Book & Film Recommendations // Homemaking & Simple Living

The idea for this post came to me, as the best ideas do, as I was lying in bed trying to get to sleep one night.

I began compiling a list of movies/books that contain homemaking, garden or simple living themes.

Since this style of life is somewhat rare these days it is nice to see it in films or written about in books.

I haven't got much else to say in this intro so I will get right into my list! Enjoy!

Little Women

I feel like this one may be an obvious items for this list but I had to include it because I believe the whole story to be truly wonderful!

I highly recommend the 1994 movie (as it is my personal favourite) but the newer 2019 adaptation is also quite well done. I also highly suggest you read both Little Women & Good Wives (I am currently reading Good Wives now!).

The whole story of the March girls is very much set in and around their home. 

Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy all learn in Little Women to work diligently with their hands and that such work pays of rather than continual pleasure and play.

Louisa May Alcott highlights the joys of homemaking and the struggles too! 

Through the book (and the film) there is such a happy, cosy home atmosphere that is truly heart warming.

This Beautiful Fantastic

 I think this movie is really quite charming & delightful and has all the beautiful gardening and floral themes you could want!

Bella is terrified of nature and has let her wild garden be to the annoyance of her gardening fanatic neighbor, Alfie.

He demands that she do something about the state of her garden. So she conquers her fear and slowly begins to fall in love with gardening and the ability to create something beautiful.

She is also a write and the film has many bookish aspects that fellow bookworms like me can enjoy.

But for the purpose of this post I am focusing in on the gardening aspect of the story.

It is the perfect springtime watch!

Larkrise to Candleford

I would really love to re-watch this (for the 3rd time I think) soon!

It is a really lovely series and probably one of the most family friendly period dramas (with the exception of several episodes) that I've seen.

This series is set in a small town in England and the surrounding countryside and the farmers and people that live there.

I love the countryside setting and there is a lot of beautiful scenery throughout the series.

Being set in the countryside, there are many farming, gardening and old fashioned living themes which are quite lovely to watch.

Little House on the Prairie 

Another more obvious pick for this list!

It is such a classic in my eyes and highlights the sorrows & joys of the simpler lifestyle of the past so well.

I feel it is such a shame that we have lost the value of such work as Laura, Ma & Pa used to do on a daily basis. 

Whenever I watch Ma hanging washing or cooking meals for her family I feel like getting up and working away with my hands too!

Love Comes Softly 

All the films in this series are so lovely and heartwarming and portray the old pioneer life from years gone by similar to Little House.

I love the stories and in all the movies the daily struggles of plowing, farming and homesteading are evident.

Amish Heirloom Series by Amy Cliptson

I thought I would include this book series on my list because you can't get much more simple and homey than the Amish!

In this four book series, Clipston writes the stories of three Amish sisters & their mother and it is a truly peaceful & enjoyable set of books to read!

The Amish lifestyle is one that I admire for it's simpler ways and these books are reminiscent of that.

The Light Between Oceans 

For the sake of this post I am focusing on the film but the book is also beautifully written and a heart-wrenching read! 

The film is so beautifully filmed and captures the mundane everyday life of a lighthouse keeper & his wife in such a lovely way.

Their life is a simple one and there are many scenes set around their little lighthouse cottage and cottage garden (including chickens!). This one may considered a bit of a stretch to put on this list but I still think it has the themes of simple living that we're looking for!

The Waltons 

My family was only introduced to this lovely series in recent years but we have enjoyed working our way through the episodes since.

One of the things that draws me in is how warm & inviting the Walton family home is. Olivia Walton is a great example of a loving mother and homemaker and creates such a happy environment for her children and anyone else who walk through their doors.

The series kicks of during the Great Depression and so that is a strong theme in the early seasons as the family works hard to get though it. 

Mandy by Julie Andrews Edwards

This little book is a sweet story of a girl & a garden and it is rooted in the seasons and gardening! It is a delightful read and anyone who has a passion for gardening will adore it.

That is all for this post! 

If you have any books or films you would add to this list, I'd love to hear about them in the comments!

keep blooming,

Slow Living in Winter

Coming to you today from the couch in our living room, sipping a cup of earl grey (my current favourite tea) and with a view of the golden leaves outside.

Though there are still a lot of leaves still clinging on, with the arrival of June I consider winter to have arrived with it.

This winter, as I mentioned in my last post, I want to be intentional to slow down, enjoy the seasonal delights and use the time to rest and work on some projects. I want to fully embrace the season for all it's beauty. 

So I decided to put together a list of some slow living activities to do in the winter months.

Knit something (scarf, sweater, blanket etc.)

This is perhaps my favourite winter activity! I am working on a throw blanket at the moment and I love pulling it out in the evenings to work on while a watch a TV series or listen to an audiobook.

The process and time that goes into it makes the end result worthwhile & pleasing too!

Bake a sourdough loaf

There is nothing like the smell of fresh bread to warm the home! 

Again, the slow process of mixing simple ingredients, kneading or folding the dough and producing a warm, fluffy loaf holds so much satisfaction. 

Take some time to master the art of bread making if you are new or experiment with a new recipe if you are a seasoned baker.

Read a beloved book series

Take the time to revisit an old favourite book series and read through it during the cold months of winter.

I am currently reading through The Chronicles of Narnia and I am quite enjoying them. They are light reads but full of nostalgia for me.

Go for walks 

Despite the cold, I still want to get outside to get fresh air in winter. I have to take Molly, my little dog out for walks daily anyways so I want to take the opportunity to embrace the rain & cold and get outdoors!

Fresh air support the immune system, cleans your lungs and even boosts your mood. So it is especially important to get lots fresh air in the winter to help ward of the winter bugs.

Unplug

To full be able to rest, set aside a day to fast from social media or limit your usage in general.

I decided a little while ago I was going to keep my Sunday's social media and YouTube free and it has been truly a blessing. 

I am so much more present & in the moment when I forget that my phone exists!

Spend time in front of the fire

Sit by the fire with a hot beverage and simply watch the flames while sipping. Or play a game with your family while the fire warms you up.

A wood fire crackling in the room certainly adds a homely & cosy ambiance for winter. 

Eat seasonally

Instead of shopping for imported or out of season produce, opt for in season root vegetables and groceries. It may differ depending on where you live but typically pumpkin, kumara (sweet potato), cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, silver beet, leeks and potatoes are in season around autumn/winter.

There are so many delicious recipes to make with winter veges. I'll link my recipe board (link) on Pinterest so you can see some of my favourites. 

Do you have any activities you would add to this list?

keep blooming,