We Still Like Each Other

Celebrating 36 years of marriage on August 31st!

Seems like yesterday I was a very young Bride getting married.

Sweet, sweet memories.

I pray that we have many more happy and blessed years

together as a couple and be full of days together as Husband and Wife.

Happy Anniversary HONEY.

I LOVE YOU.

God Bless you,

~Deanna~

A Home Haven Homemaking Lesson

May you have a Blessed Day!

Every September I am reminded that another school season begins. 
A time to concentrate on school studies and learn what I can.

With that in mind I think since I'm a homemaker reading a vintage book will be entertaining and informative for lil ole me that sometimes struggles with all that I need to do.

This may take some time to share all that this 1926 book has to say.

A little every Monday.

Think that will be just fine as I dedicate MONDAYS to this book.

Let's read and see what it was like in some households from the 1920's.

THE ART OF

Cooking and Serving

by Sarah Field Splint
CHAPTER 1

Table Service

in the Servantless House

THREE things a meal must be when you are your own cook and waitress: it must be nourishing, it must be reasonably easy to prepare and it must give your family pleasure in the way it is served.

Since well-bred people avoid display, especially display that is out of keeping with their means, the mistress of the serventless house does not attempt the formalities of table service observed by the Richest-Family-in-Town. The old proverb that advises us to bite off only as much as we can chew applies very abtly to serving. It is a sign of good taste to do only as much as we can do well, and to leave the extreme expressions of style to those who have money and servants to carry them out.

The intelligent woman fits her service to her pocketbook and strength. Certain fundamental rules she observes to the letter, of course, but beyond that she is given a wide latitude to work out her own taste and convenience. She may choose, for instance, to bring broiled chops to the table in a covered earthenware casserole, instead of on the platter which matches her dinner set, but what sane person would find fault with this method when it is the only way of keeping the food piping hot on the long journey from her particular kitchen?

This matter of serving hot foods hot and cold foods cold happens to be one of those fundamental rules which no woman who aspires to be a good housekeeper can make light of. It just has to be done, however it is accomplished.

Quite as hard and fast is the edict about clean linen and shining silver. Better never to use anything but doilies, and keep them immaculately fresh, than to cover the table for even one meal with a cloth having a single spot on it. In many homes of wealth tablecloths, as a matter of fact, are no longer seen; lace or even linen runners and place mats have supplanted them. This type of linen demands a well-finished tabletop, of course, either of paint or of natural wood smoothly polished. Probably the latter is the more practical, as hot dishes will not mar it if it is left unvarnished and rubbed down frequently with oil or wax.

Table silver will always be bright if washed in hot suds made with Ivory Soap and dried at once with a soft clean towel. Silver polish should be kept close to the kitchen sink so that stained pieces may be rubbed up after each meal. This plan consumes only a few extra minutes each day, but how it reduces the labor of the weekly silver cleaning!

Just one more adamantine law. Each place, or cover, as one sometimes sees it called, must be carefully set with the knife at the right of the place plate and the fork at the left. The sharp edge of the knife must be turned toward the plate and the fork must be placed with its prongs pointing upward. The water glass takes its stand about one inch above the point of the knife, while the bread-and-butter plate goes to the opposite side of each plate just above the fork. The small butter knife is placed on the bread-and-butter plate, either across the top or the right-hand edge.

This is the skeleton arrangement of a place. Additional silver and glass is added to it according to the meal and the kinds of food to be served, and a napkin always puts in its appearance, sometimes on the plate, at other times to the left of the fork. But these are details which are easily remembered once you understand the reasons for them. And it is high time to discuss them now.

NEXT WEEK...BREAKFAST

God Bless,

~Deanna~

Peanut Butter

Do you love Peanut Butter????

I do...I do!

Fellow Blogger Cilla at www.cillassouthernkitchen.blogspot.com

has a delicious recipe for

Old Fashioned Peanut Butter Pie

Hope you'll check her post out and Happy Eating!

~Deanna~

Home Happenings

Taking the day easy. I'm tired. From inside our home, I can hear the locust singing in the trees. This is one of my favorite sounds of Summer.

Looking forward to turning the air conditioner off for the season. Summer has been hot and I really do want to open the windows back up to let a cooler air drift into the home when the temps begin to cool off soon.

Yesterday I made a trip to Topeka to pick up some Bible Study materials from the YWCA. This was a first time for me to visit this location that's so close to the Capitol Building. Very nice facility. I picked up a Bible Study written by Flo Menninger. I will independently study at home since I live aways from Topeka and also provide childcare to lil miss.

I'm looking forward to studying by myself to where I can go at my own speed.
When was the last time you got really excited to study the Bible? It's been awhile for me. God is preparing my heart for this adventure. This particular study doesn't seem to have alot of bells and whistles attached to it. Will mention this study from time to time. LOOK OUT BETH MOORE...grins.

FOUR YEARS THROUGH

THE BIBLE

OLD TESTAMENT OUTLINE

OF

BIBLE STUDY

Book I.

FIRST YEAR

GENESIS TO FIRST KINGS

Written by

Mrs. C.F. Menninger

After leaving the YWCA, went for a bite to eat.

Christmas shopping at KOHL's.

Onto the Mall Playground so lil miss could run off some energy.

Then Sam's Wholesale Store to meet up with hubby and daughter. Did a little shopping and ate supper right there at Sam's. Their Berry Sundae was really good tasting!

Movie night at the $2 Theater. Popcorn and Sprite.

On the big screen my sweetheart and I watched Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time as lil miss and daughter watched a children's movie. I liked the action packed movie. Alot of fun to see the Prince run up walls and jump about as if it took no effort.

The snakes might upset young children.

No sex scenes.

No foul language.

Interesting story line.

Beautiful costumes.

Interior and exterior shots were believable.

Special Effects neat.

Story with a happy ending.

After the show, we played an arcade game! Getting old...55 and needed a place to sit while waiting for the girls to come out of the theater. Tanks. Hum...this was fun...thought this could be addictive. Did terrible at the game. Terrible, but think if I'd just practice..haha.

Went on to Walmart to buy Deer Whistles for daughter's auto. Deer Whistles are a safety feature to put on your cars. Around here deer are often spotted. $5.95 is a small price to pay to alert the deer to run the other way from the car. They don't always work, but better than nothing.

Now, I know times are always changing.

If I could choose any time era to live in...I'm not sure which one I would pick. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to recognize that the fallen nature of mankind would be present even then.

God bless you today,

~Deanna~

gypsies

Grandma was home alone on the farm. Grandpa was out tending to their livestock. I'm not sure where their children were...if the children were born yet or not. Not sure of the time of day or year, but Grandma was home alone on the farm.

Gypsies decided to invade the home. All at once the inside of Grandma's home was infiltrated with strangers that had no respect that they were trespassing on Grandma's property. No respect that the items they were stealing belonged to poor people that had worked hard for what little they had.

The gypsies quickly stormed all the rooms taking what they wanted. Too many of them to shoo' away. Best to stand still.

Grandma cut a large piece of meat into two parts and handed one side to one of the gypsies. Kind of a peace offering. The gypsy gladly took the offering and then spit on the other half that would have been Grandpa's supper. Grandma gave that piece to the gypsy as well.

As far as I know...she wasn't physically injured. Left with something to share with others. Like me.

~Deanna~

Mustard

This week I MUSTARD up enough energy to clean on HomeHaven. It was needing it so badly. The main floor got some much needed attention. Wanted to get the diningroom floor swept and washed before a friend of mine came to visit.

Victory! Mission accomplished. Had a nice visit.

Speaking of mustard...did my homework and found out all this good stuff!

Mustard is seen as a cure-all and was imported to the United States through Spanish Missionaries. There are three varieties of mustard...black, brown and white. It's part of the cabbage family. The mustard plant grows to be tall and has bright yellow flowers. It's one of the most popular and widely used spices and condiments in the world.

Mustard is a condiment made from seeds of the mustard plant (white or yellow mustard, Sinapis hirta; brown or Indian mustard, Brassica juncen; or black mustard, Brassica nigra).

Mustard has four powerful qualities:

antibacterial,

antifungal,

antiseptic,

anti-inflammatory properties.

Because of its antibacterial properties it does not require refrigeration;

it will not grow mold, meldew or harmful bacteria. Unrefridgerated mustard will lose pungency more quickly, and should be stored in a tightly sealed, sterilized container in a cool, dark place. Though it may dry out, lose flavor, or brown from oxidation...can last indifinitely.

BASIC MUSTARDS are the most commonly consumed and often simplest of the mustard varieties, including mustard seed, dry mustard powder, deli style mustard, Dijon mustard, stone-ground/whole ground mustard, and yellow mustard.

Mustard seeds are a great source of omega-3 fatty acids as well as calcium, dietary fiber, iron, manganese, magnesium, niacin, phosphorus, selenium and zinc. The selenium in mustard is a nutrient that has been shown to help reduce asthma, arthritis and certain cancers. The magnesium in mustard reduces asthma and lowers blood pressure.

The spices that give yellow mustard its health benefits is turmeric believed to have ancient healing properties. Anti cancer agent Curcumin is thought to be the primary pharmacological component in turmeric. Curcumin's anti-inflammatory effects are comparable to hydrocortisone as well as over the counter anti-inflammatory drugs such as motrin. Clinical trials of curcumin based regimen of foods posesses strong antioxidant effects and destroys free radicals, positive effect on arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome, even cystic fibrosis.

STRONG anti-cancer effects of curcumin has reduced the size of tumors.

In cultures where curcumin consumption is high, such as India, there's less incidents of colon, breast and prostate cancers.

Mustard is one of most popular and widely used spices/condements in the world. This low calorie food as a condiment averages about 5 calories per teaspoon, is helpful for digestion, can speed up your metabolism, stimulates appetite and clears sinitis. She soothes sore throats, bronchitis, asthma and pnuemonia. She increases blood circulation!

The whole, ground, cracked, or bruised mustard seeds are mixed with water, vinegar, or other liquids and sometimes other flavorings and spices, to create a thick paste ranging in color from bright yellow to dark brown. Mustard often has a sharp, pungent flavor, as mixing the ground seed with cold liquid causes the release of enzyme myrosinase, responsible for mustard's characteristic HEAT!!!

Let's not forget what the Bible says about mustard seeds.

In the New Testament of the Amplified Bible in the Book of Matthew Chapter 17 says:
verse 18) And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him (the boy), and the boy was cured instantly.

verse 19) Then the disciples came to Jesus and asked privately, Why could we not drive it (demon) out?

verse 20) He said to them, Because of the littleness of your faith [that is, your lack of firmly relying trust]. For truly I say to you, if you have faith [that is living] like a grain of a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, MOVE FROM HERE TO YONDER PLACE, and it will move;

and nothing will be impossible to you.

verse 21) BUT THIS KIND DOES NOT GO OUT EXCEPT BY PRAYER AND FASTING.

God richly bless you today.

I think I need to eat a whole jar of delicious mustard to increase my energy level.

Thank you LORD...it's the week-end and a Day of rest is coming.

How many times I have ignored a day of rest. Not good.

Need refreshed? Rest and pray,

~Deanna~

PS Remember Mary Poppins...just a spoon full of sugar helps the medicine go D o w n...
perhaps I need a spoonful of mustard to fight cancer.

Think the color of mustard will be a popular Autumn COLOR this year!

MUSTARD served with some style...A Victorian MUSTARD CUP

Vintage Tablescape Thursday

Welcome to HomeHaven...Thrilled you've stopped by!

My Childhood was sweet. I remember making Mud Pies and climbing trees.

I would have loved playing with these pretty children's dishes. Think I'll start collecting vintage toys and dishes now...grins.

If you know me very well you know that I go in phases of collecting this

and then collecting that.

These dishes for Tablescape Thursday are from

the Little Girl's Room inside

the 1870's Ward-Meade Mansion of Topeka, Kansas

from the Historic OLD PRAIRIE TOWN site.

To see more of the Little Girl's Room where these dishes are displayed, scroll down to my previous post. If you check my HomeHaven archives there are more posts about the Historic Ward-Meade Mansion as well.

Please join the Tablescape Thursday party Hosted by Susan from www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com

THANK YOU, SUSAN...It is always a treat!

Vintage Blessings to you,

~Deanna~

Ward-Meade Mansion and the Little Girl's Room

It's wonderful Wednesday and I am visiting the Little Girl's Room from inside the 1870's Ward-Meade Mansion located in Topeka, Kansas.

OLD PRAIRIE TOWN is built around the mansion. The grounds are groomed so nicely and the entire place is well taken care of. I wish sometimes I had a full time Gardener, Butler, Housekeeper, Cook and Estate Manager...pardon me.

Since I was once a little girl myself...I fondly stood at the door of the room and admired the items displayed for others to see. The delicate clothing hanging, the dolls, the dainty dishes...all inspired me to use some of the same decorating ideas for HomeHaven. When the time comes that I can, I will see to it that each room in my home has something in it that adds some character.

When touring the mansion, I felt right at home.
The ambiance of this place was comforting.
I felt welcomed.
Shouldn't all homes be like this?

Glad you are visiting me today.

I really enjoy blogging and hearing how you are. God bless and may this Wednesday be delightful.

~Deanna~

Next week I hope to share the Master Bedroom with it's Abraham Lincoln Wallpaper.

Pleasant Dreams!