From The Archives: Blessing The Weekend

This is an oldie but a goodie and a practice I want to become more intentional in keeping! Unfortunately that won't be today, in fact nothing about this week has gone according to plan, but that's ok, kind of :). At any rate, I wanted to share this with you again because when I am intentional  about keeping this small practice, it makes our weekend so much more relaxed!  And yes, this is achievable even as a mom with small children, that is actually the time period that I was the most diligent about observing it. The best part is, if you're children are old enough, you can enlist their help and get everyone excited about making a way to spend quality time together! I hope you'll enjoy!

Some years ago I took a course, Hibernate, with the lovely Heather Bruggeman of North Ridge Farm. If you're not familiar with Heather's blog then I invite you to skip this post for now, pour yourself a cup of something warm and settle in for awhile and peruse her offerings. I've learned so much from Heather over the years, and I hope to be just like her when I grow up!  Over the course of several years I took a number of Heather's classes, and I am now of a member of her online community Hearth and Home! I always learn so much in the time spent gleaning from her wisdom and expertise. I can't praise her classes enough! They are all just so good and I highly recommend joining this lovely community as membership is currently open!

In the last session of Hibernate, Heather spoke about Blessing The Weekend, a ritual that came about during the years when she was homeschooling her daughter.. Like many homeschooling families, Friday's were a half day, and once they finished with their lessons, they would spend a few hours tidying the home, maybe making up a quick pan of brownies, or a pot of soup and a few other quick, easy meals. The objective here being to cut down on time spent in the kitchen. She emphasized that she likes to cook, but she also like not having too, as well, and that by  the taking the time to do a little prepping on Friday afternoons, you can easily have one or two meals and snacks ready to carry you through until Monday. Fast food, but at significantly less cost and better for you!

Another thing she did are what I like to refer to as "cozy chores". Changing the sheets on the bed, dusting off furniture, making up a lovely bouquet of flowers for the table. Anything that freshens the space and make things warm and inviting, "cozying up", as I like to say. None of this takes very long at all, especially if you enlist help. But even it its just you, typically within an hour or two you've set the stage o spend intentional time with your family and just be together.

Reading Heather's words reminded me of the Jewish practice of Shabbat, or what I refer to as sabbath. In Jewish homes Shabbat (pronounced SHAH-BAHT or some communities, SHAH-BIS, is a weekly twenty five hour observance that begins just before sundown each Friday and through the completion of nightfall on Saturday. It is a day of physical and spiritual delights highlighting key concept of the Jewish faith. Preparations begin as early as mid-week. As no work is to be done during this time, meals must be prepared ahead of time (similar to what Heather shared), and the observance begins with the a candle lighting ceremony which I think is just lovely and have long intended to incorporate into my own sabbath observance. Jewish tradition mandates three specific shabbat meals, and in addition to special foods, the family spends time singing, studying and celebrating together.

Now I know at this point some of you may be thinking, "Well, this all sounds lovely, but our kids are involved in soccer on the weekend, there's yard work to do, and preparations to be made for church on Sunday.", and let me assure you, I hear you loud and clear! In her book Rhythms of Rest, Shelly Miller shared this thought; "The sabbath isn't about resting perfectly, it's about resting in the one who is perfect." The important thing is not how much time you are able to devote to rest and being together, but that you are intentional about setting aside some time every weekend, to make space to be together. If you still don't see how that might be possible, let me offer a few suggestions.

❊ Begin planning  mid-week for the upcoming weekend. Think through what activities you already have scheduled and then determine how much time you have to devote to rest and relaxation. Mark that time slot off in your calendar so that as you receive invitations you'll already have it reserved. And don't be discouraged if at first you find you can only squeeze in a couple of hours. It also might even take a little encouragement to get other members of the family on board with the idea, but once you begin my guess is you'll enjoy it so much, everyone will want more and before you know you'll be willing to sacrifice more to have this time together.

❊ When doing your weekly meal planning, take this time into consideration. If you don't want to spend a lot of time in the kitchen, then take a cue from Heather an make up a bit pot of soup or stew that can be enjoyed all weekend. If your budget affords, plan a special meal out, or if the weather is nice, go on a picnic. Maybe you want to bake something together, so take time to do a quick inventory and make sure you have all of the ingredients. Nothing spoils time together like someone having to rush off to the store for eggs or sugar.

❊ Think of other things that will encourage spending time together. Go through the board games in your closet and set out a few favorites. Maybe a deck of cards? Plan a trip to the library together to pick up a few books or maybe a dvd the whole family can watch. But aside from television and maybe a movie, I would recommend you try to limit screen time.This is a time for intentionally being together. You could go on a hike, visit a museum, work on a puzzle. The possibilities are endless, so be creative.

❊ And finally, set the stage. It's hard to be together and not be distracted if the family room is overrun with toys, there's a stack of dirty dishes in the kitchen, the floors need sweeping, you get the picture. It doesn't have to be perfect, but if you take the time to tidy things up it makes for a much more inviting and relaxing atmosphere. I like to change the sheets on our bed on Fridays so that after a day of fun everyone has a clean, comfy bed to crawl in to. Another element that is a must in our home is candlelight. And though I don't follow the the ceremony associated with Shabbat.(though I'd like to), it's such an important piece that it's really become the cue. Any time my family comes in to finds candles lit, twinkle lights glowing, and soft music playing (usually some light jazz), I can almost watch the stress from the day wash from their faces, and they are instantly engaged and ready. Setting aside time for rest and for intentionally being together is just the anecdote you and your family need for recovering from the madness and business of the world.

To help you brainstorm through your own sabbath weekend, or weekend hours, with your family, I've created a little printable, of course, **wink**. And again, don't be discouraged if at first you can't find much time to carve out, or if it takes you a few tries before you find your rhythm and figure to what works best. I've allowed space for you to muddle through those thoughts until it becomes a natural and regular part of your routine.  Just click on the link below to download your free copy!

BLESSING THE WEEKEND

A Family Sabbath Worksheet

In closing I want to leave you with this lovely passage from one of my favorite children's books, All of a Kind Family.

"At home, the kitchen was warm with the smell of fresh baked white bread. The room sparkled with cleanliness. The table, which wore only an oilcloth covering all through the week, now had a snowy white tablecloth. On it stood the brass candlesticks, gleaming brightly from the polishing that Ella and Sarah had given them the ay before. They were just in time to see Mama saying the prayer over the candles.

The children stood around the table watching her. A lovely feeling of peace and contentment seemed to flow out from Mama to them. First she put a napkin on her head, then placing four white candles in the brass candlesticks, she lit them. She extended her arms to form a circle. One the lighted candles the encircling gesture was repeated. After that Mama covered her eyes with her hands softly murmuring a prayer in Hebrew.

This was Sabbath ushered in."

- Sydney Taylor

To learn more about Shabbat prayers, visit this page.

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Homemaking Monday - My Annual Pre-Holiday Seasonal Deep Clean

Well, my friends, it's hard to believe but it is that time of year again, and by "that time", I'm referring to the shift in focus that seems to come naturally for me every year around August 1.  The garden holds my attention from March through July, but come August, I still start feeling the pull to begin preparations for the 'Ber Months, as I affectionately call them, and all the joy, hustle and bustle they can bring!

I've been quietly setting aside a few gifts as I find them here and there, well, since right after Christmas last year! But aside from that, all my foward thinking and prep doesn't really begin to take hold until what are often the hottest days of summer, although this year has been blessedly mild! Still, in most cases it is precisely the temperature outdoors that sets me to focusing once again on the indoors, and with the garden holding so much of my attention for several months, it is usually desperately in need of cleaning. 

Last year I got a late start on my autumn decorating, and it felt as though I had just put it all out and it was time to take it down and decorate for Christmas.  For the first time in over a decade I didn't decorate for Christmas until after Thanksgiving, which I know is typical for many, but it simply does not work for me!  2025 was a different year, our daughter was in a near fatal car accident in April, and by the grace of God walked down the aisle and was married in August, so there were a number of reasons I got behind.  But it made for a very stressful holiday season and I vowed that this year I was returning to my roots and getting back on schedule.

All this to say, over the coming month I'll be knees and elbows deep into my annual pre-holiday deep cleaning, and it begins this week.  It's going to be a bit of slow start, as we have a number of appointments already on the schedule this week, but hopefully I'll be able to knock a few things off the the list, and speaking of, here it is, if you're interested in this sort of thing, and if not, well, this may be at the forefront of my posts for several weeks, so maybe come back and visit me in September! :)

Rather than assign tasks to certain days, I decided to break it up into two phases with target goals for each phase to be completed.  Knowing that we have a number of appointments and commitments this month already, this works better for me.  There's nothing I hate more than having a to-do list for say, Monday, and then not checking off all the boxes, I'm a bit obsessive about those little boxes! This way I have a list of tasks that I want to finish in each phase, and the goal is to have all the boxes checked off by the deadline.

Phase I - Goal to be completed by August 13

Kitchen

- Project 1 - Cooking Area

- Project 2 - Food Storage

- Project 3 - Pantry and Cabinets

- Project 4 - Sink and Counters

- Project 5 - Finishing Touches

Dining Room

Family Room

Phase 1 complete! Decorate for Autumn on August 14-15

Phase II - Goal to be completed by September 4

Bathroom

Master Bedroom

Guest Bedroom

Office Craft Room

Front Porch

Even using this method this feels ambitious, especially when you consider that I can't completely abandon the garden and outdoors.  My commitment is 2x a week outdoors, and 3x indoors during August, not including days when we have appointments, which will interrupt one of those days and I'll have to prioritize which is more important to make up. But, even if I don't finish everything by September 4, I'm ok with that because the biggest project, the kitchen, will be done! I have the tasks for each room broken down, but I won't share those here, at least, not in this post.  But, I will be sharing my progress here with you over the next month, if you'd like to follow along. Maybe you've been inspired to get your house in order and start prepping early for the holidays, too, and you're certainly welcome to join! Nothing official, just comment and share your progress throughout the month, it would be fun to cheer each other on!

And with that, it's time I get to it, friends! I hope your Monday is blessed! I'll see you back here soon!

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From The Archives: My Favorite Summer Movies

Last summer my husband and I worked our way through my boxed set of beach movies. Every Monday night is "Old Movie Monday" at our house, and even though we had watched a few of these before, we decided this summer to watch them all, and in the order they were released. So far we've watched

- Beach Party (1963)

- Muscle Beach Party (1964)

- Bikini Beach (1964)

and 

- Ski Party (1965) which is technically not a beach movie, but it is included in the box set, and is actually one of my favorites.

These movies are campy, but I love them! I actually have very fond memories of watching them with my mom. Her favorite was How To Stuff A Wild Bikini and Pajama Party, which, sadly, is not included in the box set.

If you've never seen them, or you just want to take a little trip down memory lane, you can watch them online, most of them for free!

- Beach Party

- Muscle Beach Party

- Bikini Beach

- Pajama Party (only available on Prime)

- Beach Blanket Bingo - one of my personal favorites!

- Ski Party - another favorite!

- How To Stuff A Wild Bikini - and yet another favorite!

There are also two movies in the boxed set that I couldn't find free online, Thunder Alley and Fireball 500, both of which are about racing, which makes them less desireable to watch, at least for me.

Another movie with a beach theme that I love is Summer of 42, which is the story of a young boy who develops an innocent love for a young woman whose husband is in the military. It stars a young Jennifer O'Neill, who has always been one of my favorites. I especially remember the Theme From Summer of '42, which was sung by my mother's favorite crooner, Andy Williams, and I absoutely love this instrumental version. 

There are a number of movies with a summer theme or setting, such as;

- American Graffitti (Netflix)

- The Parent Trap (1961) - (Disney)

- Rear Window  - my all time favorite Alfred Hitchcock! (Netflix)

- To Catch a Thief - summer on the French Riviera! (Pluto)

- A Summer Place - Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 (Daily Motion)

And then there's always my favorite summer movie, Gidget, which I wrote about, here.

Hopefully I've listed at a least a few that may be new to you that you can enjoy as hot days of summer amp up. What about you? Do you have any favorite movies you watch in this season? I'm always looking for new recommendations!

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Homemaking Monday: The History of the Homemaker's Apron

Most people don't think much about an apron anymore.

If they do, it's usually as a charming decoration hanging in a country kitchen or a vintage piece found at an antique shop. Somewhere along the way, the humble apron became little more than a symbol of nostalgia.

For centuries, though, it was one of the hardest-working items a homemaker owned.

Long before washing machines, stain removers, and inexpensive clothing, women tied on an apron each morning because it was as essential as a good broom or a well-seasoned cast iron skillet. It protected precious clothing, carried the tools of daily work, and quietly became part of the rhythm of home.

The history of the apron is really the history of homemaking itself. As homes changed, aprons changed with them. Yet despite all the conveniences of modern life, I believe they still have something to teach us about faithful stewardship, hospitality, and finding joy in ordinary work.

For centuries, it was one of the most practical and indispensable tools a homemaker owned. Long before modern washing machines, inexpensive clothing, and stain removers, an apron protected dresses that had taken weeks to sew and were expected to last for years. It shielded fabric from flour dust, soot, grease, and garden soil, allowing a woman to work hard without ruining the clothing beneath it.

The history of the apron reaches back much farther than many people realize. Ancient Egyptians wore simple linen coverings while working, and throughout the Middle Ages, tradesmen and craftsmen of every kind wore aprons suited to their work. Blacksmiths favored heavy leather, while bakers, butchers, and merchants often wore linen or canvas.

As the centuries passed, the homemaker's apron developed into something uniquely its own.

By the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, many women owned several aprons, each with a specific purpose. There were sturdy work aprons for laundry day, gardening, preserving food, and tending livestock. Cleaner aprons were worn while preparing meals or welcoming visitors, and some women even reserved beautifully embroidered aprons for Sundays or special occasions.

An apron was much more than protection for a dress.

Its pockets carried clothespins, scissors, seed packets, handkerchiefs, and recipe notes. The wide skirt became a basket for gathering eggs, apples, beans, or freshly picked herbs. It served as a potholder, a towel for drying wet hands, and even a place for a tired child to hide his face after a difficult day.

In many ways, the apron became a symbol of hospitality.

When family arrived at the back door and found Mother wearing her apron, they knew supper was on the stove. The smell of fresh bread, simmering soup, or warm cinnamon often became forever connected with the sight of those apron strings tied neatly at her waist.

As household technology improved during the twentieth century, the apron slowly disappeared from everyday life. Ready-made clothing became affordable, automatic washing machines made laundry easier, and many women simply found they no longer needed one as often.

At the same time, the apron began to be viewed by some as a symbol of an outdated way of life.

I think that's unfortunate.

An apron never represented weakness. It represented work.

It spoke of meals prepared from scratch, gardens carefully tended, children comforted, and homes cared for with diligence. It reminded us that the countless small tasks of homemaking matter because the people we serve matter.

That is why I still enjoy tying on an apron before I bake bread, preserve vegetables from the garden, or spend an afternoon in the kitchen. It doesn't make me a better homemaker, but it does remind me to approach my work with intention. It marks the beginning of caring for my home in much the same way generations of women have done before me.

Perhaps that's why the apron has endured for so long.

It isn't simply a piece of fabric with pockets.

It is a quiet reminder that the ordinary work of home has always been extraordinary in its importance. While fashions change and household routines evolve, the calling to create a place of warmth, nourishment, and welcome remains much the same.

And maybe that's why the humble apron still has a place in our homes today.

 

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