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Carrot, Meet Artichoke

It is rather awkward to be working with some one whose name and family you do not know. The same thing applies to foods. ~The Home Economics Omnibus, p. 14

Oso-Flaco BRAND Artichoke Label Courtesy of Santa Barbara Arts Commission

Dear Friends,

I was twenty years old before I ever met an artichoke. . . . → Read More: Carrot, Meet Artichoke

Luck, Be a Lady Tonight!

Lady Luck is not the presiding genius in a kitchen any more than she is in a chemistry laboratory. ~ The Home Economics Omnibus, p. 12

I was cleaning scraps of muslin and patterns and other assorted design class doo-dads off of my office bookshelf next to my desk when my eyes alit . . . → Read More: Luck, Be a Lady Tonight!

The Well-Dressed Girl

1950's Ad for J.C. Penny's Separates

If we talk at great length about clothes and the place they play in making you an attractive, charming person, don’t think that we believe for one minute that clothes are the most important thing in the world. They aren’t. But they can do a great deal . . . → Read More: The Well-Dressed Girl

But! But! You Can’t DO That!

For goodness’ sake let’s experiment and practice! ~The Home Economics Omnibus

True confession time. Sometimes when I read the blog postings of younger women trying to live like a mid-century housewife, I gasp out loud and say “But, you can’t do that!” when they share their adventures teaching themselves how to sew by redecorating . . . → Read More: But! But! You Can’t DO That!

Planning is Management

Now, where were we? Oh yes! We were going through The Home Economics Omnibus by Harris & Huston!

Planning is not cooking but it is management. Mother gets her day’s work done because she has learned to plan. In her day, planning or management were not taught in school. This is where you have . . . → Read More: Planning is Management

A Good Carpenter is Known by His Tools

My grandfather was a set builder, mostly for MGM, during the “Golden Age of Hollywood.” His garage was filled with Craftsman hand and power tools that lasted forever and made his woodworking hobby much more enjoyable (much of the furniture in my home was built by him). My grandmother also bought top of the . . . → Read More: A Good Carpenter is Known by His Tools

Food Should Not be So Complicated

My apologies for disappearing again but my grandfather’s death followed by my older sister’s visit and Baby Alice’s dedication (like a baptism only without the water) kept me away (not to mention my schoolwork!). I’m finally starting to feel like I’m catching up with myself again.

In my last post, I mentioned that the . . . → Read More: Food Should Not be So Complicated

Let’s Pretend

Editorial note: When one person complained about the plaid background making it hard to read the text, after some trouble-shooting, we decided that it was her monitor preventing the white background in the text area from showing up. But when another person recently complained, I wondered how many others were having the same trouble . . . → Read More: Let’s Pretend

Who Wants to Do Things that are Unwise or Foolish?

Years ago when one of the authors of this book took a course in psychology, the teacher said that no one ever did anything in this world that he did want to do and I challenged it.

“What,” said I, “you mean that I wash dishes because I want to do it? You mean . . . → Read More: Who Wants to Do Things that are Unwise or Foolish?