|
This is how my Grandmother's Kitchen would have look almost century ago while she was raising her children. Of course instead of the faucets there would have been a hand pump. I have visited the house where she lived. It has been modernized of course. Now there is a bathroom, which wasn't there in Grandmother's day. Just one of the modern conveniences we take for granted now.
My mother told me how their time went. The girls worked hard as did the boys. My grandfather passed away when the children were small. My mother and her twin being the youngest surviving children, a son was lost about the same time as the father. So the 3 boys had men's work to be done on the farm. Occasionally there would be a hired man to help. My grandmother sometimes worked right along with the boys. So the girls were left in charge of doing the house work and lesser chores such as gathering eggs, feeding the chickens and the milking. This was all in addition to going to school. I don't think any of the children finished grade school let along go to high school.
This is how their week went usually, which was about the same for everyone.
Monday: Wash Day
Tuesday: Ironing Day
Wednesday: Sewing Day
Thursday: Market Day
Friday: Cleaning Day
Saturday: Baking Day
Sunday: Day of Rest
Monday was always wash day, These tubs were filled half full by carrying water in a pail. The water was heated by a fire outside or on the old cookstove. We made our own soap by saving lard from the fat from the meat we butchered. Lye was added, (I don't remember the whole recipe my mother told me), it was all stirred in a large tub with an old broom or shovel handle. It would take sometime to stir this. All the scrubbing and wringing was done by hand. We had some boards for the scrubbing. The clothes were all hung outside to dry. In the winter time this was call freeze dry! They were stiff as a board when we brought them in the house! We washed the white clothes (undies), towels, and sheets first. Then the color clothes except for red. Then the overalls. Blueing was sometimes added to help whiten the clothes. We had to have all this done by the time we had to get the noon meal on. Sometimes this was the biggest meal of the day, except in the summer time or fall when the boys were planting or harvesting. Then we would have to take the food to them in the field. Which we had to carry. In the afternoon the kitchen was cleaned and the clothes that were dry brought in. What was to be ironed the next day had to be sprinkled or starched. These were rolled up tight to dampen for ironing. Of course we had to cook breakfast, dinner and supper. The food still had to be cooked for the meals. Also the kitchen had to be clean before bed.
Tuesday: Ironing Day we ironed almost everything from sheets, handkerchiefs, towels and even some underwear. Of course we had to cook breakfast, dinner and supper. The food still had to be cooked for the meals. Also the kitchen had to be clean before bed.
Wednesday: Sewing Day, the mending had to be done. We even mended socks. Waste not want not my mother always said. Of course we had to cook breakfast, dinner and supper. The food still had to be cooked for the meals. Also the kitchen had to be clean before bed.
Thursday: Market Day, not always when I was growing up. We raised our own crops, meat, our own milk and eggs. We didn't have a need to go to the store every week. We would work around the house or help the boys if needed. The food still had to be cooked for the meals. Also the kitchen had to be clean before bed.
Friday: Cleaning Day. We would dust and scrub all the floors on our hands and knees. We would take the small rugs out and beat them. The extra large one in the parlor was only done in the spring and fall. The boys would have to haul it out side for us. The windows were cleaned. The food still had to be cooked for the meals. Also the kitchen had to be clean before bed.
Saturday: Baking Day. We baked bread for the week, which was ate at every meal. Cakes, pies, cookies and rolls were all baked on the same day. This had to last the whole week. The food still had to be cooked for the meals. Also the kitchen had to be clean before bed.
Sunday: Day of Rest We had chores to do. Animals didn't know it was a day of rest! The food was usually made the day before and heated for the meal. Sometimes we were lucky and could have a picnic with cold fried chicken, potato salad. Mother may have read the bible, we kids may have been able to play a little. Also the kitchen had to be clean before bed.
Such had been the week in the life of my mother and her siblings.
|
