Wednesday, July 15, 2020

Grandma's Apron




Hello Ladies~

One of the items I consider part of my daily wardrobe is my apron.  It helps me feel like I've got work to focus on, but also protects my clothes.

My first apron I made, last year. No pattern, just brown butcher paper and tracing my old favorite.

 When I first started homemaking, I was taught by many seasoned homemakers that an apron will cut down on laundry by protecting your clothes, and lifts your mood so you get your mind into your work. Other than actually getting dressed and out of my morning walking clothes, this one thing helps do just what they've said.


My great-grandmother always had something tied on, either a waist type apron or full length.  It's something that through the years I have found it protects my clothing, but also helps my attitude towards my daily work.
Great-Grandma Gates

Here is my old faithful to the left. It is thread bare  from so much use, but I just love the vegetable teapots. The one on the right was a gift from a friend. The embroider is so lovely, and the pockets are teacups. This one is for those days I don't have much dirty work to do.

I'm told, even my granddaughters love to put on an apron at home so they can be like grandma. I love my girls!

There is one apron I have that is a sort of canvas that wraps all the way around, but I don't usually wear much anymore.

Here is a fun apron I found.  It has Cinderellas carriage on it. I use to wear it on light cleaning days and pretend like my prince will be home soon.  Today, I am older and wiser and wear a full apron.

My Cinderella apron


Here is a story I found years ago, it's not coming out in a picture so I will type it for you:


     "I don't think our children understand what an apron is. The principal use of the cotton pinafore was to protect the dress underneath because a woman often had very few. It was also easier to launder aprons than dresses.

     An apron served as a potholder for removing hot pans from the oven. It was wonderful for blotting children's tears. From the chicken coop, an apron was a pouch for carrying eggs, fussy chicks and sometimes half-hatched eggs headed to a warming oven.

     When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids. When the weather turned cold, Grandmother would wrap it around her chilled arms. Those big old aprons moped many a perspiring brow, whether bent over a hot wood stove or picking snap peas in the garden.  Her apron served as a carrier for kindling and wood ships brought into the kitchen to stoke the fire.  From the garden, it carried the fresh vegetables. After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls.

     Come Autumn, the apron bundled the apples indoors for preparing apple butter and pies.  When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds.  Toys and showed were toted to bedrooms in it as well.

     When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out on to the porch and waved her apron as an alert to the menfolk to come in from the fields for her buttery biscuits.

     Times have changed. While Grandmother once set her hot baked pies in the window sill to cool, her granddaughters set theirs out to thaw. There are many cooks today that would fret over the stains and germs on Grandmother's apron...but it is doubtful that anyone caught anything form her apron but love."


I don't know where I got this, I've had it for so many years. But I thought you may enjoy it.  

Done your apron proudly, it shows there is work to be done!

Wishing you peace,
Mrs. Peterson





Tuesday, July 07, 2020

Homemakers Self Care

A vintage book explains possible self care through the week. 
Hello Ladies~

Recently I was reminded of the need for self care, even for homemakers. I tend to go from morning to night and only to be left too exhausted for a movie, games or even much conversation. I collapse into bed from doing too much or too much physical exertion which also leaves me not sleeping well. We need energy to sleep too, and being too exhausted I don't sleep well.

This lovely description above talks about the need to do something each day. While I'm not so sure showering once a week is for me, I do take to the idea of doing something daily for self care.

Some things I have come across through my years of homemaking:

* Take time for a simple beauty routine - about 30 min a day, to dress, hair done, and some lotion maybe even tinted lip balm (always makes me smile). Have you brushed your teeth today? Dressing and putting on a watch or bracelet helps me feel more put together.

* Next is daily exercise for 15 min - I walk. While recovering from  a health condition, I walk daily and find some sort of light weight, tai chi, or stretching routine done daily lifts my spirits and helps keep aging bodies mobile. :-)

* Here we come to a daily rest for 15 min. This is so refreshing. After being up since 5:30 or 6 if I want to be pleasant to husband, family or neighbors...I need a 15 min rest sometime after lunch.  If my morning has been too physically taxing I take my rest before lunch. It's so wonderful I get giddy!

* And finally we come to the end of the day with a 15 min before bed self care time.  A bath and applying lotion to face and body is what I read, but I can't shower before bed. My hair gets dented like one of those cow's licked me in the night! It's not pretty. So I like to shower late afternoon, but before I make dinner. Usually by 3 or 3:30 I shower and change into "lounge" clothes. Since once I start dinner I am usually not going any where, nor do I receive company in the evening hours - usually. I have been dressed and put together all day, now it's time to relax and start a nutritious supper.

Last night I found this phrase in the book I am reading "The Grace of Enough" by Haley Stewart: "When we allow ourselves to notice God's creation, we see His fingerprints everywhere. Our wonder and attention to the beauty of the world point us to our Creator".  This is so obvious to me, when I have taken the time in my day for self care, I am more open seeing God's finger prints around me.  Whether on a walk, or sitting on my porch glider whatching a rich sunset here in Colorado. The day feels complete. I have taken care of me, I have done a bit of work, I have done something I enjoy and now I can thank the One who gave it all to me.

Please don't copy the image unless you contact me first. Thank you.  This is the sunset from out front porch. God was having fun with color this night.


Wishing you God's peace,
Mrs. Peterson