The Beauty of an Apron

An apron is something we saw on our grandmother..or in my case, my great grandmother.  I can remember as a child….the amount of things that would fit in her apron pockets…a small paring knife, a napkin or towel, a hair pin or two, sometimes even a hairbrush…depending on what she was doing.

My mother didn’t wear aprons that I can remember.  She isn’t here any longer, so I can’t ask her if she ever did…but I doubt it.

As a newly wed..I didn’t even own one…thought they looked old fashioned and tacky…LOL!  My how things change! 

About a year ago, as our lives began to shift toward environmental consciousness and a more simple life, I started collecting aprons.  I would find them at our local thrift store and at yard sales.  I was amazed to find that my daughter absolutely adored aprons. 

Thus our collection grew!  🙂  We have aprons for Christmas, vintage aprons, tie dyed aprons, half aprons and full aprons.  Then I started making them…half aprons are my favorite…I’m still trying to work out the pattern I like best for a full one.

But now, I look back on my grandmother and great grandmother…and realized that those aprons were so much more than just an apron…they were a uniform…it meant that they were a mother, grandmother, homemaker, nurse, cook, bottle washer, fire tender, seamstress, and a home builder.  The apron didn’t do it, but it was such an important part of what they did…they wore them every day…those aprons helped gather food from the garden, protected clothes from cooking and cleaning, held cleaning supplies, cooking supplies, clothespins, hankies, safety pins, sewing supplies, and sometimes even a treat.  They wiped children’s faces and hands, they wiped away dirt and tears alike.  They helped get hot food out of the oven.  Then at night, they were hung on a hook by the door of the kitchen until morning.

Now, I wear an apron…I have one especially for hanging out clothes..it holds all my clothespins.  I have ones for cooking…washing dishes, etc.   But most of all, these aprons…they tell people…what I do, who I am. 

Aprons are a part of our heritage…a part that is disappearing in today’s fast paced world.  Grasp this piece of history…embrace it as a mother…and put on your apron…wear it with pride! 

The practical side of it makes since…fewer stains on your clothes, pockets to make up for those extra 4 hands that you just don’t have…they work as a portable basket if you have a garden…a comfort for that little child that needs a face or hand wiped.  Have fun…have several….choose them to reflect your own style…Fancy ones, plain ones, half ones, full ones…pick one for the holidays too! 

They are not only useful and practical, but also feminine…which we need to cling to!  Aprons fit in with my modesty theme…they make you feel more feminine…and remind you of the importance of what you do..what God has called you to do and be!  A mother, a homemaker, a woman of God!

Don’t know where to start?  Check out my aprons in my Etsy store…

Homeschooling in Arkansas

We live in a small town in Arkansas.  So far, the laws in Arkansas have been fairly relaxed, with very little government interference.  We have to file an intent to homeschool form each year and take a standardized test once a year for grades 3-9.  Other than that, the schools and the government pretty much leave us alone.

However, today I found out some info that is pretty bothersome.  Nothing we can’t handle, but still…

There is a bill in the Arkansas House right now…to add some restrictions and such to our rules.  The new laws themselves are not that bad..but the doors that they open are…and we can’t let that happen. 

Oddly enough, the proposed bill is not as disturbing to me as the opinions expressed by our very own Superintendent of our school district.

It has become obvious that she does not like homeschoolers.  She supports this new bill and her statements were very, very disturbing in how she views us, as homeschoolers. 

I have included her email she sent in support of HB 2144.  This is an unedited version of the email…just copied over to here.  As you can see…she views the “majority” of us as not doing a good job and lacking in respect for our children’s educaton.  Hmmm….this is her first year in this position….I wonder if she will last….she didn’t at our local Community College.

Her email:

———-Original Email———-
I am in favor of HB 2144. As a school superintendent, I am working non-stop to ensure that each child intrusted to Mena Public Schools receives a quality education. This week, our principals sent letters to parents warning them that their children had reached the 12 day (since semester) absence limit. I have had parents in the office or on the phone since the letters were mailed trying to home school their children.

One parent said, “They don’t like lunches at school; they don’t like to get up in the mornings, and I don’t want to bring them to school (they ride buses and are on free lunches)–so I want to homeschool.” The boys were in grades 5 and 8. The mom had no idea what she was going to use to teach them, how she was going to help them like school, how she was going to discipline them as a teacher/mom. I tried to talk them out of leaving. They were determined, and mom basically let 10 and 13 year olds drop out.

I have many more stories just like these that convince me that homeschooling in Arkansas is promoting the very things that Gov. Beebe, Presidents Bush and Obama, and each of you are against. We are seeking to educate the children so that they are not left behind. We want to improve our number of graduates and students going to college. How are we going to do that when we allow children to leave our schools at the whim of a parent? There are some who do a good job, but the majority are perpetuating the low regard for education that has been the curse of Arkansas’ progress. Our school district of 1954 has more than 130 students being home schooled. Many never come back and are added to the cycle of generational poverty. Please help us by passing HB 2144.
———-End Original Email———

Her comments concern us…although we know that it’s mostly about the money…she is losing money for the district for each child that is homeschooled. Huh! 

She expresses a lot of dislike for homeschooling with the comment

I have many more stories just like these that convince me that homeschooling in Arkansas is promoting the very things that Gov. Beebe, Presidents Bush and Obama, and each of you are against.

What about the good side of homeschooling?  Doesn’t that count???  What about the fact that these kids are doing really well in testing and later in life in college and beyond?

What about the proven record of homeschooling achievement across the country that shows that homeschooling works really well?

I guess that doesn’t matter to her…it always boils down to the money and control doesn’t it?  The states keep trying to take our kids away…to indoctorate them to their way of thinking…so that they would grow up to believe all the garbage the government trys to spout off as fact.

Ok…done with my rant…just had to get that said!  🙂  Hope you all have a blessed day!

Got Honey? Wild Acre Ranch does!

This is a wonderful site!  I have had the pleasure of buying the most delicious honey from them(best I’ve ever had) and also am enjoying their Lavender lotion..smells just wonderful and works great!

Wild Acre Ranch is a family operation that raises honey bees, blueberries, makes lotions and soaps and they even carry plants..blueberries, grapes, and rasberries to name a few!

Check out their site and try a few things!  Their prices are reasonable and their products are good!

Just updated!  We recently made a field trip with our 4-H group out to the ranch to pick blueberries…WOW!  What fun!  The kids had a blast and we brought home a load of fresh, chemical free blueberries!  You can pick your own or you can have them pick them for you!  Either way, if you are in the area, check them out!!  You’ll be glad you did!

Buy American…Better yet, Buy LOCAL!

I am a big supporter of buying American…I believe that will help our country more than anything.  However, above and beyond that..I have the belief that if you can get it locally…especially from a small mom and pop/homeschooling family business…then by all means.. DO SO!

I was pleased to discover several local sources for soap, honey, bread and more…not factory produced.

I am going to be featuring each of the businesses I find that have a website or contact info on my blog.  Stay tuned for some GREAT sites, products and people!