Homemaking Monday - A Familiar Favorite: Home Sweet Home

Today we'll pause to reflect on a familiar favorite, perhaps you know it, or at least the opening line?  But in case you've never read the complete work, I though it might be fun to share it with you today.

John Howard Payne wrote the lyrics to "Home, Sweet Home!" in 1822 while living in London. It was first published and publicly debuted as a song in May 1823 as part of the operetta Clari, or the Maid of Milan at the Covent Garden Theatre.  You can listen to a performance of it, here.

The song's American premiere took place at the Winter Tivoli Theatre in Philadelphia on October 29, 1823, and was sung by "Mrs. Williams." In 1852, Henry Bishop "relaunched" the song as a parlour ballad, and it became very popular in the United States throughout the American Civil War and after. The song was reputedly banned from being played in Union Army camps during the American Civil War for being too redolent of hearth and home and so likely to incite desertion.

Here is the poem, I hope you'll enjoy it!

❊ HOME SWEET HOME

’Mid pleasures and palaces though we may roam,

Be it ever so humble, there’s no place like home;

A charm from the skies seems to hallow us there

Which, seek through the world, is ne’er met with elsewhere.

Home! Home! sweet, sweet Home!

There’s no place like Home! there’s no place like Home!

An exile from home, splendour dazzles in vain;

O, give me my lowly thatched cottage again!

The birds singing gayly that came at my call—

Give me them, and the peace of mind dearer than all!

Home! Home! sweet, sweet Home!

There’s no place like Home! there’s no place like Home!

How sweet ’tis to sit ’neath a fond father’s smile,

And the cares of a mother to soothe and beguile!

Let others delight ’mid new pleasures to roam,

But give me, oh, give me the pleasures of Home!

Home! Home! sweet, sweet Home!

There’s no place like Home! there’s no place like Home!

To thee I’ll return, overburdened with care;

The heart’s dearest solace will smile on me there;

No more from that cottage again will I roam;

Be it ever so humble, there’s no place like Home.

Home! Home! sweet, sweet Home!

There’s no place like Home! there’s no place like Home!

Even the humblest home carries God’s presence. Your daily tasks—sweeping, cooking, arranging flowers—are small acts of worship. The love you pour into your home sanctifies it.

"By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches." 

– PROVERBS 24:3–4


Lord, help me to see my home as a place of sacred rest, where Your love dwells in every corner and every act of care I give.

❊

My Favorite Summer Movies - Summer Magic

As many of you know, I am a HUGE Old Movies fan. I would even dare to say that 90% of what I watch on a weekly basis was released in the late 40's, 50's, 60's and some 70's. Occassionally you might even find a few titles from the 80's thrown in there, but it is s-e-l-d-o-m that I watch anything made after that, with the exception of period pieces from PBS.

It is pretty common to have a longer list of movies that you enjoy watching during the Christmas holidays, but being a seasonal soul, I have movies that I watch in almost every season, and summer is no exception.  And, since one of the squares in the Summer Bingo Challenge is to watch a movie with a summer theme, I thought it might be fun to share some of my favorite summer movies with you over the next few weeks, and we'll begin today with . . .

❊ SUMMER MAGIC
with Hayley Mills 

Oddly enough, though it's my first choice for this series, Summer Magic is, traditionally, a movie that I watch closer to the autumn equinox. A bit of a nod, if you will, to the slowly dying days of summer. .

Based upon the book, Mother Carey's Chickens, Summer Magic and depicts the life of the Carey family. When Margaret (Dorothy MacGuire), a Bostonian widow and her three children fall on hard financial times, Nancy Carey (Hayley Mills), works with Postmaster Ostia "Osh" Popham (Burl Ives) to move into a run-down old house in Maine. But isn't long before they learn that the house is actually owned by the mysterious Tom Hamilton (Peter Brown), who Osh assures them, never comes around. But when snooty cousin Julia (Deborah Walley) moves in, and  Mr. Hamilton makes a surprise visit, the fun and adventures begin!

I have loved this movie since the first time I saw it in elementary school. Every year on the last day before Christmas break, the entire school would assemble in the auditorium and we would watch a movie. There was always popcorn and soda and the teachers would usually have candy waiting for us on our desk, as well. It was always a highlight of the holiday season, knowing that Christmas was coming and you didn't have to go to school for two whole weeks! One year, I think when I was in about 3rd-4th grade, this was the movie that was featured.

I have long loved Hayley Mills, but I'm fond of Deborah Walley, too, especially in this role. She became a bit of a beach movie queen during the 60's, and I'll actually be sharing a post soon that will feature some of those movies. But her depection of Julia, the uppity cousin who turns out not to be all that she appears, is charming.

I also like the music featured in this movie. It's dubbed a musical, and I guess if I really think about it, it definitely is, but somehow the music seems to flow a bit more seamless than you typically find, at least for me. Some are also not a fan of Burl Ives when it comes to singing, and granted, he would have never made it in today's world. But I personally find him charming. A few of my favorite songs from the movie are;

- On The Front Porch - My absolute favorite!

- The Ugly Bug Ball - My girls loved this one when they were little!

- Femininity - A cute little old fashioned song. Definitely don't condone "hide the real you"

- Summer Magic

If you've never watched Summer Magic, I highly recommend it. It's a movie the whole family will enjoy and suitable for all ages. Perfect on a cool summer night with the windows open. You could make up a couple of big bowls of popcorn and some fresh lemonade and enjoy spending some time together!  Here the trailer to give you a little more of a feel for it!

As I said, if you've never watched it, I think you'll enjoy it, and please let me know if you do, even if its one you're already familiar with and have watched a dozen times or me, like me! And if you have your own list of favorite summer movies, please leave your suggestions in the comments. It just might be possible I may have missed a few!  I'll be sharing more movies on my list in the weeks to come, so if you enjoyed this post, but sure to come back for more!

❈

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Homemaking Monday - A Poem For Your Summer Commonplace- Barefoot Days

I've decided that in these sweet summer months, to keep my Homemaking Monday posts here simple, a verse, a poem or a special quote that reflects on the season, the home and homemaking.  We'll dive deeper in early September, but in these long lingering days there is much to savor. Let's give that space, and begin the week with this lovely little poem by Rachel Field, perfect for our summer commonplace!

❊ BAREFOOT DAYS

In the morning, very early,
That's the time I love to go
Barefoot where the fern grows curly
And grass is cool between each toe,
On a summer morning-O!
On a summer morning!

That is when the birds go by
Up the sunny slopes of air,
And each rose has a butterfly
Or a golden bee to wear;
And I am glad in every toe,

Such a summer morning-O!
Such a summer morning!

- RACHEL FIELD

Recipes From Grandma's KitchenA Summer Stand-By - Texas Pulled Pork!

If you're looking for a stand-by recipe for all your summer gatherings, this pulled pork fits the bill! Slathered in a spicy chipotle-coffee rub and slow cooked to perfection, when topped with copycat Mission BBQ Texas Twang Barbecue Sauce, it will quickly become a family favorite! Combined with my recipe for potato salad and baked beans (coming soon!), you can't miss with this tastebud-tantalizing trio!

❊ TEXAS PULLED PORK
1 4 lb. pork butt

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup black pepper

1/4 cup finely ground dark coffee

1/4 cup smoked paprika 

2 tablespoons kosher salt

1 tablespoon chipotle powder

2 teaspoons garlic powder

2 teaspoons cinnamon

2 teaspoons cumin

2 teaspoons allspice

To make the rub, combine the brown sugar, black pepper, coffee, salt and spices. Coat the pork on all sides. Wrap in plastic wrap and place on large plate or cookie sheet. Refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight.

Remove pork from refrigerator and bring to room temperature, about 1/2 and hour. Pre-heat oven to 250.

Place pork in lightly oiled (about 1 teaspoon canola oil) roasting pan or dutch oven and cook uncovered fat side up for 8 hours or about 2 hours per pound.

After the pork has cooked, remove the meat from the oven and let sit for 30 mins to 1 hours. The pork will appear to be black, which is the natural color the rub takes on when cooked. It is not burned! Using two forks, pull the meat into strands being sure to incorporate the black rub in with the meat. and coat with about a cup of barbecue sauce, or as desired. Serve additional sauce on the side. 

Serve on a bun with cole slaw or pickled jalapenos.

Serves 

4 adults with plenty of leftovers

6 adults with comfortable servings

8 adults with moderate servings + sides

❊ COPYCAT MISSION BBQ TEXAS TWANG BARBECUE SAUCE

1 cup ketchup

1/2 cup apple cider vinegar

1/4 cup yellow mustard

1/4 cup brown sugar

2 tablespoons molasses

1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce

1 teaspoon liquid smoke

1 teaspoon smoked paprika

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

1/2 teaspoon black pepper 

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (adjust for heat)

1/2 teaspoon salt

Pinch of crushed red pepper for extra bite (optional)

Add everything to a saucepan over medium heat.

Whisk until smooth and fully combined.

Bring to a gentle simmer then reduce heat to low.

Cook uncovered 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally. It should thicken slightly but still stay pourable. This sauce isn't thick.

Taste and adjust.

More vinegar - sharper twang.

More brown sugar - softer, sweeter edge

More cayenne pepper - sharper bite.

~ Enjoy!

❊