Of Hearth and Home

I LOVE my job as a homemaker.  I view it as my commission, my calling, my sacred duty.  I see my home-centered influence shaping generations and in turn, shaping the very history of mankind.

Over the years I have collected a number books in keeping with my mission, books like "American Woman's Home" by Catherine Beecher and Harriet Beecher Stowe (copywrite 1869) and "Home and Health" which was "prepared and edited by a competent committee of home-makers and physicians" in 1907.  These books are filled with wisdom, encouraging women to excel in the business of keeping their homes, loving their husbands and raising their children.  They view the world through the lens of the family and an understanding that the family directs the nation, which in turn, directs the history of the world.

Thumbing through Home and Health, I came across Don't for Parents.  Although considered old-fashioned and outdated by today's standards, think of how our society, our nation, would look if we but adhered to these few simple rules.....

Don't for Parents

1. Don't train your baby to cry for everything in sight, or he will soon learn the value of tears.
2. Don't neglect early training in orderly habits.
3. Don't allow demonstrations of temper.  Screaming, kicking, and striking need never be struggled with if "nipped in the bud".
4. Don't allow "whining" or "teasing".
5. Don't fail to express sympathy when the child is in trouble.  Sympathy is soothing.
6. Don't tolerate talebearing.  It breeds selfishness.
7. Don't criticize and punish first, and investigate later.  Injustice inflicts a deep wound.
8. Don't offer bribes.  Teach obedience from principle.
9. Don't push the little ones from you for fear of their soiling a pretty gown.  Sometime you may long for their caresses.
10. Don't fail to fulfill all promises.  This will instill confidence.
11. Don't give opportunity for the children to question your justice.
12. Don't fail to be kind and considerate.  Kindness is a mighty conqueror.
13. Don't neglect forming the acquaintance of your children's playmates and companions.
14. Don't try to frighten your children into obedience by telling them ghostly tales, or shutting them up in a dark place.
15. Don't fail to require good manners at the table.  Habits early formed will stay by children through life. 
16. Don't use language that you would blush to hear your children repeat.
17. Don't manifest partiality toward any one of your children.  They are keen observers.
18. Don't look for polite answers from your littles ones if you fail in this respect.  They are excellent imitators.
19. Don't treat your girls and boys in such a careless way that they will bestow their confidence elsewhere.  When you lose that, you lose your stronghold.
20. Don't put everything up out of the reach of the baby finger.  An understanding that some things are not to be touched will be a good lesson in self-control.
21. Don't turn a child off with an evasive answer when he is seeking special information.  He will get it elsewhere.
22. Don't deceive yourself by thinking that your children will grow up to be gentlemen and ladies unless you treat them as such.
23. Don't frown and scold the children continually and expect them to be sweet-tempered.
24. Don't feel above making an apology if you have wronged your child.  This is one way of establishing confidence.
25. Don't permit your children to stay with their playmates overnight.  Be fearful of their learning lessons of impurity.
26. Don't fail to instill honor and truthfulness into their young hearts, by example as well as by precept.  To do this under all circumstances requires courage, but it pays.

Oh, if we were to turn from the things of the world and become the keepers of our homes, we would surely change our families, our nation and our future. 

Homestead Espresso

Twenty-five years ago, I bought an extravagant Christmas gift for Sir Knight - a La Pavonia Europiccola espresso machine.  I had saved my pennies for months and was so excited to walk out of the boutique coffee shop with a treasure that I was positive my husband would cherish for a lifetime.  And cherish it he has.

Sir Knight has always been a coffee aficionado.  He remembers Starbucks when they only had two trucks (delivering coffee to businesses - no retail locations), Star Ship 1 and Star Ship 2.  But, even then, he wasn't interested in sitting in a coffee shop sipping on a Grande Macchiato, no Whip, with a beret jauntily positioned on his head and a copy of Mein Kampf in his hand.  He was more of a double-shot mocha, extra froth, sitting in a club chair in his living room, kind of guy.  Because of that, the La Pavoni was his kind of machine.

La Pavoni Europiccola

This machine is 25 years old!

Steam escaping the relief valve

Heating/frothing the milk

Pressing the espresso

Beautiful!

We've used the Europiccola heavily over the years, however, it fell into disuse when we moved into a "shouse" in the middle of a prairie with no electricity.  After we installed solar panels, we dusted off the espresso machine and reveled in the luxury of an occasional coffee.  As our off-grid systems have improved so has our ability to enjoy espresso.  Not only does Sir Knight enjoy a mocha from time to time, hot chocolate, made with Hershey's syrup and steam frothed milk has become a special treat for our children.

The one downside of the Europiccola is that it requires electricity.  We really wanted an espresso machine that would work on a gas range and especially, on a wood stove, without requiring any electricity.  Stovetop espresso machines are easily obtained, however,  we really wanted to be able to froth milk as well as well as make espresso.

Perusing Craigslist one day, I came across a Bellman CX-25 stovetop espresso machine.  Not only did the Bellman make espresso, it also steamed milk!  We snatched it up for an embarrassingly small sum, brought it home and proceeded to put it to the test.  What a wonderful little machine!  It is the perfect addition to our off-grid homestead!

Bellman CX-25

Frothing the milk

Espresso!

The making of a mocha!

Grated chocolate on top!

After watching a youtube video, we fired up our gas range and gave it a try.  The little machine worked wonderfully, with a yield of two 2 ounce shots of espresso.  It also frothed a full pitcher of milk relatively quickly.  We did use boiling water in the tank, which cut down on the heating time, and were careful not to overfill the tank, which could block the relief valve.

The real test came a few days later when we decided to use the Bellman on the wood cook stove.  Again, we used boiling water to fill the tank, put the Bellman over the woodbox and waited for it to heat.  After about 15 minutes, steam began flowing out of the relief valve indicating that it was ready to go to work.  I steamed the milk, using gloves (that cook stove was hot!) and quickly heard the low rumble of heating milk.  After the milk was heated, I removed the Bellman from the cook stove and cracked open the espresso knob, releasing perfect, steaming coffee.  Success!!

On the wood cook stove

Frothing the milk

The Bellman CX-25 will be going to live at Caer David.  Now, we'll be able to enjoy espresso both at home and at our home-away-from-home.  Although nothing will ever take the place of tea in our lives, an occasional coffee can be good for the soul.

Humble Homemaking

Those of you who have followed our blog for any length of time know that we have mastered the art of "making do".  I love my home to be inviting and cozy, an escape from the outside world, but I don't believe that I have to spend a bunch of money "decorating" when I can use a little creativity to create a comfortable and warm home.

Sir Knight and I have a mountain escape that we are slowly equipping and furnishing on a nonexistent budget.  Although furnished with a couch and a rocking chair, the living room echoed with emptiness, resulting in our children playing "musical chair" in an effort to claim the only comfortable spot in the house! 

Looking around for inspiration, I came upon two wingback wicker chairs that I had warehoused in our storage shed.  The chairs were very comfortable - in fact they formed a "nest" for my children when we had whooping cough - but they were in dire need of a good cleaning and a cosmetic makeover.  Thinking they would be perfect for "Cair David", I hauled them out of storage, and with Miss Serenity's help, began to give them a new life.

Miss Serenity in the "nest" with whooping cough

The chair, in great need of an update!

Miss Serenity painting

Putting old sheets to good use

My oh, so professional upholstery job!

The first thing Serenity and I did was give the chairs a good scrubbing.  After they had been cleaned, Miss Serenity sprayed the chairs black, while I cut and fitted old flannel sheets to the cushions.  I just cut the sheets slightly larger than the cushions and used kilt pins to pin the fabric to the backs of the cushions.  Eventually, I would like to sew new slipcovers for the cushions, but for now, the sheet covers work well. 

Freshly painted and updated

In Cair David

Over the years, I have found that a warm, inviting home can be made with what you have on hand.  Maid Elizabeth and Miss Serenity have both helped me bring treasures home that we have found by the dump or on the side of the road.  Although this may be humble homemaking, it is the best kind of home making I know!

Be it ever so humble...

I recently came across a snippet of paper that perfectly sums up my homemaking philosophy.  I believe it was distributed by General Mills, under the pen name of Betty Crocker.  Although not considered relevant for modern women, it is perfectly relevant for me!  I can only hope to impart these values to my daughters, who in turn, will impart them to theirs....

Homemakers Creed

I believe homemaking is a noble and challenging career.

 

I believe homemaking is an art, requiring many different skills.

 

I believe homemaking requires the best of my efforts, my abilities and my thinking.

 

I believe home reflects the spirit of the homemaker.

 

I believe home should be a place of peace, joy and contentment.

 

I believe no task is too humble that contributes to the cleanliness, the order, the health, the wellbeing of the household.

 

I believe a homemaker must be true to the highest ideals of love, loyalty, service and religion.

 

I believe home must be an influence for good in the neighborhood, the community, the country.

And so, in keeping with the Homemakers Creed, I strive to make my humble home a place of respite and calm in a world of chaos.  Home truly is where you make it - be it a shop, a tent, a barn or a mansion.  Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home.