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JennGM
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I'm trying to start this year with resolution to be more organized. I'm trying to implement FlyLady with adaptations to suit my needs. I had a wonderful Epiphany dinner with a house blessing by a priest, so dh and I did a good cleaning through most of the house, so I'm starting off well. My kitchen is quite clean, and I'm working on the Christmas decorations this week.
Although my mother was a good homemaker, it didn't come naturally, so I didn't see the natural rhythms of cleaning and homemaking. My mil is a natural, as was my paternal grandmother, but I'm finding I have to learn on my own routines and upkeep of a home owner and homemaker.
I came across this little gem from Martha Stewart 30 Things Everyone Should Know. I'm printing it out now, because it would make a nice notebook...but then I started thinking, wouldn't that be a good idea, to keep a Home Ec Notebook? Keeping in little tasks learned, sometimes needing quick reference. Writing down a routine that works for me and keeping in the binder...
A book I enjoy and need to pull out more often isHome Comforts. It's enjoyable reading, and very practical. But even her book proves to me that she had some family training by her mother and grandmothers to keep an orderly home.
But also reading Little House on the Prairie and other living books and seeing the routines:
Monday: Wash Day
Tuesday: Ironing Day
Wednesday: Sewing Day
Thursday: Market Day
Friday: Cleaning Day
Saturday: Baking Day
Sunday: Day of Rest
I'm just having rambling thoughts...my son is young, but I want him to see and know the rhythms and routines of running a house, no matter what his vocation in his life. I love the story of my husband when he lived on his own, his first purchases were a TV and a vacuum. It was important to him. That's the other motivator...he's lived in an orderly clean house, and I owe it to my family to do the same.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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lilac hill
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Read the Martha download about making grilled cheese.
Had to laugh, it was not until we were married a few months that I found out that grilled cheese sandwiches were not made in the oven.
Mom's recipe, deal out a dozen slices of bread on the oven rack, add cheese and melt. Deal out the top slice and continue broiling. Putting the rack at it lowest level keeps the burning to a minimum.
Who knew that a griddle/cast iron pan with plenty of butter made real comfort food.
Thanks for the link.
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Viv
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Elizabeth
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I have a dear firend who never knew that the real name for grilled cheese was "grilled cheese" until she was in high school and ate it at my house. She really thought it was called "burnt cheese" because her mother ALWAYS burned it  .
I love your plan Jenn. Home Comforts is a favorite of mine. Lissa and I discovered it about five years ago when we were both moving. Did you know the author has a new book out called Laundry? I've heard great reviews.
I do love to be inspired to sink into the rhythms of homemaking. I haven't felt well for a couple of weeks now and it's been keeping me home. I notice that those rhythms are so much easier to establish and keep going when I'm not running all over the place.
Laurel's Kitchen is one of my favorite cookbooks even though I'm no longer a strict vegetarian. Laurel Flinders and Carol Roberts write eloquently about the rhythms of kitchen life. And the recipes are really lovely even if you're not a vegetarian.
An inspiring site is Mary Jane Farmgirl. Mary Jane can inspire even the suburbanites!
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Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
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TracyQ
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Jenn,
GOOD for you! Way to go! \O/
I've been working on the same thing, but my home was in CHAOS (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome)! 
Little by little, I'm simplifying, developing good habits and routines, and finding places for everything. I'm decluttering a lot! It's wonderful, and FINALLY, the Lord is helping me to bring peace to our home!
I've been praying for a change in my attitude toward obedience, and to fulfill my vocation with joy, and through the intercession of our Blessed Mother, wife among wives, I am doing great!
Praise the Lord for all you're doing! GREAT job!!!
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Tracy Q.
wife of Marty for 20 years, mom of 3 wonderful children (1 homeschool graduate, 1 12th grader, and a 9th grader),
 homeschooling in 15th year in Buffalo, NY
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I had checked this book out at my library while still living in TX--I enjoyed it a lot. I can't remember if it was that book, or another on homemaking where the author emphasized "airing out the beds" daily. That seemed so funny to me, because my beds don't usually get made till after breakfast (if at all  ), so I guess I do air them out!
This is an area I feel very lacking in. I don't really have a rhythm to my household duties. It seems we're either in CHAOS or trying to dig out from under it. I think a lot of what gets me is being inconsistent. This is a problem in many areas, unfortunately!
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amiefriedl
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I've never looked closely at Martha Stewart before but I took at peek at her site from this thread.
This has probably been said before, but it just occurred to me that Martha Stewart is providing a service for people that the devil probably doesn't like very much. She is educating people about the finer things in life, the DETAILS, ie helping create/perfect culture in the domestic home. Details are important and the devil doesn't want people to know it.
Details add refinement to the home and family. I'm just considering here; I'm sure nothing new. But I got to thinking about it after reading the _Dressing with Dignity_ book and your posts here added on to that.
Can't write any more, gotta run, but I just wanted to share my thoughts fwiw. This Martha "stuff" looks worth checking into though. We could certainly use refining here at my house! 
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Amie
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Mary G
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"Home Comforts" is the book I got my 14 yod to help her learn HomeEc. One problem for me, going to Catholic college prep schools all my life -- I never had Home Ec. Mom did much of the work when we were at school so I never really saw all the home mgmt stuff that goes into running a house. Home Comforts was a great read for me too!
I agree with Amie about Martha Stewart. I like the way her magazine (and website) have the details -- how to really make good shortbread, or decorating for the holidays or whatever. I'm still not sure why MS is so maligned by folks -- many of whom swear by Oprah 
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mary
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I ordered the home comforts book from the library, thanks for the suggestion.
Elizabeth, i have the Mary Jane Butters book and am working on embriodering napkins with the veggie ball pple. I'm also making plates with the figures (using make a plate) for our outside patio. I love that book!
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JennGM
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amiefriedl wrote:
This has probably been said before, but it just occurred to me that Martha Stewart is providing a service for people that the devil probably doesn't like very much. She is educating people about the finer things in life, the DETAILS, ie helping create/perfect culture in the domestic home. Details are important and the devil doesn't want people to know it.
Details add refinement to the home and family. I'm just considering here; I'm sure nothing new. But I got to thinking about it after reading the _Dressing with Dignity_ book and your posts here added on to that.
Can't write any more, gotta run, but I just wanted to share my thoughts fwiw. This Martha "stuff" looks worth checking into though. We could certainly use refining here at my house! |
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I agree about MS. She does things precisely, sometimes her way is the only way, but it's inspiring. I've been a big fan for years. My family nicknamed me Martha the way I do things.
My biggest criticism of her approach is that it does elevate the doing of something as the highest form -- pride, making you feel good -- and doesn't promote the homeyness and love in doing it for others. And of course, all spiritual and religious aspects are noticably absent. But I can put that aside and take the good advice and wonderful illustrations and put them to good use!
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Jennifer G. Miller
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Family in Feast and Feria
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Willa
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Thanks you all for this thread and the book recommendations. One of my goals for this year is to treat my home management more as an "art" form instead of just doing the least possible to survive and maintain.
My daughter wants to get ahead of the game and learn the domestic arts in her youth rather than scramble on the job like I did. So I'm getting Home Comforts from the library; it sounds great.
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Willa
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Elizabeth
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I think the library is a great place to start, but Home Comforts is to housekeeping/homemaking what Smart Medicine for a Healthier Child is to home health care. It's a big, thick reference book for an ongoing education. It's a cornerstone of a woman's library. Just like Smart Medicine is an infintely useful baby gift, Home Comforts is a great engagement gift/wedding shower gift. Maybe it's an sweet sixteen gift....
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Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
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Jen L.
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I LOVE Smart Medicine for a Healthier Child! I have used it for years and just noticed the 2nd edition on sale at Wegman's the other day. (Hey, it only took me 3 years to figure out there's a new edition ) Anyway, I only had a minute, but I couldn't tell what the new edition changed. Does anyone know? (I also really like Smart Medicine for Healthier Living -- the "adult" version of Healthier Child.)
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"...the best state in which to glorify God is our actual state; the best grace is that of the moment..." St. Peter Eymard
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amiefriedl
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jenngm67 wrote:
| My biggest criticism of her approach is that it does elevate the doing of something as the highest form -- pride, making you feel good -- and doesn't promote the homeyness and love in doing it for others. And of course, all spiritual and religious aspects are noticably absent. But I can put that aside and take the good advice and wonderful illustrations and put them to good use! |
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Ahhh, here Jenn, you have an important point. A point that I didn't understand until very recently. We attend to the details in the home for the love of others not for the pride of doing it. Something similar to attending to our own virtues/manners growth for the love of God and not for just for thinking we're hot stuff. I could never see why to make my home extra cozy, I felt it was just fluffed-up pride. Now I see it is for a type of charity toward my family. Knowing this point makes it infinitly easier to iron a table cloth for only one nights use or get out the fancy dinner plates (and wash and put away)for only one meal.
Okay, I'm done thinking out loud (or is it aloud?).
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Amie
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Sarah
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kingvozzo wrote:
| I don't really have a rhythm to my household duties. It seems we're either in CHAOS or trying to dig out from under it. I think a lot of what gets me is being inconsistent. This is a problem in many areas, unfortunately! |
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This is how I feel. I wish sooooo much I would have had some homemaking skills before I had a bunch of kids because now its a matter of just digging myself out. I long to make a pleasant looking/smelling house. I know my kids feel like they live in a mess  .
I would like to get that Home Comforts book . . .only I hope it inspires me rather than making me despair!
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JennGM
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This is the first I've heard of this book. Thanks for the recommendation. My reference books for medical for both adult and children's needs is woefully inadequate, but I had no advice on what to build it on. I have this horrible American Medical Family Book that is so inaccurate, that it's only merely good to find out if I cancer or pneumonia.  Okay, it's not that bad, but it only gives me a little info.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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JennGM
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kingvozzo wrote:
| I had checked this book out at my library while still living in TX--I enjoyed it a lot. I can't remember if it was that book, or another on homemaking where the author emphasized "airing out the beds" daily. |
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During my brief stay in the Daughters of St. Paul convent when I was 16, this was brought to my attention. I had problems getting ready in the morning and being on time for morning prayers, so as soon as I woke up I would make my bed. One morning I was aghast when I came back from the bathroom -- all my covers and sheets were turned down all the way to the foot of my bed!!  The Mistress in charge then found me and explained I needed to let my bed air out. I ended up being late, again, that morning, but lesson learned. 
But that memory has remained with me. I can't make the bed right away, and I cringe when dh does. 
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Jennifer G. Miller
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amiefriedl
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Okay, I give up. Exactly WHY do you need to let a bed air out??
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Amie
Blessed with an awesome hubby and Mom of ds10, dd7, dd3 and dd 10months.
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Elizabeth wrote:
| I think the library is a great place to start, but Home Comforts is to housekeeping/homemaking what Smart Medicine for a Healthier Child is to home health care. It's a big, thick reference book for an ongoing education. It's a cornerstone of a woman's library. Just like Smart Medicine is an infintely useful baby gift, Home Comforts is a great engagement gift/wedding shower gift. Maybe it's an sweet sixteen gift.... |
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And I just happen to have a sweet-16 birthday coming up in the next month for my one and only daughter....
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Willa
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kingvozzo
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jenngm67 wrote:
During my brief stay in the Daughters of St. Paul convent when I was 16, this was brought to my attention.
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Jenn, which DSP convent did you stay at? I was blessed to have free access to them when I was growing up---they have a house and store in Staten Island, NY. They were so very wonderful, and joyfully holy. I went to several discernment weekends with them; they helped me realize that my vocation was to the married life. I have such a soft spot for them, and I always go visit when I'm home in NY!
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Mary G
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amiefriedl wrote:
| Okay, I give up. Exactly WHY do you need to let a bed air out?? |
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According to Home Comforts:
While you are sleeping, you breathe about 2 poinds of moisture along with breath odos and flocks of microorganizsms, into the air, your pillow and your bedding. You also perspire, perhaps a cup's worth, and exude skin oils and body smells. And you use up the room's oxygen and replace it with exhald CO2. Where there are two or more people in the room or the bed, these effects are multiplied.
Probably more than you wanted to know eh? Even when it's freezing outside, I air the bedrooms for about 10-15 minutes (if not longer)and it does seem to cut down on the mustiness. Just throw your covers all the way back and set your pillows upright -- if you do it every day it cuts way down on how often to change the sheets -- maybe every 2 weeks rather than weekly.....
hope this helps!
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