A "Real Life" ~ Snippets

May I never forget the “real life” I was raised with so that I can daily live with a grateful heart…

I grew up in a two-bedroom home sharing a room with my two younger brothers until I was ten. This was normal. In our home, there was never money for remodeling or redecorating. We wore hammy-down clothing and then continued to pass them down to others in the family. We ate what food was put on our plates, never wasting as we were taught to be thankful for the food we had. There was no individual catering of menus to each of our desires. And yet this was all normal.

Somehow along the way, our culture has begun to accept the wealthy lifestyle as one of normal. And when it isn’t your own, you begin to feel discontent and ungrateful because it seems everyone else lives it but you. You begin to accumulate debt to satisfy your desire to keep up with the Joneses. But none of these things will ever satisfy as there is always something better, newer and more luxurious. And sadly, none of this is normal. 

It is living within your means which brings true prosperity. You don’t have the anxiety of endless bills to cripple your joy each month. We should view our hardworking husband as wealth and our children as riches. Our faith in God gives great contentment and peace. This concept, once comprehended, is true earthly treasure.

This lifestyle is “normal” (or once was 😞).

So what does one do to appreciate their humble, normal life?

“I make myself rich by making my wants few.”

~ Henry David Thoreau

“Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

~ Philippians 4:11-13

Pictured: Our little farmhouse (in which we raised our little family) with all its imperfections made the most glorious of memories. Bittersweet as they often were with its challenges to survive but, you guessed it, it was all quite normal.

How Much Do I Love Homemaking? ~ Let Me Count the Ways

As of late, numerous people have been asking me "what will I do?" now that I finished home education in our little nest. I suppose that now that this is a house-full of adults, a full-time homemaker doesn't seem necessary. But honestly it feels like my golden years have begun and I can’t wait to continue my homemaking journey! There are still so many people to tend to (the homemakers walls extend beyond her own home), projects to try and pantries to prettify. The home is one big canvas of opportunity and now that a few extra hours have been gifted to me, there is no other place I would rather spend my time!

"We often take our homes for granted. But when we steep ourselves in our home, a deep sense of place begins to emerge. Life becomes more meaningful. We begin to have a greater spiritual awareness of what our home is and should be. Perhaps our most inspiring thought is that our homes, if we are to live well in them, require and deserve a lifetime of the most careful attention. A home absorbs caretaking like a sponge. All the hours we spend tending to it are never in vain, for everything we give to our home, is in turn, given back to us. Our homes will be only as generous and nurturing as the effort we invest in them."

~ Mrs. Dunwoody's Excellent Instructions for Homekeeping

by Miriam Lukken

And as I was pondering all the lovely little homemaking joys, I immediately thought of the title of Elizabeth Browning's poem...

"How do I love thee? Let me count the ways."

I have a waterfall of feelings on the subject and I think it would be easiest if I sorted them out into little posts -- like laundry 🧺 piles I suppose!

Some of my reasons may seem shallow to some and soul stirring to others. It will either make sense or I will appear utterly insane. That is the way of a homemaker. Much of the beauty is in the ordinary tasks, the tiny details that make up a grand though humble life, the small routines, the orderly approaches to a home-centered world. We each experience it differently. You may love a quiet home with soft surroundings and floral fragrances while others enjoy upbeat music and the constant scent of brewed coffee.

How Do I Love Homemaking? Let me Count the Ways... Will you join me?

The Blessings of Old-Fashioned Work ~ Part Five

“Have regular hours for work and play; make each day both useful and pleasant, and prove that you understand the worth of time by employing it well. Then youth will bring few regrets, and life will become a beautiful success.” 

~ Louisa May Alcott, Little Women

Dear gentle reader, we can not end this series on "The Blessings of Old Fashioned Work" until one more thought is conveyed. Old fashioned work is NOT a blessing when you over-tax yourself. Your family needs a strong and capable woman to manage the home. Not only to physically prepare the meals and clean the messes but to be strong in mind and spiritually sound. We can't wipe ourselves out from so much work that we don't have patience for those precious children in our care and the stamina required to be a godly helpmeet to our husband.

We must leave time in our schedules to study the word of God so that we may influence our home in His guidance and direction. We must allow time in our day to hug our children and kiss our spouse. We must carve out time to lift our feet and rest our weary bodies in order to maintain our invaluable health.

"Work is not always required.
There is such a thing as sacred idleness."

~ George MacDonald

If you feel unproductive when resting, read something of use (some of my favorites are here), pick up a needle and thread and work on your mending pile, embellish pieces with embroidery to feather your cozy nest, or place a hook in your hand to craft blankets and other items to bless the home.

"...a prudent wife is from the Lord."

~ Proverbs 19:14b

"PRU'DENT, a. Cautious; circumspect; practically wise; careful of the consequences of enterprises, measures or actions; cautious not to act when the end is of doubtful utility, or probably impracticable.

The prudent man looketh well to his going. Prov 14.

A prudent man foreseeth the evil and hideth himself. Prov 22.

1. Dictated or directed by prudence; as prudent behavior.

2. Foreseeing by instinct; as the prudent crane.

3. Frugal; economical; as a prudent woman; prudent expenditure of money.

4. Wise; intelligent."

~ Webster's 1828 Dictionary

Remember, it is not a workaholic wife that is a blessing, but a prudent woman. One who knows when a task needs to be done and when a child needs to be held. One who knows when to refresh her body instead of tackling another project. There is a balance. And I pray for wisdom that every one of us can find that balance and be a true blessing to our home, by practicing the arts of old fashioned labor while caring for our family and being good stewards of our health.

"Her children arise up, and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praiseth her.
Give her of the fruit of her hands;
and let her own works praise her in the gates."

~ Proverbs 31:28, 31

"The noblest thing in the world is honest labor. It is the very preservative principle of the universe. Wise labor brings order out of chaos; it turns deadly bogs and swamps into grain-bearing fields; it rears cities; it adorns the earth with architectural monuments, and beautifies them with divinest works of art... Work, therefore, with pride and gladness, for thereby you will be united by a common bond with all the best and noblest who have lived, who are now living, and who shall ever be born."

~ The Royal Path of Life, 1882

{See part one , part two, part three and part four of this series.}

This post may be shared with some or all of the following link-ups: The Art of Home-Making Mondays, Modest Mom Monday's, Monday's Musings, Make Your Home Sing Monday, Good Morning Mondays,  The Scoop, Titus 2sdays, Titus 2 Tuesdays, Roses of Inspiration, Tuesdays with a Twist, Raising Homemakers, Wise Woman Link Up, Homestead Blog Hop,  Wow Us Wednesdays, Wildcrafting Wednesday, Coffee and Conversation, So Much at Home, Homemaking Thursdays, Home Sweet Home, Home Acre Hop, From the Farm Blog Hop, Farmgirl Friday, Front Porch Friday Blog Hop, Awesome Life Friday Link Up, Simply Natural Saturdays and Clever Chicks Blog Hop. Thank you lovely ladies for hosting these. All paintings by Arthur John Esley.

The Blessings of Old Fashioned Work ~ Part Four

“If this country is ever demoralized,

it will come from trying to live without work.” 

~ Abraham Lincoln

Besides the brilliant sense of accomplishment, healthy lifestyle of physical activity and the sweetness of $avings, there is something morally and spiritually strengthening when involving oneself in old fashioned labor. It is the blessed business that keeps you out of everyone else's business.

"A life of full and constant employment is the only safe and happy one. If we suffer the mind and body to be unemployed, our enjoyments, as well as our labors, will be terminated. One of the minor uses of steady employment is, that it keeps one out of mischief; for truly an idle brain is the devil's workshop, and a lazy many the devil's bolster. To be occupied is to be possessed as by a tenant, whereas to be idle is to be empty; and when the doors of the imagination are opened, temptation finds a ready access, and evil thoughts come trooping in. It is observed at sea that men are never so much disposed to grumble and mutiny as when least employed. Hence an old captain, when there was nothing else to do, would issue the order to "scour the anchor."'

~ The Royal Path of Life, 1882

As the saying goes, "idle hands are the devil's workshop". How many busybodies would be unemployed the minute they were introduced to some old fashioned work and its blessed cousin called "industry"? At the end of day, they (or we) would be too exhausted to cause any mischief! 

"For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread."

~2 Thessalonians 3:10-12

Perhaps one reason that God created work for Adam and Eve, was to simply keep them out of trouble. Many of us may say we are very busy, too busy, in fact. But I do suggest that though we may be "busy", we are not being "industrious". Perhaps we are busy checking our emails, updating our social media accounts and chit-chatting on the phone. Although there is nothing wrong with any of these, when it is not mixed in with a goodly dose of work, one can slip and fall into the world of gossip, idleness and meddling.

The wholesome lifestyle of old fashioned labor keeps you productive, a blessing to your family and is even a testimony to your faith.

"And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not. I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully."

~ 1 Timothy 5:13-14

Ladies, let us keep ourselves "busy" with the good things in life, real "old fashioned labor" that produces tangible and blessed, beautiful fruit! Raising our children, feeding our minds with useful information, stocking our pantries, maintaining gardens, serving those in need, creative handiwork and so forth. These are the things which God smiles upon! It will transform you into a Titus-2 testimony. Old fashioned work, combined with a healthy dose of the "fear of the Lord", is what made the Proverbs 31 woman shine. And it will make you radiate, like a precious gem, to all who exist in your little world too!

"Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

She looketh well to the ways of her household,

and eateth not the bread of idleness."

~ Proverbs 31:10, 27

{See part one , part two, part three, part four and part five of this series.}

{Note: All these beautiful and nostalgic paintings were created by the talented Benjamin Wu.

This post may be shared with some or all of the following link-ups: The Art of Home-Making Mondays, Modest Mom Monday's, Monday's Musings, Make Your Home Sing Monday, Good Morning Mondays,  The Scoop, Titus 2sdays, Titus 2 Tuesdays, Roses of Inspiration, Tuesdays with a Twist, Raising Homemakers, Wise Woman Link Up, Homestead Blog Hop,  Wow Us Wednesdays, Wildcrafting Wednesday, Coffee and Conversation, So Much at Home, Homemaking Thursdays, Home Sweet Home, Home Acre Hop, From the Farm Blog Hop, Farmgirl Friday, Front Porch Friday Blog Hop, Awesome Life Friday Link Up, Simply Natural Saturdays and Clever Chicks Blog Hop. Thank you lovely ladies for hosting these.

The Blessing$ of Old Fashioned Work ~ Part Three

She cuts the lengthy lawn with strength and purpose, in straight, orderly rows. The green grass spurts from the machine and the aroma is fresh and earthy. The dew has slowly evaporated but her shoes are still wet with the heavenly waters. 

Though she sweats, she smiles. 

She does contribute to the income, in these old fashioned ways, by "working willingly with her hands".  

No need to hire a gardener. No need to purchase a gym membership. 

She "works out" at home... and for the home... 

She is a "keeper at home".

"He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand:

but the hand of the diligent maketh rich."

~ Proverbs 10:4

When considering the bountiful blessings of old fasioned-labor, we mustn't forget the sweetness of $avings, especially in todays challenging economy. Taking some tasks into our own capable hands might be a financial incentive for those who are struggling. Not only will you receive the benefits and satisfaction of a job well done, health for the exercise it provides, but you are also rewarded with monetary compensation. Instead of money going out, you have kept it "in".

It is ironic how we pay a gardener to mow our lawns because we have no "time" to maintain them. Yet at the end of the day, many of us "spend" the time and head out to the gym to exercise. Some pay out funds to sit inside a sauna to sweat. We rely on indoor machines and equipment in a stale room while the mower, hedgers and clippers could have provided physical activity the old fashioned way, in the fresh outdoors, in manageable daily doses while being productive and economical at home.

"It has been said that the best cure for hard times is to cheat the doctor by being temperate; the lawyer, by keeping out of debt; the demagogue, by voting for honest men; and poverty, by being industrious."

~ The Royal Path of Life, 1882

In the same way, growing your own vegetables will save you a pretty penny! There is also the task of washing your own car, cleaning your own house, cooking your own meals from scratch and the labor list goes on.

"The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing:

but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat."

~ Proverbs 13:4

Perhaps we should consider going back to "work at home" and reduce the excess spending:

A weekly lawn service can cost between $65-$90 for cutting, leaf blowing, hedging and shrub trimming.

A monthly fitness club membership averages $35-40 per month.

A car wash costs on the average of $5-15 for a basic service.

Using the clothesline instead of a dryer will also offer significant savings.

This totals at least $200 per month and doesn't include half of what is spent in many homes on "old fashioned labor".

"Simple industry and thrift will go far toward making any person of ordinary working faculty comparatively independent in his means. Almost every working man may be so, provided he will carefully husband his resources and watch the little outlets of useless expenditure. A penny is a very small matter, yet the comfort of thousands of families depends upon the proper saving and spending of pennies."

~ The Royal Path of Life, 1882

"Washington and his lady were examples of industry, plainness, frugality and economy - and thousands of others of the wealthy, labored in the field and kitchen, in older times, before folly superseded wisdom, and fashion drove comon sense and economy off the track." ~ The Royal Path of Life, 1882

The old fashioned way of working with our own hands makes "cents" in many ways! Not only does it bless the bank account, it blesses you with health and the sweet satisfaction of a job well done.  Dear ladies, when you labor at home, you are contributing to the family income! Being a keeper at home is a beautiful, noble and rewarding profession. Let us not forget the benefits that come from your dedicated hands and the advantage your home has financially because you invest your time and energy into it!

"The noblest man of earth is he who puts his hands cheerfully

and proudly to honest labor.

Labor is a business and ordinance of God."

~ The Royal Path of Life, 1882

{See part one , part two, part three, part four and part five of this series.}

*Note: I realize that many of you are in challenging stages with many responsibilities, specifically those caring for little children or with an illness. I am suggesting and encouraging these opportunities for women who have the extra time, have become sedentary or are in financial need. 

This post may be shared with some or all of the following link-ups: The Art of Home-Making Mondays, Modest Mom Monday's, Monday's Musings, Make Your Home Sing Monday, Good Morning Mondays,  The Scoop, Titus 2sdays, Titus 2 Tuesdays, Roses of Inspiration, Tuesdays with a Twist, Raising Homemakers, Wise Woman Link Up, Homestead Blog Hop,  Wow Us Wednesdays, Wildcrafting Wednesday, Coffee and Conversation, So Much at Home, Homemaking Thursdays, Home Sweet Home, Home Acre Hop, From the Farm Blog Hop, Farmgirl Friday, Front Porch Friday Blog Hop, Awesome Life Friday Link Up, Simply Natural Saturdays and Clever Chicks Blog Hop. Thank you lovely ladies for hosting these.  Some of the laundry paintings are by Charles Curran.  Source of information for monthly fees. 

The Blessings of Old Fashioned Work ~ Part Two

"In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return."

~ Genesis 3:19

Ever since sin entered the world, work became a sweaty and toilsome event. Most people go out of their way to avoid it... But is the fruit of idleness that sweet?  I think it may be costing us and in many different ways. In fact, it may be that old fashioned labor yields the sweetest fruit.

“There is nothing wrong with God's plan that man should

earn his bread by the sweat of his brow.” 

~ Laura Ingalls Wilder, Writings to Young Women (Volume 1: Wisdom and Virtues)

Working with our hands blesses our emotional, financial, spiritual and even physical needs. A good dose of honest labor keeps us healthy with its therapeutic and stress relieving abilities along with the common, everyday use of our muscles for exercise. 

“Gardens are not made by singing 'Oh, how beautiful!' and sitting in the shade.” 

~ Rudyard Kipling, Complete Verse

For example, the act of growing your own produce creates a gentle workout for the homemaker, in slow and steady movements. It affords us a moment of fresh air, a de-cluttering of our over-stimulated minds, and a splash of sunshine while stretching out our burdened bodies to keep ourselves agile and strong. The outcome is much more than just vegetables.

We can also consider the sweet blessings of sweat. Our loved ones are being subjected to many diseases in this modern world. An overload of toxins in our body is said to be a major contributor to many of our health problems. Can it be that we are depriving ourselves of the healing powers of sweat since much of our lives are being spent sedentary in front of a screen? Are we removing that opportunity to release excess toxins that are brewing havoc in our bodies when we pass on that old fashioned work?

(Note: What is Making Me Sick? and Your Genes are Not Your Destiny are both favorite videos featuring Dr. Micheal Bernui which shares this thought along with some other encouraging ways to live healthy lives from a godly perspective.)

"Labor, honest labor, is mighty and beautiful. "

~ The Royal Path of Life, 1882

The act of sweating also: "improves circulation, accelerates metabolism, opens skin pores, cleanses the skin, boosts the immune system, uses energy and burns calories, relaxes body and mind, great for stress relief, helps body release toxins, sweating is a form of exercise, helps body to regulate its temperature and cool down, anti-aging – produces softer skin, releases endorphins that help with pain, improves tone and flexibility of skin, critical factor in body’s hydration process, contains natural antibiotics that destroy harmful skin bacteria, can reduce cholesterol and sodium levels and may improve sleep."  (source)

It makes one wonder, what have we given up?

There is also our physicial need of vitamin D (which is actually a hormone) to consider. Sunshine cheerfully gives this to us! Fifteen minutes of time in the sun without sunscreen is recommended by the Nat'l Institution of Health. This is especially important for older women because it gets harder for your body to produce vitamin D as you age. This time in the sun will benefit in the following areas including an overactive immune system, heart disease, osteoporosis, breast, colon cancers, helps fight insomnia and depression. It also aids your body to absorb calcium and utilize magnesium which affects many areas of the human body (source).

“Go on with your work as usual, for work is a blessed solace.” 

~ Louisa May Alcott, Little Women

Old fashioned labor is also a wonderful stress-reliever which promotes health in its own right. There is healing power in scrubbing and scouring as we release bottled up emotions, hurts and pains. It can be quite soothing to the soul! One can even bring some indoor work to the outdoors in order to breathe in the fresh air, soak in the vitamin D while applying some elbow-grease to those long awaited household tasks.

“There's nothing like active employment, I suppose, to console the afflicted.” 

~ Anne Brontë

It is so easy for the modern-day homemaker to curl up and hibernate in our cozy and comfortable cottages but is this the healthy lifestyle that God intended for His people? While I am not suggesting that women go out and break their backs like some of our ancestors were forced to do because of poverty and survival, I have been contemplating my own level of activity on our farm. I have been consciously attempting to labor more in the outdoors with the fresh air, in the clean earth and surrounded by God's fascinating creation. Are you interested in rebuilding an old fashioned lifestyle consisting of a daily dose of gentle womanly labor?

A good start would be to spend at least thirty minutes each day in some form of physical, outdoor work:

Some ideas could be picking fruit from a bursting tree, purposely stretching your limbs to find that ripe tender piece and gently lowering it into a basket.

Perhaps you can do some foraging by taking a brisk walk in search of medicinal plants. Harvest your herbs by the bunches to be dried into teas and/or made into tinctures. Or use your findings to prepare a fresh, daily brew of herbal tea for your family. You can call the moments spent searching, your "tea time". Bring the children along!

For some of us it could be the useful act of hanging clothes to dry in the sweet summer sun!



Consider raking up leaves, pulling of weeds, sweeping the sidewalks, stacking up firewood, pruning, planting an herb garden, or even doing some decorative landscaping.

Last year I took over the lawn. My husband was struggling to keep it up during the busy harvest (when hay grows, grass grows!) so I adopted that old push mower as my own. Since our back yard is large, it takes me between 3-4 hours to complete. In the summer heat I am exhausted and sweaty, but it feels so good! I listen to inspirational music and the process is very therapeutic. (It is also toddler friendly since at the time, my little nephew was with us, and it kept him busy playing "run away from the mower" the entire time.)

Let us look around and see what we could be contributing with our hands that will in turn, contribute to the health and happiness of our body, soul, and ultimately our future.

"Industry has a physical blessing; limbs strengthened by exercise, and sinews braced by exertion; every organ performing its legitimate duty, and kept in its appointed office; the blood circulated by motion, and the joints pliant from use; disease repelled by internal vigor; appetite created by the calls of increasing strength; rest rendered welcome by previous labor; sleep becomes acceptable after busy working..."

  ~ The Royal Path of Life, 1882

{See part one , part two, part three, part four and part five of this series.}

This post may be shared with some or all of the following link-ups: The Art of Home-Making Mondays, Modest Mom Monday's, Homestead Barn Hop, Amaze Me Monday, Monday's Musings, Marriage Monday, Titus 2sdays, Titus 2 Tuesdays, Raising Homemakers, Make Bake Create, Wise Woman Link Up, Wow Us Wednesdays, Wildcrafting Wednesday, The Scoop, Coffee and Conversation, So Much at Home, Homemaking Thursdays, Home Sweet Home, Hearts for Home Thursdays, Growing in Grace Thursdays, Home Acre Hop, From the Farm Blog Hop, Farmgirl Friday, Front Porch Friday Blog Hop, Simple Meals Friday, Cultivate Nourishing, Simply Natural Saturdays and Clever Chicks Blog Hop. Thank you lovely ladies for hosting these. Paintings by George Faulkner Wetherbee, Julien Dupre, Camille Pissarro, Berthe Morisot and Daniel Ridgeway Knight.

The Blessings of Old Fashioned Work ~ Part One

"I wish to preach, not the doctrine of ignoble ease,

but the doctrine of the strenuous life."

~Theodore Roosevelt

Will you hear a quote like this from modern day man? The feeling one gets from today's society is that work is to be scorned. It is something we should try to avoid. We are taught instead to embrace a lifestyle of as much play as possible.

"Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth."

~ Ephesians 4:28

The Bible teaches a completely different doctrine. It teaches that man was meant to work till the sweat of his brow. It teaches that we are not to eat the bread of idleness. And most importantly, it teaches that when we do work, we should do it as unto the Lord.

"For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat."

~ 2 Thessalonians 3:10

Our family has found it important to teach the doctrine of a work-filled life. After all, the life of a Christian is one where we are to pick up a cross. That is anything but easy. 

When we embrace our work for the day, know that it is expected of us, we won't be disappointed or disillusioned by our lot in life. The key is to realize the blessings it brings. And there is blessings!

“Earning happiness means doing good and working, not speculating and being lazy. Laziness may look inviting, but only work gives you true satisfaction.”

~ Anne Frank, The Diary of a Young Girl

There is great accomplishment in the completion of a task. To see a stack of firewood which you prepared for the winter brings a definite delight. It may not be a promised vacation but it is a promised warmth that brings you joy. A cultivated garden brings satisfaction that a purchase from the produce department will never give. A freshly mowed lawn rewards you with a beautiful view from your kitchen window. When one looks at work from this point of view, it is a blessing. 

“God has so arranged the world that work is necessary, and He gives us hands and strength to do it. The enjoyment of leisure would be nothing if we had only leisure. It is the joy of work well done that enables us to enjoy rest, just as it is the experiences of hunger and thirst that make food and drink such pleasures.” 

~ Elisabeth Elliot, Discipline: The Glad Surrender

Work may look different in each of our households. Some live in the city, some on ranches and farms, but there is always a task that needs doing wherever you reside. Perhaps your season is one with small children. That is truly a job worth investing in! You are training future workers of God. For others, it may be a skirt that needs mending (instead of purchasing new), sometimes it is produce that needs preserving, other times it is to clean and organize that house of ours until it sparkles and shines. But in all of these moments, it is a blessing to be industrious, a blessing to do "old fashioned work" because "in all labour there is profit" (Proverbs 14:23a). Let's embrace our work ladies!

“No man needs sympathy because he has to work, because he has a burden to carry. Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.” 

~ Theodore Roosevelt

Note: When this author is speaking of work, she is not suggesting the "workaholic" person who has a cell phone attached to their ear and an electronic device glued to their eyes. She is speaking of old fashioned labor. The kind that makes one move or sweat, the kind it takes to raise a family.

{See part one , part two, part three, part four and part five of this series.}

This post may be shared with some or all of the following link-ups: The Art of Home-Making Mondays, Modest Mom Monday's, Monday's Musings, Make Your Home Sing Monday, Good Morning Mondays,  The Scoop, Titus 2sdays, Titus 2 Tuesdays, Roses of Inspiration, Tuesdays with a Twist, Raising Homemakers, Wise Woman Link Up, Homestead Blog Hop,  Wow Us Wednesdays, Wildcrafting Wednesday, Coffee and Conversation, So Much at Home, Homemaking Thursdays, Home Sweet Home, Hearts for Home Thursdays, Home Acre Hop, Growing in Grace Thursdays, From the Farm Blog Hop, Farmgirl Friday, Front Porch Friday Blog Hop, Awesome Life Friday Link Up, Simply Natural Saturdays and Clever Chicks Blog Hop. Thank you lovely ladies for hosting these. Thank you lovely ladies for hosting these.