A blog about finding balance in your life, connecting with who you are, and creating a lifestyle where you wake up each morning eagerly anticipating the day ahead.
This little book started life as a leather covered textbook that was written by a man named Walter S. Cox. He led an interesting life… he was one of several lawyers who defended the group of people who were accused of conspiring to assassinate President Abraham Lincoln.
These instructions on how to boil the perfect potato are from an old book on housekeeping that was written in 1880 especially for a new bride or beginning cook.
Reader question… “I found your site searching for information about prices in 1860. I find your posts about the past to be extremely interesting and I envy your access to the old journals and newspaper clippings.”
I came across an amazing old book about culture and manners recently, and I found the tutorial on how to act when meeting the President especially interesting.
Just in case you ever feel the need to know a proper (if outdated) technique for bathing… here are some actual instructions on how to take a bath. Based on the prevailing health beliefs at the time, this information comes from an 1884 book on physiology and hygiene.
An area of New England as far south as New Jersey and as far north as Maine experienced an event that has come to be known as “New England’s Dark Day”… before noontime on that day it had become as dark as early evening…
Many people have asked if I would post more prices from these years from the old family journals. So here are prices for 1860, 1872, 1878, and 1882… for “groceries, provisions, fuel, dry goods, rents, and boards.”
Another of the old family journals… this one for the year 1899… seems to be mostly an accounting of what the weather was like on a given day, when animals on the farm were born or sold, crop information, and prices for various items…
In 1860, Abraham Lincoln was campaigning for President, home canning jars and the Winchester rifle had just been invented, and the Pony Express was beginning its mail delivery service.
My great great… grandfather was extremely interested in weather patterns and always kept a detailed daily record of weather conditions at his farm.
The photos are my own. Some illustrate the post... others show our surroundings and the things we love about our version of simple living and voluntary simplicity. I welcome links to my blog or to any of my articles, but please do not copy my photos or content. —Shirley
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