15 Life-Changing Homemaking Tips I Learned from the Little House on the Prairie Books
The Daily Connoisseur
5:41 AM
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Welcome back to my homemaking series here on The Daily Connoisseur. This time, I have a fun diversion for us. Many of you know that I recently finished reading the entire Little House book series to my children. It took us around 10 months to complete this read-aloud as we read one chapter a night (2 nights off a week). If you have children, I strongly encourage you to read this series to them. They will be fascinated with the real-life stories and adventures that Laura Ingalls and Almanzo Wilder faced back in the pioneer days.
While reading to my daughters, I took notes of all of the rich homemaking inspiration I could take from the books. I gathered my notes over the past months and finally have them to present to you today. So here we go... 15 life-changing homemaking tips I learned from The Little House on the Prairie series.
Please note that Farmer Boy (book 2) will have its own video as that book had so much information in it... For now, let's just focus on Laura and her family...
The following list below details only some of the references I discuss in the video. For a complete discussion of all references, please watch today's video.
15 Life-Changing Homemaking Tips I Learned from the Little House on the Prairie Books
🍂 Tip 1: Routine framed their day Daily life was not particularly exciting, but routines framed the day in an enjoyable way:
In the mornings after the chores and the housework was done, Laura and Mary studied their books. In the afternoons Ma heard their lessons. Then they might play or sew their seams, till time to meet the herd and bring Spot and her calf home. Then came chores again and supper and the supper dishes and bedtime. - On the Banks of Plum Creek p. 270
🍂 Tip 2: Housework was done first Housework was always at the top of the to-do list and even took place before the children had school.
“So, after the housework was done, Laura and Carrie and Mary studied their lessons and then settled down to sew while Ma read to them.” - The Long Winter p. 97
🍂 Tip 3: Cleanliness and good grooming were priorities It can be hard to keep children looking clean and well-groomed. Back in Laura's day, presentation of the home and presentation of self was very important.
“Ma cooked and cleaned and mended and helped Mary and Laura with their lessons. They did the dishes, made their bed, and swept the floors, kept their hands and faces clean and neatly braided their hair." - On the Banks of Plum Creek p. 296
🍂 Tip 4: They wore aprons to preserve their clothing
"Set the table, Laura," Ma said quietly, tying on her apron. Mrs. Boast put on an apron too, and they were all busy, poking up the fire, setting the kettle to boil for tea, making biscuits, frying potatoes, while Mr. Boast talked to the visitors who stood in the way, thawing themselves by the stove." - By the Shores of Silver Lake p. 216
🍂 Tip 5: They adjusted their routine for special occasions
"Breakfast was so merry in the warmth and stillness and light that the clock was striking half past eight before they finished, and Ma said, "Run along, girls. This one time I'll do your housework." - The Long Winter p. 133
"Pa came and ate the same supper of potatoes and bread with dried-apple sauce and tea and left the dishes unwashed and went to bed at once to save kerosene and coal." - The Long Winter p. 147
As you can see in both of these instances, the housework duties were either done by someone else due to special circumstances, or put off until the next day... but this was quite rare.
🍂 Tip 6: Work came before pleasure
"Work comes before pleasure," Ma always said (The Long Winter p. 173) This follows a rather long description of the house chores that they had to do, including activities such as washing the dishes, sweeping the floor, blackening the stove, and boiling the clothes.
🍂 Tip 7: They dealt with monotony with perseverance
In The Long Winter, many chapters dealt with the monotony that came along with eating the same food day in and day out. Hot boiled potatoes, a slice of bread and salt (p. 186) was the fare every single day. This would be incredibly troubling and they dealt with this harsh reality with a positive attitude and perseverance, looking toward spring.
🍂 Tip 8: They appreciated the small things
"How happy Laura was to fill the lamp, polish the chimney, and trim the wick." - The Long Winter p. 327
When you endure hardship, suddenly the small things seem very important and significant and are not taken for granted. I'm sure many of us can relate to that through this pandemic crisis.
🍂 Tip 9: They made looking presentable always a priority
"Clean and starched and dressed-up, in the morning of a weekday, they sat in a row on a bench in the waiting room while Ma bought the tickets." - By the Shores of Silver Lake p. 16
This was back when traveling was a cause for dressing well and good-grooming.
🍂 Tip 10: They took pride in their work
"After Laura and Mary had washed and wiped the dishes, swept the floor, made their bed, and dusted, they settled down with their books. But the house was so cosy and pretty that Laura kept looking up at it." - On the Banks of Plum Creek p. 301
Laura was proud of the work she did and took the time to admire it.
🍂 Tip 11: They acknowledged that good homemaking makes the house a haven
"It was so wonderful to be there, safe at home, sheltered from the winds and the cold. Laura thought that this must be a little like Heaven, where the weary are at rest. She could not imagine that Heaven was better than being where she was, slowly growing warm and comfortable, sipping the hot, sweet, ginger tea, seeing Ma, and Grace, and Pa and Carrie, and Mary all enjoying their own cups of it and hearing the storm that could not touch them here." - The Long Winter p. 94 - 95
🍂 Tip 12: Homemaking was enjoyable and they had a good attitude toward it
"All that day was such a happy time. Laura did her washing and sprinkled and ironed the clean, fresh clothes." - These Happy Golden Years p. 39
For Laura, washing and ironing was a "happy time". Attitude is everything when it comes to housework.
🍂 Tip 13: They never measured when they cooked
When Reverend Stuart asks Ma to write down one of her recipes, her response is: "Goodness!," said Ma. "I never measure, but I guess I can make a stab at it." - By the Shores of Silver Lake p. 221
They were so comfortable with their cooking and made their signature dishes so regularly, they never measured what went in... it was all by intuition.
🍂 Tip 14: They monetized their homemaking when they could
In By the Shores of Silver Lake, Ma opens the house to boarders with the intention of earning money to help pay for the homestead. This produced a lot of work for all of them, but they were thrilled with the extra money they made.
🍂 Tip 15: A bad homemaker's attitude is enough to ruin the atmosphere
"Mrs. Brewster let the housework go. She did not sweep out the snow that Mr. Brewster tracked in; it melted and made puddles with the ashes around the stove. She did not make their bed nor even spread it up. Twice a day she cooked potatoes and salt pork and put them on the table. The rest of the time she sat brooding. She did not even comb her hair, and it seemed to Laura that Johnny squalled with temper that whole week". - These Happy Golden Years p. 46
When Laura was a guest in Mrs. Brewster's home, she experienced first-hand that a bad homemaker's attitude can sour the experience for everyone in the house. Everyone walked on pins and needles around Mrs. Brewster, who had a very negative temperament.
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Comment of the Week
cherls15 writes, "Hello, I am a single mum and I work part time. When I am at work, I give it my all and when I at home, I give it even more. It's just me and my son and sometimes it feels very sad for me as I wanted to cook great meals for my husband and 3 kids. However, it turned out to be just me and my son. I give him all of me and our home life. I also love great food and baking and ensuring we have a clean,neat and organized home. Even though you have a husband and four kids which I wanted but don't have, watching your videos brings me some relief and lifts my loneliness and longing. I feel prouder of myself when seeing you as you confirm to me that also staying at home and not working lots and lots of hours, it is the right thing for my son. Thank you. Lol I am not as elegant as you...! But I have that elegance within me too. Thank you again."
Cherls15, you are doing a wonderful job and your son is blessed to have you as his mama. Don't be hard on yourself and keep up the amazing work. You inspire me!
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