The weekly “little of this, little of that” feature here at Like Mother, Like Daughter!
(This will all look and work better if you click on the actual post and do not remain on the main page.)
I'm going with Baptist Fans for the quilting on this one.
Our links this week:
- If you own a house built after the 70s, your struggle to make it pretty might not be just about paint color. It's my humble opinion that the problem, the reason that a color palette that looks so wonderful in a magazine just doesn't delight in your development house is… the trim.
Some people might never buy an old house the way I have done because they rightly know how much upkeep it is, how hard to heat, how lacking in amenities. But one thing old houses have: great trim on the doors and windows that makes decorating much easier. When you are looking at pictures of older (even really basic and almost primitive) houses, pay special attention to the trims. Note how when there is wider molding, it sets off the paint color well.
Even if it seems like it will cost too much, I suggest that replacing the stock 2 1/4″ trim in your house (links below for inexpensive ways to do it) will pay off in multiple cans of (not cheap) paint that you keep going back for, because your house just doesn't ever reach that level you dream of. You could do one room at a time, or if you are able to, you can have the builder do it right to start with.
You don't have to do “farmhouse trim” — there are other styles (and a quick search will reveal all the permutations) — but this style has the advantage of working well with the “colonial” houses builders tend to offer and most importantly, doesn't involve expensive millwork or custom cuts. Look at this lady's BEFORE post, very much like a million other hallways in America, including what looks like the layout not being quite right — and then the AFTER, where the new trim is superior to what you might find in a much more expensive house, just because this is where the builder cuts corners. Here Ana White gives directions. Here is a different sort of house, in Europe, where the trim was switched out for a “farmhouse” style, although there are no good “befores” to compare. It was looking at her Instagram that suddenly made me need to tell you all this!
- Political correctness as taken over to the extent that we find ourselves forced to talk about sexuality as if it's merely a matter of preference, like window trim. Here is an essay that explains it in terms of how God created us and what sexuality is for, and how misunderstanding these things can lead to idolatry. (The button to open the free PDF is under the author's name.)
- Fr. Ripperger's talk about effeminacy is a couple of years old, but well worth listening to. He takes his time, and things get really interesting around minute 45. He doesn't get into advice about how to raise our boys to be manly until the Q and A, but it's all worth listening to when you have time. One theme of his is that it's not just softness that marks effeminacy — what we might call “macho” is also effeminate. A manly man is noted for his self-control and willingness to do hard things, especially for the sake of others.
- Stella Morabito makes a solid case that soon we will be forced to accept pedophilia as just another personal expression, the objection to which will be classified as bigotry. Don't think so? Well, you are probably at most two degrees away from a child who is being drugged and mutilated for gender ideology — something that was considered (and is) child abuse even to think of, not five years ago.
- The remedy: not being afraid to talk to your family and friends about these things. If we are afraid to have conversations, we will have lost before the fight even begins. The St. Gregory Pocket is a perfect way to make this sort of community — enjoying this blog is a good common denominator! “Have you ever seen Like Mother, Like Daughter? Yes? Would you like to have a couples' — or moms' — reading group based on some posts and articles? Let's do it! And we'll bring you a meal when you have a baby!)
- My friend Mark Langley explains why it's a good idea to read Herodotus in high school. I appreciate that he gives an overview of what to expect in terms of digressions and ramblings — the first-time reader really does wonder if he is just not getting it! This is the edition Mark favors (despite his grumblings about the notes — great maps, he says): The Landmark Herodotus (I would recommend trying to find the hardback version if possible). (Affiliate link.)
- Do you love baseball? Do you love comeback stories? Luke Hagerty, a lefty pitcher who had to quit 16 1/2 years ago due to his sudden inability to throw a baseball anywhere near where he wanted to go (a condition known as “the yips”), will head for spring training with the Cubs this spring — at the age of 37.
- Our friend Thomas Mirus says, “A great, pointed send-up of the movement which, by the end of the first half of the 20th century, had destroyed classical music” (fortunately, country music remained untouched):
From the archives:
- Auntie Leila answers a reader who wonders how to respond to anxious relatives as she and her family make changes to “live differently”: A Little Misunderstood.
I know I'm not posting much during the week — so just in case you missed it: How to choose a devotional, with help from Blessed Columba Marmion.
Today is the feast of St. Polycarp of Smyrna. “Polycarp had known those who had known Jesus, and was a disciple of St. John the Apostle, who had converted him around the year 80 AD. He taught, says his own pupil Irenaeus of Lyons, the things that he learned from the Apostles, which the Church hands down, which are true.” We live in a cloud of witnesses, if we but realized…
Early distant warning: March 1 is the feast of St. David, patron of Wales. I happen to be Welsh on my maternal grandfather's side, but this feast always sneaks up on me. I hereby remind myself to make a dish with leeks for supper on Friday (I will opt for a meatless iteration), and to spring for a bouquet of daffodils to celebrate!
While you’re sharing our links with your friends, why not tell them about Like Mother, Like Daughter too!
We’d like to be clear that, when we direct you to a site via one of our links, we’re not necessarily endorsing the whole site, but rather just referring you to the individual post in question (unless we state otherwise).
Laura in Ontario says
I totally agree about the trim. I can see this in action in our 100 year old house, because the original, enormous trim along the floor only still exists in the closets, and along the stair cases – everywhere else it’s been replaced at some point (I think in the 70s when they panelled the whole place) with cheapest small trim possible, and it looks dreadful, while the giant trim in the closets looks awesome. It’s very sad what has been done to our house, but we are trying bit by bit to restore a little of its former glory.
The link to Fr. Ripperger’s talk is bringing me to a book about Herodotus, just fyi. 🙂
Leila says
Thanks, Laura — fixed it! Refresh your page… 🙂
Moni says
Yes trim makes a huge difference! If you have some original you can take it to a millwork place and have a knife made to match the profile so you can make trim to match! The cost of which I have no clue but perhaps if you live in an old neighbourhood with neighbors that have the same trim you could go in together? Of course, living in a 100 yr old house myself, the money is always needed on less glamorous projects (supports in the basement etc)
Mignon says
Ah, trim. That’s so sweet, Leila. I am chuckling here because in Arizona, the builders are so cheap they don’t use ANY TRIM AT ALL (other than a junky tiny baseboard). I know. Horrifying. I don’t know what’s worse, no trim or bad trim. But at least if we ever decide to take the plunge and put trim around our doors and windows we won’t have to take any down! The saddest thing about no trim these days is that we can’t use the Johnny jumper for our little baby who like to bounce up and down, because, no trim.
marklangley says
Leila, it just occurred to me that when it comes to reading Herodotus (with High School students) I had forgotten to issue the fairly important caveat that there are certainly some sections which probably ought to be skipped. This is not because Herodotus says things which are inappropriate or shameful but, like a doctor, he is in the habit of reporting, clinically, things which would be uncomfortable for a younger reader.
Years ago, my brother in law (Sam Schmitt) did all the spade work in providing me with a road map for reading the huge work in a way that perfectly captures the plot-line and major themes and spirit of the work – BUT at the same time provides the teacher a way to guide the younger student through the text in a way that respects innocent ears without doing violence to the unity of the text.
So just to give an example this is how I read the first Book:
Introduction (paragraphs 1-7) then skip to the story of Croesus paragraphs (26 – 60) then skip to paragraphs 64 – 71 and proceed as follows
86 – 91
Cyrus and the Persians: 95 – 100,
23 – 143,
150 – 170,
201 – 214,
On the other hand there is also reason to skip certain sections for the classroom teacher only in order to get through the text in a semester (or a year!) But the student reading this on his own at home could probably cover mush more.
Leila says
Thanks, Mark! Now I just have to figure out a way to make this homeschooling gold archival… I feel a Herodotus post coming up… unless hey you post and I’ll share!! I bet you have EVEN MORE to tell us!!
Jann Elaine says
That awkward moment when you prefer the Before trim photos to the After…🤭
Mignon says
Ha! I was thinking the same thing! Then again, I have no trim. What do I know?
Leila says
Jann and Mignon — Listen, whatever you like! I’m just saying that IF you are frustrated that your painting efforts fall short of your vision, the trim could be the problem. Just offering my two cents, not judging 🙂
This greatly depends, too, on the style of house. Some don’t have trim and it suits.
Theresa says
Thank you for the link to the Stella Morabito article – WOW, I am shocked (and very sickened). I am now hoping that God will strike His hand – what a horrible truth is unfolding. Thank you for your bravery and wisdom, Leila.
Katy M says
Thank you for the trim demonstration (I think we call it something else in the UK but unfortunately I’ve packed away my architectural primer and can’t consult). We are moving into a 1950s home soon and it’s definitely one of the things we’ll be tackling to make the place feel a little more polished.
Annie says
This is making me realize why I hated the apartment we lived in right after getting married until we put up curtains on every window- and even then, meh. Now we live in an old place with charming details (and TRIM!) everywhere… we haven’t put up any curtains in our living areas and I still love it!
CJ says
Amen on the trim thing! Our first house was a 1948 1 1/2 story on a busy throughfare in a dodgy part of the city – oh, how I miss that house and all it’s glorious intact floors and trim!! I would live there again in a heartbeat. Now we’re in a 1978 bungalow in a very nice part of a different town, and I hate all the trim. But those those unhandy people, we’ve discovered that Home Depot sells bulk packs of nice wide traditional baseboards. They’re only MDF, but with a couple of good coats of paint it’s much improved the feel and look of our house!!
cara says
“A manly man is noted for his self-control and willingness to do hard things, especially for the sake of others.” AARGH. “Manly”? I have taught my children (both female and male) through words and example that “humans” should be noted for self-control…etc.
And really? I don’t for an instant believe that Morabito’s treatise on normalizing pedophilia will happen.
On a happy note: I too am Welsh and happily revere Albinus and David; thank you for that!
Rebecca says
It’s true that both men and women should practice these vertues, sometimes it is necessary to look closely at one or the other group. Men and woman think and do things differently and these stragthes won’t always play out exactly the same way, nor can they always be taught the same way.
Rebecca says
Off topic but is there a reason I can’t comment on older posts? I was catching up on January’s and found I couldn’t comment.