Day 1: How to Keep House

So I've finally emerged from exam week, and this is day one of full-time housewifery. However in the midst of finals, I did manage to get the blog not looking so boring, do some preliminary reading, pick out some plants, and make a self-watering garden (posts and pics will be uploaded soon, don't worry). Since I have no idea how to start this experiment of mine I've decided to structure this thing around  How to Keep House by Mary Davis Gillies--mostly because of the pictures. 

I also like Mary's style. She doesn't try to idealize dish-washing, but she's dignified. She sets out to teach you a profession, not how to attain a particular type of personality. A few of her words on homemaking:

"Women's frustration with housekeeping is really not the work as much as the attitude. It comes down to the fact that the average woman gets tired of being alone; she gets bored with conversations with babies; she needs to master the techniques of keeping house so that she can get it one and out of the way and have time fore refreshing contacts and hobbies."

"The fact that housework can be done in half the time that was needed fifty years ago by no means reduces the respect due homemaking. The advantage of attaining maximum speed in the dispatch of housework is the time gained for other activities. The home is only one of the spheres that affect family and children. The school, community, city government, federal government, and international affairs are factors in family well-being and development and are logically women's concern."

According to Mary homemaking can be boiled down by  a list of "people to be dealt with" and "things that have to be handled". The people a housewife must be concerned with is the family which involves:

• health and education
• social life and recreation
• community activities
• companionship

The things to be handled:

• cleaning, care an upkeep of house
• clothing, its selection and care
• food, cooking and nutrition
• finances and purchasing

Okay...well I don't think that leaves much out. At least I won't run out of things to study up on.