Little Heathens

One thing that I have always admired about my grandmother's generation is how their values and practicality are so deeply embedded in who they are and how they approach everything they do. There is a right way to do things and a wrong way, with not much wiggle room in between. 

While I hope our generation is moving closer to a more open-minded perspective,  I do think we would all benefit from having such strong convictions and the common sense to not take the luxury this advanced era brings us for granted and when to realize it's limitations. After all, the jury is still out on whether my iPhone has made me happier and more productive...or is really just feeding my ADD. (Though that Google Maps widget, really has saved me on many an occasion)

I've always wished that I could read the story of my grandmother's life, so as to possibly glean a few drops of wisdom from her experiences. She is 89 years old, still gardens, drives a tractor, cooks all her own meals, and cleans her house. While she leads a very comfortable life and does these things because she wants to and not because she has to, I am constantly blown away by her ability to do more than I can in a day and usually do it better. 

While I really don't have any desire to carry water in from a well or make my own clothes, as many people of my grandmother's generation did, I was thrilled when I came across the book Little Heathens. It is the memoirs of writer Millie Kalish and what her life growing up on a farm in Iowa during the great depression was like. 

This book is a gem and a must read if you are interested in getting a better idea of what it was like for a rural family in America during that time or if you're at all interested in the 10,000 different ways you can use bacon fat. ;-)

In all seriousness though this is a great little book and I actually learned a lot about how hard work and strong values, whatever yours may be, can bring a family together.

I have included the book in the bookstore. To check it out CLICK HERE.  

*Here is the only interview I could find with the author, Millie Kalish. 

How lucky we all are that she had the foresight to write all of these stories down!