My Little Chef Oven and other Childhood Memories

When you were a little girl, did you have a little cook stove? I got mine for Christmas when I was 5 years old. I remember Mama, really wasn't all that interested in me ACTUALLY using it to bake. She had hoped I would play with it and just pretend to cook on it. And I am sure I did, because I only remember cooking once with it. I made a chocolate cake and it turned out as hard as a rock. She wouldn't let me eat it, so it ended up in the garbage. Mama, really did not have much patience with kids in the kitchen. Now, mind you we learned very early on how to CLEAN the kitchen. She just didn't want us under foot to learn how to cook. I married very young and about the only thing I knew how to make was instant tea! NO JOKE! So, I really had a hard time learning, I would have to call my Granny on the phone for instructions. She would talk me through a recipe, telling me use a pinch of this and tad of that. I didn't even know how much a pinch or tad was. It was a trial and error (lots of errors) on the job training. Eventually I became a pretty good cook, and I focused on teaching my girls how to cook at a young age. Today, they are quiet talented young women, who can whip up a tasty meal in minutes.





Over the years, I have collected children kitchen items. I love all of the toys that little girls played with. I can just imagine the meals that must have been created and served to most beloved dolls and stuffed toys. Wonder, how many little brothers had to sit, wiggling at a tea party?

I ran across this Little Golden book with such cute pages I just had to share with you.

I wish I still had all of the books that my children had when they were little. Some things I should have kept, but with 5 children it is impossible to save it all.

I love this little yellow apron with the red rick rack! Her mama taught her right! Aprons are an important item. Donnie, laughs at me, because I wear one every time I cook. He told me his mother wore one, but he had never noticed his sisters wear them. My mother never wore one either, but Granny always wore her apron to cook, garden, can vegetables,and to clean her house. We even made her one with her grandchildren names embroidered on it. She loved it. I miss the old fashioned ways of doing things. I suppose others may laugh and think they are outdated. Maybe it does make me seem old. But what joy there was in the simple times we used to know. Remember when we were kids and caught fireflies in mason jars? Remember how we entertained ourselves with games, songs and coloring books. Cutting paper dolls and making snowflakes. Sitting on the front porch after supper, enjoying a conversation or story from our grandparents. Remember hopscotch? Growing beans in a can? Making mud pies? I wonder if our grandchildren will ever experience such wonders, if we are not a bit old fashioned and teach them the old ways. One of my favorite memories is drinking Coca Cola in a bottle and putting peanuts in it, so it would fizz. Not exactly ladylike, but oh so much fun!

As mothers and grandmothers, we need to teach our little ones how to entertain themselves without the use of TV, electronics and video games. Whatever will they do if the electricity goes off? We had an ice storm here about 9 years ago and lost power for 14 days. My kids learned to play checkers, dominoes, cards, and act out plays for our amusement. We had a blast! They learned new songs, we made snow ice cream, and we became a close family. Truly thankful for the blessings we had been given. Yes, I was glad when the power came on. I had been toting wood and boiling water on the grill. I am grateful for the advances we have made over the years. I just yearn for the simple childhood days of the past. I think I will begin a new journal for those who come behind me. A book to describe what childhood life was like just 30 years ago. If for nothing else but to remember those happy moments!

Enjoy your week!

Hugs,

Lorri