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I'm going to have to catch up first! :) I still don't have my life to the basics of the 1930s yet. I just got my new indoor, over-the-bathtub clotheslines, and we're going to put them up this weekend. December was instant winter for me, and I'm looking forward to any humidity that drying clothes indoors will provide. I just learned how to layer clothes for warmth too, and how much I love my soapstone! I use it as a bed warmer now, and it's pure luxury to have the warm bedding. 

I like the idea of a victory garden. Victory over high prices at the grocery store! :) I'll enjoy learning along with the study, but I have to finish my 1930's homework first. I'll hurry to the 1940s as fast as I can. 

The 1930s & 1940s appeal to me partly because it makes me feel close to my grandparents.  That's when they were raising their families and that time period lingered even when I would visit them in the 1960s as a child. A lot of things they had and did in the 60s were just as it was 20 - 30 years before- food, clothes, household items, etc.

It seems to make sense to shift to the 1940s and will be very interesting.  Here in Australia,  "All Creatures Great and Small" is back on free-to-air television. They have been experiencing WW2 for a short while. The message I'm getting from the show is that those who stayed behind had as much of a role to play in the war effort as those who went away.

Grandma Donna Wrote, 

Stephanie G, the good thing about the studies is that anyone can jump in at any time. I will be continuing to research the 1930s too,  but stay synced with the 1941 and 1942, It can be picked up anytime.  I was glad that we have done some studies in the 1940s because this is where I found the article about the soapstone.  The use of the soapstone came back because of the fuel shortage during ww2.  Sure has come handy today as well. :) I will post that link here so others can read it if they want to.    https://gdonna.com/living-like-the-past/soapstone/

My mother's cousin was on The Arizona battleship when Pearl Harbor was bombed. His body still rests in that ship under the water. I remember visiting his mother (my Great Aunt) and she had his Navy photo hanging on the wall over her bed; I always found it rather sobering, I'm sure she missed him terribly. I recall my mother speaking about rationing and coupon books during the 1940's.   Grandma Donna, is there a story behind your photo of that sweet and beautiful white, 2 story house? I love the fence around it. 

I've found it interesting how people were effected by the 1930s & 1940s especially women as they got older and away from that time.

I've known some who I think never quite got over having to do without, others who were always fearful of having to live through those times again and others who seemed to just adjust and continue on.

what books are you reading when you do your studies of times past? 

Grandma Donna Wrote,

Joy N, That house is at a place here in our town of Dothan called Landmark Park.  They have moved this farm house and buildings to this park to preserve them so that people can come to visit and see these pieces of history.  This house reminds me of my early years and different family members that lived in this type of house.  At one time we did live in a old farmhouse but due to a job change we moved away from our little 10 acre farm where we had chickens, hogs, two horses, a catfish pond.  I did raise a cow named Charley Brown. :)  

Grandma Donna -- I remember an article you posted from WWII about turning down the heat, saying that 65 degrees was good enough for anyone. I made that a goal of mine. At first it felt freezing, but now it feels comfortable with my layers. I'm sure there's a lot more overlap, and I'll get a lot out of it, but since the people in the 1940s had their 1930s' skills under their belts already, that's what I have to catch up. I think I now have all of my 1930s' tools for saving money by not using using expensive conveniences or just replacing things, but since 1931 was a deepening of the Depression, we were planning to cut our budget back even more, and I think I'll stick with that plan. I always learn helpful things no matter what year the study is. :) And I think it's wonderful that Charles has time to study in depth! 

Grandma Donna Wrote,

Rebekah G, I have all kinds of history books, that we have collected over time.  I also have many handwritten diaries that I have purchased over the years.  I have old journals and ledgers, I have found them in old antique and thrift shops and found people selling their old diaries from family members.  Some estate sales and some on ebay.  I am particular with the information that I am looking for when I purchase a diary.  I do not purchase the signature diaries or those that do a lot of travel.  I look for the ones that write about their daily home life.  I learn a lot from these. I also subscribe to newspapers to read the microfilms and Also go to the research room at the local library for their books and microfilms.  I have shared some of them on my blog, if you use a computer and go to the mail home page over on the right hand side is a list of diary readings.  I have some that are in posts that I have never added to that column and need to .  I also keep hoping for time to type them out to share them because that is my intention in the first place so people can learn more about the home during these years.   :)