Reflecting and Contemplating

"Bring me the sunshine in a up - Emily Dickenson"

Hello Ladies,

Each year about this time I start to look back, a review of sorts. Where I grew, what I accomplished, what virtues or shortcomings I need to work on and grow more in, and of course what things around our home I wanted to complete but haven't (yet). 

Along with the new year, my birthday is this week. And I have a tradition that I set aside time on my birthday or the day before, to review. I have a shoe box in the top of my closet with treasures in it. Things I only get out once a year during this week. Things like a crown - to remind me I am a daughter of the King, pictures from a magazine of a lovely woman walking through her garden - this reminds me to do what I love, what fills me with joy, something I've made by hand that makes me smile, and a few other little personal things along with a notebook. 

The notebook has some of the similar questions listed above, but I write them out and reflect. I make a cup of tea, have a wonderful treat and sit in the quiet to remember, and look forward. It's about answering the question: Am I growing? Am I doing what makes my insides excited? Am I fulfilling my role as a wife and homemaker? Have I put to good use my skills as an artist? What do I want to work on, specifically, this year?

There are so many vintage books, lessons and blogs of traditional homemaking that give me encouragement, but I found this just a couple days ago and wanted to share:

From On Living Simply - The Golden Voice of John Chrysostom

 

"Commerce in itself is not bad, indeed it is an intrinsic part of God's order. What matters is how we conduct our commerce.  The reason why commerce is necessary is that God created human beings with different ambitions and skills. One person is a good carpenter, another a good preacher, another can make crops grow in the poorest soil. Thus each person specializes in the work for which God has ordained him; and by selling his skills or goods he produces, he can obtain from others the goods which he needs."

When I read this, it moved me. I could see God's plan for our exchange of goods and talents. That each of us has a gift that is necessary for God's plan. To be able to get our "needs fulfilled". Our needs, not our wants. That is my goal this year is to discern each of my purchases as a need vs a want. To see if I am using our resources wisely, as in Proverbs, or foolishly. We are captivated online and drawn into purchasing things we really didn't intend. That topic is for another article.

John Chrysostom goes on in the next post to write about something near and dear to my husband and I. One of the main reasons I am still a homemaker with an empty nest, so to speak.

"In a family the husband needs the wife to prepare his food; to make, mend, and wash his clothes; to fetch water; and to keep the rooms and furniture in the house clean. The wife needs the husband to till the soil, to build and repair the house, and to earn money to buy the goods they need. God has put into a man's heart the capacity to love his wife, and into a woman's heart the capacity to love her husband. But their mutual dependence makes them love each other out of necessity also. At times love within the heart may not be sufficient to maintain the bond of marriage. But love which comes from material necessity will give that bond the strength it needs to endure times of difficulty. The same is true for society as a whole. God has put into every person's heart the capacity to love his neighbors. but that love is immeasurably strengthened by their dependence on one another's skills." 

Written somewhere around 390 AD.

This tells me my role as a wife is necessary as a part of the whole. And that depending on each other's skills, out of love, is part of God's plan for us. Thankfully I don't have to "fetch water", and I don't make his clothes - of which he is very grateful. But I do look to "the ways of the house". 

Even if your husband is gone, the house and family still need you. We need to tend the washing, dusting, cleaning, food, and using our creativity in some way for enjoyment and for the good of others. 

I hope you have found this interesting as I did. To see this written so very long ago and how true it is even today, really could use some reflecting. This is what I will be doing this week. Reflecting on how I can be the woman God created me to be, not the woman society or friends say I should be. That leads to confusion and a heart that is not aligned with the Peace offered to us by the One who loves us most.

Peace be with you,

Mrs. Peterson

Christmas Season

A memory ornament on our tree. My husband painted ornaments with me when we were first married.
 

A warm hello to you and Merry Christmas!  

I have been preparing for Christmas for some time now. Actually several weeks. In our country home, I like to prepare for Christmas starting in October. My gift buying is done by the weekend before Thanksgiving, and I am better prepared to enjoy the Christmas season with all the festivities and family get-togethers.

After Thanksgiving, we make hot cocoa or hot tea and we sit down and sign cards to be mailed the following week.

Then I take out our family calendar that hangs on the refrigerator and pick one holiday event to attend during the season, and our family & extended family Christmas get together.  That leaves me with time to see my daughter for her birthday and be at peace when Christmas comes.

Let me explain. When we lived in Okinawa for a few years, I had to have all my gift buying done, wrapped and mailed by the week before Thanksgiving in order for it to make it to the states in time for Christmas.

This set the pace for me. There are some years the gift buying does not get done until early Dec. At that time I am overwhelmed and become more convicted to stick to my routines. They bring me comfort during this season and allow me breathing space...or margins (there is a great book about Margins if you desire to learn about putting them in your day). 

This year I ran a bit past my cut off date, due to making a gift for each of our grandchildren.  This made gift buying rather simple, but took more time. Thankfully, my husband and I decided we were only exchanging stocking gifts.

In our home we follow a little jingle for stockings: Something to eat, Something to read, Something to play with, and Something you need. 

Since the kids are all grown and gone, this is still something we enjoy doing.  Especially finding something to play with for each other. One year I got him a puzzle ball to play with while he is in meetings. Since he works from home he is often in conference calls. Another year we got a card game called Set. It's fun to find something useful. 

As Christmas draws near, as it is now, I am preparing for Church service and our meal here at home. Then I will start immediately looking at the 12 days of Christmas that take us to the Epiphany. 

We have traditionally held an Epiphany party here at our house, but this year many friends have moved. I enjoy planning that and making a gluten-free kings cake, hiding a "baby" or coin in it and exchanging a white elephant gift exchange.

It's also the time I get out the new family calendar (already purchased before Thanksgiving as well) and my planner and start filling in the dates of birthdays and church related feast. I like to use colored pens for each month to mark off weekends. I made a post about it before here. This is my own tradition. 

We leave decorations up until the Epiphany, since that is the end of the 12 days of Christmas. Then I decorate with white snow flakes I make from coffee filters :-) and little silver decorations are used to decorate my table center piece for the remainder of the month of January. 

This little rhythm helps me to stay sane. If I am late with gifts, or the health condition I manage happens to be making things challenging, then I will take things off of my plate. Usually cards, and baking. I may bake one thing close to Christmas, but our meals and baked goods are pared down so I can manage stress. Stress makes my condition worse. 

I hope this gives you some ideas should you be looking to make the Christmas season into a rhythm and less stressful.

Merry Christmas to you and I wish you God's blessings,

Mrs. Peterson

Laine's Letters and her tips for paying off your home early

I can't recall where I found this, if you know please let me know so I can give credit.

Dear Sisters,

I am popping in to share a link for those who remember Laine, or her Letters that were just full of great ideas:

Home Economics: Fifty Ways We Paid off Our House on One Income (archive.org)

I searched and searched and found the article on WayBackMachine.org. There are many great blogs that through the years have been removed or deleted. 

BUT!! Some ladies have copies somewhere tucked away and you can post them here to share. 

I don't know much about it, or how to fiddle around with it, but I know this website has helped me find the old original Fascinating Womanhood posts from Helen Andelin and Laine's Letters. 

There are some old blogs that are near and dear, and before this current time of so many things on the internet that you have to wade your way through what Google wants you to see, or any of the other search engines. 

I hope you are blessed by this post and find that her tips can help. I wish I could recall if there was a book printed with her Letters, but I can't remember. 

Have a lovely Sunday afternoon.

Peace be with you,

Dee

Celebrate our failures

                               My first attempt *ever* at water color flowers.

 "We need to own our failures, celebrate them, share them, and learn from them" ~ Margy Malan from Green Renaissance video "Make Mistakes - Abandon your 'Perfect Life'" Oct 2, 2019 

Celebrate our failures? Most of us want to forget our failures. 

I am learning there is wisdom in my failures. 

How would I know that using a double acting baking soda will make my gluten-free biscuits rise? Guess how I know. Because I have used regular baking soda that wasn't fresh. Ooops. 

 I have longed to start a project and make it "just so" when I start. Then failure to meet my vision sets me back. 

 Ms. Margy teaches me a new perspective. Celebrate it! Woo hoo! It didn't turn out, now...what did I learn from that...and go forward. 

 Don't stew in it. Don't give up. It's in the trying again that we succeed just a little bit better than last time. 

 There is an old saying from when we lived in Okinawa many moons ago...7 times fall down, 8 times get up. 

 Have a blessed day!

Letters from the heart

  

   

Old fashioned Homemakers postcards found at an antique shop. "Drop a line", "What's cooking here", "Between pressing issues" are some of the sweet quotes.

Fun stickers to decorate envelopes!

 Hello Ladies~

Today I want to share the lovely art of letter writing. Some of you may already do this, and some may not or have not learned the skills. This is something we can keep alive in this time of technology. Technology is helpful, but it is so thoughtful to write letters and take a few moments for  phone calls. 

Please keep this close to your heart - people still need to know you take the time just for them. Even if just 5 minutes to write a note. 

Something to brighten their mailbox.

I try to write at least one letter a couple times a month. Usually to my dear cousin, sometimes my sweet grandchildren (they are so delighted at this) and sometimes to a homemaking friend I have met here, blogging.

National letter writing day is December 7th, but I have learned there is also National letter writing to an Elder and a Day of Letter writing. How fun that we have so many opportunities!

When writing a letter, the traditional way is to date the top left corner. Then comes the salutation: Dear Lisa, or Hello Mr. Snicklefritz. 

Writing thoughts or questions are always nice and show concern: "I hope my note finds you well" or "How are you doing since we last spoke?" 

Ideas for writing? You may think "what do I write about I talk to her all the time" or " we email/text daily". This is the time to write from the heart. Those lovely things that don't get shared when sending a one sentence text. Or 3 sentence email.

How's your homemaking decorating? Have you had new ideas you want to share? Maybe you want her ideas for new front door decorations? What projects are you working on? What have you participated in that you enjoyed? Have you taken and "adventures" like a drive through the country? Did you finally get to a to-do project and you feel grateful for. 

It's my humble opinion to stay clear from negative and opinionated statements about somebody. You want your letter to be sharing about YOU, not gossip of what someone else has done.

Something that Amy from On the Journey does, which I love, is break up the page into various portions. You can see a picture of what I am describing by going to her blog and looking at her "Snail Mail" link at the bottom of her posts. 

She usually has a quote or scripture written at the top and various tips or ideas written in various ways. Maybe even a quote that your friend will find very uplifting or a reminder of how much they are loved. 

Lydia and HomeLiving has done letter writing in the past and has a post about it on her blog. As well as Mrs. Sherman. 

My book of months with dates and sweet cards I find at antique shops and thrift stores.

                           

My book I have that I keep cards in shows how me what birthdays are coming up or anniversaries so I can make sure to have them stocked. (If not I keep a few in my letter drawer in my desk just in case ;-) 

Decorating the envelope is something else I love to do. That is my "touch". I know a friend who draws on my envelopes. I am not quite that talented. I can do a flower :-) 

I usually have a stash of stickers to decorate the envelope or box. It really is so much fun. 

I hope you have enjoyed my ideas of what I do and want to encourage you to get a small paper and envelope to write a little note to someone you know. Just to say "I'm thinking of you!"

Have a lovely day,

Mrs. Peterson

Recipes from the Heart of the Home

 "No one shall appear with his hands empty before the Lord; but everyone shall offer according to what he has, according to the blessing of the Lord his God shall give him." Deut. 16:16-17

If you have followed my blog before, you know I find happy faces in the oddest places. 

Hello Ladies~

I hope you are well. I chose the verse above because it reminds me each week to bring an offering (in my heart) to the Lord when I go to church. My offering is what I have made by hand through the week. It gives me a sense of doing for Him.

Today I am writing to you from the Heart of the Home - the Kitchen. I am often in here, either cooking or making something for the house. 

In all the years I have posted blog posts, I have never shared my homemade All-Purpose Cleaner. Now, I know there are many lovely ladies who post all kinds of variations. Truth be told, I have tried many and always come back to this one. 

It sanitizes, it cleans and it smells good.  Since I cook so much from scratch my counters are wiped down daily and I trust this version. Some are too complicated. Some leave me wondering if my counters are really sanitized. 

I always seem to come back to my old faithful. You know that saying, if it ain't broke don't fix it. Well, there is nothing wrong with it, I just try other variations. But always end up with a giggle when I am getting out my 20 year old trusty plastic squirt bottle that the recipe is taped to the front! I am not always THAT creative with those fancy labels I see today.

Ingredients for my All-Purpose Cleaner

All-Purpose Cleaner

1 Qt warm water

1 tsp Borax

1 tsp dish soap (or 13 squirts from a dispenser)

1/4 c. vinegar

20 drops lemon oil

10 drops tea tree oil

Mix in spray bottle. Great at cutting grease!

I am truly not aware of where I got the basics of this, but as with all recipes. I take the basics and add what I want or take away something that doesn't appeal to me. Since this has been with me for almost 20 years, I have no idea where I may have seen it. But it works!

Now for my other recipe this week. 

From my little nook, an herb crust for chicken.

This one is a rub I use for cooking chicken. It gives a lovely crust and tastes delicious when reheated. The original recipe, called Rub for meats -AIP, has variations that I don't use. I don't think I ever follow a recipe exactly.

Herb Crust for Chicken

1 1/2     tsp sea salt

2 T     powdered garlic

1 T     dried oregano

2 tsp     thyme

1/2 tsp     cinnamon

1 tsp     dried minced onion

1/4 tsp     ground ginger

1/4 tsp     dried dill

I blend them in a small coffee grinder that I use only for herbs. Store in a glass jar.

When I am cooking chicken, I use a bit of oil on it then I use a teaspoon to scoop a bit from the jar and tap it gently to "sprinkle" the crust mix on the chicken. If I use the spoon alone and sprinkle it tends to use way too much for each piece. My goal is a bit for flavor not completely covered.

Well, that's all for this week. We are preparing for Lent next week. In the mean time, please fix yourself a little cup of tea and sit down to gaze out the window at the beauty God has made right where you live.

May God's peace be with you,

Mrs. Peterson

I will close with a bit of humor for you from a little book we have called Holy Humor by Cal & Rose Samra:

"Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face." Victor Hugo

Audio book Marriage to a Difficult Man

Sunrise at our country home.

 Hello Ladies,

I am stepping out of my usually once a week post to share a book that has been mentioned many times in paths I've crossed, whether online blogs or in person friends. The book is called Marriage to a Difficult Man by Ms. Dobbs.

The audio book found here Marriage to a Difficult Man is on SermonAudio.com and is free. The story is something I am enjoying as I go about my housework, though it is not as clear of a recording I would like, but I'm grateful it's free.

A free audio supports my goal this year to not purchase anything new unless it's replacing something. I am finding this is challenging, which is very good for me. 

Have a blessed day. Enjoy a cozy afternoon and cup of tea, and know I'm praying for you.

Dee

Christmas memories

Hello Ladies~

It's always a bittersweet time of year for me when we are past the Epiphany and it's time to take down the Christmas decorations. Before I do, I wanted to share wonderful Christmas memories.  These memories are made mostly during my marriage of almost 29 years. Prior to this, some memories are great and others not so great. 

I heard once we can recreate our holidays based on what makes us happy rather than what we are "suppose" to do. One lady I know started collecting holiday socks to wear, as a child she was not given that opportunity. Another story I've heard is of wearing fun holiday earrings, whether for Easter, Christmas, or Valentines, even her birthday she had little present earrings. So much fun!

For me, it was choosing to go away from the fancy decorated trees to a simple tree. Filled with memories. My husband and I love nice things, but in our hearts we are simple and love homemade and meaningful things. 

So my tree is a memory tree. My whole family knows this and each year before Christmas we scan the year and ask "What was the one most meaningful thing to us this year?" And then we hunt for an ornament. 

I even have an ornament of a tent camper with a little fire next to the tent. All you see is eyes peeking out from the tent and bear tracks outside. Well, this happened to us 3 years ago! We were tent camping and forgot to lock up the dog food and a bear stole the whole container! We found it off in the woods of the campground, with holes from his teeth and he/she ate the whole bag of dog food. Probably had a belly ache later. 

So we've been able to find all sorts of ornaments that represent the one major event of the year. This year, we wondered? Mask? or kitten? I don't want a mask ornament, so we are still hunting for a Ragdoll kitten ornament. So sweet and soft!

Here are some favorites on my tree:

The hand print of my grandson at 2 years old. They put glue on this hand, dipped in glitter then wrapped it around the little ball.  I love anything with handprints!

This was a magical year for me. I had always wanted to ride the Polar Express since we moved here. One year my husband's son, Evan, came out and graciously paid for all of us to ride the Polar Express. (The local train converts every year and we take a short ride north of town to the North Pole and see real reindeer). This was my ticket. My bell is on the tree too, and if you are wondering, yes we all wore pajamas. I had full footed bunny pj's with my snow boots, long coat, hat and scarf. It was so cold outside!

My sweet husband painted this for me when we were dating. I used to paint ceramics for fun, and he joined in one day. I have always treasured this as this is not something he usually does.

This sweet and simple little bell brings back a host of memories. We were stationed in Okinawa and my husband was gone. My youngest step-daughter was in Kindergarten and the school had a Christmas performance that each student held one of these to ring as they sang Jingle Bells. Oh my goodness were they cute!

1976  was one of the years I was in Brownies and we made these after school with our troop leader.  Such a long time ago, but good memories.

There is poor lighting here, but this is our lovely manger scene. Baby Jesus is hidden from view somewhere near until Christmas. Then the wise men "travel" across my living room from Christmas day to the Epiphany when they arrive at the stable. Yes, we still do this even though the kids are gone. One year the grandchildren helped move them along, that was fun. 

Sometimes I want to replace our stockings I made back in the first year of our marriage, but I always choose not to. The decorations on them were found at the Okinawan dollar store and the felt is what I had on hand. The toe of the girls stockings had a button that when pressed sang Jingle Bells. Memories. 

Thanks for letting me share with you. I hope this may inspire you to think of Creating your own Christmas or holiday memories.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Blessed New year,
Dee

Today is my birthday!

This is my favorite type of tea: frozen or fresh blueberries, hot water, and whipped cinnamon honey. So comforting!

Hello there to you!

Today is my birthday and I am so excited:

I have been through many things through my 50 something years and am excited to see what God has for me in the remaining years.  

My word this year is Create. To create joy, create relationships, create fun with my husband, create order and beauty in my home.

I have healed from Lyme, am journeying through menopause (albeit a rough one!), and can now say I have survived COVID. I have learned a great deal of Hope and Trust in God.  For it is by His hand that I am where I am today.

This season in my life has been much about reaching into that place in me that I so loved as a child, before the world said "you must do x", "your suppose to x".  What about the space of wonder, the place that gets terrible excited to get a bicycle bell for her new bike! (Yes, that was me last Christmas).  My husband as seen this part of me through the years, but now it's time to be genuine of those things I love. 

Like making baskets and weaving in recycled material, and doing away with plastic bags as much as possible. I've written about that before, so I won't go say too much here.

That I love to sit outside in the morning hours and watch the sun come up and thank the Lord for all the wonders of the earth and how they awaken more and more as the sun comes closer to full rise.

I love homemaking, but am learning it can't be my all. God created me to also create. The greatest flattery is imitation, I plan to use my word of the year to create more, and see what God has for me in learning more about "Create." To be more intentional about using recycled materials.

Seeing first hand how much I declutter, and take car loads down - but you can't tell, has opened my eyes to all the clutter I manage.  I have learned the term "inventory to manage" from Minimal Mom on you tube.  She has inspired me to relook at all the things sitting around that is actually using my mental energy. Trying to find time to clean out, put away, oil, tend to, dust, find a home for. All these things are "inventory to manage". I have other things I want to do in my life, so I am managing much inventory right out the door.

Since my oldest daughter and her family now live 4 hours from us, and my youngest daughter and her family (40 min from us) are very tied up with schooling from home and full time work, I am growing through a new season as a step-mom.  I raised them, but now see I can't put my life all around them. God made me for many things, this was one of them.

Fun is a word that I want to incorporate after almost a year of being home. Speaking of!!! 

Starting today! My husband joined me on a little walk on our snow packed gravel road. Coming back I noticed the road was very slippery so we did something WAY fun! I held his hands while being behind him and he ran just a bit so I could "ski". His shoes gripped better than my snow boots, so I was able to slide. Oh how fun! We did something like that YEARS ago when he was training in the Marine Corps. I put on my skates, and he put a jump rope around his waist and ran with me behind him. Oh you can only imagine!

Most of all my heart longs to reach out to every person who is home, lonely and forgotten. The ones that have no family. The ones who do have family but they are not involved for whatever reason. I would love to hug you and give you a lovely cup of tea to say "you ARE loved...by me and Someone greater than me."

Have a blessed day! If you have tea today pray for me, and I will pray for you.

D

Merry Christmas from the quiet cottage

 May your Christmas and the following 8 days of celebration be merry & bright!  

We had a quiet Christmas. No Zoom, no large meals, but we do have our own traditions that we developed since the kids have grown and gone.

Each year for Christmas we get up, make something hot, start a fire and open our stockings.

While it's simple, it gives us so much excitement in the simplicity of it.

Then we make breakfast, go to church and come home.

After declaring "comfy clothes" we get something hot to drink and settle down to open our presents. 

Each year we try to keep presents simple. Not a lot. Only 3. Like the 3 gifts of the Wise Men.

We have tried in the past to do 3 gifts with a dollar amount, but that became too stressful. 

Keep it simple.

3 gifts. 

Our stockings are also simple. I needed help years ago because the girls stockings were getting out of hand. Not to mention extended family also contributed. Then I ran across this jingle:

Stocking stuffer guidelines:

*Something to eat

*Something to read

*Something to play with

*Something you need

These have served us well, and we still use them today. My husband has several little puzzle type things on his desk, of which he uses in those meetings that aren't always attention getters ;-) 

I hope you enjoy the pictures. It has been awhile. I will post more later. But know if you are reading this, I have prayed for you, for your needs, and for God's peace to rest in your heart.

Dee

A little tree someone decorated on the trail.

A tiny little tree growing amongst those who are quiet.

A lone Christmas ball hanging on another tree.

 Fascinated at the tiny leaves with spots on them.

C and I on our Sunday walk. That hill behind us is not the one we walked. It is to the left out of the picture.

Kitchen happenings

Hello Ladies~

Today I wanted to share some events the past week in the Heart of the Home, my kitchen. 

I have been busy with the watering of my garden and trees and trying to keep up with homemaking, all while supporting my husband in his busy schedule right now. These photos are a few things I enjoy and wanted to share today.

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The collards are from our garden. I cook collards or kale each morning to go with breakfast. Some folks say they have to "work in their greens". I say, we learned and loved these since we living in South Georgia. The locals taught me about greens for breakfast, or any meal, and I hav done this since. My husband now enjoys them too. 

Though we have a bit of difference on how cooked they should be. He likes crispy, I like them soft. But crispy is good so that is what we have.

Fresh collards from the garden.

Cooked up with a bit of butter to go with breakfast. We eat kale or collards each day to  get our greens and for calcium.

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Next up in todays sharing is my hardy sage bush. I started this from seed in Ohio.  When we knew we were moving I knew I was taking my sage bush with me.  So we dug it up, put it in a pot and it went in our little U-haul.  Then 4 days across the country to our new home.

I planted it within the first week and it has stayed here ever since. Many folks here in southern Colorado tell me herbs don't over-winter well here. I believe this one has done so well because it is up close to the house. So the amount of snow we get isn't always covering it.

What do I use sage for, that would make me bring it with me? Well, the bringing it with me is a bit of pride. I started it from a seed!

What do I do with it?  I make my own breakfast sausage every 6 weeks out of ground turkey, and this sage is one of the main ingredients. See the little brown jar. That has 6 armfuls of dried sage all into that jar. That much will last about 3 to 4 batches of sausage.

This year my sage really loves the attention it is getting. It is home to a cute little frog too. He helps with the bug control.

My sage bush!

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Also the past couple weeks I have been making and preserving goat milk keifer. I am happy to share that I don't do this day in and day out, but we do drink a bit every day. Just a little. It takes a little less than 24 hours to ferment and then it's ready.

After this batch is done, I will strain it with a plastic strainer and pour the wonderful kefir into a clean jar, then the grains go into the next clean jar. A lid, loose. and their off again to make kefir.

Since we don't drink a bunch, I freeze it in ice cube trays. This allows me to pull out a couple every other day and that's our tasty treat.  Putting it over fresh blueberries is so delicious.

This method seems to have helped repopulate my gut. I've had years of yogurt, but I heard yogurt may feed the good bacteria and kefir may help repopulate. I don't know if that is true, but my tests came back recently with good bacteria being in the range it should be. Maybe this kefir is helping!

Making goat milk keifer.

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And this is a peek into my heart. I LOVE to recycle. My husband knows I am bohemian/hippie at heart and I just can't toss plastic in the trash. There is a story behind this that dates back to being a kid. I was in elementary school and we watched a video about our environment.  One of the images showed a barge off the coast of Calif. Somewhere in the ocean, LOADED with all of our trash. They had no where to put it and so it was loaded and sent off to sea. For all I know it's still there!

This impacted me so greatly that I have always recycled since. Even while camping. All plastic comes home with us. My husband used to groan, but now participates because he knows it is important to me. I don't want my trash to contribute to that heap! Now, I am not a fanatic and try to do zero based trash. I am sensible, but when I can this is what I do.

For plastic bags, I use them and then once a week I wash them with soap and about 10 drops of tea tree oil in my dish water to help clean. Then they get hung up on my handy-dandy drying rack :-)

A string with clothes pins on it.  This came about in my tiny little nook in Ohio. I just didn't have the room there for much. You can see it on any link labeled "kitchen" on the side bar.

Drying bags to re-use. 

                                                                      💚💚💚

Lastly is my fancy green beans. They grow purple and cook to be green. A few years ago while in Ohio, a wonderful woman from Territorial Seeds understood my need to grow something fun, and yet my husband doesn't like anything funky. Just green beans. So she taught me about these. I get the satisfaction of growing something fun, he gets to eat "normal" green beans. We both benefit.

Now you see them...

Now you don't! 

I hope you enjoyed my sharing of what's been happening in the Heart of my Home. There is so much done in the little corner where I work, and I'm sure in yours too. I like to stand back and take a moment to be grateful to God for all that he gives me that I can create in my little corner. 

Blessings and His peace be with you,

Mrs. Peterson

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

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

"My" cows

Meet "my"cows!

Hello ladies,

I thought I'd share something dear to me, only because they come around once a year for a few weeks then they are gone.

"My" cows.

The herd to the right.

And to the left. There are many this year!

Our home backs a very large ranch and I get the wonderful privilege of seeing and watching these cows, but don't have to tend to them.   Usually "we have" about 150 - 200, but this year far exceeded that.  And we also had a few bulls in the mix. That is very unusual too.

It is just mesmerizing for us when we sit on our front porch that faces north and watch them move.
They move a little bit here and a little bit there. Not in a hurry, usually.

Then there are the bulls. Three of them, head to head, kicking up dirt and going in circles. There was always 2 or 3 little ones running to see "what is going on".  All the "ladies"...minding their own business eating. Probably thinking "oh, there they go again. Trying to see who is the head honcho!"

Husband talking with the little ones. There is a fence there, but just barely able to see it. I can hardly imagine taking care of a place like that, or the cost!

So I took a few pictures hoping to share. My husband had to go tend to the pipes for our water for the pastures.  We get water every 2 weeks and use the white irrigation pipe to get the water down to our pasture and yard.  There was a little guy so curious and he stayed close enough so my husband bent down to talk to him. So cute!

The light grey one here is the one I call "my mama cow". She has been with the herd for at least 4 years.  I always hope we can adopt her, though I know nothing about cows other than they shouldn't be left in the rain storms and snow! And they all deserve a name other than "steak"! I'm often corrected in this slight misunderstanding from the local ranchers and neighbors whose family raise cows. They still don't see my point.

Needless to say I get the eye roll each year when I speak of adopting "mama cow".  He says he doesn't want to rescue ME from the rain storm or snow trying to take care of the cows! So, no cows are in my future. Except the ones the ranch so kindly lets into this part of their pastures for 3-4 weeks a year.

Oh well.  Probably a good thing.  I don't like stinky things, flies or bugs.

Have a great week.

Peace be with you,
Dee

My cozy craft room

My little inspiration corner.  I don't keep the candle lit while I weave.   My nickname is Lucy (like I love Lucy) and I know better than to tempt.   My little bird here is cousin to the other 3 in my kitchen.

Hello Ladies~

This week I want to share where I create.  There are many years I didn't have a craft room.  It was a corner of the dining room, or the dining table itself.  One tour overseas, it was the corner of the living room.

Today, older & wiser (at least from experience), I have learned it's necessary for me to have my own space. With children grown and gone and my husband's office is our 3rd bedroom, it's very easy for me to stay too busy with homemaking and trying to keep things appealing and cozy. That is creative too, but I like something in addition to that.

Prayer time this morning and journaling, the memories of how easy it is for me to allow all the "little" things of home fill my days.

I need creative time.  My temperament needs it, and my spirit.

There have been many books of old that speak of the necessity of having daily "recreation" or creative time. A break in the day, even for 15 minutes, to sit and write a lovely letter, crochet a bit on a project, putter in the garden and tidy, or create a basket.

For me, basket weaving is one of the many things I enjoy but can be a couple of days project. One basket can take a minimum of 4 hours from start to finish. More detailed handles (my special touch) can add 2 to 3 hours on top of that.

I enjoy it.   Please join me in my "studio" and bring a bit of tea, I love to visit while I weave...

Here is my table where most of my work is done. Whether weaving, sewing, clay bears angels, or learning silk ribbon embroidery (thank you FlowerLady!). I am creating a pattern here.  I made that small basket  in the picture years ago and it holds my clips, ribbons, and pony tails.  I didn't have a pattern anywhere so I am measuring the reed sizes and writing it down. 

 

The base is being laid. Water in the bucket on the floor has the reed for weaving the sides. The coil on the floor behind me is how it comes when I order it.  I keep them put away in bags or I look like a cat all tangled up in yarn, except the yarn is the reed all wound up around me! Trust me, I won't have a picture of that one.

Done! A cute little catch all.  I will stain it with Min-wax wood stain, I like Oak. It gives baskets an "old time" feeling.  I have hopes to make a few along with some other things I love (soap apron covers, flower pins for winter coats, handmade dishcloths  etc) and sell them at the winter craft show....but I keep giving the baskets away as gifts! My cousin just got one with a handle that was really cool! Her birthday is coming and I wanted her to have something fun that I made.

Well, I hope you enjoyed the little tour of weaving. It was fun to have you.  

A few years ago we had folks from church here for dinner. The ladies wanted to see my "studio" and  it inspired 2 of them. One friend, she had never seen or heard of the idea of crafting.  Within the month she bought yarn and a crochet needle and made a long scarf for her son. Her first project! I was so proud of her.

Last weekend she dropped off a mask for me. Pink with white polk dots and she crocheted the loops out of a lovely soft white yarn.  I was so impressed! From a lady who had never heard of crafting!

Have a lovely week, stay cool!  An old time homemaking tip to keep cool: ladies would take down their curtains and dip them in a bathtub of water, re-hang them and the air passing through cools the room.  I have used a squirt bottle and sprayed them.

It also works on sheets. Spritz your sheets before bed, the cool air will allow you to sleep for a bit until the air cools down.

May God's peace be with you,

Mrs. Peterson

Sunday Outing

A warm hello Ladies~

This past Sunday we took my mother in law to Silverton for the day. First time for us to go out since March.  It was a lovely drive, a bit more people there than I expected but almost everyone had masks on.  Some of my favorite stores are not open yet.

I hope you enjoy the pictures.  It's always nice to go. We try to go at least once a year (not in Winter!).

Silverton stands at about 9,800 ft above sea level. It's a tiny little town in the mountain valley that originally was where miners landed to mine, guess...Silver! Hence "Silverton".  There are other minerals there as well. You may see some of the old tailing piles in the pictures. Some mines are still active, but I don't know much about them.

Enjoy!

This is the only highway into Silverton. It switches back and forth, if you look across the other side you can see the road we will drive after the bend.

Here, we are on the bend. The road to the right was what we drove on, and we are headed to the left. Notice - no railings! The only railings are at the last peak just before you descend into Silverton.  Needless to say I don't talk to the driver much and do a lot of praying.  I don't like heights so a few of these pictures where taken then had to look to the left to see the mountain side.

There is Silverton!  That tiny little town in the mountain valley.  The orange by the picture is the color of the dirt there due to all the minerals in the mountains.

Railing! Getting close. Look across to the mountain side in front of us.  Where the lighter color is, I believe is a "tailing pile" (what gets left after they have mined.)

Silverton. Cutest town ever!  (to me) You can see the train tracks here as well. That train is one of the last coal burning train in the US (there may be one more).  From Durango to Silverton, by train at 13mph...takes 5 hours. 

Mountains just before the town entrance. The colors are the minerals.

Welcome! The whole town is a National Historic District. 

 The only grocery store. When I first met my husband and he took me here, I fell in love with it and wanted to move there. At the time the grocery store owner talked to me about the snow.  He walked me out the door and pointed to the roof line and said "yes, ma'am. We get snow. It is usually up to that roof line for most of the winter. Roads get closed and the only way in or out is helicopter"  Changed my mind after that! Now I just love to visit.

A fun picture.  An old Ford, and a new "Razor". I wish those would be outlawed!

Here is the train station. It is still functioning and used 3 times a day when the train runs. (No train now due to pandemic, but they do bring a LOAD of supplies up for them now and then.) 

Down the side you can see benches.The train turns here and pulls right into town. Tourists can get off, have lunch and shope for about 2 hours. Then the 5 hour journey back.

This was a restaurant back in 1912. It still is on one side, then an art studio on the right.  Lovely place with good food.

Here we are in The Grand hotel in Silverton. I'm sorry I didn't get a picture of the outside.  They just did major renovations last year and updated electrical. Praise be to God! There is a store in town that burned down  a few months ago due to electrical problems. The firemen saved the buildings to the right and left of that one. Back to the Grand Hotel here, There are original furnishings here.  Well to do folks who came to check on their "money" (silver) would stay here, as well as their family. Miners and "ladies of the night" did not stay here. There is a whole street, one block down, that had a row of brothels. Just part of the history of a mining town.

When I was in college, I remember furniture was designed based on the fashion and women's dresses. To be able to accommodate them when they sat down or socialized.  This is a very large chair and the ladies probably had bustles that they needed the space.


Well, That's it.  Time to go feed my husband and I lunch.  I hope you enjoyed the little  "outing" with me.

Peace be with you,
Mrs. Peterson