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What a great idea to avoid unnecessary use of the internet. Unfortunately, I do some banking on the internet because the bank charges for paper statements now. Still, it does not take long to check a balance or to see if a deposit shows up; and the temptation to stay off of social sites is one that I can often ignore. Technology is a fact of life nowadays; it is not feasible in my estimation to be able to avoid all of it. 

Loved the cake and pie pictures; I will have to try those recipes myself. I do not buy sweets outside at a shop; they are loaded often with too much sugar and too many preservatives. I have always cooked and  love it. I, too, stretch one chicken with several meals. We don't eat much red meat at all now.  That saves a huge amount. A little fish and chicken goes a long way in various dishes.

A couple of months ago someone asked me to post a picture of the quilt I was making for a friend for a birthday gift. It will be a late gift, as I had problems with various stages of the making of it; but I do not regret this as it is almost just what I wanted it to be. It is a nine patch pink and white quilt; most people have said that they appreciate the vintage air that it has and that I was going for. I loved the fabric and it came from my stash from several years ago. All I had to do was get some backing for it and the batting or wadding, of course. Now all that remains is the binding; and it will be all finished to ship off to my pink-loving friend. I have taken a couple of snaps to show those interested; one is the front, one is of the back; and one is a closeup of the block before it was quilted. 

Sewing is something I am interested on many levels, and I often do repairs to my clothes and indeed, wear them until they practically drop off! I never was a clothes horse. 

Thanks to those who asked about my quilt. I would like to see others' makings too.

What a beautiful quilt.  Your friend is so blessed to have you as a friend!!

I did not avoid electronics as much as I'd hoped but tried.  I did spend time reading and thinking about the 1930's.  I found another book not mentioned here which is part of a series on the USA by decades.  The one I currently have is from the set The American Destiny and I am currently reading The Great Depression volume.  It seems to be more of an overview of that timeframe and not so much personal stories although there are a some of those.  In flipping through it has a lot of information of movies, radio and entertainment and other city things. I just finished We Had Everything But Money which I had read before.

My life as a child was in most ways similar to late 1930's because the Southern tier of counties in Central Iowa was slow to move forward.  I recall grocery store having bins of cookies rather than packages of them.  I was probably under age 5 the only reason I recall is the grocer would often give my sister and me a cookie.  It was supposed to be a treat, but those cookies tasted like cardboard compared to mom's home baked.

My plan to organize cleaning certain areas on certain days hasn't gotten off the ground, but I have been doing a better job of keeping my house clean.  So easy to procrastinate when it's just me.  Have my garden cleared.  Always more to do but often no energy to do it.  Every time I go to the basement I try to clean something, throw something away and find something to donate.  I have way too many cookbooks and I've been going through them copying the one or two recipes I use and then donating.  

In the last two weeks I've been hit with plumbing repairs, washer repair and today oven repair plus furnace check ahead of winter.  Also today I received notice of increases in household, auto and health insurance premiums starting in December.  Since I keep a strict budget, I will need to economize in other areas to cover these unplanned expenses.  Not sure where I can economize for 2026 budget when SS increase is 3% and inflation at 10% or higher.  

I have most of what I need for Thanksgiving and we do not do our family Christmas until January when my dd brings the food so perhaps I can spend very little on food for November and December and eat from my pantry and freezer.

Claudia O:  Your quilt is beautiful.  It looks very vintage.  Your "pink loving friend" will be thrilled with it I'm sure.  Quilting is so detailed and exacting that I have really never tried it but I do admire quilted things and all the time spent putting it altogether.  I have three quilts that my grandmothers and mother made and have them hanging in our bedroom on a quilt holder that my husband made for me.

welcome back!    you were missed.    I love how you found time to do your lost needlework and sewing.   Ms. Sandi

Hello!  Well, I can say that I do have more clarity, focus, and creativity.  When scrolling I thought my groups of interest were giving me ideas, but they were really removing my own creativity. It made me hyper focus with a consumption attitude. My mind is calmer & it's not swimming in ideas I couldn't keep track of.  I sleep better. Mind is more at rest in general. I didn't use the phone for waking or banking, so that wasn't an issue.  I found I always looked up a lot of useless information I didn't need to know. I didn't need to answer every question my brain thought up, which honestly was a lot of unimportant nonsense driven by what I was scrolling on.  I feel less spied on since not going on social media and ads - don't miss all the ads. Things I used to laugh at were simply redundant, fake, or just silly.  Overall, I have deleted my social media, except for my personal FB account and for that, I've just unfollowed everyone & keep it for emergency notification (theirs). I had another alias for my interest groups, that is deleted. Instagram is deleted. I would scroll when I relaxed. Frankly, I didn't relax. I felt sick & uptight. I've deleted all but 3 favorite You-tube blogs. I have 2 blogs in general that I kept, of course one is this one. :)  Just because one is good, more isn't better.  News was checked on 1 site only if I wanted to. I deleted the rest. Good riddance to that depressing drama!!!  I don't think I've rolled my eyes for weeks! LOL! I have read 2 books, and I'm on my 3rd.  A year ago, I wouldn't have been able to focus. The phone stays on the desk counter.   I'm not as anxious & feel like I'm getting back to being me from long ago, pre-technology. Even though I've decluttered, not being online, doesn't make me look up things to purchase.  I've deleted 3/4 of my bookmarks and phone apps.  I don't miss it at all. Less is more.  I've baked more, and now I just purchased material to make my own kitchen curtains.  Thinking of you mending clothing, I've shortened some king pillowcases as we only have standard size. I feel more content with myself, like I got my life back.  I saw that cell to jack and the day I find a vintage phone is when I'm getting that!!!   And speaking of chickens, I made a big pot of chicken soup last week.  I don't feel like everything is in a rush. Bought an analog clock for my bedside table. :)  I don't miss other people's hate or their lives on display. That is huge. No more fake, no more tracking me, no more drama, no more excess. I'm treating what little I did keep as a good book, article, or magazine.  Everything now is much more enjoyable!    Haven't sewed in years.  This should be interesting. Since I'm old(er) I'm waiting for the brain connectivity to be even better as time goes on, because we all know being an older person, things happen slower in many areas.  :) ;)  Love that quilt too.  Beautiful!  Grandma Donna, how does Charles like being retired?

I am happy that you are back. I so love your articles. Could you post the receipe for the crackers?

Hooray! We're all back together again. :) That was a wonderful break. I would like to do that annually. I love the idea of going to 1930 to sync with the actual dates. That does make it a lot easier for reading the news. I quit changing time three years ago and stay on Standard Time. If I have an appointment during Daylight Saving Time, I write it down as one hour earlier. 

My break didn't go at all like I thought it would. I thought it would be a lot of don't do this and don't do that. Instead it was more like an arrow pointing me in the direction I should go. And that arrow pointed me straight to the......garden! That surprised me. I love to garden but the month break deepened my gardening in ways I hadn't imagined. I am busy potting up some lily of the valley to leave outside until I want it to bloom. Then I'll bring it into the house, probably in January, and give it water and sunlight and keep it warm until I have flowers. I have never done this before, but this is how it was done in 1897. I'm sure someone was still doing it that way in 1930. I've spent a lot of time during October learning to preserve my garden produce. Our first freeze is tomorrow night, and I'm going to pick some green tomatoes during the day so I can try some green tomato preserves. Another new experience for me. We expanded some flower borders and beds too. I'm looking forward to more cut flowers in the house. 

Another thing I focused on was adjusting to fall. How many and what kind of warm clothes did we need. How to line dry when the weather refuses to cooperate. How I can warm the house without turning the heater on. How to keep doing all of my outside tasks. I thought I knew most of this, but it went to a much deeper level during the October break, maybe because I had more attention to give to it. I want fall to be a completely normal, functional season before winter shuts everything down, and I learned how to do that. I learned how to compensate for the changes in weather without resorting to so much technology. 

The last area where I spent some focus was on holidays. Today is Halloween, and for the first time, we are not celebrating it. The cost of candy is ridiculous, and the kids don't need it. We're taking the holiday off completely this year, and starting next year, we will have a small family holiday of old spooky movies like Arsenic and Old Lace, and radios shows, and decorations in the living room. You have to listen to spooky radio shows by only the light of the jack o' lantern. :) We will share the holiday with our extended family, but that's all. We're making other holidays smaller and more family oriented too, and cutting some out completely. We'll have a special meal or activity, but not the crazy commercial celebrations. 

And that was pretty much it! That's where all of my focus was. What fell away without effort was the internet, except for sites where I could learn things about my focus areas. I did find that I like TV. So much of it is inspiring to me. I decided that I don't want to be without TV, because I need to see things and not just read about them. My time wasn't being wasted by watching TV, because even All Creatures Great and Small inspired me with the settings and decor and clothing and way of life. It was a picture of what I was trying to do. 

Donna,

            It is so good to see you back! I'm glad you enjoyed the technology break. It sounds like you were able to get a lot done.

            I was able to get a few things done, too. I really wanted to do something with my countertops for a long time. I finally got it started. I only have one counter to go. I had very little money to spend on the project, so in the 1930s mindset, I made do. Most of the materials I used for it came from Dollar Tree. I like a lot of color in my kitchen, so when I saw these items at Dollar Tree, I knew I had to use them in my kitchen. It looks much better in person than the pictures show. I like it anyhow, and I'm the only person who lives here, so I guess that's all that counts.

            I also got my library area organized. I like to put curtains in front of the books for some reason. I still have a bit left to do, but it is mostly done.

            I got a lot of canning done, too. I shop at a salvage/discount grocery store, and I've been able to get roast beef in a BBQ sauce for .99 a pound, so I have been canning it in soups, stews, and as plain meat.

            I love your old phone. It looks perfectly placed between the two chairs. I love your whole house. It has such a homey vintage feel.

         I am in a Facebook group about kiving on WWII rations, and they are doing a one-month pantry challenge. I want to see how long I can go without going to the grocery store. I've been doing so much canning that I think I need a several-month challenge.

Good to see you all again.

Becky Sue

Grandma Donna Wrote,

Hi everyone, it is nice to see you here!  Claudia O, your quilt is beautiful, that is so much work and your friend will be so happy to receive this gift.

I cannot reply to all of the comments but know that I am reading them.  Ann E, Charles is still trying to feel retired. :)  

Rosalie A, the cracker recipe is 1 & 1/2 all purpose flour, 2 teaspoons sugar, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon baking powder, 2 tablespoons cold butter, 1/2 cup milk, and coarse salt.

Preheat oven to 425 Degrees F. In a large bowl, mix flour sugar, salt and baking powder.  Add butter and use hands to combine.  Add milk.  

Mix until dough forms and knead briefly on floured surface.  The dough spreads out more easily if separated into several balls.  Roll out to 1/8 inch or less, Sprinkle coarse salt on dough and run rolling pin over to press it in.  Cut crackers into desired shape, prick each several times with fork, and bake until light brown.  In my oven they bake in 11 tp 13 minutes. 

Stephanie, we are on the same page about what to do about heat.  This is quite a challenge, we had frost this morning and the house is very cold.  We are using an electric blanket at night for us and pet heating pads for the pets while we are figuring things out. 

Becky Sue K, I am happy that you are making your home like you want it and doing it the old way.  It is your home to make it like you want it to be. I think the curtains in front of the books is a very good idea to keep the dust off the books.  Just recently I was shocked at the dust on the tops of the books in my book case. 

Sandie A and Victoria W, it is good to see you here in the blog. :)

Ann W, that is a lot of repairs all at once! I have a memory with cookies and crackers that were loose in wood barrels.  My uncle and aunt had a small country grocery store and next to the pot belly stove was a barrel of loose crackers, my uncle had a long tube of bologna in the back of the store that he would cut off for people that stopped in from the fields and they would get a handful of crackers and some bologna.  I love the old memories. 

Yay!  Welcome back also. I didn’t do a total tech free month but cut out lots.  I will say one thing I’m doing is leaving text notifications off. I thought I had them off and was still getting them. I told folks I would check them periodically but if they needed to get a hold of me to call. That made the biggest difference. We are in the process of replacing our hot water heater so I viewed the online searching of things as browsing through a catalog (which aren’t produced anymore) - because we all love shopping for hot water heaters right? (Cringe).  I guess many people were still boiling water in 1930 so I’ve been very authentic in that department. Otherwise I too have found more time to be productive rather than consumptive.  One thing I have continued to use tech for is the forecast.  I haven’t paid much attention to the news but about once or twice a week. I will check out a few things but will try to keep it limited as it’s been peaceful to the soul not to consume so much info.  
As we head into the holidays, I hope to continue getting things done and limiting tech. It feels so much healthier. 

Somehow I assumed the first post would be in November so this was a nice surprise!

I couldn’t shut out technology since I still work on a computer all day. But I cut back a lot at home and found time to read four books on the Depression. One book was for children and I will give that to my grandchildren next. They have no idea what the Depression was, in reality. I was startled to read of all the 1930’s unrest, riots, political divisions and anger- it felt like watching the news today, sadly. 

I’ve been conscientious about my spending: all my laundry was line or rack dried all month. I turned off the air conditioner and used windows and fans for cooling. I admit I couldn’t have done that if it hadn’t been October. We are having a cool spell right now but I have not turned on the heat when temperatures have been in the low 40’s at night a few times. I got my bill and had a one third reduction in my kilowatt usage. I haven’t eaten out or picked up food and I have spent less on groceries. Meals have been simple and often involve “cook once eat twice”. 

I am making some Christmas gifts, although I will also buy some. 

Claudia O that quilt is pretty and reminds me of one my aunt made years ago- she cross-stitched pink and dark pink roses all over a white background for the top. She used it in her bedroom-she was unmarried- with white painted furniture, trim and doors, and wallpaper in an all over pattern of small pink roses on white background. That quiet, serene room always charmed me. Thanks for the memories. 

Hello Donna, it's the first time for me to send comment to your blog. It's always a great pleasure to read your mail, your tricks and recipes. In France the politic is very hard like in states. But m'y family and I stay strong. Thanks you for your's ideas to make economy on budget. I'm soon to retirement, I'm 62 years old.

Well dear Donna stay safe Charles and you. Big hug from France. Please forgive m'y english, there's long long time that I wrote in this language. +++ 

Angie.

Grandma Donna, I am so glad you are back. I definitely missed your blog this month. While you were gone I started reading past posts and I remembered that one time you shared one of your friends blog and I can't find it anywhere. I cant find a search bar either to be able to search for it. If you could share the link with me or the post name I would really appreciate it. God bless you!

Anne: Thank you. This quilt is special to me because my friend helped me to overcome  my fear of walking out alone. I suffered a fall about four or five years ago, and was afraid to go out again. My neighbor helped by walking twice a week with me and my beloved dog; this helped a lot. I had my confidence in walking by myself restored largely due to her assistance and kindness in this regard. She was 27 and I was 69 years old when this happened. Not many young people today are so inclined. I am forever grateful to her.

Victoria W  Lucky you to have those relatives' quilts. And a talented husband to make you a quilt rack. To be honest, I have only made three quilts in my whole life. I am sure that there are a lot of mistakes in it; but I enjoyed making it and yes; wanted a vintage type. I made one once which was so bright I could not stand it; so learned something about myself and quilt styles.  It was the bright cheerful colours that first attracted me; but it was too much for me.  I am more admiring of softer looks.  My friend likes anything pink; so I know she will like it. Thank you for your kind words.

Joan S  That is just the type of decorating that I like, too. I have a bathroom in pink and white with touches of green. The wallpaper (yes, I have wallpaper) is a rose design that meanders and is quite the traditional look. Your aunt's bedroom would be perfect for me. I'm a big fan of embroidery and cross stitch as well. I am pleased that you would be reminded of something so pleasant and comforting. 

Gdonna Thank you for your lovely comments. I can't wait to send that quilt off this week. I am glad you posted the cracker recipe, too. I meant to ask for it. They look wonderful.

Claudia O  That is a beautiful quilt with so much pink for a pink loving friend.  Hand made items always have a few mistakes and that is okay because they are made with love.  You have the wow factor going on.

Lady L  We have also been replacing a hot water heater ourselves and it has taken a while and I was thinking I had not gotten things done because of it, but maybe we have been living more a 1930's style because I have been heating the water.  

Our power was out for a day so we were off grid then so another 1930's style experience.  I didn't go completely off the internet, but did cut down.  I don't do social media.  This is about as social as I get.  And I mostly use the phone for calls and messages and I did get lost one day and I turned on the GPS which is wonderful when it works, but I like a paper map better.  After all sometimes GPS will send you in the wrong directions.

Grandma Donna Wrote,

Brefort A, Welcome to our forum Angie, and we are happy that you are here with us and now commenting along with us.  You did good with your English and even if you were to have mistakes none of us would think anything of them because we are happy that you are here and we have a wonderful group of people with similar interests that live in different places all around the world. :)

Katy M, my search bar is on the right hand side of my main menu when you are using a computer or lap top. My friend that you must be asking about is Rhonda Hetzel and the name of her blog is down to earth blog.  :)  Rhonda has retired her blog now but she has left it up for those that wish to continue to read. 

I am glad to read about pushing the study back to 1930 to match day and date going forward!  I can imagine the people living in my house on the very same day and date, just 95 years ago.

The first few days of October went well for me in terms of the technology break, similar to the practice week I did at the end of September.  Then I went into an autoimmune flare which made the technology break difficult to adhere to.  I hadn’t prepared for doing a technology break mostly from my bed.  I decided that getting through the flare was more important than a strict technology break, so I did allow myself to read e-books, do brain puzzles, and watch videos.

I did my best as I was able.  When I felt like sitting up, I did some knitting — I made another Santa gnome hat and a regular winter hat.  I filled a notebook with ideas.  I read several physical books.  When I was online and feeling up to it, I tried to do productive things with my time.  I researched and wrote down the wattages of all of our small appliances so I can compare cooking methods and electricity use.  I researched and recorded the sizes of all of our wiper blades and ordered them from Costco.  I did the work to submit the rebate application for the electrical work we had done to install an EV car charger, and then I did all of the work to retake and resubmit the photos and to track down better photos of the permit when we were denied on the first submission.  Our check arrived yesterday and the money has been placed in savings!

I learned that I go to screens when I am feeling bored or discouraged, so I know to work on those areas.  I have a hard time with boredom when my body can’t do anything and my brain is too fatigued to read or listen to audiobooks.  I am not a natural napper, even when I am in a flare.

For November, I’m planning to go as low technology as possible, to keep with the goals I set after my practice week.  I plan to continue with making gifts for Christmas, and if I am up to it, making our Christmas cards.  I have plenty of card stock, rubber stamps, and stickers, and even have a book with templates to make envelopes from magazine pages and other paper people might get rid of — I bought it in 1995!

I’ve tried to keep one foot in the 1930s by asking myself how I can make what I need, repurpose something, or do without.  We are living as though we are in the Great Depression, and we have what we already own but can’t purchase anything but necessities.  Sort of like if we were retired when the Great Depression hit, and were living on savings, which is exactly what we will be doing in the first years of our retirement.  During the Great Depression Social Security didn’t exist, although some people had what were referred to as “old age pensions”.  I imagine many people had to save their own money for retirement rather than receiving a pension.  We are not old, but we are ready for something different in our lives and have been saving for more than 30 years to make it happen.

Stephanie G wrote:  “The last area where I spent some focus was on holidays. Today is Halloween, and for the first time, we are not celebrating it. The cost of candy is ridiculous, and the kids don't need it. We're taking the holiday off completely this year, and starting next year, we will have a small family holiday of old spooky movies like Arsenic and Old Lace, and radios shows, and decorations in the living room. You have to listen to spooky radio shows by only the light of the jack o' lantern. :) We will share the holiday with our extended family, but that's all. We're making other holidays smaller and more family oriented too, and cutting some out completely. We'll have a special meal or activity, but not the crazy commercial celebrations.”

Stephanie, we stopped handing out Halloween candy in 2023.   Yesterday I decided to research Halloween in my area.  My research shows that children might have been trick or treating in the United States 95 years ago, but not in my town (probably not in very many places at all).  The local newspaper articles from the early 1930s regarding Halloween mention pranks and parties (including one at the elementary school) but not trick or treating.  There are warnings for homeowners to bring in or lock up porch chairs and swings, their garden hoses, and to lock their gates, so it was more like Mischief Night.  There was even a report of an automobile gone missing on Halloween night, saying it was likely to turn up in the morning and was probably taken as a prank.  I can’t even imagine such a thing!

Each Sunday in October (unless there was a baseball playoff game), my husband chose shows and movies for us to watch for our “movie night”.  We saw Hocus Pocus and Halloweentown (from the 1990s) and didn’t get why they are so beloved, so we pushed farther back in time.  We watched I Married a Witch from 1942 and Bell, Book, and Candle from 1958, and also some vintage Disney cartoons like Skeleton Dance and Trick or Treat.

Last night we watched the World Series game 6, and then we watched It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, because that’s our tradition for Halloween night.  Today I will set up our ofrenda for Dia de los Muertos, and tomorrow we will watch Coco, which became our tradition starting in 2018.  Also tonight we will place our memorial candle on the dinner table.  It is simple a plain white glass votive candle and I write the names of our departed loved ones on it.  We burn it each night at dinner in November (the month of All Souls), and it reminds us to spend time remembering our loved ones and telling their stories.  Tomorrow we’ll observe All Saints Day at church, along with All Souls, since today is really All Saints but our church moves the observance to Sunday if All Saints is Saturday.

Someone mentioned not looking stuff up on the phone just because a thought pops into her head. I'm trying to do that. I'm trying to avoid searching about random things I might be curious about. However, I have had to research more serious topics like side effects of medicines. There are so many more medicines than in the past. It's simply not possible to find such information offline. A lot of that kind of information is only published online.

I have and will continue to work on cutting down on using the phone to fill in time. I have mostly stopped watching some of my favorite video content creators. I watched a couple the other day and discovered I wasn't that interested and didn't feel it added to my day.

Margaret P, I’ve been working on not looking stuff up just because I’m curious.  I realized it is a habit, and in the past we might have seen or heard something, had a curious thought, and let it pass.  We didn’t have to know everything!  Sometimes I would have a curious thought, pick up my tablet to look up the answer, and 30 minutes later realize I hadn’t even done the research yet

I’ve also been researching medications and side effects, because it is highly likely I will have to change medications for my autoimmune disease.  My long term goal is to find a way to manage this disease through diet and lifestyle, but it is going to take me a few years to get to that place.  My body isn’t strong enough right now, and various systems keep developing new issues.  I believe the more I live like the past, the stronger I will get and the less extraneous stress I will experience.  Certainly people have always had stressors, but our post-modern world has created so much extra stress, in part because people who are afraid and anxious will stay glued to their devices.  I’ve been reading a book that really goes into the machinations behind social media, YouTube, etc. and it is both fascinating and terrifying.

Happy November!

I'll have to read later, but I'm hoping someone can help me remember a short poem about fall.  Something about a trombone and the band?  But it was about the wind, I think.  I've searched all day for my copy and I'm at a total loss.  It's a poem that many have seen, not uncommon.  Thanks for giving it some thought!

UPDATE -  I FOUND IT!!!!  It's by George Cooper and I've always loved it.  I wanted to print it on a watercolor I did.

Kimberly F, yes folks in the past had stress. But I like to say my grandfather had a natural stress reliever in 1935 the year my mom was born because he walked behind a mule to plow his land. Mom was his 8th kid. Physical exercise is a known stress reliever.  I think most don't have that built into their routine. 

Oh, and granddad was a skinny dude.

Grandma Donna Wrote,

Margaret P,  I have such good memories of many of my family members that plowed their farms by walking behind a mule. With that came milking the cow in the barn and cooking on a wood burning stove.  They had the tools to do things that did not cost much to use those tools such as feeding the mule a little extra besides letting it graze in the field and the purchase of the wood stove.  The buckets and milk pails for the milk and the hay for the cow.  We are not set up today to live minimal as they were and this causes us a lot of financial stress as my memories are of a much calmer family long ago and there is not a lot of stress sitting in a rocking chair in the evenings out on the front porch listening to the crickets and watching the lightening bugs. :)

I have a question: what do y'all do for quick meals when it comes to family emergencies?  We have one family member who ended up in the hospital this past Monday, came home on Wednesday, had a stroke on Friday, and we spent a lot of time Friday night in the ER (he was transported to a bigger hospital on Saturday).  But it threw off my meal planning, and we ended up buying frozen meals. 

Grandma Donna Wrote,

Misty K, I hope others will join in for suggestions, what I do is simple casseroles such as a simple chicken casserole with broccoli, rice and cheese, or a ground beef dish with noodles.  Something you can put together and put in the fridge and when you come home to put it in the oven to bake.  Make up some pimento cheese for sandwiches.  Grilled cheese or some kind of quick grilled sandwich.  I hope that your family member recovers completely. (Hug and Prayers)  Donna

Grandma Donna Wrote,

Kimberly F, I am glad that you like the idea of moving back a year to sync the days and months, does make it seem more accurate and to know that we are 95 years ahead looking back. I hope that you are feeling better and that your flare is settling down.  Hugs, Donna

Welcome back!

I think I did really well with the no/low tech month until the last week and then family stuff cropped up and I had to use my cell more. But overall I enjoyed it. 

I love being back to the exact date in 1930 idea. I think because the Great depression was really getting started for many and I feel like it is translating well to what is going on today. 

My gardens all got harvested, processed and stored away, taught my kids how to make dried beans from the green beans that were not needed as fresh beans and we shelled them out today.  Nothing wasted and that is a good thing. I did some mending and sewing that I thought I didn't have time for before. 

My AC stayed off and then we got a cold snap.....woodstove going and laundry dried around it and on racks when not hung outside.

On the subject of quick meals for a quick hearty comforting meal I use a jar of canned meat, onion, canned carrots and canned potatoes to make a really nice beef stew, while it is cooking I can make a pan of biscuits and in 30 minutes have a nice meal on the table.  Or sausage gravy and biscuits, eggs are optional but cook fast. 

October has been one long family emergency for us. For quick meals I made pulled pork for sandwiches. I make bowls- my favorite is Mexican- the key is to have the appropriate toppings to put on top and just use whatever ingredients you have. I make up a ton of pasta and sauce and we've eaten that for several days. We can vary it by adding available ingredients so it's not exactly like the day before.

Honestly, some days I eat pb & j. 

I've missed this blog although know you were 'offline' for the whole of October.  I didn't follow anything for the simple reason that I'm not addicted to the computer/phone wherever it goes.  I don't use my phone (called a mobile phone here, not a cell) for much but am fascinated by how you guys use it for everything and anything.  I can do without it totally.  I have a "landline" phone although these days it's not connected to the landline but more to the modem so if the power goes out then it's cactus.  I prefer to use this thought rather than shove a mobile phone to my ear.

We live a relatively simple life, rarely go out for meals, never have take-away unless we're unavoidable on the road and other's nothing else available.  We live within our means, have been always frugal, and my husband has been retired since 2007 due to redundancies which were quite generous.  We are what is termed in Australia as "age pensioners" but lived on our savings for many years before we of the eligible age to do so.  

Looking forward to seeing more of your posts now that the October black-out is done.  We're in teh middle of a vicious storm season here so every day counts.

Welcome back Grandma Donna, I sorely missed you and your lovely posts. I'm glad the time away helped you though. 

In my corner of the world (New Zealand), its Spring, so we've been busy planting out our Summer garden. This year the garden work and planting seems harder? maybe that's just because my husband and I are in our 60's now? We still get a lot of enjoyment from it and the fruits of our labour, so we will continue with it for as long as our bodies let us :)

Many blessings to you and Charles and all your lovely pets ! ~ Linda

Welcome back GDonna, I have missed your posts as they give me a regular nudge to keep simplifying my life as much as possible.

October wasn’t entirely technology free as I continued to use my tablet to check our bank daily and keep up with emails but I did keep away from it as much as possible in an entertainment sense and made sure I picked up a book instead of a device whenever I wanted a bit of escapism. That meant I read five over the month! My current read is a fictional one set here in the UK during the start of the First World War and is part of a series which will move into the 1930’s next, with so many young men dying during the conflict it meant that life changed a lot for women and it will be interesting to see what happens next.

The tv has only gone on for the new series of All Creatures Great and Small plus a quiz or two as we feel that is educational and of real benefit.

We are heading into winter here and our old boiler has finally given up the ghost so we are in the process of replacing that, it’s a duel system that provides both heating & hot water and it’s been interesting to say the least coping without either for the last couple of weeks but it’s made me realise that I’m more resilient than I thought. The cost of replacement will run into thousands of pounds so will make a bi dent in the emergency fund but it is what it is.

MistyK On the topic of quick dinners, and this depends of course on your abilities to freeze meals, you can always do a double bake or make of something and freeze the other half for later. I have a small refrigerator freezer and so cannot keep too much, but it does help once in awhile to be able to pull something out and heat it up. Lasagnas, chicken pot pies, or noodle dishes are examples.  

Kimberly F - I laughed when I read your post about Mischief Night.  Even in the late 1970s there was still a mischief night tradition where I grew up (small town rural area at that time) - kids would steal an outhouse building and move it to some central part of town.  It was harder and harder to find an outhouse by then and I am not sure any of them were still functional but it was still being done and still being reported in the local paper!

I have been increasingly weaning off screens but they are absolutely essential to my full time job.  I notice that after a very fast paced work day it is very hard to relax and kind of soften my edges enough to flow into the quieter home life that I have generally preferred for many years.  And the physical strain of using various forms of tech (neck, shoulders, back, etc!) seems to leave me increasingly ill-suited for anything else.  So I can clearly see the damage to mind, spirit, and body. I have at least three more years of full time work before I can reasonably retire and I need a way to transition from the work day to home life.  When I was still commuting, the half hour drive helped me transition and coming home felt very different.  Trying to create a transition ritual between.  Truly the pace and volume of work at my paid employment has been excessive for several years but I don't see a way out of it at present as I am the only source of income.  Happy to read all of your stories here though,

Claudia O -- Congratulations on such a wonderful accomplishment! I love all of the pink! I honestly thought my October would be spent doing more sewing, but that's not where my break took me. You are an inspiration to me to keep chugging away at learning new sewing skills. :) 

Becky Sue K -- How very creative of you to make do so successfully! Pinkish tones seems to be a very popular choice for many of us. You are an inspiration to never think I'm limited by money. :) 

Kimberly F -- I am so glad to know that I'm not the only who isn't giving out candy. Now I don't feel like I'm such a curmudgeon. :) Thank you for sharing your family Halloween and after traditions. You are an inspiration of doing what you can, no matter what. :)

Misty K -- When I need a quick meal, I make a frittata. I saute any vegetables I have in olive oil, then I let them cool a little before adding them to beaten eggs with a little salt and pepper and grated Parmesan or Romano. I put the egg mixture in the saute pan, adding more oil if necessary, and cook until it's almost set, and then I finish it under the broiler. Serve with tortillas or bread. It's got protein and vegetables (I use lots of vegetables), and the bread helps fill you up. 

Thank you to everyone for their very interesting and helpful comments! 

Thank you for your comment, Ann, I’ve been contemplating deleting my social media as I don’t feel it’s adding good things to my life anymore. Instagram is gone and Facebook most likely will be next. Only holding onto it because I like to use the marketplace. 

I didn’t take a total break from technology over the last 30 days but I did limit and gave it a lot of thought. 

I love this blog—I’ve been reading since the pandemic—-and the comments are very edifying as well. 

I’m trying to do the same thing regarding searching for every single thought or question my mind entertains.

That’s interesting about the content creators no longer adding good things to your day. Definitely something for me to ponder as I try and let go of the mind clutter

So glad you are back, Grandma Donna! And everybody! For the month of October, I tried my best to stay off the computer(I do not have a smartphone). At the beginning of the month, I signed up to take a meal to a new mother from church. To set up a time to deliver her meal, I decided to be as 1930's as possible and call her rather than send a text message, but she didn't answer, so I was forced to send the text. 

I am already rather old-fashioned, but after this month of using the computer less, I have determined to stay off the computer even more. You are right, it takes discipline. My older three girls share a smartphone and I am dismayed to see how they are frequently running to check it.  Phones are tyrannical if we let them be. 

There's a company called Nobel Mobile that gives you cash back for using your phone less. It's to encourage you to stop scrolling mindlessly. It works through the T-Mobile network. I haven't used it, so I don't know much about it, but the company dumbwireless is promoting it. dumbwireless is a phone company dedicated to helping people break the phone habit. 

Your lake house view and the deck look very nice. It looks serene & quiet, an oasis. 

I cannot sever from technology as I teach part-time, and the assignments are online. I don't do much with social media as I consider it a waste of time. I curb picked a DVD player. I want to check out things from the library to watch like All Creatures Great & Small.

I have bought a house in a small town of 14,000. It is much quieter there than in the city. I don't hear traffic noise or sirens from emergency vehicles. That contributes to my mental well-being. It is new so there is nothing to break (hopefully). I furnished it with second hand & estate sale items. I am happy there.

Welcome back G Donna!!  I was just thinking about you the other day and Pop!  There was a new blog from you!  How wonderful to hear from you. Your statement: “now I found the time and where it was, it was hidden in the electronics” , really made me chuckle as well as hit home.  I hope you can find a balance in keeping up with the blog and maintaining your new found peace.  And Congratulations to your husband on his retirement!!!  All the best to you both.  

Hello Gdonna. I came to peek into your page a few days ago finding that you were doing the no technology challenge. I can't say that I have participated in this partly because I didn't know it was going on but also because I simply couldn't. You see my baby and I are in the pediatric cardiology ICU at John Hopkins. He was born on August 27th and spent 55 days here in the hospital. We finally went home October 21st only to come back on the 29th. We are unsure how long we will be here but these last two months have been some of the most technology ridden months of my life and because of it and the grace of God, my son is alive. This would not have been the case in the 1930. I am fairly certain he would have passed within a day of birth. No, I'm completely certain. 

There are aspects that I have gone low technology on. I shut down all my social media accounts long ago. Then I got an app on my phone that locks me out of Reddit, all social media, YouTube and most news outlets (all the major news outlets). I do use things like Netflix, Paramount plus....those things have helped me in the months we've been in the hospital. The pediatric cardiology unit is for children and that means many are facing painful procedures daily. Hearing that from another room as your own child also has to go through it is fairly traumatizing. So having air pods in my ear to listen to something pleasant has helped my sanity. Lately I discovered a online radio station that plays 1940's music. I'm at the Subway in the hospital with Gdonna and my 1940's radio station as my son sleeps comfortably upstairs. 

At home, our dryer broke. I find it easier to hand wash clothes in the large double sided kitchen sink we now have and then take it directly outside to the clothes line. Something about bringing an entire washer load of soaked clothes up the basement steps sounds harder than washing small loads as they come and just stepping outside of the kitchen side porch to hang it. I also was playing the 1940's music crib side and his baby monitor brought the tune to me too. I don't recall ever using a baby monitor before...I never really liked the idea of them. But my son can choke easily, has reflux and a pulse oxyemeter hooked up to him almost 24/7 so being able to glance over and know he's not choking while I am working around the house also is a sanity saver (possibly life saver). 

My son also has a G tube. So feeding pumps and feeding supplies are very likely not 1930's. I do look forward to finding more ways I can embrace the past even if I can't completely. I don't know how much longer we will be here in the hospital. If his heart is showing more signs of failure he might need his heart surgery way before the 4-6 month time frame they aim for. If not, then we might get a few more days or weeks home before that time. Only time will tell. Thanks for keeping me company and God bless. 

 Kieva A Bless your heart what a time you are having.  I know something of what you are going through.  My son was a preemie  in 1978.  He certainly had fewer problems than your son, just immature lungs and very low birth weight (2 pounds 11 1/2 ounces).  He was in a medical center that was about 2 hours away from where we we lived so from mid-July till right before halloween   we drove back and forth to be with him.  My husband was teaching so on weekends we would go down early Saturday and stay over and go home on Sunday.  I drove over alone two or three times a week so it made for a long slog.  I know how tiring and anxiety provoking it all can be especially with all the medical jargon that you have to stay on top of.  You surely had a lot more to cover than we did.  No easy way through but to just go one day at a time.  I will keep you in my prayers and hope that his little heart stays strong enough for them to wait to do the surgery when he is a bit older and stronger.  Thinking of you.

Take care of yourself during  this trying time.

Victoria 

Kieva, you and your sweet baby are in my prayers!

Your post highlights something that has been stirring in me as I read the other replies — in many ways, we don’t want to live like the past!  Newer technology is a double edged sword, but much of it can be used for good!  These computers we sometimes curse represent technology and research that has done much to improve health outcomes.  They represent the way many of us now make our livings — my own husband’s early interest in computers led to a career that has kept us fed and sheltered for our entire adults lives.  Many of us need medical technology and the research for new medications.

When I think about living like the past, I really only think of my day to day life at home.  I do not want to go back to a time of segregation, or married women not being able to have bank accounts.  I don’t want to go back to a time when premature babies mostly died, and people lived shorter lives because of their health.  When I see the hate and racism present in the world now, I can only shudder with horror at how much worse it must have been 95 years ago!

Our phones can be how we connect with people we live, through talking, texting, photos, and video calling.  Through video calling I’m able to see my great-nephew, born on another continent just this year.  We receive photos from family as they share their trips and new additions.

But the dark side is so so dark.  Social media isn’t good for us — it’s killing us.  We no longer immediately recognize when we are seeing advertising or political content.  People are paid to create content to sway us to buy things and vote certain ways.  The algorithm decides what we see and what we don’t see.  This is true of all social media, including YouTube.  If you aren’t buying the service you are what is being sold.  At this point we have to understand that almost every post or video by a person we don’t know in real life has an intention to influence us in some way.  The majority of people creating content for social media want to make money from it and are trying to figure out how to do that.  They get paid to promote brands, which I think we all know, but they also get paid to create political content that is pushed out in coordinated posts from hundreds of influencers.

I love interacting here, but my breaks have showed me that even this probably has to go, because it also steals my time.  I realize now that time is our most precious resource.  We either use our time to connect and create, or we use it to consume.  We make or we buy.  We interact with real people in our real lives, or we interact with strangers on the internet, and only the real connections will stand the test of time.  There are great ideas shared here in the forum, but at the end of my life none of you are going to be the people bringing me groceries or helping me up to the communion rail.  It’s not that we don’t feel real affection for our online friends, because we are caring human beings.  It’s just that we are limited by the reality of it not happening in the real world.

This year I have made a concerted effort to stop being a consumer, which these days is what our government thinks of us as, instead of as citizens.  I now live like I did as a child, when shopping wasn’t a pastime because we couldn’t afford for it to be.  We only bought what was absolutely needed.  Now my husband and I only buy what we need.  Every time we think we want something, we figure out if we can use something else, make what we need, or do without it.  We’re old enough now to not care what anyone thinks about our house, our car, our furniture, or our clothing.  Mostly now we realize we don’t need much, just the basics of living and the things needed to keep what we have working.

I just spent a pleasant hour learning to make envelopes with various tools I have.  I have a book and templates from 1995, and used those last night.  Today I found a punch board I received last year, and finally taught myself to make envelopes with it — it is much faster than the templates and can make envelopes of any size with instructions on what size to cut the paper and where to line it up to make the score lines.  I realized that I will never have to buy another envelope in my life.  I looked at the cardstock I have, thought about the rubber stamps I have, and realized I never need to buy another greeting card.  I have yarn and I can knit — I never need to buy another dish cloth or winter beanie.  But I can’t do any of these things if I am on a computer or laptop or phone — my time will be in the electronics, as Grandma Donna posted.  My breaks have shown me that every time I pick up a device with a screen I need to ask myself if I am using it to connect with a person I know in my real life.  That’s how I’ll know that it is adding to my life and not taking away from it

I am so glad to see your update!  I was wondering how your month had gone.  I just sold my condo and moved to a small house, so have been consumed with the move.  All the chaos should be done in the next few weeks as I unpack.  I will think as I unpack about your comments and how I can adjust to a new life in my new home.  I greatly value your insights, thank you for the time and effort you spend.  Congratulations to Charles for retiring!  

Kimberly F -- Thank you for the time you gave to the forum. I've really enjoyed and benefitted from your postings. It is hard to find that balance, because once you're on your phone, it's hard to get off! I've been thinking about the same thing. TV doesn't suck me in like my phone. I watch my show, and then go do something else, and I only watch TV when my work is done. I don't seem to be able to get that same discipline with my phone. Grandma Donna has made such a difference in my life. I wouldn't want to be without the lovely inspiration and wisdom she brings. She could post three times a day and I'd be delighted! :) But after a successful break, I find myself drawn back to the forum again and again to see if and what people are saying. I was wishing the forum was only open once a month! That way I could have the peace of not even being tempted to come to the forum. I wish I was better disciplined. :( I enjoy everyone's contributions, but the forum is a time sucker for me. I don't quite know what to do yet. 

Kieva A -- I am so glad your little baby is being taken care of so well! And you're doing such a good job coping with a challenging situation. :) 

Grandma Donna Wrote,

Kieva A, technology has been a good thing and you have been right in the middle of experiencing the advancements that have been made.  You are right about about how this most likely would have turned out in 1930 and I feel thankful that it is there for your baby's needs and I pray for your baby boy and for you and your family that these skilled doctors and nurses along with the technology and especially God's help, will see your baby through all of these challenges and he will grow up to have a full and long life.  You have had quite a challenge since your beautiful baby boy was born and we will keep you, baby and family in our prayers and in our heart. I wish I lived close to you so I could be helping at your home while you are away.  This is the part where the 1930s would be helpful where neighbors and community rallied together when it was possible.  

My heart did a dip when I read that you went home only to return to the hospital, that must have been very traumatic for you. I wish I could wrap you in hugs.  Much Love, Donna

Keiva A I'm so sorry to hear that you are back at Hopkins. My offer stands to come visit you, or take you out for a break. I live about 20 minutes from Hopkins, though i do work full time. You are in the best place in the country for your little boy!

Kimberly F I also really enjoy your contributions to the forum, but totally understand if you need to step away. I fully agree that we do NOT want to go back in time for many reasons, but picking and choosing things that make life simpler and more peaceful is the way to go. 

I had an interesting month. I left FB for about 2 weeks, but ended up signing back on because I missed several important updates/invites from family and close friends. I did, however, cull most of the groups I follow and I unfriended about 50% of my 'friends'. 

I didn't really reduce much else technology-wise as I work full-time, but I have added more community to my life. I created a 'free little pantry' that now sits in my front yard. People can take what they need and leave what they can. It was slow to start, but I then posted about it in my Buy Nothing Group of FB and it turned out to be the BEST thing I could have done. Since the FB posting, that little pantry has been emptied and filled multiple times each week. 

I've also included my husband in my cooking, so that we spend more time together outside of watching our favorite shows together. We also started taking more walks together. 

I reduced quite a few items from my household and have decided to do a Low-Buy November. I am really trying to be thoughtful about what I bring into my home and my life. 

So I didn't really follow closely this month, but I would call the month a success nonetheless!

Thank you for the impetus to think about things more considerately Gma Donna!