Household Management

Feast Day/Date		What it's about
Lady Day	March 25	Feast of the Annunciation. When the Angel Gabriel told Mary she would be the mother of Christ. Also the first day of the New Year in the old calendar, and an ancient date for Easter.
St. John's Day	June 24	St. John the Baptist. Also called Midsummer Day (because it falls in the middle of the whole warm season, even though it is actually the beginning of "official" summer.)
Michaelmas	September 29	St. Michael the Archangel. Celebrations in the North often include horses: racing, selling, stealing, etc. And something to do with carrots.
Christmas Day	December 25	The Birth of Christ. A solemn holy day, slightly less important than Easter.

In the country...

Some of your tenants may pay part of their rents in kind: calves, honey, milk, wool, etc.

The lady of the house, even a noble lady, may do or at least oversee many homely things herself, such as the brewing of ale or mead. Even noble ladies take responsibility for making shirts for the gentlemen of the house.

If you live mostly in the country, you are likely to be very proud of your ale, or how pure your milk is, or what excellent honey your bees produce.

Bees love gossip. It is considered lucky for your estate and family to tell the bees every bit of news. If you don't, they may leave and take their good luck with them.

  Plan of Ingatestone Hall, a Country House of the Latter Sixteenth Century
  Masters & Servants
  Staffing a Great Household
  The Steward and His Office
  The Steward in Matters Domestical
  Paying the Servants
  Domestic Details
  Good English Ale