"Once upon a time there was a wood-mouse, and her name was Mrs. Tittlemouse. She lived in a bank under a hedge. Such a funny house! There were yards and yards of sandy passages, leading to storerooms and nut-cellars and seed-cellars, all amongst the roots of the hedge...
There was a kitchen, a parlour, a pantry, and a larder. Also, there was Mrs. Tittlemouse's bedroom, where she slept in a little box bed! Mrs. Tittlemouse was a most terribly tidy particular little mouse..."
~ The Tale of Mrs. Tittlemouse by Beatrix Potter
You can only image the adoration I have towards Thomasina (Mrs. Tittlemouse for those who don't know her). She and I love so many similar things! From maintaining storerooms, cellars, a pantry and a larder to being a tidy, home-loving mouse! As spring has once again announced her arrival, I will begin our "Fun Friday" series once more. As I had written in my introduction of our Beatrix Potter Inspired Posts, perhaps I do this series each season "because there is so much disturbing things going on today and it can be therapeutic to ponder and dwell on the "good things" (Philippians 4:8). In any case, I think homemaking can be fun and this little series celebrates that!
The first year in the series began with an ode to Peter Rabbit and the second season was inspired by my favorite Mrs. Tiggy-winkle. Last spring we showcased posts by dear Thomasina Tittlemouse and I have included a round-up below of what was shared. This spring we will focus on the story "The Tale of the Pie and the Patty Pan". I do hope these whimsical posts bring joy to your homemaking day!
Absorbable Un-Paper Towels ~ A Tittlemouse Tutorial
"Bug-Be-Gone Spray" ~ A Tittlemouse Tutorial
Mrs. Tittlemouse's "Cottage Rose" Pantry Labels ~ Free Printable
"Old Fashioned" Furniture Polish ~ A Tittlemouse Tutorial
Thomasina's "Cottage Rose" Recipe Cards ~ Free Printable
Thomasina's Tip Sheet ~ Ways to Use Honey Printable
Thomasina's Weekly To-Do Lists and Practical Tips ~ Free Printable
For extra fun, we also shared a printable cover page and matching tabs in case you wanted to prepare a copy of "Mrs. Tittlemouse's Manual of Household Hints and Delights". This is simply a safe place you can store all of the Beatrix Potter inspired homemaking printables. You could think of it as a "printable portfolio" collection to store all your favorite printables until you are ready to use them. You will find the free download HERE if you are interested. The cover page is designed to slide into the front of the binder as a title page insert. The tabs are best printed on card stock, affixed with glue to card stock and staggered as you attach them.
As I mentioned before, some of the projects we share can also be done together with the children to encourage reading! Bring out the Beatrix Potter books and then prepare some of these useful items for a fun household-crafting day. These would also make nice gifts tucked away in baskets for spring!
All the fine print. 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, Tuesdays with a Twist, Raising Homemakers, Wise Woman Link Up, Homestead Blog Hop, Wow Us Wednesdays, Coffee and Conversation, Homemaking Thursdays, Home Sweet Home, Our Simple Homestead, Awesome Life Friday Link Up and Create, Bake, Grow & Gather. Thank you lovely ladies for hosting these. This post may contain affiliate links (which are merchant links that help to support this site at no additional cost to you if you purchase an item through them).
JES, I adore Beatrix Potter and all her darling characters, so your link jumped out at me from the link party. I'm going to enjoy this series!
ReplyDeleteGlad there are other "mature" folks like myself that appreciate such sweet stories still! :)
DeleteI'm waiting impatiently for your post on Jeremy Fisher! He was my favorite by far, though our daughters preferred the Tailor of Gloucester. ("No more twist!")
ReplyDeleteAw wonderful! Thanks for sharing!! I will keep those 2 in mind for next spring if I am still around! :)
DeleteAs always Jes, such a delight to visit your blog. We are heading into winter here in Australia and our Autumn has been soo wet. It is still quite warm though, so everything is still growing beautifully. Our winters are very mild here on the south coast on New South Wales and mostly its very pleasant as we are still able to grow our veggies and lovely winter flowers. Wishing you a very pleasant weekend.
ReplyDeleteBlessings Gail.
Thank you Gail for sharing a bit about your life! New South Wales sounds wonderful! We are also able to grow year round which is such a blessing! :)
DeleteOh, my beloved Thomasina !
ReplyDeleteI still haven't printed the "Cottage Rose" Recipe Cards, I have to click on the link you've posted and do it right now !
Grateful more and more for the lovable, cherished lady and friend you are,
I'm sending blessings on the remainder of your weekend
XOXO Dany
Thank you Dany! Your visits are always so sweet! :)
DeleteBeautiful post, JES. I haven't yet made the furniture polish, but it does sound like it would be good for our furniture.
ReplyDeleteHope you have a great weekend!
Let me know if you try it!
DeleteHave a wonderful weekend too! :)
These are adorable. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
GG
So very feminine and sweet! I love them. Thank you so much!
ReplyDeleteJES,
ReplyDeleteThis is such a sweet series and I love it so! Would you believe I have never read Beatrix Potter? Nope I never have, but your wonderful creativity is delightful and I am so glad you share!
XOXO
Vicky
Thanks Vicky! I always remember Peter Rabbit growing up but had never read all her stories until we started homeschooling. That opened up a wonderful world of literature to me... even these little stories at my old age :)
DeleteI just love these! -Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures
ReplyDeleteHappy Monday to you! I enjoyed reading your lovely post. It encouraged me this weekend to read my very first Beatrix Potter book about Mrs. Tittlemouse...so sweet. Reading was not a part of my growing up years, but I am slowly trying to change that during my more "mature" years. I hope to enjoy and learn from many books, but at this time am concentrating on light-hearted stories that I missed out on as a young girl.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the inspiration ~ Lynne
Thanks so much for sharing Lynne! That is so fun to hear! One lighthearted story I would recommend is Pollyanna! It is wonderful and sweet! :)
DeleteOops, sorry! I should have written my reply here rather than in a new comment! ~ Lynne
DeleteThank you, JES, for the recommendation - I will read Pollyanna next. I really liked the quote you recently used from that book in your post on making citrus cleaners to help with spring cleaning. After reading that post and also in your E-book, I now have a half-gallon jar of lemon peel vinegar and a smaller jar of orange peel vinegar "brewing" on the kitchen windowsill. Once they are ready I plan on using them to make the furniture polish spray and an all-purpose spray cleaner from your recipes. At some point I'd also like to make Mrs. Tittlemouse's furniture polish as I think our wood would really benefit from that. I first need to purchase the beeswax pastilles. :-)
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful! Thank you for sharing! Have a lovely week! :)
DeleteI always appreciate your Beatrix Potter inspired posts so much - thank you for sharing with Awesome Life Friday!
ReplyDelete