Saturday, April 25, 2015

A repost from 2008...

I hated to totally skip a day of blogging, so thought I would copy and past an old post...hope you enjoy it....



These pictures were taken at the pioneer village at Spring Mill State Park. I don't know what it is about a fire, but I don't think I know a single person that doesn't like to sit by a fire of any kind. We don't have a fireplace in our home, but I sure wouldn't mind if we did. Everyone else always thinks about the dirt and dust, but I could easily put up with that. I know I am one of the few people my age that can remember their mother cooking on a wood cookstove....

We had linoleum on all the floors...and they were cold of the morning. Mom was the first one up, of course. And I would wake up next--I don't know if it was all the time or just some of it. But I distinctly remember hollering, "Mommy, come and get me." She would come and carry me from the bed to a chair sitting at the end of the cookstove. There I would sit and stick small splinters of wood in through the draft at the end...while she made biscuits and cooked breakfast.

The wood cookstove had a thermometer on the door but it was broken, however my mom could bake biscuits, bread and cakes and pies with no trouble. I recall seeing her open the oven door and sticking her hand in to get a feel for the temperature. And she never used a timer of any sort. (I cannot remember anything without a timer these days.)

Our new house was heated with a coal stove for the first few years...not sure how many. Probably at least 3 or 4. I can remember sticking potatoes in the coals to bake as a snack. I think I was in 3rd or 4th grade when a coal furnace was installed. I am not sure what happened to that stove, but the old wood cookstove sits in the basement of the homeplace. At least it did the last time I checked....that has been a while ago.

I do not know what it is that draws me to the old times...I cannot imagine doing all my mom had to do with as little as she had to do with. But at the same time, I think these days stuff almost owns us...I think there is medium that I have not achieved. I have more than I need but hold on to stuff because I feel like as soon as I get rid of it, I will need it.

But looking at the bottom picture of the fire place--the utensils around it are probably all a lot of women had to cook with. And they made do with it fine. I for one, admire the women that came before.

10 comments:

  1. I am drawn to all things like this, the older the better, but i am really happy i did not have to cook a meal on a fireplace or in a wood stove... or on a fire pit.

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  2. I love this post, Rose. It brings back memories of long ago. I grew up with a coal stove and wood stove, too. No inside bathroom, just an outhouse. My mother cooked on a wood stove. That is until our house burned down when I was 9. Then we lived in 3 different homes where only one had a bathroom, until our new house was built. I remember it being such a treat to have hot and cold running water and a furnace! I'm sure my mother was even more thrilled. :) We didn't get a/c until I was in my teens and it was a window unit in the kitchen area. There were hard times back then without the modern conveniences of today, but they were simpler times in a way, too.
    Have a nice weekend! It's raining here today.

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  3. I wasn't into blogging back in 2008, so totally enjoyed this repost. It is amazing what we now take for granted.

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  4. miss the woodstove from the old house, but do not miss the dust!

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  5. Love reading about your trip down Memory Lane... It always brings back memories for me also... I do love a fireplace and wood fire. Last year we converted to gas longs --which are SO convenient. BUT---even though it was a TON of work for George (and his bad back), I still MISS that wood fire...

    Hope you are having a great day. It's cloudy, cool, drizzly here today.
    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  6. Beautiful story, Rose! I am reminded of the Harmonist's homes in New Harmony, IN.

    Have a Beautiful Day!
    Peace :)

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  7. What wonderful memories you have. I enjoyed reading them. Thanks Rose :)

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