Home Comforts : The Art and Science of Keeping House
Friday, January 23, 2015
A Study to Help Cement Art as Skill in My Mind
Art (www.merriam-webster.com)
something that is created with imagination and skill and that is beautiful or that expresses important ideas or feelings
skill acquired by experience, study, or observation
an occupation requiring knowledge or skill
Etymology of the word "Art":
http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=art
art (n.)
early 13c., "skill as a result of learning or practice," from Old French art (10c.), from Latin artem (nominative ars) "work of art; practical skill; a business, craft," from PIE *ar-ti- (cognates: Sanskrit rtih "manner, mode;" Greek arti "just," artios "complete, suitable," artizein "to prepare;" Latin artus "joint;" Armenian arnam "make;" German art "manner, mode"), from root *ar- "fit together, join" (see arm (n.1)).
Bible verses referring to the art of homemaking:
Pro 14:1
Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands
Pro 24:3 -4
Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established: .
And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
Biblical usage from Strong's Concordance:
Wisdom - skill of an artificer; dexterity
Understanding -A.the act of understanding i.skill
Knowledge - A.knowledge, perception, skill
something that is created with imagination and skill and that is beautiful or that expresses important ideas or feelings
skill acquired by experience, study, or observation
an occupation requiring knowledge or skill
Etymology of the word "Art":
http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=art
art (n.)
early 13c., "skill as a result of learning or practice," from Old French art (10c.), from Latin artem (nominative ars) "work of art; practical skill; a business, craft," from PIE *ar-ti- (cognates: Sanskrit rtih "manner, mode;" Greek arti "just," artios "complete, suitable," artizein "to prepare;" Latin artus "joint;" Armenian arnam "make;" German art "manner, mode"), from root *ar- "fit together, join" (see arm (n.1)).
Bible verses referring to the art of homemaking:
Pro 14:1
Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands
Pro 24:3 -4
Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established: .
And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
Biblical usage from Strong's Concordance:
Wisdom - skill of an artificer; dexterity
Understanding -A.the act of understanding i.skill
Knowledge - A.knowledge, perception, skill
Housekeeping as Art
Housekeeping as Art is going to be my...not a resolution, but an idea I'll try to keep in mind in 2015.
The original thought came to me while I was reading Holy Curiosity by Amy Hollingsworth. She is talking about the steps to creativity - wisdom, knowledge and understanding. She uses verses from the Bible, including Proverbs 24:3-4 "By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures." The paraphrase from the Message says it thusly:
"It takes wisdom to build a house,
and understanding to set it on a firm foundation;
It takes knowledge to furnish its rooms
with fine furniture and beautiful draperies."
The idea of knowledge required to make a house a home intrigued me, and was followed by the thought of housekeeping as artistry.
I admit and accept that I will never be an artistic, creative person in the traditional senses. I have absolutely no ear for music (my poor music when I was a kid!), I can not reproduce something lovely with pens or pencils or watercolours or markers or chalks or paints. I can, I suppose, write well, but I can't control my thoughts enough to produce anything of substance, plus, it's not something I enjoy.
But I *do* love my home, and I do love my family, and I do believe I should be able to keep my house in a way that I wouldn't be ashamed to open my door to guests. And that - the knowledge of how to make my house my work of art will be my focus in 2015.
The original thought came to me while I was reading Holy Curiosity by Amy Hollingsworth. She is talking about the steps to creativity - wisdom, knowledge and understanding. She uses verses from the Bible, including Proverbs 24:3-4 "By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures." The paraphrase from the Message says it thusly:
"It takes wisdom to build a house,
and understanding to set it on a firm foundation;
It takes knowledge to furnish its rooms
with fine furniture and beautiful draperies."
The idea of knowledge required to make a house a home intrigued me, and was followed by the thought of housekeeping as artistry.
I admit and accept that I will never be an artistic, creative person in the traditional senses. I have absolutely no ear for music (my poor music when I was a kid!), I can not reproduce something lovely with pens or pencils or watercolours or markers or chalks or paints. I can, I suppose, write well, but I can't control my thoughts enough to produce anything of substance, plus, it's not something I enjoy.
But I *do* love my home, and I do love my family, and I do believe I should be able to keep my house in a way that I wouldn't be ashamed to open my door to guests. And that - the knowledge of how to make my house my work of art will be my focus in 2015.
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