Nothing like her spaghetti that had wild mushrooms incorporated in the sauce.
I am so sorry I didn't listen to her, how to can, how to preserve, how to dry meat.
I leaned how to butcher animals(a good thing for survival)but disregarded the rest as "womans work". As you have probably figured out by now I am a male.
One of my biggest regrets of my life is that I did not pay attention to this woman who was a fountain of knowledge of how to survive without modern machines or government intervention!
However I am trying to relearn the things her and my aunts knew how to do without thinking about it!
I was blessed with two wonderful Grandma’s. One was a Farm Gal and taught me all about growing food, butchering, baking bread, sewing, canning, making jelly & pies, etc. I spent a lot of time with her when I was growing up because Mom worked while Dad was in college and working his apprenticeships. I am from 100% Blue Collar stock. :)
My City Grandma taught me all about the arts; we’d go to movies and the theater, fancy restaurants, art exhibits, etc. I had a very well-rounded childhood. She also grew prize-winning flowers for the State Fair, so I learned that, too. My Gladiolus are without compare. :)
It’s never too late to learn new skills! Take a look at these books for starters:
Storey’s Basic Country Skills
The Encyclopedia of Country Living
The Foxfire books (if you can find them; they’re getting rare)
The other day, for $2, I found a Reader’s Digest book, ‘Back to Basics’ from the 1980’s. I don’t THINK I’ll do any blacksmithing or cobble any shoes in the near future, but it’s nice to know I can learn if I have to, LOL!
Learn to sew on a button and replace a zipper, while you’re at it. And why not try your hand at knitting? Lots of men knit. You can make your own socks, mittens, scarves and hats at the very least. And it’s relaxing. :) (I crochet; want to learn to knit.)
*SIGH* I love my job (I manage a Garden Center), but I miss being home and having the time to do all of that stuff. Not much longer before Husband makes his first million and I can work at home again for good! :)