tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6348734432793771357.post2329675728539699979..comments2024-03-25T09:18:22.829-05:00Comments on Killer Crafts & Crafty Killers: MONEY MATTERS WITH SHEILA--GUEST AUTHOR DONIS CASEYANASTASIA POLLACKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03160162455676799133noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6348734432793771357.post-16983816748958184102014-07-12T06:06:55.748-05:002014-07-12T06:06:55.748-05:00This was a really interesting blog, Donis.
My ma...This was a really interesting blog, Donis. <br />My maternal grandparents were farmers in far northern New Hampshire in the early part of the 20th century, and I can vividly remember the wood stove in the kitchen, and clothes on bushes and also hung up on the clothesline outside to dry. <br />Don't remember the method of washing, but bleach featured prominently, and everyone wore clothes for days and days before washing them!<br />PatPat T.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6348734432793771357.post-65208240241243674862014-07-10T12:27:44.241-05:002014-07-10T12:27:44.241-05:00Fabulous tornado story, Janis. I have heard so man...Fabulous tornado story, Janis. I have heard so many horrifying stories about what a tornado can do that I couldn't possibly have used them all in the book. Christine, I hope you do drop in on Alafair and the folks.Donis Caseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15207228706777377242noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6348734432793771357.post-73240678705965099682014-07-10T10:50:41.303-05:002014-07-10T10:50:41.303-05:00Thanks for the interesting post. Until probably 4 ...Thanks for the interesting post. Until probably 4 years ago my mom still made lye soap. She was a depression baby too.<br />I'm going to check out your books too. Sound interesting!Christine Kelenyhttp://www.ckbookspublishing.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6348734432793771357.post-63073593075678022222014-07-10T06:14:13.478-05:002014-07-10T06:14:13.478-05:00Donis, my grandmother married in 1910. She and all...Donis, my grandmother married in 1910. She and all her family lived on farms in North Texas, not far from the Oklahoma border (about 20 miles east of Sherman, if you know where that is). I love the Alafair series (and this blog post) because it's like listening to her stories of her childhood and young married life. So much of what you describe was common during my young years. There was a huge tornado in Texas about the same time as the one in your book - though I think it was 1918, not 16, but I could be wrong. My mother was a girl then and her descriptions of it terrified me for years. I own a delicate dresser that was blown some 12-15 miles by the storm. It has the original four foot high mirror and delicate wood horns that hold it, all undamaged. When it was found in a cotton field, the only damage to the piece was a cracked back leg. Tales of that tornado still survive in our family. Please keep writing about Alafair. Our current generation can learn so much from her. PS - I also own both those books, the Housekeeping in Old Virginia one having come from a book club back in the 70s.Janis Susan Mayhttp://www.janissusanmay.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6348734432793771357.post-11368178665218900402014-07-09T18:47:10.771-05:002014-07-09T18:47:10.771-05:00Thanks for the post!Thanks for the post!Angela Adamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06102308492358084929noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6348734432793771357.post-54970304196453775002014-07-09T17:22:39.424-05:002014-07-09T17:22:39.424-05:00These details are one of the many reasons I love t...These details are one of the many reasons I love the Alafair books. I remember the house my mother grew up in, because my cousins lived in it when I was growing up. Into the 1950s they still had to pump water, and the water at the kitchen sink pump wasn't safe to drink--you had to go outside to another well for that.<br /><br />Clothes hung outside not only save the environment, but they smell so good! If nothing else, hang your sheets and nightclothes on the line if you have a choice--you'll be glad you did.Sara Hoskinson Frommerhttp://www.sff.net/people/SaraHoskinsonFrommernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6348734432793771357.post-39616678369696647812014-07-09T17:19:50.826-05:002014-07-09T17:19:50.826-05:00Lani, you know what they say about how to get to C...Lani, you know what they say about how to get to Carnegie Hall--practise, practise, practise. I've seen my grandmother whip up a full meal for a dozen in half an hour--from scratch! Her hands moved so fast you could hardly see them. You just do it 3 times a day every day and you become expert. Kimberly, my sister tried to make homemade soap once. She did it, but told me that it was so labor intensive that she'd rather remain dirty.Donis Caseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15207228706777377242noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6348734432793771357.post-41960793127367944352014-07-09T14:38:43.445-05:002014-07-09T14:38:43.445-05:00I took a soap making class once and wanted to do i...I took a soap making class once and wanted to do it on my own. I never did. I'm always amazed what our ancestors did everyday.Kimberly G. Giarratanohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03983330164849240374noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6348734432793771357.post-3531141618563132232014-07-09T13:53:13.620-05:002014-07-09T13:53:13.620-05:00Farm girl here too! I grew up making our own soap ...Farm girl here too! I grew up making our own soap too, etc. However, what always amazed me was how my grandmother could skin apples and potatoes with a knife sharped to an inch stub. The skins would be thinner than what I could do with a professional grade peeler. I wish I had that talent.Lanihttp://www.lbjoramo.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6348734432793771357.post-29184626230088171582014-07-09T12:08:07.495-05:002014-07-09T12:08:07.495-05:00Susan, since I started this series, I've disco...Susan, since I started this series, I've discovered that our foremothers had quite a few clever tricks that are a lot easier and cheaper than "storeboughten" products. I actually use vinegar a lot, and baking soda, too. Cynthia, you are right about lye. That stuff will eat your skin right off unless it's incredibly diluted.Donis Caseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15207228706777377242noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6348734432793771357.post-2832354016902752762014-07-09T10:09:56.463-05:002014-07-09T10:09:56.463-05:00Thanks, Anonymous. The blog has been around since ...Thanks, Anonymous. The blog has been around since 2010. You might enjoy checking out some of the older posts.ANASTASIA POLLACKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03160162455676799133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6348734432793771357.post-34577755897330918152014-07-09T09:49:51.455-05:002014-07-09T09:49:51.455-05:00Wow, superb blog layout! How long have you been bl...Wow, superb blog layout! How long have you been blogging for?<br /><br />you made blogging look easy. The overall look of your web site is magnificent, as well as the content!<br /><br /><br />my web page: <a href="http://www.wikihow.com/Cut-Hair" rel="nofollow">same hair style</a>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6348734432793771357.post-269296540994563542014-07-09T09:25:06.588-05:002014-07-09T09:25:06.588-05:00Excellent blog post. My grandparents probably did ...Excellent blog post. My grandparents probably did the same but they're not around to ask any more. I remember my Missouri grandmother had an old wringer washer but no dryer. The clothesline was the dryer and I miss those, sheets smell better when dried on the line. I make my own soap, as a hobby but it's dangerous stuff. One doesn't want to mess with lye.Cynthiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09353703006911833360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6348734432793771357.post-88201208254318003012014-07-09T08:53:39.240-05:002014-07-09T08:53:39.240-05:00That's a great description of what we've l...That's a great description of what we've lost and how easy our lives have become. My parents and great grandparents had farms, and when my parents moved my mother brought all the canning with them. By the way, vinegar is making a comeback as an all-purpose cleaner (mixed with water, etc.).Susan Oleksiwhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02693057997469296068noreply@blogger.com