Homeplace by Anne Shelby & Illus by Wendy Anderson Halperin

I fully intended to have an amazing array of women's history books for March, but.... that didn't happen. I am a little behind things! 

This book isn't strictly women and it isn't nonfiction, but I love thinking about the women who have come before me. Those farm women on the Canadian shield, the Irish immigrants in 1920's New Jersey, the Scottish potato farmers in New Brunswick.... 

All the amazing things women have done to break down barriers is more important to my everyday life, but the stories of my women is much more personal and deeply felt. 

A little girl learns about her family history from her grandmother. 

All those years ago, this person whose blood runs in your veins conceived of the very house you are living in. The summer before last, I visited the farmhouse all those farm wives lived in on the Canadian shield. I saw the tools and creations used by all those generations and it was incredibly moving. I had expected to be interested, but I hadn't expected to feel so much. 

I think that connection to the past, that rootedness is something we are losing in this global, transient world of ours. Sometimes that is good--we don't want to be stuck in one place just because someone before us couldn't go anywhere else. Yet, I think that feeling of belonging, of a deep connection to a certain place can be very steadying influence in life. Even the pioneers, as they headed west, it was always with the intent of making a new family homestead, a place where future generations would come to. 

There is no denying that history can be a burden at times, but there is something in me that feels nostalgic for that feeling of belonging. Maybe that has something more to do with not having grandparents around when I was little--my mother's parents died when she was young, and my father's grandparents were older and died when I was 3 (grandfather) and 9 (grandmother).  

As the grandmother tells about each generation, we get a sense for what they were doing, how they were living, and what the tools they had. 

I adore this kind of day-to-day history. 

Much more interesting to think about how women cooked 200 years ago than how some men argued and got into wars. 

SHEEP. I also feel very nostalgic about owning sheep. Mostly because my husband thinks sheep are a scourge on the earth. One of these days, I am going to buy some. I am sure he just has confused memories from his childhood year on a sheep farm... 

Family love. This makes my heart happy.

The illustrations are just jammed full of details. So much to look at. And look at again. 

Mother love

Women on tractors

And then to the grandmother's personal life. 

I love the connection between the grandmother and child

And now, here you are, growing like a melon in the patch, like tulips in the springtime of the year, like a young tree coming up from old roots deep down in the ground. 

And those deep roots help you stand strong and tall. 

I LOVE THIS BOOK. 

Monday is Wash Day by MaryAnn Sundby & Tessa Blackham

I found this book last fall in the library. I was instantly smitten. I planned on saving it for spring, but who couldn't use a dose of early springness on a grey day in February? 

And this little family is ridiculously sweet and kind to each other. Even though the girls would rather be playing, they know their mother needs the help. So they help. 

It that ain't love... 

I despised laundry when I was a kid. 

(To be honest, I am not a huge fan of it as a grown up either.) 

The illustrations are all cut paper with 3-D elements that give the objects shadows and make them pop from the page. 

I adore the clothes line and clothes! And those itty bitty clothespins....!

Houses. I am not as crazy about these illustrations. I feel that Tessa Blackham really comes into her own in interiors and clotheslines. But they are still fun! 

 Mother announces that since today is Monday, it is washday. 

Everyone pitches in. 

Those piles of laundry look as though they might fall off the page. 

And the wallpaper and pictures!

Getting water. 

Wringer washing machine. 

Obviously this book is about a long time ago, but it feels fresh. And there is no explanation about long ago, which makes it feel like it really wasn't that long ago. If that makes sense. 

I love the depth the cut paper gives to the illustrations.  

The little brother gets to play, but for the older girls--"first we work and then we play." 

Pouring in the blueing

Rinsing

Hanging out

I love her on her tiptoes hanging out her doll clothes!

Did I mention I loves these illustrations? 

Then they have to iron, fold and put away. But they do it in a lovely shade of pink, so life is rosy.

Did you notice the rug? You need to love it. 

And the ironing board!

Mama kisses her big helpers when they are finally done. 

The girls run outside to play and wait for Daddy. 

Who carries an adorable little lunch pail. 

Jillian Jiggs by Phoebe Gilman

This book was a large part of our childhood. We quote phrases from it all the time. My kids love it too. It is incredibly rhyme-y and fun.

To all the mothers--especially mine.

The pictures, in bouncing primary colors work perfectly with the story. 

Barenakedness is a great way to captivate small children at the beginning of a book. 

Jillian Jiggs, now that she is grown up, has a lot more accessories than she did as a little bare baby. So many accessories that her mother despairs of ever seeing her room clean. 

"Jillian, Jillian Jiggs!

It looks like you room has been lived in by pigs!"

"Later I promise. As soon as I'm through.

I'll clean up my room. I promise. I do."

I think of this almost every time I look at my kid's rooms. By the way, do  you like the photo styling? It took me awhile. I had to find a corner of the kids room and make it look messy. Ha ha ha. That is a little sarcasm. I just walked in to the little kid's room, plopped the book down and took pictures. 

I am a terrible housekeeping mother. 

And my kids are really, really like Jillian Jiggs.

Now Jillian meant every word that she said, 

But later the promise flew out of her head.

I actually remember this feeling from childhood. Cleaning my room and getting completely sidetracked by a cool toy that had been hiding underneath my bureau. My kids carry the tradition on. Completely frustrating. 

Of course, I only wish I had as much imagination as Jillian Jiggs! When Rachel and Peter call her to come out to play, they discover some boxes someone had senselessly thrown away. 

Under Jillian's tutelage, the boxes become computers, and totem poles and presents and something I can't figure out. I think my kids need to be a totem pole for Halloween next fall. Or a present. 

I feel for Jillian's mother. I really do. 

Peter and Rachel say they will help too and get it done lickety split. 

Do you see Jillian's little sister there? She didn't get the memo that cardboard boxes were done. She is generally a page behind the three older kids in her costume and play acting. Following along, but also doing her own thing.

So like a little sister. I love her.

They do all work, but then they think to play pirates. Which is completely necessary and will only take a minute. 

One thing leads to another and...dragons and trees happen

They dressed up as bad guys who never say please. 

They dressed up as chickens, cooped up and caged.

Monsters and witches! 

I love the little sister being an angry chicken on top of the desk. And then being the cutest paper bag witch ever.

Fairies. Poor Peter is being a little pouty, and refusing to play witches or fairies.

Royalty.

Canaries! And Arabian Nights. I love their boundless imaginations. 

And then Jillian's mother takes a peek to see how they are doing...

And fainted ker-plop!

More promises being made.

But this time, promises aren't cutting it. 

Sigh. The never ending struggle to make kids clean. I just have to keep hoping that one day, in the distant future, they will wake up one morning and they will put their things away and tidy up after themselves.