Setting Up Your Home to Slow Down Your Life

September is a beautiful month. The weather starts to cool off and it is the perfect time to enjoy the start of fall before the cold weather sets in.

I naturally tend to start focusing on the indoors during the course of this month. Schedules, education, and books become a part of life again for many homemakers who are managing a family. We’re focusing on these areas too this month, including the importance of getting your own education and not necessarily through a formal school. Reading and other ways of gaining knowledge is education and you can learn everything from homemaking to history to improve your life.

Some vegetables in season this month are: eggplant, broccoli, beets, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celeriac, celery, chicory, French beans, Jerusalem artichoke, snow peas, leeks, and mushrooms. It’s a perfect time to break out the crock-pot for slow cooking during your busy days and also a great time to enjoy soups and stews.

Take some time to enjoy our articles with ideas to create a home environment that is pleasing for you and your family. The Deluxe Edition was created to bring you ideas tailored to your needs with articles that are exclusive to the Homemaking-Cottage.


Setting Up Your Home to Slow Down Your Life
By Shiloah Baker

Life in the fast lane can sometimes be exhilarating, but many times it is overwhelming and leaves you feeling exhausted, unfulfilled, and unhappy. Many people do not realize how rich and full life is when you slow down and get rid of all the unnecessary.

If you want to start living your life at a slower pace, the place to begin is at home. Order and decorate your home in such a way that is creates an environment of peace, quiet, and stillness.

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A Homemaker’s Joy: Collecting Dishes

“Collecting is my joy; it gives me great satisfaction.”-Ursula Andress

There is something exciting and thrilling in treasure hunting, especially when you can get these treasures at a bargain.

As homemakers, what is something we use every day? Dishes. I am of a creative nature and I get tired of seeing the same dishes every day. I like a little variety. The budget doesn’t allow for purchasing several new sets of dishes to serve ten, but it does allow for me to find new-to-me dish sets used at a thrift store.

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One Day He’ll Be Perfect- until Then...
By Shiloah Baker

Fairy tales can be very misleading for poor unsuspecting young girls. We grow up hoping and waiting for that promised knight in shining armor to sweep us off of our feet, marry us and we’ll live happily ever after.

The trouble begins after the honeymoon wears off and we realize that our husband is not always that knight in shining armor, sometimes he behaves more like an ogre.

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Solitude equals Clarity
By Shiloah Baker

Perhaps it’s because I’m an escapist by nature or perhaps it is because there is so much going on around me, but I think the most clearly when surround myself with solitude. One of my favorite places to go in the house is in my room. It is quiet. It is mine...

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Family Gardening = Time Well Spent
By Jamie Turner

Just a hundred years ago it was unheard of not to have a kitchen garden. Sixty years ago families rallied behind the “victory garden” movement. Families of today are again starting to realize how valuable a garden can be for the budget and for connecting several generations of a family together.

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How to Share Your Blog with the World
By Jamie Turner

The information super highway has become a big universe made up of millions of blogs and websites. Each day hundreds of new sites are started on the internet. Your blog is just one twinkling star and can easily be overlooked or never noticed at all. To avoid this fate you must tell the world about your blog and connect with others.

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More articles are added each week so don’t forget to join our ezines for updates and keep checking the blog! Thank you for visiting us at the Homemaking-Cottage.com.

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Coming Home: Homemaking Cottage Deluxe

"A nation is what its homes are. With these it rises and falls, and it can rise no higher than the level of its home life." -Stephen S. Wise

In the world today there is much need of hope, joy, love and warmth. The best place to find this is in the home and within the family. Sadly society’s view of home life has changed over the years and we see much destruction of family life before our eyes. We are aware of this sad pandemic increasing daily in our world and the Homemaking Cottage’s mission is to inspire and uplift women in creating a warm, loving home- a safe haven from the world.

Summer is nearing its end as it heats up the earth in the month of August. It is this time of year that I naturally start gearing up for the fall. Autumn is a season of schooling and preparation for the long winter ahead. Homemakers tend to clean their homes in anticipation for the change of weather and knowing they will spend more time indoors.

As children head back to school most families find it is necessary to adjust or create new schedules for their now more busy lives. August is a good month to prepare and plan ahead for these changes and avoid the panic and stress that last minute planning can cause.

This month we’re still focusing on many outdoor homemaking responsibilities and fun in this warm weather, but we’re also bringing our focus on the inside of the home too. See some articles on homeschooling this month as well as many others. If you wish to see what’s new and are not a subscriber---yet---see the updates on the blog.

You may have noticed some changes on the Homemaking Cottage lately. At the end of July we added The Homemaking Cottage now has Facebook LIKE on the articles as well as article ratings! All of our URLS have changed "within" the site to more readable URLS----just FYI .

Now we’re on to the important things like learning, homemaking, families and more. Many blessings to you, my fellow homemaker.


The Imperfect Home is Perfect
By Shiloah Baker

House hunting for fun or seriously looking to buy can be quite an experience. Whenever I go into a model home that is decorated beautifully and is seemingly perfect I have two feelings. The first is a feeling of inspiration. I take mental notes on what I like and how I can recreate it from how the furniture is arranged to how the home is decorated. But at the same time I’m feeling inspired I’m also feeling a little disheartened. A homemaker who has young children at home or even a budget that won’t allow purchases of grand and expensive furniture can feel that her home will never measure up to such high standards. But, the question is really, is a home supposed to?

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The House is Organized, but How Do I Keep it This Way?

Getting the home organized is never easy, but sometimes keeping it organized can be almost as challenging. However, with some work and cooperation from the rest of the family, it will be easier. It takes time to get used to new habits, but with reminders (not nagging), everyone will be in the swing of things soon.

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Putting Up The Harvest
By Jamie Turner

A few generations ago homemakers everywhere saved money by putting up the harvest. It was a skill that had been passed down from generation to generation. Up until a few years ago it seemed like a dyeing art but then the economy took a turn for the worst. Once again this homemaking skill has become popular.

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Healthy Snacks for After School Treats
By Jamie Turner

“I’m hungry! I’m hungry! What’s for snack?”

Moms around the world know the drill as they often hear these words as kids get home from school. Kids need a healthy snack to keep their engines running for homework, scouts and practices. Adults and kids alike tend to grab for a quick pick me up around 3pm when our blood sugars start to drop.

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Back to School Sanity Saver
By Donna Bush

When our son started kindergarten, I realized I’d need my husband to stay home with our toddler daughter so I could go back to school shopping. He was working nights, so this wasn’t a big deal. But our daughter felt a little left out, so we decided that while I took our son to the mall, Dad and daughter could have a special day together. This year my son is entering sixth grade and although schedules have changed—my husband now works regular business hours—we have always planned a special two day event.

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Delightful Day Trip: Jet Skiing
By Raejean Roberts

Living in Arizona, there’s not a lake on every corner with that whole desert thing we have going on. There is a nice lake about an hour away that we’ve gone to for the last couple of years with my parents and their Jet Ski. If I could spend a day doing anything I wanted, going to the lake wouldn’t be on the top of my list. I’m not a big water girl and get a little anxious on the back of the Jet Ski, especially if it’s going fast. So why are our day trips to the lake delightful? It’s all about family time.

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Healthy Back to School Habit: the Fruit Bowl
By Donna Bush

Have you ever noticed that as soon as the back to school ads start popping up, you feel this sudden need to stock up on packages of gummy snacks, granola bars, single-serve bags of chips and cookies, and multi-packs of juice boxes or pouches? Is it because we think that back to school means more snacking? Well, I’m not sure if that’s true. But I do know that all that processed food is one reason our nation’s children (and their parents) are becoming more and more obese with each passing year.

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Tomato and Corn Salad

Scheduling My Life

By Kristy Powers   ...Ah, yes, scheduling my life. I've gone through years of research, trying different methods of scheduling my days and putting a few of them into practice. As with many things, I didn't get down to serious business with my own schedule until I had kids....   Read the rest by clicking here

Tomato and Corn Salad   In a large bowl, combine the first eight ingredients.  In a large skillet, saute corn and garlic in oil until tender.  Stir in mustard.   Read the rest by clicking here   Finding Time to Volunteer and Give Service     By Shiloah Baker   For years when I heard or read the word "Volunteer" I would cringe.  I am so busy already, why should I add more to my already hectic schedule by volunteering?  Perspective changes when ones knowledge increases and you realize the importance of giving of your time and talents.  I decided to take a second look into the world of volunteering and schedule my life accordingly.....   Read the rest by clicking here

Golden Squash Bake       Combine bacon, eggs, onion, cottage cheese, flour and bouillon.  Add squash, mix well.  Pour into greased 12 x 7 baking dish, top with cheese and bake 20-25...   Read the rest by clicking here

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How to Make Homemade Italian Pizza and Ice Cream with Kids

Why History Matters

By Janice Hayes   ...If nothing else then, history matters because it gives your children a view of the world and times beyond themselves.  History also gives us a vast array of characters to learn from.  Give history a chance and it will teach you and your children about every virtue, good and bad, from a colorful parade of interesting people.  Who couldn't learn about fortitude from a person such as Abraham Lincoln or Robert the Bruce? Or evil from leaders such as Stalin, Mao and Hitler?...   Read the rest by clicking here

How to Make Homemade Italian Pizza and Ice Cream with Kids   Cooking with kids can be a fun and exciting time.  It is also a great way to spend quality time with your family or friends, watching your friends' children, or when hosting a kid's party at your house.  Two of the most favored foods among children (and adults) are ice cream and pizza.  Both of these are easy to make from scratch or with machines.  No matter which method you choose - you and your kids will have lots of fun not only making the food, but eating it too!    Read the rest by clicking here   Revamping a Bedroom with Style and Sophistication in 9 Easy Steps   Adding style and sophistication to your old tired bedroom is easily achieved in nine easy steps. The best part is it will not break your pocket book. With the addition of a few simple items and a fresh coat of paint, you can have a bedroom that looks as though it was fit for a King. To transform your bedroom, follow the nine simple steps....   Read the rest by clicking here

Bringing Nature Indoors       Our four-year-old has a tendency these days to whine when we go on our walks. Some of it is probably the broiling August heat in humid Florida. Some of it is not being used to going on long walks on his own two feet - my fault. .   Read the rest by clicking here

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Knowledge is Power...and Free!

Knowledge is Power...and Free!



By Trina Boice

Can you believe it's BACK TO SCHOOL time already?  While some mothers are celebrating the idea of a quiet, clean house during school hours, others are sad to leave behind the carefree fun of summer spent with their children.  My kids think I'm crazy because I absolutely love the smell and anticipation of opening up a new textbook.
For moms who are just a bit envious of their children's opportunity to learn new things at school, I have a goldmine of resources for you!  The following web sites include thousands of video lectures from some of the world's top scholars!  Knowledge nirvana!  And they're all FREE!...

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Comparisons

Have you ever known someone who seemed to have it all together? And her life seemed perfect, and she did all the right things, her life was this amazing example, and you didn't even come close to measuring up.  I'm sure we all at one time or another have known someone like this or compared ourselves to someone that we idolized.   Sometimes, depending on whether or not we really get to know that person, the external mask comes off a little and you realize that she is human too and has faults like the rest of us.

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Kid's Bedrooms - Clean and Organized Can Coincide



A challenge every family with children faces is keeping the kids' bedrooms organized.  Between toys, clothes and school things, it can seem impossible.  However, there are ways to get the kids' things organized and have fun at the same time.  There are many styles of storage units available.  Bright colors and cartoon characters from your child's favorite show is sure to be a hit.  By combining different units, you can have a place for everything....

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Buttermilk Rolls

 

By Shiloah Baker

Rich, soft, and absolutely delicious, these rolls are a crowd pleaser!  Top these rolls with real butter when they are fresh from the oven.  Did I mention this was an easy recipe?  Be a diva in your kitchen today.  Enjoy the compliments from the family.

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Pearls and Gems of Homemaking Ideas

"For me, a cottage should be a sanctuary when the outside world is crazy, we need somewhere peaceful to go." - Brenda DeWitt (Victoria Magazine)

The Homemaking Cottage strives to create a peaceful and informative place online where homemakers can go to find pearls and gems of homemaking ideas, advice and wisdom. We thank you for visiting and hope you'll spend some time perusing our website.

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In the free magazine edition of the Homemaking-Cottage we’re featuring:

Martha Jefferson
By Janice Hayes

There are no known facial images of Martha Jefferson in existence although one silhouette does remain. It is simple, showing a small woman dressed in colonial garb, a white day cap on her head. Still, contemporary descriptions of Thomas Jefferson's wife do exist and they describe her as being a little over five feet tall, slight, with beautiful auburn hair and hazel eyes...

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1, 2, 3 Picnic!
By Kristy Powers

It's summer, and for some of you, this is great picnic weather. Others, like us here in Florida, may want to be inside around noontime! Either way, you can have lots of family fun with easy picnics.

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What We Call Home
By Kristy Powers

Probably many of us feel comfortable in our current homes, whether they are apartments, houses, or some other kind of dwelling, whether they are owned or rented, and whether they are large, small, or medium-sized. Most likely we've had time to set them up (and mess them up) in a way that makes us feel at home. I know I am comfortable in mine and feel anxious at the possibility of losing it...

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The Deluxe Edition is our Premier Online Home and Garden magazine.

Our writers are hard at work to share original and creative ideas:


Family Fun at a Local Farm
By Jamie Turner

Local "pick your own" farms provide hours of fun for the whole family. Visiting these small and mainly family run farms is an easy tradition to start. The memories made will be talked about for years.

Before Heading Out- Crops and weather are not always predictable. Call the night before or early in the morning to make sure it is a good day to pick.

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Belle of the Barbecue
By Donna Bush

In Gone With the Wind, Scarlett O’Hara was the “belle of the barbecue” in her fresh green dress, wide ribbon, and floppy straw hat. Oh, she looked absolutely stunning and casually elegant, but the thought of keeping that fresh look on a blazing summer day is as stifling as that bone-crushing corset she wore. Backyard entertaining in the summer can be fun, but who wants to be outside when the thermometer climbs past 100? If you’re like me, you’d rather take a cool drink inside and keep your hair from frizzing out and your clothes wrinkle-free in the humidity.

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Curtain Topper Ideas
By Shiloah Baker

A well decorate window makes such an impact to the look and feel of a room. Window toppers can be pricey at a home interiors shop if you want to create a more creative or upscale look. Fortunately, there are many shortcuts for creating beautiful window toppers. Many of the items can be found at a discount store, around the house, or various places other than a high end home decorating store.

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Patriotic Charm
By Valerie Steadman

What does our flag mean to you? Right now, wherever you are reading this, I want you to take a moment and think about what the flag represents in your eyes. To me, the flag stands for sacrifice. It stands for the blood of sons and daughters who gave their all, their lives, for my freedom. The flag stands for honor, respecting those who have made a positive difference in history and in the lives of others. The flag is an emblem of reverence, and I often think of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery, crisp uniforms and the sharp click of heels. Old Glory can stand for many things to different people. With modern convenience, news, and politics, it can be easy to forget the sacrifices that our founding fathers made, but it will be to our country's detriment if we should forget.

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Picnics Made Easy
By Donna Bush

Summertime is picnic time. Getting out in the fresh air with family and friends to enjoy a delicious meal can be fun, but it can also be a lot of work. After all, you’ve got to prepare food in one place, pack it up, as well as other items, and then serve it in another. But don’t let that discourage you. Picnics can be simple if you follow these guidelines.

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Gluten and Dairy Free Zucchini Muffins
By Jamie Turner

These muffins can be enjoyed straight out of the oven or frozen for up to 1 month if baking ahead of time.

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Summertime Delights: French Tradition
By Donna Bush

One of our favorite summertime meals is so simple and easy, you may want to make it part of your menu all year round. (In fact, we adapted it for our Easter menu this year.) It all started with the Tour de France. Yep, a bicycle race. See, my husband is a cyclist. And I have a love of all things French. But to be honest, I’m not that thrilled by cycling. And he couldn’t give a rip about most things French. Still, I wanted to find a way to combine our two interests and teach our children a little something about French culture.

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All-American Baked Beans
By Donna Bush

Looking for a simple side dish for your patriotic barbecue? This recipe, originally from Gooseberry Patch, is one of our family’s favorites. It involves little more than opening cans, dumping ingredients into a crock pot, and then turning it on and walking away to spend more time with your guests. I love that it goes together quickly and is ready in as little as two hours. Of course, you can let them simmer longer if necessary. But if you want to pull something together in a hurry, this will fit the bill.

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Red, White, and Blue Decorating
By Donna Bush

Whether you’re celebrating Memorial Day, Flag Day, the 4th of July, or Labor Day, or just want to bring a touch of patriotism to your home, you can look no further than a red, white and blue color scheme for a perfect setting. For an easy, fun take on a patriotic tablescape, try mixing red bandanas, white eyelet and blue denim. What could be more all-American than that?

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Ham and Broccoli Calzone
By Raejean Roberts

Place on greased cookie sheet and brush with remaining egg. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes, until golden brown. These are great to make extra and freeze!

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End of Summer Celebrations
By Raejean Roberts

Many Arizona schools use a modified traditional schedule, which means we only get about 7 weeks of summer vacation. That’s fine with me since by the end of July, we’re pretty withered – so the kids might as well go back to school and enjoy the air conditioning. Since our summer vacation is winding down, I’ve been thinking of some entertaining ways to say good-bye to summer vacation.

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Backyard Bliss
By Donna Bush

The weather has finally warmed up and we’re headed outdoors more than ever. Let those kids run around, toss a Frisbee, make mud pies, blow bubbles and pick daisies. There’s no better place than your own backyard for an afternoon of Otter Pops and lemonade, lounging in a chaise or lawn chair and letting the answering machine pick up the phone.

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Camping - Your Family Mountain Top Experience
By Raejean Roberts

I am not a camper. I don’t even wish I was a camper. I have a hard time understanding why normal, civilized people would spend a week planning, shopping, and packing to leave the comforts of home we have worked hundreds of years to acquire. If camping is so great, why did people invent houses and indoor plumbing? If being dirty is such a treat, why do most homes have at least two showers in them?

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Beware: I Brake for Cemeteries
By Jamie Turner

It was just another summer of visiting the grandparents when something extraordinary crossed my path. A woman visiting the area dropped off a folder filled with information about our family. A goldmine awaited me as I flipped through the charts and read the names of my forefathers. What I soon learned was that names and dates were fine but the real treasure was in the stories. I have been on a never ending adventure tracking down the finer details ever since that summer in my teenage years.

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How to Identify a Phony Freebie Site
By Trina Boice

I love freebies, but how do you differentiate between a free sample from a legitimate company that's trying to solicit new customers from a data harvester that will lead to lots of spam and never send you any freebie?

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Rhubarb Pie
By Valerie Steadman

Rhubarb is a tasty alternative to fruit, especially in pies. This pie recipe is deceptively easy, and so delicious you'll wonder why you've never tried rhubarb before!

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All About Rhubarb
By Valerie Steadman

I grew up with two large rhubarb plants in our garden. They were large and ornamental, and looked a little like Hosta plants. They were, for the most part, ignored by my parents, they finding little use for this treasure trove of flavor. When I began to run my own kitchen, I came across a recipe from my great grandma for rhubarb jam. And I discovered that the true benefit of rhubarb is not good looks, but flavor.

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A Place Called Home
By Donna Bush

What is it that makes a house a home? You may spend months searching for the perfect furniture, paint and draperies. Invest your time studying the practice of feng shui and rearranging your belongings frequently to get the mood “just so.” Place dozens of perfectly posed family portraits on all your walls and bookcases to greet your guests.

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Salmon Pasta Salad
By Donna Bush

My husband requested pasta salad as a side dish for Father’s Day dinner. In general, I find pasta salad kind of ho-hum. I’ve never really liked it, but I wanted to fulfill his request on his special day. So I took a little time to think about what he might like. The beauty of starting with a basic dish that is “ho-hum” is that you can jazz it up in countless ways and customize it to your own tastes and dietary needs to make something spectacular. My husband has had some cholesterol issues and we’ve been able to stabilize them by including omega-3s in his diet, so I kept that in mind when planning the recipe.

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