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I prefer my weekly schedule to an unscheduled week. For the last few months we have been dealing with clearing out my MIL’s house which held belongings of four people and has disrupted my schedule. We had to wait until my husband felt prepared to deal with it. His two brothers, mother, and father all died within three years, so it has taken a while to get grounded enough to make good decisions. My darling MIL was unable to keep house for 30 years and wouldn’t allow anyone to help her, so it has been a challenge. Soon, I’ll be back on my routine and that will help my stress levels. Knowing what I’ll do everyday helps me and my husband plan our week more effectively. It also helps us be free to help my mother. 

I thrive on routine! I have always set my week with a set schedule of work to be done. I haven't had a baking day lately as my youngest has gone off to college and it's just me. I do bake goodies for my mom a couple times a month. I can't eat wheat anymore apparently...but I do make gluten free things at times. Maybe I will make some crackers tomorrow to go with my main meals. I do my meal prep on Mondays and also make dog food then as well. I like to write out the schedule on paper despite already knowing when and what needs to get done. i get way too much satisfaction from checking things off! And yes, I will add something to the list if it wasn't there just to check it off...lol. Thanks for the wonderful post as usual!!!  I would pick hair dryer, air conditioning, my yogurt maker, annnddd, hmmm, I don't know what else!! I know I would definitely leave behind my computer, phone, tv, central air/heat and most kitchen gadgets (most I don't have anyway...)!!

I love to bake, but I have had to cut way way back due to some pounds????. I do bake your small loaf of bread when I want some bread and freeze the slices. I have also discovered a no knead bread that I have been using do to arthritis.

I think I’ll try the 1930’s way of life also. My 6 things I would take with me are air conditioning, cell phone, refrigerator with freezer, laptop. Actually my life is pretty simple already, I don’t think I will have any trouble

This week of daily posts has been a real pleasure and brightened up my days. Thank you!

I have truly enjoyed every post this week. Thank you, Donna, for the time and effort you put into your posts. I am looking forward to your successful 1930's study. Everything that you and Charles share is important and needed. We are headed toward a very uncertain future. Thank you, again.

Now that we are retired we are more relaxed about our schedule but things run much better when we stick to it for the most part.  I don't do a baking day but everything I bake gets cut and stored in containers in the freezer so we can easily take out a serving or two as we want it.  One thing I would keep for sure is my bread machine because I can load it and push the button for both bread and dough.

I don’t do too much of a schedule. I do pickup my 6 yr old granddaughter from school so I like to have snacks prepared for the 3 hours she is with me. So on Sundays I prepare my overnight oats in 8 ounce jars, dice up fruits into 4 ounce jars for her and other little snacks in jars. I make yogurt then too. That way she can easily grab what she wants. She does love my homemade bread, we make cinnamon toast sometimes instead of buying snack cakes.

Once  again, thank you so much for taking the time to post daily this week. It was really helpful because it reminded me daily to think about making changes to my routines, especially now that I am retired.  I just didn’t think I needed a routine in retirement, aside from a few basic chores but I have seen that without a weekly routine things/dust does pile up.   And I love seeing how you adjust your home for your changing needs or to make things more efficient.  There’s always room to grow!!  I’m looking forward to the re-do on the 1930s study, and wish you better luck with it this time around.  If I went back to the 30s I’d leave all internet devices behind, and whatever else I could do without!!!

Yay! 1932 is so perfect for the time we are in today with so much uncertainty. And I love the 1930s. Since we had the practice run a couple of years ago, I feel much more prepared this time. I thought about giving up the news for the 1930s, but there was a lot of bad news in the thirties and maybe that's part of the experience. Staying cheerful in the midst of difficulties. I am keeping my air conditioning, my Internet, my blender, my curling iron, my washer, and dryer for just in case. That's six. Oh, oh! There's the lawnmower and the electric trimmer! That's eight. We do have a push mower but if the grass grows too fast it struggles, and we use the power mower. We plan to get a better push mower one day to replace both of the lawnmowers we have now, but that day hasn't arrived. 

I've had a terrible time with staying on a schedule lately and mostly concentrate on the needful things of each day, but maybe I can work back towards being on a schedule along with others. 

How exciting to go back to 1932. :)

You must have some sort of suggestive power. I’ve been reading along. Not really thinking about much other than my to-do list. I have bread rising as I type ????

Yay!  I mean psst (((looking forward to going back to the 30s.))). I will have to think of the 6 things and get back on here. 

I think I am living pretty close to the 1930's now.....I will keep my AC, my internet, blender, washer, telephone, crock pot and TV. I would gladly give up the phone but my family would panic if they couldn't get ahold of me. 

I have 1930's appliances so can use my waffle iron and percolator.  At this point my microwave is just a counter decoration anyway. I wish I had a space to just put it away unless sorely needed but for now I have it covered up.

I think if/when I use the AC I will drop a dollar into a can every day I need to use it. I am carefully watching my electricity usage as it is because I want to conserve. I think I will use the AC "savings" to purchase wood for the cold season.  It's hard to imagine dropping a dollar a day into a can for one thing when My grandma told me that my grandpa worked for a dollar a day during the Great depression.

JC

I had a little feeling that  you and Chip were heading back to the thirties. I am so excited to see what you two learn and to learn with you. I am definitely joining you in 1932. Like you the AC is definitely coming with me, my phone ( because I don’t have a computer , and my shower. I do like baths but I always feel cleaner with a shower.  I’ve got my clothes drying by the for today and soup on the stove. Tomorrow I will have to get my baking done. All your baked goods look so  delicious ! Thank you for another wonderful  peek week

I bake during the week, too. Sometimes I will do just bread; other times I will add a pie or cake to the day's production. Being older, I don't need all the extra calories, but it is nice to have a treat now and again. Also, you can cut out extra sugar and salt that is simply not necessary, as well as preservatives so prevalent in commercial products. 

All your beautiful baking looks scrumptious.  And yes, it definitely made me hungry!  We have all had a cold and bad cough this week so the cooking around here has been pretty sparse.  My husband came down with it first and so that second day (before I managed to catch it) I made a big pot of soup and two loaves of potato bread.  That kept us going for a few days but other than that it's been catch as catch can.  Today I'm much improved and made pot roast in the crock pot so that went down pretty well with everyone.

As always thank you for the many interesting posts and observations.  
I have a day set aside for baking though it can vary due to having to work around other commitments. Where I live the climate is generally very hot and bread does not keep as well so I make 3 small-ish loaves a week. I believe there were many more routines in the past, that allowed sons and daughters to learn seamlessly from their parents and I guess set some sort of structure to their lives, this seems often to be missing in modern life with so many conveniences. I think they valued family and structure, and were better able to distinguish the practical and truly important things in life more easily than we can now. All the more reason to step back a few paces into those simpler times and routines.
Please would you be able to post the Saltine cracker recipe you use sometime, I would much rather use yours that is a tried and tested recipe than the many unknown recipes online that often disappoint.

Going back to the 1930's sounds like it could be a wonderful way to connect with our past. I will play along as best I can. 

I always loved being around my grandmother, aunties and great aunties on my dad's side of the family. My father was an older father and so his family seemed to be from a different time. They are all long gone now. They were such wonderful people to be around and I get the same feeling from reading your posts, so thank you for that. It really means a lot.

Before I had to go back to work, I made a schedule for housework, laundry, baking and tasks like cleaning the oven in a little homemade notebook that I still have tucked away for when I retire. Saturday was my baking day, but it got rough baking in the summer so in summer I baked a lot less than usual.

I look forward to the 30’s again. If I went back, my air conditioning would go with me , the indoor plum, my refrigerator, the stove, and my medication. 

My baking day has been falling Wednesday or Thursday in anticipation for the weekend when family comes to visit. I usually only get a loaf of bread & maybe cookies made. I'd really like to get more done in a day. 

I agree with what you said about valuing family and structure 100%.  The social norms were also more “normal.”  (Not sure how to say that). 

Your baking looks so delicious.  I have enjoyed Peak Week and seeing your daily posts.  
looking forward to your 1932 ideas.  
I would take A/C, indoor plumbing (my Grandma didn’t have a bathroom until 1965) fridge, hot water heater, electric stove, and phone.  Communication only.  
My Great Grandma lived up the block from Grandma.  She had none of these things.  Her small house was simple but cozy.  Sofa, rocker, oil stove and a huge piggy bank in living room. Bed, small clothes closet, and pot in bedroom.  Small table, 2 chairs, wood cooking stove, tiny ice box, small cabinet and a big bucket with dipper.  Well water, outhouse, neighbors supplies wood that my uncle chopped he also took a 1/2 block of ice.  She lived on her own until she was 85 yo.

I like the question about six things to take with us to 1932, but honestly I can't come up with six things I use that wouldn't have been available then.  What I come up with is:

1. My cordless drill.  Do I have a belly drill and a hand auger?  Yes.  Would I want to use them exclusively?  No.

2. Chainsaw.  Of course they existed back then for loggers, but I don't think they were lightweight enough for someone my size, or affordable for home use by someone of my socioeconomic status.  

3. Internet/device to access it on.  Wish I could do without, but have unfortunately become very dependent on it as a source of information.

4. Washing machine that spins, so I don't break my hand in a wringer washer.

I guess that's it.  I'm trying to think what else I even have that wasn't common back then.

Oh my giddy aunt. Baking  has nearly ended for me with the exception of sponge cakes, pikelets, scones ( my recipe only has 1 TB butter and is always successful) and as a treat fruit loaf now and again.

Butter today in New Zealand has reached a staggering $8.79 a pound where I live and it's the cheapest brand.

Karen NZ

OMG Karen, that is a horrible price for butter! I can't believe we are having to pay over $3 per pound.

I bake when the mood hits me or something is requested. I am not much of a dessert/sweet eater except for pastries like donuts. I don't care for cakes or frosting, but do love a pie.  But being a singleton very seldom make pie as I cannot eat that much. I will make pies if family is getting together. I make a lard crust as that is what I was raised on.

I do keep a loose schedule, because if I don't I am easily sidetracked and then have to work harder to get things completed.  

JC

Is that a Pom I see?  Adorable!

Yes it is:) His name is Teddy Bear

In trying to come up with 6 things to take back to 1930s, there were really two that came to mind, everything else seemed not as important or life altering.  

*Water system including electric pump and hot H2O heater (I know some places had these, but many did not).

*Chainsaw

One other was an automobile, but I've never lived with horses only so can't really say that I prefer one over horse and buggy.

GDonna, I have so enjoyed this peek week!  So inspiring and encouraging!  I admit to being a bit envious of those of you who grew up on farms and had parents and grandparents to pass on the basics of life.  My mother wanted nothing more than to be a "modern woman".  Homemaking was not her thing.  As soon as things like hot dogs, Kraft Mac and cheese, fishsticks and the like, were available, that was our usual fare.  She would cook a "real meal" occasionally to please my dad but not on a regular basis.  He had been poor, growing up in the sandhills of western Nebraska.  My mom, on the other hand, grew up in the bustling city of Omaha, NE.  Even during the depression her dad always had a job.  He was a salesman and helped out other family members during hard times.  My grandmother on my mom's side was an impeccable homemaker and cook but sadly, as my mom was an only child, it was just easier for my grandmother to do things herself rather than teaching her daughter.  I didn't know my paternal grandparents as they lived far away and my grandmother passed away when I was 2.  

I love the idea of taking something to a family in the event of an illness, new baby, etc.  I have done that in the past through my church.  I now live in a senior apartment building and I plan to decide on what I would take and keep the ingredients on hand to take if one of my neighbors is sick.  Thank you for the reminder!

I'm excited about the 1930's study!  I'm thinking of what 6 things I would take with me.  I won't count the furnace, washing machine, electric stove or refrigerator because they had things that would do those jobs even though they looked much different than what we have today.  Besides, i think it would be difficult to get someone to deliver 50 lbs. of ice for my ice box!  I will keep :

The internet and my phone, tablet and laptop-I don't use the laptop very much but I plan to use it for a movie night once a week.  There's a lot of old 30's and 40's movies available to watch on YouTube for free.

Air conditioning - but use it only when absolutely necessary.

My car and the ability to drive it.  I don't think most women of the 30's drove.

Maybe a small appliance or 2-air fryer or blender but I use them very infrequently.

Thanks again to you and Charles for all the work you put into these studies and blogs.  

Jackie 

Weaverbird,

I think you're right that most women didn't drive back then, but interestingly, the first person in my entire family to own a car was a great great aunt.  If memory serves me correctly, she bought it in 1936.  Her husband never did learn to drive it, but her son and daughter both did when they were old enough.  Of course, it wouldn't have been as fast or as comfortable as a modern car, but I bet it was a lot more reliable!

I enjoyed the pics of your homemade deserts. The scones are a favorite with my family.