Archive for April, 2008
Cooking Ingredients from the Past
In Pioneer days (1700’s) the homemaker had no refrigeration and had to be prepared and preserve foods for the coming winter. Skills such as salting, drying, smoking, pickling, and preserving were a necessity rather than an interest as may be the case for some of us today. This hardworking cook was also not as blessed [...]
To Dust a Room
The dusting of a room during the Victorian era was serious business. Here is a systematic list for dusting the parlor courtesy of … TRIED AND APPROVED. BUCKEYE COOKERY AND PRACTICAL HOUSEKEEPING. COMPILED FROM ORIGINAL RECIPES C.1887 The sweeping and dusting of a parlor seems simple enough, but is best done systematically. “Dusters,” made of [...]
General Rules for Cleaning a Room
THE CLEANING OF ROOMS In the The American Woman’s Home Catherine E. Beecher lays out an orderly manner of cleaning a room General Rules for Cleaning a Room. Dust and remove or put under cover small articles and bric-a-brac. Dust or brush furniture; if small, remove from the room, if large, cover with [...]
Autumn Cleaning
“In October and November, it will be necessary to prepare for the cold weather, and get ready the winter clothing for the various members of the family. The white summer curtains will now be carefully put away, the fireplaces, grates, and chimneys looked to, and the House put in a thorough state of repair, so [...]
Vintage Summer Cleaning
Although the onset of summer does not begin the same frenzied housecleaning as that of spring it still holds a few choice housekeeping chores of it’s own… “The summer will be found, as we have mentioned above, in consequence of the diminution of labour for the domestics, the best period for examining and repairing household [...]
