Moving Back

I can access my blogs again at:

http://www.hillsidecottage.blogspot.com

http://allthingsfeminine.blogspot.com

So, I’ll be back over there.  I moved my posts on this blog to my Cottage on the Hill blog.  See you back at the old stomping grounds.

Fits Like a Glove

I got this vintage 1950’s gown at a garage sale for under $10.00!  Although, when I wear it, I feel like Tammy in Tammy and the Bachelor where she says, “I’ve never seen myself so plain out to be seen.  Is it decent?”  While this gown is strapless, the neckline does come up high enough that it doesn’t show an ounce of cleavage, or any bosom for that matter.  If I ever do get a chance to wear it out and about, I’m getting a shawl, though.  Having my shoulders naked makes me feel naked.  Still, it was a dream to put on and wear about the house for a while.

My Art

In my teen years I spent a lot of time sketching.  I miss it, though I’m out of practice now.  Like my singing, it has gone to the wayside.  However, I thought I’d share one of my drawings with you.  She’s no one in particular.  She’s just someone from my mind.

Taigh Beag Sgoil ~ Home Education

I’m learning a bit more about the Montessori Method and I like it.  I’ve also been introduced to Waldorf, Classical, and soon will be borrowing Charlotte Mason.  They’re all intriguing and a mother could go nuts wondering which one is best for her child.  I’m not worried about that.  I take what I like and can apply with my littles and off I go. 

I’m finding home education for my children extremely rewarding for myself.  I’m more relaxed.  I enjoy seeing my children explore and discover.  I also love the creativity it affords me!  I love coming up with lesson ideas.  Last night I decided that next week I’ll let my son cut and paste a collage (he’ll be learning the letter C).  I’m eager to see what he comes up with.  Will he cut and paste at random?  Or will he select pictures?  Will he butcher with his scissors?  Or will he carefully cut out what he wants?  Will he be bored quickly?  Or will he fill up the paper?

My 16 month old daughter is picking up on things, too.  She’s more interested in scribbling and less interested in eating the crayons.  When son and I are at the table, she wants to join in.  Today, she carefully concentrated on the sewing card I let her try.  I showed her how it works and she absorbed herself in figuring out the fine motor skill of poking the thread into the premade holes.  I wanted to keep butting in, but I held  back and was amazed at how she tried different methods of holding the thread to find  the best way to put it through the hole.

I’m fairly bursting with ideas!

Garlic

Garlic will need to be planted soon.  To accomplish this, I want to build a raised bed with a hot box on one end.  I’m hoping I get paid for a sewing project I did soon so I can buy the lumber for the bed at least.  The hotbox may have to wait until next year.

I’m considering shallots.  They need to be planted in the autumn as well.

The Harvest Season

Today, I stopped by an orchard and picked up my order of pears along with a quart of peaches, a pumpkin and a jar of local wildflower honey.  Later, I put up 4 quarts of applesauce.  I also was told that basil pesto made with almonds is delicious, so I’ll be doing that with my basil before the colder evenings does the poor plant in. 

This week, I hope to pick some raspberries, too.  I’m using it as part of my son’s homeschooling.  We’re working on the letter B and berries begins with B.

I’m not a Tasha Tudor Fanatic

Just for clarification purposes:

I am aware of her humanistic life and as I read more about her, I know that she was not a Christian and a very faulted woman. I certainly don’t idolize or idealize her in the least. I admire her industry and her talents. I would have liked to have met her….I enjoy quirky people….many of my friends are quite quirky, opinionated and faulted as is everyone who’s human,  including myself who is often called “weird.”  I can easily take people with a large dose of salt at times. Tasha’s life was indeed idyllic and of her own fantasy and making, but it came with a price I wouldn’t pay. I’m sad that it seems she did lose so much in gaining that something, but her biggest loss is never knowing the Lord. Perhaps that’s where so much of her unrest came from, always trying to fulfill an emptiness she was unable to recognize, or perhaps ignored.  On the other hand, perhaps she knew Him in her own way.  Only the Lord truly knows.

I admire certain aspects of Tasha Tudor, which is what I’m covering on my blog….she’s kind of like a re-enactor I never met.

It is too bad that people put her up on such a high plane and it’s too bad others bash her down. She hasn’t asked or merited either.  People are doing the same thing with other industrious and against-the-worldly-grain women on the web or in the public eye.  It’s what we as human’s do, perhaps to caution those who do get starry eyed, or perhaps to make ourselves feel better because we’re not like them and would like to be.

So, if anyone is wondering if I’m going all fanatical about her, wearing rose-colored wire-rimmed glasses, please understand that I am not.  I do not in the least idolize her. I’m interested, curious, even fascinated at some points, but not all-admiring.

Jelly Success, Friends, Take Joy

This time around the crabapple jelly was a huge success.  It tastes fantastic, too.  Crabapples have enough natural pectin that I didn’t have to add any.  It takes longer, but it uses less sugar and the results (if successfully jelled) is delicious and gorgeous.

I encourage anyone with a crabapple tree to try making jelly.  It doesn’t take that much.  I only filled a grocery bag a 1/4 of the way full and made 7 half-pints and 2-full pints of jelly.  The redder the crabapples the prettier the jelly.

I’m so blessed to have so many interesting and talented re-enacting and non-re-enacting friends.  I really should utilize their talents more.  Through my friends I could learn:

1. Spinning
2. Fencing (with swords)
3. horseback riding
4. horse driving
5. gown draping (which I will learn shortly)
6. knitting
7. crocheting
8. tambour embroidery

And I’m sure many other things that I cannot think of right now.

On the Tasha Tudor front, I have been wondering if her longevity was due partly to her old-fashioned living.  She worked hard without overdoing it.  If it stressed her out, she didn’t bother with it anymore.  She also ate very naturally with fresh ingredients.  Not only did she live until she was 92, but she was healthy and active to the end.  Her “take joy” philosophy must have had something to do with it.

I have a bench out in my kitchen porch that I purchased at a yard sale years ago.  It’s a cute, simple wooden bench that was painted blue and covered a few times with a crazy-quilt-like fabric.  The fabric is torn, worn and shredded in places and I’ve been meaning to cover it with a fine linen that I’d embroider.  I couldn’t think of anything to embroider on it other than Failte which is Gaelic for Welcome.  Instead, I have decided to embroider “Take Joy” on it.

There are so many Bible verses out that that lift me up and I’ve got beautiful promises of God tucked away in me that I can pull out when needing a reminder of His perfect love.  However, there’s just something about Tasha Tudor’s “Take Joy” that really instills in me something that keeps me out of the depths of stress, anger and resentment that I’ve lately been too capable of falling into.  I think it’s because it embraces God’s Grace as well as all the worldly blessings around me.  It reminds me to look to Him because He is our ultimate Joy.  It helps me on so many levels.

By the way, you can purchase the DVD format of Take Joy(pictured above) at www.tashatudorandfamily.com.  I’m hoping to get it for Christmas or my birthday!

Studying Tasha Tudor

I’m fascinated by Tasha Tudor lately and not for her 1830’s lifestyle or simplicity (which is anything but simple).  I am fascinated by her ability to fit so much into her existance and live such a joyful, peaceful life. 

The dear woman had 4 children and lived without electricity and plumbing!  I have 2 children and most modern conveniences and I still try to live simply and half the time I’m ready to pull my hair out!! 

I really want to know how she did it.  I’m assuming that she was smart enough during her children’s early years that she didn’t embark on too many projects and kept things as easy as possible.  I’m also guessing she kept things like daily meals simple.  I adore cooking and am guilty of too often making meals that take anywhere from an hour to 3 hours to prepare!  Lately, I’ve taken to enjoying slow-simmered soups and stews at least once a week.  We’re not big casserole and crockpot fans.  My toddlers’ taste buds don’t like things that contain too many flavors at once.  I’m not  fan of so many casserole recipes that contain processed ingredients.  Hubby and I don’t care for the taste and texture of many crockpot recipes.  I digress….

Tasha Tudor said to “take joy.”  I’m doing that.  In the meantime, I’m gathering every bit of Tasha Tudor media I can find and studying her.

Smells

Mice.

I like mice.  I think they’re cute.  They just don’t belong in my house!  Living in the country, we have many mice.  We have so many mice that we have plenty of hawks who find them easy pickings.

Unfortunately, when these little creatures find refuge in my house they start leaving their droppings everywhere and making plenty of noise in the attic at 2 in the morning.  They’re smart, too.  Live traps and even the good old fashioned mouse traps are left untouched.  Hubby gets poison.  The problem with the poison is that the mice then decide to make the inside of the wall their final resting place.  For two weeks it stinks!

A simmering of whole cloves and cinnamon sticks helps cover the scent and “purify” the air. 

The next step is peppermint.  A friend of mine let me know that an 18th century way of getting rid of mice is to put peppermint throughout your house.  I have peppermint growing like crazy in my garden.  I’m going to give it a try.  She says it works well and makes your house smell nice, too.   I’m also wondering if I should plant peppermint around the base of my house!  Ooooohhhh…..imagine the smell when hubby mows it!