Spring is Almost Here!

Where man sees but withered leaves, God sees sweet flowers growing. ~Albert Laighton

Easter is right around the corner, as is the first day of Spring.  We wouldn't know that from looking outside today in Michigan, because it's alternating between sleet and snow.  Still, the warm days are coming and I wrote my first garden article of the year for OFL.   I love direct sowing flowers and herbs, but not all of them can be sown this early.  The new article gives tips on which flowers can be sown early, including sweet peas, calendula and more. You'll find the article here:

http://oldfashionedliving.com/Flowers-Seeds.html

I also wanted to remind everyone of these articles on the OFL holiday section, as Easter approaches.

A Traditional Hot Cross Bun recipe with tidbits:
http://oldfashionedliving.com/holidays/hotcross.html

Natural Egg Dyes:
http://oldfashionedliving.com/holidays/egg-dyes.html

Decorating the Easter table:
http://oldfashionedliving.com/holidays/eastertable.html

Thrifty Tips for an inexpensive Easter celebration:
http://oldfashionedliving.com/holidays/frugal-easter.html

Tips from readers on their favorite Easter egg hunts:
http://oldfashionedliving.com/thehunt.html

~Enjoy,  Brenda

Household Helps from 1920

Ireland is rich in literature that understands a soul's yearnings, and dancing that understands a happy heart. ~By Margaret Jackson

I hope you'll enjoy my newest article on OFL.  I shared some neat cooking and kitchen tips from 1920, which was an exciting time in our history in some ways, but it was also a time of recovery from World War I.  Homemakers were still as frugal as possible even with the war over. You'll find the article here: 

http://oldfashionedliving.com/Household-Helps-from-1920.html

Last week I was a little behind on my writing, and it could be this little guy that was responsible for my lack of time:)  This is our first grandchild, Jace Alexander, who was born last week. He weighed 7 pounds, 11 ounces and he's adorable, perfect and healthy. 



~Brenda

St. Patrick's Day Family Fun

May you have warm words on a cold evening, a full moon on a dark night, and a smooth road all the way to your door. ~An Irish Blessing

I wrote an article for OFL today with some charming tips on throwing an old fashioned St. Patrick's Day luncheon. I found the tips in a lovely book published in 1905. I hope you will enjoy the ideas as much as I did! You'll find the article here:

http://oldfashionedliving.com/Shamrock-Luncheon.html

I also have an article I wrote a few years back on Irish Tea Traditions. I loved writing this one so much, and researching it:)

http://oldfashionedliving.com/irishtea.html

Stay warm and dry this weekend!
~Brenda

Valentine's Day Whimsy for All Ages

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height my soul can reach. ~Elizabeth Barrett Browning

I wrote two new articles for Valentine's Day this year. One with old fashioned games for all ages, and another with decorations and menu suggestions from 1927. 

Old Fashioned Valentine's Day Games:
http://oldfashionedliving.com/Valentine-bs--sq-s-Day-Games.html

Valentine's Day Party Fun from 1927
http://oldfashionedliving.com/Valentines-Day-Party-Fun-from-1927.html

I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoyed writing the articles:)

I'm running behind this week or would have posted sooner. My husband's grandmother passed away this week.  She's been in a nursing home for a long time with Alzheimers, and we all thought we were prepared, but found out you can never really be ready for a loved one to leave. We'll all miss her very much.

I hope you all have a lovely Valentine's Day:)
~Brenda

An Old Fashioned Valentine's Day

Nobody has ever measured, even poets, how much a heart can hold. ~Zelda Fitzgerald

February is always a lovely, joy filled month at our house, not only because we love Valentine's Day, but because my anniversary is this month- we'll be married 24 years on February 18th- plus our daughter is turning 13 on February 25th, so we'll have another teenager in the family:)

Today I wanted to share links to articles I've written for Old Fashioned Living over the years for Valentine's Day. I love these articles because as I read them again I remember what was happening with the kids at that time in our lives. My favorite memories are the ones where we put on tea parties and made Valentine's Day crafts or cards for each other.  I dug out the picture below to share with you.  Emily was 2 years old and we put on a little tea party for her brothers when they got home from school.  It was the first of many tea parties:)

A Valentine's Day Tea Party:
http://oldfashionedliving.com/valentine-tea.html

Valentine's Day Cookies:
http://oldfashionedliving.com/lovecookies.html

Valentine's Day Pizza Party:
http://oldfashionedliving.com/holidays/pizzaparty.html

Paper Doily Crafts:
http://oldfashionedliving.com/holidays/valentine2.html

Dainty Holiday Cookie Recipes:
http://oldfashionedliving.com/dainty.html

Old Fashioned Valentine's Games:
http://oldfashionedliving.com/holidays/valentines.html

Homemade Truffle Recipes:
http://oldfashionedliving.com/truffles.html

I'll have three new articles for Valentine's Day this year, so keep an eye out for those blog posts!

Thanks, Brenda

Easy, Fun Superbowl Food

The Superbowl is Sunday, and fans around the world get together for football, family, friends and commercials...you know it's true.  We may not all be that interested in who wins the big game of the year, but between the commercials and the halftime show, people can't seem to resist tuning in to the game.

I love party food, but usually I make it for my teens and their friends, or family get togethers, which include ages 3 to 70 years old.  Buffet style meals are always a great way to go when serving kids and adults with different tastes.  The article I wrote this week includes recipes for:

-Italian Meatball Sandwiches
-Easy Pizza Pockets
-Caesar Wraps

The article is here:
http://oldfashionedliving.com/Game-Day-Snacks.html

~Enjoy! Brenda

Vintage Tips from the Roaring Twenties

Home is the one place in all this world where hearts are sure of each other. It is the place of confidence. It is the place where we tear off that mask of guarded and suspicious coldness which the world forces us to wear in self-defense, and where we pour out the unreserved communications of full and confiding hearts. ~Frederick W. Robertson

The blog post from Friday had the wrong link for the afternoon tea recipes. I've fixed that link, but here it is again:

http://oldfashionedliving.com/Vintage-Afternoon-Tea-or-Luncheon-Recipes.html

The link I accidentally posted was for my next article, which is part two of the household hints from 1928 and 1929. This group of tips is a fun hodgepodge of advice with a few of my notes added for clarification.  That article is here:

http://oldfashionedliving.com/Vintage-Household-Hints-2.html

Sorry for the confusion, and I hope your weekend was restful,

~Brenda