This Old House

I know it's been ages since I've posted. I have been busy with all sorts of projects, and have been too tired to get my act together at night. Mostly I have been organizing the deposited goods that have accumulated after five people have lived in the same space for 25 years. The attic is clean and orderly again after an extensive purge of all things on the 3rd floor.

During my cleaning spree, I have found a number of surprises in and around the house. I just love living in an old house. Surprises everywhere!

Ironstone saucer

Molded clay rooster

Ceramic game piece

Victorian "Frozen Charlotte" doll

1955 transfer-print reproduction coffee mug

Early 20th century linoleum floor cloth

 ...unfortunately, now that the attic is clean, I now know EXACTLY where the roof leaks when it rains.

Homemade Facial Treatments

My skin is very sensitive. I am prone to freckles, sunburn, heat rash, acne, and allergic reactions to just about everything that touches my face. Over the years, I have found it difficult to use many commercial products because they contain perfumes and irritants, or make my skin too dry or oily. Despite this, my quest for a beauty and health regimen is ongoing. Recently, I have found a number of mild facial treatments that can be done in the kitchen, and work well for sensitive faces like mine.

1. Yogurt mask
I am always trying to find solutions to acne scars, but many facial peels are extremely harsh and can further irritate skin. Plain yogurt contains a high concentration of lactic acid which helps to rid the skin of dead cells. 

About once a week I combine a few tablespoons of yogurt and a teaspoon of plain gelatin, microwave for about 30 seconds, and smooth onto my face. Leave the mask on until dry, then rinse with warm water. Immediately after facial treatments, I moisturize with a few drops of vitamin E oil.

2. Aspirin wash
To treat tough acne I use a 10% benzoil peroxide cream. Unfortunately, the cream often bleaches fabrics, and so I use my peroxide only at night. I use this aspirin wash during the day because it goes on clear, treats spots, and does not bleach!


Boil water and pour a few tablespoons over a crushed, uncoated aspirin. Let dissolve and cool, then apply wash to face with a soft cloth or cotton ball.

3. Steam cleanse
Every few weeks I use this treatment to open my pores and sweat out some of the toxins that my skin absorbs on a daily basis.

Boil water in a small saucepan. Set saucepan on a table, cover your head with a towel, and place head over the steam. Make sure you are a foot or two above the pan, otherwise the steam can cause painful burns. Stay in the steam for about ten minutes, or until you start to sweat. Rinse face with cool water and follow with moisturizer.

Sunday Sentiment: A Reflective Moment

A glimpse into my summer.

Right now, I am...

:: enjoying my tea after a long day outside.

:: watching Momma and Bee (my grandmother) reading newspapers in the living room.

:: smelling the fresh summer breeze that is drifting through the windows of the kitchen.
:: looking forward to sleeping well tonight.

:: wishing for time this week to bake a pie with my fresh-picked wild blueberries!

:: hearing clicking keyboards, crinkling newspapers, the breeze of the fan, and the news on television.

:: feeling tired, but satisfied with my work in the garden today.

:: reminding myself that I have to finish sewing place mats for my future apartment.

:: rejoicing in the discoveries I made yesterday. Wonderful cookbooks dating from the 1920's to the 1960's found at a local yard sale!

:: laughing at our silly dog who rode across the lake today in the kayak, wedged between my legs.

:: being calm. My new Sunday night ritual is to rid myself of negative energy, and meditate to bring positivity to the week ahead.

:: happy to be at home in New Hampshire on this glorious July day.

:: working on a number of projects, most notably quilted place mats to match my Boleslawiec pottery.

:: noticing that I am in the mood for a second cup of tea-- not surprising, but also not a good idea before bedtime.
:: inspired to do so much, and realizing that I have an entire year ahead of me to do it!

Midsummer Fun!

One of my favorite blogs is hosting a ModCloth giveaway. For all my historical fashion-inclined friends, I hope you will take a look at some of Kellie's stylish creations and be inspired! Also from  Accordion to Kellie, a little midsummer fun:

What is your favorite cold summer treat?

I ADORE raspberry chocolate-chip ice cream. Perfect combination of cold, tart, and sweet.

Ideal summer vacation?

If I had the opportunity, I would spend the entire summer on an island in Maine. But the ultimate vacation would be a trip to Prince Edward Island. One of my life ambitions is to live by the sea.

 

Favorite summertime sport?

To be honest, I love wading in rivers and ponds. It seems very childish, but I always find the most interesting treasures.

 

Name your favorite book for the perfect summer afternoon read

 Anything involving historical fiction, romance, or farm adventures.

Current #1 summer goal:

Enjoy my last year as a summer camp counselor and try to stay positive!

 

A favorite summertime memory

A few years ago, I was invited to spend a week with some family friends on their favorite island in Maine. I have to admit that it was one of the most wonderful, relaxing, and thrilling weeks of my life.

Sunday Sentiment: Summertime Adventures

June 16: My cousin invited me to sing the closing song at her wedding. It was a very emotional event, as her father (my Uncle Dan) passed away in late March. It was also my debut performance singing for people outside of my friends and immediate family.

July 4: A dear friend invited me to join him in Boston for Independence Day. We enjoyed the city all afternoon, and in the evening we attended the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular.

Halfway through the performance, a lightening storm caused the forced evacuation of the Esplanade. 15,000 people were evacuated into the Storro Drive tunnel in Boston. After 25 minutes we were allowed back out, at which point the Boston Pops played their signature piece "Stars and Stripes Forever". Confetti rained down on us, and the fireworks began.

During the lightening storm and evacuation, the rain held off. As soon as the fireworks started, it DOWNPOURED. But it was a blast (literally)!

July 14: A picnic in Prescott Park along the Piscataqua River with some friends from college. We called it a "reunion" because some of us had since graduated, but I prefer to think of it as the first of many friendly gatherings. Each contingent brought something to add to the feast. I came with my own lettuce, local tomatoes & zucchini, homemade garlic vinaigrette, fresh oatmeal bread, homemade peach-plum jam, and grapes.

All in all, it's been a pretty fabulously eventful summer so far.

Sunday Sentiment: Project Wishlist Update

In January, I posted a list of projects that I wanted to accomplish. Now let's check in to see what I've finished this year so far!

Knitting:

• Mug cozies-- Scandinavian pattern for Lily
• Fingerless mittens for Ethan
• Mittens for Daddie Working on it.
• Cabled headbands
• Baby sweater with locally farmed, dyed, and spun wool
• Socks!
• Fair Isle sweater
• Sweater with Scandinavian pattern
• Tablerunner for Momma

Sewing:

• New potholders-- quilted
• Quilt for Claire Finished!
• T-shirt quilt for myself Working on it.
• New swing dress for Spring semester Finished!
• Undergarments! for swing dancing, etc. Working on it.
• More farmer's market bags for Barb, Emily
• Aprons for myself Finished!
• Altering of old dresses Finished!
• Denim skirt Finished!
• Dog bed for Chessie

Other:

• Rag rug
• Hooked rug from scraps Working on it.
• Tin lanterns
• Cross-stitch finished! Working on it.
• Seal and label seed packets from last year Finished!
• Start seedlings for the Spring & Summer-- egg cartons
• Frame drawings
• Make more candles-- tapers, columns, and votives
• Homemade shampoo Finished!
• New batch of handsoap

Hmmm, it looks as though I'd better get going on my knitting! I think sewing is so much faster for me that I tend to prefer it. But I want to improve my knitting skills, so I ought to start some new projects soon.

Favorite Home Remedies

This year I've been striving to do away with the added chemicals in commercial soaps, painkillers, and hygiene products in my life. Being a fairly active person, the most difficult part of this transition has been weaning myself off of acetaminophen. About nine months ago, I broke a few ribs and found myself taking painkillers every few hours to ward off back pain and the pain of the actual broken bones. I am also prone to headaches, vertigo, and nausea. Needless to say, this has been quite an experience testing the limits of my pain threshold. In place of the over-the-counter medications that I used to rely so heavily on, I have found comfort in a few excellent home remedies.

For back pain and/or muscle aches:
-Drink a few cups of peppermint tea every day
-Draw a warm bath and add 1/4 cup baking soda & 2 cups freshly steeped peppermint tea (soak for at least 20 minutes, relaxing all muscles)

For nausea, indigestion, or bloating:
-Slice a few pieces of fresh ginger root & steep for 5 minutes to make tea-- drink a cup every few hours as long as symptoms persist
-Peppermint tea helps digestion as well, but it has a much stronger flavor and can sometimes give the sensation of filling you up before it provides relief
-If severe stomach cramps are a problem, I suggest steeping a teaspoon of caraway seeds in hot water & sipping slowly

For dizziness and/or vertigo:
-I drink ginger tea for my vertigo, usually while lying with a cool cloth over my eyes

And of course, one of my favorite home remedies is daily yoga! I find that doing a few stretches each night and meditating for about 20 minutes before bed helps me to focus on my body and its needs.