Traditional Homemaking Summer 2009! - Page 2

[vermontmomma]

Count me in too! I'm a SAHM/ working on being a WAHM with a wonderful husband, sweet baby girl, giant dog, two fat cats, and more chickens then I can count with even more on the way!

Why does traditional homemaking speak to you?

i was raised in the traditional martha stewart, hamburger helper, soap operas in the afternoon and oprah at four kind of homemaking house. nothing could be further from the life i've chosen. my house may not be the neatest or the nicest but i'm proud of the little accomplishments squeezed into a full day of nursing.:

What traditional homemaking skills are you looking to learn or improve on currently?

hoping to learn and grow as a homemaker in the homesteading tradition as i sit here as isolated as a frontier wife with a babe in her arms, the seeds in the ground and the livestock in the barn waiting for her husband to return from town.
we grow, forage, and preserve most of our own produce. the "blue book" has been a lifesaver. raising chickens for eggs and meat to eat and barter.:
we make most of our own cleaning products using natural ingredients.: occasionally i even use the cleaning products!
i knit, crochet, and sew. looking to start raising sheep, spinning wool and weaving rag rugs too.

How do you find joy in traditional homemaking?

looking out my window and seeing the flowers blooming in the garden and ignoring the ridiculously tall lawn.
seeing a project through to completion and putting it right to use.
finding ways to stretch our food budget to the limit but still eat delicious and healthy homecooked meals.
letting my husband take a break and enjoy some daddy time after working three jobs, he's not one of those gender role guys that won't pick up a mop and help out but it makes me feel good to make him feel appreciated too.
i love to learn how things used to be done through talking with elders and the foxfire books. there's a lot of depression era knowledge that could help us live better lives now with the current economy and ecological time we're in.
homesteading new momma : : green mountains : aspiring novelist and children's book author
***U.S. OUT OF V.T.***

[nerdymom]

Hi, I'm Holly. I'm a SAHM, my DH is military, and our first child is almost 7 months old. I was raised very poor. As a result, many times the only things we had to eat were venison and whatever we had canned. My mother made do and did things by scratch simply because she had to. Now that they have more money, that has fallen by the wayside. As a result, I have some traditional homemaking skills but I wouldn't say I grew up with that mindset. For the past year we have been living with my parents so that we could pay down some debt. Next week we are moving out and I cannot wait to begin running my own household again!!

Why does traditional homemaking speak to you?
I don't like in gadgets, I appreciate simplicity and try do things as simply as possible. Also, we live in a really expensive area (rent is crazy here) so I need to be really strict with our budget. Traditional homemaking appeals to my inner cheapskate.

What traditional homemaking skills are you looking to learn or improve on currently?
I recently aquired a sewing machine (hooray for birthdays) and have been doing some dressmaking. I prefer to wear modest dress and long skirts so I've been going skirt crazy. It's nice to have more than one piece of clothing!! My grandmother is teaching me to quilt (machine piecing right now). When I'm done with this last skirt I am going to work on some things for our new apartment. And then I want to make diapers for DS, even though we're not CDing now, because we share a washer with 6 other people it is hard to find the time to do the wash.

I have been reading up on natural body care threads and I am going to try my hand at making laundry soap and line drying. Our new place doesn't allow outdoor lines but there is a sizable utility room IN the apartment (!) that I want to string some lines in. Any tips??

Also natural cleaners (baking soda, vinegar) are something that I've never used before, but I want to try.

I enjoy bread baking and cooking from scratch. My goal is to eliminate all our prepackaged foods and cook only fresh, in-season produce. My long-term goal is to do some canning, but first I will need to do either container gardening or buying from a local farm, so that is a bit down the road for us.

How do you find joy in traditional homemaking?
I find joy in knowing that I am providing a happy, comfortable, clean home for my husband. I'm a SAHM, and my husband and I both see keeping the home as a job that my husband pays me for. I see this as my profession, and I enjoy many aspects of it.

[emski4379]

Hi-I'm Emma. I have 2 children. DS who is 3.5, and DD who is 8 months. Before DS was born, the idea of homemaking was interesting, but I never really thought I would get into it. As DS got older, I really started getting into Traditional Homemaking.


Why does traditional homemaking speak to you?
I really enjoy keeping the house neat and clean (although many times it's neither(. When it is though, I feel fulfilled as a wife and mom. I also like that my children will grow up seeing that keeping house is a good thing, and not old-fashioned.

What traditional homemaking skills are you looking to learn or improve on currently?
We just started a garden for the first time this year. So far it's going well. I hope to continue to garden, and would love to add in some fruit plants next year.

I would also love to learn to sew. I have this great old machine my aunt gave me. It's just sitting up in the attic because I haven't had the motivation to learn how to use it yet.

I would love to learn to quilt, can, preserve, and start sewing clothes for my children.

I also cook almost everything from scratch. I love baking, making bread (got a free bread machine from Freecycle), and have become a pretty good cook.

How do you find joy in traditional homemaking?
It gives me a simple content feeling. It leaves me feeling like I have provided for my family. I'm a WAHM, and my schedule varies. On the weeks I have deadlines, things fall by the wayside, but on the weeks when I don't have work to do, I truly enjoy taking care of my family by cooking, cleaning, and practicing many of the TH skills.

[nerdymom]

So I'm assuming that everyone is either A) out practicing TH, B) ashamed to report back because they're not really achieving much on their to-do list, or C) not sure what to say after the introductions.

So am I right or wayy off base? I'm just bored and would like to hear from some of you ladies, since you all sound so interesting! I could learn a lot from you.

Right now I am making a grocery list. (We lord willing move on Saturday, and I will try to shop on Monday.) It's hard to start from the ground-up again! I gave all my pantry/freezer to my parents when we moved in. Now I must begin again. Would any of you care to help? I like to shop for two weeks at a time, so the list is rather extensive. I based my protein / veg choices on my two week menu.

Things I already have:
-raw unfiltered local wildflower honey (one of the few things I'm picky about)
-2 small bags brown rice
-1 can coffee
-whole leaf tea (black and chamomile)

Things to buy:
ww flour, raw sugar, butter, milk, soy milk (I'm dairy sensitive), eggs, cheese, ground beef, chicken (whole and thighs), bacon, veggies (onions carrots celery lettuce garlic ginger potatos peppers broccoli cabbage swt potatos mushrooms tomatos), fruit (apples bananas seasonal berries) white beans (dry navy or great northern), black beans (dry), lentils, oats, dried fruits (raisins, apples), EVOO, sesame oil, ACV, white vinegar, quinioa, wheat germ, nuts (sale/cheapest), yeast, salt (kosher), pepper (whole), peanut butter, yoghurt, jam, pasta, mayo, baking powder, baking soda, soap (for laundry detergent), washing soda/soda ash/sodium carbonate, borax, herbs/spices (tumeric, rosemary, thyme, sage, basil, parsley, cumin, red curry, crushed red pepper nutmeg cinnemon),

Any ideas on staples that I am missing?

[nathansmum]

Hi, I'm Nikki, I've been on the Simple Living journey for a good couple of years now (intentionally), but it's really been a lifelong one that has just been work in progress. I have learnt a lot of traditional skills but don't necessarily do them all regularly. I have a blog, but it hasn't really been so active in recent months www.satisfying-journey.blogspot.com

I have self taught myself to crochet and currently making a rag rug with a crochet hook. Haven't got too far yet, and the cutting of the fabric strips is the most time consuming part of it, but it works up really quickly.

We live in a population of 40,000 and have a 1/4 acre section so plenty of space to garden, have a herb garden, fruit trees, line dry the clothes etc.

I also sew, cook from scratch (due to my son's health issues initially), but it's just a way of life now.

Holly, your shopping list is almost identical to mine! LOL. How about cocoa, tea, dried split peas, lentils, nutmeg, cinnamon?

[marimara]

Well, this past weekend, we went to our local farmer's market and purchased a dozen and a half farm fresh free range eggs for $2.50!! We also got tons of other produce from them including 1 gal of blueberries that we picked. I froze about 3/4. We've been eating blueberries nonstop! I recently picked up 2 cute adorable vintage pillowcases and want to try to sew a pillowcase dress for my dd (2.5).


Holly (nerdymom)~how about vinegar? for cooking and cleaning. Oh, I saw you have ACV, but I use white vinegar for cleaning.
or how about some in season berries?

[nerdymom]

ty both for the suggestions, I amended my list.

Nikki, my grandmother told me that they used to rip rags for the rugs. Is there any way you can tear the cloth instead of doing all that cutting?

marimara, that is my next thing to do! After we move, I need to find the closest farmers market or green grocer. For now I will be shopping on base, which is cheap but rather uninspiring.

now back to packing...

[artparent]

i would love to crochet rag rugs! i really like rectangular, rather than round, i guess that wouldn't be hard? do you have a pattern? what size hook do you use, how big are the rags? i grew up with finnish woven rag rugs, i adore them but don't have access to a loom.

i wish that i had access to a pottery studio in england, i did in canada, and my girls and i were making wonderful things. i just started making my own wonky cups and things, i would love to make some of our dishes.

*

[bstandlee]

Well, it's been a funny week, I don't feel much like a traditional homemaker for some reason. We've been extra busy and on the go a lot, which doesn't combine well with TH

But it's my DS 2nd birthday this Saturday and I'm so excited. My mom made birthdays so special growing up and I am loving carrying on those traditions with DS. I have a banner I saved from last year that I designed and printed to put up and I just finished cutting up some printed "2"s to hang around the house. I have a cake (from scratch) design in mind (hopefully it will turn out how I want it too...that's the one thing I worry about. I'm a perfectionist and if it's not turning out I know I'm going to get really stressed out).

I'm still looking for special birthday traditions to start with him. Anybody have any ideas that they remember from childhood or that you use with your LOs to make birthdays special?

Holly, I don't have any suggestions for your list. I remember how overwhelming starting from scratch is! I remember how high our grocery bills were the first few times while we kept stocking up on things we normally had on hand. But your list sounds pretty complete so far. Good luck moving!

[MyLittleWarrior]

Hi! I'm Amanda, SAHM to two boys (almost 4 and almost 2) and #3 due in December. I also work from home 15-20 hrs/week. Traditional Homemaking is definitely more of an aspiration than a reality right now. These threads are so inspiring, and I really do try.

TH speaks to me because I feel really drawn to simplify. Although sometimes I feel the things I'm doing to simplify end up making more work for myself I really want to run a clean, well organized home.

Currently I can sew, knit and crochet. I've done a little canning. I bake my own bread (most of the time, I admit I've been relying on store bought so far most of this pregnancy I actually have a brand new sourdough starter that I'm going to try baking with tomorrow. I brew my own kombucha. I make yogurt. My mom was a terrific cook, and passed that love down to me. So I try to have dinner on the table shortly after DH gets home from work, and it's usually 100% home made. I have a very small garden, but it's kind of gotten away from me since I've been so sick with this baby. I'd love to do more growing, canning, and preserving. I also really need to work on keeping up with the day to day chores to keep my household running smoothly.

I find joy in all of the small accomplishments. The smell of a fresh baked loaf of bread. Seeing my toddler giddy happy because of a hat I made for him. Feeding my family wholesome nutritious food to help them grow.

[holyhelianthus]

Sorry I am MIA! I have been lurking though. We are trying to get ready for a move. :

[Keeta]

Originally Posted by marimara

Well, this past weekend, we went to our local farmer's market and purchased a dozen and a half farm fresh free range eggs for $2.50!!

Wow, I'm totally envious! The eggs at our local farmer's market are like $6/dz!!!!

[SAHDS]

Hi all! I'm Malinda, 29 y/o SAHM (for more than 10 years) to 2 little ones, ages 8.5 and almost 10. My screen name means Stay-At-Home-Dog-Sitter because that's what I like to joke I am since the kids are both in school full-time and my days are spent with my yellow lab, Peyton. DH is a deputy and works graveyard so I have TONS of help with everything.


Why does traditional homemaking speak to you?

Because it's about as polar opposite to the way I was raised and I think it's the best choice for my family. Plus, I have tons of time and I need to fill it somehow.


What traditional homemaking skills are you looking to learn or improve on currently?

I currently garden (organic), sew, cook/bake mostly from scratch (about 90%), I make/use natural cleaning products and use a lot of natural remedies for health. We recently got a clothesline and I'd love to start a compost bin. Knitting is on my list of things to learn as is trying to go a bit more "less-meat" (not meat-less).

I also LOVE to clean, organize and decorate my home.


How do you find joy in traditional homemaking?

It makes me feel good. I like to spend my time on worthwhile things and enjoy the fruits of my labor. I love trying to reduce my carbon footprint and teaching my children the things I was never taught. Being a SAHM and wife is, literally, all I've ever wanted to do since the age of 6 or so.


I guess that's it. Right now I'm recovering from a crazy weekend (DS's baseball game, DD's fastpitch game, the town's maritime parade - we all walked in it for 3 hours, DD with girl scouts, DS with cub scouts - a sleepover for DD, a campout for DH and DS, a wedding (which DH was in) and a canoeing/swimming day with DD and the girl scouts) and getting ready for the kids vs. parents baseball game tomorrow night, a field trip on Thursday with DS's class which conflicts with my volunteering in DD's class as I usually do on Thursdays, DS's crossover to being a bear scout on Thursday night which conflicts with DD's fastpitch practice (my brother is taking her)... ugh. It's funny how my days are free and clear and my nights are MADNESS.

This weekend is a baseball game, fastpitch game, baseball party (I'm bringing antipasto pasta salad - delish) and something on Sunday... I don't remember... plus getting ready for vacation on the 19th!

:

[emski4379]

Holly-that list sounds pretty complete to me.

Yesterday DH was home, so I spent a good portion of the day cleaning. Today I haven't done much of anything, other than wash diapers.

[vermontmomma]

wow, i just started a crochet rag rug this morning for the kitchen-great minds think alike! it's made from some old t shirts.
that shopping list is missing chocolate, it's a nessecity.
we're going to start buying groceries biweekly now because of budgeting, but i wish i knew about the plan last week when we were shopping. i can streach it though
i do wish i had some yeast to make pizza dough, they're good for dinners of leftover meats and veg. does anyone know how to make a sourdough starter without using a sourdough starter?

homesteading new momma : : green mountains : aspiring novelist and children's book author
***U.S. OUT OF V.T.***

[vermontmomma]

another thought-"exotic" meat question

does anyone buy their meat in bulk from the farm? we got a lamb last fall and are down to just the more "exotic" pieces (liver, tongue) and i'm not sure how to make them appealing. DH ground the heart up and mixed into a meatloaf recipe but i had to be tricked into eating it-not bad though i'll admit.
we're looking into getting a 1/2 or 1/4 beef mid summer and another lamb early fall. the prices are much better that way.

homesteading new momma : : green mountains : aspiring novelist and children's book author
***U.S. OUT OF V.T.***

[Gremco]

I'm 24, and a SAHM to DD, 22mo, and DS, 9mo. #3 is due in October. I am also a student and hope to finish my degree someday.
I'm on the path to simplicity and conscientious living. It would go so much easier if DH was on board. I think he truly wants it, but he is a hoarder and addicted to thinks like the TV. I admit that I spend too much time online and not enough time doing the things I want.
Why does traditional homemaking speak to you?
I think it is because I want to step back and think about things as I do them. I don't like rushing and mindlessly doing things. I also like to see more of the process involved in cleaning. I like seeing the stuff being made and then using it. I much prefer the taste of home cooked food over anything. I think it makes me a calmer and more mindful person overall.

What traditional homemaking skills are you looking to learn or improve on currently? I already sew, but would like to start making more of my own clothes. I want to learn to knit better. I'd like to take up gardening, beekeeping and soap making, but that will have to wait until we can move out of our tiny apartment.

How do you find joy in traditional homemaking?
I like taking pride in being able to say "I did this" or "I made that." I just prefer a simpler and calmer way of life.

[nerdymom]

Gremco - I have to LOL at your siggy. Baby of the year club, lol. That is funy how yours seem to be lining up! congrats!

vtmama - There is a lot of info about sourdough starters in this thread: http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=438763. As for "exotic" parts of the animal, I think the meatloaf is a great idea. I also love fried chicken livers, I bread and fry them like chicken nuggets, make some sweet potato fries, and yum yum! so good! You could do that with beef liver, just cut it in strips. or use it to make a nice thick gravy for potatos or a shepherds pie.

bstandlee - in DH's family they decorate with flag banners. I think it's a Dutch thing (DH's fam if from Holland). They hang a whole bunch of pennant banners all over the living room, and leave them up all week. It's a big deal, and they still do it for me and everything, it's kinda neat. They use plastic ones from Holland, but this lady on etsy makes them, they're cloth. Or you could make your own very easily. The PiL's have all sorts of colors, especially orange, and they use the same ones for each person.

I guess that's it for me...DS is in bed and I'm exhausted. Gonna take my shower now, yay. :

[nathansmum]

Holly, yeah I thought about tearing the strips, but i'm using old t-shirts some of which are quite thick so don't think they'd tear properly (also I just cut around in a circle but I don't think tearing would go past the seams). Anyway, if I move onto old sheets etc, I think that would be the way to go!

Artparent, I'd love to do a rectangle one next. Not sure what method I'd use though. I wonder if it'd need to be woven? for my round one I am using this
pattern but as you can see there is no real pattern. a lot of it is done by feel and look. So who knows if it will sit flat when finished! The hook size I am using is a 6 (not sure how that equates to US sizes though) but was just the biggest I had.

Malinda, LOL, I have always wondered what your username stands for whenever I see you post!

Vermontmama, how funny! What pattern are you using? I'm not really loving the colours I am using, so I think this will be my test rug and see how I go for making another. Are you doing a round? What diameter?

I have been trying to get back into Flylady to keep on top of the housework - I tend to just do the bare minimum (although am always decluttered) and it's felt good doing a few little "extra" type cleaning jobs a day. Today it was clearing off the pinboard in the kitchen, tidying up the front of the fridge, sorting the cupboard with all the plastic containers and wiping out the utensils drawer. Totally exciting lol! Rainy (it's winter here) and the kids were wanting me a bit more than usual so I feel like all my own hobbies will be slotted in some shape or form tonight (reading all my old magazines for home inspiration, read my novel, start on a non-fiction, do a few more rows on my rug).

[greenmamapagan]

I loved the old thread so I'm subbing this one too
I'm J, mother of a boisterous 3 year old girl and a divine 1 week old boy.
I'm a hopeless homemaker at the best of times and obviously with such a new babe, this is not the best of times. Still, I'm really drawn to all this stuff.
I've always been interested in craft (mainly knitting) and anything DIY and became interested in growing food about 12 years ago. I've moved so many times since then that vegie gardening has often been on the back-burner for years at a time. I had a great one going before DD was born but I found it really hard to continue with an attached bub (I didn't know about back carries then & only wore her on my front). Food growing and permaculture stayed an interest though and gradually my enthusiasm caught up with DH. We moved at the start of the year and we made some good progress on a vegie garden here before bub arrived, now DH is really enthusiastic about maintaining it until DS is old enough to let me get back out there :::
I've always wanted to make a rag rug, so maybe that'll be my next project