Spring Sunday Brunches

Science has never drummed up quite as effective a tranquilizing agent as a sunny spring day. ~W. Earl Hall 

I hope everyone had a lovely Easter weekend.  As I write this it's snowing again in Michigan, but we still have many signs of Spring, so I'm sure the warm days are coming soon. I wrote a new article with recipes from the 1920's that are perfect for Sunday brunches.  You'll find:

-Coconut Breakfast Bread
-Oatmeal Gems
-Hominy Waffles
-Rice Griddle Cakes

I also share some tried and true tips for cooking perfect pancakes.  The article is here:
http://oldfashionedliving.com/1920-Easter-Brunch.html

~Enjoy!  Brenda

Old Fashioned Easter Recipes

Easter spells out beauty, the rare beauty of new life. ~S.D. Gordon

Easter is a week away, and we've passed the first official day of Spring. If only the weather would catch up to the news that Spring is here we'd be all set:)

This week I wrote an article for OFL with recipes and tips from 1923 and 1928. These are down to earth recipes from a time in our history when homemakers did their best to be as thrifty as possible. The article is here:

http://oldfashionedliving.com/The-Old-Fashioned-Easter-Table.html

To show you just how cold it's been in Michigan, here is a picture of my grandson before he had to take a ride last week:

I'm discovering all the joys of being a grandmother, including snuggling during the day with him, and then turning him over to his parents at night:) Thank you for all the congratulations and well wishes. 

~Brenda

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