Tip-Sharing Tuesday

Good morning, dear reader,

A pleasant day to you! We are enjoying another winter's day here, watching "snow snakes" slither across the highway in front of our home, and grateful for a warm home to be in. The other night we were covered in a blanket of fog, and awoke to a beautiful fairy-land. How can we begrudge Mother Nature her season of rest, when she paints so beautifully?

Feeding the Birds

To combat the cabin fever that sometimes comes hard upon us, the girls spent yesterday doing "Extreme Home Makeovers" with blocks; the only problem being that as soon as the wooden family entered their new home, it would collapse on top of them! Oh well, details, details, as they say.






Today we'd like to share from our wonderful copy of "Household Discoveries". It's a little treatise on dishwashing, which might come in handy, if ever there were no power for that dishwasher!

*****************************************************************
"There is no single operation of housekeeping in which system will save so much time as in dishwashing. System is only force of habit and soon becomes second nature. The following suggestions are condensed from the practical experience of a large number of intelligent housewives.

(1) Wash the cooking utensils as soon as the food is emptied out of them and before it is placed on the table. Or, if this is not convenient, fill them with hot water and leave them to soak.

(2) After the meal is finished, and before clearing the table, prepare a place in the kitchen to receive the soiled dishes.

(3) Scrape off all bits of food into one dish, using preferably a good plate scraper of sheet rubber. This will remove all food and grease, and will not injure the most delicate china. If greasy dishes are not scraped, the dishwater will become too foul, and it will be difficult to wash and wipe the dishes clean. Greasy dishwater also makes the sink difficult to clean, and tends to stop up the spout. If a little lye is scattered over very greasy dishes, it will cleanse them readily by partially transforming the grease into soap. Be careful not to use lye strong enough to injure the skin. (ed note: Now that lye is hard to come by, we might have to have a lesson on rendering it from wood ashes!)

(4) Sort the dishes and stack them up in an orderly way, with the smallest articles on top; place the glass, small china articles, silver, and other delicate pieces together; next, cups and saucers, sauce dishes and the like, and finally plates, platters, and larger objects.

(5) Load these lots on a large tray in the above order, carry them to the kitchen, and keep them separate until they are washed, wiped, and put away. This method saves frequent steps to the kitchen as well as confusion in sorting them there. Lay a newspaper or piece of wrapping paper over a large pan, scrape all the garbage into that, and if possible burn it in the range. Or use a small garbage burner. Or obtain a good, odorless garbage can that can be thoroughly disinfected and cleaned. Keep at hand a grease kettle in which to preserve scraps of grease. Sprinkle a little lye on the most greasy cooking utensils, as skillets, iron kettles, and platters, and rinse them into the grease pot. The lye will keep the grease sweet and assist in the process of soap making. Save the tea leaves to be used for sweeping.

(6) Next prepare a suds with soap or any washing compound. Borax is good. Wash first in hot suds the silver, glass, and delicate china, using a swab with a long wooden handle. Wipe the silver as soon as it is washed. Put the glass and china in a wire basket, and pour hot water over them.

(7) Place the second lot of dishes-cups and saucers, vegetable and side dishes-in the dishwater, and allow them to soak while the first lot are being wiped.

(8) Add hot water if necessary, wash the second lot of dishes, set them in the drainer, and place the third lot in the suds, or make new suds if necessary.

(9) Next make fresh suds for milk pans, if any, and other tinware. Finally, wash the ironware-roaster, gridiron, pots, and kettles. Use for this purpose a little lye and scrape with a stiff fiber brush."
************************************************************

May you enjoy your day, and be grateful for the day that the Lord has given you. Whatever life holds in store, know that He knew from before you were born. He knows the trials you must pass through, and He holds your life, as well as the life of your loved ones, in His very capable hands. He loves you more than you know, and you can trust Him in every situation.

Love,

Marqueta

We "Whist" We Had Been There!

Dear Reader,

This is an excerpt from "The Ladies World", February 1895. This would be so lovely for a Valentine's get-together!

"Rose Whist"

For the benefit of the readers, I will describe a very pretty and dainty party called a rose whist party, and it may possibly help some of them to solve that difficult question of how to successfully entertain a number of guests.

The invitations were on pink paper and announced that rose whist was to be the order of the evening. Upon starting the game of progressive whist was that the regular game of progressive whist was played, with the exception that each one kept account for himself of all the red cards which he took, and at the end, the one fortunate enough to possess the largest number of red cards took the prize. The prizes were all something pertaining to the rose; numerous articles can be thought of, such as rose bowls, rose candlesticks, rose sachets and bottles of rose perfumery, etc. four large, full-blown roses lay on each card table at the beginning of the game; their long stems and green leaves, together with their fragrance, added greatly to the enjoyment of the party. Most of the young men were gallant enough to present theirs to their fair partners.


Tally cards of pink paper with pink pencils attached were used to keeping the score. The ices served were pink and white, and the table in the dining-room was gracefully draped with pink ribbons and decorated with bowls of roses; in fact, roses were in profusion throughout the various rooms. Silver dishes holding pink and white bon-bons were also placed on each card table.

This is a very pretty party, and one's own ingenuity can suggest many features to make it a success.

~Alice E. Greenleaf

Love,

Marqueta

*********************************************

A Valentine

By Susie M. Best

(Ladies World)

A valentine I'll send my sweet,
I'll send my sweet a valentine,
She'll know I love her by the sign.

I'll have no need to speak and tell
How in my heart she reigns a queen,
She'll know the truth, she'll know it well,
Soon as my valentine is seen.

My offering shall be a heart
Pierced by a shaft of Cupid's bow-
It will not need a wizard's art
The meaning of the gift to show.

I'll likewise send her roses red,
Tied with a lover's knot of blue;
The roses symbol love, 'tis said,
The ribbon pledges "I'll be true!"

When next we meet, my sweet and I,
She will not be amazed, I wis,
If I should capture her and try]
To steal from her a little kiss.

A valentine I'll send my sweet,
Yes, I will send a valentine;
She'll know her conquest is complete,
She'll know I love her by the sign.

Fun with Japanenglish

Dear Reader,

Good Monday morning to you! Here is some sheer silliness we thought you might like. We were going to buy some scalp-massaging brushes on eBay, when we came across one from Japan. We thought we'd share with the description the poor Japanese person came up with (While probably consulting their Japanese/English dictionary!). Enjoy!

Hair: All type

Condition: Brand New

Material: ASA resin and elastomeric system heatproof temperature of styrene: 60℃

Size: 6.7cm in length ×10.4cm in width ×4.0cm in height

Item Description:

To the scalp with hair brushes with modified handles in cleanness. It is a brush only for the massage and the cleansing scalp caring. Shampoo, it Comfortable stimulation is given to the scalp, and it is feeling refreshed clean with massage it. It is a brush only for the scalp caring. The point of the brush that divides into four firmly obtains the scalp. The scalp is massaged in elasticity when it is moderate none and the sebum and the dirt blocked in pores not dropped easily by the tip of a finger though it unties are removed smoothly. Moreover, because it is possible to wash in removing the brush part with the possession person, it is possible to use it cleanly. Please use it for the scalp when you shampoo it every day.

How to use

1. To encompass the possession person part by one of palms, it grasps firmly.

2. Please massage it to press the tip of the brush against the scalp lightly, and to shake the scalp while moving it to the front, back, left and right.

- We will encourage to massage it to move the brush to the part where the hair loss is anxious little by little, and to vibrate the scalp.

- It is more effective when using it when shampooing it in "DHC scalp cleansing shampoo".

- It is possible to use it even, except when shampooing it.

Maintenance method

Please remove the brush part with the possession person, often rinse of each by water or lukewarm water, cut the water, and keep it cleanly after use.

Enjoy your day,

Love,

Marqueta

Loving Our Littles

Dear Reader,

Thank you so much for visiting us at our home today! We had a fun day going into town, window-shopping at a craft store, and finding some treasures at the thrift store. I actually found a nice pair of muck boots for gardening that will make it nicer wading through the snow to dump the compost!

I finally finished this drawing (another Redoute copy) of white and pink roses. I thought the petals were hard, but now I'm thinking the leaves are harder! Talk about hundreds of different shades of green!


Although we don't listen to the radio, due to the fact that the majority of songs are inappropriate and/or offensive, we do enjoy listening to the family-centered country songs that are so popular. We recently discovered one by Billy Dean, celebrating enjoying children while they are small. I am sure you've probably heard it before, but I thought the video was sweet, and you might like to see it:



Children are such a special thing; sometimes we do require a reminder, though, to appreciate them when we're up to our necks in laundry and dishes!

May I just say to my children how much I love them, and how grateful I am that they have helped me to be more like I should be.




If it weren't for being a mother, I would be such a different person. And of course, without my husband there would be no children! I'm so grateful for all the support that he gives me while being home every day.


May you find peace today,

Marqueta

"Babies and children are pure beauty, love, joy,-the truest in this world. But the thorns are there of night watches, of illnesses, of infant perversities and contrariness. There are glimpses of heaven and hell.
~Dorothy Day

"Today, try listening to the wisdom of children." ~Sarah Ban Breathnach

Loving Our "Other"

Dear Reader,

Today I'd like to share a tidbit from another Mother's Magazine (Can you tell I really love this magazine?), dated June, 1916. This one is about marriage especially, but I believe that we could adapt it to any relationship that we might be in; familial or friendly. The article is quite long, so you might want to print it out for reading later.

Marriage

Every girl who is about to be married has in her mind a roseate picture of what she expects life ahead of her to be. The years ought to bring fulfillment of every good expectation; and they may be expected to bring, in addition to the joys, a full share of trials. There will be mistakes and griefs and heart-burnings and disappointments. These cannot be avoided, and they should be met with fortitude; for it is only through such experiences that one gains the wisdom that insures ultimate peace and happiness.

The right kind of girl possesses a wonderful power over her husband. The use she makes of this power during the first few weeks after marriage determines to a very great extent the kind of husband she will have. If she is frivolous, foolish, and thoughtless, her influence will soon weaken and pass away, and she will lost her charm for her husband. But if she is sweet and womanly and holds to high ideals, her influence will be permanent.

A girl should do her criticising before marrying, and not make the mistake of marrying and then trying to reconstruct a man's character, disposition, and habits. In other words, she should not try to accomplish the miraculous.

My husband Ken, and me

A fundamental precept of married life is: avoid giving pain or exposing the loved one to ridicule. We should never touch those subjects that are the "sore spots" with persons dear to us, or forget that a laugh ill-timed or malapropos may wound more deeply than the bitterest sneer. Women are said to be more senstive than men. The truth is that some women are more sensitive than some men; but some men are more sensitive than some women. The degree is sensitiveness depends upon the early training and standards of conduct of the individual.

Still cozy after all these years!

Most girls marry men who have to work, and work hard, to find daily bread for their families. The husband who knows that his money will be expended with judgment, and for the benefit of his family and home, works with double energy. A wisely managed family exchequer is a powerful influence for family peace. Every girl should study buying, and every bride should teach herself to use thrift in her purchases. Many young couples come to grief through the reckless waste of money by a bride who has never been taught the value of dollars and cents.

Marriage frequently fails because the husband does not live up to the standard of honor which a man must maintain if he is to hold the respect of his wife; if often fails because the wife does not deal honorably with her husband in the daily business of life. Marriage is a partnership. Deception, duplicity, and concealment are fatal to its success. Full, frank speaking is the only safeguard. There should be equal rights in every discussion, fair debate, consideration, and fair play, for these are the foundations of the ideal marriage. If the young wife keeps her standards of honor high, she can demand from her husband as high standards as her own.

The life of love and trust in which man and wife are all in all to each other is the acme of human experience. The only way to attain this life is for the newly married to start out with the firm determination to make the best of each other, and of everything that comes into their lives, the unpleasant as well as the pleasant.

All life is a progression. Married life must progress, or it cannot succeed. Where it stands still, stagnation ensues; it degenerates into mere existence, and mere existence for the normal human being, is intolerable.

Marriage is a process of adjustment of two lives to each other, and to society. A wife should not try to keep husband to herself. The world is necessary to them both. Life is not complete without the respect and confidence of others, no matter how happy the home, or how nearly perfect the relations of husband and wife.

The human mind is capable of infinite joy; it is also capable of immeasurable depths of sorrow. In their love for each other, husband and wife should find means to make all differences the opportunites for growth. Progress is the only means of preserving blessings, and each new tomorrow should be brighter and better than today.

Love,

Marqueta