Thelegacyofhome

Our table with a homemade cloth napkin. As I went about the work of housekeeping this week, I noticed a carefully mended kitchen towel. It was neatly folded over a towel bar on the stove door. I gave it a little bit of straightening and thought about how it used to be frayed.  The fabric had worn-thin in places. I had folded and tucked and sewed it all back together. It now func...

Our view of a Rose Garden at the Aldrich house in 2025, Vermont. To have a home that is loved and cared for spreads a light of goodness to others. I want to be known for diligently taking care of my house and family. I want things to be neat and clean and tidy. Yet I have noticed that the work inside is easier to manage than what is happening outdoors. There is a great deal of w...

Fresh produce from our garden from last month. There can be a sense of fear when the cost of living is high. It is important to find ways to lower expenses so we can manage to pay the routine bills each month.One of the biggest household expenses is often the cost of groceries. The stores are full of all kinds of packaged food for us to heat up at home. They have made much of ou...

Pretty flowers on our table. In the quiet of the day, I have been settling myself in the downstairs parlour. This is the front room with a large picture window. It is pleasant to look out at the landscape and observe the beauty of the day through lace curtains.Each day, whenever I get a chance, I sit on a comfortable bench and play the piano.  I am learning to play at home with ...

Freshly cut wood near our river.  There is a chill in the air, here in the rural mountains of Vermont. After many hot days of summer, the cold weather is approaching.  Our first frost date is expected in a few weeks. We are getting ready to settle in for the cold season of a New England winter.Firewood is needed for the downstairs wood stove.  Downed trees, on the grounds of