I grew up in the Depression years of the thirties on a farm in Northeast Georgia. It was definitely very different times from what we experience today. In retrospect, I realize we had plenty of everything we needed except money, which was scarce.
The boundaries of the farm we lived on were adjoining to other relatives in a large family who owned farm acreage. My paternal grandfather was a landowner. His land was dotted by small houses of workers who tilled the soil, mostly for food and shelter. Some were black and some were white. Nevertheless, during that time, it seemed as though everyone lived in harmony working side by side to survive. I recall my childhood as a very happy time.
On my maternal side of the family was another grandfather who had an adjoining farm and he too had many day laborers living on his farm doing the work, also providing food and shelter for them. What ever their needs were for survival he provided in return for their labor on the farm. Again, this was in the thirties.
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Funny Money, Sharecropping, Gold and Silver, and Violation of Property Rights (Issue 136)
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Another Thanksgiving holiday came and went. For me, it was a time of reflection and nostalgia remembering the many Thanksgiving dinners I have enjoyed. But no longer over the hills and through the dell to grandmother’s house we go. Instead, we gathered at my son’s house.
Everything was so beautifully decorated at his country home—a roaring fire in the huge rock fireplace, my 10-year-old granddaughter playing softly on the piano, and the house filled with the smell of all the wonderful food. My lovely, talented and creative daughter-in-law had the formal dining room set with a centerpiece of fresh flowers, laden with delicious food.
Ours was a small gathering of immediate family with 4 guests—3 foster children ages 1, 3 and 8, plus a friend from South Africa who recently became a U.S. citizen. After everyone was seated, my 8 and 10-year-old granddaughters twice said the blessing in unison, first in Latin, then in English. They are home schooled. Despite the fact their main focus of learning is on the English language, they do have some limited instruction in other languages.
I was so grateful for the joy of gathering with my children who were all raised being taught the Philosophy of Freedom and encouraged to express their thoughts. In this connection, we can usually get into some subject of spirited discussion after dinner. And now-a-days with so much going on in this country, there’s no shortage of things to talk about. And I for one felt thankful for the limited semblance of Freedoms we have left.
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Thanksgiving Horn a Plenty—Waste Not, Want Not (Issue 134)
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As I mentioned in a previous article, I decided to have a rummage sale. I have a great deal of inventory left over from my shops, e-bay selling and stuff I’ve collected over the years. I’ve spent 10 days dragging stuff out, sorting, pricing and displaying in two rooms. Plus, I still have a garage and storage room separate from my house stacked up with boxes.
I have lots of linens, new and vintage, stacks of dishes, about 1,000 books, artworks, new and vintage clothes, toys and a variety of stuff. I priced it reasonably, way below what it costs or is worth because I could use the money and I need the space.
I decided to run the sale for three days and spent nearly $100 for an ad, signs, pricing labels, and a lady to help me, among other things.
Here’s what I sold the first day: two vintage thimbles and a pair of Madame Alexander doll shoes for $1 each. Can you imagine how much room that created for me only clearing out two thimbles and a pair of doll shoes?
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Two Thimbles And A Pair Of Doll Shoes (Issue 116)
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As the presidential election draws near, there is so much going on in this country, particularly in the economy and among the candidates, it’s as if two engines are driving the news media and pundits around the clock.
This is Friday morning after the vice presidential debate last night between Sarah Palin, Governor of Alaska, and Joe Biden, United States Senator. The airways are humming with so many trying to cram in their opinions. The so-called liberal left, those touting socialism in heavy-duty doses, are all speaking negatively about Palin, while the so-called conservatives, those touting socialism in smaller doses, are supporting and lifting her up on a pedestal.
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Vp Debate & $112 Billion Bailout Increase (Issue 97)
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