"The world makes a lot of demands on us. There's always something that needs to be done, someone we need to make time for, an item to pick up here and another to drop off there, traffic that tests our limits, friends and coworkers caught in dramas of their own, and often, at the end of the day, any number of to-dos and should-dos that already casting their shadow over tomorrow.
Your home should be a refuge from all that. The "shelter" in the food, clothing, and shelter equation means more than mere protection from wind and rain or a place to stow one's belongings. It also means shelter from the stresses of the greater world, a little oasis where we can relax, pursue our own interests, share time with those we love."
That is an excerpt from the book I am currently reading, "Country Living Simple Country Wisdom; 501 Old-Fashioned Ideas to Simplify Your Life". The focus of the title should be on the word IDEAS in the phrase Old-Fashioned Ideas, because what I have read so far is very relevant for today. It isn't old-fashioned information that wouldn't work for today at all. On the contrary there are many things in it's pages that will help to make life much simpler, even in today's world.
I just picked up the book from the library and am already about 1/3 of the way through it. I am looking forward to finishing it and implementing some of the ideas. There are chapters on; WHAT MAKES A WELCOMING HOME?, CLUTTER CONTROL, WHAT MEETS THE EYE, THE ELEMENTS OF CLEAN, THE TAO OF LAUNDRY, KITCHEN WISDOM, THE A-Z OF FOOD, BETTER LIVING THROUGH BAKING, IN THE GARDEN AND A GREENER LIFE.
If you're looking for a good manual to help with the ins and outs of making your home a refuge from the riggers of the world - "Country Living Simple Country Wisdom" would be a great place to look.
Happy Homemaking!
