About gDonna
The photo is my son and myself. Now days you can get a photo made to look old like this one. This photo was taken when this was the new look.

Harry S Truman was president when I was born and world war II had ended. I grew up in a time when lunch was put in a brown paper bag and a sandwich was wrapped with wax paper. There was no such thing as pantyhose, we wore stockings that attached to the rubbery clippy things that attached to the girdle. Convenience stores were not common and when we took a trip we packed a picnic basket because many places did not have fast food. Highways had places to pull over and stop, some with picnic tables. Read more ....
 

Donna's Diary Posts

My Favorite Blog and Books
Recent Posts
March Already and Ramblings
The daffodil's are blooming and where Charles and I live, this means spring even though it is not spring as of yet.Since my last post, we have gone through another large load of items to go through. I have been washing and separating items to be donated. I have noticed all of the eras that Madge lived through by the items in her house.It is very difficult and sad to go through another's belongings.It has been easy to see the era of the long black gloves worn for special occasions.The difference in how things were made long ago and the quality is very obvious.I remember my dress gloves that I wore when we went to town to shop.The embellishment's were so beautiful long ago.I have tr ......
These three things
I am enjoying the little writing desk that we refurbished. It seems to bring calm to the home, maybe another feeling of living like the past. Life has been quite hectic for us for the past fourteen months, but we are not the only ones that go through complicated times. Everyone goes through some kind of changes, it can be good change and then it can be not so good such as illness, accidents, unexpected expenses, death of a loved one, job losses, a business that has failed, and then sometimes there is a need to become a caregiver for a loved one. These are just a few things that can get us out of balance.Keeping a home running smoothly can be a problem when there is ......
The simple journey home
There is much uncertainty in this world today, I can get overwhelmed and worry if I let myself because so much today is shocking. When we focus on the uncertain, we stop ourselves from doing the things that can bring us and our family happiness. One day I thought about this and realized that I do not remember the type of stress we have today. I asked Charles about this and we compared our experiences from long ago to now, and what would the differences be today? Pulled from my memory1968, military, Vietnam war. We received a urgent telegram. YOUR FATHER HAD A HEART ATTACK NEED TO COME HOME SERIOUS CONDITION.We had little money, we did not have a ......
Merriment and Love
I have felt very different lately since starting our 1917 study. I love researching and finding new information and when digging into the past there is a lot to learn. Some of the things that I find I do not like but I am looking for the good parts of the past because that is what I like to do. Some of our history studies that Charles and I have done had a feeling of tension, excitement, and sometimes homesickness. With this new study of 1917 I feel calm and homey. Many people love the Victorian and Edwardian era, and still today there is much Romanticizing of those times, their homes, the clothing. We can see these images in books, vintage ma ......
This fifth day of January 1917
It all started with this bank book that we found in a box of Madge's items. It is a bank book that belonged to Charles Great Grandmother. As many of you know, Charles and I love learning new things about history and so this year we are studying the year 1917. I will not be blogging the same way that I once did with the studies, I will just be sharing new things we learn that will help with getting back to basics. You are welcome to join along if you want to do so. I would much rather live like the year 1917 than follow along with anything going on in our real time. Outside of our own issues during 2023, the year outside our home was simply exhausting,& ......
Grocery shopping like the past
I am thankful for the time that I was born and raised. I have fond memories of my younger years and was raised city and rural life so I was able to understand not having and having, sensible and not practical. Not practical is what we have much of today.Some of you have seen this old store on my blog several times before, this store belonged to my Great Aunt and Uncle and was my most favorite place to go. The creaky wood floors, the squeaky screen door, a pot belly stove in the middle of the store, groceries on shelves on the walls, folks came and sat in wood chairs around the old wood stove and caught up on talk. Penny candy in jars and my Uncle cut meat and cheese in his ......
Truly living like the past
For those new to my blog, I am Grandma Donna and when things are going well I pop in quite often to write a post. This year of 2023, I have been taking long breaks due to health and family issues. I have been around for many years on this blog and have quite a long list of posts.My husband Charles and I live quite similar as our generations before us. We enjoy sharing the old ways of doing things and we also enjoy doing history studies by living like the year we are studying for the entire year. Sometimes we make it through an entire year before we get anxious to start another year and depending on what is happening in our life. We have spent a good bit of time st ......
I have missed all of you November Update
I have not posted since August 2023 and I am not sure where to start because so much has happened. I believe this picture was taken sometime in early September but not sure. We moved a bed into our side room of our kitchen so we could have a guest bed in our house in case family came for a visit.Last post, Madge and her three cats had been living with us a little over a month. Madge had a stroke in July and complicated issues non related to the stroke. I was still recovering from surgery and some heart issues.Madge was an independent, eccentric, woman that had lived alone for twenty seven years. She did not like to open her blinds or allow us to help h ......
When we think we can't
There have been many times recently that I felt I could not add another thing to do or find the energy to keep going. I even considered just giving in and staying in the bed but I knew that was silly way of thinking knowing where that would get me.Somehow I kept finding the energy to get through each day and then this week I realized that I had gotten over the hump or stepped over that imaginary line and leaving behind that burden. I suddenly felt more peaceful and more at ease. We live in a small home and this past weekend Charles and I made a big push to flip furniture in the house to make more room in Madge's room so we can fit a recliner in her room. We went from a ......
Popping in for an update
I have not had much time to sit at the computer to do a post. Actually, I had to dust off the computer and it seems strange to sit here.I do not have a lot of pictures as I usually do to tell what has been going on.I had the pacemaker surgery and everything was going well but then I had an event that put me back in the hospital. It had to do with my heart and some fatigue issues that had gotten very bad.These are our small railroad plates, I thought I would show you with my hand. They are oval and when I take pictures on them it looks like more food than there actually is. Like this. :)Well back to the story. If you have read my blog for awhile, you wi ......
Thank you for the Prayers
This is Grandma Donna, I am writing a short post to let you know that I have had my surgery and everything is going well. I am home from the hospital, the nurses and doctors were all so nice and caring but I am glad to sleep in our bed now.The changing of the 32 year old leads was too risky for me at this time per my doctor, he made it clear that there may be another surgery at some time for this but for now the old pacemaker is out and the new pacemaker is in. I feel these old leads are going to be okay to keep me ticking. I will be on sponge baths for eight days, then the bandage can come off. They do not know that I am the vintage, history buff lady that has a w ......
Calm the home
I have been away from my blog for nineteen days from today. It took me at least ten of those days to figure out how to not blog and just be. It has been like going back home peeling away technology. I have found that I can use technology if I use it as a good book, not as something that is chained to me. As long as I am learning from it in a balanced away and not wasting my life scrolling. I have been in and out of the garden. This past week the temperatures have gotten very hot and dry. I have planted only things that can manage without much care and water duties which Charles will be taking over for me soon.I have once again straightened o ......
The Pound Cake and the Garden
I have been enjoying my time off from blogging, getting my home ready before my surgery and resting my brain from electronics. I knew that I was feeling pressures from electronics but did not realize how consuming electronics have become and how they have slowed down getting things done in my home and robbed me of mental clarity.I feel that the internet has cause many of us to be addicted and that is what the electronic industry wants us to be. We need to relearn how to be present. When we do find something of interest on the internet, read it like a book when there is time after chores and meals are done. Stepping away from the computer and ......
Our purpose
What is our purpose?For the first 13 years of my life, I lived in the city of Memphis Tennessee. I understood rural living because when visiting my mothers side of the family we would drive to the Mississippi delta. When we moved to Alabama, I was thirteen and that was the beginning of my knowledge how families farmed the old way, the simple way of farming and raising a family from your farm. Raising your animals, growing your food and living with very little money. I made friends with the most wonderful people that eventually would become my in-laws. They raised nine children on a small farm without electricity and running water, my mother in law sewed quilts an ......
Diary of Sarah, May 8 -14 1932
We continue the reading of Sarah's 1932 diary. Sunday, May 8, 1932. Some clouds and some sunshine, altogether a good day. Had the usual necessary tasks outdoors and inside. Made preparation and attended Church and S.S. services at both of which, special tribute was paid to the mothers - this being Mother's Day. Home for dinner. Looked after the chickens and then Lay down and took a good nap. Father & I were alone today. I was quite well remembered by the children. Ernest, Vera & Jimmie here this evening. 10:30.Monday, May 9. Cloudy a good part of the day but, a good breeze astir this P.M. Had the usual morning tasks indoo ......
 Unassuming Nature
There is something very missed today, many of us feel it, some never have because they have not been exposed to this because it is becoming rare. It is not too late because all we have to do is become what is needed.This person was unassuming, modest, polite, pleasant. Did not wish for attention and quietly went on with work without any want for attention. This person was settled, pleasant, humble and there was such comfort that I had a desire to resemble this unassuming person. In my past of long ago I could describe many people that were unassuming and gentle, one would have been my Aunt Ruth. I have mentioned her before in my posts. Aunt R ......
Diary of Sarah, May 1 - 7, 1932
We continue our readings from Sarah's diary. Today's diary starts the beginning of the month of May.Sunday, May 1, 1932. May the 1st and it takes a fire in the stove to make one comfortable. Had the usual morning tasks & then worked for quite a while with the chickies. Made preparations and attended the church & S.S. services. Home and prepared dinner. Harry, Polly & family here for dinner and the afternoon. Usual evening tasks to see to, tired and sleepy.Monday, May 2, 1932. A find bright day with a good stiff breeze astir. Had the usual early morning tasks, saw to the young chickens and then got busy with the washing for both ......
Planting the seed
We can plant a seed and watch it grow into a beautiful flower, vegetable, fruit. With the extra long grayness this winter and spring the flowers are so very welcome. I did some research to find a type of lavender that would grow in our climate because the lavender I planted in the past struggled to grow. The only lavender I have grown before was from starts so I decided to try and grow lavender from seed and I chose Oregano lavender and a Torch Blue Lavender seeds. The center of this photo inside the wire is lavender. Five of the seeds germinated and have been growing ever since. I hope they will do well.We have cages that we grow lettuce, celery and ......
The Diary of Sarah April 24 - 30, 1932
Sunday, April 24, 1932. Dull, dark, cloudy and rainy with one good shower this P.M. Had the usual necessary morning tasks to see to and the young Chickies to care for. Made preparation and with Joseph and his family, attended church and S.S. services. (Father did not feel like going.) Got back for noon about 11:45. Saw to the chickies, served dinner &did some reading. Then Father & I and Joseph & Family all motored to Franklin & Carlisle visiting with Willard & wife & Miles and home for evening tasks. Ernest, V & Jimmie here this evening.Monday, April 25. Somewhat rainy, dull & cloudy this A.M. early but things cleared up soon. Had the usual mo ......
Start At Home
The squirrels understand, they are wise, they know how and what to do. They forage for food, when it storms they stretch their body upside down on a tree and cover themselves with their tail. One year we had a storm and Charles was cutting up limbs that had fallen. He brought in and showed me this limb that he had cut into and found that a squirrel had stored acorns inside this tree. This was a squirrels pantry and was storing nuts for the winter season. Charles sliced off a piece of this extraordinary find and we preserved this to use as a reminder to always store extra food.Birds are truly amazing and have brilliant minds and abilities. Just look at a ......
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