House Husbandry

A Guide for the Efficient Man

Having recently retired from Business life, I’ve become one of those men who see the little woman off each morning. She goes to work; I prepare for the days duties as house husband. I’m not in the least embarrassed by my circumstance; on the contrary, I look upon my current “job” as just that, work which I’m fully equipped to excel at. Having been told of the volume and difficulty of house work for years, I was fully prepared to face each day’s tasks as I would any challenge.

Photo: Courtesy Matthew J. Parsons

I’ve previously explained my position on time management, and approached my new responsibilities with that mindset. A good manager will always develop efficient procedures and implementation processes in the work place. The procedure is the key. In this case it was simple, identify the need, and develop a process for fulfilment, implementation and follow-up.

Having gained experience in building businesses from the ground up, I was fully aware that many times, well intentioned managers try to re-invent the wheel as it were. Housework has been around long enough for some efficiency to have been established. I knew of course that I could bring new ways of looking at the job which would improve those efficiencies. The first step is to establish the needs which took no time at all. The kitchen was in need of some attention, the bedrooms and baths seemed to have somewhat different problems, halls, windows, floors. Having learned early in life that a list is imperative for efficiency, I wrote them all down. Mastering those things on my list would need to be achieved one step at a time.

Research was required to confirm existing methods of accomplishing the objectives. I was able to locate a volume of procedures, from a usually reliable source, which had been written to instruct young people in exactly the tasks I was investigating. Although I would certainly know more about it than an inexperienced young person, reading basic information would be a starting point. “Little Lessons for Little Housekeepers” written by one Emily Huntington of New York. The information supplied by the editor in the preface indicated that Miss Huntington was an expert in these matters; in fact he alludes to further writing by Miss Huntington relating to sewing, politeness and something called “Little Nursery Maids”. I could not see a need for the additional skills so restricted myself the housekeeping research.

On turning pages to locate the contents I noticed how inexpensive books were in the 1870s, several mentioned by the editor were under $2.00. I was pleased to see that the Little Housekeeper sold for $5.00, an expensive author is usually a good one, at least until the post Christmas clearances start. My copy originated from the United States Library of Congress. Whom was it that said, “neither a borrower nor a lender be...”?

Miss Huntington uses a system in her teaching; her lessons are in question and answer form. My system of teaching might differ to hers; nevertheless any system is better than none, example. It was only yesterday I watched a BBC documentary about Windsor Castle. As part of the proceedings leading to the State Visit by the President of France, the castle staffs were reminded in detail of the procedures they were to follow in ensuring all went as the Queen expected. I must send a note to the Queens Housekeeper; I noticed one step in the packing of the Queens luggage which could do with some examination.

Miss Huntington’s Rules for Housekeeping; she first addresses the washing of dishes. What is the first thing little children should learn about housekeeping?

Answer: To wash dishes.

What three things are necessary in order to wash dishes properly? Answer: Well-scraped dishes, hot suds, and proper towels.
 
Don’t forget she is addressing “little children” should you be taking notes you might use bullet form notation.
 
How do you collect dishes?

Answer: Collect the silver in a pitcher of hot water, throw the cold water from the glasses, rinse the cups, and scrape each plate separately, and place in a pile.

How do you make hot suds?

Answer: Put a piece of soap on a fork, and stir it briskly in the water.          Photo Courtesy: Petria Follett    


What are proper towels?

Answer: Clean, dry towels. We must use the fine towels for the glasses and silver; the course towels for the plates and other dishes.

In what order do you wash dishes?

Answer: First the glasses, then the silver, the pitchers, cups, saucers, plates, and other dishes.

How should we rinse dishes?

Answer: In clear, hot water.

Miss Huntington is an expert and apparently it’s been done this way for over a hundred years.

She now addresses the Dining Room, Care of the Dining-Room: When is a dining-room in perfect order?
Answer: When it is well swept and dusted, the furniture in its place, and the blinds closed.

I didn’t even think about the blinds. Miss Huntington seems to be thorough, procedures should be exact leaving no room for error.  Oh my God, the next page has diagrams. I might go have a nap now; this job could be a little more complicated than I thought.

 

JAWhite

November 2009                     Read another Househusband story?

Source:

Little Lessons for little Housekeepers, Huntington, Emily. Publisher: A.D.F. Randolph and company, New York 1879.  This and other books may be viewed at The Internet Archive. Terms and Copyright applicable may be read at: http://www.archive.org/about/terms.php

For More on Emily Huntington

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Women and Punctuation,

A brief venture through punctuation, into my love of women.  Photos will have to wait for another time.

Her words hit me as hard as an exclamation mark.

Her sentence didn’t end in a question mark, it ended unfinished with a lonely comma,

Each of her words were punctuated as though with threats.

Her words ostracised me, as they would an apostrophe, simply because of its shape.

She removed the comma allowing her words to flow freely and unobstructed by fixed meaning.

Walking slowly through her thoughts her words explained themselves without pausing for breath or change in direction.

She spoke three words as one, which brushed my heart gentle as her hand mine.

Moving with determination the word I longed to hear came to rest against a period at the end of the sentence. From her lips I hope, you, will always be preceded by, love.

Romantic drivel? perhaps, but I do love to speak thusly. Now to really get me in trouble if women should sneak a look into this page.

A Definition:

Women’s Liberation n. a movement for the removal of apostrophe’s based upon the assumption that because of their shape, men are superior to women. Also called women’s punctuation lib. The comma is also under question by member’s of this movement.

That was my Wikipedia moment.

JAWhite                                                    Return To Main Page.
February 2010

Who’s Knocking?

My father in law was an old fashion Scotsman. His word was law, having a family of seven children there had to be order and discipline in his home, and he certainly demanded it. I guess you could say his household revolved around him and his way of doing things. The wife, as you would expect under the circumstances was the typical obedient housewife... at least in his presence.

How the arrangement came to be is unknown, but Ewan the Father in law and Maggie his wife had separate bedrooms, I believe snoring had something to do with it. She ran things the way he wanted and was happy to do so. Sure she had her moments, after all, people who are always right would rub even a loving wife the wrong way at times. But she knew she would win by gentle persuasion and patience, as she proved in the end.

Photo: Courtesy Grant Ritchie

His sons grew up and left home as soon as old enough, the strict atmosphere at home being too much for their spirits to bear. Both went to sea on merchant ships as many Scottish boys did. I suspect from what I’ve heard over the years, that the older two boys were the typical Scottish young men we hear about. The ones who like to drink and are quick to jump in when a fight is eminent. And of course they followed the Hibernian Football Club, Hibs for short, this family were Hibbies through and through, their team even won the Scottish Cup, in 1902.

The girls were reasonably good, but did their share of sneaking out of the house when his guard was down. He always treated them well, just a little strictly, no make-up, no going out with boys. He once managed to get my future wife tickets to see a group who were playing in Edinburgh, The Beatles, she said she enjoyed them, he certainly enjoyed being able to get the tickets.

Soon after we were married my wife and I went to Scotland and stayed in Ewan’s house, or as he called it “the Hoose”. I thoroughly enjoyed my stay and even came to admire Ewan for his laughter and his Scotch whiskey. He was fairly free with both, for a Scotsman that is. While there I saw some examples of his discipline, but of course the children were grown by then with only the last girl still in residence. Being the last child at home and a girl to boot she didn’t seem to have any problems managing him.

As he grew older Ewan spent more and more time in his upstairs bedroom, he had the place arranged just to his liking. His books were lined up in their place, the TV in easy reach. He even kept his tools, those he might possibly need for minor repairs, in a drawer there. Now Maggie liked spending her free time, what there was of it, downstairs. The TV, her favourite show being Miss Marple, the kitchen, and of course, the fireplace were there, the latter important since this was Scotland.

Ewan, like me, an efficient man, had developed a system of expressing his wishes, so Maggie could understand without his actually having to ask anything. He simply banged his cane on the bedroom floor and Maggie would know, depending on the time of day, what he wanted. 10:00 am, Morning tea, 1:00 Lunch, life was easy. She knew every knock on the floor like the back of her hand, there were newspaper knocks, has the mail come knocks, who’s on the phone knocks. The entire family and possibly the neighbours knew of this upstairs downstairs arrangement, it seemed to work since Maggie was willing to play her part.

This was the daily routine for the years of their marriage, until Ewan passed away. He had always said he wanted to be buried in Mount Vernon cemetery; many of his family were buried there. That cemetery had been opened in 1895 and being in Edinburgh, a very old and crowded city, was filled to capacity long before Ewan’s demise. It was by pure coincidence that shortly before Ewan’s death the church found a small place where a few graves would be allowed but only if there were two burials per plot, husband and wife plots, whoever went first, went in first.

Ewan was buried several years before Maggie had need of the plot. It was at her funeral that the irony of the situation struck home to the family. The priest must have been surprised indeed, when in the middle of the graveside service, family members started hiding smiles and giggling behind their hands and missals. It wasn’t until one of the more disreputable sons voiced what everyone was thinking that full blown laughter rang out. In a loud voice he shouted “Who’s on top now Ewan?”

Maggie was always the life of the party; she was always laughing and had a joke for every occasion. I’m sure she enjoyed the joke that day; after all it was hers.

The photo by Grant Ritchie was taken in Lawnmarket Street near the Castle, if you visit the stores web site; check out the kilt measuring guide.

JAWhite                                                 Return To Main Page
November 2009

Tick Tock

I’ve been noticing for some time, but didn’t really pay much attention, until I retired. When a guy retires he gets a little more time for himself, it’s not like women make out, you know... “He’s always in my way; he’s always asking what are you doing?” We retired guys have a lot to accomplish and stay busy doing just that. I simply have a little more time to give her the attention she was always asking about.

I used to get home from work and just wanted to sit down and unwind. Perhaps have a beer and catch up on the sport scores or watch the news. Usually just as I was sitting down, she would need to tell me about her day. Running into one of her friends in the shopping center had allowed them to catch up on all the things that had been happening in their lives. Of course I didn’t need to run into these people myself; I got all the news from my wife. Nothing the kids did escaped my notice the wife kept track of everything and made sure I was up to date. I would listen attentively as her day unfolded, asking intelligent questions now and then. The news on TV could wait until latter, there was always the 10:00 pm. I was usually deep into the book I would be reading by that time, but still. Making me a part of her day was important to her so obviously it was to me as well.

As the children got older she found some time on her hands so got a part time job. This was great, extra money could always be used, Heineken isn't cheap. She found her job not long before I had to take early retirement.   She would prefer to be retired, now that I am, but still has that job.  If I were physically able I would be out there as well, but that wasn’t to be so we each do what we can.

On arriving home she likes to put her feet up and relax which is understandable, her job can be hard on her. She only gets to watch the 6 o’clock news as her early mornings send her to bed by 10:00.  After dinner she reads or watches a favourite program, I guess it rounds out her day and prepares her for the next.

These days I get to hear the news while I’m making the beds, the TV can be seen from the kitchen so I can watch the football while doing the dishes or getting dinner ready. Beer made me fat so I gave that up and now seem too busy to miss it. Don’t get me wrong, I still have a little time for myself. I can use the internet to pay the bills and while on the computer I check my e-mail and such. You ever notice how some people don’t reply to mails for hours even a whole day sometimes? I guess they just don’t know how to manage their time efficiently.

I’ve been noticing recently, that my wife reads, and watches TV a lot; I just didn’t really pay attention, until I retired. It seems that every time I try to tell her something that happened during the day, she’s in the middle of an important part of a movie or must finish this chapter. I know she likes to relax when she gets home from work, but it would only take a few minutes to keep her up to date.

The weekends don’t seem to give her much of a break either, the lawns need mowed, cars washed, the usual suburban weekends. Doesn’t look like I’ll ever get time to talk with her.

Time is what it’s all about. Some people just don’t seem to have enough to give someone else a little. Look at that, dust on the computer case; I’ll get to it tomorrow, sometime.

Photo: Courtesy PDPhoto.org                                Return To Main Page