Take care of your garden Leprechaun
It’s Sunday evening where I am. We have the windows wide open to catch the cool breeze and I am getting the great scent of mock orange blossoms which I picked from the neighbor’s shrub. I’ll try to get a picture of them for you for my next post. It has the most blissful scent that just makes me glad to be alive. The neighborhood kids are outside and I am grateful my daughter is old enough that I don’t have to worry about what shenanigans are going on out there.
Last week I wrapped up my last day of work so now I can get down to the business of being an at-home mom for a few months.
Cooking
You know what I made this week?
Frosting. Epic quantities. DD took a cake decorating class and we went through 2 cans of Crisco and 4 lbs of powdered sugar. When we weren’t making frosting, we were washing frosting out of clothes, decorating tips, you name it. You should see the shine in my mixing bowl!
DD took over a night of cooking this week and made egg salad. She has that meal down pat. I asked her this summer to make (with any help she needs) and plan a meal every week when she doesn’t have camp.
Saving
Our biggest savings this week came from Mr. Saver researching our cable TV situation and, unable to negotiate a lower price with U-verse, we switched to SlingTV/Hulu at a reduction of about $ 45.00/month. We are pleased with the channels available to us given the savings. I appreciate the time he put in on this. That’s some real money.
Cleaning
Lots of activity in this department. I tackled a few problem areas, such as the area around our printer, which accumulates paper, school work and catalogs. I parted with some school art work from years ago and found other gems worth keeping in a more permanent set-up.
This week I want to address some problems such as lack of space for seasonal items like blankets and duvets. When you live in a vintage house, there is no walk-in anything. To do this, I am going to need to get into closets and get some items headed to Goodwill. I am thankful for the time in summer to do this.
Reading
You know I always have a few books in play. This week I am finishing Kate Singh’s book on homemaking, and am also reading the 1943 Newbery-award winning book “Adam of the Road” set in 13th C England. I’m highlighting all over the pages because the writing is so beautiful, especially to a lover of England.
The rafters and the walls were dark with smoke, but otherwise everything was neat and clean. Dame Malkin’s bed in the corner was spread with a blue coverlet, her table was scrubbed white, and her oak cupboard against the wall had been rubbed with beeswax till it gleamed.
If you love England, this is a must read book about the life of a minstrel and his son roaming the English Countryside.
Thinking
On my mind these days are thoughts about the Sabbath, and lack of rest in modern life. Also thinking about clutter and how it can keep us apart from God. More on these topics to come.
I hope your Father’s Day was lovely! Talk to you again soon.
1895 architecture that caught my eye.
The Healthful Saver 
English books from the 1940s and 50s are often so beautifully written; I think I read “Adam of the Road” a long time ago…You would like Rumer Godden’s “The Doll’s House”.
Thank you for the recommendation! I added it to my Amazon list. I can already tell the book’s doll characters have amazing names. Interesting that some versions have Tasha Tudor illustrations. Love her too.
The one I read as a kid had the Tasha Tudor pictures; try to get that edition. U would love the writing–and it’s all about fixing up a Victorian doll’s house, as well as the “lives” of the dolls who inhabit it. A small masterpiece!
Thanks for sharing. I try to keep the sabbath myself. I mean I’m not like super strict about it. But for the most part I try to work 6 days and rest 1 day. It’s tough at times to go full steam 12+ hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Which is kinda what I do for the most part.
I really want to be more intentional about a day of rest… rest as I define it. I think much of the desire to go full force everyday, for me anyway, is just a habit.