As we approach the summer solstice, daylight remains the most abundant resource in our lives. Here on the South Dakota prairie, the weather remains somewhat temperamental. We have long days of hot stillness filled only by the crackling of grasshoppers and the sweet song of western meadowlarks. Then there are cool days of wind and rain when the prairie grass seems to ripple with a life of its own. The evenings are often punctuated with rolling thunder over the hills and the aggressive clatter of hailstones on the metal roof. Only one thing is certain here on the prairie and that is the uncertainty of the daily rolling clouds and the direction of the wind.
As a homemaker, I cherish these long days. The mornings are already filling with light when my husband leaves for work at 5am and I step out onto the porch to water my plants and take in the sunrise. The cool morning breeze fills my lungs and I hurry to open the windows in the house to allow the stale overnight air out and the sweet summer smells in. I can hear the western meadowlarks and the killdeer even when the windows are closed. The warmth of the sun spilling over my house fills me with renewed vigor for the day as I sit down to make my daily to do list and linger over my Bible. As the days continue to lengthen, I love to spend the extra daylight working around the house and making my home as beautiful and cheerful and I possibly can. I’d like to share with you some of my favorite ways to make my home beautiful.
Open the windows
There is nothing I love more in the mornings than opening the windows for an hour or two as the sun rises. The house fills with that dewy morning scent and whatever stale smells remain from cooking or dusting are speedily replaced with sweet prairie grass scents and the meadowlark’s birdsong.
Find fresh flowers
There is an abundance of beautiful wildflowers growing all over the prairie, especially at this time of year. My favorite part is that it’s absolutely free to cut them and arrange them in a vase on the table. In the fall, I clip red and orange branches from trees nearby to fill my vases. In the winter, I find pinecones and evergreen boughs to decorate with. Nature is free and abundant and will brighten even the dimmest corners of your house.
Utilize tablecloths
I have gotten in the habit of picking up tablecloths in good condition from thrift stores and yard sales. My favorite is a light pink circular one that I got recently from a yard sale. It is such a minor addition to the kitchen and dining area and yet it completely transforms the entire space adding color, dimension, and homeyness.
Make the beds
One of my favorite parts of my husband’s work schedule switching to day shift was the fact that I could make the beds every day. A two-minute task makes our bedroom neater and cozier and makes the house feel more complete and put together. Plus, the act of making the bed every morning builds discipline and encourages you to complete other small tasks around the house.
Vacuum regularly
There’s something about fresh vacuum lines on the carpet that just make everything in the house better. Even when I don’t have time to thoroughly vacuum the entire house, I choose to dedicate 15 minutes several times a week to do a quick pickup of the living room and then vacuum the visible areas. It helps reduce stale odors trapped in the soft rugs and makes the space more visually calming and comfortable.
Play music
I have an old CD player, a record player, and a Bluetooth speaker that I utilize regularly throughout the week. I rotate between my favorite childhood Christian CDs, my Alan Jackson gospel records, and whatever classical, jazz, or country music I’m loving on Spotify (side note: Luke Combs’ new album Fathers & Sons is incredible and I’ve had it on repeat today). Cheerful music makes the home a warm and welcoming place to be.
Bake something
My husband is never happier than when he comes home to a freshly baked pie. With summer in full swing, fresh fruit is incredibly cheap and since I have finally found a pie crust recipe that works, homemade pie is a summer staple in our house. Bake cookies, your husband’s favorite dessert, churn some ice cream, or try a new homemade bread recipe (like this one). Your family will love it and the house will smell amazing.
Pay attention to your attitude and dress
You can have the most picture perfect, magazine worthy house filled with perfect pies and delicate flowers but if your attitude does not match the sweetness of your house it will all be for naught. Proverbs says “a merry heart doeth good like medicine” and Psalms encourages us that “this is the day that the Lord hath made, let us rejoice and be glad in it”. I will be the first to admit that my attitude is often less than sweet, especially when the house is a mess and I’m stressed out, but if I choose to stop and repeat these Bible verses to myself I can change my attitude and in turn change the entire atmosphere of the home. Another way I choose to improve my attitude and my home is by dressing up for the day. I don’t put on my highest heels and pearl necklace but I am most comfortable, cheerful, and productive when I put my hair up and put on my favorite gingham dress. Your clothes speak volumes about the seriousness with which you take yourself and I choose to give my best to homemaking because it is how I serve God and my husband.
As the summer days lengthen and fill with all the busy summer projects, I hope this article encourages you to slow down, appreciate the season and the beauty around you, and fill your home with some of that beauty.
From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same, the Lord’s name is to be praised. Psalm 113:3
Love these good reminders!