In the Works: Homemaking Radio, Sewing, Moving Things Around

Greetings Homemakers and Future Homemakers,

After I get myself arranged ;-) I will  pour a cup of tea while I speak on a  new Homemaking Radio episode to listen while you do things around the house. I realize it is a weekend and most people will probably use this on Monday.

You may remember all that cranberry color I had in the living room a month ago.  I moved it to the lady's guest room: quilts, cushions, florals and tea things:

A lot of the pillows are hand made from 19---.  If you have heard previous videos you know the story.

My daughter made these for me from an old sweater.

I have always liked this April Cornell Dress and once tried it on in a shop, and it looked and felt great. However the price has been way over $100 and even on sale, the postage brings the price up.  It is sold at Victorian Trading Company. It is called Midnight Rose.

I like the idea of giving a dress a name. I love names, in fact, have sometimes named the rooms in my house.

At the end of the bolt of fabric at Walmart there is always a nice name such as "Carnation" or "China Blue" and "Blush."

I had this fabric by Waverly from Walmart, and a pattern that seems similar, so I might try to imitate it for just pennies:

 I would have to put a little plackett in the front to raise the neckline and also make some other adjustments. This is cotton.  The original dress is cotton and rayon. 

Thinking about it and actually getting the time to do it, are two different things, as you know.

It is always nice to have a dream, an idea, a hope, even if it never comes to fruition.

Housekeeping Radio: Being Polished, Pioneering, Naysayers

The Book of Looks by Lorraine Johnson, 1983

I liked quite a few of the "looks" in this book and the fact they were made from natural fibres. Some of the fashions were not to my liking but it was a keeper for the other designs.

Stcechcol, Gracie Bone China, (TJ Maxx, Home Goods, Ross, Marshalls.) $6.99

Pleasant Scenes

We took a scenic route to town and did some business errands today. I thought you might enjoy some of the views around here.

Where there was no traffic, we were able to stop for photos.

Every beautiful picture prompted visions of colorful fabric and country fashions for ladies who walk in the fields of green at the foot of the blue hills. 

There was a loud and violent rain storm here the previous night and it was nice the rain let up long enough to allow me to takes these photos.

In my vast collection of books there is one with shepherdess clothing (smile). If I come across it while I’ll culling and sorting the archives of my house, I will show it to you on video.

This inspired a tea cup to go-with.

It was one of several in a set which my mother in law used.  The saucer is a bygone Corelle by Corning, from another old set, of which the cups are gone, although they are often available at Goodwill.  The tablecloth is from a local farm store, but there is no tag on it with source. 

Some News

Australian Wattle

Hello Ladies,

Some of you have emailed me about the news reports of Australian fires.  These fires have always been a problem there and I have emailed one of my brothers about the current situation. The first year we lived in Tasmania, some of the church members had to evacuate their home due to threat of fires on the hill where they lived.

  Here are some things by brother  had to say. 

Hi sis,

Its been pretty good here but for a few small fires.

Our state has people in the fire zones on 3 day turn around protecting assets ie private property and towns.

Over 2 million hectares burnt mainly in bush lands and many towns completely destroyed.

500 houses in the state of Victoria and over 1500 lost in other states

3 firefighters killed in mishaps and about 5 civilians .

We lease firefighting aircraft from us and Canada, just got another 4 from Canada

South of Sydney to the Vic boarder has no power  and limited phone or net.

Mallacoota was evacuated by navy to Hastings.

Some rain today but hot weather due later in week

Situation is not good for most areas as drought has left things very  dry.

Any fire just takes off.

Most started by lightning.

Im heading off to help a farmer mate to prepare for  next week as the front turns south again feed by hot northerly winds.

When the wind changes , the side of the fire becomes the fire front, sometimes over 100km in length, so it’s a big job.

Hope all is well there.

Bob

My children know that my brother Bob is their uncle, because I always told them, "Bob's your uncle."  I guess you would have to know some of the old sayings in order to appreciate that. 

We have a similar problem out west, as the forests are on fire in the summer, and it is partly due to the fact we aren't allowed to manage the forests the way we did back in the day. I grew up in the forest and I watched my father keep it all thinned and manageable and he used the trees for lumber before they ever caught on fire ;-) and he replanted.  Sometimes the forestry agency has some techniques that cause more fire (intending to stop it) because the fire goes under ground for a long way, even though it appears to be stopped. We used to create fire breaks and other things that made it hard for fires to spread. Now it is political, and it has got worse.

New Calendar Year

A calendar with appealing pictures is a must, isn't it?  I got this at Dollar Tree and these last three days have walked past it on purpose just to have another look at the vivid floral photograph of the month. This calendar is titled "Blossoms" and it might be still available at your local Dollar Tree. The Hobby Lobby Calendars were gone by November, so I missed out on getting my favorite, and was very happy to find this one. 

Also I wanted to tell you about this phosphate-free Dawn dish soap. Although I love having the dishwasher, I do need to wash some items by hand, including those precious tea cups, and I have found it doesn't cause problems with my hands. Dawn is also at Dollar Tree and I like the half size bottles because they are easier to use and to get the last drop out.  

This has a barely noticeable rose scent and of course I love the pink color in my kitchen.

Tea Time magazine came, and it is all pink and red, celebrating January and February.

The first thing I do when it comes in the mail is go through the pages and find the floral arrangements in the backgrounds and see if I can create something similar from the Dollar Tree blossoms I keep  in my floral box.

Here is one I'd like to try:

Dollar Tree Roses:

I like the tea cup on this page, don't you? A scene on the inside of the cup is always amusing.

There is a strong wind and heavy rain storm here, and I'm hoping it won't knock out the power.  

Thanks for your encouraging comments.
Hopefully I will see you soon on Housekeeping Radio, when I get all my ducks in a row.

Lydia

Household Tips, Encouraging Others at Home, Miss Manners

 Purchases from Home Goods, Dollar Tree.

The Ordinary Teacup

Hello Dear Ones,

I purchased this very plain teacup yesterday at Home Goods, to give away. 

It is a pleasant contrast to the dreary weather you see in the background of these photos.

 It is one of the less ornamental, fancy cups available in that store and yet it has an old fashioned homestead type of appeal. I recall even in the days of living in a cabin, the teacups that refined the roughness and discomfort of life.

The set is surprisingly lightweight and the price is only $8.00 and there is a version of it with a blue floral print.  The price is high if you are used to paying $5.00 but I have noticed the cost of Home Goods teacups varies according to the season. The one I am going to show you in the next video is much prettier but much cheaper.

If there is no Home Goods in your area, try TJ Max, Marshalls or Ross or other discount stores. These have the very same merchandise.

This cup is designed as gift, and includes a little box of peppermint tea inside the cup and the set is snugly wrapped  together and ready to gift.

I thought you might enjoy having one of these for yourself or your children, since it is an everyday type of cup you can put in the dishwasher.

In the absence of anything more interesting today, here is a "yesterday" photo 

...to show how the living room of the Manse has been changed by a different color. I loved the cranberry coverings and accessories by it didn’t take me long to get tired of it and  want to go back to something a little calmer.

today

There are a few

 things to do now and hope to be back before the end of the day or early in the morning with a 15 minute talk.

 If you have already read this, please refresh the page, because I added some more photos.

God Bless You,

Lydia

PS: Amelia, from My Forest Cathedral blog, I was unable to email you from your site, so I wonder if you could email me. My email link is on the left of this blog.

Becoming Excellent at Home, Being Positive With People

Holiday Home Tour- Dining Room