Ask and Ye Shall Receive

Sometimes. If you are very lucky that day. And the stars are lined up perfectly at the Goodwill. For some recharging, I went thrifting alone all day yesterday and was intensely happy to rescue these from a bottom shelf — the whole set for $8. It's making me think that I don't need any more of the Lazy Daisy (except maybe the bottom of the butter dish, which would be nice — and thanks to everyone who directed me toward pieces on-line — gonna check with the original Mrs. Paulson to see what she has in her basement first, though) because these seem to harmonize so nicely. I think Andy was surprised when he got home, to see how '70s I was going. But I just want a mix of things, anymore. I don't care where it's from or what decade; I just want it all to feel happy, and to have only as much as I need.

I found a little trove of craft magazines called Decorating & Craft Ideas Made Easy from the '70s at Goodwill, too. I read one while I ate my lunch and had to flip back to the cover to see what the date on the mag was, it sounded so relevant and contemporary. I know we've talked about this before, many times, but I had to share this. From the June 1972 (when I was three, my mother was 27, and my parents had just bought their house) issue, then, an article by Durelle Van Zandt called "How to Recapture the Spirit of Summer" (and be sure to note the "Martha" reference, which is actually to the biblical Martha and not Ms. Stewart, as we 21st century–types might immediately assume):

"I remember, don't you, when summer seemed to last forever. Delicious days with nothing to do but dream and explore and plan projects which sometimes became realities, but most often did not. Still there was fun enough in just thinking about doing them.

"George Gershwin was right when he wrote those famous lyrics 'Summertime and the livin' is easy.' The livin' was easy back when.

"And though, technically, the living should be even easier now, we have somehow lost the spirit of summer. How can we recapture that uncomplicated, uncluttered, sun-glazed serenity which was summer as you and I used to know it? . . .

"First . . . Unclutter your life. Simplify. Do what must be done, and shed all unnecessary busy-ness. Make summer a casual time — keep your household chores easy. . . .

"Second . . . Be good to yourself. Take the time to listen to beautiful music, to read a good book, to look inward; and above all, as the kids put it, don't get uptight about anything. Or if that is impossible, don't stay uptight! Keep your cool. Make yourself this promise at the very beginning of summer. In other words, let it go. Chances are the world won't end before fall, no matter how relaxed you become.

"Third, and probably the most important for a summer of renewal and reflection, for you and every one in your house: Respect each other's need for privacy, the need to be alone. Tree houses are great for little ones. They are synonymous with freedom and adventure. Hammocks are marvelous for day-dreaming adults and children alike. Giant 'Do Not Disturb' signs on teenagers' door should be respected. And you, and every woman, should reserve a little private time to do what is important to you, as an individual person. Something of your very own. Maybe it is tennis — maybe it is macrame — maybe it is just taking the time to get a gorgeous, golden sun-tan. Whatever it is — do it.

"Fourth, Encourage Creativity — but don't try to force it. . . .

"That remarkable man, Goethe, said, 'He is happiest, be he king or peasant, who finds peace in his home.' Peace cannot be handed to us, like breakfast on a tray. But there are some ingredients which are as obvious as the paintings on the wall when you walk into a happy house. They have to do, I think, with respect for, consideration for each other. And a freedom to be oneself. There is deep interest in and encouragement of one another's chosen pursuits. Destructive criticism and sarcasm are unknown here. And invariably there is a woman, a woman with an understanding heart, who is mainly responsible for this happy, healing kind of place . . . a kind of place which cannot help but give a feeling of security and peace to those who live here.

"For us busy Martha-like mothers and wives this may sound like an impossible dream. . . . To avoid being shattered by trying to be all things in too many directions, let us seriously consider a summer of slowing down, of sorting out — a summer of letting things go that are not of real importance, and of recapturing that blithe 'spirit of summer' that will keep refreshing us and renewing us long after the last leaf has fallen and winter is here again.

"I will if you will."

I'm totally starting with the golden sun-tan. Then the macrame, then the tennis. You?

Comments

[Amber]

Alicia, what do you mean you're starting with the sun-tan? Didn't you get back to the tanning beds in April to get ready for the summer, already? Sheesh! You're so behind, girl, I don't know how you're going to keep up with the relaxing this summer.

Yeah.

If anyone knows of great macrame classes in New York, I think I'm ready for the next level of summer relaxation.

[Amber]

Wait! What I meant to comment on was that I think the brown-daisy coffee set might actually be BETTER than the matching china. It's so incredibly awesome to have them so tightly linked by theme, color, and era, but not strictly matching. It's kind of breathtaking, until I think about sun-tanning.

[Lilli]

Your new tea set is so lovely..... Friendly. And it goes so well with the daisy dishes. (I'm following Jamahl's advice in Finding Forrester, by boldly starting my sentence with "And".)

Amazing that in the 70s they were advising us to slow down. That was before the greedy speedy 80s, before our rushed-to-breaking -point present day.

....pant, pant......Oh right, it IS summer and the living is easy... :)

[AmyDe]

Thank you! I have to TRY to be more like Mary, not Martha (that comes naturally) and focus on the important - not the urgent.

[molly]

I just read this post after coming inside from drinking iced tea on the porch with my four year old, who's having a rough two days...it was nice to slow down and this timeless magazine article definitely has it right.
i'm starting with tennis. oh, wait...buying a better sportsbra, then tennis.

[Lauren]

Weird how that article is so relevant. Could it be that each generation longs for a time when things were "easier" and less stressed. Love the Martha-type mothers line.
This is the summer we are backing up, slowing down and taking a break and it feels great.

[Toni]

Reading this post helps me to slow down--yet again. Summer is indeed my favorite time of year, and it always flutters by so quickly. I don't want to waste even one day of not enjoying it. Thanks.

[Beth]

What a wonderful article, and even more true today than in the 70's. I always think, "If I could only win the lottery, even if the payout was just a couple of mil, I could through work to wind and enjoy every day with my daughter." When you have a full time job and a child, life does get complicated, but I really try to not let that happen. I have some wonderful pics of my little Emma on the trampoline with our next dorr neighbor. They are great... now if I could only work on that tan without the fear of wrinkles : )

[amy h]

I think every generation thinks that earlier times were more simple. I've read stuff from the 1890s where people were declaring the end of all morality with this new-fangled modernity. Still, the advice to slow down is always valid.

And no golden tan! (Take it from me: Ms. Melanoma.) Pick up a bottle of Jergens Natural Glow -- works great!

[k8tykat]

maybe it's just sitting down and doing nothing - all stinking day long!!

thanks for sharing that alicia!

[Alicia R-S]

I can't help cracking a grin at the common thread in many [younger] bloggers' posts which define the 70's as slower/easier/less frenetic. Having come of age during that decade, I think the popularized blogosphere perception of the era is a very relative perception, rather than an absolute.

[Jill]

Macrame! My mom did that for a while, it was probably in the 70s. I remember the thick twine she used to make hanging plant holders, with big wooden beads here and there.

[kylie d]

As I sit at my computer, all rugged up and sniffling with a cold..I am sooo jealous of you peeps in the northern hemisphere. Even though Sydney's winter is quite pathetic, I am longing for those hot summer days.

I loved the 70's, mostly because I was a young chick then too, and you had no worries in the world, other than whose pool you were going to swim in and whose Mum was making you lunch!

[elisa]

Wow, I SO needed to read that today. Thanks.

[Rachel]

What a great post. Thanks! Love the thrift finds too.

[Shelley (Pink House)]

Thanks for sharing the article. I'm saving it. I'm pretty good about all those things at this point in my life, but it's nice to have it confirmed.

Just today I made myself an iced coffee, and then sat down to knit for a whole hour in the middle of the day! Yay for me. It felt good. Because of the caffiene and the break I could then keep going with tasks and even walk in the Relay for Life til midnight tonight.

[Kristy]

I fancy the tree house, full of all my bits, with a great big keep out sign on the door!Why should the kids and teenagers get all the good stuff?

[MARYBETH]

What a wonderful find! I do believe ~ items from the past are just hurdling through the universe waiting for just the right person to discover them!"

Are you serious about the MAcrame?? I think i have a few retro books on it. I will go hunting.
Summer joy is a tough one here in the 'just too darn hot desert'
106 with thunder storms.
But I exitedly await a trip to Santa Barbara-Lompoc and Solvang next week =)
Life is good*

[jeanne-marie]

This made me cry, Ali. Seriously. My mother is a Martha in every sense of the word. (Her name is Martha, and she has a twin sister, Mary. Pastor's kids.) I've never understood the reference in the Bible to Mary being the "good one." I can't get my head around the notion that Martha was the one keeping things going, holding it all together -- and she's chastised for it. It's fine to be bissfully worshipping but the dishes don't do themselves, nor are the beds made up with sheets chosen for comfort, and flowers on the table for the pleasure of others. My mom had 4 children in four years, and woke us up SINGING "Oh What A Beatuiful Morning" (or something equally chipper) every day. (She was headed for professional soprano until Dad came along.) She remains the most unselfish person I have ever known, serving, serving, serving. Ironically, while raising 4 happy kids, she managed to sunbathe on the roof, play semi-pro tennis, organize the 27+ little kids on our block (Irish Catholic, says it all) into a ragtag marching band during the summer, and on rainy days, she had all those kids sitting in our living/dining room while she explained, sang and acted out operas playing on the reel-to-reel. (There's your 70's reference.) You know I'm not a bible thumper but there are days (almost every day) when, faced with the choice of lazing around or getting up and doing something to improve or enhance or bring peace to the lives of my family, I think of those bumper stickers that say WWJD. Except for me it's WWMD.

[Lucinda]

I'm putting down my hook rug project and running out to play doubles right now. Later tonight we're playing a game of Jarts in the yard.

Good day fabulous lady!

[julie]

thanks so for sharing that article. that part about the happy house that has "respect for, consideration for each other. And a freedom to be oneself. There is deep interest in and encouragement of one another's chosen pursuits."--that reminds me of the lovely crafty blogosphere.

thanks!

[Chris Howard]

Why does no one macrame any more? Tis one of the great mysteries of the universe.

Almost makes me want to try it...

[jerusha]

that's amazing! thank you so much for sharing this ~ i'm going to save a little copy of it and look for my treehouse. ;)