Wishing you all a . . .

About Cooking . . .

There are but a few things on which health, and happiness depend more than on the manner in which food is cooked. You may make houses enchantingly beautiful, hang them with pictures, have them clean and airy and convenient; but if the stomach is fed with sour bread and burnt meats, it will raise such rebellions that the eyes will see no beauty anywhere. The abundance of splendid material we have in America is in great contrast with the style of cooking most prevalent in our country. How often, in journeys, do we sit down to tables loaded with material, originally of the very best kind, [which] has been so spoiled in the treatment that there is really nothing to eat! . . . . How one longs to show people what might have been done with the raw material out of which all these monstrosities were concocted!

By Catherine E. Beecher and Harriet Beecher Stowe
American Woman's Home: or, Principles of Domestic Science; Being a Guide to the Formation and Maintenance of Economical, Healthful, Beautiful, and Christian Homes, chapter 7, Catherine E. Beecher and Harriet Beecher Stowe.

Another Quilt

This one is my brother's (the first one is posted here).

The back (larger image):

Close-up of the quilting:

The whole quilt (larger image):

A close-up view (larger image):

Another close-up (larger image):

 

Detail:

 

Knowledge of the Human Body and of the Laws of Health is Essential

There is no really efficacious mode of preparing a woman to take a rational care of the health of a family, except by communicating that knowledge in regard to the construction of the body and the laws of health which is the basis of the medical profession. Not that a woman should undertake the minute and extensive investigation requisite for a physician; but she should gain a general knowledge of first principles, as a guide to her judgment in emergencies when she can rely on no other aid.

American Woman's Home: or, Principles of Domestic Science; Being a Guide to the Formation and Maintenance of Economical, Healthful, Beautiful, and Christian Homes, chapter 7, Catherine E. Beecher and Harriet Beecher Stowe.

My Precious Quilt

My great-grandmother (my mother's father's mother) made each of her three great-grandchildren a quilt. This one is mine.

It is hand emroidered and hand-pieced. After completing three such quilts she didn't feel up to hand-quilting them. My father's mother offered to back them and quilt them for us (I think some other relatives helped). I like that our quilts are the work of both sides of our family!

Here's the back of the quilt, which shows the hand quilting (larger image):

This is the whole quilt (larger image):

A close-up view (larger image):

Another close-up (larger image):

A bit of detail:

ETA: I posted pictures of my brother's quilt here.

To labor with the hands

It has ever been assumed that the learned, the rich, and the powerful are not to labor with the hands, as Christ did, and as Paul did when he would "not eat any man's bread for naught, but wrought with labor, not because we have not power "[to live without hand-work,]" but to make ourselves an example."(2 Thess. 3.)

Instead of this, manual labor has been made dishonorable and unrefined by being forced on the ignorant and poor. Especially has the most important of all hand-labor, that which sustains the family, been thus disgraced; so that to nurse young children, and provide the food of a family by labor, is deemed the lowest of all positions in honor and profit, and the last resort of poverty.

American Woman's Home: or, Principles of Domestic Science; Being a Guide to the Formation and Maintenance of Economical, Healthful, Beautiful, and Christian Homes, chapter 1, Catherine E. Beecher and Harriet Beecher Stowe.

The Role of the Cook

The person who decides what shall be the food and drink of a family, and the modes of its preparation, is the one who decides, to a greater or less extent, what shall be the health of that family. It is the opinion of most medical men, that intemperance in eating is one of the most fruitful of all causes of disease and death. If this be so, the woman who wisely adapts the food and cooking of her family to the laws of health removes one of the greatest risks which threatens the lives of those under her care.

American Woman's Home: or, Principles of Domestic Science; Being a Guide to the Formation and Maintenance of Economical, Healthful, Beautiful, and Christian Homes, chapter 9, Catherine E. Beecher and Harriet Beecher Stowe.

No goals this week!

Posting my goals has helped me but I'm not going to do it this week. I still have goals but I'm not posting them. I hope (which, in a way, is a goal!) to concentrate on getting a few other posts up which may be more valuable to my readers. I'm not sure how many blog posts ( I have three blogs!) I can manage in one week but based on my past experience it's not that many. So, I'd better cut out the goals posts if I want to do anything else!

Sewing Goals for This Week (11/8/09) UPDATED

#1 Lavender baby dress: test button holes, button holes, buttons
#2 Baby jumper: test button holes, button holes, buttons
#3 Anything I feel like. I need a break from "must do now" sewing, yet I still need to get things done.

I've canceled the green baby dress. I will make it some day, since it is cut out, but it may or may not be for this baby!

What's coming up in the future: darning socks, Sense and Sensibility's Regency Gown (a lot more interesting than darning socks, don't you think?), Christmas gifts, a variety of mending jobs, t-shirts and tops.

All done! I hope to have some pictures of the baby out fit soon. The mama loved it.

Organization Goals for this week (11/8/09) Updated

#1 Sort through two shelves of wire shelving unit. See if I can get rid of some stuff.

What? No #2? Nope! I really could stand to have ten organization goals each week but I just don't have time right now. One is better than nothing ~ so much better. My home improvement goals really are organization goals too, especially the first two. It's hard to be organized in an unfinished house! That's not sufficient excuse and it is not the cause of all my organization problems, but it certainly is a big factor. Someday I hope to have a place to hang my robe so that it's not just draped over something. Draping is not really an ideal storage method and I would like to eliminate it!

Weeeeeel . . . I ended up doing the whole shelving unit plus all the clothing drawers in another unit! It was much easier than I thought it would be. Sometimes things are. I ended up with four empty shelves in the shelving unit, two of which I have filled up with other things.

Home Improvement Goals for this week (11/8/09) UPDATED

Just so you know, I live in an unfinished house. I'm going to be talking to the resident carpenters this week about some much needed improvements.

#1: Mention closet, especially the drawers. I need it finished!
#2: Mention under sink cabinet. I need better storage, plus it's ugly under there.
#3: Mention hole in shower. No, I didn't throw a fit in the shower! The hole has been there all along. We poked it hauling the thing in. DearFather suggested we install a soapdish/shower organizer thing there and I wasn't about to say "No, throw this [cheap, from a salvage place] one away and buy me a new one"! I would, however, like to get it fixed. It makes it hard to clean the shower.

That was easy. Talking usually is!

Housekeeping Goals for this week (11/8/09) UPDATED

#1 Continue on the tub and shower. I now have this scubby-sponge thing that works GREAT. It still takes a little scrubbing (but it's not like I expect the stuff to come off just because I looked at it!) but it is so much easier and faster. I have a shiny shower! In spots ~ but it's getting there. I may even finish by the end of the month, then it will just be maintenance.

#2 Clean a section of my bathroom wall. I actually did this last week, although I forgot to post my housekeeping goals.

I made wonderful progress on both of these! I did several sections of the bathroom wall.

Organization Goals for This Week (11/1/09) UPDATED

As many things as I would like to do, I think I had better stick with one simple goal: pack the pitchers away. I have so many other projects going that have real deadlines!

Done! :-)

Sewing Goals for This Week (11/1/09) UPDATED

#1 Lavender Baby Dress
> Attach the yoke to the skirt (which I did yesterday).
> Sew the side seams and finish them (which I also did yesterday).
> Finish the sleeves, including putting them in.
> Mark the button holes, practice button holes, and make the button holes.

#2 Jumper
> Prepare the skirt pieces.
>  Sew the yoke together.

#3 Green Baby Dress
>  Prepare the skirt pieces
>  Cut the sleeve bindings (if I haven't done so already).
>  Prepare the skirt placket and the back skirt piece.
> Sew gathering sitches on sleeves and skirt pieces.

Okay . . . I didn't do exactly what I intended to but it worked and I'm pleased!

#1 Everything is done except the button holes and buttons. It's even hemmed.

#2 All done except the buttons and button holes. Wow! It's cute, too.

#3 I didn't get anything done on this last week.

Sewing Goals for This Week (10/25/09) UPDATED

#1 The Bohemian Skirt. Because, really, this is ridiculous.

#2 The Baby Dress, etc. (I have to have it finished by Nov. 15th)

Half the week is gone (almost) so I don't expect to get a lot more done except what of last week's goals I finished up yesterday. Still, I'd like to: 

Finish preparing the lavender skirt pieces. 

Do the skirt placket

Decide how to do the sleeves. Make binding if I need to. 

Finish preparing the green skirt pieces. 

That should keep me busy!

Okay . . . believe it or not, I finished the Bohemian Skirt!!!!! Yay!

The Baby Dress . . . . I prepared the skirt pieces. . . I think that's all I did last week (!). No, maybe I did the skirt placket last week too.

Organization Goals for this week (10/25/09) UPDATED

#1 This goal from last week, or at least part of it:

#1 I have to old glass syrup pitchers and another bottle in my bedroom floor. They are from my grandmother. Now, really, that's not a good place for them. I'd like to put them in my hope chest. The problem is, I think only two of them are mine and one is DearMother's. I just don't know which two are mine (I think the vinegar bottle is mine). My goal is to find out which syrup pitcher belongs to me, remove all three to the kitchen, wash all three, and then return my two to my bedroom and pack them away in my hope chest.

#2 Figure out some way to remember my goals (before Thursday).

Goal #2 I completed early last week (before I posted my goals, in fact!). As for #1, the pitchers are still drying in the kitchen, so I guess I got it half done.

Housekeeping Goals for This Week (10/25/09) UPDATED

Just the shower and the sink.

I think I will sink if I attempt any other goals this week. I have lots of things to do. For one thing I'm putting new patterns in my store and my scanner program has not yet decided to work (as usual). Bless it's little heart (although it really doesn't seem to have one). The scanner was free and I'm so thankful for it but ARRRRRGGHHH!!!!

Oh! I just love making progress! I finished the sink last week, except for some deposits around the faucet which will have to be a separate project because they did not want to come off using this method. The tub and shower are coming along nicely, although slowly.

Needle Work Show!

The first ever Needle Work Show Retail is coming! It's an online needle work show for consumers where you can visit "booths" of many retailers around the world who sell needlework related products. Some will be selling right from their booths!

The dates are November 5th through 8th. I'll be there as an exhibitor. Stop by!

Sewing Goals for This Week (10/18/09) UPDATED

Get everything done!

Wait ~ that isn't a realistic goal!

#1 Get sewing machine working again. It may be a tension problem. I was making buttonholes the other day with the upper tension set on zero and it was still too tight. I'm going to trying putting it down on zero again for regular sewing and see if I can sew without breaking the thread.

The machine is working adequately (although I still think it has issues).

#2 Assuming I or my DearRepairmen get it figured out, I simply must sew the second baby hat. Done!

#3 I also must finish The Bohemian Skirt. I've been wearing it  (all I have left is stitching the elastic and closing up the hole) and I want to wash it. Hmmmmm.

#4 Lavender baby dress. This is the most urgent since I don't know when the baby shower will be. I'd also like to get the other dress ("green baby dress") and jumper finished but that isn't strictly necessary.

I'm aiming for this week:
> Prepare skirt fabric for cutting or tearing; tear or cut skirt pieces. I still have to cut one piece of fabric in half to prepare the two skirt pieces but otherwise they are ready. Also got to this point with the green baby dress.


> Sew gathering stitches on skirt pieces and set aside for gathering during computer "wait time". Nope.
> Stitch bodice ~ a much as I possibly can. I'm ready to attatch the skirt (when it's ready)!

I really need to get more of it done but that doesn't seem possible. I also have the sleeves started.

Housekeeping Goals for This Week (10/18/09) UPDATED

#1 Continue to work on the sink.

#2 Also work on my tub and shower. I've had difficulty cleaning it too. I found, however, that if I scrub (and I do mean SCRUB) it with a wet wash cloth and my liquid soap it comes clean. I do this at the end of my shower. It requires being in the shower and having lots of water. How, otherwise, would I do that without getting my clothes wet? *smile* It works great. I don't know if that will work on the blue residue it gets but baking soda (and lots of scrubbing) work does. And for the rough-textured floor, a scrubbing tooth brush.

But I think for this week I will mainly work on scrubbing a small section of the walls each day.

I forgot allllll about that third goal. Actually, I thought of it but didn't remember that I had made it my goal for this week. I was still thinking of it as a future possibility. Alas!

I did not do anything with #1 (at least it's not gross anymore!) but did well on #2. It's coming right along! Slowly, though.

Organization Goals for This Week (10/18/09) UPDATED

#1 I have to old glass syrup pitchers and another bottle in my bedroom floor. They are from my grandmother. Now, really, that's not a good place for them. I'd like to put them in my hope chest. The problem is, I think only two of them are mine and one is DearMother's. I just don't know which two are mine (I think the vinegar bottle is mine). My goal is to find out which syrup pitcher belongs to me, remove all three to the kitchen, wash all three, and then return my two to my bedroom and pack them away in my hope chest.

#2 Continue to work on my pattern organization, if possible. Now that I have the worst ones out of the way it's not quite so important but it would be helpful to make some progress. Perhaps look for more hanging file folders and tabs, identify the unlabeled pattern pieces (always label your pattern pieces!), file some more if they are handy.

#3 Discuss with DearBrother the urgency of finishing my closet, especially the drawers.

Through a combination of not feeling well last week and forgetting what my goals were until I checked them on Thursday, I didn't get them done. Friday was just to busy to bother with these non-essentials!

Sewing Goals for This Week (10/11/09) UPDATED

#1 Purchase white thread, if possible.

#2 Project: Baby Dress for upcoming baby shower
> Decide what size to make and trace pattern
> Select fabric, buttons, thread, and view
> Layout, mark, cut


#3 Project: Drop-waist gown from Beautiful Lingerie
> Finish the narrow hem at the top of the gown
> Stitch front and back bodice together
> Sew skirt pieces together
> Finish skirt bottom
> Possibly more?

#1 Got white thread!

#2 Decided what size dress to make and trace the pattern. Selected the fabric, checked buttons (will use white or clear, of which I have quite a few), selected the view. Decided to make two dresses instead of one . . . and a jumper (the coordinating fabrics I found in my stash just grabbed me!). Cut them all out except the skirts. I forgot to look for thread before I made my final choice of fabric but I think at least one of them will work. Most of the pieces on the two dresses and one jumper are marked.

#3 Well, I was sewing right along on this one when my sewing machine decided cause problems. The thread started breaking every few stitches. I will have to work on that next week. I did, however, finish the hem on the top of the bodice, sew the bodice together, and sew the skirt pieces together.

Not bad! *grin*

Organization Goals This Week (10/11/09) UPDATED

I've decided to stick with just one organization goal this week. I could have a great many (but they wouldn't get met!). Some things that should be done cannot be done right now. Then there are the other things I might want to do for which I am the reason they wouldn't get done. Well, I am a factor, and a significant one at that! I don't think it would be wise to take on many organization goals with so many other projects I must be working on this week.

So . . . .

I intend to find my file boxes, choose one which contains files I never use and that might just as well be stacked in a box along with other papers I never use that are awaiting sorting or better storage, work up a storage system in the file box for sewing patterns, then see if I like it. My patterns are just everywhere. I cannot live this way and by this time next year if I do not come up with a storage system I shall have to move out of my bedroom. I think a pattern storage system would be much more practical. So, this is the first idea I have had that I thought might really work. We'll see!

Find file boxes . . . . Done!

Choose one . . . Done!

Empty it . . . Done!

Work up a storage system . . . . Done!

I filed all the pattern pieces that were in the way. I do have a few more I will add, perhaps, next week.

I could only find five empty hanging file folders and three tabs. Still, I put each pattern in its individual manila folder and put it in the file box. I think I do have some more empty hanging folders somewhere, along with tabs. I would like to have everything labeled but this will do for now!

Housekeeping Goals This Week: 10/11/09 UPDATED

I have one housekeeping goal this week (aside from my usual duties). It is to figure out my bathroom sink. I do know how to operate it but I do not know how to keep it clean!

My methods are not working and it keeps collecting stuff, especially in the bowl and around the faucet. This week I intend to consult with DearMother and if she has a remedy my sink will be shining and smooth by this time next week. If she doesn't have a remedy perhaps she can help me find one.

Well, she knew what to do about it! I scrubed on it awhile but although this method does work it takes some hearty scrubbing and I didn't really want to tackle it all today. I think that if I use this method regularly it will soon be sparkling clean!

Recent Project: Skirt

This is The Bohemian Skirt by Favorite Things. Very comfortable and easy to make (although it takes a lot of sewing!).

Sewing Goals for This Week (10/4/09) UPDATED

This is a very ambitious list but it would be much longer if I wasn't trying to be realistic. lol

Links go to the patterns I'm using.

Project #1: Baby Square Yoke Dress #1
-- Get button holes to work, find the right size, practice (I've made some but they're not turning out right so I need to find out why and fix the problem).
-- Mark the buttonhole locations, find a hook and eye, sew on the hook and eye.
-- Make the buttonholes, sew on the buttons.
-- Finish remaining inside seams and trim threads

The dress is complete and ready to send to it's wearer!

Project #2: Baby knot hat #2
I've already made one of these. It's cute! This one will have a contrast band on the bottom. Here's a picture of the one I made before:

Found out I am out of white thread (the hat I'm making is white) so had to postpone this project.

Project #3: The Bohemian Skirt
All I have to do on this one is finish the waistband. I just pinned the elastic until I decided where I wanted the wasitband to rest and therefore how big it needed to be.  Should be simple enough, so why has it taken me two months (so far) to do it? Hmmmm.

Postponed for same reason as above. 

Project #4: Drop-waist gown from Beautiful Lingerie
This one I have cut out and if I fnish up the other four projects I want to get started on sewing it. At the very least I want to find all the pieces (I think I know where they are but I could be wrong . . . . Things have been known to get lost around here. . . . ) and switch the thread in my machine.

If I should happen to have more time I want to sew the straps and decide how to finish the top of the gown. I could go on and on but I really don't see myself getting even this much stuff done this week!

Since I could do the other two projects I got right into this one. The straps were VERY easy to make. I thought they would be hard because I always have trouble turning tubes but they were simple as can be. I also started finishing the top of the gown. That is to be done before the front and back bodice are stitched together.

Housekeeping Goals for This Week (10/4/09) UPDATED

I have just two goals this week. It's not that I only intend to do two things in the housekeeping department (wouldn't that be a disaster, even if I am just second in command!), but rather that I only intend to require myself to do two things that are new or improved.

Improvements in housekeeping have always been a special challenge for me, and since I'm going to be very busy this week with other things, I don't want to get in over my head (in other words, set myself up for failure!).

So here they are:
#1: I recently bought two large plastic storage containers for $4.00 each. They were very helpful but filled up quickly. DearMother told me that these were available for that price at a certain store that is supposed to have good deals so I thought I might just go there sometime and get some containers of several different sizes for some of my stuff that has no home. So, I'd like to find out if we're going there any time soon and if it's this week I want to buy some containers.

Did this--except we didn't go. 

#2: Last week DearMother cleaned my bathroom because I wasn't available to do it (bless her heart!). Later, she asked me if I was saving those two empty soap jugs. Um, no, my trash can was full (or at least that's why I didn't throw the most recent one away--I don't remember about the first one)! Well, I have since emptied my trash but if I put the jugs in it my trash can would be full again. So a better plan would be to just take them out to the big trash can (which I think was also full at the time). If they won't fit, I'll scream. No, really. I'll make them fit.

Did this. I saved one of them because I discovered a reason to. The big trash can was nearly empty. I was thrilled.

Now, if I accomplish that, I might even try three little goals next week.

Recent Project: Bonnet

Prairie Bonnet by Sew Baby! I made this one for a little girl.

Project in Progress: Baby dress

It a very simple version of Chery Williams "Baby Square Yoke Dresses"

I'm seriously considering trying one of the collars next time but I wanted to start out with something very simple.

Another Glad

Flowers of July

Delightful pictures my sister took!

Gladiolus

Queen Anne's Lace

Close-up of Queen Anne's Lace

Learning New Skills

DearMother mentioned today that some folks on a homesteading-type forum she reads are doing a skill-a-month challenge. Participants learn one new skill each month (that they have been wanting to learn).

That sounds like something I need to do (I'm afraid I would fail though ~ I'll think about it next month). This idea got me thinking about what skills (or other things) I would like to learn. Now, bear in mind that even though this is in writing it's not a commitment of any kind. It's just ideas!

I would like to learn:

How to start seeds ~ veggies and seeds. I've done it, but not by myself. If I had to do it by myself I would be a wee bit lost.

How to knit. I tried to learn when I was little, but frankly I prefer crocheting so it didn't really take off. Knitting and crocheting aren't completely interchangeable so I'd like to know both.

Soap making. Why not? :-) Actually, since I use liquid soap, I need to learn how to make that.

How to make rye bread ~ light with caraway (I've made a dark rye).

Embroidery.

If I wasn't hungry I'd probably be able to think of a dozen more!

Garden Journal: March 17, 2009

Well, it's officially gardening season. I'm not sure it would be accurate to say that gardening season really stops for more than a couple of months, considering that we can still be preserving food in November and we starting planning our seed orders in January, but it has really begun now. We've cleaned off most of our garden plots and some of them have been plowed already. The green house is cleaned out and we're getting ready to start seeds. And yes, we've made our seed orders ~ but that's different ;)

We will be growing parsnips and salsify again this year, which we have not for a while. We're also trying eggplant and fennel for sure. Washing pots to plant seeds in is on the agenda this week (I really should try to wash some yet today ~ but houseplants keep showing up in the sink to interfere with that. I suppose it's all in innocence but it seems like a conspiracy to me!).

A Thought for This Week

"Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered."

~ Romans 4:7

Women and Homemaking

Surely, it is a pernicious and mistaken idea, that the duties which
tax a woman's mind are petty, trivial, or unworthy of the highest grade
of intellect and moral worth. Instead of allowing this feeling, every
woman should imbibe, from early youth, the impression that she is in
training for the discharge of the most important, the most difficult,
and the most sacred and interesting duties that can possibly employ
the highest intellect. She ought to feel that her station and
responsibilities in the great drama of life are second to none, either
as viewed by her Maker, or in the estimation of all minds whose judgment
is most worthy of respect.
From American Woman's Home by Catherine E. Beecher and Harriet Beecher Stowe

Home Duties Not Duly Appreciated

The authors of this volume, while they sympathize with every honest
effort to relieve the disabilities and sufferings of their sex, are
confident that the chief cause of these evils is the fact that the
honor and duties of the family state are not duly appreciated, that
women are not trained for these duties as men are trained for their
trades and professions, and that, as the consequence, family labor is
poorly done, poorly paid, and regarded as menial and disgraceful.

From the Introduction to American Woman's Home by Catherine E. Beecher and Harriet Beecher Stowe.

Garden Planning Thoughts

Although I have refused to do any outside work until March (I want to actually have winter!), I have been in the books and seed catalogs. I truly love vegetables and herbs, and flowers too. I like to look through catalogs. I take those from past years so that I don't have to return them when someone else wants to order. I can just look whenever I want to! Some of them are getting rather worn.

#1 In January I rotated my crops. My personal garden has several annual beds. Each bed contains herbs, flowers, and vegetables that do well together. So, I made a little map for this year's garden so I will know at a glance which things go in which bed this year. I've since lost the map. Surely it will turn up!

#2 I tried to grow eggplant last year. Using some old seed we had, I did get two plants, but eggplant is very vulnerable to bugs and I'm afraid they ate them up. I needed to be better prepared and more vigilant. I had decided to try again this year, but then . . . . I really want eggplant and I don't want to go by chance. I have requested that this be a regular garden crop grown by the whole family. Perhaps with newer seed we will get more plants ( I should hope so!), and if we use row covers they may avoid a bug attack.

#3 I've also requested fennel. Actually, that was dear Grandmother's request. I have never tasted fennel, although I would like to. She has tried it and likes it very much. This is the bulb fennel, not the herb.

Yet Another Giveaway

Jocelyn's “Winter Bundle” giveaway is still going on. This week you can enter to win, among other things, a Sense and Sensibility E-pattern! If you like to sew, take a look at this. Mrs. Chancey offers many lovely patterns!