eyesore.

During the day, even while relaxing, she could sweep her eyes around those three rooms every now and then and look for "culprits" or things out of line. You almost have to be a fanatic, at first, when you begin to have new habits. Later, though, you will be on automatic pilot.

You won't even be aware that you are maintaining your home, if you develop these habits. You don't need to constantly remind everyone that you are working, and gasp in exhaustion when you do. You just develop these automatic habits, and the family will follow. The young ones will have to be told what you are doing, so they can follow along, but you will eliminate the need to lecture in frustration, over a messy house, if you will make these habits part of you.

Now let me tell you why I don't think you need pens and papers and such in every room and all over the place. You don't need all your books out. You don't need your peanut butter and bread out. You don't need any thing to be convenient because this will only encourage sloth. Human beings are supposed to be different than animals at a trough. Trough living means that everything is just poured out there and no one has to open a door and bring out a cup, or get out ingredients to make sandwiches and then put them back. It is like grazing, when we leave everything to be convenient. Civilized living is not built on convenience but inconvience, in a lot of cases. We might think it is okay to have post it notes all over the place but it would be better to have one spot to go and look for our information. So, while I was negotiating some neat-nik changes in my daughter's house, we were also trying to train ourselves to get things out and put things back, which greatly distinguishes us from creatures of lower living .

Finally, to give you a real lift, here is a charming thing to make with almost no money. http://oldfashionedliving.com/holidays/maybaskets.html Since I've seen this, I've changed my basket-giving techniques to almost all home made.

Harmony At Home Newsletter

My daughter, Lillibeth and I , have printed a newsletter type of booklet, which contains some of the speeches we made for the online homemaking conference. Our subject was about harmony between mothers and daughters. We have not yet received the addresses of many people who said they would like to have one sent to them. If you are one of the ones who ordered a copy, the only way we can get it to you is if we receive your check for $6.50 (cost of printing and postage). That way, we will have your return address. If anyone wants a copy of this and has not yet Tea Cup Cottage by Thomas Kinkade, from www.allposters.com


ordered, we would still be glad to send out more. Just email me ladylydiaspeaks@comcast.net and I will show you where to send the check. It has a linen-look pink cardstock cover, and it is tied in satin ribbon. We certainly would have sent them all out for free if we could have afforded it, and have tried to keep the cost very minimal so that everyone can have a copy. If anyone has received this publication and would like to recommend it or make a comment, about whether or not it was helpful, please feel free to do so!

Cottage Style from www.bhg.com










Victorian parlor #4 by John O'Brien

Roses for Wednesday

I noticed on some of the art-poster sites where you can get paintings for your slide shows and blogs, websites, etc. that there is also
a little "print" icon. This means, I suppose, that it is apparently alright to print these things, for your own use. (I'm always worried about copyright) This is called "Pink and Yellow Roses" from Allposters. .
To add to the previous article about moods: I've heard the common expression that people have "good days and bad days," and of course, we all realize that life is part good and part bad. However I think we can exert a great deal more control over moods, because our days can be good or bad depending upon what we put into them, and how we handle the wind and the waves that come our way. As I said in the online homemaking conference, when we are faced with insurmountable duties, we can either have a break down or we can roll up our sleeves and tackle whatever needs to be done. If you are alone, a breakdown doesn't seem so harmful, but if you have other people around, depending on your leadership, you might, like many of our forebearers, have to put on a stiff upper lip. When my daughter gets overwhelmed by housework, she calls me on her cell phone (her husband got her a head set so she could use her hands while phoning), and we talk each other through some of these messes. The tasks seem to go faster when you are talking to someone!
If you think your moods are being effected by your over all health, check out
http://v.mercola.com/blogs/public_blog/Are-Antidepressants-Ever-Necessary--9354.aspx
You can also sign up for the newsletter, which keeps you updated on the things to avoid that are dangerous to your physical and emotional health. Keep in mind that there is a big difference between "medical" care and HEALTH care. Good health will have a great deal to do with the emotions, and involves things like adequate rest, food as close to nature as possible, peaceful living, good water, and many other things. These kinds of things do not require insurance or a great deal of money.
(Note: in reading Dr. M.'s articles, be aware that he often starts with an article about conventional medicine at the beginning of the page, and then posts his comments afterwards. You might end up thinking he agrees with a lot of the liberal views in the medical articles, but read the entire page and you will see how he refutes some of these claims.)

Monday Morning

Many people experince feelings of gloom and moodiness on Mondays. Perhaps it is a result of the frenzied activities on weekends, followed by a severe let-down on Monday. Whatever the cause, here are some cloud-breakers for you.

Everyone who is human experiences let-down feelings. That in itself can be reassurring. One day I was not feeling particularly enthusiastic about life, and so I thought I might as well catch up on my Bible reading.

We have a little weekly chart in our church bulletin that shows the daily reading schedule, and that day it was 2 chapters in the book of Numbers.

For those of you not familiar with the Bible, the book of numbers is a tedious counting of the tribes of Israel when they left Egypt and journeyed to the Promised Land. The chapters I was reading were very mundane and boring, and yet I knew there was a reason to be reading them, so I read them.

I commented to my daughter afterwards, that even though the words had no particular impact on my life, or meaning to me, or in fact, did not inspire me to do something better, a special feeling of calmness came over me when I read them. We both began to bounce ideas off each other as to why that should be so. After all, we were interested in solving our problems of getting things done on time, looking after children, shopping the best bargains, making adequate meals, keeping the house clean, and helping other members of the family in their endeavors. I tend to read things that help me understand my life and my role, and the book of Numbers dealt mostly with numbers.

One thing that we came up with was that in reading the book of Numbers, even though it didn't seem to have the drama or instruction or wisdom in it that other books have, it was at least, the truth. There is something quite calming about truthful words, even if they aren't like light coming out of the clouds on a gloomy day. When days are besieged by nervousness and unforseen problems, reading something that has no drama or problems in it, can soothe the pounding heart. I have a few books that are mainly pictures, along with little sayings, that have a similar effect.

And so, we both discovered that when you feel moody and let-down, good reading material, good art, and good words, are essential cloud-breakers. Behind every cloud, there is sunshine, of course. Every "blue-period" has a purpose.

Sometimes human beings just need to sit still and read something calming. It reminds me of one time when I was feeling particularly tired and a little "down" and someone told me about a marvellous vitamin that would give me more energy. I declined, saying that I really didn't want more energy because then I would do more things, and be even more tired.

Sometimes the cloudy moods are for the purpose of resting. At such times, it might be helpful to take a scented bath and wear a pretty dress, listen to lovely music, and buy a bouquet of pretty flowers. Many people say they cannot afford fresh flowers, but if they would look at the amount they spend at coffee shops, fast food restaurants, fizzy drinks (which can add up to as much as $30.00 a month sometimes) they can afford 12 stems of roses from the grocery store at about $11.00. These can last quite a few weeks and give such a lift to the homemaker.

Knowing that others feel these things makes us more aware of what we could do to pick them up emotionally: a basket of pleasant things, a box of tea things to make their own personal afternoon tea, or, how about this: make your own personal book on tape by reading something that the recipient would like, on tape or cd. (Please don't ask me how to do this. I haven't learned how to make a cd myself yet).

Another thing that I have observed that prevents the cast-down feeling is a way of eating. Sometimes, in an effort to get a lift and get out of a down mood, people will eat lots of cookies and sweets and breads. It makes them feel great, but the next day is almost always a let-down day. Those kinds of simple-carbs can lift you up temporarily, but will let you down the next day. So, a way of eating that involves regular meals, not too heavily loaded with starches, will prevent hunger and desperate type binges. Regular meals keep the blood sugar level at a normal high, and prevents the terrible let down feeling that can result in moroseness, negativism, and sometimes even anger.

( continued)

There are several things that I do that will invariably life my spirits and relieve me of any sadness or worry.

I get dressed up as if someone important were coming to see me, or I were going to see them. I get my house in order by picking up clutter, dusting, putting things in different places to make a new look, and bake something that smells good. I air out my house. I listen to good music. Most of the time when people are feeling down, the physical senses, such as sound, sight, and smell, are not being used. I get a small box or basket of things ready to take to someone, or write a letter. I find a way to make something "do" without spending money. I have inexpensive clear lights (the kind that people buy at Christmas time) which I leave wound around shelves and tops of cabinets. These tiny, sparkling lights can be used year-round, and they give a different kind of indirect lighting that improves the mood.

Years ago I eliminated all the reading material from my library that had anything depressing in it. From then on, I was careful what I read, and I noticed that I was not as susceptible to down feelings or low moods. I don't buy the women's magazines that do not celebrate true womanhood, or watch the shows that do not promote marriage, home and family. I only read and watch what really gives me a lift. I surround myself in the color and the things that make me smile.

For those who really need a lift outside the home, go here http://www.thevictorianparlor.com/main.html, or here for those who live near Mornington, Victoria, Australia http://travelactivities.news.com.au/activity/WDME101/?categoryid=11&fromdate=2007-04-07

Painting: "Summer's Day in the Flower Garden" by Robert Payton Reid

Robert Payton Reid (1859-1945) was an Edinburgh-based artist. He trained in Edinburgh and then in Munich and Paris in the 1880s. He travelled extensively through Europe during his career. His paintings of landscapes and figures reflect his widespread travels and awareness of issues of the day.

My friend, Lisa, has a wonderful article about rising up from sadness and loss (whether it be the death of a loved one or unforseen misfortunes, etc.) here http://countryvictorian.blogspot.com/2007/04/to-everything-there-is-season.html on her beautiful blog. Her writing is like a beautiful painting. Be sure to click on her blog title and read other articles like the one called "Lead a quiet life" here http://countryvictorian.blogspot.com/2007/02/until-we-meet-again.html

Older Women

Piano Concerto No....

I've been asked several times to write about older women and their role in society, but as I thought about it I realized that the younger women who will one day be older women, need the same kind of practices in their lives.

Creating a Beautiful Home Without Decorating

I have been quite absorbed of late in various things at home, and I'm afraid that several comments on previous articles went unanswered. In this article I would like to address the problem of not being able to decorate because of financial limitations, or a husband who objects to it. I got my ideas from living on the homestead in the days before interior decorating became popular. I believe all the other women who lived in those days will be able to identify with what I am saying.

I have included some photographs from Better Homes and Gardens to illustrate that not all rooms have to be decorated in order to give you a feeling of contentment. In most of these pictures, it is the pleasing way in which the posessions are arranged, that give the effect of decorating. Using objects that everyone has, such as clocks, books, chairs, tables, lamps, dishes, cushions, photographs, and gifts from other people, you can create a home that feels just right, without going over the top with a particular decorating style.

In the 1940's and 1950's, hundreds of families built homesteads in the wilderness, where they were mainly concerned about creating shelters that were safe and warm first, and clean and neat, second. We got any ideas we had about what a bedroom should look like, from the Sears and Roebuck Catologue, which showed pictures of bedrooms with their products in them. We imitated that as best we could with what we could find.

In those days the style of a lady's dress was just perfect for making a skirted table cloth, or even a curtain, if you can imagine. However, we preferred everything to be very plain, because it was easier to look after. An empty jar or tin can filled with wildflowers might be a centerpiece for a day and then the whole thing was tossed out. Some things came in colored jars and bottles, so we kept them and lined them up on the windowsills to see how pretty they were with light coming through them. Making a bed as perfectly as we could, or setting a table as neatly and precisely as we were able, using a diagram from a cookbook, was as close as we got to decorating. The idea was to create a scene or a mood by the way we displayed the ordinary things we used daily.

You can probably see in these photos that there is very little really obvious decorating going on. The decorating simply uses things that people need, in an artistic way. You see lamps and chairs and tables arranged so that it looks balanced, clean, pretty and bright, and it is somewhat exciting to look at.

In homestead days, the people we knew could have the most charming log cabins. They didn't decorate as we do today, but their floors were swept with sawdust, which gave them a sweet smell and a sheen. They had curtains on the cupboards, made from flour sacks. (In those days, flour came in cloth bags.) There might be a clock on the wall and a kettle on the stove. Some people had braided rugs and quilts. Others had paintings on the walls, usually painted by members of the family, of nearby scenery. They weren't as concerned about decorating, as they were about function, and yet, they managed to have such cozy homes and they still loved beautiful things.
In the photo of the green chair next to the little chest of drawers, you see a very simple decorating scheme. It may be using someone's favorite colors. I like sage green a lot, so it really appeals to me. They used a lamp, which everyone needs, but have used it decoratively. Everyone has a mirror, and such things can be placed over a short dresser like this.

If you can't decorate for one reason or another, there are many ways to make you feel that you are decorating. Take for example, the towels in the bathroom. Try folding them all in one direction, with the folds facing out, and according to color or size. Place a bar of fresh soap on the sink or in a special soap container.

When you purchase something for the home, whether it be soap or paper towels, find the most decorative ones. They usually cost no more than the plain brands. Need a box of kleenex? Find the box with the best picture or artwork on it. In your closet, sort your clothes according to season or color and hang them on soft padded hangers. In the bedroom, make the bed carefully and fold the top sheet down neatly. Arrange your own personal items according to color and size, and place them on a paper doily in a tray. Just cleaning a room and making sure that it is fresh and comfortable can create beauty.

Match your colors as best you can. Maybe you have wedding gifts that you can display in groups: a bowl with a vase and a frame, or candlesticks and a stack of books. In the living room, place a tea cup next to a photograph. Surely no one would deny you the privilege of displaying a photograph. Get the prettiest frame you can find, at a dollar store. In the kitchen, clean off the cabinet tops and make enough room to roll out your dough or mix things. Display your favorite mixing bowl with a rolling pin in it. Everyone already has these things, and though they be plain, they can be used as part of your home decor.

Think of those women on the homestead who didn't have places to put things like we do today. They had to leave them out. We washed all our dishes by hand and left the blue willow plates in the dish drainer, but they looked very decorative there. Decorating is more than having all the right objects and accessories. It is using the things that you naturally will have, in an artistic way. You probably own books or magazines. If you are not using the books, they can be laid with the bindings facing outward, and used as height for a lamp or a vase.

Maybe your children have toys, or you have childhood toys that can be displayed in a corner shelf or just on the floor near a book case or a table. You aren't just decorating. You are finding useful places for the things you own, but you are also placing them in a strategic way so as to appear artistic.

Anyone can throw a towel on the rack in the bathroom, but a thoughtful lover of the home will fold it carefully to make it look important and special. After all, this is a place where the most important people in the world to you, live. Anyone can throw a quick meal on the table, but it takes a real decorative spirit to arrange the table and the food neatly so that people feel they've really had an experience of some kind, and that there is an atmosphere in your home of some kind, that they like, but they cannot quite define it!

If you have nothing to decorate with, just use what you use daily, and you will see a big difference in the way your home looks. When you go out to choose something that you really need, choose the prettiest you can find, whether it be a slipcover for your couch, or a table cloth.

When you fold a napkin at a place setting, do it in a way that shows carefulness and thoughtfulness. I did write an article about this a long time ago but I never look back at old articles and wouldn't know where to find it, so I'll repeat something in it about a girl I met who lived in her grandmother's house. It was an old place and the tile was peeling from the floor and there was really nothing decorating-correct about it. However, she had taken a metal utility shelf from the garage and cleaned it and put all her towels on it in the neatest way.

Her kitchen was so clean that she had nothing on the surfaces except a canning jar with some lilies from outside. She had sparkling clean windows, with a pretty plant on the windowsill. Now that is really "decorating." She knew exactly what it took. In spite of all the pretty show homes and show rooms that I have gone to see on open-house days, this house still stands out in my mind as being the best decorated, because I was able to get some ideas from her about using the things everyone has, such as towels and dishes, as decorative items.

For good information that takes the mystique out of decorating, go here http://www.home-decorating-room-by-room.com/ for instruction. Sign up for her newsletter and then learn a step by step, room by room method of re-creating your home.

Also, you mght enjoy peeking into some real homes here http://theoldpaintedcottage.com/cottagemonth.html. Some of the cottages on the previous months are "decorated" and some are more plain, but they can all inspire you and give you ideas.

The First Stitch

This is called "The First Stitch" by Francis Day, and you can order the poster at this location http://www.allposters.com/-sp/The-First-Stitch-Posters_i1640505_.htm

Thanks to Laryssa for finding it. How'd you do that? We stayed up half the night looking for it!! This is one of the pictures we used on the slide show for the homemaking conference.

Posters For Your Girls

These were two posters used in our slide presentation at the online homemaking conference. Since our subject was about mother/daughter harmony, we included these two. One is called "The Shell" and can be purchased from a number of sources online. The other one did not have a name, but I got it by going to the fine art section at All Posters, and typing in "mothers and daughters."

Home Is the Real World

When the rush is over, and all is said, and all is done, everyone comes home to a world of their own making. This is a place that is regulated by those who live here. While family members may be consulted, the arranging, maintaining and appearance of this place is largely determined by the woman at home. No one in their right mind wants the wife and mother to be miserable in her own home. That is why it is essential that she be encouraged to exercise her experience and judgement in the placement of furniture, the colors and the types of things that she will be living with.



One example that I can relate is that of the woman who wants a chair in a certain place while she reads or does her crafts and needlework. She knows where the light will be and over which shoulder it will come, providing the best advantage to do her work. She knows why she wants the bookshelf arranged in a particular order, because, while at home she obeserves the habits and preferences of her loved ones. She has to be able to control this domain, and determine the kinds of things that come in to her house. She will know what irritates her and what gives her a homey, peaceful feeling. She has to have free reign in the house, to control the clutter and to create the scene that gives her a sound mind.

I doubt very much anyone really wants to drive a homemaker into a state of confusion, but nonetheless, that is what happens when the living room is so cluttered there is nowhere to sit and enjoy the home, and the bedrooms are so full of clutter that the doors will not open, or the kitchen is full of things that do not function as kitchen tools. Order, then, is one of the most important things in giving the home a peaceful atmosphere. The homemaker is free to control this and can discover her own methods that are effective. She doesn't have to be told what to do, any more than the ant has to be told what to do, because her very instincts tell her that the home must be a pleasant place and that she must diligently oversee this mission. (Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest. )Although it may not come natural to all women, after home living for a certain amount of time, most people can develop a feeling for the kind of atmosphere they want in their houses.

Think, if you will, of the impression you would get when you dropped by the house of a friend or relative. Perhaps having arrived when the hostess was not expecting you and was away from home, you may have peeked into the window. Inside, you see the sweetest room, and though not entirely matching, it is complete with every element that pleases the heart. Let us say this is a seating area with a plump cushion on it, and though it is for support of the back when seated, it is also pleasingly decorative; maybe with an embroidered hummingbird and a flower.

Your eyes pan around the room in a virtual tour, resting upon the little side tables with bearing shiny lamps and little books with gold-embossed titles. Then you see a potted lily in its full bloom, placed inside a pretty container. The pictures on the wall and the colorful area rug all invite you in. You see the hostess's knitting or crochet in a basket next to her chair. A tea set sits ready to serve, on a low table in the middle of the room.

Although the entire house may not be up to viewing by company or outsiders, we might consider the impression we give from the front window. People are not always influenced by attending a lecture or reading a book. Sometimes we can do more than we realize just by the appearance of our homes through the front window.

Paintings by Susan Rios: An Elegant Affair, and Beyond the Green Door, are available for purchase from Pierpoint Galleries online. These posters are a lot less money than an original painting, and can be a great inspiration at home because of the beauty and calmness they portray. If we surround ourselves in such elegance, we can develop a feeling of dignity for our role as homemakers.

The Homemaking Online Conference

On Saturday March 17th there will be an online homemaking conference. I realize that due to the cost, many people will not be listening in, so my daughter, Lillibeth, and I are preparing a newsletter/magazine tied in ribbon, containing our part of the conference, which discusses the mother-daughter relationship.

In this newsletter we will include the things that we talked about, plus some ideas for working with your girls at home. There will be some crafts, as well as a list of things you can do together that make home living desireable.

We would like to be able to send this out for free to everyone, but are unable to bear the cost completely ourselves. We will be offerring this special publication for the price of $ 6.50 which includes postage, and will mail it to you ourselves. All you have to do is email me at ladylydiaspeaks@comcast.net and I will give you the address where you may send a request for this publication. It will have a cardstock cover and be tied in ribbon.

The painting is sold at Gallery Graphics online and is called "The Springtime of Life." It reminds me of a subject that I spoke to young girls about a few years ago, regarding their attitude about life. You are only young once, I told them, so don't be gloomy and pout, and don't dress like something the cat dragged in. Look alive and be happy because you are creating a history for yourself to look back on. Do you want to look back with regret and shame, or do you want to have a story to be able to tell your own children, of a life spent in good habits and worthwhile pursuits? One day, some young person will ask you the question, "What are some things you did when you were a young girl?" If you spend the spring of your life in foolishing following of the crowd, or in the teen culture of the world, you will not have a very ennobling story to tell, but if you set on a course of diligent learning of the feminine arts and a study of good character, you will be able to talk enthusiastically of your youth.

Think about what you are doing and be conscious of the example you are showing. You will not always be young, but did you know that the attitudes you form now and the tastes you develop will one day be ingrained in you and form your personality and character as an older woman?

You can be a bitter and selfish old person, or you can be an inspiring old person that will draw young people to you. It all depends on what you are putting into yourself right now. Be careful to put only the best ingredients into your life, including the most inspiring reading materials and the highest standards in everything. Your speech, your appearance, your hospitality, your housekeeping, and the way you cope with life's ups and downs right now as a young person, will determine what kind of old lady you will be!! You can either be a sad, depressed old woman or a happy, optimistic one that inspires others to be so.

Note: I'm getting your requests and will be able to respond as to how to order, after the conference on Saturday, so please be patient. Also please don't think that if you don't have daughters, you won't enjoy this newsletter. It is for everyone!

I am also getting your posts but have been unable to make them stick, due to a problem with my computer in all the arrangements for the online seminar. Things should be back to normal in a day or two.

Registration

We finally have the best solution: anyone can post, whether registered or not, but they have to fill out those tedious word verification forms where you type in the letters. It prevents the ads and the spam that is so aggravating to us.

The LAF site is hosting a homemaking conference online, in which my daughter and I will be speaking during one of the sessions. I understand there is a fee for participating in this and that you can ask questions. However, for those who cannot do this, if you will email me, I can send you a blog where I am writing what we will be discussing. Our particular subject might not be what you are looking for, as it is not actually about homemaking. We will be discussing the concept of mother-daughter harmony, but it does involve many aspects of life at home, and includes homemaking.

"Outlook" by Peter Quidley

Nusery Ideas

We are trying to get some ideas for a nursery, using only a corner of a room, since there isn't a specific room available.

Interesting Publication

I think the publisher of this is brilliant.

http://www.alyoung.com/nl0509.htm















Cards and envelopes by Al Young http://www.alyoung.com/station.htm

It is a newsletter that features a literary piece along with all its styles and foods that go with the novel or the period in history. I've enjoyed looking through the Wives and Daughter's section of it today. Also check out the home design section here http://www.alyoung.com/shop.htm

During February

We are halting comments, do to so much illness in our home at this time. Our daughter came to stay with us along with her 4 children. They all got sick, and she is recovering from childbirth as well as having had tooth surgery a few weeks later. As you can imagine, we have a lot of recovering to do.












Gift basket available at http://www.myvintagecharm.com/GiftBasketsII.htm

Victorian Greetings

Quilt from www.gooseberrypatch.com




These cards are from the links below.



These are card kits you can order, which contain all the clippings and paper lace you need.




We have been enjoying some crafts involving paper doilies and scraps. One of my favorite ways to make a homemade card is with the back of old calendars. There are usually twelve small glossy squares you can cut out from last year's calendars that have beautiful scenes on them. We also use buttons, old rick-rack, greeting cards, and sparkly confetty that has cut-outs of birds and hearts.

Go here for some ideas: https://plus47.safe-order.net/carriagegifts/Valentine_2.html fan and cat

www.indiana.edu/~liblilly/valentines/valentine.html

http://www.hearthsong.com/hearthsong/product.do?section_id=0&bc=1005&pgc=1412

Here is a lovely online video with some music ( Verdi, I think (Italian))
http://www.hallmark.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ArticleView?pageName=%2FHallmarkSite%2FeNewsletter%2FFebruary%2FENEWS_CELEBRATE&storeId=10001&mailID=BAE_E_CBO_020107C_V_CelebrateVideo_NA&campaign=BAE_E_CBO_020107C_V_CelebrateVideo_NA&catalogId=10051

Ideas for Your Home

Both these paintings are by Sung Kim from www.allposters.com. If you want to find pictures there, click on "fine art," and in the search space, write "cottages," "cabins", "living rooms" "flowers" or whatever you are looking for. That way, you find only the things you want to look at without having to go through a lot of undesireable things. These can be ordered as posters and make excellent art for the rooms of the home. Families will be greatly influenced by what they see day after day in the home, and good art can help them become more refined and lean more towards preserving and protecting marriage, home and family. Great paintings show values that help paint a dream before the family of something they could achieve by having harmony at home. If we do not create such a dream for the family, they will accept the lowest standards and think they are normal.

I found the following sites that have some really uplifting things in them.

http://www.whateverislovely.citymax.com/page/page/2697293.htm This lady has scripture stencils, and an article on the front page about the house, in a Biblical perspective.

http://www.makeminepink.com/boutiques/product/?product=981 gift boxes shaped like cakes coming in February. I just love boxes and am looking forward to seeing these.

http://www.victoriarosecottage.com/ this lady has a beautiful home page that will give you a lift today.

http://www.treasuredheirlooms.net/ I saw a few heart shaped things here.


http://www.hannahstreasures.com/ has more boxes, plus you can read the history of the band box and the hatbox

New Hallmark Movie.

Just wanted everyone to know there is a movie called "The Valley of Light" set in the 1940's, from Hallmark, this coming Sunday evening, at 9 p.m. January 28th on your local CBS station. You can go here for a preview.
http://www.hallmark.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/article1000110051/HallmarkSite/HallmarkHallOfFame/VOL_SMALL
and here for the official site and pictures:
View Photos from "The Valley of Light" to see if it is something you might enjoy. I would just like to say that although many Hallmark movies are good, they do not all promote the kind of values we like, so you have to preview them carefully and look at the customer reviews.

The Homemaker's Time

In view of the previous article, I thought it would be appropriate to write a little about the time that it takes to really do a satisfactory job at home. Time is not on our side at home, as there are many interruptions and time-absorbers that may not have anything to do with real homemaking. That is why I was telling the young women not to get involved in long, drawn out issues that will detract from concentrating on the more important things of homemaking. I've placed pictures here to show the women with children that time could be better spent with their children than in politics or any other cause. Your cause of marriage, home and family, will be all the politics you can handle as a young homemaker.


Even without children, the work is never ending. If you only did what you had to do, you would still not have time in a day to do it all. All you really are required to do as a homemaker is take care of the home, provide meals, keep up with the laundry and the groceries. However even this can get to be overwhelming if you aren't from a home where it was bred into you by your mother.


















While talking to a few young mothers lately, I have discovered that they as homemakers tend to think that because they are at home, they have time to do more than is required of them. They will take in someone else's kids and look after them, or they will take on extra sewing. They might try to sell a product from a company that hires home sellers, such as cosmetics or household products. If these kinds of sales things are not kept in their place, they will take over and your homemaking will suffer.

While there is nothing wrong with these things, they will eat in to your home life and rob you of the time you need to really look after your own home and enjoy it. The word "enjoy" is important because anyone can take on extra jobs and then rush through their housework and make it look like they are coping. However, this kind of living will catch up to you and soon you will hate your housework (because you are in a rush and not really enjoying it) and be more inclined to do the other kind of work. Extra jobs are distracting. No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other. Homemaking and having your own husband and children is enough for one woman. Having too much to do at home is the same as running from one job to the next. You will end up exhausted, not doing any jobs well.