Moments With Mother Culture®

The Well-Fed Mind

2012-02-18T10:06:00.000-05:00

The Well-Fed Mind

There is never a time when I appreciate the sun through mywindows more than in winter. Special notice is taken of where sunlight entersthe house – at what window - at what hour.

Soft morning light enters the picture window over thekitchen sink while I make breakfast. By noon the sun shines directly throughthe little attic windows of my office/sewing room where I am writing to younow. It filters through the leafless trees and brightens the parlor in lateafternoon. As it begins to set lazily, it lends its light to the blown glass atthe front door.

Coming down the stairs this light always catches my noticewith its strange distorted rays in the front hall. For one fleeting half-hour it illuminates the picture hanging there (which changes at a whim).

This month it is a print by Tasha Tudor. A mother is feedingher children. She wears a lovely smile. We see the quiet joy she has insatisfying the appetites of those she loves.

In chapter two of her Philosophy of Education Miss Charlotte Mason recognizes that mothers have anunderstanding of the baby.

“They know that his chief business is to grow and they feedhim . . . They give free play to all the wrigglings and stretchings which givepower to his feeble muscles. His parents know what he will come to, and feelthat here is a new chance for the world. In the meantime, he needs food, sleepand shelter and a great deal of love.”

Wholesome Nourishment

In her writings Charlotte Mason shows what parents andteachers owe to a child in his later years - “those years in which he is engaged in self-education,taking his lessons from everything he sees and hears, and strengthening hispowers by everything he does.” She repeats herself when she says that, “mindmust come into contact with mind through the medium of ideas.”

“Education, like faith, is the evidence of things not seen,”is a curious saying of hers.

Education involves intangibles. Therefore Miss Mason offersan analogy. As the body is meant to grow upon food, which is composed ofindividual living cells - in like manner the only fit sustenance for themind is ideas. Like the cells of the bodyan idea goes through stages of development. We receive an idea with an appetiteand some stir of interest. Then, by association, another facet of an idea isadded and like my grandson’s snowball, it grows and grows, layer by layer.* Themore a child learns the more associations he automatically makes. Teachers whotrust in the well-fed mind neednot depend on elaborate lesson plans where all subjects are made to correlatein as many ways as possible.

Mind Set in Motion

Ideas snowball in the mind of a child. They are notstationary, not stagnant. They come to children through various means; throughobserving nature, appreciating art, and melody; through the rhythmic movementof games, handicrafts, good conversation (not text-messaging), a Sunday sermon,etc. Most importantly they are found in living books. Through books ofliterary-quality a child gains knowledge mind-to-mind. Miss Mason recommendsquality and quantity.

A good remedy for boredom and inattention is a revitalizingpresentation of ideas.

Intellectual vitality(something necessary for gaining knowledge “for keeps” – for making knowledgepersonal) is set in motion when ideas are present.

The Living Book Test

It is safe to say that a living book is authored by someonewho takes an enthusiastic interest in his subject. If the book is for childrenthe facts might be related in story form. But they are always clothed in literarylanguage. The test of identifying a living book is like the test of goodliterature in general. It must be three things. It must bring truth,nobility, and beauty.

It is not dumbed-down but is somewhat intellectual andbrings truth.

It is ethical so that we are well-nourished with nobleideas.

It is also artistic and makes its appeal through theemotions.

The Human Touch

Charlotte Mason reminds us that, “children are bornpersons.” As human beings the style of writing that appeals to them is thatwhich includes the human touch. So we look for books with that touch oforiginality – books that warm up the imagination. This kind of writing willsatisfy a child’s curiosity and foster a love of learning. For all itsvivifying features a living book has the right to be called a schoolbook.

Lassie Come Home

One advantage of home teaching (and it is a big advantage) is that the parents are the ones who choose off the world’s menu ofideas. They pick the schoolbooks.

Eric Knight’s, Lassie Come Home is one example of a book that passes the living booktest. If you’d like your child to have an understanding of devotion, courage,hope, brotherly kindness and perseverance this story is a touching example ofit. Published in 1940, this is the original story that made Lassie a legend. Wemade it a read-aloud in our family.

In a certain Yorkshire village there is no finer dog thanLassie. She is a well-trained, well-loved purebred collie – a dog admired bythe whole village for her beauty and obedience. When a coalmine closes Joe’sfather is out-of-work. Down cast he sells Lassie to put food on the table.Young Joe takes it hard. What makes it harder is that after she is sold to awealthy duke, Lassie escapes from her kennel three times. Joe and his fathermust return her.

The duke has Lassie moved to his other estate way up in thenorth of Scotland so she will never escape again. But Lassie’s instinct isstrong – especially her time-sense. It was her habit to meet Joe at exactlyfour o’clock at the schoolhouse every day. Therefore, near four o’clock whenLassie is restless, she slips through the gate and heads south to Yorkshire -to Joe and his family - with unwavering purpose.

It is a long, long way to Yorkshire. Lassie climbs hills andcrosses streams. It is only when she collapses in utter exhaustion and is fedby gentle, caring persons that she stays awhile. With strength regained and asteady determination she sets off again. Parts of the story are somewhatgrueling which might make it unsuitable at bedtime for your youngest listeners. It hasa happy ending (even if imperfectly so.)

The classic 1943 MGM film starring young Elizabeth Taylorand Roddy McDowell closely follows the book and is the one I recommend. It willintroduce you to the characters. This beautiful motion picture is one thatbrought a tear to my eye.

*My son-in-law continued to push the snowball until itbecame enormous - to his son’s amazement. We were standing in the driveway whenthe clip-clop of a neighbor’s horse and buggy stole our attention. William wasmesmerized. I snapped a photograph in the nick of time.

May you leave your visit here today with a little seed of an ideaslipped into your pocket.

Karen Andreola

Mother Carey's Chickens

2012-02-08T19:05:00.000-05:00

Mother Carey’s Chickens

A heart shaped winter bonnet for a toddler rests inGrandma’s Someday Box with a set of mittens and a pink-as-can-be cap withwhite hearts and a tassel.

They are Grandma’s knitted tokens of love.

May I share some thoughts with you, too?

Pages That Glow in the Dark

“I like the mother in this story,” a friend wrote inside hergift-card. I unwrapped the parcel and beheld a copy of Mother Carey’sChickens by Kate Douglas Wiggins. The bookcover is as pretty as her card and the gesture of the gift so thoughtful, thatI displayed the book in the parlor. When it needed to give place to Christmasgreenery it joined the pile of books by my bedside.

The winter months are dark months. Never mind. The pages ofthis children’s novel glow in the dark. They chase away the winter blues. Andyes, my friend is right. I do like the mother. She exemplifies what Mark Twainsaid about his mother.

"My mother had a slender, small body, but a large heart – aheart so large that everybody’s grief and everybody’s joy found welcome in it,and hospitable accommodation.”

At the end of a day all-a-whirl of activity light readingmay be all a mother can digest. On such days a chapter of Mother Carey’sChickens lends a friendly hand of calm.Fifteen minutes of silent reading bring a chapter to a close. And when the bookand eyelids are closed, too, a peaceful repose will follow. This is surely a“feel-good” story. It demonstrates the love within a family circle – lovethat spills over to a widening circle of friends. The characters “consider oneanother.” It is something the young ones learn with just a touch of growingpains.

The story was published in 1911 with a setting that takesplace at the turn of 20^th century in New England. The Carey family isa happy one although Father Carey is in the navy and must be away much of thetime. His salary provides his wife with a chambermaid-nanny and cook. Early inthe story Father becomes seriously ill and dies. Mother Carey’s chickens (herchildren) are thoughtful and obliging most of the time while enduring this trial. The memory of theirfather along with their affection and esteem for their mother, helps them to be so.

The story really is about the eldest daughter, Nancy who iscoming-of-age. While Mother Carey quietly endures deep sorrow Nancy befriendsher in practical and lighthearted ways. Reading a bio of author Kate DouglasWiggins I quickly spotted a parallel of life circumstances in she and hercharacters.

A Token of Love

In the 19^th century it wasn’t unusual to find thephrase “A Token of Love” stitched onto a sampler by girls enrolled in Quakerschools. During my reading I picked up a Quaker style sampler I had leftuntouched for many months. The perfect symmetry of the mysterious Quakerhalf-medallion motifs can be tricky. I remember how often I had to backtrackand pick out stitches gone astray. For this reason the sampler was left in adrawer – until I felt fit for it again. According to the chart, the laststitches are in the wreath, however I didn’t stop there. I sought topersonalize it. I kept a lookout for some inspiring words. For days and days Iwaited until something pithy made its appeal.

Then the following paragraph from chapter five of MotherCarey’s Chickens provided just that. TheCareys must get used to the novelty of strict economizing. With their father gone theservants are dismissed. Chores are adopted as a way of life. But they rally. How?

"The only thing to do was to remember father’s pride andjustify it, to recall his care for mother and take his place so far as mightbe; the only thing for all, as the months went on, was to be what mother calledthe three b’s – brave, bright, and busy."

Could you use a winter motto? The three b’s became a wintermotto of mine. I can use the reminder.

One by one the three b's were stitched in cloth.

This Quaker sampler has random splashes of color. I carriedthe tiniest bit of splashing over to the lettering, too.

The birds in their golden feathers are chickens,of course. I might applique the sampler onto a pajama bag of gold fabric with blue rose buds.

I’ve been blessed to know women who rally during lean times.Out of love for God and family they are brave, bright, and busy. These womenare an encouragement to me.

“A hero is nobraver than any other man, but he is braver for five minutes longer." RalphWaldo Emerson

Happy Valentine’s Day

Comments are welcome.

Karen Andreola

Out of Unpromising Materials

2012-01-30T19:02:00.000-05:00

Out of Unpromising Materials

Margaret and Mary, the sisters in Miss Read’s VillageChristmas, sit before a cozy fire eachevening making a hearthrug, “a gigantic monster of Turkish design, in crimsonand deep blue.” Margaret’s end of the rug grew much more quickly than Mary’s.Her hook made “staccato jabs, and the wool was tugged fiercely into place.”Mary took her time and enjoyed the process. The Lady-of-the-House can pictureMary fingering each strand of wool gingerly. While Margaret looked to the dayit would be done Mary would be sorry when the edges where bound and the rug wasfinished.

Do you enjoy the relaxing process of working on a homemadeproject even if it takes many months to complete? The Lady-of-the-House does.But she also works with the project’s end in view. She will admit that when itcomes to filling in the background of a rug design, with a little less patiencethe canvas tends to be somewhat stabbed. Not as fiercely as Margaret’sfilling-in, but compared to so small a needle used on a linen sampler, hookingrequires a more robust, less delicate handling in places. The wooden hook can form a callus in the palm, observes the Lady-of-the-House. The woolfor the shapes and figures is pulled into loops circumspectly.

While she works with needle and thread the Lady-of-the-Housepictures how a project will look on a window, a bed, a wall or – in the case ofher circular rug – on a chair. Three quarters into it and the Lady-of-the-Houseis already scheming and dreaming up another needle project. It isn’t unusual tohave three projects started zealously at once. Like having three books started,in both cases she will pick up the one she feels fit for.

In chapter four of Lark Rise to Candleford, Flora Thompson describes the “poor folks” of theEnglish hamlet where she grew up in the 1880s.

“Yet even out of these unpromising materials, in a room,which was kitchen, living-room, nursery, and wash-house combined, some womenwould contrive to make a pleasant, attractive-looking home. A well-whitenedhearth, a homemade rag rug in bright colours, and a few geraniums on thewindow-sill would cost nothing, but make a great difference to the generaleffect.”

A rag-rug in olden days was made of cast off clothing. Theclothing was no longer good for anything but to be kept in a ragbag. Here inAmerica the first hooked rugs thriftily made use of the ragbag. Many ahousehold relied upon things made by-hand and nothing was wasted.

After a hundred years of taming an uninhabitable wilderness,early Americans were becoming more comfortable. They were snug on theirhomesteads. The windows were glass, the floors were wood; parlor floors wereeven painted. Rather than straw, rope beds were stuffed with an upgrade offeathers. After a long day of toil beds plump with woven blankets, patchworkquilts and a feather pillow or two, awaited them. There may even be quilts onreserve kept in the linen chest. Perhaps this is when homemakers turned theirattention to using up their rags.

All cloth was valuable in early America as it was madeprimitively and painstakingly from wool off of sheep or flax in the field.Although a family had startling few changes of clothing they dressed in goodcloth. When the Declaration of Independence began six years of invasions,battles, retreats and inflation, the women were busy making hooked rugs.

“For as we know, women keep house and hold the worldtogether through all the anxieties, miseries, and tragedies of all thewars.”
Rose Wilder Lane (daughterof Laura Ingalls Wilder)

Woolens passed patching and mending, were cut into strips.These were mostly grays, browns and black. A woman with an eye for domestic artdied her rags. Red was made from cochineal for a design of roses, indigo forsky and forget-me-knots, pokeberry juice and walnut-husks gave more colors forshading.

She washed empty grain sacks, sewed them together and drew adesign on them. Pulling the strips of rags with a hook through the weave of thesackcloth gave her what she called, a “rug” - a new word derived from theSwedish “rugge” meaning coarse, rough, rugged.

By the work of her hands, over some months, she lovinglyturned rags to riches so-to-speak. It was creative work that satisfied her andgave her family a bit of luxury for the floor.

With these vignettes the Lady-of-the-House wishes toencourage you to think big thoughts and relish small pleasures.

Post Script

January brought little snowfall. Some days were mild enoughfor wearing an oversized cardigan and for trying out a new pair of shoes.

Ican’t help wonder that one day - years hence - a woman with an eye for domestic artwill cut up the wool plaid from this skirt for making a rug.

Blessings,

Karen Andreola

Charlotte Mason's "Scientific Spirit" Embodies the Humanities

2012-01-20T11:02:00.000-05:00

Charlotte Mason's "Scientific Spirit"

Embodies the Humanities

. . . much andvaried humane reading as well as human thought expressed in the forms of art,is, not a luxury, a tit-bit, to be given to children now and then, but theirvery bread of life, which they must have in abundant portions and at regularperiods. This and more is implied in the phrase, “The mind feeds on ideas andtherefore children should have a generous curriculum.” Philosophy ofEducation page 111.

The day I contemplated the above passage by Charlotte Masontwenty-some-odd years ago, was a sobering moment. It took account of howimpoverished my education was in the area of the humanities. How on earth was Igoing to teach my children by a method that emphasized the humanities –something I was so lacking in myself? As a student who read few books cover tocover I still managed to graduate from high school with above average grades. Ireceived at least a “smattering” of information from what might be calledclassroom lectures and then the hour-long homework assignments. But of booksthemselves – hardly a smattering.

Following graduation I committed my life to the Savior ChristJesus. My interest in reading Scripture and books in general was lively.Such a spark of enlightenment (the epistles now wonderfully made sense) musthave come from the Supreme Educator. I joke that I passed through all my yearsof school getting by with a sincere attentive reading of two books; one ofthese was Green Eggs and Ham.

“How injurious then is our habit of depreciating children;we water their books down and drain them of literary flavor, because we wronglysuppose that children cannot understand what we understand ourselves. . . .” Phil.of Ed. Pg 304.

My next question is best put with slang. Where did I get offthinking I was qualified to teach my own children? My answer is in hindsight.When confidence is low and still growing, courage steps up to lead. Love castsout fear. It fills the place in a mother’s heart where fear wishes to dwell.

“Show me a mother with an enduring love for her children andI’ll show you a mother who meets the requirements for home teaching. With lovecomes the self-sacrifice, daily discipline, kindness, patience, anddetermination needed to set her children’s feet on the paths of righteousness,skill, and knowledge. She who sows seeds by home teaching overtime will reapthe fruits of her labor.” Lessons of Blackberry Inn Pg 222.

We learned together.

We turned to living books and various art forms forknowledge and culture. For science the typical grammar school textbook fallsflat. Charlotte Mason points to where the trouble lies. Most science textbooksscarcely touch upon the humanities. It is the humanities in education – thehuman aspect - that Miss Mason so emphatically endorses. In her ideal point ofview on the subject of science she challenges us to present its generalprinciples with their accompanying philosophical ideas. This isn’t as puzzlingas it may sound. A passage from Miss Mason simplifies it.

“Scientific truths,”said Descartes, “are battles won; describe to the young the principal and most heroic of these battles; you will thus interest them in theresults of science, and you will develop in them a scientific spirit by meansof the enthusiasm for the conquest of truth; you will make them see the powerof the reasoning which has led to discoveries in the past, and which will do soagain in the future.” Parents and Children Pg 128.

Science becomes “living” when we mix

philosophy (ideas),

biography (personality),

literature (story),

drama (a touch of emotion),

some first hand observation.

Descartes’ word “heroic” must have swum around in the littlequiet pool of my subconscious. For, when I was introduced to Your Story Hour audio I recognized its value. I was sensitive towhatever would help me bring the scientific spirit to our home school. If youask my grown children about Your Story Hour they will tell you that they have fond memories oflistening to it. Yolanda claims she “loves” it. The scripts are literary,philosophical, biographical, and touched with human emotion. (Mid to upperelementary and junior high.)

Some of the recordings were done as early as 1949 with astyle that truly originates from the radio era. Perhaps this has something to dowith their quality. Is there anything that surpasses them? They are a bitold-fashioned and corny around the edges, but never obnoxious, alwaysrespectful with an intelligent morality that is in keeping with a reverence forGod.

Your Story Hour was awelcomed help to this mother in giving her children Miss Mason’s “abundantportions” of “varied humanereading.” The dramatized stories focus on persons in history who demonstrateattributes of strong moral character. Some are scientists.

Our first choice is “Heritage of Our Country” Album 6 withAlexander Graham Bell, the Wright brothers and others.

“Patterns of Destiny” Album 7 has Louis Pasteur and GeorgeW. Carver.

“Great Stories” Volume 10 also has a few scientists whopersevere and struggle against adversity such as Fleming’s story of Penicillinand Roentgen’s discovery of the x-ray. (Sold at CBD).

The Sowers series is an excellent source of biographies soldat CBD. (Read aloud to 4^th grade up, silent reading - upperelementary) We particularly enjoyed Isaac Newton by the John Hudson Tiner who is an author enthusiastic about science. Iwas probably hoping to tack onto our year his Johannes Kepler. It looks fabulous but it is one book that fellthrough the cracks.

We read Jeanne Bendick’s Archimdedes and the Door of Science by Bethlehem Books.

In sixth grade Nigel enjoyed Michael Farady – Father of Electronics by Charles Ludwig.

We put our library discard to good use: Nikola Tesla –Giant of Electricity by Helen B. Walters.As a young boy Nikola spent much time gazing at nature and thinking. One of thelines reads, “No wonder God had looked at His world after creation and said itwas good.” Authors of children’s books were still mentioning God incidentallyin the 1960s when it was fitting.

I wish you and your children the scientific spirit.

Post Script

Written narration with sketches from Nigel’s 6^thgrade science notebook – the Edison entries - help decorate this post.

The retro wooden radio was once handy for playing cassettes.I still use it as a radio in my office/sewing room where I write you.

My grandson’s kitty cat is no longer part of the family. Onthe sad day his mother made him a stuffed kitty out of felt scraps - a soothingconsolation.

I’m saving certain books and the Your Story Hour for William and his baby brother Joseph who, by theway, is wearing the wool cardigan that his grandmother knit him. She couldn’t resist ending this postwith the cute factor.

Discussion is invited.

Karen Andreola

Boys & Jane Austen - Among Other Sundries

2012-01-07T11:11:00.001-05:00

Boys & Jane Austen

Among Other Sundries

“Oh, have you really read that book, too?” This was theexclamation of a circle of bright-eyed young ladies standing in the narthex ofa church. They were looking incredulously, yet with good humor, at the youngman - a visitor to the church who had been invited into the circle. He wasdoing his best to join in their conversation. All it took was one conciselyphrased comment to reveal his knowledge of Mr. Collins. The opinion he sharedprobably would never have passed the lips of a female - even if it were true.“Mr. Collins was pompous, yes, but he wasn’t all that bad.” (A true story.)

Here is a list of some of the fiction my son, Nigel, read inhigh school and after. I took a recent photograph of him for this post on a daywhen he was dressed smartly for church. Notice the book title at the end of thelist. It was his choice to read Pride and Prejudice after the British film series and book drew so muchof his sisters’ and his sisters’ girlfriends’ attentions. He was curious tounderstand life from the puzzling female point of view.

Ben Hur - Lew Wallace

The Prisoner of Zenda– Anthony Hope

Animal Farm - GeorgeOrwell

The Doomsday Book - ConnieWillis

Frankenstein Mary Shelley

Doctor Jekylle and Mr. Hyde - R. L. Stevenson

The Screwtape Letters- C. S. Lewis

Fareinheit 451 - byRay Bradbury

David Copperfield -Charles Dickens

Great Expectations –Charles Dickens

Enders Game - OrsonScott Card

Lord of the Rings -J.R.R. Tolkien

The Hound of the Baskervilles - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

The Potter’s Field –a Brother Cadfael – Ellis Peters

Tarzan (some ofseries) - Edgar Rice Burroughs

John Carter of Mars - acollection - Edgar Rice Burroughs

A Pocketful of Rye -Agatha Christie

The City and the Stars- Arthur C. Clark

Pride and Prejudice -Jane Austen

When I opened Peter Leithart’s book, Miniatures and Morals – the Christian novels of Jane Austen,I was tickled to find his first chapter to be “Real Men Read Austen.” Mr.Leithart believes that Miss Austen’s novels are highly instructive for men. Thevalue of her novels is not just for the opportunity is seeing love through herperceptive feminine eyes. Her stories uphold a man’s responsibility for “thecourse the courtship takes.” Toying with the affections of a woman, encouragingher to fall in love without a commitment in view, makes a man into anegotistical scoundrel. These men add to the antagonism in her stories. MissAusten thankfully provides us with examples of honorable men – protagonists -that our sons can esteem and emulate.

Reading Miniatures and Morals has been contributing to my Mother Culture. A friend using it with herfour daughters, recommended it to me. A close look at several of Jane Austen’snovels would certainly compliment a beautiful girlhood and help a young ladywisely distinguish between a Frank Churchill and a George Knightly.

A maiden may dream of wearing a Regency gown and meeting aMr. Knightly but Miss Austen’s stories are far too witty to be equated with ashallow or overly sentimental romance novel. What she conveys through hercharacters is sometimes profound and at other times comical. Peter J.Leithart’s insights on all six novels light a candle to Miss Austen’sChristian ethics. She writes about her world close up, in miniature and“recognizes that the greatest ethical challenges come in the midst of dailylife.” This is precisely when Christian morals, manners and discernment areneeded – and how we love our neighbor properly – in a variety of settings.

“She taught me to knit, which has been a great amusement.” –Mrs. Smith in Persuasion.

During our road travel in December I spotted “Jane AustenKnits” while browsing a magazine rack at one of our stops. Fond of knitting andfond of Jane Austen its cover caught my eye with the utmost swiftness. Back onthe highway I read the interview of Jennie Chancey of the Sense &Sensibility pattern company as a first treat. Another interesting article givessome history of domestic life in Georgian England when “everyone butthe very wealthy spun wool yarn and knitted.” All the articles have anintelligent and friendly touch to them.

I can’t imagine what I would wear with the purple “shortstay” or on what occasion I would wear it. This vest has been the source thisknitter’s daydreaming of late. I remind myself that anything pretty - thoughout-of-fashion it may be - can be worn at home. Perhaps it could be worn while gardening, under a protectiveapron, on a cool spring morning. It is a small enough project to be completedby spring, surely. And purple yarn would match the lilac buds in our back yardin spring . . . Do you ever day-dream while washing dishes, contemplating aproject for weeks, a sort of warm-up to attempting it?

The “Lydia Military Spencer” is a jacket with decidedlyout-of-fashion puff sleeves. But it is charming – and I like puff sleeves. Itis in the majority of challenging patterns.

The projects are pretty. The word “pretty” says much. Itmeans that the projects are a refreshingly feminine upgrade from today’sgender-neutral garments. They range from simple to startlingly complicated.You’ll find lacey shawls, fingerless mitts, capes, drawstring bags andstockings. I’ve knit an Aran sweater for a male member of my family but nonenear as complicated as the handsome one given. The Celtic cable on mysoft-as-a-cloud angora rabbit scarf is the most complicated I’ve yet to attempt- from a different pattern book. Abeginner would find inspiration inside “Jane Austen Knits” while she kept mostof the 35 projects on hand for a time when her skill was developed.(janeautstenknits.com)

Over the holidays I began filling in the maiden on the chairpad while sitting in the parlor. I like the tweedy wool strips provided for the sheep. My loops are notaligned in neat rows as those shown in the kit. Mine are hooked higgly-piggly.I also tend to fill in the burlap a too snugly. But I’m enjoying thisbeginner’s project and am pleased with it regardless of how higgly-piggly theloops are turning out to be.

The reproduction friendship sampler is framed. It hangs on anarrow piece of wall in the front parlor - not as crookedly as my photograph. It fits nicely in this narrow corner.

As it is often viewed through the open French doors I might move it upstairs. We’llsee. Domestic decisions are perplexing on those days when a homemaker takesdomesticity rather seriously. But there is also something thrilling about theoutcome of the details that make homemade touches worth the effort. Do you findthis to be true?

Have you received a January seed catalog in the mail yet? Toplant seeds in a raised bed of rich soil using your mouse, click the image ofNigel’s Magic Garden. Water them and watch them grow. Then rearrange yourflowers and vegetables as you like. The latest flash plug-in is required.

Comments are cordially invited on any of the "sundries."

Karen Andreola

A Mother's Merriment

2011-12-23T15:43:00.001-05:00

A Mother’s Merriment

The Man-of-the-House took the Lady-of-the-House shopping. Hedrove the back way through the farms. Afield of winterberries caught their eye.

They are bundled and sold on the roadside. Rose hips aresold further up the road.

A handsome old brick house is always admired by theMan-of-the-House along the back way.

On the other side of the road is a farmhouse. The hens arelike those that the Lady-of-House once kept and doted over.

A large flock of Canadian Geese rest from their flight. Theworkhorses are at rest, too.

A brief stop at a yarn store and the Lady-of-the-House spieda rug hooking kit. At home it hung on a doorknob. Each time she passed itanticipation arose within her.

Some weeks later she noticed the little check marks runningdown her to-do list resembled a column of prim smiles. She took some moments tosit back and enjoy the fruit of her labor; the greenery and berries arrayed,the cookies baked, the gifts wrapped. Now only the supper needed roasting to perfection.What would give her the sweetest satisfaction would be to see the happy smileson the faces of her family. If some trifling tid-bit managed to be overlookedbecause it was left off the list, never mind.

One thing that had no chance of being overlooked was that ofplaying charades. It is the Lady-of-the-House herself who is the one who (itmight be said) most anticipates playing charades at the holidays - a time formirth and merriment. She is naturally soft-spoken, sometimes given to melancholy, quietly jovial and seldomsilly but when playing charades she has a little sparkle of fun in her eyes.

Have you been “all work and no play?” It is easy to see howthis can come to be the state of things at this busy time of year. Pleaseconsider some Mother’s Merriment. ‘Tis the season to be jolly.

Charades - an old fashioned “drawing-room amusement” - isthe kind of recreation that amuses much but costs little. It calls forthcreative imagination and the wearing of a genuine thinking cap – partyhat. Charades puts the biggestsmiles of the year upon the faces of those who play. It gives the adultchildren of the Lady-of-the-House and her husband delight to see Mother so merry.

Mentioned in literature we know that charades have beenaround for a couple of centuries. Adults once played charades in corsetedholiday attire. Riddles were formidable and demanded a sort of Oscar-Wilde-wit.Today we are more relaxed.

Over the years the game has become simplified. Costumes andscripts to rehearse have been replaced by shorter and shorter riddles forguessing. And yet, it is still agame that amuses successfully. Are you interested in how to play charades? Read on.Otherwise, freely scroll to the closing remarks.

How to Play Charades

Charades is played by a performer who uses mime. Withoututtering a word he coaches the audience in guessing a phrase. A title of a bookor film is most popular. To start the game with easy phrases or to include youngerplayers the host or hostess can write phrases on scraps of paper. Folded paperswith the recent films viewed or of favorite books read, are placed in a winterhat for picking.

If the phrase is a book the presenter’s hands are pressedtogether with open palms as if holding an open book. If the phrase is a film anold movie camera is held up to the eye and cranked with one hand.

One finger is held up to represent the “First Word” in thephrase. A guesser in the audience can speak out, “First Word.” For syllables one finger is placed onthe forearm – “One Syllable” - two fingers for two syllables, three for three,etc. The syllable or whole word is acted out with gestures or pantomime.Further clues can also be given. With the performer's hand cupped to an ear aguesser will announce, “Sounds Like.” If the guessing comes close the performerwaves the guessers on. If they guess correctly he nods or touches his nose whenthey hit it “on the nose.” If they are far from the mark he puts on a frown andshakes his head “no.” He may wave his hands frantically as if to erase hisgestures from the air around him to start again – perhaps with “Second Word.”To indicate a connecting word such as “it, and, the, to,” he puts his thumb andforefinger together to show “Little Word.” If a word needs to be lengthened ahe can make a gesture as if stretching a large rubber band.

She opens her palms. Someone calls out, "A book."
She nods yes.
She also cranks her camera. “A film.”
She nods yes to this, too.

Two fingers up. “Two words.”

One finger up, next. “First word.”

One finger on a forearm. “One syllable.”

With that out of the way she covers her eyes with bothhands. “Blind.”

She shakes her head no.

“Dark.”

No.

“Black.”

Yes, she nods enthusiastically.

Two fingers up. “Second word.”

She gestures at brushing her hair with long strokes and thenputting on lipstick. Then she gallops across the room with her hands holding a horse’s reigns.“Beauty,” is called out with a giggle. “Black Beauty” is theguess a second later. A wave a laughter follows.

“Who goes next?”

Some players like to form two teams, use a timer and keepscore. But none of these are necessary.

Charades, a game that is in danger of being lost toantiquity, can be rediscovered by a new generation. When family and friendsexperience how fun it is to play, it is more likely to become a tradition.

To Close

“With most of my to-do list checked I’ll open my kit again. But this timeI’ll relax long enough to read the directions. When I have a little more timeI’ll begin. It’s always thrilling to start a new project,” theLady-of-the-House thought to herself. The project is a chair pad by Yankee Peddler.

The tiny mittens (above) are those she knit with fingering weightyarn. A frugal friend felted the tiny sheep onto pipe cleaners.

In Charles Spurgeon’s sermon “The First Christmas Carol”(text Luke 11:14) he quotes Isaac Watts.

“Religion never was designed

To make our pleasures less.”

Charles Spurgeon goes on to say that, “It is designed to doaway with some of our pleasures, but it gives us many more, to make up for whatit takes away; so it does not make them less.”

Happy New Year

Karen Andreola

Angels We Have Heard on High

2011-12-13T17:15:00.001-05:00

Angels We Have Heard on High

While adding greenery to the corners of the house I pretendit is freshly cut from outdoors.

My son was hovering around me while I balanced on a chair toarrange some garland and ornaments on the mantel. A favorite CD playedinstrumental Christmas hymns with flute, guitar, and fiddle. I added to it byhumming and singing a chorus or two.

He became talkative. He liked watching his mother tinker.Apparently, he liked seeing her merry. In the same room – at the other end ofthe kitchen/keeping room – I’vebeen caught wearing a frown in my efforts to get supper on the table - that is- when garrulous family members distract the cook. A slightly furrowed brow isthe result of concentrating within a multi-task, time-sensitive setting –especially if I am measuring ingredients for a new recipe and am mentallykeeping track of cup and spoonfuls.

But on that sunny afternoon I wasn’t concentrating. I feltno time-sensitively. I was light-heartedly absorbed. And I was free and relaxedto listen and respond to whatever the current life-observation happened to be.We talked away.

Figures of Mary, Joseph and the Christ child inside thebeehive oven are an idea borrowed from one of Tasha Tudor’s storybookillustrations. A donkey rests on folded legs in the shadowy recesses of theoven. The figures of the shepherd and wise men are close by. Perhaps the wisemen should be placed at the farthest end of the mantel. It would be sometimebefore they followed the star and found their king. Most importantly the eventsor the story are remembered and our Lord is adored.

Adoration is rarely observed outside the home or church.Only at Christmastime might we hear a “Christian” Christmas song played on theradio or on loud speakers in the marketplace – one or two perhaps. I find thejolly holiday lyrics of the 20^th century cheery and amusing, someeven touching, but I love the words of the old Christmas hymns. They bringtidings of great joy because “. . . in this world of sin, where meek souls willreceive Him still the dear Christ enters in.”*

Caroling is a lovely way to publicly rejoice and proclaim “.. . This, this, is Christ the King whom shepherds watch and angels sing.”* Mymarried daughters and their families and friends did some caroling in theirneighborhood. They telephoned to tell me it was a bit chaotic. One neighbor,however, already in her pink fuzzy nightgown, said, “Thank-you. What abeautiful ending to a hard and hectic day.”

Quietly contemplating the words of the hymns of advent canbe a source of devotion. Without the profundity of “God the Incarnate Deity”* where would we find the truemeaning of Christmas?

Do you see, among the greenery, the gingerbreadcookies made of felt? They are a gift from a friend who is skillful with a needle.The white icing is embroidered in chain stitch. The cookies are stuffed. Feltpieces are held together on the edges with blanket stitch - in ginger-brown.

The angels are an original design painted by a friend whoknows I am fond of Pennsylvania folk art.

With her mind on gift giving and her eye on the plain woodenshapes at the craft store, she began seeing them as Pennsylvania Dutch angels.She researched the faces for historical authenticity.

Fractur symbols are incorporated on the front and back. Imarvel at her attention to detail, how tiny a paintbrush she must have used,and how she has found time to develop her talent – while raising six children.

Actually, I know how she does it. It is her efficient use ofthe daily schedule of service to her family that allows her a little creativeMother Culture in the sidelines.

Becoming warm from all my decorating I hung my cardigan overthe back of chair, and then cast aside my knitted scarf. I rolled it up and placed it on awindowsill for the time being.

In that instant I couldn't help notice how the scarf's colors blended with the spray of greenery there - especially the faux orange and berries. Thus, the festive feeling of my "fall" scarf (started in July) is being carried over to Christmastime.

*O Little Town of Bethlehem, What Child is This? Hark the Herald Angels Sing.

Thank you for visiting,

Karen Andreola

Hands to Work, Hearts to God

2011-12-03T11:39:00.001-05:00

Hands to Work – Hearts to God

At Christmastime the Shaker motto “Hands to work, Hearts toGod” rings like a tinkling bell to the Lady-of-the-House. She was contemplatingthis motto when she opened an art print book. “The Girlhood of theVirgin” by the Spanish painter Francisco de Zurbruan (1598-1664) caught hereye. It was her first time seeing it. With the motto still fresh in her mindand with the painting in her gaze, she was drawn into quiet moments ofmeditation.

What She Was Thinking

“The Virgin Mary looks no older than nine or ten-years-old.Has she been stitching a fine piece of linen? Her needle is threaded, whichleads one to believe that it is poised and ready for more work. It rests neatlyin its cushion during a peaceful moment of prayer. For an innocent girl soyoung her face is serious, serene and sad. The artist has illuminated herhumanity in natural light. Knowing the most precious aspects of her life fromthe Gospel of Luke – a certain supernatural light shines into to my mother’sheart. Mary’s hands to work and heart to God are an example to me, especiallyat Christmastime.”

Any Way You Look at It

Preparing well ahead for Christmas can help the homemakerfeel less rushed. Little preparations might be homemade gifts assembled in herleisure. But any way you look at it Christmastime means more work for mother.She has it in her heart to create special memories for her family adding littletouches to emphasis the joy of Immanuel. Gifts may be found at odd times in oddplaces during the year and stored out-of-sight in the Christmas closet.Still, cooking favorite dishes, hanging greenery, wrapping and mailing gifts,hand writing gift tags and cards require heightened attentiveness in the weeksleading up to Christmas.

Gracious Acts

There is dignity in work when it is done unto God - nomatter how lowly the work is. William Tyndale said that if we look externally“there is [a] difference betwixt washing of dishes and preaching the word ofGod; but as touching to please God, none at all.” * Even the simplest ofactions: a mother feeding her baby, sweeping the floor, folding the clothes,running a bath, warmly greeting her husband hello, bottling jam, become“gracious acts.” They are acts of love and obedience that give glory to God.

*Worldly Saints byLeland Ryken, page 25

“Give me love and work – these two only.” WilliamMorris

The extra work at Christmastime can make a mother bone-tiredat the end of the day. Perhaps you are reading this at the end of the day. If so,this statement will hit home. Your visit to this post might mean that you arewinding down and finding calm.

There’s No Place Like Home for the Holidays

Grandmothers, even with their prudence in avoiding holidayhub-bub and experience in preparation-by-degrees, will find Christmas secretlyoverwhelming and hard on the legs when “over the river and through the woods tograndmother’s house” they come. It is good to remember that a homemaker’s work,mundane one minute – sweetly satisfying the next, creates a widening circle ofblessing – like a pebble dropped in a quiet pool.

The Lady-of-the-House was told by her mother who was told byher grandmother, “A little hard work never hurt anybody.” When coupled with:“Early to bed, Early to rise” she will avoid overwork and make available forherself moments of calm, moments of meditation and prayer, moments of motherculture.

“The Christ-centered life – even in the midst of work –stays basically simple, nourished, and rested.” Anne Ortlund

Behind the Photographs

A lady tinsmith in town made the cookie cutter. The quiltedpotholder was sewn locally.

“Can we eat these cookies now that you’vephotographed them?” asks both The Man-of-the-House and his son.

“Yes,” says the Lady-of-the-House rememberingjust then to pick up a pen. The butter cookies are flavored inside and out with clove and nutmeg. She tells herself privately that it isn't a good time of year to run out of cinnamon and jots it down on her list.

“Mmmm, these are good,” says the Man-of-the-House. “Spicy,”he adds.

“I made them differently this time,” his wife smiles.

No Holly For Miss Quinn

The Lady-of-the-House has been saving a mention of MissRead’s, No Holly for Miss Quinn for apost closer to Christmas. I hope she hasn’t waited too long for you to checkyour favorite source for out-of-print books or inter-library loan.

The last book you have read is the best book you’ve everread. (Who said this?)

Even though the Lady-of-the-House is basking in the “bestbook” feel, this book boasts a history. She returns to it time and again.Entering her local library in the mid 1990s with her then young children, shespotted a book on the round table display. The cover intrigued her. It was herfirst Miss Read story and remains a favorite.

Written tenderly and honestly, the story carries the readerinto the life a single woman who works orderly and efficiently in an office ofa renowned financier who feels secure in placing responsibility on Miss MiriamQuinn’s capable shoulders. Miss Quinn enjoys coming home to a peacefulclutter-free apartment attached to a quaint old house in the countryside ofFairacre. She looks forward to a calming cup of tea and the beautiful view ofthe garden out her sitting room window. She plans a quiet Christmas. Theplanting of a thick hedge of holly was the wise forethought of the originalowner of the house (decades prior) who knew how the icy winds would blow overthe open meadows buffeting a country house on its north side in winter. Theholly hedge separates the house from the road and seems to suggest to passersby that those who live behind it relish their privacy. Miss Quinn is happy forthe hint.

On page fifty comes a turn of events. It is ushered in by atelephone call from Miss Quinn’s brother. He is the vicar of a parish a half day’s drive north. She tells him that of course she will come and help him withhis three children over the holiday while his wife is in the hospital. As youcan guess, a very different Christmas is in store for Miss Quinn than she hadanticipated.

The theme of this story, and Miss Read’s other Christmasstories: Village Christmas and TheChristmas Mouse, is love and work. AlthoughNo Holly . . centers around the life of a singlewoman the value of motherhood is recognized. Experiencing, first hand, thevaried duties that a mother must perform from dawn to dusk – especially atChristmastime – Miss Quinn realizes how self-centered she is in comparison toher sister-in-law. She thinks to herself, “If I’m a working woman what is she?”

The Lady-of-the-House is quite fond of her book friend,Miriam Quinn and thinks you will become fond of her, too.

Recently, over several evenings the Lady-of-the-Housetallied the hours of her silent reading of No Holly. . . for you. It was under four hours. During one of thebusiest Christmases she can remember, when her children were in their teens andinvolved hither and thither, shetook advantage of some calmer evenings to read the story aloud to hercoming-of-age daughter Yolanda. It was a special one-on-one time on the sofa,sandwiched between days of extra shopping, extra cooking, caroling at nursinghomes, and lengthy music rehearsals and performances. “I can still hear usgiggle,” the Lady-of-the-House says.

God bless you in your love and work at Christmastime,

Karen Andreola

Christmas Yo-Yos

2011-11-24T16:07:00.001-05:00

Christmas Yo-Yos

The day before Thanksgiving my daughter telephoned. “Go to Dad’s office and look on his computer,” she said.(It’s a bigger screen than my laptop.) “I just sent some photographs.” Dean(also Dad or Grandpa) has gotten used to this.

"Oh look," I exclaimed. "Baby Joseph is wearing the sweater I made for William. I almost forgot I knit it. It fits him perfectly,” Isaid now on speaker-phone.

Grandpa added, “Why didn’t you slip the sweater over thepumpkin? It would have showed it off just the same.”

Not really taking him seriously his daughter informed, “Well, he’swearing long Johns. That’s why he might look a little stuffed.”

“Just in time for Thanksgiving,” Grandpa couldn’t resist.

“Don’t you notice something?” she asked.

Grandma noticed. “Yes,” said Grandma all agog at Baby’s progress. “He’s sitting up.”

“A minute later he fell over and cried. But he sat stilllong enough for the photo,” she said.

“He’s a Humpty Dumpty,” cooed Grandma. At this last bit of "cuteness-appreciation" Grandpa winced (to be funny).

Now, to the main part of this post.

For the homemaker preparations for Christmas are mostly doneon her feet. Making yo-yos for a Christmas garland is one way a she can befestive with her feet up.

Have you ever made a yo-yo? I explain how on a previouspost. It is a frugal way of using up some of the smallest snippets of fabricthat may be leftover from another project. For Christmastime, however, Isplurged and purchased some new fabric with a Christmas theme, adding it to thecalico scrapes I had on hand.

For a small yo-yo circle a cut 2 ½ in diameter makes a 1inch yo-yo. Using the top or bottom of a half-pint jelly jar is about the rightsize. When strung together loosely the yo-yos can be twisted on the garland sothat krinkle and smooth sides alternate along the row. A garland of yo-yossewn together more snugly will show all fronts (krinkles) on one side and allbacks (smooth) on the other – which is nice, too.

Placement over an image works well with a jelly jar ordrinking glass. Brandy’s sells a template. Either way allows you to center acircle over a design. I chose to showcase a tiny dove, a wreath anda poinsettia on the back of my yo-yos.

A few years ago when I spotted a fabric of antique toys Iwas charmed. “I’ll make a yo-yo garland for my daughter’s large tree for theeyes of my grandchildren,” I thought. To showcase the toys, this time I neededa circle cut 3 ½ inches in diameter. This is more of a standard size yo-yo. It creates a garland that grows in far less time than one done insmaller yo-yos. The toy garland is at my daughter’s house and therefore notpictured.

Small yo-yos compliment a small tree. Tiny prints, calico andsmall plaids are suitable. I like the metallic thread that glitters onthe red and green plaid. Upon entering a yo-yo craze all kinds of ideas will suggest themselves to you.

Garlands mail light. This makes them good gifts forlong-distance friends or relatives. I sent a garland to a long-distance friendone Christmastime. She is adept at crafting (expertly and artistically so). AndI don’t know anyone who is more proficiently frugal in making one penny do the work of two. This is why what I read in her letter pleased me. My gift had given her the idea to make a garland for a long-distance friend of hers. These garlands are apparently becoming a grape vineof friendship.

Because it isn’t possible to send each of my blog friends agarland I am doing the next best thing: sharing my craft idea with you.

Post Script

Dean would like me to have my old crewel embroidery reframed.I stitched it in 1981. (Can you believe it?)

It had to be cut away from arusty-stapled frame after it was saved from a basement flood years back. Perhapsthe framer in town can do something about the shrinkage.

Click any image to enlarge.

Thank you for visiting,

Karen Andreola

Qualities As Would Wear Well

2011-11-16T18:45:00.001-05:00

Qualities As Would Wear Well

A friend of mine with a master’s degree in English once toldme, “The best way to “pick-up” good English grammar and vocabulary is to beabsorbed in an 18^th century novel - monthly. Hmmm, this seemedsensible. But I remember only nodding my head to it. I felt dumb. Few 18^thcentury novels came to mind. To rely upon 19^th century novelistsseemed more conceivable. I did, however, hand my children (two young ladies andone young man) when they reached high school, my old copy of Oliver Goldsmith’sThe Vicar of Wakefield. The story was published in England around the timeof our American Revolution.

None in my circle of friends has mentioned reading this bookso I am coming straight out and asking. Have you read it? Because it seems tobe a lesser-read novel I bring The Vicar of Wakefield to your notice. It is delightful. So many of thekinds of things I like in a novel live there. The atmosphere of home and familyring as clear a bell. Historically it provides an interesting peek at 18^thcentury domesticity.

Oliver Goldsmith’s refined language makes his descriptionsof the vicar’s life (in first-person) both charming and humorous. As mensometimes do he writes a little over-the-top. His subtle touch of theridiculous is intentional. It’s meant to make us smile. It makes me smile. And yet as Shakespeare said it, “Many a truthis spoken in jest.”

I could place dozens of amusing excerpts on this post but Imust resist. The first paragraph will have to suffice in giving you a taste.Dr. Primrose, the vicar, begins:

I was ever of the opinion that the honest man who marriedand brought up a large family, did more service than he who continued singleand only talked of population. From this motive, I had scare taken [ordination]a year, before I began to think seriously of matrimony, and chose my wife, asshe did her wedding-gown, not for a fine glossy surface, but such qualities aswould wear well. To do her justice, she was a good-natured, notable woman; andas for breeding, there were few country ladies who could show more. She couldread any English book without much spelling; but for pickling, preserving, andcookery, none could excel her. She prided herself also upon being an excellentcontriver of housekeeping; though I could never find that we grew richer withall her contrivances.

How kind hearted the vicar is. He is sincerely unworldly.Take this up a notch and we can even say Dr. Primrose is a little naive. What arefreshing change from being bombarded by the opposite (in the news). If youare looking for a book to read by the fireside, with humor to lighten darkeningdays, a book of refined English, The Vicar of Wakefield will satisfy. My choice for Mother Culture, itcarries mature but clean amusement and honest-to-goodness English Literaturefor high school students, too.

Within this fairy-tale-like plot are lessons to be observed.For instance, the etiquette of Englishmen (specifically gentleman callers) inthose days could mask true character until it revealed itself in consequenceand secrets came to light. At the turn of the page the “moral of the story”becomes plain and it is interesting to hear a student’s spin on matters.

Those who are fond of the novels of the Charlotte Bronte,Jane Austen, Charles Dickens and Louisa May Alcott might be interested to knowthat The Vicar of Wakefield was thoroughly enjoyed by them. We know this becausethey have referenced this book within their own novels.

Very few writers gain immense wealth by writing.Nevertheless – writers write to pay the rent and sometimes “back” rent. This isexactly what The Vicar ofWakefield enabled Oliver Goldsmith to doduring a time of financial distress. One of the conflicts in the story is achange in finance. Another difficulty is the question of who will marry hisdaughters. You’ll notice that these themes are also woven with success by thesubsequent and well-loved authors above.

Laying over the pages of my book are three elegant bookmarks made by a friend.I show them here because they are a simple craft that matches the skill of mostmothers’ nibble fingers. Creative flair is employed in choosing beads andcharms to be threaded on the ribbon. Would you or your children enjoy designinga ribbon bookmark for gift-giving days ahead? It is sure to please the 18^thcentury novel reader.

Thank you for visiting.

As always, Karen Andreola

Two November Sweaters

2011-11-07T18:04:00.000-05:00

Two November Sweaters

The first November breeze makes us reach for a cardigan withalacrity. The Lady-of-the-House took a fancy to designing a little girl’scardigan that gave the feel of a forest in November. The natural brown woolresembles the bark of trees – and the fallen leaves that have dried and crunchlike brown toast under a garden boot.

Acorn buttons also speak November, don’t you think? The yokeis knit in a luxurious Noro yarn. Garter stitch sets off its colors from thebody as does a round of soft-white above and below.

The yoke style of sweater has the attractive feature ofbeing seamless. If self- stripping yarn is used it forms its own interestingdesign. And the decreases are hidden among the varying colors.

Any plain pattern invites possibilities for designing.Knitting creative touches into a sweater for little ones already arrived, andthose yet to be born is, for the Lady-of-the-House, a doubly comfortingexperience – a mingling of dreams and relaxation.

"People have to know what relaxes them, and not feel guiltyabout using a piece of time when it is necessary for them, or when they do notuse it exactly as somebody else would."

Edith Schaeffer

The yoke sweater was made some years ago. ThisNovember the Lady-of-the-House finished a sweater for Baby Joseph. She usedleft-over Brown Sheep from the yoke sweater adding a Lumber Jack check at thebottom. The colors would go nicely with his dark hair she thought.

She alteredthe pattern to make less seaming for herself. The cardigan’s front panels jointhe back on a circular needle. They form one wide piece. She knit up to thearmholes finishing each panel separately to the shoulder. The only seams are atthe shoulder.

Here’s a tip. A crochet hook picks up stitches easily andneatly. Chained onto the hook this readies them to be slid off the back of thehook onto needles where they are knitted in a nice workable tension.

She pickedup the sleeves this way (no seams here) and then knitted in a round - top down.

On Sunday afternoon, after sewing on the wooden buttons, sheheld it up to show the Man-of-House with a delightful feeling ofaccomplishment.

“Very nice,” he said.

“Let me see your buttons,” she said.

“What for?” he asked, puzzled.

“I just remembered something.” She stepped closer to seewhich way his shirt was buttoned. Then she examined the sweater in herhands. “Oh, no, I put BabyJoseph’s buttonholes on the girl’s side!” She was crestfallen. The thought ofunraveling the ribbing to start again was discouraging.

The Man-of-the-House instantly consoled her with hisfamiliar stand-by phrase, “No one ‘ll notice.”

"I suppose so,” she said weakly. Exploring the subjectfurther she reasoned that with the amount of sartorial slackness going on thesedays the button placement could very well go unnoticed by the average onlooker.

“And it’s not like he’ll be buttoning it himself,” he added.

This last statement made the strongest appeal. TheLady-of-the-House was won over. The November sweater is tucked away (as is) inthe Christmas closet awaiting wrapping. Please do not breathe a word of oursecret to Baby Joseph – about the buttonholes, I mean.

Until next time,
Karen Andreola

Room to Grow

2011-11-01T16:15:00.000-04:00

Room to Grow

I began writing this post on Saturday the 29^th.Snow, of all things, was swirling outside. It covered the ground and weighedheavily upon the leafed trees in clumps, breaking branches and disablingelectric power. Our server has been down for days so I am visiting my daughterYolanda to be connected today.

October snow is extraordinary in southern Pennsylvania. Itbrings to mind a story I wrote for Story Starters. In “Deborah Misses Dad” the first snowfall is early. It is Octobersnow. This is significant and provides a bit of suspense because Deborah’sfather promises that he would return from his long sea journey at (or before)the first snowfall. Would he return in time to fulfill his promise?

The day before our snowstorm I had taken a more usual autumnphotograph while standing in our driveway.

I also made Autumn Leaf Decorations from the leaves Igathered on a brisk and refreshing walk. The leaves were gathered at the heightof color - and just in time, too.

Goodbye to a garden of pink verbena.

A More Together Feel

I enjoyed two very nice letters from blog friends and also aconversation recently. Something common to each dawned on me. My friendsmentioned how in earlier years, home learning had a more “together feel.” Now thatthe children are maturing they are off at their own desks doing lessons on theirown. The family still gathers ‘round the dinning room table for Bible, poetry,a song, or Picture Study but much of the children’s skills and acquiring ofknowledge are being achieved by independent effort or by taking turnsone-on-one with mother.

A Second Look

Change is inevitable in home education because childrengrow. It seems that just as we grasp of a workable timetable one year, the nextyear, it is altered. When change occurs we take a second look and wonder “Isthis going well? Is this working for us?” It may take a few months buteventually the timetable takes shape as we adjust to our children’s growingabilities.

A New Suit of Clothes

Actually a wonderful thing is happening. These home taughtchildren still enjoy a degree of companionship; the family isn’t growing apartbut growing up alongside one another. And the children are trying on a new suit of clothes. Miss CharlotteMason would call this suit self-education.And a very fine suit of clothes it is – with room to grow. One that too fewstudents have the opportunity to try on for size. Why? Out of insecurityperhaps, or out of a need to ensure a good showing of right answers on tests,teachers do too much forstudents.

“If we give him watered-down material, many explanations,much questioning, if we over-moralize, depend on the workbook to work the mind,what thinking is left for the child to do? How is his mind to grow? Pg 41 A Charlotte Mason Companion

The mind feeds on ideas. These ideas are found in books ofliterary quality. A student digests this mind-food by narrating and after awhile he develops a taste for knowledge. With each new idea digested and eachnew bit of knowledge made personal, he grows.

“Miss Mason believed that there is no education butself-education. Our business, she said, was to give him mind-stuff. Bothquantity and quality are essential. . . .Self-education by means of [living] books, narration,first-hand experience and observation is such a very satisfying and rewardingprocess that it naturally continues throughout life.” Pg 43 & 44 C M Companion

Driving a Horse That is Light

During our fist summer here in Pennsylvania Dutch Country Iwas waiting at a traffic light. When I looked in my rear-view mirror I wasstartled. “Oh my, it’s the face of a horse!” Waiting behind me in traffic werea horse and buggy. During that time it was no easy task to teach the last twoof our children how to drive with the added feature of passing buggies safely,I can assure you. With every venture down our roads comes the unnervingnecessity to pass at least one or two.

Anyway, this summer, when I was in Historic Strasburg withDean photographing some handsome old houses (here shown) I kept an eye out forthe opportunity to snap an action shot of a horse and buggy. I anticipatedillustrating a post on “self education” with it.

Since first reading the following paragraph in Philosophyof Education I have been immensely fond ofit. It is enlightening. Miss Charlotte Mason assumes that her readers, born in the 19^th century, are as familiar with the behavior ofhorses on the road as we are in Pennsylvania Dutch Country. She wrote:

“In urging a method of self-education for children in lieuof the vicarious education which prevails, I should like to dwell on theenormous relief to teachers, a self-sacrificing and greatly overburdened class;the difference is just that between driving a horse that is light and a horsethat is heavy in hand; the former covers the ground of his own gay will and thedriver goes merrily. The teacher who allows his scholars the freedom of thecity of books is at liberty to be their guide, philosopher and friend; and isno longer the mere instrument of forcible intellectual feeding.”

Do you see how the gentleness aspect in “the gentle art of learning” is an embodiment ofself-education?

Charlotte Mason takes no credit for being the first torecognize the advantages of self-education. She refers to the Christianeducator, John Amos Comenius (1592-1670) at the very start of her book Philosophyof Education: “. . . that golden rule ofwhich Comenius was in search has discovered itself in the Rule, - ‘Wherebyteachers shall teach less and scholars shall learn more.’”

Story Starters

I made it a point to support Miss Mason’s urgings to trustin self-education (of teachers teaching less and students learning more) when Icreated Story Starters. The multi-skilllevels of narration-composition give the student “room to grow.”

All in one English course a child can rescue those indanger, comfort the sick, cheer the lonely, laugh with the ridiculous, tame thewild and do battle for good. The exercises in Story Starters suspend the student in the middle of a predicament.He is then faced with the question “What happens next?” This is his cue toexpand and embellish the story however he wants. The settings are sometimesexciting, sometimes funny, sometimes sweetly domestic, but they always pose achallenge.

Are you looking for a writing course that will engage a student in critical thinking as well as awaken him to write boldly, freely,with imagination and zest? With Story Starters a child will write in ways he has never written before – and withwilling effort – like a horse that is light in hand.

Post Script

Our family tradition of making Autumn Leaf Decorations canbe found in A Charlotte Mason Companionpage 316.

Sonya Shafer of Simply Charlotte Mason invited me tocontribute to the discussion of her articles “The Gentle Approach” on her blog.Thank you, Sonya.

Comments are warmly welcome,

Karen Andreola

Autumn is a Second Spring

2011-10-23T16:30:00.000-04:00

Autumn is a Second Spring

Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.Albert Camus

Blustery showers and calmer days of drizzle take turns inOctober. That’s why the days of blue skies and butter-colored sunshine are soprized. On such a day the Lady-of-the-House opened the windows. Enjoying thebreeze she was roused to do some delayed spring-cleaning. A simple wash-cycleand a hot iron put her curtains to rights.

Although she no longer snips faded blooms a few lingeringverbena can be cut for a bouquet.

The patio’s pot of thyme should soon be harvested fordrying.

Bunches of thyme already hang above the fireplace. These,along with the rose hips, were a gift from friend.

A wreath of faux foliage encircles the tin lantern. Herdaughters made the cornhusk dolls (a startling number of years ago) and are displayed each autumn. Thisyear the dolls take a place in the beehive oven. The Lady-of-the-House hasalways admired the dolls' long corn silk hair.

She was awakened anew to this admiration perhaps because shehad recently darkened the door of a hair-cutter – something she ventures to dobut twice a year. She is familiar with the hazards of such places. Most oftenshe tells the cutter to “give it a trim” while she demurely holds up a thumband forefinger to specify how much – or should she say, how little? This timeshe was more daring. As a result of her risk-taking she was given a head of allends – which to her resembles the shaggy“do” of a popular male vocalist of the 1980s. Calm on the outside, yes,underneath she was in a near panic. She returned home, ran upstairs, dug outher pink rollers and set all the fly-away ends. A couple hourslater she was relieved that she had managed to curl them into female civility (forthe time being).

The Man-of-the-House is fond of his wife no matter how long,short, chopped or gray her hair will ever be. Returning home in the car on herbirthday he bent down and picked up a bright maple leave that had just fallento the edge of the drive and said, “This is for you.” The gesture was so spontaneous and unexpected that it liftedher spirits. The very next day, when she opened a cookbook to the autumnsection, she read the quote you see at the start of this post. It put theMan-of-the-House in a spotlight of appreciation.

Back to the subject of decorating, resting on the fireplacemantel is a photograph of a pumpkin on a yellow chair of Tasha Tudor’s.The-Lady-of-the-House cut out the picture from a 1995 desk calendar she saved.Then she slid it into a dime’s store frame. Gilded frames are not her firstchoice but in celebration of the season the Lady-of-the-House makes allowances.

Near the kitchen sink a tea towel is all that boasts theseason here.

In the family room a small show of faux berries are nestled in the window candle pan.

Over the summer the Lady-of-the-House found use for thestone pieces that broke apart from the larger stones used for the patio. Shemade a pathway to invitingly draw the eye toward a mysterious “wild wood.” The pathends behind the azaleas where she ran out of stone. Less romantically statedthis path also serves as an access-way for the weeder.

At the start of the path is the dogwood sapling theMan-of-the-House planted in springtime. The Lady-of-the-House is happy to seehow red it has become.

Another surprise of color will be revealed six months fromnow when the bulbs she put into the ground, will bloom. The package pictures pink narcissus. She is skeptical for she has learned notto trust explicitly the graphic arts of advertising. Still, it is something to look forward to.

With the last tiny stitch in place the Lady-of-the-Housefinished what she calls her “wedding sampler.” She followed a chart made of a19^th century sampler yet pretends that Eve and Adam (so nicelydressed) are representative of she and the Man-of-the-House.

The crowns and initials were added by prerogative. So werethe subtle shades of white and gold trim on Adam’s tan suit, which would havelooked like his birthday suit had the Man-of-the-House not pointed this out bydelicate inquiry. The stitcher threaded her needle at once whilecommiserating, “We can’t have that. Not in a lady’s parlor.”

Post Script

I had fun with this post, aiming to entertain my friendswith small corners of my life. Can you tell?

Curious to know why and how I would turn temporarily fromwriting non-fiction to fiction, Teisha Priest asked to interview me. I agreed.She then submitted the interview to a fiction book blogger. To read more click:Interview with Karen.

Thank you for visiting,

Karen Andreola

Courtesy in Mother Culture

2011-10-12T13:02:00.000-04:00

Courtesy in Mother Culture

“Duty makes us do things well but love makes us do thembeautifully.” Phillips Brooks

Introduction

When I read the above quotation earlier in the year Iautomatically related it homemaking. I saved it for an opportune time to attachto a post that would do it justice. I thought of many tangible examples, whichare lovely in themselves, but settled on an intangible one. It was when Iopened my copy of Hints of Child Trainingthat the time-honored ideas on courtesy made their appeal. They made a goodfit. Feeling persnickety I added, subtracted and snipped at paragraphs allweek. This article is the result. I hope you will find it uplifting.

A Mother Who Values Courtesy

A mother who values courtesy is more likely to enjoy herchildren. Mutual courtesy helps create a pleasant home atmosphere. A mothermodels courtesy. She expects acts of courtesy in return: little acts fromlittle children, bigger acts from bigger children.

Surrounding the day’s lessons and chores is the invisiblework of atmosphere. A mother respects her children’s curious minds and youthfulenergy. In return her children are to respect and honor her wisdom andguidance. A child’s chores and lessons go smoothly with the discipline ofhabit. But his way-of-life is an outgrowth of mutual courtesy.

A Multitude of Petty Sacrifices

It’s been said that, fine manners and true politeness arethe result of good breeding and are made up of a multitude of petty sacrifices.A home teacher is familiar with self-sacrifice. Although it is required of hershe isn’t very conscious of it. She serves her family out of duty and lovehour-by-hour without measuring. Do not grow weary in this well-doing youngmother. Over time you will enjoy the fruits of your labor.

Taking Care

Courtesy in Mother Culture is a principle I held in the backof mind while my children and I carried out the business of the day. I tried tobe firm but kind. And, like mothers have been doing for centuries, I took careto teach my young children manners. They learned “please and thank-you.” Ialso placed an emphasis on cheerful “hellos and goodbyes.” I like how HenryClay Trumbull puts it in his book Hints on Child Training:

“In order to be courteous, a child must have a care to givedue deference to others, in his ordinary salutations and greetings, and in hisexpression of thanks for every kindness or attention shown to him.”

Old-fashioned Manners

Are you impressed with the manners in the period dramas likeI am? Old-fashioned manners are a refreshing oasis in our modern world ofcoarseness. To give my children at least have a taste of formality when they were older we began watchingperiod films. But have you noticed? Not all the characters in a period filmthat have manners also have courtesy. I think of flirtatious Miss Blanche in JaneEyre. She is a good example of what isreferred to by Mr. Trumbull:

“Attractiveness of personal appearance, gracefulness in[carriage], tastefulness in dress, elegance in manners, and carefulness in wordand tone of voice, may, indeed, all be found where there is no true courtesy. ..”

Jane Eyre, on the other hand, is not stunning. She dressesneatly and even when she has the financial freedom she cares not for highfashion. Unlike Miss Blanche, Jane is unselfishly thoughtful of others. She isgiven over to those with whom she converses, listening quietly and questioningwith a true interest to their answers. She says kind words because she feels kindly. When Jane overhears Blanche and her mother’sdepreciating comments about governesses, spoken in the very room where Jane issitting, she is hurt. This is because the words come from those who are notcourteous.

Another character knows how to mind his manners. Mr. Wickhamof Pride and Prejudice understands hispersonal advantage in conforming strictlyto etiquette. His manners are on the surface. Because he is self-absorbedrather than self-forgetful, in no circumstances do his manners go deep enoughto be called courtesy.

Mr. Bingley, on the other hand, is truly kind. Although, inhis station it would be acceptable etiquette for him to appear distant (aproper snob) he is, instead, amiable. His friendliness gives impulse to hisgenerosity and he gives a ball. Mr. Bingley has good manners but cares less forwhat people think of him and more for giving his neighbors (below his station)pleasure. Courtesy makes him a cheerful man.

Courtesy Isn't Self-conscious

How do we teach children manners with courtesy? It is easier to teach courtesy whilechildren are young and before they enter their self-conscious stage. But at anyage we cannot simply tell children to be self-forgetful. It would make them allthe more self-conscious. Rather we focus their attentions on serving others. We teach them to sympathize. We teach themnot just what it means to spend time with others but what it means to share of ourselves.

In the family circle a children learn to play together, topatiently wait a turn, and to make frank apologies when needed.

“True courtesy involves a readiness to apologize for any andevery failure, whether intentional or unintentional,” says Henry Clay Trumbull.“. . . for just as far as one is considerate of the feelings of another will hewant to express his regret and that any performance or failure on this part;has been a course of discomfort to another. All this is, of course, a tryingmatter to a child, and a taxing matter to a parent; but it is to the obviousadvantage of both parties.”

Courtesy is Exercised in Community

A child can practice hospitality when guests arrive. Perhapshis courtesy will be toward his grandparents, friends of his parents or friendsnearer his own age. What does a playmate enjoy doing? Perhaps a young lady oryoung man is given the job to entertain young children. When our family wasliving in England and was invited by new friends for a meal I’ll never forgethow the son of the family (of high school age) entertained my little girls (agethree and six) after supper. First he tied around his neck a flimsy black cape.Then he brought out a box of plastic paraphernalia. With these he performed aseries of magic tricks. I liked to hear how he laughed when he fumbled. Hereally seemed to be enjoying the job of entertaining. Upon leaving I made sureto whisper in the ears of my little girls to say thank you to the young man.I also instructed them to look into the eyes of their hostess and say, “Thankyou for having us.” And if they enjoyed themselves to say also, “I had a goodtime.”

Small beginnings? Yes, but “from little acorns do great oaksgrow.” What I am really getting at is developing character – ourduty as parents – but in a lovely way inspired by this post’s quotation. I wasso impressed with the young man’s attitude that it was a bright spot ofencouragement to me while teaching my children all through their growing yearshow to be thoughtful of others and hospitable. I’d give them a suggestion ortwo and then I’d leave them to it.

A Rule Once Learned in School

Our Lord Jesus taught courtesy. I stitched his words both simple yetprofound, into a sampler. The linen has an aged appearance and so do the threads. Rather than following the chart bystitching a large lower alphabet in yellow as indicated, I was struck with theidea to replace it with The Golden Rule.

It was stitched as reminder to myself (a good principlefor a marriage relationship), and for the eyes of my children andgrandchildren. Our Lord knows what makes for joy in His people. And whatwitnesses His love to the lost. The Golden Rule says it best.

Post Script

Photographs of our grandsons and of the pumpkin patch weretaken by Sophia.

Click to readDean's review of Hints on Child Training originally published in 1890 -taken from letters of Mr. Trumbullto another father. Reading it as young parents brought us encouragement anddirection at a time when we most desired it.

Passages from Hints on Child Training are used with permission.

I took this photograph yesterday. Our leaves are proving to be spectacular this year.

Discussion is invited,

Karen Andreola

On the Wings of the Wind

2011-09-30T11:29:00.000-04:00

On the Wings of the Wind

“Nature study should be approached with reverence. For thenatural world is the expression of God’s personality in a form that is withinreach of all of us to comprehend in some measure.” G. Downton (Parents’Review and A Charlotte Mason Companion page 255)

The Lady-of-the-house is always sad when the robins leave.They seemed to leave earlier this year. In their place, in early September, agarden of fluttering butterflies consoled her. She had let the caterpillarsnibble to their hearts content on the parsley. The nibbling took place besidethe kitchen door. When the Man-of-the-house spied the damage theLady-of-the-house responded calmly with, “Never mind. I have a spare parsleygrowing on the other side of the patio. And that parsley is politely untouched.” Her fictional mind told her that itwas the swallowtail’s show of courtesy to - in their infant stage - only devourdown-to-the bone, one parsleyplant.

It was in a picture book that she and her children had readwhat finicky eaters caterpillars are. They relish a few favorite plants.Nothing else will do.

One of the fattened caterpillars attached itself to the wallof the house to form a chrysalis. The Lady-of-the-house kept on eye on the chrysalis in hergoings out and comings in. But it was when she wasn’t looking that the black swallowtail emerged. It didn’t have far to go. The patio is surrounded by pinkverbena.

The Lady-of-the-house likes butterflies and she likes birds.When the song-happy robins took flight the neighborhood was suddenly quietenough for a cardinal’s tweet and chickadee’s humming squeak to be discernable– proof that the branches of the trees were not empty.

Do you recognize the willow warblers on the platter in thekitchen? It is on the shelf over the kitchen stove hood. (Click any image to enlarge.)

This china pattern matches the dust cover of Edith Holden’sbook, The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady. In this beautiful 1906 diary these birds are also on page 71.

Noritake makes a whole place setting of china featuring theartwork of Edith Holden. Two plates and a platter are what theLady-of-the-house has. The red poppies are from page 112. On second glance ofthis photograph she sees her plate really should be turned to the right as thepoppies in the book are horizontal, arching comfortably across two pages.

An Anecdote of Appreciation

At present butterflies are few. The birds are even quieter.Those that remain are appreciated. Recently the Man-of-the-house had anothergall bladder attack. This time in ER he decided to be admitted upstairs to haveit out. From his hospital bed he said to his wife, “Open the blinds some moreplease. More sunlight would be nice.” Still feeling a bit shaky she pulled thechain of the blinds and stood peering out the window. She gazed down on brickrow houses and an ornate church built in yester-year. Lancaster has anunmistaken historic air. It is the oldest inland city in America – a sort ofminiature Philadelphia – except that most buildings are no taller than threestories. The hospital is one of the tallest and it gave the Lady-of-the-house anice view.

Is that a gold leaf I see drifting along just beyond thewindow glass? No, it’s a butterfly! Shefixed her eyes upon it to follow its flight. The butterfly was a welcomed oasis ofpeace, an unexpected gift of nature. Immediately she was reminded: “God iseverywhere.” In fact, she said it out loud - with her back still to the room –and continued thinking, although at times He may seem far away He isnear – even to one who is standing on the eighth floor.

“What did you say?” asked her husband.

She turned from the window and said again, “God iseverywhere,” this time with a smile.

“Yes,” affirmed the Man-of-the-house.

“. . . [He]walketh on the wings of the wind.” Psalm 104:3

“As his essence is immense, not to be confined in place; asit is eternal, not to be measured in time; so it is almighty, not to be limitedin regard of action.” - Stephen Charnock

The Man-of-the-house is home safe and sound. Joy!

Birds in Your Backyard – A DVD

The Crowe family loves birds. (Imagine that.) Their curiousand cute children (picture on the cover) were so taken by the birds that visittheir backyard feeders that they created this DVD so you, too, can attract thesame beautiful birds to your backyard. The film has a homespun feel, yet is ofprofessional quality. The children are the narrators. They speak clearly andare courteous to each other and to adults . . . how refreshing.

Most of the film is dedicated to teaching you how torecognize birds by their markings and vocalizations. A brief history of ornithologistJohn James Audubon is presented by cartoon. I especially enjoyed the interviewwith the 95-year-old bird enthusiast, Mr. Bell, who lives on a farm nearby andhas gained remarkable firsthand knowledge of birds over his many years ofbanding them.

Those who have read A Pocketful of Pinecones may wish to add Your Backyard to their nature study resources. Birds on the eastcoast of America such as the chickadee, mourning dove, song sparrow, blue jay,and cardinal are quite common but will reveal themselves only to those who look(and listen). The Crowe family reminds you that keeping your feeders filledhelps, too.

With a click of your mouse, you and your students can takethe quiz in the Bonus Feature. You can also learn how to construct inexpensivebird feeders or click to review a particular bird and its song as often as youlike.

Click Your Backyard to shop at CBD.

Here are two birds from the 1990 Nature Notebook of theLady-of-the-house - in colored pencil.

Thanks for visiting,

Karen Andreola

The Flip Side of a Cleansing Breath

2011-09-18T14:48:00.001-04:00

The Flip Side of a Cleansing Breath

I didn’t tell you that while we were vacationing at theJersey shore I found an antique vase (chipped and inexpensive) in a baysideboutique. I was charmed by it. I pictured it on the windowsill of our parlor.

There is something else I didn’t tell you. The day I wassitting on the beach for an hour of knitting bliss (on a previous post), is thesame day Dean was taken to the hospital. After supper he had intensifying pain.A telephone call to our GP in Pennsylvania revealed that it could be gallbladder. At 8 o'clock my father drove us to the ER. Since the island has many more timesthat amount of people in August than it does any other time of the year(especially on the week-end) the ER was crowded. Dean was attended to, thankfully, when I brought his needs intermittently to the attention of the staff. I amnaturally unassertive but will step out of my comfort zone for those I love.

Come midnight I urged my father to leave. All that separatedDean’s narrow bed from another patient was a curtain. On the other side of thecurtain a little boy age 3, the same age as our grandson, was rushed in. He was suffering a seizure. It took a team of doctors and nurses quite awhile to calm the seizure before he was transferred to a larger hospital. Hismother’s face was red with tears. I prayed, begging God for my poor Dean. Hispain was terrible. I also prayed for the little boy.

At 4 o’clock in the morning one groggy hubby was doing betterand released. Our son-in-law, who had come to the Jersey shore with my daughterfor the weekend, retrieved us. The day was dawning when we lumbered up thesteps to my parent’s bungalow numb with tiredness. It was a sleepless night buta beautiful morning. I was thankful.

Back in Pennsylvania I knitted during Dean’s scheduleddoctor appointments. Waiting rooms are good places for knitting. I embellished this easy pattern with a Fair Isle design referred to asstrawberry flowers by Norwegian knitters since ages past. Changing colors andtwisting in the back of the knitting goes slowly. But this only lasts a dozenrows or so and adds interest for the knitter.

While I waited for a good time to seam my pieces HurricaneIrene began its path up the east coast. My mother telephoned. She and Dad werebeing evacuated from their bungalow, as was all of Long Beach Island. “Pleasecome and stay with us, of course,” I told her, “The spare room is ready foryou.” They came with an extra suitcase of valuables in the event their home, ablock from the beach, was destroyed.

Tall forest trees surround our house. When the high winds ofthe hurricane hit it roared in the trees. At night I saw in the dim light thatthe trees were swaying alarmingly. It was frightening. The electricity hadfailed at 3 am. I had prepared for this. Before going to bed I had turned ourtwo refrigerators into iceboxes with frozen jugs of water from the deep freeze.I was busy. While I made lasagna for supper I had baked a loaf of wheat bread(in the bread machine) and made my orange-cranberry quick-bread usuallyreserved for Christmas mornings.

“I don’t want you to fuss over us,” my mother told me as shewatched me level off the flour with the back of a knife.

“I have too few opportunities to fuss over you,” I told herand stopped to give her a floury hug.

After supper I had arranged the table withnonperishables and candles for the following day. Mixed nuts and fruit such asearly local apples gave the table a rustic harvest time feel.

By morning the wind had subsided to a strong breeze. Withoutelectricity the men were restless. They wished there were a battery-poweredradio in the house somewhere. Under the surface of their composure I knew myparents were really very nervous. While we waited to hear news my mother satknitting by a window. I took the opportunity to seam my sweater. The heavyclouds made the house shadowy. The only light bright enough for seaming wasunder the skylight in the kitchen. So I sat at the table. Most knitters wouldrather knit than seam. I am one of them. But I was happy when I attached theties at last and held it up for my mother to see.

This is a frugal “use-it-up” sweater. I had estimated that Ihad enough leftover yarn from other projects to make the 18-month size. Theyarns were all worsted but on close inspection of slightly different weights.It is not advisable to combine odds & ends, as they can bring a different tension to the rows, but I took the risk. The different yarns didgive the strawberry flowers an ill-fitted tug in places but it came outfine.

When the electricity was restored my parents were relievedto hear a positive news report of the Jersey shore. They returned the next day to a house intact.We were all thankful.

Life brings us sunshine and shadow. We feel the tug of itsill-fitted stitches because we live in a fallen and corruptible state ofexistence. What we see is the reverse side of the tapestry. God alone sees thefront. Miss Corrie ten Boom, who was adept at embroidery, shared this tapestryparable in something of hers that I read. I wish I could tell you where.

Here you see the reverse of my knitting. When I am prone toask God “why,” when I need encouragement to trust Him during times of stress oranxiety, I remember Miss Corrie’s tapestry.

After the storm, with a blue sky above, I took a walk. I wasintent on picking wild flowers, finally, for my new vase. Calico asters, oneclover and the last of the Queen Ann’s lace helped make a wispy bouquet withgarden verbena.

Between chores I sat in the parlor with my hands folded – justfor a moment – to gaze at my flowers. They looked just as I had imagined theywould. It was a lovely cleansing breath.

Post Script

The cross-stitch scene of the bungalow on the beach isn’tmine. We photographed it (through plastic) last week at the country fair. Itwon a ribbon.

Interview with Suzanne and Karen

Suzanne at Blueberry Cottage honored me with an invitation to share on her beautiful blog. If you are curious to read a mix of my reminiscence and opinion you will find the interview on her post.

Take care,

Karen Andreola

History in Literary Language

2011-09-10T14:20:00.000-04:00

History in Literary Language

The Lady-of-the-House and the Man-of-the-House tucked theiryoung children into bed with a story. Then they climbed down the stairs intothe kitchen for a hot drink. The Man-of-the-House took his tall mug into theliving room. A minute later the Lady-of-the-House followed.

“Where’d you find that?” she asked as she entered the room.“It’s been missing for ages.”

He smiled as he held up the remote control. “Under the seatcushion.” He continued, “with a pencil stub and some popcorn.”

With this shortfall in her cleaning routine staring her inthe face the Lady-of-the-House said curtly, “Please get up. I need to sweepout the sofa.”

“Right now?” responded the Man-of-the-House with a slightraise of one eyebrow. “I just got comfortable.” He held out his arm inviting her to sit down and get comfortable too. He spoke calmly and glibly.“Let’s watch something before it gets too late.” He glanced at his watch. “It’seight ten. There may be something on PBS. We haven’t checked in a long time.There might be something good on.”

“Okay.” The Lady-of-the-House acquiesced.

“Hmm, it’s a documentary,” stated the Man-of-the-House,“about the Vikings it looks like.”

“Oh, the children and I just finished reading about Leif,Eric the Red’s son. Is there a blank video around somewhere? We could recordthis for the children.” The Man-of-the-House obliged her. He pushed a videointo the slot.

A dignified man with a gray bread and a suit to match wastalking. He sat in a leather chair at a desk made of fine-grained walnut. Hespoke with authority. He was a professor. Behind him the dark wood panelinggleamed. A beautiful shot of a windswept hillside on the coast of NovaScotia showed the site of what was once a dig. Under the rubble of moss andlichen covered rock a tiny artifact had once been uncovered. Back in his studythe professor spoke again. The Lady-of-the-House was waiting to hear something significantly more than what she and her children had read in theirchildren’s books. She grew impatient. The Man-of-the-House was bored butendured. After some minutes more the Lady-of-the-House said, “That’s enough. Nouse taping this.”

“Why?”

“We learned similar facts in our children’sbooks and in a more interesting manner.” Being a bookman the Man-of-the-Houseunderstood.

Much more recently the Man-of-the-House shot a photograph for his wife of Leif-the-Lucky on the Atlantic coast while on vacation - to amuse you– and to highlight a love of living books.

During rare moments when a busy home teacher is able to sitcomfortably somewhere she is likely to be found on the sofa with a picture bookin hand, her children close beside her. Cozy and sweet? Yes, it is. These cozytimes, however, should not be underestimated in their power to train childrenin the habit of attention. Reading aloud from a picture book can be a wonderful wayof introducing a subject, especially history.

A knowledge of history is gained through the unfolding of astory. For this reason, children understand history best through literary language. Focusing on the story of history allows children to developtheir powers of imagination. The use of imagination will be an advantage to theintellectual activity of a student in the school years that follow, when thereare fewer pictures in his books. Save the serious side of history, the detailsof politics and philosophy, for the older student.

Through a well-writtenstory, such as Leif the Lucky, children in the elementary years can learn to see theconnections between events, and to trace causes.

Children can be asked to tell a few paragraphs backin their own words by narrating. “Describe the place that Leif explored andcalled Vineland.” Along with the enjoyment of the story comes the mentalbenefit gained through narrating it. Hearing her student narrate is thebest way for a teacher to find out what he knows.

The D’Aularie biographies are a set of picture books createdby a husband and wife team about 50 years ago. These books by Ingri and EdgarParin D’Aulaire are part of a sequence of living books within the EarlyAmerican History course guide by Rea Bergpublished by Beautiful Feet Books.

When Nigel, the 22-year-old son of the Lady-of-the-House, was 8 he followed the course. The pictures, filled in with colored pencil and the drawing ofthe longboat, are from Nigel’s history notebook. Theguide recommends photocopying key black and white illustrations to be glued into the notebook andcolored. The student writes a simple caption under his picture. The Lady-of-the-House wrote the captions out for Nigelto copy. This was his history writing for the day – in pencil that is. His longer writing was what he composed inhis oral narration.

A pile of fill-in-the-blank paperwork is apt to eventuallybe discarded. A notebook of entries becomes a keepsake.

Barbarous atrocities by Viking pirates who raided the coastof England are unmentioned in Leif The Lucky.Sea voyages are emphasized. The later influence of Christianity is made plain and notintentionally swept under the rug as history writers do today. Even though theVikings are part of Europe’s medieval history they have a small part to play inAmerica’s distant past. The D’Aulaire’s drawings of the Vikings with American Indians makes this memorable. Reference is made to danger butthere are lots more smiles in this book than anything else.

On page 172 of Philosophy of Education Miss Charlotte Mason reminds us that a knowledge ofhistory belongs to the person who can tell what ‘tis all about.

“. . . so the teacher reads and the children ‘tell’paragraph after paragraph, passage by passage. The teacher does not talk muchand is careful never to interrupt a child who is called upon to ‘tell.’
The first efforts may be stumbling but presently thechildren get into their ‘stride’ and ‘tell’ a passage at length with surprisingfluency. . . .
She will bear in mind that the child . . . has begun theserious business of his education, that it does not matter much whether heunderstands this word or that, but that it matters a great deal that he shouldlearn to deal directly with books. Whatever a child or grown-up person cantell, that we may be sure he knows, and what he cannot tell, he does not know.”

Click D’Aulaire to see other titles.

Comments are welcome,

Karen Andreola

A Cleansing Breath for Mother Culture

2011-09-01T11:39:00.000-04:00

A Cleansing Breath for Mother Culture

Those who have undergone physical therapy know that between exercises it is advisable to take a deep “cleansing breath.” Remembering to stop to take a cleansing breath among complex responsibilities is a principle I’ve carried over into Mother Culture - both literally and figuratively.

Several weeks ago our 1997 American-made car was equipped with a new transmission. “They don’t make cars like this anymore,” I was told. I believe it. I am a trusting wife - generally. Feeling something like what the owners of a new car must feel, Dean and I filled the trunk with provisions. It held a weighty ice chest of local produce, homemade raison cookies, farm eggs, the big camera, two suitcases of holiday clothes, suntan lotion, straw hats, sundry books and (I didn’t forget) yarn. With the packing complete we set off on a few days vacation on the Jersey shore. My parents live in a bungalow a block from the ocean.

Dean and I do not travel lightly. In the heat of the glaring sun we (Dean mostly) walked back and forth unpacking the trunk, armload after armload. Mom and Dad’s neat little bungalow was quickly transformed into a house of stuff. Normally, during our short visits I try to conceal our stuff in assorted baskets. Alas, it still looks out-of-place.

Glad to see us Mom and Dad graciously overlooked our clutter - as always. Then we settled down to a good long chat. A sea breeze drifted through the windows cooling our brows as we unraveled the details of our lives. We tossed in all the family news we could think of for good measure.

In the mornings I put on a vintage (sounds nicer than outdated) Laura Ashley dress for a quiet walk at low tide. Here I took a cleansing breath – a whole series of slow deep breaths this time – of salty sea air. It was windy yet invigorating.

A flowery dress at the seashore fulfills a romantic notion of mine.

The yellow dress with the coral flowers and the shawl collar has a string of memories attached to it because it was purchased twenty years ago. A first violin recital, a home school graduation and a speaking engagement are a few memories that stand out.

The mostly orange dress here and at the start of the post is one Dean bid for me on e-bay last year. The cost was quite reasonable. I’ve only started making memories in this one.

We walk up the beach in silence, but in harmony, as the sandpipers ahead of us move like a corps of ballet dancers keeping time to some interior rhythm inaudible to us. . . Emotions are carried out to sea. (From Anne Morrow Lindbergh’s Gift From the Sea chap. 6, page 101 in my grandmother’s copy handed down to me.)

From my beach bag I placed a child’s cotton sweater at the edge of the dune grass. It’s a pleasure sharing my knitting with you.

Dean, who uses his camera more intelligently than I, and wanted to protect the lens from windblown sand, took the photographs for me. It was nice to have his help - although I’ve learned to save knitting as a subject of conversation for those more readily inclined.

The variegated blues and wavy wool cables of this size-two cardigan make it at home at the seashore. I had fun knitting it from a pattern by Yankee Designs. Can you see the little wishbone cables one stitch in width? They remind me of horseshoe crabs in this setting. Seed stitch and blackberry stitch are placed between the fisherman ropes.

While braver souls - at least half our age - were going in deeper, we faced the breaking surf our own way. We were jostled by the foamy undertow. How refreshing the water was – even if somewhat wearing. Returning to our umbrella the cameraman was smiling. He was satisfied that, yes, his wife now drenched in seawater, was indeed having a good time.

Next came the relaxing moment I had been anticipating. I took out of my beach bag the beginnings of another little sweater. Its stitches were cast on at home, a week prior with the hope of spending an hour of knitting bliss in the shade of a beach umbrella - the ocean before me. Involuntarily, I sighed after my second row. Then I remembered. I closed my eyes and took a slow cleansing breath. Gratitude inhabited the pause.

For body and soul, in your everyday, will you remember to literally take a cleansing breath now and again? Also for your Mother Culture I hope you will consider taking one figuratively - in whatever way you come up with. No doubt it is fast becoming a busy school year.

Post Script

After a bath Baby is happy when wrapped in the green blanket Mommy knit for him.

She only knits when expecting. That’s okay. Another knitter is keeping an eye on domestic supply-and-demand.

Blessings to you

Not for knitters only,

Karen Andreola

Ripe Tomatoes

2011-08-19T10:27:00.006-04:00

Ripe Tomatoes

A person can show his religion as much in measuring onions as he can in singing Glory Hallelujah.

A Shaker

A walk to the end of her street provides a view of an Amish neighbor’s farm. The Lady of-the-House likes to view the progress of their large gardens. They are a big family - generations living together - and use their land (with big horses) in a big way. Agriculture is their livelihood. The Lady-of-the-House keeps a couple organic tomato plants, a few zucchini, a handful of bell peppers and an assortment of herbs in and around the flowers. She is rewarded with the gift of growing things – even if in a small way.

Chapter Two of Lessons at Blackberry Inn begins with:

Emma’s garden was overflowing with a bumper crop of tomatoes. Ripe tomatoes of all sizes filled every spare bowl, bucket, and nook of the kitchen. We skinned, boiled, and strained these “love apples,” as they were once called, for most of the morning. Perspiration beaded on our faces as the heat in the kitchen rose. The windows let in too little breeze to cool our brows.

The Lady-of-the-House admires the frugal canning activity of a friend - especially when she receives a jar as a gift. Her friend preserves nature’s bounty like her storybook characters. All summer as each fruit (Is the tomato a fruit?) meets its time of ripeness, she puts a carefully chosen recipe to work, turning it into sparkling bottles of delicious preserves for her family.

In this photograph, taken last month by the Man-of-the-House, one enterprising mother’s bottles are for sale.

Like her character Carol, the Lady-of-the House is fabulously fond a ripe tomato. Can you tell?

Next [Emma] sliced some bread and the biggest reddest tomatoes that had been set aside for our tomato sandwiches. One thick slice made a perfect sandwich. Piling the hot corn, buttered and salted, and the sandwiches on plates, we joined the children outside to eat.

“Nothing is redder than a ripe tomato,” I said after a juicy swallow.

“I think the tomato sandwich is my favorite,” said Emma.

In August tomatoes big and small hold a place of beauty and taste for the Lady-of-the-House. These three ripe, organic, crimson beauties were purchased at a farm stand. They are grown in a large greenhouse that seems an acre in length.

This summer she only grows grape tomatoes. Two plants are providing an on going supply.

Grape tomatoes are just the right size for snacking on like grapes, cutting in half to add to an olive-and-basil pasta salad, or for dotting a broccoli quiche.

Sometimes the Lady-of-the-House will make a tidy breakfast quiche or two a day ahead when overnight company is anticipated (like today).

When newly married, she used to dream of her ideal herb garden - an expansive Colonial garden divided by a pebbled footpath, housed inside a quaint picket fence, with a gate that closed on its own by a weighted chord – in historical style. Out her kitchen door are a few fragrant herbs – not a museum garden. But she is satisfied.

Like the thyme some are in pots.

Like the oregano some are tucked in among the flowers.

She is happy - although the broken pot of sweet basil is too shabby to be chic.

Do you see the china teacup among the tall daisies? It is secured on a copper pipe. When this whimsical ornament fills with rainwater thirsty flying creatures visit it. It seems to have the added benefit of being an unsuspecting Japanese beetle trap. (More beetles – not pictured- met their demise inside the cup).

She bought her garden cup at Main Street Manor B & B in Flemington, New Jersey. Donna’s father makes them. Donna more charitably keeps birdseed in hers.

The garden teacup is a little touch but it makes a difference to the Lady-of-the-House. When she spies it through her front window or passes it when walking to the mailbox she is reminded to “sit for a bit.”

Sometimes she feels silly when she compares big things to her little things. Then she remembers that little things have a place, too, because they can make a big difference.

Importantly, little kindnesses, little gestures, little courtesies, tact and attentiveness, in relationships, make a big difference in the atmosphere of home. We cannot know which big things - or which of the myriad of little things we mothers do - will have the most meaningful or lasting affect. Never mind. Day-by-day, in good faith we “measure our onions” in our work and in our relationships - to God’s glory. And entrust Him with the outcome.

Benjamin West, “The Father of American Painting,” the 10^th child in a Quaker family said, “A kiss from my mother made me a painter.”

I marvel at his tribute.

Until next time,

Karen Andreola

Yielding the Chair to Miss Charlotte Mason

2011-08-11T10:00:00.006-04:00

Yielding the Chair to Miss Charlotte Mason

When a mother takes on the responsibility of home educating she is thrown upon her own resources. It can be daunting. Naturally she seeks practical advice. How-to articles and curriculum guides meet immediate needs. Here is something else a home teacher will find helpful.

Education is something to understand as much as it is something to do.

When I ran my new slogan by my pen-friend in a paper letter she responded sturdily, “Yes, I don’t do school like I do the laundry or do dishes.” I smiled at her analogy. Having been pen-friends for nearly twenty years we don’t saunter across our stationary as softly as we once did. I appreciate her blunt truth because . . .only with an understanding of education will “how to” take on perspective.

Victorian Schoolmaster Model

Let’s look at how teachers secure attention and get work done. In one chair we have the intimidating Victorian Schoolmaster Model. It relies on subtle threats, grades, place, the classroom lecture, textbooks with facts mainly to be memorized, continual testing, after-hours homework, and competition – shamelessly. Today’s schoolmaster is a character that may not be as recognizably villainous as those portrayed for us in David Copperfield by Charles Dickens or in Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. The force, however, of this underlining Victorian method lingers with us today. It is all too common.

The Play Way

In another chair we have the “play way.” Miss Mason says, “We give them a ‘play way’ and play is altogether necessary and desirable but it is not the avenue which leads to mind.” *1 Well meaning teachers use puppets, jokes, flashy DVDs with second by second interludes of information brightly clothed in slap-stick or song-and-dance. Praise, prizes, fun-and-games also are used to lure, trick and entertain a student into paying attention. But these interrupt a child’s train of thought.

The Way of Interest

Enter Miss Charlotte Mason with a method she initiated more than one hundred years ago. She quickly concluded that the Victorian method and the “play way” both presume that children have little curiosity. Yet, as a young woman curiosity was the first quality Miss Mason observed in children. Therefore, how do we secure a child’s attention to do his lessons? It’s simple. We put into his hands and heart books that are interesting. Isn’t it the simplest things in life that get overlooked?

Interest is a little pearl of great value in education.

Living Books

Miss Mason noted that Great Britain could boast a wealth of literary genius yet the schoolbooks were as dry as dust. Rather than lecture, a teacher who followed her method read aloud from books of literary quality, books that were alive with ideas, books whose authors had a passion for their subject, some with a story aspect to them. “Mind must come into contact with mind through the medium of ideas,” she says.*2 Ideas are found in living books. With a step of faith she made these living books the children’s schoolbooks.

The Kind of Book

Placing into a curriculum the exact titles of the old books mentioned as examples by Miss Mason in her original writings isn’t necessary. It seems to be a safe choice made by teachers new to her philosophy. I started this way. As my understanding grew, however, and as I later learned that Miss Mason herself was often replacing books and always keeping an eye out for newly written books, I confidently ventured out to choose books that fit her description of the kind of book she recommends. I believe that confident “venturing out” is what she is imploring us to do.

I still remember a certain summer afternoon when my children were little. I was resting in a lawn chair (sigh) under a shade tree turning the pages of a book catalog, making a wish list. My children were busily occupied before me. They were kneeling beside a large plastic tub of sand with the garden hose nearby making sand cities. It crossed my mind what a wonderful wealth of choices even a discriminating educator has compared to yester-year. How joyfully amazed Charlotte Mason would be, I was thinking, to see the array of children’s books and audio available. Years later, as I write this post (and the catalogs are many times larger) I wonder if such an array of resources would ever have been imagined in the wildest dreams of a 19^th century educator. Choices need not be overwhelming but rather a pleasure, when we know the kind of book to look for.

The Art of Knowing

Such vivifying books enabled Miss Mason’s students to narrate what was read (after a single reading). By their narration they were putting the reading in their own words, “giving it forth again with just that little touch that comes from one’s own mind” said Miss Parrish, one of Miss Mason’s teachers.*3 Children narrated from their lovely books, rather than exclusively recite from memorization, cram for tests or stay up late with homework. Miss Mason called narration “the act of knowing.” *4 Her aim was knowledge for its own sake - not information crammed the night before for a test and soon forgotten.

Narrating “demands a conscious mental effort from the scholar” Miss Mason said.*5 With this method a child’s mind follows a train of thought, develops powers of imagination, exercises verbal skills. It does the sorting, arranging, sequencing for itself – those things a teacher’s lecture or a workbook page typically take responsibility for.

Questions and Concerns

Is it okay for young students to gain skill in the three Rs with puppets, games, songs etc, as a light treat? Yes. I treated my children lightly. Supplementary games and songs can serve as review, which in the nature of its repetition is less interesting.

Is it okay to give a student a workbook page or grades? Freely incorporate what you decide are your family’s “musts.” It is when either the Victorian Model or the Play Way dominate that learning suffers. It can be a bit of a balancing act to preserve the way of interest. But when it is preserved it draws both teacher and student pleasantly and gently forward. This is one reason I call it “The Gentle Art of Learning.”

What do you find of interest in your home school, my friend?

End Notes:

1. A Philosophy of Education by Charlotte Mason, Charlotte Mason Research & Supply, Quarryville, PA, page 38 - volume six of The Original Home Schooling Series.

2. Phil of Ed, pg 39

3. The Story of Charlotte Mason by Essex Cholmondeley* PNEU, London, 1960, page 125.

4. Phil of Ed, pg 99

5. Phil of Ed, Pg 159

*The Story of Charlotte Mason by Esssex Cholmodeley is an account of the work of the PNEU (Parent’s National Educational Union) with an emphasis on its founder. Click to enlarge.

Thank you, Nigel, for fixing up the "chairs" on photoshop.

Composed with the desire of offering you a revitalizing nugget to start your school year,

Karen Andreola

A White Robin

2011-07-30T11:07:00.014-04:00

A White Robin

The Lady-of-the-House sipped a green smoothie for breakfast. She stood staring out the French doors of her kitchen/keeping room, rather than exiting them. It was hazy and already hot at 8 o’clock in the morning. It would be another 100F degree-day in July. The public was urged to stay indoors due to dangerous air quality. She stood mesmerized and motionless watching a flock of robins eating their breakfast on the lawn.

She was contemplating what to do with the pumpkin zucchinis (her word for them) that she had been harvesting from one prolific plant - trying to remember what had come over her to buy the seedling in the first place; novelty she supposed. I’ll carve out the seeds, fill them with seasoned brown rice and bake them, she mused.

First I want to work on that apron I started months ago. It’s been a work-in-progress too long, she sighed. What a time she had with it over the summer. It is a fussy pattern. She almost made a mess of it by taking it in three inches on both sides of the bodice. She questioned why she trusted claims of one-size-fits-all while she sewed buttons (as camouflage) over the places where she had made adjustments indelicately. She took a break and laid it over a chair for another day.

Having finished the last bite of his toast, the son of the Lady-of-the-House noticed her staring out the French doors. He stepped up beside her. “Mom, what are all those spotted birds?”

“Teen-age robins,” she answered. “They still wear the speckled breast of fledgling days but are almost as large as the adults.” This satisfied him and he left the room to start his day at the computer.

That is when she spotted it - a white robin - not snow white but a creamy blonde. It had an orange breast but the rest of it was blonde – beak and all. She was excited.

“Get the camera,” she called out. "It's a white robin." His office being in earshot, these words sent the Man-of-the-House jettisoning into the kitchen with camera in hand.

“Where?”

“There,” she pointed.

“Why isn’t the camera beeping?” he said. He then realized that it was set on manual focus. “I’ll be right back.”

“Where are you going?” his wife spoke to his back – in a tone of anxiety.

“To get the telephoto lens.”

When he returned the bird, by that time, had left the feeding ground and had fluttered onto a branch. “I see it,” said the Man-of-the-House twisting his large lens in place. Then he dashed outside. One shot (blurry) was taken from a distance in the nick of time before it flew further into the woods.

“I can’t believe I saw a white robin,” said the Lady-of-the-House. I guess they're on my mind. You did just order that copy of The White Robin for me a few nights ago. The coincidence is uncanny.” She was preparing a post to recommend the stories by Miss Read – delightful stories in which she occasionally indulges. This gave her the idea to add a few more novels to her collection.

That afternoon the book order arrived. The White Robin was in the parcel. “I can’t believe it,” she said again.

“You should tell your blog friends,” suggested the Man-of-the-House.

“I will.”

Albino robins or red-breasted blonde robins aren’t as rare, perhaps, as people suppose. One only has to do some lingering to look. A few days hence the Lady-of-the-House had another visitation of the blonde robin. It landed in view while she was at the kitchen sink washing dishes. She began calling it her robin. Within the week her new-used library discard of The White Robin was read and enjoyed. Truth can be as strange as fiction, she pondered as she closed the book – twisting a line from Shakespeare.

She was also happy to have finished her apron.

The White Robin (out-of-print) begins with a child of the village school spotting an unusual white bird on a hot day in July. It is part of the Fairacre series. Village School begins the series. Here we meet, Miss Read, the main character of most of the Fairacre novels. She is hired as the headmistress of the two-room village school and proves a dedicated teacher. She enjoys her quiet single-hood when off duty but also takes part in village festivities.

Nothing too dramatic happens in Fairacre. In fact it might be said that there is less conflict in Fairacre than may exist in our own face-paced lives. Many find it soothing to read about the routines of a long-established way of life in an English village where people walk to shops, greet passers by, pop in for chats and sips of tea. Simple folk with good manners (most of them) live their tidy British lives among stone churches, train stations, hedgerows, thatched houses and back gardens lined with ancient perennial flowerbeds. Beyond the village is the tranquil countryside where Miss Read leads her children on nature walks whenever it fancies, whenever the weather is ideal for it.

Inside any copy of a Fairacre novel is a handy list of other books in the series. All the stories make for the kind of light easy reading so appreciated at the end of a particularly tiring day.

A favorite of the Lady-of-the-House is Miss Clare Remembers (out-of-print). In the early part of the 20^th century Miss Clare is a little girl who lives in a white cottage that her father freshly thatches. When a young woman she looses the young man she loves in the First World War. Miss Clare teaches the youngest students of Fairacre's village school without a college degree but with some training. Her firm-but-kind methods are carried out in a lady-like demeanor to her credit.

Mrs. Pringle of Fairacre was chosen as a read-aloud after Village School to share with a grown daughter. It is a good example of how to get along graciously (and with sympathy and a sense of humor) with those one or two people God may put into our lives who are “prickly.”

The Man-of-the House voiced his liking of the new apron. Therefore, the Lady-of-the-House is saving it for “best.” She cannot bear the thought of finding a splash of spaghetti sauce on it – not until she makes another one – from another pattern – with less fuss. For now, it rests on the drying rack of the kitchen/keeping room.

Post Script

If you have a copy of Edith Holden’s The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady, you may be interested in page seven. In her January 26^th 1906 entry she talks about a “curious robin” . . . that “when it is flying it looks like a white bird with a scarlet breast.”

Click: Miss Read for the Fairacre novels sold through at CBD.

Hasn’t Baby gotten roly-poly?

Indoors, lingering at windows, lingering with book friends, anticipating a visit from grandsons,

Karen Andreola

The Most Precious Earthly Treasure

2011-07-22T10:22:00.009-04:00

The Most Precious Earthly Treasure

Far away there in sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them and try to follow where they lead.

Louisa May Alcott

A British television series aired earlier this year. It is a period drama with episodes about an aristocratic family trying to hold onto their ancestral estate. The opening scene brings news of the sinking of the Titanic and the drowning of a daughter’s suitor. With no male heir in the family the daughters must marry advantageously.

The house and scenery are luxurious; so are the Edwardian gowns and hairstyles of the females. The father, the “Lord of the Manor,” is kind, generous, affectionate, fair, patient, stands firm in his decisions and yet is not lacking in sensitivity. I like him. I can use none of these adjectives to describe his coming-of-age daughters. Their self-absorption, lack of restraint and failure to feel even a little remorse for the injuries they cause to themselves and to the family leaves me speechless. All the while they stand with poise and decorum, beautifully arrayed - miserable perhaps - yet without the slightest nudge of conscious or a change-of-heart.

Seeking to immerse myself in a kinder world I opened our copy of Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott. The girls in this story are refreshingly conscientious. They struggle with their natures. The first lines of the story begin with exclamations of complaint among the March sisters: Jo, Meg, Amy, Beth. Their new poorer circumstances, since their father went away to serve in the Civil War, require them to work longer hours and in ways they hadn’t before. I can’t help but chuckle over their ever-so-emphatic girlish grumbling because I know what’s coming. On the next few pages a nudge of conviction sets the girls upon nobler ideas. With the little Christmas money they have saved, each turns from thinking of the special (and well deserved) present they wish to buy for themselves, to a gift for their mother. “Glad to find you so merry, my girls,” said a cheery voice at the door. Marmee is home.

“Character Building” is a chapter of instruction in my revised edition of Beautiful Girlhood. It shines a light upon what had disturbed me in the television series and also what refreshes me about Little Women. I share highlights from Beautiful Girlhood (in lavender) following it with excerpts from Little Women (in blue). The ideas are such a close match that it leads me to believe that they were once prevalent in the minds of the Christian readers of our great-grandmothers' day.

The most precious earthy treasure a girl can have is good character.

Character is not given to us; we build it ourselves. Others may furnish the material, may set before us the right standards and ideals, may give us reproof or correction, may guide our actions and mold our thoughts. But we build our own character. It is we who absorb good influence about us, adopt ideals, reach for standards, and make ourselves what we are.

Youth is building time.

Sometimes I have wondered why youth should be given the responsibility of laying the foundation of life’s character just when the heart is the most merry and the thoughts the least settled; but if the responsibility came later it would be at a time when the help of parents and teachers is not be had.

A pattern is needed.

. . No character is built right and true if the builder has not in her mind a picture of the woman she wants to be. And the pattern for good character must be chose carefully.

She who has an ideal character is first of all pure and true, then earnest and sincere, patient and gentle, and more ready to serve than to be served.

Many things that are fun end in wrong . . . we dare not allow ourselves to be continually guided by what others do. Christ is our Perfect Pattern, and only those who form their lives after Him are building the best character.

In chapter eight of Little Women Amy falls through the ice. This dangerous incident is alarming. Jo trembles. Then she realizes how sorry she is for her bad temper toward her younger sister Amy. Feeling terribly unsettled in her soul she asks her patient mother, “Tell me how you do it . . .” Marmee starts by confessing her own struggles with learning patience. While a young mother Jo’s father had been a help to her. She says,

“. . . [He] showed me that I must try to practice all the virtues I would have my little girls possess, for I was their example. It was easier to try for your sakes than for my own; a startled or surprised look for one of you, when I spoke sharply, rebuked me more than words could have done; and the love, respect, and confidence of my children was the sweetest reward I could receive for my efforts to be the woman I would have them copy.”

“O mother, if I’m ever half as good as you, I shall be satisfied,” cried Jo, much touched.

“I hope you will be a great deal better, dear; but you must keep watch over your bosom enemy as you father calls it, or it may sadden, if not spoil your life.”

Jo agrees to try. She understands that it is she who must build her character. On the next page the conversation ends similarly to the chapter in Beautiful Girlhood in that it points to a girl’s highest pattern.

“My child, the troubles and temptations of your life are beginning, and may be many; but you can overcome and outlive them all if you learn to feel the strength and tenderness of your Heavenly Father as you do that of your earthy one. The more you love and trust Him, the nearer you will feel to Him, and the less you will depend on human power and wisdom. His love and care never tire or change, can never be taken away from you, but may become the source of life-long peace, happiness, and strength. Believe this heartily and go to God with all your cares, and hopes, and sins, and sorrows, as freely and confidingly as you come to your mother.”

Jo’s only answer was to hold her mother close, and, in the silence which followed, the sincerest prayer she had ever prayed left her heart without words; for in that sad, yet happy hour, she had learned not only the bitterness of remorse and despair, but the sweetness of self-denial and self-control; and led by her mother’s hand she had drawn nearer to the Friend who welcomes every child with a love stronger than that of a father, tenderer than that of any mother.

May the excerpts and ideas from these books encourage you kindly to keep growing into the woman you aspire to be whatever your age.

Post Script

Click Beautiful Girlhood to shop at CBD.

The photographs of the flowers are our roadside Queen Anne’s lace; a wildflower that I’ve always assumed is one being collected by the girl in the picture at the start of the post. I embroidered it years ago. It stood on a dresser in our daughters’ bedroom. I still remember how I enjoyed making all those French knots in wool.

The painting is of a young woman pressing flowers in a book.

Permission was granted for the liberal use of quotations from chapter four of Beautiful Girlhood.

I am making steady progress with my reproduction sampler.

Thank you for visiting,

Karen Andreola

Thank you, Nigel, for all the times you enter the computer language behind a post to place the colored boxes up at the request of the Lady-of-the-House.

Clothed Like the Flowers

2011-07-14T09:40:00.009-04:00

Clothed Like the Flowers

When it comes to dressing modestly some things are better left unsaid. An explicit list of dos and don’ts isn’t necessary in polite society where I speak with you here. I want you to know, however, that I am all for it.

Having made modesty an important precedent I now invite you to step further along the path.

Creativity & Clothing is a subject waiting to be explored for Mother Culture. I haven’t met with a more inspiring chapter on clothing than the one written in 1971 by Edith Schaeffer in her book, The Hidden Art of Homemaking. I love it.

I was in the middle of adding “gaudy to the green” in our garden with some bright flowers, and sewing myself a skirt with tiny bright flowers on the fabric – flowers like the ones I had just planted. The coincidence made my winter reading of Edith Schaeffer’s chapter pop up.

Much can be said about clothing and her chapter asks good questions. Here is one point I find particularly intriguing.

Trusting in God’s provision we can be clothed like the flowers.

Edith Schaeffer looks closely at the well-loved verses in Matthew 25-34 where Christ tells us not to worry. Even though food and clothing are two necessary things that require much labor and continuous effort to provide – we are not to make these the end-all of our lives – but seek first the kingdom and trust in God’s provision for our daily needs.

In the context of Creativity & Clothing Edith Schaeffer sees something else. On these passages she focuses the keen eyes of an artist – in this case a domestic artist.

Christ tells us, “Consider the lilies . . . even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these . . .” And Mrs. Schaeffer does. She brings to our attention a whole page of flowers by name giving us example after example of amazingly varied color, texture, shape, fragrance and beauty to consider.

She reflects, “If God can so beautifully clothe the flowers of field, which only last a short time and then are cut down, how much more shall He clothe you, . . .” She believes that God’s promise infers more than mere utility, since “He who designed the clothing seen on the flowers is the same One who will provide for us.” Are we not more important than the flowers? Therefore how much more as people with personalities and tastes can we be clothed?

Encouraging us to explore our creatively – an exercise of the imagination – she sees no reason why we cannot dress as beautifully or gracefully as a flower. How that translates into clothing for our family, plain or fancy, is up to us.

This idea kept popping up last month. At that time we received an email. A new batch of photographs of the baby invited us to admire his cuteness. And we did, thoroughly.

Then I saw it. Do you see it? It’s astonishing. The orchid on Sophia’s mantel is a curious color of turquoise and Sophia’s blouse is a similar color. “Clothed like the flowers,” I thought.

And I thought some more. Besides borrowing the colors of flowers, perhaps designers unconsciously borrow from petals, too, while making the ruffle a popular edging. Perhaps women who like flowers will unconsciously wear ruffles.

This blue calico skirt I purchased has a double flounce – a smooth sort of ruffle that isn’t gathered.

Mrs. Schaeffer’s chapter inspired me pull up a chair to my sewing machine. I chose a shorter skirt pattern for the summer than my usual ankle length – one with a flounce.

Aiming to find a fabric that would match a red blouse, I settled on one with only touches of red so as not to add too much red to the outfit. The fabric has tiny red flowers.

“How strange. They look like the patch of dianthus I’ve just planted,” I noticed.

Sadly, a month later I concluded that dianthus doesn’t thrive on the west wall of our house. It was too late to transplant it elsewhere.

Its withering also reminds me of Matthew 6.

We needn’t picture flowers in our fabrics to be clothed like the flowers. We needn’t wear ruffles or flounces, either. But I hope these ideas on Creativity & Clothing will inspire your Mother Culture in a way that is pleasing and personally rewarding to you. You are of more value than the flowers.

Explanation of Photographs of Flowers:

Red Echinacea at the side entrance

Candytuft at the edge of the patio

Daylily loving a sunny spot

Scarlet bee balm near the back kitchen door

Roadside field of chicory across a cow pasture nearby

Dianthus thriving a short time then wilting (normally hardy.)

Post Script

Thank you Suzanne for your beautifully written review of my Mother Culture CD at Blueberry Cottage. I appreciate how descriptive you took the time to be. Your posts on Blueberry Cottage are sometimes courageously informative and other times charming.

Comments are Welcome,

Karen Andreola

Red Yarn at Night, a Knitter's Delight

2011-07-04T10:36:00.003-04:00

Red Yarn at Night, a Knitter’s Delight

The Lady-of-the-House can’t imagine being without a skein of red yarn in her stash. If there is a yarn that will start her digging to the bottom of her purse while she is standing at the till in a yarn shop - for any stray coins that will enable her to complete an unplanned purchase – that yarn will mostly likely be red.

She’s been pretty frugal so far this year about relying on her stash. Spring planting and general gardening upkeep with its telltale sign of poison ivy on her weeding hand, where her knitting needles normally rest, deterred her. Not stepping into a yarn shop for her usual quiet moments of perusal has kept her stash down to size, too. (She expects this will change soon). Lancaster is sprinkled with cubbyhole size yarn shops that display the softest and prettiest wool. None are as conveniently close to the Lady-of-the-House as she’d like. Once there, however, she has had some nice chats in knitter’s language with the owners. “I’ll wait outside,” says the Man-of-the-House if he is with her.

One such red impulse skein, which had been too comfortably lodged in her stash for an incalculable amount of months, was recently dislodged. This is how it happened.

She was leafing through the spring issue of Spin Off magazine, eyeing its pages of frilly feminine scarves. The subscribers were previously invited to submit a scarf knit in their own handspun following pattern guidelines. This issue features them in a “Handspun Gallery of Helix Scarves.” The beautiful hand-dyed homespun is quite impressive.

The scarf pattern sparked the interest of the Lady-of-the-House. “Ooo, I’d like to make one of these,” she decided. I’m not proficient enough yet at the wheel to spin yarn as pretty but . . . there must be a red skein in my stash somewhere?” her intuition told her.

The crimson wool the Lady-of-the-House had purchased, on . . . what day she couldn’t remember, was the right weight (sport weight) and had just enough yardage. She was so pleased she responded out loud with a rhetorical, “Well, how do you like that?” If the Man-of-the-House were in earshot he would have asked her who she was talking to. But he wasn’t.

The title of this post came to her on an evening when the setting sun was glowing a peaceful deep pink through the trees. Red sky at night, a sailor’s delight. On that evening her project was started.

The camera inaccurately portrays the shade of red wool which is prettier in person.

“This pattern is simple enough to share with my new knitting friends. They will be impressed with how they can do frilly with one trick – wrap and turn,” she thought. Garter stitch (all knit) keeps the project simple. The Lady-of-the-House likes the look and feel of garter stitch. Next to stockinette, garter stitch is far more practical than conventional pattern makers give it credit for.

Several years back she knit the yoke of William’s baby cardigan in garter stitch, keeping the sleeves and body in stockinette. It’s to be handed down to baby Joseph.

Frilly Scarf Pattern

CO – Cast on

K – knit

With sport weight (240 yards) try size 5 or 6 straight needles, knitting a swatch or two for gauge, until you settle on a fabric that has the tension you like.

CO 24. K a row

K8 – wrap n’ turn – K to end of needle

K4 – wrap n’ turn – K to end of needle

K across all 24

Repeat the three rows until the scarf is the length you like.

Knit an extra row as the last row. Bind off. Weave in ends.

The set of three rows is easy to remember after it is repeated a few times. You can visually check where you are by examining any wrapped stitches on your row or a previous row. If you skip or repeat a row on occasion (because the telephone rings, the baby is crying, or a pot is boiling over) and forget where you left off - there is no need to stress – and probably no need to rip. Unlike the accuracy required of a sweater, a skipped or repeated row in this scarf will be imperceivable. You are making wedges on either side of the scarf. The wedges create the frill. Keep knitting.

How to Wrap and Turn

Rows K8 and K4 are your short rows. At the end of each short row: wrap and turn.

With working yarn behind your needle slip the next stitch purl-wise to the right needle. Bring yarn forward.

Return slipped stitch to left needle.

Turn work.

For instance:

K8, slip the 9^th purl-wise onto the right-hand needle, bring yarn forward (hold yarn low enough so you can insert the tip of your needle to) slip the 9^th back onto the left-hand needle. Turn the work and knit 8 back to the end of your needle. Do the same with K4. The wrapped stitches will be knit when you knit across all 24. The Lady-of-the-House gives a bit of a tug on the working yarn when knitting the first stitch after a turn.

She started another “wrap n’ turn” scarf in peacock blue. One must use up one’s stash. Do you see how she has wound her ball so that it unwinds from the inside?

Fingering weight is ideal when making a small scarf that can be worn indoors as an accessory. The Lady-of-the-House chose to work with a thicker yarn - sport weight - because she couldn’t resist the call on her curiosity to be finished with the project sooner. If you are patient and don’t mind working on size 1 or 2 needles, here are the numbers: 30 – 10 – 5.

For Fingering Weight (yardage 350)

CO 30. K a row

K10 – wrap n’ turn – K to end of needle

K5 - wrap n’ turn – K to end of needle

K across all 30

Until next time,

Karen Andreola

We Are Educated by Our Intimacies

2011-06-27T20:14:00.006-04:00

We Are Educated by Our Intimacies

I’ve been looking forward to sharing the following quotes by Miss Charlotte Mason with you.

While visiting my daughter I asked her, “Where’s your nature notebook . . . the one with the lupines in it?”

“It’s on the closet shelf,” she said. I opened her bedroom closet door ever-so-slowly to keep it from squeaking and waking baby Joseph who was sleeping soundly in his cradle two feet from the closet.

“Mom, he doesn’t wake up that easily.”

Ignoring her reply I whispered, “Here it is, oh, goodie. I’d like to show my readers some pages. I promise I’ll take care of it.”

After twelve years of trying her plan of bringing children up on Books and Things, Miss Charlotte Mason wrote:

“On the whole the results are pleasing. The average child studies with ‘delight.’ We do not say he will remember all he knows, but, to use a phrase of Jane Austen’s, he will have his ‘imagination warmed’ in many regions of knowledge.” School Education, page 243

Throughout School Education Miss Mason emphasizes bringing children up on a wide curriculum and first-hand experiences of various kinds. On the subject of science she outlines what educators typically do in schools.

“The boy learns up his text, listens to lectures, makes diagrams, watches demonstrations. Behold! he has learned science and is able to produce facts and figures for a time anyway, in connection with some one class of natural phenomena; but of tender intimacy with Nature herself, he has acquired none.” Pg 76

I remember when my daughter, Sophia was invited to the house of a brand new friend. This friend lived on a diary farm. Flowers, culinary herbs and vegetables grew just outside the doors of the old clapboard farmhouse but it was to the outskirts of the cow pasture that the girls walked. It was here that her new friend wished to show Sophia the dragonflies and red-winged blackbirds down by the creek, the yarrow, Queen Anne’s lace, chicory and milkweed in the meadow.

Sophia told me that she was impressed that her friend knew the names of all these living things and especially how certain wild herbs were used as medicine in early America. Some plants were so small (like St. John’s Wort) how did she find them? “My mother taught me,” her friend answered.

This observant girl is a physician’s assistant today.

“[A young child’s] parents know that the first step in intimacy is recognition; and they will measure his education, not solely by his progress in ‘the three Rs’ but by the number of living and growing things he knows by look, name and habitat . . . He will note with eager interest the order of time in which the trees put on their leaves; will tell you whether to look in hedge, or meadow, or copse, for eyebright, wood-sorrel, ground-ivy; will not think that flowers were made to be plucked for

‘Its (his) faith that every flower –

Enjoys the air it breathes’ -

“He begins to notice that there are resemblances between wild-rose and apple blossom, between buttercup and wood-anemone, between rhododendron blossom and the tiny heath floret. A suggestion will make him find out accurately what these resemblances are, and he gets the new and delightful idea of families of plants. His little bit of knowledge is real science, because he gets it at first-hand; in his small way he is another Linnaeus.” Pages 76 and 77

What evidences are there that your child is having his imagination warmed by living books? Have you also pondered how experiences outside the classroom and nature appreciation play a part in storing curious impressions or beautiful imaginings in the life of a child?

The story Miss Rumphius is based on a real woman who had strewn lupines seeds along the wayside. It is a favorite of my girls. That first spring in Maine, my girls (who were older students then) without me making a single suggestion as to what they might consider entering into their nature notebooks, drew lupines.

Decorating this post are sundry photographs and some girlhood entries of Sophia’s nature notebook. Being cautious she chose a two-step method for making entries. When she was pleased with how a watercolor turned out she then pasted it into her notebook.

She took a fancy to painting old-fashioned figures into her notebook. They are apparently enjoying the outdoors. Would it be farfetched to suppose these persons could be reciting to themselves the words of the old-fashioned poems on the adjoining pages? (Click to enlarge.)

As her mother even Sophia’s short journal entries of the weather are interesting to me.

I photographed these notebook pages on our sunny front stoop because I didn’t want the flash to go off. (My knowledge of photography is slight.) I rested Sophia’s book on a hand woven mat sent to me by a friend.

It was good to hear that this friend has been able to find time to sit at her loom. Owning a loom has been an interest of hers (a dream) for some years. It shouldn’t surprise me how soon she began using her loom to make gifts. That’s Mother Culture for you. It spills over to those we have it in our hearts to bless.

It is clear in my memory, though it was more than twenty-two years ago, of my reading aloud to Sophia at bedtime from The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnet. It was one of few books we owned that were so sweetly illustrated by Tasha Tudor – a favorite illustrator of mine then and now. The Secret Garden is recommend on a list of living book examples in chapter two of Susan Schaeffer Macaulay’s For the Children Sake and I had taken note of this.

If this post is a longer one it is because I want to tie in Miss Mason’s message with the lovely example of a child’s joy of discovery in the story, The Secret Garden.

Orphaned in India, Mary Lennox is sent to Yorkshire, England to live in her uncle’s big house, Misselthwaite Manor. Nature is so different here - all new and interesting to her. But she is a sullen, cross and contrary girl because her parents had been uninvolved in her life. She was kept in the nursery and spoiled by a nanny. Mary’s uncle is a gloomy widower, is rarely home and keeps the door locked to his deceased wife’s walled garden. Even the gardener is not permitted to tend it.

Mary spends the chilly days of early spring jumping rope outdoors. She is entertained by the reappearances of a robin that flutters and tweets nearby. She meets the cheerful lad Dickon who introduces her to critters on the moor and the plants he is so familiar with.

As if lead by the daring robin she finds a key. It fits in the door of the walled garden. The author tells her readers, “. . . [Mary] was not a child who had been trained to ask permission or consult her elders about things.” All she thought about was entering the garden. And she did. She showed it to Dickon, too, who could indentify what was sprouting under the dead tangled vines and leaves.

“Are there flowers that look like bells,” [Mary] inquired.

“Lilies o’ th’ valley does,” [Dickon] answered, “digging away with the trowel. . .”

What might be a concern is the reference to nature being “magical.” This word describes, from a child’s point of view, the mysteries of nature and how working and playing outdoors, through the seasons builds muscle and fills lungs with fresh air for a vibrant, less sullen, way of living.

I omitted the children’s chanting at the end of the story and how the “magic” of this is meant to bring the uncle home. I find it interesting that the words of the Doxology are spoken impromptu brought forth from the children’s joy, although they admit to not understanding what these words of praising “God from whom all blessings flow” really mean. Therefore, the story tends to be pantheistic. Yet a Christian parent may easily clarify where the characters stray.

Miss Rumphius and A Secret Garden can be found in most libraries and are sold by Great Christian Books.

*(If you look up page 243 of School Education - and I like to encourage you to read my selected quotations in context - you’ll see the word “evolution” used. Miss Mason is referring to the general meaning of the word; “slow gradual change” not Darwin’s evolution of species.)

Photographs Explained

lupine out the kitchen door in cottage pink

patch of wild May apples – all parts except the fruit are toxic.

peeking underneath to spot last month’s May Apple in bloom.

wild mustard

wild mustard close up

red plumes of astilbe by the courtship rock

(astilbe is pronounced like: I'll still be your friend. )

my British robin figurine, book, and large antique key

lily of the valley by the side door

Discussion is Invited,

Karen Andreola

Drops of Joy

2011-06-17T12:00:00.007-04:00

Drops of Joy

Last year William wore the colorful vest I knitted him. The primary colors happened to match those of the toys he plays with when he visits. Self-striping yarn adds instant color design. It gave me joy to see him in it. He quickly out-grew it.

The azaleas in the front garden bloom red in spring. They accent our front door.

I planted this little shade garden three springs ago, adding bulbs, leaving space for the wild ferns do what they like, repositioning the hostas a year later, keeping the moisture loving azalea’s happy during a heat wave.

Even a little garden takes attention. And my attentions were well received. For it began to fill in nicely. This garden gave me joy and made me feel more settled although we have a history of relocations and only lived in this house a few years; settled until . . .

the largest tree in the right of the grouping died. I am familiar with how the ground around a tree is disturbed when tree removers start in with their chain saws. Therefore I’ve begun transplanting some of the plants to a shady spot on the opposite side of the lawn to save them from an impending doom. No more little garden.

When I discovered patches of moss at the shady edge of the woods I came up with another idea to contribute to feelings of permanence. Perhaps with this moss I could create a more aged look to our side entrance.

I dug some up and pressed it into the cracks of the steppingstones. Keeping the moss moist between the intervals when we were away was something I nearly forgot to do.

Some of the larger steppingstones that touch the porch are definitely sunken and will need to be raised up with a crow bar and a new application of crushed stone and soil. The moss will soon be disturbed, too, I’m afraid.

On rainy days I retreated indoors for a little sewing. Pink paisley and polka dot flannel made a pretty gift of washable nursing pads for my daughter. They’re a frugal project and much softer than disposable.

I picked up the idea over the winter when I was blog hopping but lost track of which blogspot listed the simple directions. Therefore I’ll include them here.

Trace three circles on cotton flannel and one circle of fleece per pad. The outside layer of acrylic fleece is moisture resistant. I like to trim two of the flannel circles slightly so that they will fit under the top circle. Stack the circles: one fleece, two trimmed flannel circles, one slightly larger circle (same size as the fleece.) Edge on the sewing machine with a zigzag stitch.

At the same time I started knitting a chemo-cap in organic cotton yarn for a widow who was scheduled for a mastectomy. Her loss is a startling contrast to my daughter’s birthing experience. I couldn’t help think of the changes life brings especially to women.

Life is what happens when you are making other plans. John Lennon

My shifting gardens revealed to me my longing for a feeling of permanence – a reprieve from dark clouds of changing circumstances. As much as I enjoy our home I know a certain nesting urge and deep sense of security will be satisfied by an experience only heaven will bring. Nothing we have in this life is permanent. Youth is fleeting. Change can be unsettling. Losses require the balm of cheerfulness, reassuring friendship. Perhaps we appreciate the little refreshing drops of joy best when we remember that the blessings we enjoy on this earth point to greater ones to come.

All the many little things a mother’s hands find to do in one day may seem to her like trifles in the grand scheme of things. But it is the little things that make the difference in the world. The good they do is inconceivable. They are drops of joy we wouldn’t know if we hadn’t touched our hands to them.

Happiness is a perfume you cannot put on others without getting a few drops on yourself.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Thank you for your notes and comments, public or private - however you send them. I know what shy feels like when it comes to writing. I write anyway.

Karen Andreola

A Memento of a Marriage

2011-06-12T15:05:00.016-04:00

A Memento of a Marriage

Enter marriage with your eyes wide open

After marriage keep your eyes half closed - Folklore

The Lady-of-the-House stitched a gift for her parent’s 50^th wedding anniversary. She chose colors to match their décor. Observing their relationship the Lady-of-the-House has seen how her parents keep a sense of proportion. “What advice would you give a young couple,” she asked her mother. A few hints were shared.

A wife needn’t always be silent in situations of conflict but when she speaks the hard truth she does so kindly – especially when upset. Love honors verbally, intellectually, emotionally, physically and economically.

Love keeps inevitable idiosyncrasies to their rightful size – minuscule.

Thank you, Mom.

With a patient eye open for a sampler that would double as a memento of her own marriage, the Lady-of-the-House finally found one. It is in the winter 2005 issue of Sampler & Antique Needlework Quarterly.

A pen friend sent her a stack of back issues. The gift was received with earnest appreciation.

About Schoolgirl Samplers

A typical feature of an early American sampler is an alphabet. The sampler might be kept in a sewing box and the alphabet referenced when linens in a trousseau were to be monogrammed or embroidered.

Tiny cross-stitches might form the words of wise saying or religious verse in the center of the sampler. Above and below this might be “spots.” Spots of birds, flowers, majestic lions and crowns, figures of family members or pets offered interesting sewing practice. A house, very much like the one the girl lived in, might also be a prominent feature. She stitched in her name and dated her work. And perhaps to get the most use out of a piece of linen, a sampler would often be embellished with a border of pink strawberries or a vine of honeysuckle.

What Settled the Matter for the Lady-of-the-House?

“The verse on this historic needlework would make fitting words for a wedding sampler,” she thought.

Tell me ye knowing and discerning few
Where I may find a friend both firm and true
Who dares stand by me when in deep distress
And then his love and friendship most express

She also decided that its Adam and Eve would make a fitting representation of a married couple – and (though it wouldn’t cross the mind of the average onlooker) in her heart they represented her marriage. She has been married for thirty-two years to the Man-of-the-House who stands by her in sickness and in health, through richer and poorer with love and friendship.

A Formally Dressed Adam and Eve

It isn’t unusual to find the figures of Adam and Eve on a sampler. They commonly stand on either side of a tree dressed in their fig leaves. Rarely, they can be found fully dressed. This is the case with the sampler the Lady-of-the-House chose. The bottom of this magazine page shows Eve and Adam in “modern” clothes as stitched by Mary Oldfield in 1806 at age 10.

Miss Oldfield dressed the ancient couple – properly. The bell shape of Eve’s dress suggests a corset at the waist but also other undergarments that widened the skirt at the sides of the hip. I’ve read that this fashion emphasized to a suitor that a maiden was capable of producing heirs or in the middle class, general child bearing. In the north east of early America children were valuable help on the homestead.

According to an article in Early American Life Adam’s breeches reflect an earlier American fashion. By1806 knee beeches were going out of style. Long trousers had been gradually taking their place. Breeches would still have been worn with a jacket of tails, however, on formal occasions.

Custom Color

Pastel colors are recommended in the chart for Mary Oldfield. (making progress above) They mirror how the historic sampler has survived and looks today. The Lady-of-the-House wrote her pen friend that she was excited about reproducing a certain antique sampler from one of the magazines. Just for fun she included snippets of her new threads in the envelope with her letter.

Miles away her friend followed a whim and secretly went to work. She picked up some DMC, matching colors of the snippets, and over-dyed them in her kitchen with a tan Ritz dye. With her letter of reply she tucked in tiny bags of her custom threads as a surprise. The Lady-of-House was indeed surprised and intrigued when these “aged” threads spilled out of the envelope.

She wrapped each gingerly around a holding card. This photograph shows the subtle comparison between DMC and over-dyed DMC. The Lady-of-the-House likes to keep the threads for a project in an empty box of note cards.

Leftover threads from past projects are stored in an organizer until they may be called upon again. Can you see the turquoise from her parent’s sampler?

Perhaps you have already gathered your favorite kinds of materials together to create a memento of your life and haven’t delayed as long as the Lady-of-the-House has. When hers is finished she anticipates showing it to you.

Until next time,

Karen Andreola

Hitty - Her First Hundred Years - Mother Culture CD talk

2011-05-30T18:27:00.008-04:00

The Mother Culture CD is Shipping

Finding letters in the mail feels like old times. I appreciate the kind notes and give thanks to those who purchased the Mother Culture CD. I am getting them out in batches between helping with baby Joseph. I pray my talk will be an encouragement to many.

Purchasing information can be found at the close of “What is Mother Culture” and at the end of the previous post.

Hitty - Her First Hundred Years

Have you ever read the charming story of Hitty – Her First Hundred Years by Rachel Field? Before I give you my review, however, may I show you my doll?

It is an antique doll. She wears her original hand sewn muslin gown, has a petticoat and pantalettes edged in cotton lace.

I was quite surprised and delighted the day I received her as a housewarming gift. She is the same doll, with the sweet face, that I had regularly admired on the shelf of one of my sister-in-law’s glass display cabinets. My sister-in-law is a doll collector. She buys and sells. I never dreamed that the plain, early American looking doll with the sweet face, would one day be presented to me.

I’ve named her Helen after my great-grandmother. Helen’s hair is of flax and was skillfully refurbished by my sister-in-law’s steady hand. Helen wears her long hair like Dora does in my stories.

Decorating this post are a few of the dolls from my sister-in-law’s collection. (She wishes to be unnamed.) Her dolls are dressed in a fashion that matches their lavish Victorian beginnings.

Not long ago I read the children’s book, Hitty – Her First Hundred Years by Rachel Field. (You might have spotted it in the basket of a February post.) My daughters read it silently in their girlhood. I never had. I liked the story so much I wrote a review of it for Christian Book Distributors. Here is a sneak preview.

Hitty, unlike the dolls you see here, is whittled out of mountain-ash wood by a peddler in Maine sometime during early 19^th century. The story is her autobiography. But a girl doesn’t have to have a special interest in dolls to be enthralled by Hitty. Her adventures are what she will find so interesting. And there are a lot of them. Settings change dramatically.

Near the beginning of her doll’s life she is carried aboard a whaling vessel in the arms of the daughter of the sea caption, is shipwrecked, marooned on a south sea island, recovered, then dropped for lost in India, picked up by a snake charmer and purchased by a missionary family. (Phew.) She returns to America, lives with Quakers in Philadelphia (where this time her new dress is gray) and meets John Greenleaf Whittier during the War Between the States. After being forgotten in a dark attic stuffed between the cushions of an old sofa, she is shipped to New York City with the furniture. Here, in the arms of another little girl she meets Charles Dickens on the streets of New York.

With suspense the story continues as Hitty is stolen, hidden away, given away and thrown away. Yet amid her tumbles and travels she is always happy when admired and when a new dress lovingly takes the place of an older shabby one.

Written in 1929 before the popularity of television author Rachel Field does a beautiful job describing the geographical and historical settings in words . . the words of a doll who takes courage, even when she doesn’t feel so brave, in life’s uncertain circumstances.

Newberry Award Winner for ages 10 up.

Gail Wilson Designs of New Hampshire makes a replica of the little doll Hitty for sale. Early American clothes, furniture, even a tiny cross stitch sampler for Hitty, are also available, as are kits.

The wild blackberry brambles are blooming at the edge of our woods. This was my cue to photograph Lesson at Blackberry Inn amidst a setting of white blackberry flowers. Being pricked by a thorn I still managed to take a somewhat interesting picture.

I hope with home school lessons coming to a close that you will set aside a little leisure for yourself, to read whatever interests you. I trust it will be something refreshing to grow-by. I like to hear what you are reading.

Thanks for visiting,

Karen Andreola

Oh, To Be A Mommy

2011-05-20T09:26:00.003-04:00

Oh, To Be A Mommy

Dean’s cell phone rang. He and I were walking the isles of the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania home school conference, weaving in and out of the crowds. “It’s for you. It’s Sophia.”

I stopped to catch my breath. Pressing the phone to my ear I said, “It’s Mom. . . What did you say? It’s loud here.”

“The doctor wants to deliver the baby Monday.”

“This Monday?”

“Yes.”

“Okay, we’ll be there Sunday. This is exciting.”

Joseph Charlton was born May 16^th – two weeks early at 7 lbs, 2oz. to Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Englar. The doctor said he would have had a smoother time of it if the baby weren’t holding onto the cord. Baby Joseph was in my arms later in the day when his dad instructed 3 year-old William to touch a finger to the baby’s hand in greeting. When I watched Joseph wrap his tiny fingers (this time) around William’s, a tear came to my eye. The gesture symbolized the beginning of a friendship. I prayed that they would be the best of brothers for their lifetimes.

As if to mark the occasion, three boxes arrived filled with our Mother Culture® CDs. Nigel did a neat job with the jacket design. Although the company printed the artwork darker than was previewed, the sound quality is very good.

Would you like to refresh your outlook? Could you use some reassurance? This talk sympathizes with the busy, hardworking, self-sacrificing home teacher. It presents an array of tried-and-true ideas for safeguarding enthusiasm.

The principles of Mother Culture are invigorating. I illustrate each with an anecdote. The listener is invited to work out whatever principles appeal to her within the uniqueness of her personality.

“Many a truth is spoken in jest,” I think Shakespeare said. Turning the pages of my notes I uphold the majesty of motherhood, embrace the blessing of femininity, and move onto the funny side of things. Recorded live in 2004, I vividly remember that Friday evening. The audience was filled with married couples with whom I apparently had a rapport. I was quite pleased to hear their laughter.

There isn’t an ounce of info-mercial in this talk. I omitted even a mention of my books (although writing is how our family earns a living). This makes the CD most pleasant to the ears of a parlor of ladies. I’d be happy to serve the sympathy. Will you pour the tea or coffee?

To place an order for Mother Culture® CD

Send check for $10.50 to:

Charlotte Mason R. & S.
P O Box 296
Quarryville, PA 17566

(In U.S.A. CD is $8.50, shipping $2.00. In Canada CD is $8.50, shipping $5.00. Send postal money order in U.S. dollars.)

It was fun to be recognized (I wasn’t speaking) at the Harrisburg conference by readers who stopped me in the isles to introduce themselves. It was pure delight to chat face to face.

Seeking to Minister,

Karen Andreola