The "Old Ways" vs. The "Old Days"

Herb Kane (Hawaiian, 1928-2011)

You can read about the artist here and here.

I have added a feature that allows a scripture to pop up when you run your cursor on it. This makes reading more convenient, as you don't have to click on a link and go to a different page. 

I sometimes hear remarks concerning the past and its disadvantages.

 While there is a Biblical warning not to glorify the former days as though they were better, (Isaiah 43:18 and Ecclesiastes 7:10), it was never intended that the values of the past, or that history, would be despised or dismissed.  There are many admonitions from God's Word to walk in "the old paths, where is the good walk," (Jeremiah 6:16) and to honor traditions (2 Thessalonians 2:15).

Daydream by Herb Kane (Hawaiian, 1928-2011)

 I love the paintings of the water-carriers and shepherdesses of by-gone days, yet I think that running water is far better, and automobiles are a better form of transportation.  What I am addressing here is not the old days, but the old ways and the old paths, which can still be traveled today.

It is adventurous and admirable to blaze a trail of your own in some things, but the well worn path of virtue and values is important to follow. The old paths, which lead to the good way, which bring spiritual and emotional stability and well-being, are the paths every generation in every era of time needs to seek.

 Moderns who love the things of times past, such as the automobiles, furnishings and styles,  also need to embrace beliefs and values that are good and true.  Courtesy (1 Peter 3:8), careful conversation, (Ephesians 4:22; Hebrews 13:5), and contentment (1 Timothy 6:6; Philippians 4:11) are just a few of those things, as well as faith and fortitude. Other valuable things are loyalty, dependability, dedication and simple belief in God's Word.

The old ways, (the old paths), based upon the inspired Word of God, are to be desired above all other types of progress. The "old paths" described in Jeremiah 6:16, is where you will find the key to happiness and success in life.  While there have been people in each century who were always wanting to hear some new thing  (Acts 17:21) , the old ways, where the good walk is, are tested and proven by the faithful followers of God in the past.  Because of the examples recorded in the scriptures of people who grew in wisdom and were obedient to God, we can easily see what paths to follow. 

And so, the old days, while they may have been filled with the old ways, are not exactly what we are seeking these days. While we honor the past and celebrate its glory with anniversaries, memorials, jubilees, and other markers, we are not actually living in the past, but appreciating it.  We realize that when we follow the old paths, we will get the kind of results that other people got when they followed these values. There are customs from past times that we admire which were there because someone followed the old paths, back then, as well. Many of us desire the quality and craftsmanship of the houses and clothing of the old days. Others admire the slower, more deliberate pace of life in past times. There is nothing wrong with reproducing the good things of the past or practicing the traditions of the past that have good values. These things are part of the good walk.

When you see someone wearing a different style than that of the prevailing culture, do not quickly conclude that the person is glorifying the past or thinking that the former times were better. They are probably just enjoying the finer things from another era, to make life pleasant in this era.  God designed life so that we could learn from the past. In the area of clothing and fashion, we are the most blessed of any generation before us, for we have many centuries of designs to study and choose from.

 We should not be limited to just the fashion of the day, dictated by designers and their particular tastes. When I wore my Victorian costume and rode my tricycle in an old-fashioned parade, there were several people curious to know if I lived completely in the past, or dressed that way every day.  While I wear costumes that are more authentic in design when I participate in special events, the designs of the past influence the way I sew clothing for every day wear in these current times. I like the feminine look of the Victorian clothing, and I add touches of that style to modern sewing patterns.

There are other things that people admire about the past. The way people spent their leisure time with their families, the things they made by hand, the habits they had, plus the way they handled life's ups and downs; these all have something to teach us today, for they are some of the old paths that God speaks of. Jeremiah 6:16 says that following the old paths, you'll have peace.

 It is only natural to see the things of the past that bring serenity and peace to our lives, and there is also nothing wrong with rejecting modern values that bring an uproar into our lives.  We are all free to choose which values we will embrace. Therefore, if it appears that someone is a little old fashioned, or "living in the past," it could be that they are only adopting something from the past that gives them truth, direction and peace.  The law of the Lord, itself is rooted in the past, and so to obey the teachings of our Lord is to follow the old paths, where the good walk is.

 The paintings by Herb Kane which appear at the beginning of this post, are an illustration of the old ways. The painter lived in modern times, yet recorded some good customs of the past in his paintings.  The scenes in those two paintings illustrate an old Hawaiian tradition that is still practiced today. While these paintings depict things that were in the past, they speak of good traditions and customs which can easily be imitated today--the old paths. There is certainly nothing wrong with re-enacting the old days in order to appreciate our past or to understand the way our forefathers lived, and we can also do this by following the old paths, where the good way is. (Jeremiah 6:16)

Those who mock and deride the past are not showing respect to the Lord, who uses the past to remind us to follow in His Ways. Those who are really living in the past are the perpetrators of past, failed doctrines and life-styles such as communism, socialism, modernism, rationalism, cynicism, darwinism, dewyism, atheism, skepticism, materialism, marxism, feminism, fabianism, keynesian economics, and many other "isms" that you can read about here.  Unregenerated people resurrect these old, dead doctrines generation after generation; old beliefs that provide nothing but dismal, hopeless and demoralizing lives for those who have it imposed on them.

The good news is that God provides something better: the old paths, were is the good walk. Jeremiah 6:16. The old ways that He wants us to follow are found in the precepts, the values, the proverbs, the examples, and the contrasts in His Word.

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Victorian-Era British Women at the Beach

The Bathing Hut 

by Charles James Lewis, British, 1830-1892

Read more about the bathing huts, pictured in the above painting, here.

Photos taken in 1906 showing women at the beach.  It must have been quite a windy day but they look thrilled to be there.  As I do like to sew, I was interested in the design of the back of their jackets, in the photo, above, and would certainly like to know the colors they were wearing.  Because of the lack of color photography, it is easy to believe that Victorian women either wore black, or white, but that is not the case. The clothing I've seen in museums is varied and vivid in color.

At a glance, it appears that the styles of this era were all alike, but closer observation will reveal that there was rarely any two ladies dressed exactly alike. I spite of the hundreds of Victorian houses built prior to 1906, it would be hard to find two exactly alike.

It seems that these ladies went to the beach for more than the summer sun. Many of them carried with them books, sketching paper, watercolors and writing tablets.

More Hand Made Picnic Baskets from Boxes and Other Things

The Picnic Party 11

Picnic on the River 

by Henry John Yeend King

Picnic Set-Up  in South Australia

photograph by John Hay

I realize it is winter in Australia, but it is not to early to get things ready in anticipation of summer activities. I don't know how many times I wish I had spent the winter more productively, getting ready for summer, to save preparation time, so that I might have more hours to actually enjoy some summer leisure. 

In this post, and the previous one, you'll see some ways to use ordinary cardboard boxes for picnic baskets.

Some of us in the northern hemisphere have already been through a hot spell, but are hoping to prolong the summer and enjoy more activities.

This is the box I have been working on recently, to change it to a memorable picnic basket. The beauty of doing this, is that very small boxes can be used to pack individual or couples picnics, and the box can be given away to the recipient of the meal.  I have used a large cardboard box here, which would be appropriate for  a family.

This one began as a very plain cardboard box, which probably everyone is familiar with.

I've laid out all the materials needed to cover this box. I would suggest, with any large box, to use wrapping paper that comes on a roll, as it covers the large boxes more easily, without using small pieces. However, in this case I am using scrapbook papers that I got in a packet for $5.00 at Walmart, and I am going to fold and cut and glue them on the box in various places.

Lay the flaps of the box open on the white side of the scrapbook paper and draw around them with a pencil. Cut out and apply with white glue. I won't be covering the inside of the box, because it will just have a tea towel inside of it where the food will be packed. 

Swirl white glue all around the areas to be pasted and brush evenly with a sponge brush before applying the papers.

Using whole sheets of paper, cover the top of the box, and wrap around to the bottom, if it will reach. These two papers are applied in opposite ways to give it a climbing rose effect. You will have to first lay your papers on the box and look at them in several different positions before deciding what look you like best.

If the cardboard shows through on the corners, cut thin strips of paper and fold them over that corner to give it an even finish.

With clear packing tape, secure two long lengths of wired ribbon on to the bottom of the box, in several places.  Here you see the paper strips glued to cover the edges.  You'll have to wrap your ribbon around the box first and tie it in a big bow to determine the length to cut, before you tape the pieces down.

Using the tied ribbon as handles, lift the box and take it to your location. Happy memories!

Altered Box for a Picnic

Picnicking in a Field

by  Jean Louis De Marne, France  1752-1829

Someone gave me this large, round, empty coffee box. Coffee cans are no longer made of tin, but of cardboard, so to clean this can and get rid of the coffee smell, it cannot be left to soak in water for any amount of time. It can be cleaned with a wet rag dabbed in liquid detergent.

 Although short in size, this one is very large and roomy. It can be covered in any scrapbook paper (any theme), and can be made to suit any person in your family. 

Turn the paper over to the blank side and press with a pencil, knife, or your finger  into th edge of the can to mark the width of paper. Then fold the paper evenly on that mark and cut along the line.

Mark the lid on the paper by pressing the paper into the indented area, and cutting out the circle.

Paint white glue around the can and the lid with a foam brush, and press on the paper. 

Paint a strip of white glue around the top of the can and apply a piece of wired ribbon or other type of ribbon,  tying it in a knot on one side.

Cut another piece of wired ribbon and tie it on each side of the other ribbon, to make a handle, as you see above.

The picnic basket is large enough to hold snacks for quite a few people. Think creatively and find different ways to re-create this box. Use fabric, gift wrap, brown paper, construction paper, or anything you like. Try lining the inside with co-ordinating fabric or paper.

Victorian Outdoor Style

A Walk On the Beach 1909

by  Joaquín Sorolla y Bastida Spain, 1865-1923

Lighthouse Walk at Biaratt

by Joaquín Sorolla y Bastida

Victorian Costume 

Because we live in such a quiet, scenic setting, our family and some neighbors decided to celebrate the 4th in our own back yard. You understand that I cannot show the photographs of everyone, so I hope my description will create vivid pictures in your mind of the event.

The day began with preparations for the parade. Everyone who had a costume of any era donned hats, spats, vests, and appropriate male or female attire. The young boys preferred their colonial costumes with the tri-corn hats. A watermellon was carried in the basket of my adult tricycle (shown, above) with USA carved on it, for eating when we arrived at our destination a few feet away.

Vehicles were decorated with hand made banners and Victorian "fireworks" called sparklers made from drinking straws, tape, and mylar wrapping paper. Instructions for these are available somewhere on The Pleasant Times   We like them because they sparkle and are harmless and can be stored in a tin to be used year after year.

At the sound of the marching music from a CD player, bout a dozen citizens of this small hamlet lined up at the house on their bikes or on foot, and slowly moved toward the grounds of the meeting house.  The parade went at a snail's pace, waving to the imaginary crowds on either side, ending at the old steps with the iron gate, where one of the men stood and made a speech. Much of that speech was recorded in my previous post called, "A Nation Built on Belief."

 Our only audience was a Cajun man  who grew up in the French Quarter, and his wife. Both of them, though well-travelled, said that they had "never experienced anything like this in our lives."  Whether that was a positive or negative comment, we do not know, but they clapped enthusiastically as the parade passed by.

His speech was interrupted several times by applause and reminders to vote for him. I was not sure what office he was running for but I've never heard a better political speech in my life, nor one so enthusiastically received.  He won the election.

He finished his speech grandly by kissing a baby.

The sacrificial watermelon was then retrieved from my basket and cut and served to all the participants.

Local fireworks are getting longer and better, enabling us to still stay home and view them from the sky while sitting on a blanket on our lawn.

So folks, and especially you with big families, dogs, ponies, bicycles, tricycles, wagons, baby prams and strollers, lawn mowers, and anything with wheels--you can all have a parade at home.  If you have no wheels, just dress as you like, and walk slowly, following a leader, singing your favorite song and holding a few flags. Put it on video and take some pictures and you'll have created some great memories. One day someone in your family will say:

"Remember that year we decided to stay home and have our own parade and speeches? Wasn't that wonderful?!"

This costume is from Simplicity Costume Pattern No. 8375

I bought this quite awhile ago when there was a 99-cent sale. I've since noticed that they have escalated in price to $20.00 online.  To preserve your patterns, iron the pieces on to fusible interfacing.

A Country Built on Belief

Grace Cottage, by Susan Rios

In previous posts I have said that America is not just what it is because of a location, but because of a belief, and any country may pattern itself after the same beliefs. On this 4th of July, I want to share some thoughts about the purpose and meaning of America, by looking at the following statements from visitors in America. 

Liberty Lane, by Susan Rios

A businessman from Europe, currently residing in the U.S. was asked why he was still living here after launching a successful business in America. He replied, "There is a lack of cynicism here that makes it possible to keep ideas alive long enough to bring them to completion. Ideas are necessary for invention, and you must have the freedom to pursue them without a lot of hindrance." (Jonathon Ives,  conceptual mind behind many of Apple's products, including the  MacBook Pro, iPod, and iPad)

Another person who visited briefly on a special trip, reported to a news station in his own country, "It is amazing to get so much positive, uplifting encouragement here. There is a belief that if someone succeeds at something, others will succeed also, and that is true for one's personal life as well."

Freedom Way by Susan Rios

In 1766 an Acadian settler  named Jean Baptiste Semer, wrote to his father in France:

	My dear father (...) you can come here boldly with my dear mother and all the other Acadian families. They will always be better off than in France. There are neither duties nor taxes to pay and the more one works, the more one earns without doing harm to anyone.

Seaside Memories by Susan Rios

A recent visitor from South Africa wrote that Americans are busy finding out how to fix problems and how to compete in business. They want to know how to make things work better and how to get things done in the most expedient way. It may seem trivial to be asked things like, "How may I help you?" or "How are you doing today?" These are things which make it pleasant when interacting with a business. The free enterprise system encourages this because there will be those who will always strive to do better and earn more good will, which will help them find loyal customers.  "Americans criticize themselves a lot," he said, "But they are not weaklings who just complain and do nothing. They want things to work. Their roads are good and always being repaired. One employee will often do the job of 10 people, if necessary. For the most part, the negative I was told about America was a lot of media hype. What I found in America during my visit was completely different than what I had been lead to believe."

Hiway Leading to Monument Valley (allposters.com)

Being There by Susan Rios

An Australian visitor wrote: "When I visited America I was impressed that so many Americans had the courage to live their faith and did so apparently without self-consciousness. Faith is as natural to them as the Creation, and I often heard the phrase, "Lord willing," even in public.  Their culture did not seem to be at odds with their faith, as it is in some other countries where a person feels as though they are  swimming upstream against sardonic and pessimistic and often mocking attitudes."

In the book, "Princess," Jean Sasson wrote, "After spending some time in America, I announced to my husband that I liked these people, the Americans. When he asked me why, I had difficulty voicing what I felt in my heart. I finally said: I believe this marvellous mixture of cultures has brought civilization closer to reality than in any other culture in history...so few countries manage complete freedom for all their citizens without chaos, and this has been accomplished in this huge land."

The beliefs that created America were the following: 

Freedom: - The Founding Fathers never meant for freedom to be the license to do as one pleased outside of a moral law or to use liberty as a "cloak for vice." Rather, freedom provides the opportunity to develop abilities to the glory of God, look after one's own family and benefit others in many ways. Freedom is absolutely necessary in the pursuance of success in life, in a man's work, and in a nation's stability.  

Faith:  Freedom is highly valued in the U.S. and other countries  because it is basic to humanity and without it the Word of God can not be spread. Wherever the gospel is spread, liberty naturally follows, because those who embrace the teachings of Christ have self-discipline and do not need to be monitored or controlled by government. They also extend the freedom they have been given, to others.  "Proclaim liberty throughout the land." (Leviticus 25:10) Faith in God is the foundation of the other things that many people who came to America were looking for.

Work: When we follow our faith, we will naturally desire to have a worthwhile work in this life, and work with our own hands, being a burden to no one. Most American individuals want to work, and if they cannot find a job, will invent something to do that will help them in life. 

Golden Wheat Field (allposters.com)

Independence: A nation of do-it-yourself-ers is a people willing to go through hardships in order to realize their goals. Though some may argue that the pioneer era is over, there is still much to pioneer:

1. Taking responsibility for our children's education by educating them ourselves.

2. Developing our own enterprises, using the capital of our minds and hands, and sharing the fruit of our labors.

3. Taking care of our own health, naturally.

4. Having strong, loyal families.

5. Discovering and developing the talents God has graciously given us. There is a great need for this today, because of the way that our talents can effectively serve others.

6. Observing things that need to be done better in certain areas of life, for inspiration to create and invent.

7. Knowing the Word of God, living it out, and building up the Lord's church, His kingdom, and passing on these truths to the next generation.

Cottage by Susan Rios

A Can-Do Spirit: Only a demoralized people will not believe that anything can be done. That is why, if an enemy wants to defeat a country, they first demoralize a people, who will then not be able to enjoy life or bring out the full potential of their nation. Telling Americans, through mass media, that they are all greedy, lazy, have no worth, have no future, and that their country is  going to shortly fall into the sea, will have the effect of demoralizing them. A demoralized people will not be able to see the difference between the truth and a lie and will be easily defeated. 

 A can-do spirit; that of being able to do anything you put your mind to, is essential in maintaining freedom and individuality. Do-it-yourself-ers will not want government interference and will not want to be dependent on the government. Although Americans have a strong mutual national identity, they do not want government to dominate them. They enjoy being Americans because of the previous things listed here, not because they want to be controlled by elected and non-elected officials. To them, America is not identified by its politicians as much as its ordinary citizens.

Signing of the Constitution (allposters.com)

The Constitution: There may be a misunderstanding by the upcoming generation as to the power of the Constitution. By itself, it is a document, and can do nothing. Many people have believed that after it was ratified, it absolutely guaranteed Americans their unalienable rights; meaning that they can not be removed, sold, exchanged, or taken away.  It is up to each generation to read the constitution and use it for their law, rather than assuming that it will work for them automatically. These freedoms can be passed down to the next generation, only if they are taken care of. Like precious heirlooms that are handed down from one generation to another, they have to be guarded. One thing the enemies of freedom want to do is make our children unaware of the freedom that the Constitution provides. One good study on the benefits and purposes of the Constitution can be found at Wall Builders, where you will learn that America is more than a place: it is a belief. Without that belief in freedom, faith, enterprise, and other things, it ceases to be what it 

should be.

A young man from India writes: "I was absolutely fascinated when I read the American Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. The men who wrote it must have been something. The leaders today seem to be a shadow of such giants."

The question that remains is, what can one person or one family do to have the kind of country they really want?  The answer is to practice and live the principles you believe in, at home. Your family is a small country, with its own culture of freedom and faith.  You, or your  family and your home life represents your country. A country is no stronger  than the strength of its families.

 Your personal faith will set in order your creative abilities, your accomplishments in life, your family life, and your work ethic, and these things have a lot to do with the kind of country in which you live. Make your home your country. Practice and teach your celebrations and your beliefs. By the fruits of your belief and practices, others will know that you walk in the Truth and be drawn to conform their lives with the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

(My homestead lake, private photo 2012)

Here is my challenge to every one who loves their country, whether it be America or somewhere else: Remember the many people who had heard of the greatness of the God of Israel, recorded in the Old Testament. Because news always travels fast, people knew about Israel's God and His care for His people. Foreign kings and queens  would say that they had heard of the wonderful things their God had done. May we all live in such a way as spread the good reputation of our Lord to other countries. May they know us by our Lord and by our faith in Him, who is the "one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." Ephesians 4:6 Let us live in such a way that others will say of each of our countries, "We have heard of your great God and his blessings and protection over your land."

Since the world is watching America, I believe we all have the duty and the responsibility to know the word of God accurately, to live our lives to the fullest; to work and to enjoy the things God has graciously given us for the reward of our labors.

 It is also our duty and responsibility to un-elect the people in government who do not represent these values that we cherish, by not voting for the individuals who have violated them, and by selecting wise men who will honor the Lord in all their dealings. We need to apply the free market system to those who have mis-served this country for too long, and find a product that will work better for us.

As for those people in other places who are jealous of America and who use every opportunity to find things about us to despise, there is no reason for this, for the principles of freedom that run this country can also run theirs, if applied. Then, they may enjoy the blessings that come as a result of proclaiming liberty throughout the land. When our land is blessed, these benefits often overflow so that we may share them with others in different countries that are not so blessed. Therefore, wishing the demise of America is to deny themselves the sharing of the spiritual and material blessings that they might participate in.

Sacramento Valley by Albert Bierstadt

German, 1853-1902

 The Bible is available for anyone to read, and by embracing its discipline, anyone may have the blessings that comes from it. In the beginning, God gave man a place to live and gave him a purpose in life.  Throughout that Bible is evidence of the results of the wise and the foolish way of doing things, so that when good principles are applied, mankind may be able to avoid the heartache of foolishness and reap the reward that comes from wisdom. Any country can apply these things and have peace and prosperity.

For a list of good things about America, go here. It might be a good article to send to your friends.

To print this, go here.

Please enjoy the music:

Visiting America, Part 3

I come now to the third installment of my South African friend's visit to America. While Americans are very self-critical, and sensitive to things that need to be changed, visitors from other countries are sometimes amazed at how efficiently services and things work here, and how hard Americans work.