Freda, "Ending the Year in Style"

I hope your have enjoyed reading "Freda's Thoughts" and will leave a comment to encourage her.

Thanks.  Sister Freda and I wish you a very Happy New Year!  The Old Man in the Bib Overalls

Christmastime Memories

"Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmastime." Laura Ingalls Wilder

Having my shop closed during this time of the year, I have some (be it little) time to sit and relax.  I have been mulling over some childhood Christmas memories, and found that my memory is fading a bit. I guess that is a common malady of older adults.  In a way, I'm glad that some memories fade. I would hate to hold on to sad memories or frightening memories in any detail! So, I see that the memories I now carry are happy ones; just not great in number!
When pressed, I can remember those sadder ones, coming from hardships and rough times. But, even those can easily be interpreted as being fond and filled with blessings, after the fact.
Even though I was born after the times of the "Great Depression", I can remember that my family was still suffering from economic downturns. While I can't remember a day when I didn't have a meal to eat, I can recall a number of meals which were far from being termed "Balanced".  I can remember opening the small gas-powered refrigerator in the kitchen, only to find there was very little in it.  I suppose the bare necessities were there, but to a growing boy, there wasn't any special, desired treat awaiting.  I can remember being served store-bought white bread, spread with molasses or a ketchup sandwich; because there was nothing else in the house. Not knowing any better, and trusting my family to care for me, I thought this was normal fare. I had no idea that other families had more to eat or better quality foods in their homes.
I can't recall ever going to bed hungry. I'm not sure that the adults in my family could say that. I suspect that they did without some meals, just so that I could be served.
The same sort of sacrifices were made by my family at Christmastime.  I was never lacking in toys given to me by my family.
As I grew to adulthood, I discussed some of the history of my family with my elders.  I learned that my great grandparents had raised my mother as well as all their own children. During the Depression, my great grandfather was the bread winner of the extended family.  He went out to work, not accepting charity, food stamps or any sort of unemployment monies. Since most everyone was in the same boat, (economically speaking) there weren't a lot of jobs available.  I was told that some weeks he only came home with ten cents for a whole day's work; and sometimes even less!  I'm happy to say, he taught me his work ethics.  I was about 6 years old when he died.  I lived in the same house, being raised by my great aunt and uncle as well as him and my great grandmother.
I wouldn't trade my childhood for any other!  Those were the years that shaped my character.
I feel sorry for those who grow up in a home where love is not seen in any way. While my family was not big on hugging, kissing, or an outward expression of love; their love was always felt.  Not only did I observe it in how they treated me and other family members, but I could see it in the way they treated neighbors, friends, and all others.
By the time I came onto the scene, those elders were on the decline. I can't say that their spirits were broken, but maybe they just grew weary in well-doing as the years advanced.  I had heard stories of the fabulous Christmas celebrations of the past. Each year, they had a Christmas feast, with cooked goose and a table full of food.  They had saved throughout the year to have that meal.  They had the whole family visiting at Christmas.  They would all gather in the parlor, around the piano.  My grandmother, great aunt and great grandmother would play together, with the piano, violin and mandolin.  They played Christmas tunes and popular music, singing and making merry, each evening during Christmastime.
But, in my day, all that was left was a mandolin, tucked away in the closet.  The only other enduring tradition was the annual Christmas tree.  Many of the ornaments on the tree were family heirlooms, brought from the old country.  But, as the story goes, it was during the worst of the Depression, that they lost their zeal for Christmas. While my family was struggling to make ends meet, the local church (to which they belonged) came to the door, insisting that our family commit to giving more, so that the pastor could keep up his lavish lifestyle. (At least this is how the story was told.)  And from this, they stopped going to church.  When that happened, they lost their love for Christmas celebrations.
As I grew up, I was sent to church.  They knew that it was necessary for me to discover faith, even though they refused to attend church themselves.  This was the foundation that I needed to make that commitment to my faith and be born again!  And I am happy to say, that later in life, I was able to share that faith with my great aunt, great uncle and my mother.  I believe that witness had its effect on them and that they left this world with renewed faith is Christ. (But I don't know that for certain - nobody ever really knows what is in another person's heart.)
I guess my conclusions draw me to believe that the Lord had a special plan in my intersection in the lives of the family in which He placed me.  We all have some effect on those around us; be it good or bad!  It all comes from your heart.  Is your heart right with the Lord?  I pray that you will have a good effect on those around you; especially during Christmastime.  And I pray that you keep wonderful, happy memories during Christmastime as well.
Merry Christmas!  From the Old Man in the Bib Overalls

Freda's Christmas Thoughts

Freda told me that she was inspired to write this post after reading something like it on a Christmas card.

I know she learned the "Mary Had a Little Lamb" poem when she was a young girl.  And I know that she

believes that Jesus is that Lamb of God, that takes away the sin of all who trust in Him.

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The Old Man in the Bib Overalls

Freda's Christmas View

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Freda's, "The First Christmas Gift"

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The Old Man in the Bib Overalls

Freda's Christmas Suggestion List



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please leave a comment to encourage her. Thanks.
The Old Man in the Bib Overalls



Freda's "Thanksgiving Memories"

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Thanks & have a great Thanksgiving Day!
The Old Man in the Bib Overalls

Freda's "Reality Check"

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Thanks. The Old Man in the Bib Overalls

Freda - "Frosty"

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Thanks. The Old Man in the Bib Overalls

Freda's Thoughts, a thank you!



Sister Freda really is encouraged when you make a comment!
She dictates her thoughts to me and I post them on here for her.
Sister Freda, is no relation to me, but is a dear sister in the Lord.
I met her years ago in church.  When she could no longer care for
herself, I took her in to live in my house.  I have put my house up
for sale recently because of my own health reasons.  But not only would
I like to down-size and move to a small farm property, but it would also
be nice for Sister Freda.  She had to give up farm life when her late husband
got sick and died.  So, I'd like to see her spend the rest of her life back on a farm.
If you would like to help with bringing the right buyer to this wonderful historical
home, please feel free to copy or email or otherwise share any of my archived posts
showing the features of the house.  It can also be viewed at the realtor's website.
(Ridgeway United Country Real Estate)
 Thanks.  The Old Man in the Bib Overalls



Freda, "Life at its best"



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The Old Man in the Bib Overalls



Freda, "Telling Lies"

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The Old Man in the Bib Overalls

Freda's Heart Condition

How's your heart today?
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Thanks. The Old Man in the Bib Overalls

It's "Soup Season" again!

Freda, "Bringing Up Baby"

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Freda's Road Trip

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Freda, "Getting it done!"

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Truth 101

"Lessons Learned", by Freda

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Thanks. The Old Man in the Bib Overalls

A Timely Update

Blog will continue.
The Old Man in the Bib Overalls

Freda on, "Judging Others"

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Celebrating Laura Ingalls Wilder

Kick-off season!

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The Old Man in the Bib Overalls

Freda's ways

Wouldn't it be nice if everyone appreciated everyone else for something?

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Running with Freda!

If you are enjoying Freda's posts, please leave a comment to encourage her.  At age 91 yrs., she needs all the encouragement she can get to keep going!   

I hope you like what she has to say.  Thanks

The Old Man in the Bib Overalls

My Mansfield, MO News!

My health has forced me to put this historic house up for sale!
I'll be keeping the shop going till the property sells. (Lord willing!)

This should make a great opportunity for someone else!  I've had my time here, now it is time to pass the legacy on to another Laura Ingalls Wilder fan!

Please share this with everyone you know - they may be the one to purchase this piece of history!

Feel free to contact the realtor for more information.

In the meantime, I'll have the shop open for Labor Day and, of course, we have Mansfield's "Wilder Day" coming Friday & Saturday September 20 & 21.  The realtor is planning on having an "OPEN HOUSE" after the parade on that Saturday, to show the house.  If you are in town for Wilder Day, you are welcome to come take a look.  You may end up staying!  :)

The Old Man in the Bib Overalls

Freda's Advice

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Freda's "It's All in Your Mind!"

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Freda's "Sound Advice"

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Freda's "Lighthouse Foundations"

"Freda Focus"

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Freda - "How's your heart?"

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Moving on July 17, 1894

Have you ever had to move away from your family and go off on your own?  It isn't an easy thing to do.  You leave behind all the security that you've known.  And you take a leap of faith, hoping that it will all work out for you.

That is exactly what Laura and her husband, Almanzo Wilder, did on this day, in 1894.  They had tried to make a similar move before that, but it didn't work out for them.  Now, they felt that this move would be the one to work out.

Laura packed up what belongings she could into their little horse-drawn hack.  She placed her daughter, Rose, into the back of the hack and she and Almanzo sat in front.  At dawn, they said a tearful "Goodbye" to family and off they went.  Their destination was to Mansfield, Missouri; a place they had only read about in an advertisement.

On their journey, they were accompanied by the Cooley family, who traveled in a covered wagon.  They weren't explorers, but travelers.  They knew their destination, but didn't know what would lie ahead in this attempt to settle.  Their trip would take them through 4 states and last till August 30th.

Laura had saved a $100 bill to purchase land when they would arrive.  She hid it inside her portable writing desk.  Along the way the bill slipped through a crack a was hidden.  Thinking that they had lost it, they set themselves to make do and just go on.  But the bill was recovered and they used it toward the purchase of property.

From all accounts, their move proved successful.  Laura lived in Mansfield for the remainder of her life. (63 years, till she was 90 years old!)  She wrote all her "Little House" books, from her farm, just outside the city limits.  But it all started back on July 17, 1894!

If you have the opportunity to visit Mansfield, you will be able to see the house that Almanzo built on their farm.  And you will see a town, which hasn't grown much since their day.  But, the spirit of Laura, Almanzo and little Rose is can still be found in the memories left by Laura's writings.  And perhaps you'll see what they saw in Mansfield that gave them the desire to stay and call it home.  I saw it and have called it home for about 12 years now.  And I have opened a souvenir shop in order to share more of the memories of Laura.  As long as I live here, I'll share those with visitors.  I hope you will be one of those visitors soon. 

It takes a step of faith to move away from family to out on your own.  It also takes a step of faith to live your life every day!  If they hadn't made up their minds to take a step out in faith and move to Mansfield, we might never have known what Pioneer life was like at all!  It was the combination of living in Mansfield on her farm and the memories of her childhood, that gave Laura the inspiration she needed to become a successful author.  But she had to make that step out in faith or it never would have taken place!

If you feel the urge to leave that safety net of family, and go off on your own someday, I wish you all the success that Laura, Almanzo and Rose achieved.  And I wish you, "God Speed".

You can read about their journey to Mansfield in the book, "On the Way Home"; which was taken from Laura's travel journal.   The Old Man in the Bib Overalls

"Mistakes" by Freda

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"Teddy Bear Picnic Day"

Who would deny the Teddy Bear Family a picnic on such a beautiful summer day?  They have been cooped up in the house all winter and into spring. It's about time they got outside for some fresh air!

Here they are: Pa, Ma with the baby, and cousin

Freda's Focus

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Angry Words & Freda

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Celebrating, "Log Cabin Day"!

Old-fashioned you say!  Well, have you ever heard the saying, "If it was good enough for my grandparents, it's good enough for me." ?  When European immigrants first found their way to these shores, they found a land pretty much untouched.  It was full of unclaimed trees.  Those trees became the perfect source for building houses.  And what quicker way to build a house than with logs?

The first time I was inside a log cabin, I was struck by the insulation factor of the logs.  It was a very hot day, with temperatures in the 90's.  But inside the log cabin, it was cool; probably about 70 degrees.  I haven't been in one during cold weather, but I'd think the logs would retain the heat if the interior was heated and the logs were chinked well.

And now, in this present day, the log cabin holds a nostalgic value as well.  When we think about log cabins, many prominent figures of American history come to mind.  President Lincoln was born and lived in a log cabin, as did many of our pioneering heroes, like Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett.  But, to me, the log cabin took on a new nostalgic value, when I started to learn about pioneer life from reading the "Little House" books.

Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote about her first memories of living in the "Big Woods" of Wisconsin, "...in a little gray house made of logs."  As she went on to describe her life on the prairie in other volumes, she told of her family building log homes.  And as she came to live, here in Mansfield, Missouri, she and her husband and little girl, first lived in a log cabin.

These days, the log cabin has become the exquisite, "Log Home"; made of finely milled logs, kiln dried, cut to precession and pieced together at a factory.  They are then shipped to the site and reassembled.   While the intensive labor is taken away from the home owner, this has become a very popular home these days.  I wonder what Laura and her family would think if they could see this today!

I believe that growing up in a log cabin and facing hardships in her life fashioned her skills of observation and ultimately her writing abilities.  She left us with a keen view of Pioneer life.

"Youth ever gazes forward while age is inclined to look back. And so older persons think things were better when they were young."  "Those who stop dreaming never accomplish anything."  "We can work our dreams into realities if we try, but we must be willing to make the effort."  "I wish folks now had to live for a while like we did when I was young so they would know what work is and learn to appreciate what they have." Laura Ingalls Wilder

This miniature, which I made as a souvenir in my shop, will have to suffice as my attempt at building a log cabin.  And even that was time comsuming and pushed my skills as a craftsman! My days of being physically fit enough to build an actual log cabin are long gone!  But that doesn't mean that I wouldn't like to live in one still!  :)

I welcome your comments here on this subject. Thanks.  The Old Man in the Bib Overalls

A Freda Axiom

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A "Veggie Tale" Recipe

Following Father's Day is, "Eat Your Vegetables Day".  Sounds like something your father would say, doesn't it?  Unless things have changed since I was a youngster, this is still the motto of the family table!  And, again, if things haven't changed, it is still a challenge for parents to get those kids to eat their veggies!

Well, this may work for you parents out there.  This is a casserole recipe.  Casseroles are good for their ability to hide all sorts of things in them.  And it might work to help disguise some of those vegetables that some of the more finicky kids refuse to eat.

When I was growing up, you would learn to eat everything on your plate.   There was no choice!  There was no such thing as saying, "I won't eat such and such a vegetable!"  We respected our parents.  We knew that they worked hard to get the food they put on our plate.  We respected them, their authority, and their guidance.  If they told us that vegetables were good for us, we'd eat them; and never questioned it!  Oh, I did know of some kids who would be rebellious.  Those kids would tell the stories of how they got punished for their disobedience!   It made us grow and mature into good citizens and I wouldn't change that for the world!  I wish and pray that these values come back in our country.  They will be the country's salvation - well, they'll be the values that will help the whole world to get along!  (Not likely, but I still pray for it!)
Okay, here's my recipe:

Farmer Boy Best Casserole Ever!

(So named to hide the veggies even more!)

Ingredients: (made in 8x8 baking dish - if you need more for a larger family, just double or triple this and use a larger baking dish.)

• 1 yellow squash
• 1 zucchini
• 1/2 onion
• 1 large tomato
• 1/2 red bell pepper
• small bunch of Kale
• 1/3 Cup of grated Parmesan Cheese
• 1/3 Cup of grated Cheddar Cheese
• 1/2 Cup of sour cream
• 2 Tablespoons of Lemon Juice
• about a dozen crushed Ritz Crackers

Directions: Spray non-stick into the baking dish.  Slice off coins of the squash and zucchini.  Layer them into the dish. Add slices of onion and tomato on top.  Drizzle the lemon juice on this.  Add dollops of sour cream.  Add the diced bell pepper.  Chop the Kale and add it.  Sprinkle half of the Parmesan on top.  Distribute the crackers.  Finish with more Parmesan and the Cheddar cheese.

Bake at 350 degrees F. for about 40 to 45 minutes.

* To make this into a one-dish meal, I added some cooked crumbled pork sausage on top and then added the crackerss and cheeses.  I served it over a bed of noodles - you could us rice instead.

If this doesn't get those kids to eat their veggies, it's probably too late - they're spoiled!  :( 

I'm not saying that your kids should become Vegetarians, but God made these things, and He said they were good for us!   And Father knows best!

(By the way, adults like this recipe too! ;)

"Children should be made to obey or shown that to disobey brings punishment.  Thus, they will learn the lesson every good citizen and every good man and woman learns sooner or later - that breaking a law brings suffering."  Laura Ingalls Wilder

If you make this recipe, please come back and leave a comment.  Thanks.

*By the way, I see that many have viewed my blog over time, but very few leave comments!  I don't know why this is the case, but I'd sure like to see more response from what I put on here!  And, for that matter, I'd like to see more people sign up as followers!  How about it, step into the flow!  Thanks.

The Old Man in the Bib Overalls

Freda's Blessed Friday

Thanks for reading Freda's Thoughts for the day!    At age 91, she is doing pretty good to be able to keep her thoughts in order.  If you like these postings by Freda,  please leave a comment here to encourage her. Thanks. The Old Man in the Bib Overalls

"Ice Tea Day"

What could be more refreshing in the heat of the day than a big glass of Ice Tea?  (No, don't give us your answer if it differs!)  :)  This being "Ice Tea Day", I'm offering this recipe:

Farmer Boy Sweet Tea

Ingredients:

• Tea bags or loose tea
• water, preferably clean, filtered (not bottled or distilled!)
• Sugar syrup

Directions: Brew up some tea, * by boiling water and adding it to the tea.  (I like to use tea bags - less of a mess!) You are going to want to brew it to be very strong - so use more tea than you normally would.  Let it steep up to 5 minutes, but don't over steep or it will get bitter.   Then cool it to room temperature.

While it is cooling, you can make your sugar syrup.  Take one cup of sugar and dissolve it in one cup of water, over medium heat.  Bring it to a boil and simmer 2 minutes.  Cool this to room temperature or refrigerate. (This can be stored in the refrigerator in a sealed bottle.) 

To make the ice tea, simply fill a glass with ice cubes.  Pour the cooled tea into the glass, followed by the sugar syrup (to taste).  You may wish to add a sprig of fresh mint or a slice of lemon also.

*Note: you could also use Sun Tea, (tea that is brewed by leaving the tea ball or bags in a jar of water, out in the hot sun for a few hours. This makes a really nice, smooth and mellow tasting tea!) And, for goodness sake, don't use instant tea!  :)

If you are a "Yankee", from the north, you may not be familiar with "Sweet Tea" or how to order it in a southern restaurant.  Here is the process: Simply say, "I'd like a Sweet Tea, please."  Or you don't have to be so formal, just say, "I'd like a Tea, please."  They'll know what you mean, because it is a "Southern" thing!  In fact, I don't think you could order it any other way!  :)

I hope you'll try this recipe and then leave a comment here. Thanks.  The Old Man in the Bib Overalls

National Doughnut Day

Every time I read "Farmer Boy", by Laura Ingalls Wilder, I get hungry for some old-fashioned home cooking recipes!  Why do you suppose that is the case"  :)

This time, as I read about how Almanzo's mother made those doughnuts, and I noticed that "National Doughnut Day" was on the horizon, I did something about it!  I went through my heirloom recipes and found the one that I remembered my Great Aunt making when I was but a young boy myself!  This is the recipe I'm sharing with you today.

Farmer Boy Cinnamon Donuts

Ingredients: (should make about 1 1/2 dozen, depending on thickness)

• 2 Cups of all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons of baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon of salt
• 1 egg
• 1 Cup of sweet milk (although my Aunt probably used Goat Milk)
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla
• a pinch of ground nutmeg
• Lard for frying (or vegetable oil - I used Peanut Oil)
• sugar and cinnamon for coating

Directions: Place about 1/2 cup of sugar and cinnamon mixture into a paper lunch bag and set aside.

Place the flour, salt and baking powder into a large bowl.  In another bowl, cream the egg and sugar.  Add the milk, and vanilla to the egg mixture.  Add all the wet mixture to the flour and stir.  Add more flour as needed, to make a thick batter.

Dump the batter onto a floured surface to roll out.  Roll out to about 1/2 inch thick.  Cut into 1/2 by 8 inch strips.  Using your floured hands, roll each into ropes.  Finding the center of each rope, twist or braid them, sealing the ends.

In a kettle, heat the lard or oil to 375 degrees F.  Gently lower each twisted rope into the kettle to fry them. (Don't crowd them!) Fry each till they are golden brown.

Remove them to paper toweling.  Then, one at a time, shake gently in the paper bag of sugar/cinnamon to coat them.

I don't know if this is anything like the recipe that Mrs. Wilder used, but it is certainly what gave me my happy childhood memories of doughnuts!

I once saw this sign in the window of a bakery, "Seven days without doughnuts, makes one weak! (week)" :)

I hope you'll try this recipe and then come back here to leave a comment. Thanks. The Old Man in the Bib Overalls

"So many recipes, so little time!"

When you have literally hundreds of heirloom recipes, and there are only a few minutes in a day in which to look through the pile, you might miss something!  Well, this is the case here, with this recipe.  At some point I'd like to be able to organized all these recipes.  I don't see that happening any time soon, but it is one of those things you put on a "To Do" list.

As a result of not having them organized or categorized, I'm not always sure what the recipe makes! So many times I've come across something that was written a century or more ago, and it has a list of ingredients but no directions.  Others, like this one, have no name!  So where do I go from there? Well, in most cases, with recipes like that, they get put aside for further investigation at some time in the future.  If I'm on a quest to find a certain recipe or type of dish, I end up sorting through half of them each time!

I've been looking for a recipe which was mentioned in Laura's book, "Farmer Boy".  In the book it is called, "Rye 'n' Injun Bread".  Well, I figured it should be in my heirloom recipes somewhere.  But I haven't come across it yet.  Then, the other day, I happened to look at one of those, which was probably written down by my great grandmother, over a century ago.  It didn't have a recipe name, but as I looked at the list of ingredients, most of them are those associated with "Rye 'n' Injun Bread".  I say, "most" because there are some extra ingredients, like all-purpose flour, raisins, currents and chopped nuts.  So, I scratched my head in wonder.  But then it dawned on me - this was probably an altered "Rye 'n' Injun Bread" recipe.  Barbara M. Walker, in her "Little House Cookbook" talks about how the recipe changed over the years. And it probably changed from one locale to another as well.  My great grandmother had her roots in the Germanic settlements of Ohio and Pennsylvania.

The only way I'd know for sure what I had in my hand was to make it.  Then, as I looked more at this old, handwritten recipe, I noticed that some of the directions didn't quite make sense. (Some of these recipes are written in "Broken English" - a cross between German and English.) So I had to spend some time, using my culinary knowledge, to figure out how I could make this recipe.
This is what I came up with:

Farmer Boy Rye 'n' Injun Brown Bread

Ingredients:

• 1 Cup of all-purpose flour
• 1 Cup of Rye flour
• 1 Cup of yellow cornmeal
• 2 teaspoons of baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt
• 1 Cup of buttermilk
• 2 eggs
• 3/4 Cup of molasses
• 3/4 Cup of raisins
• 1/2 Cup of currents (optional)
• 1/2 Cup of Pecans, roughly chopped

Directions: In a large bowl, combine the cornmeal, flours, salt and baking soda.  Stir into this, the buttermilk, eggs and molasses.  When this is thoroughly mixed, stir in the raisins and pecans.  Pour this mixture into a greased loaf pan.  Bake in a pre-heated oven, at 300 degrees F. for about 1 1/2 hours. (Test with a probe.)  My recipe called for the use of a water bath in the oven, but I think you'd do best to avoid too much moisture when baking it.   I took the bath out after an hour, and it seemed just right!  It won't rise like most sweet breads, and might seem dry to you if you aren't familiar with "Brown Breads".

This is not the "definitive" Brown Bread recipe, but it is one that my family passed down for over a century.  I can only vaguely remember having it as a child; but I do remember having a store-bought "Brown Bread" that came in a can.  If my memory is working good, this recipe tastes better than the canned one!  My recipe called for "a slow oven", which might have been about 200 degrees and baking time was hours long!  But I don't think it would be completely safe to do it that long at such a low temperature, because of the eggs. (But maybe I'm wrong!)  I hope you'll try this recipe, if for no other reason, to have something like Almanzo ate as a boy!  If you make it, please come back here and leave a comment.  Thanks.  The Old Man in the Bib Overalls

Carrie Ingalls Swanzey

The Old Man in the Bib Overalls

Freda's thoughts of peace

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