Stepping into the Past

Genealogy has gotten me off the beaten path with blogging.  That has lead to more in depth research on ways our fore-bearers lived, ate, slept, drank, cooked, dressed, doctored themselves, and relied on each other instead of government overstep.

So, while I believe writing about thrifty living and gardening still fits into my new area of research, I hope to find other interesting topics of which to write.

Paternal great grandparents' home, children, domestic help, circa 1903

The above photo is of my great grandparents, taken at their farm prior to the birth of my grandfather ... before electricity had come to their area; prior to an automobile and any of our power hungry 'modern' appliances were invented   You will notice that grandma had the help of a stable boy and domestic servant; both listed in the 1900 Census as part of my grandparent's household.  One wonders if the advent of the modern age put many a person out on the streets, unemployed after being replaced by a machine?    This idea of humans being replaced by machines, and cheap labor has helped contribute to our generation's lack of skills, desire to work for daily bread, and reliance on poor quality everything!

Food Memories

equals = fond memories

Growing up we would trek across the country each summer landing smack dab in farming areas in Illinois and Nebraska.  We'd visit aunts and uncles (mostly great aunts and uncles) that still lived on big old farms.  One family raised hogs; the clinking of their feeders all night as I slept in a much too small youth bed in a guest room was quite interesting.  Pigs smell .. I remember that!  Another family had barn cats .. I would follow around with delight.  And, another family taught me how to milk a cow .. and eat farm fresh chicken for dinner .. ones that I'd been playing with in the yard earlier that day.  It seemed these families knew how to eat .. and eat well.  To remember the taste of just picked corn, pork roast, watermelon rind pickles, and everything made from food grown on the farms .. had quite an impact on my developing taste buds.  Then back to reality I'd go .. home and we'd have a typical 1970's style dinner of canned veggies and often noodles from a box with a sauce mix.  Maybe steak a few times a year (not very often) .. It was these early trips each summer that gave me the passion to develop my homemaking skills and learn how to try and replicate GREAT food.

With a little practice, a person can make healthy tasting meals with fresh ingredients grown in the backyard .. or picked up at the local farm.  Buying in season, in bulk, and learning how to store food for winter .. can all be achieved with practice .. one step at a time.  I recently read that it takes about ten years to learn the necessary skills to become more self sufficient.  Skills our not so distant ancestors knew how to perform as second nature can be nurtured with a little practice.  I wouldn't want to have to become totally reliant on my 'skills' to provide every need for my family.  But .. learning some gardening or cooking skills just makes good sense.  I've got my grandson with me three days a week.  You can bet I am nurturing his love for the garden by having him by my side as much as possible.  Last week he insisted eating a just pulled carrot like a bunny .. and even gnawed on it with his front teeth.  He will know where some of his food comes from .. and that is a step in the right direction.  Here's a quick little story about 'Growing Your Own Food: it's not elitist or impossible" .. enjoy  

Danish Heritage Cooking

I've recently started making a few heritage recipes given to me by my Danish cousin, Egon.  I remember having ableskivers on my honeymoon with Mr. Mac thirty years ago in Solvang, California.  On a recent thrift store outing, I was able to purchase a new ableskiver pan.  Here is the family recipe:

Æbleskiver
(Danish “doughnuts”)
This is possibly one of the most famous Danish desserts. To make æbleskiver requires a special
skillet called an “æbleskivepande”. Usually, you are able to find an “æbleskive-pande” at the
Scandinavian gift stores in the area.
2 cups flour
2 cups buttermilk
3 eggs, separated
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
¼1/4 teaspoon salt
Melted butter or margarine for frying.
Separate the eggs and set aside the egg whites. Mix the remaining ingredients in a bowl. Beat
until it forms into a thickened, smooth batter. Let the batter rest for half an hour in the
refrigerator. Beat the egg whites until very stiff. Fold the egg whites into the cool batter. Pour the
batter into a pitcher. Melt the butter for frying.
Pre-heat the æbleskive skillet. Pour a little melted butter in each hole. Then fill the holes 3/4 with
batter. Fry the æbleskiver at medium heat. When a shell has started to form turn the æbleskiver
around with a (wooden) knitting needle or a meat skewer. Keep on turning the æbleskiver until evenly
“baked”.

When done remove the æbleskiver from the skillet and keep them warm. Decorate the æbleskiver
with powdered sugar. Served with jelly and sugar.
- Enjoy

Wagons Ho! Nebraska We Go .. (or bust!)

Henry and Minnie Melcher's home, Osmond, Nebraska



 Yesterday I recalled a elusive photo for our family tree.  Today I'll share a bit about my great-great grandparents.  Originally both from Germany, Minnie and Henry Melcher somehow arrived in Wisconsin.  From there they traveled by covered wagon to Norfolk, Nebraska to farm the land for a number of years; they lived in a sod or log house.  In 1887, the couple moved about 40 miles away to Osmond, Nebraska where they bought land and farmed west of town.  In later years, they bought a home in town; their home and property is where St. Mary's Church stands today.

Minnie Melcher's Parlor Lamp

This beautiful parlor lamp once graced a table of Minnie and Henry's (and later their daughter Laura's) home.  It somehow escaped breakage through the years.  My father had it for many years and promised to somehow get it to me.  This past autumn, a friend and neighbor of mine was driving through his area in Missouri and agreed to pick up the lamp and transport it home to me.  I pray that my family can one day pass it on to another generation.  It currently sits on a dresser in my bedroom .. waiting for a good dusting!

Minnie and Henry's son, Oscar, recalled (in the newspaper article), "The blizzard of 1888, Charlie Dunham and his 6 pair of oxen which broke sod for many farmers, the brick yard in 1898 run by Grinshaw, Mame Jones Millinery Shop .. and the years from approximately 1899 to 1904 that he worked for R. J. Crystal and Wylie drug store until the fire of 1904 razed the whole west side of main street."

Oscar Melcher

Boy ... I wish I had the inkling to ask more questions when my grandparents were alive.  Trying to piece together information is challenging to say the least .. a treasure hunt of sorts.

More hunting tomorrow.

Ancestry Pay Dirt

great grandparents, Charles and Laura Calundan

gr-great grandparents, Minnie & Henry Melcher

I've been researching my family tree for several years now.  A photo of one member has eluded me for the longest time.  That of my great grandfather Charles Calundan.  He emigrated from Lading, Denmark in the 1880's and ended up in Osmond, Nebraska.  Hubby was organizing some memorabilia boxes down in the basement .. when what should he bring to me ..  not only a photo BUT also a newspaper article recalling some of my great grandparents and great-great grandparents history as told by my grandmother for a centennial newspaper article.  Elated is too small of a word! Tomorrow I'll relate some of their covered wagon adventures:)