It seems that whenever I get out of the house I run into impatient people. Someone honking at another driver, grumbling at a checkout line. People are impatient and that is not healthy. Do you live in a rush?
Do you see the two people in the photo above? Yes they are there.
Whatever stage you are in your life right now, young, middle or old age, time is going to pass very quickly like it or not. Why not live a good simple life so you can enjoy each day as it passes. Your child may be age five right now but in ten years he or she will be 15 and in another ten years they will be twenty 25 and you will be in your 40s, 50s or 60s depending on what age you were when you had your child.
I have not always had it all figured out, I still don't have it figured out but one thing I know is that I wish I had known what I know now at a much younger age.
There is so much happiness that can come from simple things but it does take some type of effort to make even the simple things to happen.
When my husband and I decided to live one year like they did in 1943 it gave us a chance to regroup and see things with a different perspective. It brought back childhood memories almost forgotten. It did not take us long to realize that we wanted this more vintage life. We don't want to miss the small things.
I enjoy having a part in making life fun and have always been this way and now I like to have old fashioned fun. This past weekend this was our porch steps picnic. We were working in the yard all day so I made a porch step picnic with sandwiches, potato chips, brownies, fresh onions pulled from the garden and sparkling water. I am not saying "this is what I did" it is to make a point that the small things can be fun.
I use this old crackled nicked creamer to pour water into my steam iron because it is still pretty and anything that makes a mundane choir like ironing or washing dishes needs some things to make it less not fun.
There are simple things that can make our homes interesting. Those little touches such as this old napkin holder...
Instead of using plastic boxes or bins simple pretty organizers can be made like this one to keep linens sorted. This is one reason the 1940s just make sense to me.
They can keep a drawer in order and are easy to make. These can be made for many things such as larger ones for sheets, smaller ones for under garments such as slips or camisoles, panties, even socks. Just use your imagination.
Here is one for a picnic, camping or your extra nice silverware.
Occasionally I enjoy using a wash basin. For those with limited bathrooms in the house and when we have guests it is handy to wash up the old way in your bedroom to leave the bathroom free for the guests. Try it, you don't have to have a nice wash bowl and matching pitcher, get creative, it makes life fun.
Our water and sewer charges keep going up and I am at the point to thinking about intense water conservation. Our sewer bill is twice the water bill so in other words the water coming in the house is billed then the water going out is billed based on the amount of water coming in and the fee is twice the amount of the water coming in. Besides it is good to conserve.
If you don't have pretty things then it is easy to make them. Table runners and cloths can be easily made with a small amount of cloth, some different color embroidery thread and a needle. I didn't know how to embroidery before I taught myself. You can do this too.
Our homes can give us much pleasure if we work toward a simplistic goal. It can literally change your stress level when you realize as I did that we are just traveling too fast and following along as we are being targeted to consume. Pull out your creative side and work towards that place you feel most comfortable. I don't think you will find it at a mall or a shopping center.
Here is a look at how the napkin holder is made.
This is single fabric. You can cut the size any size you need for what it is you are making.
For dinner napkins, place the napkins inside..
fold the two sides....
bottom up...
Top down...
For the knives and forks bag..
it has a flannel material for the inside and sewn down to size needed, wider for spoons.
I just love how the sun moves and gives us sunlight from different directions depending on the season. Now it is spring and the sun is coming from our bedroom windows into the hallway.
Could you find the people in the first photo? very top of the photo, look center top and then search to the right.
I hope you find something interesting in this article. Grandma Donna
