Memory visuals...

The basket on my bicycle was metal - I remember that the bottles rattled against the sides no matter how carefully I rode!



















I couldn't find a picture of the Badger's truck but here is a picture of the same sort.  There was a metal bottle container left by our door and the driver would put the filled bottles in it.  My mother would put the empties back  as we used up the milk and cream.   The bottles rattled in the carrier the same way they had in my bicycle basket.

     






The Cushman Bakery truck that came to our house looked just like this but the driver certainly wasn't a woman!









Just a couple visuals for those of you who have no frame of reference for something that old!

It didn't seem depressing at the time

Ok, so I'm old - or at least no longer young.  I remember stuff -  I remember a time when "butter" came in a white slab accompanied by a little package of yellow stuff.  It was my job at about 2-1/2 years of age to stand up to the table on a chair and mash that yellow dye into the white chunk until it looked amazingly just like butter!  Heaven knows cause I certainly don't what went into the yellow additive - probably some awful chemical that was never intended for human consumption.  But I was very proud to be an integral part of getting food ready for the table.

I remember that as time passed and I got older I was allowed to ride my bicycle to the farm up the street and pick up the milk and cream.  I don't know if my parents paid for it with actual money or if they traded off for garden produce or what.  I do know that part of the job was to not jiggle the bottles too much because when I got them back to the house my mother would skim the cream off the top of each bottle (it always rose to the top - just like cream is supposed to) and use it for coffee or even whipped cream topping for the chocolate deserts she made on special occasions.

As time went on I remember the Badger's Creamery truck that used to come every few days to pick up the empty milk bottles and leave whatever my mother had on the ordering slip.  We were really stylin then!  On a good day the Cushman Bakery truck would come too and that meant my mother didn't have to bake for a couple of days.

Holidays were very traditional in the home where I grew up - heaven help the person who even considered anything but a turkey for Thanksgiving and another one at Christmas.  I remember the main dish was always accompanied by the same side dishes:  squash (squashed alone - no fancy additives), mashed potatoes (with butter, not milk), boiled onions (and I mean boiled until they were well and truly boiled!), carrots, cranberry sauce (home made) and stuffing.

Ah, that stuffing:  made from a recipe that to this day no one but my son and I use.  It now is known by the younger generation as Depression Stuffing and is viewed as only marginally eatable at best.  I love it and so does my older son - I  don't think that any of the naysayers have actually tasted it - it was condemned out of hand just looking at the list of ingredients!  One of my granddaughters college friends even wrote an ode to it that was tastefully written and, if I remember correctly, presented in it's own little booklet.

What I'm not sure that people realize is that back in the day we/they used the ingredients that were available - which a lot of the time did not include things that we take for granted in today's world.  Now something that grew on another continent and in another time zone pops up on the produce counter at the local Market Basket or Shaws within an incredibly short time.  So if you want some exotic fruit or novel ingredient for a recipe you can pretty much count on finding it fairly easily.

So that stuffing the younger generation delights in dubbing "depression stuffing" probably actually was the child of necessity.  To me that makes it that much better cause my mother took what she could actually lay her hands on and made something yummy.  And it's not that I eat it as an exercise in self discipline - I eat it because I like it.

That's my story and I'm stickin to it!

Change can't be all bad, right?

When I initially started this blog (I've always wondered where that term came from) I asked for setup and ongoing advice from my nephew Peter.  Pete is an accomplished teacher, writer and blogger so I figured he'd be the go to guy for this adventure.

He was kind enough at least not to roll his eyes where I could see him (my family has a bunch of members who just love to put their thoughts in writing and here I was joining the throng) and set me on the right track.

One of the first pieces of advice he gave me was to set things up so that it didn't support  readers comments.  That way if any big meanies found and read my blog (it's not actually on any of the search engines although it can be found somehow I guess) they would be unable to leave hurtful comments and my delicate feelings would remain intact

As time has gone on and I've realized that I don't have any particular theme I have wondered if it is of any real use or interest to those who take the time to read it.  I know I wander from self sufficiency and soliloquies on the results of hurt feelings to topics totally unrelated to much of anything.

So here I am at the point (I always get there sooner or later) - I have changed the setup so that anyone who reads any of the posts can leave a comment.  Of course I would like glowing praise for my literary expertise (who wouldn't) but in the long run I just really want to know if those of you who read it are enjoying it.

Pete told me to just get out there and do it and have fun with it.  I think I've had fun but now I want to know if y'all have too!

Feel free to comment on any particular posts - good, bad or the ugly - it's all welcome!

Can you feed yourself?

I know, most of us learned that particular skill by the age of 2 or so - at least the part where we got most of the food inside ourselves even if the balance ended up on our hands or the floor - lucky for the dog if you had one!

This time I'm actually talking about producing food for yourself.  Now before you start yawning and clicking back to Facebook let's at least take a look at some of the possibilities.

Not talking full blown farm and garden here - I realize that not everyone has the space, the time or the desire to wake up at dawn to slop the hogs or milk the cows (or goats for that matter)  or scatter corn for the chickens.  If nothing else a lot of us live where those activities would be cause for an immediate cease and desist order from our local "serve and protect" guys - especially if you call attention to your latest hobby by including a rooster in your mix.  And don't be deceived by the old wives tale that they only crow at dawn - those suckers sound off any time the mood strikes all throughout the day and only seem to get louder with practice!

Now, back to basics:  unless you are a constant traveler there are quite a few items that you can "produce" for yourself relatively easily - produce being one of them.  Nice little play on words, there right?

I am currently in the process of turning one of my big garden beds into two smaller ones - having convinced myself that two beds at 8 feet by 3 feet are smaller in total area than the one big 16 foot by 6 foot one I am replacing.  See? I can make my numbers say whatever I want them to although there is a rationale for what I'm doing.    Actually these will be easier to use because I can reach the middle of each bed without walking on the soil - which compacts it and I don't want that.

But I also garden in containers - sometimes because my planning skills are less than perfect and I always have a couple of plants that there is no garden room for so I plop them in pots.  But I also deliberately plant salad items in pots near the side door so they are handy at supper time.  And actually container gardening is a good place to start if you are new at this whole process.  They don't have to be fancy containers either -  anything that will hold soil and allow for drainage out the bottom.

 Metal containers that have outlived their original purpose - a few drain holes and you're in business.




Cheap plastic buckets - also with drain holes in the bottom (not my dog!)  Notice the inset PVC pipe sections that let you water to the bottom of the plants rather than wetting the leaves - cool idea!



Or, if you fancy more fancy?

Container gardening does require that you water more frequently than, for instance, a raised bed with a good layer of mulch but it's also more manageable for a beginner.  You can spot the pots in convenient locations near a water source or, if you choose, right on your porch or deck so it's easy to take care of them and even easier to pick the vegetables when they are ready.  Lettuce and assorted greens are a perfect thing to have right by the door if you decide to have a salad for supper!

As time goes by and more of our news reports speak of an appalling variety of bacteria and outright poisons in our food it becomes more important to me to at least grow (and preserve - but that's another subject) what I can so I have some idea what went into the makings of my meals.  I know I can't grow enough so I never have to buy fresh food but for several months in the spring and summer - and even into the fall - I can walk out my door and pick food that I know is pretty much guaranteed to be a lot fresher and more tasty than what I might get elsewhere!

Let's at least consider what you might be able (and willing) to do towards feeding yourself (now that you've got the fork and spoon part under control!).  It's definitely going to take more than one post to hit even the high points so stay tuned if you dare!

Got a safe place?

Yeah, a safe place - you know, a place to go that's safe?

In New England we don't normally have really extreme dangerous weather.  As I probably said in a previous post, we can't say "no" tornadoes any more but they are not a common occurrence in our area.  That being said, we have hurricanes, we have high winds and, my personal non-favorite, the occasional micro-burst/straight line winds.

Now this has nothing to do with the part where you have already gotten in a supply of food and water and emergency supplies for potential power loss.  I know that is taken care of, right?

This has to do with where in your home you and your family can be as safe as possible in a dangerous storm.

Let's take my experience for example:

Severe thunderstorm watch and then warning on an extremely hot August afternoon.  I'm glued to the weather channel and really relieved to see that most of the storms are going to pass inland of me and out to sea to the north.  As a matter of fact the only nearby storm was in Newfields and heading almost straight west!  I'm golden!

And then the wind really starts to pick up - the evergreen trees on my lot line are really whipping around - the tops are actually spinning!  But I'm good cause all the storms are inland, right?

Thus begins my first and I sincerely hope last experience with a micro-burst - it came through the woods at the end of my road like the proverbial hot knife through butter,  It ripped the 75 foot oak tree on the edge on my lawn right out of the ground and dropped it neatly on top of my greenhouse.  And while wrapping around the end of the house it took off my power lines as a bonus and buried my car.

Small car or big tree - take your choice - there is a house in there too!

And where am I while all this is going on?  Sitting in the living room like a freaking great dummy watching it all happen!  What should I have been doing? Tucking the dog under my arm and heading for the cellar for sure!

So by my usual circuitous route I begin to arrive at my point.

You need a plan.

You need to have a place in your house that is as safe as possible in a really bad wind/storm event.

We are more fortunate in New England than in some parts of the country because here houses normally have cellars (or basements - whatever you choose to call it) that by definition are pretty much below ground.  That doesn't seem to be the case in many other areas.  I don't know why the early settlers started us off that way but it does seem to be the norm.

I'm not suggesting a bomb shelter (I grew up in the 50s and know all about them!) but there is probably a place in your cellar that is more protected (certainly) than on the first or second floors of your home.  Now might be a good time to decide where that place is and to set it up as a place to go if the winds are really bad.

I have a great honkin work bench against the end wall in my cellar - the only downside to it is it's actually in the part of the cellar that isn't totally underground.  But the shelf under it is plenty big enough for me and there is a kennel next to it for the dog.  There's a radio and blankets and, hey, on the way past the bike I might even grab a helmet.

All I'm saying is that the next time (if there is a next time) I hope I have the sense to be there rather than sitting in the living room telling the dog that everything was going to be okay.  If that tree had been dropped 6 or 8 feet further towards the house?  I would have been under it.

This has to be one of the easiest plans you'll ever make!

It's not so much about the guns...

As about admiration for people who manage to step outside their comfort zone and for whatever reason do something that they had never dreamed they could or would.

Recently I spent a day at a local firearms training facility with 9 other "seniors" and an instructor who actually prefers seniors - how nice was that!  He thinks that when an older person signs up for something (no matter what it is) they have clear objectives in mind and a determination to succeed that sometimes in younger groups gets lost in the midst of joking with friends or trying to "one up" strangers.

I wouldn't use names even if I could remember them.  The class was pretty evenly split between males and females and we were all over 60 years of age.  There were two couples:  one repeating the class as a refresher and one set of first timers.  There was a gentleman who just moved from Massachusetts and although a lifelong hunter, he was unfamiliar with handguns and the NH laws relating to them.  One man got the class as a Christmas gift from his wife and one other was obviously recovering from a stroke. Although he spoke haltingly he probably did better than a lot of us because he worked harder.

The women were an eclectic mix:  two were there with their husbands - one the repeat and the other a first timer.  The other two ladies were the ones who really impressed me.  Neither had ever fired a gun and one had never even touched one.  They took their courage in both hands and signed up to come to the class alone - not knowing what it would be like or if the other students would accept them.  The first was taking the class because her husband is disabled and they worry about his reaction time in an emergency (although he is familiar w/firearms) so she as taking it upon herself to be the first responder in her household!

The second had gotten a handgun for Christmas and all she could tell you about it was the color!  Fortunately she had the sense to know that in her inexperienced hands that gift could turn into a nightmare unless she got some training.

We had half a day of safe handling basics and firearm laws - complete with unloaded firearms and dummy bullets. After lunch we went to the range for live firing experience.

Five of us worked at a time while the rest observed and then we would switch. (gives your hands a rest!)

Were we all "dead eye dicks" by the end of the afternoon?  Not in the least.  Did we all improve incredibly?  You bet!  Was it hard and fun?  Ayuh!

At the end we all congratulated each other (the nice thing about this class was we all pulled together to help each other) and told the instructor what a great job he did.

The most telling comment I heard came from the lady who had never previously fired or touched a weapon.  She said "I never realized how dangerous a gun could be".  How could she not?  Who knows - but now she does know and now she also knows how to handle one safely and protect herself and her family if the occasion arises.

This is one time I'm not going to tell you to "git er done" cause that's purely personal choice - but the next time anything seems too far outside your comfort zone?  Maybe then you'll take a run at it and amaze yourself with your success!

HGTV - can I ever catch up?

It all started when the Property Brothers or maybe Chip and Joanna were looking into a renovation property - aka fixer upper - and the bathroom looked exactly like mine.  The new owners and the renovators stood around sighing and planning on how to "fix it".  That was my first clue that my house wasn't up to par.

Of course it was built in 1961 so has earned the right to be dated.  It's not like there haven't been a lot of changes through the years  - different windows in the living and dining rooms. Replacement windows in all the other rooms.  A greenhouse added on the front of the house and then replaced after that oak tree "incident" that sort of demolished the original one.

The walls dividing the kitchen from the hall and the dining room are gone too - and there is a neat custom breakfast bar between kitchen and dining room.  The cabinets were repainted and the counter top replaced.  How was I to know that I should have replaced those counters with something from a stone quarry!

I recently got a new sink - black granite - very undated I thought!  Maybe that will be enough to save my image.

A wood stove appeared and disappeared in the living room (too many chimney fires for my comfort level!).  Gone is the dark stained woodwork around all the doors and windows and gone are the green mini-blinds (what was I thinking?)

My older son even tore out a wall between two of the bedrooms so that my "master suite" is bigger - and then I find it's not a suite when there is no en suite.  Who knew?

I've scurried around and changed some of my "decor" and put away things I never use and tried to look a little more trendy.

All that being said and done I am still living in a dated house.

And I'm not even going to mention the "landscaping" outside!  The very best that can be said about it is that it's eclectic - which is short for unplanned and it just happened that way and so there are cucumbers growing next to the lavender?  Deal with it!

My lawn is mostly green unless it gets tall enough so it blooms - at which time it becomes painfully obvious that it's mostly anything but grass.  Hey, just the other day I read something about dandelions being the first flowers for the bees in the spring so I'm really being environmentally active - not too lazy to buy lawn treatments to ensure nothing but grass grows.

I actually don't see "dated" when I look around my house - probably because I think of it as a home.  I know that when I'm no longer living in it someone will buy it, put it through a chipper and build some great big testament to updated-ness on the site.  I wish them the best of luck and hope that they can look back on 50 years in their house and know it was a real home!

Water, water everywhere - except when it's not!

Let's do a trial run for a day.  Let's pretend we have no running water and keep track of the times we would have used it.

Way back in my very first blog post I think I mentioned water - along with things like toilet paper and other important items.

Here goes:

You get up in the morning and hit the bathroom - once would be ok cause there is water in the toilet tank but what if you don't live alone or don't choose to potty only once a day.  What do you do then?

Ah, time to brush your teeth - no water - in a pinch a bottle of that designer stuff would work.  And you could wet a washcloth to at least wash the sleep out of your eyes.

Shower?  Not unless it's raining out and then it'd better be a private neighborhood and August!

Breakfast - coffee....oops, well, more designer water would work.

Breakfast dishes - no running water, remember?

Wash your hands - no running water

Shampoo your hair - how many bottles of that designer water do you actually have?

And so on and so forth throughout the day.  Dishes continue to pile up unless you have a lot of paper plates and cups.

Chopping vegetables for supper (need clean hands) and needing water to cook them in.  Oh yea, no running water :(

If you take a few minutes throughout the day to actually notice how many times you reach for a faucet you might be surprised.  You also might be interested in how easy it is to store water for those "no running water" times.

There are a variety of plastic containers that you can use - most of which you are already throwing in the recycle (or, heaven forbid, the trash) without a thought to giving them a second lease on life.  Easy enough (while you still have that running water going on) to rinse or wash them out and just fill them with tap water.  If you think you might want to store them for a while a few drops of (unscented) bleach will keep them fresh for months!




Please take note that the above "proper" storage containers all have covers and are all made of impermeable materials (that means the water doesn't suck the bad stuff out of the container - like lead in pottery or just plain dirt in other open topped containers).  But also notice that they don't have to be fancy -  any clean covered container will do as long as it's not permeable (see above!).

You can also gather rain water - a subject best covered in it's own separate post because it is a bit more complicated and needs more materials.

There is also the local department store (see, I did not say Walmart!) for a "real" water storage container such as:







Or you can go big time and get ones like these:




Some even come with their own pumps so you can easily get the water out.  You'd be stylin' then!




Something to consider - especially if you don't have a lot of upper body strength (see I didn't say "if you are a woman") - is how you are going to get the water to where you want to use it.  That is why the very first store bought container picture I put on here is smaller than some of the others.  It's much easier to transfer the water from a large container into a more portable one that you can use wherever you need the water than it is to try to horse around the big ones.  It's actually how I manage my gas supply for the snow blower etc - I can't lift the big 5 gallon gas cans  high enough to gas up a machine but I can tip and pour the gas through a funnel into a small gas can and use it from there.

How probable are any of us to be without household water for an extended period of time?  Probably not so much - of course if you are on a well as I am and lose power it's more likely.  How much of an inconvenience would it be in that unlikely event?  Pretty darn!

So same drum different subject:  invest a little time and maybe a little money so you will be the one who's got the clean dishes, the sparkling toilet and shiny hair if running water stops....running!