” To show the way to run one’s home without help, efficiently and happily too, has been the object of this book. But a guide can only point out the path. Of course there will be rough places on the way and setbacks. Days when the jelly won’t jell, the housework seems a meaningless grind, and even the visit to the shops nothing but a drag. Other times though, the sun will shine, everything will go like clockwork, and you’ll feel that nothing in the world can be half so satisfying as running your own home, the way you do. So don’t despair if at first everything doesn’t go exactly to plan. Practise makes perfect, and once you’ve grasped the general principles you’ll soon work out a routine to suit your personality and circumstances. As the mechanics of running a home become familiar, you’ll discover how much else there is to the job. Because you are always learning it will never get stale. The joy of creative work, exhausting though it can be, is that it enriches the personality. Running a home may seem unspectacular and ordinary, but making a success of it, so that the home is a happy one for all who live in it, is creative work to rank with the best.” From “How To Run Your Home Without Help” by Kay Smallshaw.
Create your own Brocante Life Book, plan Christmas, set up routines and rituals or live life the BrocanteHome way with my guided workbooks and planners.
Yes, that would be it… such high hopes. I have been scrubbing. And lying down. And feeling tired. And the other day I was squinting to read something and my Mum passed me her glasses and lo and behold I could see…
My Finn means the world to me. But heavens the child is boring the knees of me lately. You see he is a world authority on all things Doctor Who, Batman and those darn mysterious little creatures, the Pokeymen. I swear there…
"Am disconcerted, at breakfast, to recieve letter from old school friend saying What am I doing with My Brain these days, and isn’t it a Pity to Let It All Go? Know what she means but am very angry nevertheless, and lose…
Life is ludicrously noisy. If it isn’t the television blurring, it is the kids nattering, the phone ringing or the neighbours lawnmower chugging. We are surrounded by noise. Non-stop relentless clatter infiltrating our minds and leaving us without a peaceful place to…
Goodness, commit to doing something once a month and in the blink of an eye, a whole month passes by. Because, yes Sweethearts, it is time for all my Puttery Post lovelies to check their in-boxes all over again and discover this…
Other Things To Do At BrocanteHome Browse the Bookstore Discover a curated list of books to enhance and support life the BrocanteHome way Browse the Bookstore Life Love & Vintage Housekeeping the by BrocantePrintables on Etsy Create your own Brocante Life Book,…
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Why after 15 years, do I still feel the despair, the frustration of not being successful and feeling that everything is always undone or half-done? Ugh!
Happy to see you discovered the Persephone Books as mentioned in one of my previous comments. (www.persephonebooks.co.uk) They are so delightful – the best however is: One Fine Day by Molly Panter-Downes, who happens to be my great aunt!
This excerpt has me smiling. I agree whole-heartedly. I love home keeping, and those "meaningless grind" days really make me wonder if I'll ever get my mojo back. What a delight your website is!
I am printing this and putting it on the wall of the utility room to prod me on those meaningless grind days.(I have, in true Brocante style, added a pretty border etc) It's all so true. Homemaking can give such rich rewards of personal achievement. It can also make you feel a complete failure at everything! Mind you, I've only been at it for 30 years or so!
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Why after 15 years, do I still feel the despair, the frustration of not being successful and feeling that everything is always undone or half-done? Ugh!
Happy to see you discovered the Persephone Books as mentioned in one of my previous comments.
(www.persephonebooks.co.uk)
They are so delightful – the best however is: One Fine Day by Molly Panter-Downes, who happens to be my great aunt!
This excerpt has me smiling. I agree whole-heartedly. I love home keeping, and those "meaningless grind" days really make me wonder if I'll ever get my mojo back. What a delight your website is!
I am printing this and putting it on the wall of the utility room to prod me on those meaningless grind days.(I have, in true Brocante style, added a pretty border etc)
It's all so true. Homemaking can give such rich rewards of personal achievement. It can also make you feel a complete failure at everything!
Mind you, I've only been at it for 30 years or so!