Most of the time I find that the advice of “old-fashioned,” pre-1950s homemaking is still relevant to modern life. It may manifest a little differently, but at its core, many aspects are the same. One of them is shopping. In spite of a heavy emphasis in the old days on all things frugal, the advice on secondhand and thrift shopping…

While not homemaking-related, this will be an item of interest for those who’ve enjoyed my book. Some time ago, I realized that I was in the neighborhood of the Amish schoolhouse where I taught during my second year of teaching. I asked my husband if he could pull into the driveway so I could take a picture. The schoolhouse sits…

I found out that trying to do too much without planning how best to accomplish it was like borrowing from a loan shark–it meant physical bankruptcy sooner or later. Nature may honor an overdraft for a time, but she extorts pay in the shape of wrecked health, discomfort to the family, and doctors’ bills. -Iowa Farm Woman, 1915 Does anyone…

The following letters appeared in The Farmer’s Wife magazine and illustrate the age-long struggle women face in achieving a balanced life. (“Social media” in 1938–in this case, magazines–moved much more slowly. It took 4 months to see the response to the initial letter to the editor!) Although I cannot say that I completely agree with either woman, I do lean…