Photo: Great grandparents at their farm in Blandinsville, IL, with five of their six children .. my grandpa was yet a twinkle in grandma's eye. Stable boy and governess also pictured. Hodges farm, circa 1903-4

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Elegant and Frugal!

An organized kitchen workspace.
Give me half-a-dozen eggs, a few spoonfuls of gravy and as much cream, with a spoonful of butter and a handful of bread crumbs, and I can get up a good breakfast or luncheon,"   said a housekeeper to me once, in a modest boastfulness that became her well, in my eyes.

For I had sat often at her elegant, but frugal board, and I knew she spoke the truth.
Elegant and frugal dining room
Elegant and frugal!"   I shall have more hope of American housewives when they learn to have faith in this combination of adjectives.   

As quoted from:  Breakfast, Luncheon and Tea, by Marion Harland, 1875 .. part of  the "Common Sense In The Household" series.

For gaining much wisdom about domestic life, visit the 'Feeding America' website to read complete one and two century old books published in the United States of America.

4 comments:

Rebecca said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Rebecca said...

Elegant and frugal - what a beautiful team! Your pictures are so illustrative! (Can I assume they are your own kitchen and dining room? )

Mrs. Mac said...

yes, Rebecca .. my home.

LynnS said...

I can't wait to read those e-books you shared. You find the very best old housekeeping and housewife books!!

Your kitchen is beautifully styled and your dining room is so comfortable....a place where folks can sit and chat around the table. So nice!