The Way it Was

We had a well with a pump just outside the back door. We had a bucket that sat on a separate small table. A wash basin sat on the table also. Our drinking water was in the bucket and a dipper which everybody used. Nobody was afraid of a little germ. We had a cupboard that was not built in. It was a piece of furniture. We had two of those in our kitchen. I have no idea how we were able to keep all our dishes in those two cupboards. A large family meant a lot of dishes and they were all dirty after each meal. To do the dishes, you had to heat the water on a stove that had to be fed wood constantly. The water was heated in a large tea kettle. The dish pan and another one for rinsing was set on the other cupboard. There was no place to set a draining rack. I don’t think anyone had ever heard of a draining rack in the 1930’s. Well, nobody in my house anyway. Female’s washed dishes, men only did outside jobs. Women also did outside jobs, such as washing clothes and hanging them up on a clothes line to dry. Tending to a garden in the summer months. Gathering eggs and bringing in kindling and wood for the stoves was done by both female and male. That is just the way it was. I don’t believe anyone thought they were being treated unfairly. On a farm there was plenty of work for everybody. Men usually milked the cows, but many women also helped with the milking.  I often heard my mother say, “I never milked a cow in my life, and I ain’t going to either‘.  I thought that was a good rule so I never milked a cow in my life either and I ain’t going to.
In the winter months, the clothes washing procedure was moved to the back porch, which was screened in. It was just about as cold there as it was under the tree. It didn’t take nearly as long to do the laundry in the winter months as in the summer. At least you didn’t have to stand in the snow to wash the clothes. Everything was hung on the line to dry, freezing or not. They were frozen dry, and when you brought them in from the line it would be like bringing in the wood. Everything was frozen stiff. When they thawed out, they would dry rather quickly. Stuff was draped over everything in the house. It’s no wonder everybody was sick most of the time. Colds, and stomach ailments is what I remember the most. Of course if one person caught something, everybody would end up with it as well.
That is just some of the way it was.  Remember this, the next time the Pizza delivery man is running a little slow.

Walmart Event

Here is my list, go find it.

Not much to do except watch the snow melt. I went to Wal-Mart for a few things. One thing on the list was one light bulb for the front steps so the paper carrier doesn't break her neck and sue me. Just a simple light bulb is all I was in search of.  In the first place, finding something on that six acres the store covers is like searching for the Lock Ness Monster. I kept asking store clerks, and they were only posing as store clerks, they were vendor’s. Never ask a vendor where anything is, they don’t know. I’m not the only one that mistakes vendor’s for store clerks. I heard one couple ask one where the peanut butter was. They have more vendor's than store clerks. I finally found a genuine store clerk, and she knew exactly where they were. They have a billion different kinds, blue light bulbs, pink, mood, red and even a black bulb. What is the object of putting a light inside a black bulb? There must be a reason because they had some. I finally found an ordinary looking bulb, but they only come, four in a package.  I'm 84 years old, why do I need more than one. Not only that, they last for 9 years if used properly.  I now have a 36 year supply of light bulbs. They better bury those bulbs with me so when I get there I can light up the place. 

I can always milk something out of the Wal-Mart to blog about.

 

Is this a vendor or a store clerk?