Gilded Days

Autumn-yellow leaves of Golden Ashes catch alight with the fire of afternoon sun

as I peer from my window and stand and revel in the beauty of the scene. 

But amid the joy of their loveliness, I am aware that they are announcing the turning of the season toward more sombre hours.

The garden, throwing off it's wild and joyous summer garb

and donning quieter hues of russet red and brown.. begins to sleep.

Indoors..I gather up the golden lights that linger in nature's bounty

and mixing the welcome, tumbling gifts of sun and grain and fruit

I set to work creating our own yellow beams of simple homely joys.

This small and ordinary effort of a day drawn in by short and crisper hours

lights up our bare-board wood.

No need of silver-glint or manorial baroque to dress the scene.

We sit in quiet contentment feasting at our humble kitchen table
worn by time.. and warmed by heaven's gilding.
*
Joining Kathy for

Window on my day..

I've been doing a fair bit of this today...standing on chairs!

Being on the short side, I find a chair mighty handy for getting up to clean those high spots that I normally can't reach.

So I haven't been merely watching the pretty birds outside the window, even though they do divert my attention quite a lot lol!

No - I've been sprucing up my house from top to bottom and getting ready for my visitors who arrive tomorrow.

My dear mother,  my sister and brother-in-law are coming to stay with us and I am so excited about it!

But it has meant a lot of re-arranging of rooms in our small "Darby and Joan" cottage.

Beds needed to be sorted and made up, cupboard space made for their clothes and personal things,  the seating changed around in the lounge-room so we can all sit together in comfort etc..

You see, when my sons left home their rooms became extra storage space for hubby and me, and I have had to revert them back into decent sleeping quarters this week.

Now, I don't know about you..but when I start to move one piece of furniture around, I tend to have moved the whole room by the time I'm all done!

Got a bit of a reputation for it, actually ;-)

Well, today I have managed to re-arrange 5 rooms - a brand new record for me lol!!

 I'm "bushed" and "plum-tuckered out" now -BUT- so glad and happy too :-)

When they all turn up after lunch I'll be ready to give them a nice hot cuppa and just sit and enjoy their company without worrying about the house.

A good week's work has sweet rewards.

And what could be sweeter than a visit from family who live far away?!

Tomorrow I'll be watching out my windows for their dear faces to appear - just like a kid again!

Thank You Lord, for all your grace today, and answered prayers for the strength and energy to get all my chores done well and finished up.

*

Simple Pleasures~ Hanging out the washing

Blue wrens dart about the arching canes of the creamy Banksia rose.

Buds on the peach tree are turning pink and full with promise.

The sun is shining warm and soothing on my back...

making today's chore of hanging out the washing a real delight!

Next door the voices of blonde-haired cherubs are singing..

"Bo----b the Builder

can we fix it?

Yes we can!"

They have made a shopfront from cardboard boxes on the deck

and are doing their best to sell wares to their loyal customer!

"Mum.. would you like to buy something from our shop?"

She plays her part of course, much to their giggling relief and enjoyment.

The morning ambles along ..

a light breeze is fluttering the towels and waving through the grass.

Laundry is drying.
 Life is good and I am content.

***

Joining Dayle to give thanks for the simple pleasure of having a sunny day to hang out the washing.

Living-room Makeover

I'm always amazed at what a difference a little elbow grease, and a tin of paint can achieve in a room!

This is a 'before' photo of a dull corner of my living room that we repainted recently.

I had tried painting a deepish pink on the far wall as a 'feature,' to try to bring in some colour against the boring beige/peach that the previous owners had used everywhere in the house.  

And this is how it looks now, after being repainted in Dulux Antique White USA.

The new white colour reflects so much more light in this room and brightens it up considerably!

Sitting beneath a collection of blue and white vintage plates is the new table, made by my clever husband (aka 'the Woodman'), and a wicker basket of silk flowers reduced from $90 to $15 because of some shop damage -which I've hidden under a green scarf.

And of course... moi!

Burning the midnight lamp!

 ummm...

Well more like 9pm actually  :-)

And when I'm not meeting you at the table..I'm snuggled up in my faithful old chair by the fire reading..thinking..and praying.

It doesn't have to take much to make a cosy, comfy corner in a home.

Trust me - a few old plates and chairs and a tin of paint can work wonders!

x Trish

              I'm linking to Metamorphosis Monday

Wash Day

ON A WINDY WASH DAY MORN

Soaked and scrubbed in a round tin tub

with homemade soap

up and down the ribs of a wooden washboard

by hands rubbed red & raw

on a windy wash day morn.

Stiffened with starch, squeezed

and wrung to a twisted laundry rope

then hung on lines to flap

back and forth and snap dry

on a windy wash day morn.

Laid on the lawn like paper cutouts

clean shirts and sheets, towels and skirts

smelling of sun and clouds and wind

wait to be ironed and worn and dirtied

again for another wash day morn.

~ Brenda Seabrooke, American poet and novelist

Hearts for Home~bedroom changes

It's funny how a 'domestic goddess' can come up with so many great decorating ideas while simply doing the dishes!

This very morning whilst standing at the sink, pondering away with my daydreaming fingers moving slowly through warm suds, I hit upon a plan to finally move out of our main bedroom.

You see, there's only two of us now to bed down for the night, and I've always fancied sleeping in the smallest bedroom which nestles in the centre of our home.

In the Summer..it's the coolest.

In the Winter.. it's the warmest.

All year round..it's the quietest as far as hearing street noises goes.

So why not?

Well, I quickly put the idea to the Woodman who (bless his heart) agreed in no time!!

I guess that's the fun of being 'Darby and Joan'..we can play around with our rooms now without worrying about discomforting anyone else :-)

All we need in this cosy room is our bed and two small side tables.

Simple as that!

And a big bonus of changing over, is that I will be able to sit up in bed and watch the sun and the clouds on our mountain from the window of this room :-D

So..my "Hearts For Home" plans for the next week are:

  1. Make the bedroom changeover :-)

2. Continue to prepare for my eldest son's visit this month.

3. Keep working in the yard.

4. Enjoy my book study of Fascinating Womanhood which I'm hosting for our Tuesday night ladies meetings.

5. Spend much more time in the Word of God!!

6. Start working on projects to keep me content indoors, as our seasons turn colder in our southern hemisphere!

To join our lovely hostess for this Tuesday homekeeping meme, visit Gae.

You'll always find a warm welcome waiting for you!

L.A.C.E.~ Why I Love Homemaking

Dear ladies,

It's so good to be back to share some more L.A.C.E. with you all !

Today I am sharing an uplifting letter written by Laine, who has some encouraging observations as to why homemaking can be a delight for us who are called to this wonderful vocation.

Simple observations which will help us to see our common..ordainary..every day life as a joy and a gift we get to unwrap over and over again :-)

Just like me..I'm sure you'll find yourself nodding in agreement to many of her reasons for enjoying our homemaking.

What a blessing it is to be HOME!

 Why I Love Homemaking

I love homemaking because my time is my own. I dictate how my day will go and that is an awesome thing in this world. Many high paid executives do not have the freedom that I have almost every day.

 I love homemaking because yeast, water, and flour make the best smell in the world!

I love homemaking because I get to decorate a corner of God's Footstool in exactly the way I like it with total creative freedom. No other person on earth will decorate in quite the same way.

I love homemaking because my kids get to lick spoons and bowls and smile with whipped cream and sugar on their lips.

I love homemaking because I can sit and read to my children all day if I want with every pillow we own under us.

I love homemaking because my uniform is a simple apron. When I put it on I feel like my grandmother and want to do so many "homey" things for my family.

I love homemaking because I get to keep learning new things to make my home a special place for my kids and my husband. Last year I learned decoupage and tole painting. (Many things from a library book!)

I love homemaking because I get to work in my garden and cut beautiful plants from it to bring into my house.

I love homemaking because I get to listen to beautiful music all day long which causes me to think of my Savior and LORD. My work doesn't even seem like work with Him on my mind.

I love homemaking because I get to cook some of the most wonderful food on a slim budget causing me to give thanks and praise to Him who shows me the way.

I love homemaking because I can go to the library and check out other women's wisdom which inspires me in my own kitchen and home.

I love homemaking because I can stop my kids at any time of the day and say, "Let's pray."

I love homemaking because I can lay on my bed and have great talks with my kids about the LORD and life.

I love homemaking because I get to smell up my house with some of the best smells on earth: homemade bread, apple pie, fried chicken, baked beans, and cole slaw. And that's just one meal!

I love homemaking because I can feel the softness of yarn flowing through my fingers as I knit an aphgan for my kitchen chair.

I love homemaking because I can sit with other women and their babies and compare struggles and trials; then come away feeling so much better to handle my own babies and struggles and trials.

I love homemaking because I can look at each room in my house as a blank canvas to paint a beautiful picture on for my family. And slowly, here and there, I pick up the beautiful treasures at thrift shops or swap meets to make those canvases come alive with love.

I love homemaking because I create the atmosphere all day in my home. If I am at peace, they are at peace. And the King helps keep me at peace because I have spent time at His Throne in the early morning hours learning from Him.

I love homemaking because I have permission to fail while I learn. I have granted permission to myself recently which makes me feel a whole lot better about learning new things and not being afraid to fail.

I love homemaking because I can plan special little surprises for my husband that bring him such delight: homemade pickles that taste like Claussen's.

I love homemaking because I fill little mason jars with homemade jams and watch my kids open them in anticipation for breakfast.

I love homemaking because I can make lemon butter, scones, and devonshire cream for my daughter and all her little friends for "tea".

I love homemaking because all the little girls can dress up in hats that hang in my living room waiting for their next visit.

I love homemaking because when my kids are sick it is no inconvenience. I get to put them right to bed in their pajamas and bring them a "tea table" with a flower, tea, and some special treat to make them smile.

I love homemaking because I get to do things with beautiful fabrics.

I love homemaking because I can gather my kids in my room if I am sick and have them take care of me or just lay next to me and play.

I love homemaking because I get to cut my kids' hair and have them sit on a special stool I designed for them. Then I get the pleasure of looking at their hair for days knowing that I cut it.

I love homemaking because I get to scrub my floors by hand just the way my grandmother did. Then I get to tell everyone to stay off the floor just like she did.

I love homemaking because I get to hang out my clothes on the line just the way my mother did and smell the sweet air in them when they come back in the house.

I love homemaking because I get to stretch a budget beyond measure which gives me great joy to see so much done with so little.

I love homemaking because I get to put a fluffy feather down comforter on everyone's bed and run them out to the clothesline on a windy day.

I love homemaking because I get to smell a freshly bathed child.

I love homemaking because I can put a fresh tablecloth on my table and transform it into a fancy restaurant with a rose in the center.

I love homemaking because there is always a new recipe to try.

I love homemaking because I can cover up "holey rugs" with beautiful handmade throw rugs that someone's grandmother probably made.

I love homemaking because I can cover up stained couches with beautiful couch covers in a rose pattern my grandmother would have worn to church.

I love homemaking because I can sit in any room in my house and it is used to its fullest. No room is for show. Every room is pleasantly occupied.

I love homemaking because no one can make me laugh like my kids.

I love homemaking because I can grab my camera and capture three muddy kids in a moment.

I love homemaking because I can take full advantage of all the seasons. Summer, Fall, Winter, and Spring never get by me. I enjoy each immensely.

I love homemaking because I can bring home some of the best books in the world and know they will get read.

I love homemaking because I know my kids very well and can work with them like no other.

I love homemaking because if I am sick of being inside I can go outside. And if I am sick of being outside I can go inside.

I love homemaking because I can kiss my kids thirty times a day if I want.

I love homemaking because the weather never affects my plans to stay home.

I love homemaking because it makes me more in awe of my mother, grandmother, and favorite aunts causing me to notice their work in great detail.

I love homemaking because my kids can get really dirty and jump in the tub before anyone's the wiser.

I love homemaking because I am the " LORD's Home Servant."

I love homemaking because no one can run this home like I can. No one knows that man of mine like I do. And no one can tell you about those kids that I live with like I can.

I love homemaking because I can watch a "Leave It to Beaver" or "Andy Griffith Show" and be inspired by June Cleaver or Aunt Bee to do a better job in my home.

I love homemaking because I have time to light candles, put on soft music, and start a fire in the fireplace.

I love homemaking because I know where my kids are, and that gives me great peace because they are beside me.

I love homemaking because I get to be HOME.

I love homemaking because God called me to this job and I love it!!!!

Love,

Laine 

called to be a Homemaker of God

( taken from her excellent website  Laine's Letters )

A warm Wednesday welcome to L.A.C.E.

Just a reminder of the rules for this weekly meme based on Philippians 4:8 :
"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." Phil 4:8
I invite you to link with posts that encourage us to be godly christian women, and which promote the beauty of our vocation as homemakers with joyful femininity.
Whatever is..Lovely Admirable Cheerful Encouraging ~ LACE
Link to the actual post you are submitting and not to your homepage.
You are welcome take the button on the sidebar.
Please leave a comment after linking, and visit each other.
My thanks to all the sweet ladies who make this such a lovely weekly gathering :-).
blessings..Trish

Life's plain common work

The best things in life are nearest: Breath in your nostrils, light in your eyes, flowers at your feet, duties at your hand, the path of right just before you.

Then do not grasp at the stars, but do life's plain, common work as it comes, certain that daily duties and daily bread are the sweetest things in life.
~ Robert Louis Stevenson

My Kitchen tag

My lovely friend, Lady Rose has tagged me to answer some questions about my kitchen..so here goes:
Do you have magnets on your fridge?

Yes, I have a few magnets that keep pictures on the fridge, but they are not holding anything in place at present. I leave them up anyway because I like them :-)

Do you have a calendar in the kitchen and if so, what is its theme?
No, I don't have one in the kitchen so far this year. I usually have a country church themed calendar.
What is your favorite kitchen gadget or tool?
A hard question, but I think it's probably my old favourite wooden spoon.

Are you lucky enough to have a pantry of some kind?

Yes. My pantry is a slim cupboard beside my fridge.
What is your favorite appliance?
The kettle lol!! Indespensible for the many pots of tea made in my kitchen each day :-)
Do you have an eat in kitchen?
No, there is no space.
There is an open-plan area near the kitchen that usually has the dining table there, but at the moment we use it as a family/TV room.
Do you have a bread box?
Yes I have a plain wooden roll top bread box that sits on top of the microwave.
Do you have a picture of your kids on the fridge?
No. Just some magnets and a few notes.
Do you ever cook breakfast in your pj's?
Occasionally. On the weekends mainly, when life is a little slower here :-)
Do you have a favorite cookbook?

I love my Claudia Roden Jewish Cookbook!
It's full of wonderful recipes and photographic history of the various influences of the surrounding culture on jewish cooking through the ages.
Are you lucky enough to have recipes that were passed down from your mom and grandma?
My mother gave me one of her cookbooks when I set up my own home and passed down her recipe for boiled fruitcake as well !
I think I probably cook in a similar way to my mother as I find myself doing things I remember from watching her as I grew up.
What’s your favorite food?
hmmmm!!
That is hard to answer. I love sushi very much..and lamb loin chops lol!
What’s your favorite thing to cook?
Stirfry dishes because they are healthy, quick, easy and tasty.
Is your coffee pot electric or stove top?
I don't drink coffee but my hubby has both kinds of pots/percolaters.
Do you make your own bread?
Now and then. I really should put more effort into making bread regularly.
Does your kitchen have a theme?
Not yet ;-)
It will be blue and white when I've finished putting it all together.
Is there a clock in your kitchen?
I have one on the stove and one on the microwave so I don't need one on a wall.
Do you have a bowl of fruit on your table or counter?

Yes, we usually have fruit on the bench top.
What type of canisters do you have?
Well, I have set of antique cream and blue canisters that were on my bench, but are now sitting above the top cupboards.
Name one thing you have hanging on the wall in your kitchen.

Umm..actually I have nothing on the wall right now. The plates and picture and key holder will go back up over the next few days.
What’s for supper tonight?

Tonight we are having a simple meal..pork steak, gravy and colcannon.

Do you have enough cabinet space?
Yes, I think I do! But I also need to cull some things and free up the space that I do have :-)

Does your family use paper plates?

Nooooo!!!! Well..I don't like to - but my hubby seems to think we need them when we have parties so I don't have to wash dishes up lol!

It's very kind of him but personally -I HATE PAPER PLATES!

Do you have a good set of china packed up?

No. All our china is out and used regularly.

Do you wear an apron to work in the kitchen?
Yes I wear aprons. Especially for frying and baking.
Name one thing you would change about your kitchen if you could.
Well I would love to be able to move it !
To swap it over to another corner of the back area of our house, and then knock down a wall that it backs onto so our loungeroom would be bigger.
That's not wanting too much..is it? lol!
Thank you Lady Rose, for inviting me to participate in this tag - it was a lot of fun :-)
 Now..I wonder if the following ladies would like to be tagged - I hope so!
You can just copy the questions into your post and share whatever you like..
Barb at barbsbabbling
Gae at Cherished Hearts for Home
Maria at M's River Cottage
Jo at Stop..Have a Chat
Mrs Q at Blessed Homemaking

I'd love to hear your stories..and anyone else who would enjoy sharing a little about their kitchen!
blessings..Trish

What Housework Is Really About.

     "Housework is really being about the work of God— praying, serving, praising.

And in these domestic chapels, God, The Very Person of Peace, offers Himself to the congregants..."

Ann has something beautiful to say to you.

Please visit and soak up her words - they will lift your homemaker's soul today!

And as she would say..

all's grace,

Trish

An interesting article

"The world only values women if they can earn money (a materialistic, unwholesome view of women), but God values them in a greater way, giving them the responsibility of guiding the home.

Read Titus 2 again. It does not mention money at all. It does not command the women to be keepers IF they have enough money. It simply shows the way women in the Lord's church are supposed to live.

They are supposed to marry, love their husbands, teach their children, and be keepers at home, workers at home, busy at home that the word of God be not blasphemed.This means that they should pay careful attention to these things; to do these things well , and not bring shame on God's word. This wonderful place they have in life, at home, gives them a chance to be different than the world. It sets them apart, as God's people, from the way others around them live..."

You can read the rest of this post from Lady Lydia at her blog  Homeliving

Ladies, this article which Lady Lydia has written is very thought-provoking and encouraging for women who are called to be full-time homemakers.

If you are needing advice or re-assurance about being a stay-at-home-wife-mother, you just may find the help you seek in this most interesting post.

blessings..Trish

Hearts For Home

Today I rejoin my friend Gae for her weekly Tuesday meme "Hearts for Home."

I used to do this via my other blog but it has undergone a recent change and so I am continuing to meet with Gae over here now.  
This very caring and busy mother of 11 children with #12 on the way, takes time out each week to encourage us wives and mothers in caring for our homes...

"In today’s busy and aggressive society mothers at home are not given much encouragement to be committed to their role in being home.


In my weekly 'Hearts for Home' post I am encouraging myself and others to commit to thinking about what 4-6 things we can do each week to bring our thoughts, prayers and actions to keeping our 'Hearts for Home'.
I am praying that a spirit of gentleness, generosity in thoughts and time along with loveliness and grace would lead us to be all that God wants us to be." (quote from Gae)

The combination of sickness and the holidays has thrown my housekeeping routine out somewhat and now I really need to get back on track!
This week I aim to:
#1 Pack away the Christmas decorations that are still out.
#2 Hopefully change the curtains in the dining room. The heavy florals were cosy for winter but we feel the need for lighter, less cluttered looking drapes now that summer is here in Australia.
#3 Help my hubby in the yard. He is healing but still has his hand strapped up and it is difficult for him to do certain things without my assistance.
#4 Organise my bedroom which is looking a little chaotic at the moment. Possibly culling more clothes to free up needed wardrobe space.
#5 Keep myself accountable with daily prayer and lectio divina.
#6 Keep a check on my sick family members and friends.
Greetings to all the Hearts for Home ladies as we begin a new year together :-)
And may we ALL continue to live out our vocation in Christ to be godly homemakers and a blessing to our families and homes in 2011..
Trish

If you would like to be part of this little ministry of home-loving, just visit Gae to link up and share your plans with her lovely group.

Amish giveaway

Dear ladies, do you enjoy reading about Amish ways ?

You may be interested to know that, A Joyful Chaos is giving you a chance to win 6 of her favourite books from childhood.

A selection of true to life stories about Amish teens, courtship and marriage.

Sound good?

Perhaps you should hop over and pay her a little visit :-)

blessings..Trish

Dear God..

"You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul and all your strength. And you must commit yourself wholeheartedly to these commands which I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children, talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up." Deut. 6:5-7
One of the most solemn, yet beautiful, tasks a christian parent has is to teach their child to pray.

It is a holy obligation to help them love their heavenly Father. By folding a child's little hands together and bowing downy heads, parents teach the small soul that praying is something very special. Long before they are old enough to pronounce the prayerful words, children can be encouraged to express reverence for God by copying the posture of their parents.

For example, they quickly link the action of bowing heads in thankgiving around the dinner table with the exclamation of "Amen!"

Before too long they will be asking to say grace on behalf of the family and be very vocal with their sweet prayer-which might include many thanks and requests for things totally unrelated to food!!

If patience is shown in these early days the child will develop a natural desire to bring things to the Lord in prayer. Especially if they see and hear their parents and older siblings doing so with faith and enthusiasm.

They will want Mum or Dad to listen to their night prayers and be unsettled until their day ends with a gathering at their bedside. As they grow older this regular prayer-time often serves as a gateway for discussion about serious things on their mind. Things which they need clarification on or explanation; such as scripture verses or questions about the nature of God.

Perhaps a behavioural problem will be addressed in the quiet moments before sleep and forgiveness sought for mis-demeanors. It can be a powerful teaching time if a parent has the will to spend a few moments waiting on the Lord. He may well open the door for ministry to the young person who wishes to unburden themselves to Mum or Dad at night-time.

It's a mistake to rush these moments to get back to the tv or whatever leisure activity we may be planning to enjoy. Many secrets of a childs heart are brought to the Light in the dimness of evening prayers.

What a great privilege it is to lead a little one to the throne of God!

When all else falls away, the knowledge of God and the desire to seek Him in prayer will carry them through life's trials and joys. Even if the world pulls them off the path, that which we sow into their spirit when young will produce a fruitful harvest in it's season.

More important than teaching them mathematics or science.

More fulfilling than sports or the arts or toys.

More gratifying than food or clothes or any material thing we can provide.

One of the greatest legacies and the most powerful possession we can pass on to our children is the ability to pray!

"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6

blessings..Trish

linking to http://raisinghomemakers.com.blogspot.com/

Spring blossoms

I thought I'd share a few photos of the ornamental cherry trees gracing our front yard right now. It is Spring here in Australia, and while I'm loving all the Autumn foliage I see on other blogs, I want to give thanks for the sweet blossoms of Spring we are blessed with here.

blessings.. Trish

Being real

Do you like to have your house all in order when company calls?

Most women wish to keep their homes in such a good state that they do not have to be anxious when the door-bell suddenly rings. I'm like that most of the time too. But you know, sometimes unplanned events happen to us which can mean that our chores back up a little, and suddenly we find ourselves running around in a dither trying to catch up on things!

Perhaps a visitor arrives unexpectedly and we must leave our cleaning to attend to them; meaning that as we chat together we get further behind in our daily plans.

This is what happened to me just last night. After being out most of the day shopping and coming home late in the afternoon, I thought I could quickly run through the house and attend to what needed to be done before tea and before my friends arrived for our evening study group.

I was wrong!

A visitor arrived just as I should have been starting to cook tea for my husband and me. The nature of the visit meant that I needed to help entertain them along with my husband and postpone the chores I was already behind on. We had a very lovely visit and I'm so glad they called on us because we have not seen them for some time. But.. as we talked and shared about the happenings in our lives right now, I found myself struggling internally about how long this was all taking! I came to a point where I could have excused myself and got on with the jobs I should've done earlier, but I started to think about why I was having this emotional conflict within. Part of me was enjoying the fellowship and part of me was focused on the items cluttering the room, things which I had intended to put away before anyone came. Not that there was a huge mess-just something here and there not in it's usual place.

My nature is to get a little stressed about this kind of situation because I feel 'not in control', but I remembered a conversation I had with a dear friend just a week or so ago...and it made me stop in my tracks .

My friend was down-hearted because she felt she was not keeping an orderly home and was comparing my housekeeping with hers. Because she is such a wonderful friend she automatically placed me upon a pedestal (which I certainly don't deserve to be on) and declared that my home is always tidy. Not quite true-but compared with her very busy household of 8, I guess I can understand what she means. The fact is that I have less volume of things to be handled and taken care of than her. And to tell the truth, life is not always neat -especially when you are homeschooling four of your six children as she is! There are the necessary items for learning visible and evident in the main rooms of the home. It's just the way it is.

My home on the other hand, only has the trappings of two adults to be dealt with on a daily basis now. Much easier to handle and hide away quickly! I protested and owned up to having messy rooms at times too, but she was not so convinced and laughingly asked me to email her a photo of it for proof. After she left I pondered our conversation and realised that my fussing was causing her to be dis-heartened and much harder on herself than necessary. I obviously needed to let her see that I struggle at times with keeping on schedule and am no different to her-just have a different set of challenges. I certainly didn't want her to be deflated by looking at me! So I hatched a plan to take photos as she suggested to show her that I was not such a domestic goddess after all -far from it indeed!!

Well..I didn't need to get the camera out because last night when she came for our study she found me with dishes still in the sink and things misplaced around the room and me running late with my final preparations for our group. (Perhaps it was all in the Lord's plan as our earlier visitor said he'd felt that he should come to see us but didn't know why. Maybe it was so my friend would come before I could get the kitchen cleaned away!) Normally I would be feeling a bit guilty over being 'caught out' like that but instead I decided to let it go and relax. After all, I was with my dearest friends who love me for who I am, not for how tidy my coffee table is. I was struck by the thought that I want whoever comes here to feel at ease, and not leave with a false image of me or my home-or to compare themselves with me in an unreal way.

It's so easy to get caught between the need to keep a clean house and the pressure to present a picture of good home management. Oftentimes we put ourselves under unnecessary stress, and effect others as well, by trying to 'have it all together'.. or at least give the impression that we do! How much better it is to be real and let others see that we all fall somewhat short at times. Homekeeping is a beautiful and important vocation -no doubt about that- but perhaps there are times when we need to lighten up and not take ourselves quite so seriously. Provoking another to do well at it, is only a good thing when it's coupled with honest humility and joyful encouragement. We need to guard against the temptation to appear better than we are to others.. the world isn't going to stop turning because the dishes are not done occasionally!

blessings..Trish

linked to http://raisinghomemakers.com/

Supporting a husband's dream

"In serving as her husband's helper, a wife performs many valuable
roles...In all her tasks, she seeks to further him as a man. His work of
dominion is her work; she embraces his vision as her own as she promotes and
enhances his life pursuits." Stacey McDonald.. Passionate Housewives Desperate for God

I can't quite remember when my husband first began to love collecting antiques and restoring them. It was in the early days of our marriage, that I do know. And I do remember the friendship he had with Ted. He was an elderly man, in his eighties, who taught my husband the age-old craft of French Polishing. He patiently showed him how to mix powdered colours and apply beeswax and rub the timbers, to bring a glorious sheen and patina back into old tired furniture. My husband was enthralled and became Ted's willing student and the receiver of an old man's legacy of love and labour.
While my husband spent his days learning from Ted, I worked at a charity donation centre to help suppliment the income that was slowing growing, as they repaired sideboards and tables and pianos. I didn't mind at all..in fact I enjoyed it very much. I was blessed to work for a godly older couple who held prayer meetings every morning with their staff and were more like beloved parents rather than employers. There was a real family atmosphere at Lifeline and it was enhanced by the fact that both my sisters and two nieces were also on staff. So I was content to be there for a time.


Besides..I knew it wasn't to be permanent. I stopped working outside our home when I became pregnant with our first child, and have been strictly a homemaking wife and mother since then. It was always my dream to be a stay-at-home-mother and in time, the Lord made a way for that blessing to become a reality for me.


Until then, I waited as my husband grew wiser and more experienced under Ted's mentoring and started to gain a good name as a restorer. During this time we had accumulated various pieces of large victorian furniture which were threatening to overtake the house and so, we decided to try our hand at selling some. We advertised in the local paper and put the word around, and were full of expectation and hope that this "home-business" adventure might be a success.
One day, while I was at work, a customer appeared at last, and my husband made the first antique furniture sale of his long career. I came home to find him grinning triumphantly and pointing to four $2 notes he had framed and hung on the wall. He was so proud and pleased and excited and just couldn't wait to tell me that he'd sold something! I was happy too..until I discovered what he had sold. My grandmother's Singer treadle sewing machine!


Oh dear..I had a dilema on my hands.


I was both excited and devastated at the same time! In his exhuberance he'd been talked into selling the only piece of 'furniture' I had inherited from my family. Needless to say, he was very sorry and embarassed when he realised how disappointed and shocked I was to find it gone. These days we joke about what happened- it will be a fun family story to pass on down to our descendants. But you know, I learned something important out of that experience. Never hold on to a possession so tightly that it stops you from moving into your future. My grandmother's treadle sewing machine which had provided the family clothes for two generations, stitched up my husband's working-life that day. He had found what fitted him..the thing he was good at and the means of him providing for our family for many years to come.
I could have chosen to thwart his plans by being unsupportive, unforgiving, by holding a grudge or constantly reminding him of his mistake. But instead, I've had the joy of watching him grow into a fine craftsman who is highly sought after and who has a very good reputation for the quality of his work. A godly caring man who in turn has passed on his woodworking wisdom, by mentoring other men who are disabled or recently released from prison. Giving them hope for their future. My son recently met someone who told him "Your father changed my life." He was very moved to see the gratitude and respect this man held for my husband. Both our sons are proud of their wonderful father, and the way he has taken good care of us by working hard to make life beautiful for his family.
I am very thankful for that early lesson about sacrificing to support my husband's dream - thankful for the graces it has brought to us as a family and it's effects on the lives of others. I plan to continue to hold possessions lightly; and to enjoy the ongoing amazing adventure of being a helpmeet to my beloved man! I never was much good at sewing anyway..
blessings...Trish
linked to http://raisinghomemakers.com/
photo: the Irish rocking chair made by my husband and used as my prayer place

The law of kindness

In thinking of what to write for the Raising Homemakers linkup this week, I kept hearing Proverbs 31:26, "the law of kindness is on her tongue".

It is a sad fact that today many a woman is guilty of breaking this law of love and giving place to an unholy way of speech. You can see this happening around you more and more, especially when out in the malls or walking down the main streets of town. Women of all ages are not only using foul language but speaking in a vicious tone that is designed to offend or hurt others. And amazingly, they don't seem to care that bystanders are witnessing their awful behaviour. There is precious little shame-facedness to be found nowdays.

I experienced this yet again today, while standing in line at the supermarket checkout, listening to a mother loudly insulting her young ones.

We have just begun 2 weeks school holidays here in Australia, so there are many mothers out and about with their young children in tow. It is obvious that some of these mothers are not happy to have their children's company whilst shopping. Patience has taken a vacation too!

I fully understand that little ones can slow mothers down and cause some inconveniences at times; but I can never understand the venom that sometimes issues from the mouths of women towards their own children! It's no surprise that some young people are growing up with a mean streak when their own parents use hateful speech within the family. And isn't it always more jarring when a womans voice is heard in this unpleasant way? It masculinises her and causes a natural abhorrence to rise up in the hearts of tender souls.

What a shame - literally- that a voice which was created to be gentle, soft and loving is used as a weapon of ugliness. Truly it can be said that to break the 'law' of kindness is to reap a judgement of misery on both the perpetrator and the victim of this folly!

Once again, I find J R Miller has some good advice about putting this "excellent woman" scripture into practise:

"The law of kindness is on the tongue of the excellent woman. She has trained her speech to gentle tones. A woman's voice is a wonderful revealer of her character. Every young girl should train herself to speak softly and kindly. One who has not done this in early life will not be able to suddenly adopt "the law of kindness" when she sets up her own home. Little girls should begin to speak softly when they are playing, or at school or in their home. Nothing is more beautiful in a woman than calmness and quietness in manner, showing itself in well-controlled speech.

Bad temper is a great blot on a woman. A wife and mother who is always scolding, scolding, scolding not only mars the beauty of her own life but hurts the lives and scars and spoils the characters of her children, and makes her home an unhappy place for her household.

Wonderful is this law of kindness. In a mother in her own home it's influence is heavenlike. Every girl and young woman should take this "law" into her life at once, and train her heart and voice to the sweetest kindness."

Let's encourage each other and our young girls to be ladylike, and thoughtful of our words and actions, so we will be a blessing to others and bring honour to our sweet Lord.

linked to http://raisinghomemakers.com/

blessings...Trish

Knit one..teach one

"The aged women likewise....teach the young women .. " Titus 2:3-4

Last Saturday, I spent a delightful time visiting with my dearest friend. The day was warm and sunny and perfect for a slow stroll around her lovely garden. We inspected signs of new life springing up in the pretty flower beds and talked of plans for garden paths. Magnolias were in bloom and fat brown chickens roamed leisurely under bushes, scratching away to their heart's content. We watched them scattering soil and leaves, as we sat on the low retaining wall with the sun on our backs, basking in the soothing rays until lunch time. After sharing sandwiches and a pot of tea, we moved into her loungeroom and settled in for a relaxing afternoon watching a few episodes of Wives and Daughters. "Oohing and aahing" over the beautiful gowns and hairstyles of a bygone era, we were soon joined by her 13 year old daughter who quietly lay on the sofa, taking in the scenes before her.

Out came our craft bags, and as happy as the chickens outside, we began our own chorus of scratching and clicking away the day. My friend crocheting a pretty green table runner for her dining room and me knitting red squares to be made into a rug for missions. No need for much chatting - just simply enjoying each other's company and sharing in things that make us content. Doing womanly things together. Hearts at peace, minds fed with beauty, hands creating for others. A simple domestic scene on a perfectly lovely day!

You know, I think it is very important for young girls to observe the womenfolk in their families spending fun time in just this sort of way. Life-lessons are often learnt silently, by watching and absorbing the attitude and behaviour of older girls and women. Sadly there is no shortage of anti-family, feministic or worldly role models available for young ladies to emulate today. But when we demonstrate to them the pleasures to be found in keeping good company and doing something to benefit our homes or someone else's; we sow seeds into their fertile minds which can produce images of contentment, friendship and selfless living.

When in turn, a daughter has her own home and family to care for, the scenes of her mother sharing and enjoying the cooking, crafting, reading or gardening, will flow across the memory waters to reflect a picture of peace and fulfillment. She will be confirmed and encouraged in her godly role as wife and mother, when she remembers how the days spent with family and dear friends at home, brought such simple joy and blessings to her own mother.

It seems to me that we need to take special care to show young girls how much we love being a homemaker; and that despite the routineness there is much scope for creativity and hospitality to be enjoyed. And that we find real peace in knowing we are fulfilling our biblical mandate by loving our husbands and families in a way that is pleasing to God and which brings great blessings into our homes.

We want our children to learn the important life-lessons from us and not the unsaved world. Lessons which will stand them in good stead when they are adults. May the glad lesson of finding happiness in "homely-ness" be one of them!

blessings...Trish

linked with Raising Homemakers at http://raisinghomemakers.com/

Washdays

Tuesday night's "Passionate Housewives Desperate for God" book study, generated some discussion about the home appliances of today compared with those of a generation or so back. We were reminded of the great helps we have which make our housework much easier and speedier now. The challenge was put to us: "what have we got to whinge about these days when we've got it so much easier than our forbears?"

I was thinking of my mother who had to use an old copper to boil our clothes in on wash day, and all the work that entailed for her. Memories flooded back of our laundry filling up with billows of hot steam and her poor face, reddened and sweaty, while she lifted things out with the copper stick to put into the concrete tubs for rinsing. Back-breaking work some days! The hand wringing of delicate garments and the pushing of tougher fabrics through the wind up wringer attached to the copper, left her hands raw and sometimes cracked from being in so much water all day. With a large family of 7, the basket was heavy ladened and there was always a full clothes line in our backyard with swinging shirts and towels and flapping sheets. And seeing as most wives were at home in those days, our ritual was no different from our neighbours. Line upon line of washing could be seen across the yards and down the street. Children playing in the sunshine while busy mothers chatted over the fences was the norm. There was always Mrs So-and-So out and about her garden, and always someone to wave to while you pegged out the washing back then.

Now you rarely catch sight of women in the yard hanging the clothes on a line. Many are simply not home. Some may be indoors, but using the dryer in the laundry instead of the sun to finish off the washing for them. The neighbourhoods are very quiet on washdays now. The community atmosphere is long gone out of it; and people stay huddled inside not even knowing if next door is empty, or has some needy soul longing for human contact dwelling within.

Yes, we are very blessed to have modern household gadgets to ease the load for us - but it's a real shame that at times, they cause us to lose opportunities for good old-fashioned neighbourly contact and friendships. Modern convenience is not always so wonderful - some things of the past need to be retained. Like noisy neighbourhoods on washdays!

blessings..Trish

linked to http://raisinghomemakers.com/