Frugal Colonial Lifestyle of the Past

I feel very close to the people in the English Colonies. I may be somewhat different in my circumstances but I have the same heart! I appreciate all that I have and try to make it go as long as it can. I use things in different ways, that I think they might have given me the nod of approval.

From saving rainwater outdoors for the plants to making tape rolls for next year's garden, to making and keeping seeds from the years before to use the next year, it all adds to an attitude of using what I have to make more. It also gives me a chance to be closer to the workings of nature, seeing the beautiful life cycle of the plants and flowers.

There is a simple form of joy in this and there is nothing more purely blessed than to see a home overflowing with love, not so much from expensive store bought items, but meaningful things that make us think of what we have and love, being all around us at all times, as we walk through our homes.

I have clay ornaments with messages on them, glittered and bright, sitting around, on the tables and on the Christmas tree with it still up. I have recycled cans and containers, as you will find most of us do in this community, and they have adorable pictures on them, I have lots of homemade no-sew scarves and pillows for the winter, that I have made out of fleece, and they are warmer than any ones you could buy at the store already- made. I simply buy a yard of the fleece and cut them out myself and cut a five inch long fringe on them. I make them extra long in length too, for the cold winters. They are very warm.

I make adorable no sew pillows from my children's outgrown clothes, and they are reminders of joyful times past. I have dozens of pictures framed and hanging up, not of store-bought paintings but drawings the family has made, both adults and children of this generation and the one before. I have rocks decorated and glass beads, and all that is in between. I have jars of memories with little cloths on top and they hold lot of memories for me and hold lots of joy to look upon.

I do these crafts, as a way of expressing happiness and joy to my family and a joyful task for me as well. Some of these take the place of skills I don't have that the Colonial people did. They would quilt, and needle point. For me, I do crafts in the place of quilting, with fleece scarves and then I paint on rocks and make pretty images for the needlepoint which I don't do. These all make a home so meaningful, even for the English Colonies, they were not all for necessity but also out of joy of home life and of freedom.

I am going to pass this on to my children, who will learn how it was so long ago, and how hearts would be creative and loving, turning a hard circumstance into a chance to bring something of beauty into their harsh lives.

Here is but one small item, pulled from that time, brought to the present here, in my busy home. Some of the habits and mannerisms that comes from that time, long ago, and some of the etiquitte that belongs to that age I include as just an anecdote and a flavor of times past. I am happy with kids running into the kitchen in running out with food they like. That is success to me. I am not really concerned with how to place the butter on the plate and the amount of preserves with the cream on top.

Nevertheless, how interesting it is to see these, habits, these behaviors from that time long ago. It is in that spirit of love and home life that I am presenting this slice of the past, English Scones. I hope you enjoy them as much as the colonial peoples did long ago, in their homes with warm hearth and family around them.

What is a Scone?

These are a product of the colonies, and eaten with butter, preserves, and whipping cream. You split them into, like you would a biscuit. You are trying to eat with manners. The butter and jelly are spooned on the plate not the scone, and the scone is sliced in half, not torn in half with the hands. Only enough butter is spread on the scone, as is enough for one biteful. If cream is served, it is spooned, only on top of the preserves, not dipped (the English children must have been very refined if they followed all of this at the dinner table).

Here is a English Scone Recipe, it is pronounced either 'Scon' or the 'Scone'. They were a staple of the meals of our English Ancesters in the Colonies. Here it is, presented with love, from an earlier time when frugality was not only a necessity but a joyful way of life

http://www2.thriftyfun.com/English-Scones.html

Enjoy and serve with family. Cheers and blessings to all.