Greetings again, ladies. Allow me to introduce you to my only daughter, Mrs. Aiden James Humphrey, of Florence, Oregon. Mr. Humphrey is one of the l.a.f. contributing writers, and is a full time minister. He is an excellent sketch artist and watercolors beautiful pictures of lighthouses.  Lillibeth recently stayed in her family home for several days, and I had the opportunity to take pictures of her while working. Read more about her in the interview, below.

 

This first one shows her in an Elizabeth Lee nursing dress with a collar from a McCall's pattern, in a pastel plaid cotton, when she made herself.

 

 Here she is, folding laundry. It looks like she is sorting things out just fine!  I would like to thank Mrs. Ila Meadows for preparing this picture for me on one of her special programs. Can you tell something about Mrs. Ila Meadows by the way I wrote her name?  And now, let us look in at a conversation with Mrs. Humphrey:

 
 How did you become a full time homemaker? 
      
My mother made me do it. (she taught me how). I never thought I'd be off on my own with a career! I always knew I'd be  a homemaker.

 

 What do you consider an ideal routine to follow in the home?

 Getting the house tidy the night before; having a good breakfast; doing a load of laundry every day (all the way to the folding and putting away); writing a note or letter to go out in the mail before lunch; washing dishes after every meal; doing schoolwork with Isaac; digging around in the garden (or taking a walk); taking a nap; having a family dinner and then doing something 'fun' together (going on a drive, playing music together, or looking at books or magazines).This is the ideal: the one thing that is just about  always 'routine' at our home is Isaac's bedtime ritual of Bible stories and songs from the hymn book, and a prayer.

 

 What can you tell women about preparation for marriage?

Before they get married:
How to clean a bathroom.
How to logically prepare a meal, from nutritional balance to getting it all done at the same time (and not choosing something that takes two hours to cook when everyone is hungry Now).
I think mothers should hand the house over to their daughters gradually, so that by the time they are married, they know how to take care of it pretty much by themselves. This is really important if the daughter ends up hours away from her mother and sisters and has no help with the house. They need to know how to sew a button on, and mend certain garments (jeans to silk blouses), and at least the basic sewing stitches and terms (seam,hem, etc.).

To Prepare for Marriage: learn how to iron their dad's shirts and such, as practice for their husbands' work clothes. Learning to make lunches to pack (and when to make them) helps, too.

 

 

   Sewing & other 'home arts',  writing letters and other writing projects, rubber stamping, and of course reading good books! Right now, the 'interests' are the baby and the toddler!

  
 I make some 'everyday' dresses: looser dresses with short sleeves (or sleeves that can be rolled up), gathered skirts, in cotton fabrics.
Sometimes a 'church' dress that has been worn out becomes  a housekeeping dress. As a preacher's wife, I go to classes and events all week, and just don't bother to change all the time, so most of my 'everyday' dresses serve a dual purpose, and don't look either too dressy or too casual.  I try to remember to wear an apron, too!
For church, I have 'dressier' dresses, and am trying to remember to wear my hat to church. Some older ladies wear hats every Sunday, and I want to encourage the younger ladies to do so as well.
I have worn gloves out shopping, too, as I inherited some from my
grandmother. I think it makes sense to wear hats and gloves when you are out. 
I found out a long time ago that I was uncomfortable shopping. I felt as if what I wore was always wrong, and people (especially young people) were staring at me. Either my dresses didn't fit me and looked frumpy, or I tried to wear jeans and look like everybody else and felt awful. I think the solution is to always dress up really trim and neat and nice when you go out, down to the stockings and shiny shoes! I feel better that way. People think you are on your way to a big event, but that's ok! For travel, comfortable clothing is a must; no  tie belts in the back, or buttons or Anything on the back. Dresses or suits made of fabrics that make you sweat  are  not a good idea. It has been a long time since i have traveled, but when I went with my mother to Australia, we wore matching suits and felt really good. We were easy to spot, too!

 

  Who are some women in history that you admire, and why?

 Queen Victoria, for most of the obvious reasons. First of all, she had a respect for the Bible. She had a large family and loved  all of her
children. She was a good example to her country, and I think God blessed her with a long reign. I think that even though she didn't influence everything, I think she was like a pebble in a pond, and the ripples effected the whole era... what we call the Victorian Era.
I also admire some of the President's wives, with Abigail Adams topping the list. She was wellhead, managed a farm and  raised her children, wrote  a lot of letters to her husband and kept up with political affairs, all while her husband was frequently away. How could anyone accuse her of being repressed and not living to her full potential because she didn't have women's lib? 
 

Just after dawn, when the birds are awake and singing, the sun is shining, the dew is glistening. I wish I was awake when it happens.
 

Here she is  with her helper, 3 year old Isaac, making the bed. She is wearing another Elizabeth Lee pattern, this time sewn in a blue calico.  

Here is the bed all finished. This is the room they stay in.

 

And now she is having a break, holding 6 week old John-Paul. Her Elizabeth Lee nursing dress was sewn by Rebecca Newton, a previous cover girl. It has a vest attached that ties in back. It is one of my favorite styles.

 

What Women Are Doing Some of us received the delightful newsletter from Miss Amy Newton. I think newsletters are the greatest way of influencing those within your sphere. My children all had newsletters when they were younger. It was a way of putting down on paper the things they were learning and a way of teaching and helping others. If you only reach ten people with a newsletter, that is 10 people who will be informed about "the real world."

 

Women are learning to live both comfortably and beautifully without going to work and bringing in a salary, even unmarried women. If you do not get used to two incomes in the first place, you will find it much easier to adjust. Two incomes only raises your credit level and your spending level. One income teaches you to live within your means and be creative. As my husband, Mr. Sherman, has often said in sermons, "It isn't the high cost of living that is the problem [with women having to work], it is the cost of HIGH living.  Most women do not work because it is a fulfilling expression of their talents. Rather, they work because they must pay for things. There are many women on the l.a.f board willing to give ideas to help you learn to live without that second income. Ladies, your presence is very much needed at home.

 

Women are also concerned about footwear for the home. I do not recommend anything with an open toe.  Things drop and spill, and you can easily be injured. That is why it is not really safe to walk around in your slippers all day. Sports shoes are unattractive and can be ungraceful. Dress shoes are not comfortable if you are on your feet awhile. My recommendation is the little boot that comes to the ankle. These boots are feminine (can't wait til they are produced in white and other colors) and protect your ankles, toes and heels.  I practically live in mine, except for church. A lady named Anna Allen,  on the  l.a.f.  board has posted that a good company for these boots is called Famous Footwear. I was able to find mine at Wal Mart. These boots, especially if they lace up, support the foot well, and you can insert some comfy footpads inside to make them soft inside.

 

Women are wearing shawls. To make an easy shawl, get 2 yards of fabric, and hem up each end. To these ends you can add fringe or ruffles if you like.  Some fancier fabrics that do not ravel, will not even need hemming. Just get two yards cut, and you've got your shawl. I noticed some fuzzy looking fabric at Jo-An's in pastel colors of the rainbow, that would not need hemmed. Try glittery chiffons for summer, and wools for winter. Try any kind of fabric you wish. Make them to co-ordinate with your dresses.

 

A Sad Story  The military is luring women who have no goals or purpose in life, to join, with the promise of training, travel and adventure. One such young woman, with beautiful, naturally blond hair, was finally persuaded to join. Her family did not know how to guide her, and she didn't know "what to do with her future." (This is a by-word of modernists and feminists: "your future.")  She joined, and immediately her hair was cut, and partly shaved.  She was standing in a hallway reading a bulletin board, when a man came out of the men's restroom nearby. "I'm finished, now. You can go in." he said.  She was startled for a moment, and then it dawned on her that he thought she was a man. She went into an empty room and cried. But, it was too late. She had signed the papers. Once you join the military, you are under someone else's authority, and you no longer have a life of your own. You are there for the duration. Who knows what will happen to this girl. Will she finish the course unscathed? Or, will she return hardened and bitter?  I was told this story by the aunt of the woman who joined the military.  We need more women who have rejected feminism to warn young women who are contemplating joining the military. We need to show aimless young girls the alternatives and choices in their lives. Feminism claims to give women "choices" but they really only limit their choices and never reveal the choice of the home and family.

 

Book recommendation:  High praise to "My Little House Sewing Book" and 'My Little House Craft Book", which both include patterns and diagrams, and all for hand stitching. These would be delightful books to teach young girls. You could save their work (a prairie bonnet, a braided coaster, a needle case, and much more!) and put it in a little chest or cover a box. These books are very good quality, with sturdy glossy covers. I would also suggest that you get these books and make all the things yourself, first, as samples, to see how they are put together. There is no machine sewing, and crafts are very relaxing. Women were less nervous in the days when needle craft of some kind was the norm. There is something about the hands working that engages the mind in a most relaxing way.  "Busy Hands, Happy Heart", as the saying goes. Or, "Hands to Work, Hearts to God." (taken from old samplers). 

 

It is a pleasure to serve all who receive this newsletter. Please inform me if you are having trouble receiving it.  May God richly bless you in your desire to be a keeper of the home.

 

Mrs. Stanley Sherman