The Housekeepers Symphony

Recently, I've been reflecting on the days when social media was a tad bit simpler. My first introduction to social media was the Yahoo Groups. I miss the days of Yahoo Groups. I stumbled upon this while looking through the archives of one of those groups.

"The Housekeepers Symphony"
by: Marion Wiley

To do the best that I can, from morn till night.
And pray for added strength with coming light;
To make the family income reach alway,
With some left over for a rainy day;
To do distasteful things with happy face,
To try and keep the odds and ends in place.
To smile instead of frown at Fate,
Which placed me in a family always late
For meals; to do the sewing, mending and
The thousand small things always near at hand,
And do them always with a cheerful heart,
Because in life they seem to be my part;
To know the place of everything and keep
It there, to think, to plan, to cook, to sweep,
To brew, to bake, to answer questions,
To be the mainspring of the family clock.
(Or that effect) and see that no tick, tock
Is out of time or tune, or soon or late,
This is the only symphony which I can ever hope to operate.

~appeared in MARY GOES TO THE FARM by Edith Thomas, 1915.

This housekeeper has been busy at home. 

Meal Planning - that includes new recipes for the Fall and Winter months.

Started homeschooling the last child at home.

Redecorated the living room and bedroom - made curtains & pillows, etc.

Cutting fabric for a new Fall table runner and apron. You can see the old ones here and here.

Did inventory on my baking supplies. Got the new list ready and marking things off as I gather them.

Making meals for new moms. I really enjoy this part!

There's so much that a housekeeper can do around her home. I have made a choice to be busy at home and not get distracted. I don't want to be a housekeeper who appears to be physically in the home, but her heart and mind are somewhere else. I've striving to be like her...

"She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness."

~Proverbs 31:27

It's a new season. It's a new day.

I love this time year. The leaves are starting to change colors. The orange, red and yellow leaves are pleasant to my eyes as the sound of my husband's voice is pleasant to my ear as we ride along in the car.

While driving the other day, my husband asked me if I wanted to visit the Roloff Farm. I got so excited! We had planned on visiting last year, but it's always raining here in the Northwest and we didn't have an opportunity to go. So, if the weather man on the local news is correct, the weather will cooperate with our visit here.

I finally finished my Fall apron. I was quite pleased with it :)

My pumpkin candle is always burning in my home during the Fall months.

Christmas Quilt & Decorations

This is a scene from my little town.

Little one room school houses.

Snowman display inside my curio cabinet.

My 2009 Christmas quilt hanging on the deacon's bench.

Snowman Christmas tree.

Christmas Quilt

As you can see, Christmas is well underway here in my home. I love this time of year. Our Thanksgiving was filled with so much joy and laughter. Love just filled our home and I pray that those who shared Thanksgiving dinner with us felt it as well.

I have some new cookie recipes that I will be trying for the first time this year. During this time of the year, my home always has a candle burning with some kind of cinnamon scent. I love the smell of cinnamon. Sometimes the boys will walk through the door thinking that I have some bread or cookies in the oven, but it's just my candle.

On Friday, November 20th, I hosted a baking party at my house. I was able to share my love for aprons and my passion for baking. I made each of the ladies an apron. I tried making them according to their personalities. I think I did pretty good being that I've only known them for such a short time. We had so much fun in my cozy little kitchen.

Fall Happenings Around My Home

Fall is in full swing inside and outside my home. Twice this past week I went outside without a sweater only to feel the chill air rush through me. The Fall leaves look beautiful nestled among the evergreen trees.

Inside my home, the smell of Spiced Apple & Cedar candle scent brings much delight as I sit by the window with my sewing machine.

My Fall lap quilt that I made with leftover scrap material from a Royal Ranger project I did a few years ago.

Fall lap quilt resting on the rocking chair that I nursed & held my babies in.
Fall table runner.