Home Knitted Woolies & Old Fashioned Soap

Mothers make children aware
Mothers
make their children
aware 
that they belongRobyn
Mothers give moral education

MOTHERS DIRECT THE MORAL EDUCATION OF THEIR CHILDREN

WITH VALUES INSTILLED QUIETLY AND CONSTANTLY

AS THEY DEMONSTRATE WHOLESOME PERSUITS AND ATTITUDES.

Robyn

Memoirs from my mother  Brenda knits for her children 
I knitted cardigans and jumpers, especially for my first children. However, the lovely fluffy short sleeved boleros I knitted were not appreciated by dad (Reg). Sandra had a blue angora cardigan and Denise's was pink. Denise related that when in Sunday School, she used to pull off tufts of fluffy threads, and blow them up in the air! The girls weren't allowed to wear them when they went out with their dad - he seemed to think that the long, soft threads got up his nostrils! 

Us kids just loved our home knitted jumpers. Thanks Mum!

Brenda's Scrap Book

Today's extract from Brenda's 1960s scrap book gives us some good tips for removing stains! Thanks Brenda. 

I wish I had the talent to knit for my children and grand-children.  

from Robyn

painting of robin by Brenda

Flying to Womera & Anzac Biscuits

A mother's tender heart 

The tender heart of a mother
Makes an infant feel secure..
Robyn

Happy moments

I lay across the big double bed, stroking my finger across his tiny forehead. My two month old baby lay there, peacefully asleep. It was easy to love him and the smiles he now gave back told me that he loved me too! 
Such moments have to be among the happiest of memories which I cherish. Robyn

Memoirs from my mother  Brenda talks about flying to Womera

Brenda with her three young children 

We lived for a while in Kedron, but then there was an airforce posting to Woomera. So with three young children, we were off to a new home.  Denise was only 3 and was considered to be a baby, so there was no payment for her air fare, but she didn't get a seat on the plane. We flew in a bigger aircraft from Brisbane to Adelaide, but then from Adelaide to Womera , we were in a small aircraft.  Denise was air-sick, and that was the un-doing of me! It made me sick as well, and that was dreadful as we were in such a tiny airplane with her on my knee!

Brenda's Scrap Book

Anzac Biscuits are still a favourite today, and are sold in stores  each year in special Anzac Biscuit Tins.

During the war, many women baked Anzac Biscuits for the soldiers

May we continue to remember those who have gone before us

from Robyn

painting of robin by Brenda

A First Baby & Apple Crumble

Mothers, strong and steadfast

Mothers -
Strong and steadfast
Like sturdy trees
Yet kind and gentle
As a whispering breeze.

Robyn

Our home

It's most definitely one of the humble homes
In this fine city,
Yet hubby and I, and each of our children,
Grand-children too,
Just love it!

The home's walls wrap themselves around us
each time we enter,
and the home itself welcomes us
within its confines.  
           Robyn            

                           

Memoirs from my mother  Brenda talks about her first baby 

I was put into hospital for a short time before Sandra was born. That was a scary time for me because I was so immature and I had nobody to talk to. Nana was in Queensland and I was in Sydney. In those days, nobody told you anything or taught you anything - you didn't go to any classes. You were just ignorant! It is much different today. 

Reg was in the airforce and he got posted to just outside Sydney. After we got married, we lived with his Uncle Charlie, but then the posting came and Dad (Reg) packed me up and off we went to Sydney. I was pregnant by then.  

Dad had a mate who had a two-terrace house in a poorer area of Sydney, and we rented a room from him. It was just an upstairs room, that's all - but it did have a balcony! There was a stove in the corner and a sink. A bathroom was down the corridor and you had to share that. 

We found a doctor around the corner - he was the doctor who put me into the Paddington Hospital before my baby was born, but I didn't know why he put me in hospital! When Sandra was born, we had to take the big pram upstairs and downstairs each day. I went to pay the doctor's bill one day, but he didn't charge me because it was a poor district. 

Mother, Father and a beautiful baby 

Brenda's Scrap Book

Apple Crumble is today's recipe from my mother's 1960s scrap book - with a couple of other recipes in there for good measure! 

Today's educated mums can certainly lucky to have so much information and help available for them 

from Robyn

painting of robin by Brenda

The Wedding Dress and Egg Yolk Rock Buns

Mothers looking after each other 

Sometimes things go sadly wrong.
In times that are hard,
How can mothers
Stay
Stong?
Mothers can "mother" each other.

Robyn

What are the homely joys of my everyday life?

These are my joys.....
Waking to the sound of bird-song in the air,
Opening the coffee jar and making a morning cup of real coffee,
Boiling an egg for breakfast,
Walking in the garden,
Sharing meal-times with my hubby,
Visiting family and them visiting us,
Holding a camera in my hand and framing a nature shot,
Working in a nursing home,
Talking to friends and family - or anyone, 
Waking, Working, Walking, Talking - these are my joys.
And I like listening too,
because sometimes I can hear God talking to me.  
                           

Memoirs from my mother  Brenda talks about her wedding dress

The Wedding Day 

I was married during the war when we were issued with clothing coupons. You couldn't buy material!

I had to buy a second-hand wedding dress, but it really looked quite nice! 

Years later it became a dressing-up dress for the kids, but before that, I had cut it down into a strapless evening gown and I wore it to a ball in Woomera.  

As a child, I (Robyn) used to love to touch  my mother's wedding dress,
feeling the raised silver spots all over the material.
After it had been cut down to make a ball gown some years after her wedding,
it went into the "dress-ups" for us kids.  

Brenda's Scrap Book

Egg Yolk Rock Buns is today's recipe from my mother's 1960s scrap book. My mum probably had all manner of uses for the left over egg whites, like making meringues.  Sometimes she thickened the juice from a tin of fruit using custard powder (bringing the juice to the boil and stirring in a paste of custard powder/water to thicken the juice), poured this into a cooked pastry flan, spread the meringue on top and popped it in the oven for the meringue to brown. Yum!

May we each have "special things" that we love to do 

from Robyn

painting of robin by Brenda

Friendships & Salads

Mothers with unfulfilled dreams
Mothers with unfulfilled dreams
Sometimes find.
Their hopes and desires
Being fulfilled
Not in their own lives,
But in the lives of their children.

Robyn

IN PRAISE OF DAUGHTERS
Often mothers are praised for their loving sacrifice.
But what about the daughters?

Day by day, as I work in a nursing home,
I see many "daughters".
These are the nurses and carers,
Loving the "oldies" with a touch,
                        a kind word,
                    a service,
                  a smile.

These "daughters" whom I work alongside
Show genuine care and love in their workplace.
I think that those age-ing men and women in the nursing home
Are very lucky to have so many "daughters"!  

Robyn

Memoirs from my mother  Brenda talks about her friends

Brenda with her two brothers at Maffra 

When I was growing up, my brothers, Wally and Albert,  were my friends, even though they were very naughty sometimes. 

Young friends 

Joyce was a wonderful bridesmaid
on Brenda's wedding day

Then there were my girlfriends. Joyce was my very special friend. We both worked in the same office. She got married during the war, but sadly, her fiance was killed. Joyce was my one bridesmaid when I got married. Joyce looked after her mother who was an invalid, and she also went to work. Then after her sister got hit at a dance by some soldiers who were fighting, she too became an invalid, not able to sit properly, sitting hunched up with her head down, and Joyce had to look after her as well. 

Brenda with her best friend, Joyce

Joyce met someone whom she married when she was about 40, but he had a heart attack 3 days after the marriage. She had a really really hard life with terrible blows, but she also had a good life. She was a good Christian. Her mother and sister were lucky that they had her to look after them. Joyce never had any children. 

I'm very fortunate with my wonderful, wonderful family. I can count my blessings, I really can. Many people have a great life and others have a tough time. It is just the way it goes, I suppose.  

Brenda's Scrap Book

Healthy salads are on the menu today from Brenda's 1960s scrap book. 

Like my Mum, I too am very grateful for the blessings that have come my way in my life. I hope that in response, I will be a blessing to others.  

from Robyn

painting of robin by Brenda

Childhood homes & Cleaning pillow cases

Mothers look out for one another

Mothers are a universal breed
And should maintain a world-wide creed
To look out for one another.

Robyn

A mother's chores

Food to buy, dishes to dry, and half a dozen eggs to fry,

The kids to feed, the garden to weed, 

The floors to sweep and rooms to make neat,

Dusting to do, find that lost shoe,

Gifts to make and biscuits to bake,

Letters to post, lamb and veges to roast,

Darn the socks, put the toys in their box.

I think that's quite enough chores for me,

So I'll go sit down for a nice cup of tea,

P'haps read the paper or watch the TV.

Robyn

Memoirs from my mother  Brenda talks about her childhood homes

Brenda stands outside one of the Mafra homes she lived in 

I can remember where all the rooms were in the four houses I lived in, in Maffra. I could even draw a plan of them after 70 years or so! John and Sandra took photos of them when they were on holiday a couple of years ago. Sandra rang me on her mobile phone when she and John were looking for those houses, and I was able to say to her,  "Go down Queen Street, turn right or left... and you will find this or that1"

Grandad Jeffries' grave site in Maffra

They found the church we attended, and  saw the silver communion tray that Grandad Jeffries had donated. They even rang the lady who was once the headmaster's daughter - whom I had gone to school with. It was such an exciting week for me when John and Sandra were in Maffra telling me over the mobile phone about the places they were visiting.  The other day, I came across a pack of information about Maffra - the things they had collected for me when they were there. 

Brenda's Scrap Book

I (Robyn) like the idea of putting shampoo on the stained pillowcase before washing it - today's tip from my mother's 1960s scrap book! 

If I had my mothering years over again, I think I would take more shortcuts so that there was more time for relaxing. 

from Robyn

painting of robin by Brenda

Peter the Cat & Apple Cider Vinegar

No mother is perfect

No mother is ever perfect,

But the love which they give

Is perfection indeed! Robyn

The home

The home has a long history

Of being the foundation of our society:

The place where children

Use their imagination

Develop their skills

Test their understandings

Learn about nature

Experience sibling rivalry

Develop friendships

-      with all of this done in the embrace of a mother’s love.

Robyn

Memoirs from my mother  Brenda talks about Peter, her cat 

He was a great big grey Persian cat. He was fluffy - very, very fluffy with extra long hair. Persian cats have longer hair than other cats. He probably was a pedigree, but we just thought of him as "Peter-Our-Cat". But sadly he went wild. 

Brenda, holding "Peter-Our-Cat". 

We were living in Mafra in a house right up on the hill near the water tower. Peter, our cat, used to disappear at night, and we heard rumours that he was running wild and killing lambs. We didn't like to believe it, but he did disappear for nights at end. Then one day, Pop told us that he had died, but we think that Pop killed him. Other cats in the area were also going wild, so Peter wasn't the only one. I was very sad when I lost my cat. I was specially fond of him. I suppose he was a family cat, but I thought of him as mine. It just goes to show that even a well-fed cat at home can go ferrel. Ferrel cats kill the birds, poor little birds!

Strangely though, I don't like cats now. I think that put me off, the fact that Peter-Our-Cat went ferrel. Today I won't stop to pat a cat, But I would as a child. Different story now! 

Brenda's Scrap Book

Apple Cider Vinegar  is today's entry from my mum's 1960s scrap book.

My mum still keeps a bottle of Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar - with the 'mother earth'  -
she would often say to me how important it was to buy vinegar with the 'mother earth' -.

 Reports of health benefits of apple cider vinegar are amazing, and I do use it regularly, mostly in salad dressings and in cooking - BUT I think it wise to read other opinons as well.
e.g. "There is little scientific study of the safety of apple cider vinegar. The acidity of undiluted apple cider vinegar may destroy tooth enamel when sipped orally. Use cautiously in patients with low potassium levels or taking potassium-lowering medications. Use cautiously in patients with diabetes since apple cider vinegar may contain chromium, which may affect insulin levels. Use cautiously in patients with osteoporosis, based on one case report. Avoid sipping or drinking undiluted apple cider vinegar." http://www.motherearthnaturalfoods.com/ns/DisplayMonograph.asp?StoreID=48B9C5F1B77349E9BA7B8C6351E0C82B&DocID=bottomline-applecidervinegar

Ferrel cats have been devastating to Australia's natural fauna - so, thanks go to those people who do not allow their domestic cats to go ferrel.  

from Robyn

painting of robin by Brenda

The Old Toilet & Creamy Lemon Cheesecake

Mothers reach out in love

My very
Own mother
There
Here
Everywhere
Reaching out her arms in love. 

Robyn

This month's 'Blog Theme' revolves around mothers, 

with it being Mother's Day month in Australia 

(in some countries it falls in a different month), 

I don't necessarily mean the women who have given birth or who have adopted children - 

but also those aunties, big sisters, friends and community members who take a younger person under their wing to nurture and love them as a mother would do.  

Thank you to all of those 'MOTHERS'!

Nothing could ever replace the mothers of this world.

A robot would never do!

                                                                       robyn

Memoirs from my mother  Brenda talks about her past

An old Ausie clothes-line held up by two posts,
with the line propped up by sticks in the middle. 

In Maffra, we had a huge back yard, it was a long yard.  There was the clothes line, then there was a gate to go through into the fenced orchard. We'd follow a path past the clothes line and through the gate, right up to the far back fence, and that is where the chook yard and the lavatory  were. The lavatory building was made of wood, and there were some notch-holes in the weatherboard.  There was one peep hole - a notch hole - which we could see through, all the way down to the house. We could see if someone else was coming to the lavatory!  We had to make sure that Grandad Jeffries wasn't  coming, because he would be in a hurry! I don't know how he managed to get to the lavatory on time with it being such a distance, but he made it every time!  However, we had to get out before he got there!

A "dunny" in the back yard,
outside Patti's house, my friend in Crows Nest.

Squares of newspaper were tied up on a piece of string. We didn't have soft toilet paper then.

The lavatory man, or the dunny man as we called him, only came once a week.  Pop (my dad) used to dig a big hole in the garden and put "it" in there as we used to fill up the lavatory can quickly with a big family. That was life, and you had to do it!

Later we lived in a more modern house. In that house, we would go out the back door, down some steps through Nana's fernery which was 5 or 6 metres long, and the lavatory was at the end of that. We could see if people were coming towards this lavatory as well.  There were spiders in there, and you had to hope they didn't bite you when you sat down.

When we got a lavatory inside, we didn't know ourselves then!

Brenda's 1960s Scrap Book
When my mum moved home a couple of years ago, I inherited her "useful scrap book". This month, I will include snippets from this well used book!










I am happy that in my life I have progressed 

from newspaper squares to soft Kneenex toilet paper!

from Robyn

painting of robin by Brenda