EASE, ELEGANCE, and ECONOMY

 

EASE, ELEGANCE, and ECONOMY

 

I am a big fan of Jane Austen. Even more than her books, I like her letters. Even though she was born two hundred and fifty years ago, she said a lot in her novels of contemporary nineteenth century life that still make sense today.

She wrote a letter to her sister, Cassandra, in July of 1808 that contained this passage: "In the meantime for Elegance and Ease, and Luxury...I shall eat ice and drink French wine, and be above Vulgar Economy." Jane did like a good vacation.

Many years later I read these familiar words again in another book that I happened to find. This one was printed in  1971, and was one of my favorites when I was a young wife: 

It's out of print now but used copies can still be ordered through book stores. I liked it because it was funny, yet filled with charts and schedules. I remember she said that the only thing she really liked about housekeeping was arranging red roses in crystal vases. 

The words I remember most were her opinions on ease, elegance, and economy. Basically, she said that you can never have all three at the same time. You can always have two of them, but never all. And it changes. If you want to buy something, make something, entertain someone, or just do something wild and crazy for yourself, then one of these will have to be excluded.

It's possible to plan a party with ease and elegance, but not with economy, because you will have to spend more money. You can have an elegant, economical party, but it won't be easy, because you will be doing most of the work yourself. Or you can just throw something together and make it easy and economical, but you'll be missing all those fine touches that make it elegant!

I'm not sure why this has stuck with me for fifty years, but it applies to just about every situation. I'm not sure what happened to my copy of the book, but it is worth reading more than once. I remember making some pretty elaborate schedules when my kids were small. 

Another housekeeping book I liked was this one:

For quite a while I kept my whole life on index cards. The authors' motto was "We change lives with 3 x 5's. They were two sisters, Pam and Peggy, and were hilarious. They had a tv show for a while, and I always tried to watch it. They were even keynote speakers at a convention I went to, and let me be their assistant, because I wrote them a really schmaltzy fan letter. They wrote back to me. I probably still have it somewhere. I finally got rid of all their newsletters, and instantly regretted it.

Another homemaker author I enjoyed was Peg Bracken and her "I Hate to Cook" book and "I Hate to Housekeep" book. As people can probably tell, I am drawn to the funny and the ridiculous advice books, as long as they teach me something I want to learn.

And, then, of course there is Martha Stewart, who tried to make us think that we could have the Three E's, although I never feel that economy is involved. One year I wanted to use one of her Christmas ideas, but I realized that just the ribbon would cost my entire budget. And Martha isn't funny. Impressive, but not funny.

Today, I still enjoy all the housekeeping and decorating tips, but am becoming addicted to YouTube videos. Everyone I see has a perfect life. Recently, I've been watching several of the videos called "Wise Elders Insights." They are filled with good advice for our twilight years, but not with a lot of humor. They are narrated with a very soothing voice that makes me feel like I must have known Jane Austen personally.  (I might be a little touchy since I just had a birthday!) I'm still hunting for the perfect clean your house, organize your day, be clever, and enjoy your life and laugh whenever you can information. I know it must be out there.

SHE SAID SHE SHED

Walls and A Roof

Several months before John and I even thought about getting married, we were watching tv one night, and a well-known commercial came on. It was for insurance, and depicted the burning of Sheryl's She Shed. John had never heard of such a concept, but thought it was a good idea. I am referring to the building, not the burning.   And that was the beginning of my She Shed. We've talked about it a lot since then, always as something that would happen someday. And that day has arrived.
This has been a busy week. They started on my building on Monday morning, and today (Friday) the workmen finished. Of course, it's not a house, but I was surprised how quickly it has been coming together. There is a lot left to do. The wiring and drywall is installed, but all the finish work is ours to do.
 It is close to the house, nestled in by the patio and deck, and near the garage, and tool shed. It will be white, trimmed in black. That is the same color scheme that is on the rest of the buildings here. I had planned on shutters, but forgot to tell them that. However, I will have window boxes. And a sign. And a wreath on the door. I am looking forward to a place to decorate. I love our old farmhouse, but it has been lived in for a long time by many other people. It will take awhile before it truly reflects my taste.

Starting to Paint.

There is another window on the side wall, which is larger. I wanted a lot of wall space, because I have a lot to hang on the walls. I know I will probably fill most of the area! I am hoping for a look that is not overly crowded, but that may not happen!  I still have so many treasures that have survived several moves and lifestyle changes in the past years.  I am in the process of doing a final clearout of a storage unit that I have held onto for too many years. I am going through boxes and a house that is also filled with too many things, and trying to keep only what I really want.

Many years ago, in my old life as a young wife, I owned a small home business called HerbPatch, making and selling "herbal gifts and pleasantries". For quite a while, my work area was in our busy (family of seven) laundry room. We had an old milk house on our property, and my late husband renovated it for me. I always suspected that he was tired of picking bits of lavender out of his clothes! I spent many of my favorite hours there. It was much more rustic than this new building, but, it too, was a special place, Two of the walls had floor to ceiling shelves, filled with gallon sized glass jars of dried flowers and herbs. A large wooden table filled most of the room.  At the time, with five young children, I called it My Place of Serenity. I have thought of Serenity Cottage as a name for my new building, but now my life is serene almost all of the time. I'm not sure if I need to be reminded to be serene. I want to call it a cottage instead of a she shed because I have loved seeing so many beautifully named cottages during my visits to England. Nearly all the houses in my favorite little villages have names and signs on or beside their doors.  I am thinking of something quaint but not overly cutesy. I would enjoy hearing any suggestions.
I no longer make flower arrangements and potpourri to sell, but I will be doing lots more  papercrafting, sewing, and reading, and writing. I am starting to feel more creative, just knowing I have a room of my own.

And More of the Same

A Short Walk Around the Neighborhood

We are still staying home, as is just about everyone these days. In a few days we will celebrate our first half year of marriage. (April 12). During this time I think we have spent more time together than most couples! Our first two months involved a lot of time in cars, and car dealerships, since ours decided not to behave on our honeymoon. We managed to have adventures anyway, although it was a bit of a stressful time. I spent a lot of moments determined to be cheerful, and I think I managed very well under the circumstances. John is very easy to get along with, but he is a man who loves routine. Sometimes I think my main routine is a lack of routine!

He Drives. I Stitch and Talk.

We are "a bit older" than most newlyweds, so we have more than seventy years of memories, recollections, and reminiscing to catch up on. We talk a lot. And as long as I stay away from the tv remote and politics, we get along very well. Just tonight we discovered that both of our fathers liked to eat fried corn meal mush. I don't think most people even remember that. I'm not sure if grocery stores even carry it anymore. Of course, it has been weeks since I have been in a grocery store. Or any store. We have been taking this stay at home thing very seriously.  We do take walks. John works outside when the weather is nice enough.  I have been putting things away, as so many of my possessions have been in storage for several years. Sometimes it feels like Christmas when I open boxes and rediscover items I had almost forgotten. And then I need to decide what to do with them in my new home. And to make things blend when so many different tastes are involved.

I also watch a lot English cozy murder mysteries. We just subscribed to one of the British channels, and I will happily confess to binge watching. I feel a little guilty not multi tasking, so I have been keeping busy with hand sewing. In January I purchased a block of the month kit, and for the first time ever I am caught up. I have been waiting for over a week for April's wool and it finally arrived today. They do look a little wonky here, so don't examine them closely. I think it will all go together well when it's done. I've never stitched a big project like this one before. And now I can watch charming  English mayhem without guilt.

                                                                             
                                                                             

February

January

March

 That is what we've been doing here. There is lots I didn't mention, such as the worry and the prayers. Our lives haven't changed much, but I know this is making major differences for many others. We miss seeing our children and grandchildren. It is difficult knowing that we can't be there to make this
staying at home easier for others. Stay safe everyone. And may this soon be over, and may we all remember and enjoy the things that make life precious.

Fun Times at Home

We are living in a different world than we expected, aren't we? Our state, Iowa, isn't under an official "shelter in place" order, but of course nearly every one is doing just that.  Even though we have been staying in for over a week, it seems like much longer. 

My last big outing was to the grocery store, with one quick trip to Menard's. I am starting to notice how often I usually leave the house. Normally I do go to work at least two or three times a week, but not now. I don't usually think of myself as a shopper, but do like to go to a bookstore, library, and craftshop more often than I realized. Those are my "happy places." I like to wander around and get inspired. I'm pretty sure I like these stores because the clerks, though friendly, are usually unlikely to chat. I am not much of a chatterer. That is actually helping me now. John and I are used to living a pretty quiet life, so all this isn't as big a change for us as for many. Luckily, we don't have to worry about a big change in income, since we are mostly retired. The biggest difference for us is that we are no longer going out to dinner several times a week. We received a lot of restaurant gift cards for our wedding five months ago, and have been using them quite steadily. I've made no secret of being a begin-again cook. I realize that I have had several years of snacking instead of cooking!  It still surprises me that my new husband likes to eat dinner every night. He is a very good sport about it all, and he really isn't a very adventurous diner. This is probably good for me, because I do not like long and complicated recipes. I have discovered that I don't like to spend more time with food prep than it takes to eat the finished dish. I do spend a lot of time looking at recipes, just because I enjoy it. I'm not sure if it means anything though. I also like to spend a lot of time reading diet books.

I need to show our new whirligig. It's a bi-plane, and was adorably rusty when we bought it. I am attracted to men who like to paint purposely rusted yard ornaments. Years ago, I came home from work one day and Jim had painted all my yard art glossy white. John painted this one red, white, and blue. We found a Snoopy on a shelf, who fits almost perfectly. (He did have to have surgery on one leg) He still needs a goggle and helmet to be a proper Red Baron, but I did knit him a red scarf. When the wind blows, the plane flies, the propeller twirls, and the scarf blows. It is pretty cute, even if it isn't what I would have thought to be my style.

The Luck of the Irish

Happy St Paddy's Day. This beautiful hand embossed picture was a wedding present from my daughter-in-law and oldest son. Thank you Jim and Kristan. It hangs by our front door, so I can see and read it every day.

" May your troubles be less

And your blessings be more.

And nothing but happiness

Come through your door"

One of those simple Irish verses that manage to say it all, isn't it?

          Tess and Finn---Younger Days

My Irish Girls
Erin, Meg, Bridget

This is going to be the strangest March 17th that any of us have lived through. And I certainly hope it is the most unusual one that we will ever have to remember. There won't be a lot of celebrating going on I think, because almost everything is closed. The Corona virus has become a chilling reality. None of us knows what to expect. I don't think that it really hit me until I went to the grocery store and saw that so many aisles were empty. They were completely out of all the meats that I planned to buy. There were almost no canned goods. Hardly any soups, or fruits or vegetables. And everyone knows that paper products and cleaning supplies can barely stay on the shelves. And the sad thing is that it isn't because of lack. This has been caused by fear and hoarding. No one needs to have too much of anything.

The past several years have turned me into a bit of a minimalist in the area of food supplies, because I didn't have a kitchen. As a fraternity House Mom, I had a chef for five years, and really did very little grocery shopping. Now I am learning to cook again, and to plan meals. But we have only shopped for what we needed. I haven't had a full pantry or freezer. And we go out to eat a lot of nights. Seriously, a lot. Many restaurants have already closed. There is a very good chance that everyone will need to be quarantined for weeks if this virus is going to be controlled. 

Green Eggs and Ham

Lately, I have been seriously trying to be healthier. I just started a series of Pilates classes, and have started to feel a difference. And now my gym is closed. I have been flirting with the Keto diet, or at least a low carb version of proteins and veggies. As of today that is no longer working for me. Sadly, crisis has turned me into a monster for chips and chocolate. Tomorrow is another day, and I will hopefully come to my senses again before it is too late.

           

        

 From Me and Mine, 

     To You and Yours.               May the Future Be Bright             And Even Be Better 

     Than All of the Past

 Happy St Patrick's Day

2019 Christmas Decorating

I remember my first married Christmas. I was nineteen, and Jim and I had just bought our first house. We had a big, live tree, with handmade decorations and tiny white lights. Many of them were made with salt dough and cookie cutters, and then painted. Patchwork styrofoam balls with modpodged fabric were popular then. I think I actually strung popcorn and cranberries for it too. We hardly had any furniture. I remember arranging tv trays in the corners to look like tables.
Obviously, times have changed. Over the years, I collected a lot of decorations. Most of them were still handmade or gifts from friends.I have always decorated for Christmas, but not with a lot of sparkle. I have never had a themed tree, or one with a color scheme different than traditional holiday hues. No life sized Santas or light up reindeers for me. I think the wildest I ever got was my Christmas village. It was actually made from several different villages, using only my favorite pieces. I've never wanted things to match too much.
 I put most of my decorations away a few years ago, and didn't open the boxes again for quite a while. I had a small tree for me, with paper decorations cut from antique books. I let the youngest grands decorate their own little trees. Most of the ornaments have been in storage, along with our original Christmas stockings. I didn't start listening to holiday music again until last year. But now, I am living through my own winter thaw. It is so good to be enjoying Christmas again.
It's been several years since I have lived in a real house. As a fraternity House Mom, I had one rule: it must not be breakable. It was a good rule.
 Now I am living a new life,and it's one I didn't count on happening for me. Especially at the age of seventy. I am in a house again, and decorating for a merry, happy Christmas. We are watching Christmas movies again. We are looking at the lights and drinking hot chocolate. We are discussing the merits of tiny white fairy lights versus big colorful bulbs. (The bulbs won). We even have bubble lights on our tree! (I hadn't seen them since my childhood!) I don't think I went overboard with the decorating, because, in truth, we are still putting things away, and trying to decide what goes where. And we are blending his and mine. Some of my favorites, some of his, and new ones that we have acquired together. Our styles don't always meld, but that is to be expected, since we each have each lived over 50 years with all our "stuff".  We have too much furniture, and are still trying to make it look like it belongs together. We will probably be "a work in progress" for the rest of our lives, but that's okay.

"John's Morning Routine" painted by his son
My favorite cupboard
Large Crochet Stocking

Santas and Trees and Subtle Lights

More Trees and Handmade Garlands
And Gifts From Friends

Portion of  John's SnowGlobe Collection

My Advent Lighthouse

Our Library

Another View of  "The Library"
More Bookcases Unseen

My Favorite, Favorite Bookcase
Finally Out of Storage

John and Sandi's First Tree Together
Ornaments from Clear Lake and Laramie
And Our Wedding Decorations

"Just Married"
The Beginning

Wife Life: Trouble In Paradise

First of all, I need to set the stage and remind you all that I have a history with electronic devices. And it isn't a good history. From the time I got my first computer, and it took 157 sign-ins before I could actually connect with the internet until today's debacle with the remote,  I have always had unusual experiences. I can't even count the number of times that internet technicians have said to me, "I've never seen this happen before!!!

Every once in a while I visit a psychic for a card reading. (Doesn't everyone?) She was very quick to point out that I probably had trouble with this very thing. She said it was a sign of my powerful intuitive aura and electrical field or some such magical explanation.

My children would be the first to tell you that this is true. They will not let me use their computers or their phones.

So, today, I had a little mishap with the tv remote. I hardly touched it, but it wouldn't play nice. Finally, after a lot of exasperation, John was able to get it back to where it was supposed to be. I won't say that I have been banned completely from the remote, but I don't think the tv and I  will be on very good terms for a while. It occurred to me that our first fight just might be about a television.

Actually, things are going really well. There isn't any trouble here. I just thought it made a good title. Of course, there are so many changes in both our lives. Being a newlywed after many years of marriage, followed by several years of being alone, is bound to have some adjustments.  Learning someone else's routine is necessary. After years and years, we are used to doing everything a certain way, without really thinking about why or how. I have moved into a house where John has lived for nearly thirty years. He has raised a family, and had a wonderful, loving wife, who wasn't me.  And, I too, have all my memories of another life. It will take a while before we have adjusted to living in this house together.  At some point, we may decide to move, but right now this is best.

He has been so good about everything, while I am rearranging furniture, and adding my own considerable collections and personality to an already lived in and loved in space. I know it's difficult when I move something away from where it's always been, but he is always cheerful about it. Well, almost always. There is that little thing with the remote.