My homemaking series continues today as we take another deep-dive into the Little House on the Prairie book series with my Farmer Boy observations.



In today's video, I'm sharing the second half of my observations on Farmer Boy. This book is full of homemaking inspiration as the Wilders had a very full and fulfilling family life.

You can see my Little House observations here and Part one of my Farmer Boy observations here.

🍂 Lesson 11 They weren’t afraid of using technology when it suited them.
On p.164, it says, Mother didn’t card her own wool anymore, since there was a machine… But she dyed it. The Wilders were definitely open to new technologies and using them to improve their homemaking. I have had new technologies that I've resisted in my own homemaking, that have changed my life for the better once I finally decided to give them a try. Have you ever resisted technology to improve your homemaking?

🍂 Lesson 12 They made their own household necessities.
While they did enjoy new technologies, they also made many of their own household essentials from scratch such as soap and candles... They took a deep satisfaction from these domestic arts.

🍂 Lesson 13 The children were taught to enjoy homemaking.
Almanzo actually looked forward to the work on the farm… even more than school (p. 166). The atmosphere of home was so inviting, he didn't want to leave. This stems from the children being taught to enjoy homemaking, so much so that they preferred it over other activities.

🍂 Lesson 14 They all banded together to help in a crisis.
This tip didn't make it into my video. I believe I skipped it on accident when I was filming. On page 169, in the chapter called, Cold Snap, the entire family banded together in a crisis and got out of bed on a very frosty evening to help save the crops. The entire family came together to help in a crisis and put their own personal comfort on the back-burner to do so.

🍂 Lesson 15 They worked hard and played hard.
On page 199, in the chapter, Summertime, Almanzo's father quotes the famous phrase, All work and no play makes Jack a very dull boy. The Wilders enjoyed playing hard, but only after they worked hard. Also, note that their "fun" also involved chores (berrying).

🍂 Lesson 16 They didn’t waste anything.
On page 199, Mother “scraped every bit of buttermilk”. She didn't waste anything. This tip convicted me and made me realize that I am apt to waste food, by not scraping every last bit. I will work to change that.

🍂 Lesson 17 They were proud of her home and of keeping it nice.
Mother is described as being proud of her home and in keeping it nice (p.224). Even though the term, "house proud" has negative connotations, most of us are a bit proud of our homes and naturally want to keep them looking nice. I think this is a good thing. It's this pride that keeps us on top of things.

🍂 Lesson 18 The kids knew when they needed to HUSTLE.
When the Wilder children are left alone on the homestead, they goof off just like any other children would do... but when they realize their parents are returning shortly, they HUSTLE and truly go beyond by working all day and into the late evening to get their tasks done.

🍂 Lesson 19 Suppertime was a cheerful time for bonding.
On page 147, suppertime was described as "not as cheerful as usual", which indicates that suppertime usually was a cheerful time. The book describes several of their meals with great detail and the reader gets the impression that the family truly bonded over these excellent dinners.


🍂 Lesson 20 Children were given big responsibilities and their abilities weren’t underestimated.
This was really eye-opening for me. The Wilder children were given big responsibilities and their abilities were not underestimated. Modern-day parents sometimes underestimate what their children are capable of, especially with homemaking. No matter how small the child is, they can develop an appreciation for looking after the home.

🍂 Bonus Observation: Even Almanzo's mother (homemaker extraordinaire) got flustered right before company came over. Ha!
In the chapter, Christmas, “Mother was everywhere, talking all the time”. It was very comforting and humorous for me to read about Mrs. Wilder running around after the children and displaying pre-company stress that so many of us deal with. It reminded me of one of my favorite comedy skits on YouTube from Trey Kennedy, Company is Coming.


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Killing time with Madame Chic - I'm a bit too early for my breakfast date with the lovely @sylverillustrations, so taking the opportunity to brush up on French elegance ❤ 💄💕📚 . . . . . . . . . #tea #teabreak #chamomile #decafe @deleeuwarden #leeuwarden #holiday #book #booksofinstagram #bookstagram #reading #madamechic #jenniferlscott @dailyconnoisseur #20stylishsecretsilearnedwhilelivinginparis #20stylishsecrets #frenchliving

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smallhouseinthemeadow writes:

Dorothy Parker I"ll never be,
but here's a poem I hope you''ll see
How greatly you inspire me
As Chic as you,I try to be


Your poem made me smile from ear to ear. Thank you!

Thank you for joining me for this installment of my homemaking series. I would love to hear your observations. Your comment could be chosen as comment of the week on the blog.



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My homemaking series continues today as we do a deep-dive into Laura Ingalls Wilder's Farmer Boy. Last time, we explored the homemaking secrets found in the Little House series and the subject matter resonated with so many people who loved reading the books.



Today, we continue with part one of our exploration into Farmer Boy. I actually have 20 life-changing homemaking secrets from Farmer Boy, so in part one, we will discuss the first ten.


🍂 1. Homemaking traditions anchored their week

On page 84, we read that Almanzo's mother was making pancakes “because this was Sunday”. It is clear that they could look forward to this mouth-watering breakfast every Sunday. Creating traditions centered around food is a wonderful idea to incorporate into family life. A lot of people do this with “Taco Tuesday” or other meal traditions.

🍂 2. Everyone in the family kept busy. They worked really hard and had a strong work ethic.
In chapter 8, Sunday, Almanzo’s mother is described as someone who “never sat down in the daytime, except on her spinning-wheel or loom.”
But not just, Almanzo’s mother, the entire family kept busy...

🍂 3. They took off an entire day to do the house cleaning. All of them. Men, women, boys, and girls
In chapter 10, The Turn of the Wheel, Mrs. Wilder says, “We’ll start house-cleaning tomorrow, bright and early.” Page 118 describes the list of what Almanzo had to do on house-cleaning day. “Everything in the house was moved, everything was scrubbed and scoured and polished.” It's clear that this is referring to an annual or bi-annual house cleaning ritual as it is so involved. They seemed to all stop everything and take part.

🍂 4. Sometimes the housecleaning ritual went on for days
“Days and days he spent in the cellar." This indicates that the housecleaning wasn't just one day, but could potentially last for several days. This shows the priority that house cleaning took in their lives when work and school and all other agenda items are dropped in order to get the house in top shape.

🍂 5. When you wear an apron, that means some serious work is about to happen
In chapter 21, County Fair, they dressed up to go to the county fair. Almanzo’s mother wore her 2nd best dress. “And took an apron, for she was going to help with the church dinner.” Page 261 describes the exact work the ladies were doing and it was some serious cooking. Clearly an apron was worn to not only preserve their dress, but also as an indication of the magnitude of work taking place.

🍂 6. Parents held a high standard for cleanliness
Yes, it's true that bath time took place once a week, which doesn't sound very clean by today's standards, but we aren't taking into account the ordeal they had to go through just to pour a bath without running water... especially in the winter. Almanzo enjoyed his "Saturday night feeling" even if he didn't like taking a bath in the cold house. His mother would inspect his ears and face to make sure he kept up good grooming habits, which were probably life-long habits the children took with them.

🍂 7. Sometimes homemaking required them to work into the evenings
Chapter 23, Cobbler, describes how Almanzo’s mother stayed up late sewing them socks and clothes. Sometimes our homemaking requires us to stay up late into the evening and work "overtime", just like any other job would.

🍂 8. They monetized their homemaking
Farmer Boy describes how proud the family were of their mother as her butter was the best in New York and she secured such an excellent price for it. I looked it up, and $250 in 1866 is the equivalent to $7,804.25 today. Wow!

🍂 9. They were good, shrewd traders… a.k.a. Haggling is an art!
In the chapter titled, Tin-Peddler, Almanzo's mother was described as a "good, shrewd trader". She always got what she wanted, but it was all in good fun. Being a good, shrewd trader, is an excellent skill to have as life brings many negotiations our way. Being frugal and haggling for the best price would benefit any family's budget.

🍂 10. They turned their homemaking into healthy competitions
In the chapter on Sheep Shearing, Almanzo and his family engage in a little healthy competition. This is an excellent technique to get you through an unpleasant task. It had me thinking of ways we could turn our homemaking into healthy competitions with the kids. It could bring belly laughs and important lessons on sportsmanship and the satisfaction of a job well done.

⚜️ The Little House 9-volume set
Little House 9-volume set from Scholastic

⚜️ Time Stamps
0:00 Introduction
1:01 Homemaking traditions anchored the week
3:00 Everyone kept busy (strong work ethic)
4:34 They took off an entire day to do house-cleaning
6:46 House-cleaning could go on for days and days
8:43 When you wear an apron, serious work is about to occur
9:57 Parents held their children to high standards of cleanliness
14:40 Sometimes homemaking required them to work overtime
16:02 They monetized their homemaking
18:39 They were good, shrewd traders
20:45 They enjoyed healthy competition with their homemaking

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I hope you enjoyed the homemaking tips in today's video. Make sure you are subscribed to my YouTube channel and click the bell for notifications so you don't miss part 2.


News
📍Join us for The Chic Assignment for August.

📍Take my new eCourse, Carry Yourself with Poise. There are so many amazing ladies on this course, bonding and building friendships as we rally around elegant living. Tamara writes, "I absolutely adored this course! One of the best investments I have ever made in my life. Jennifer, I would like to thank you for taking the time to create a course that is enriching. I look forward future courses."

📍Become a member of The Daily Connoisseur through the MEMBERSHIPS feature. I do one livestream as well 3 episodes of my new Vodcast (a video podcast) per month. (Link must be accessed on a computer.)

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Home Inspiration: Jennifer L. Scott's, Lessons From Madame Chic. @dailyconnoisseur This book has not only influenced my fashion sense but has also impacted other aspects of my life.The part that stood out most to me was Chapter 10: Always use the best things you have. That advice has meant so much to me and has really influenced my approach to decorating my home. Stay tuned for home decor pictures. #books #homedecor #interiordesigns #bookstagram #preppygirl #preppy #preppyfashion #chic #madamechic #instagram #instapicture #instapic #instastyle #fashionstyle #home #decor #elegantstyle #instagood #instachic #love #bookish #classic #classicstyle #dailyconnoisseur #ettiquette #jenniferlscott #foodiesofinstagram #womensupportingwomen #bookgram

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Comment of the week
GreenEyed Susan writes... "Oh my goodness, I was so shocked to see you making macaroni and tomatoes! My Mom used to make that all the time. I thought it was something she made up as I never heard of anybody else that made it, or knew about it. My Mom passed away a few years ago, so this instantly threw my back into my childhood and wonderful memories of my Mom. Thank you!"

GreenEyed Susan, I think macaroni and tomatoes is a nostalgic childhood treat for so many. I'm happy it brought back good memories for you. I will have another meals video coming out soon. I hope you will enjoy it!


Thank you for watching! I would love to know your thoughts on the homemaking secrets from Farmer Boy. Please leave them below and your comment could be chosen as comment of the week.



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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.




News
📍Join us for The Chic Assignment for August.

📍Take my new eCourse, Carry Yourself with Poise. There are so many amazing ladies on this course, bonding and building friendships as we rally around elegant living. Tamara writes, "I absolutely adored this course! One of the best investments I have ever made in my life. Jennifer, I would like to thank you for taking the time to create a course that is enriching. I look forward future courses."

📍Become a member of The Daily Connoisseur through the MEMBERSHIPS feature. I do one livestream as well 3 episodes of my new Vodcast (a video podcast) per month. (Link must be accessed on a computer.)

📍Thank you for your wonderful support of my new book, CONNOISSEUR KIDS.

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Thank you, Madame Chic Đầu tiên là cảm ơn tất cả vì đã làm việc vất vả để tạo ra quyển sách quý báu này. Lối hành văn Jen: * * * (Mình chưa thật sự thấy thu hút lắm trong hình thái diễn đạt) Kiến thức: * * * * Độ thực tế: * * * * Độ có tâm của tác giả: * * * * * (Mình cực kì thích cách mà Jennifer L.Scott đưa tên các nhân vật và tình tiết trong phim vào ấy, làm sao để sau khi xem xong phim mà vẫn nhớ được mọi thứ nhỉ =))) Mình thì chả nhớ gì ngoài mấy anh đẹp trai, đùa đấy) #madamechic #jenniferlscott #parisstyle #recommend #book #review

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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!



Thank you for watching today's video. I hope it gave you great homemaking inspiration. Let us know your thoughts and your comment could be chosen as comment of the week on The Daily Connoisseur.


*NEW* Join The Chic Society on YouTube and become a member of The Daily Connoisseur.

Visit my newly designed Author Website

Shop my Amazon page for a comprehensive list of my favorite things and mentions on the blog.

Facebook facebook.com/JenniferLScottAuthor

Twitter @JL_Scott

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Take my affordable eCourses on the POISE *NEW course*, debt-free living, and efficiency at home




FTC: This video is not sponsored. I also use affiliate links, including Amazon affiliate links which means I get a small commission from any purchases made at no cost to you. Thank you for your support.