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Publix has 8 OClock coffee and olive oil on BOGO regularly.  You can check their ad online.  

I have a cabinet on casters similar to yours in my kitchen too.  My late dh picked it up free when the nursing home put a bunch of stuff on the curb.  I keep my Kitchen Aid mixer on it, hand mixer, vacuum sealer and other odds and end in the bottom and in the drawer recipe booklets.  I leave it parked against the wall except when using it which keeps the counter free of the big mixer.  

At one time I got rid of a good many of my kitchen appliances when they died and then slowly replaced them as the arthritis in my hands became more troublesome.  I can no longer mix bread or heavy cookie dough by hand so purchased the Kitchen Aid.  My hand mixer is ancient but still works so I'm keeping it until it dies and likely will not replace it unless I find one used.  

My blender, waffle iron and most other kitchen items were from household auctions, thrift shops or garage sales.  Most of my pans/skillets are Revere Ware or cast iron and I can only think of a couple items purchased new.  One pan was a wedding gift 66 years ago and a large Wagner Ware roaster was purchased with trading stamps in mid 1960s.  My Revere Ware skillet was found at a thrift shop for a $1.  I was in terrible condition, but the bottom was not warped so I bought it and spend a lot of elbow grease cleaning it up.  I already had a lid that I'd saved from a similar skillet, so my set is complete again.  I use it often because the weight of cast iron is a problem for me these days.

When I grocery shop, I look at something I used to buy regularly and think NO not at that price and find something to substitute.   I'm a cookie junkie and refuse to buy bakery or packaged cookies at the ridiculous prices today.  I have supplies to bake cookies although due to my addiction to them, don't bake them often!

Those prices sound exorbitant to me but then again every time I go to the stores I am seeing prices go up.

My blow dryer died last month so haven't replaced it yet, I was on a no spend month. However I have discovered that I can wrap my hair in a cotton t shirt and let it get almost dry then throw some large pin curls in it and let it dry completely and its bouncy and I don't have to use a curling iron.....so I might not replace the hair dryer.

I was able to clear my drive and parking area by myself the old fashioned way with a shovel, took my time and used the shovel to push the 12 inches of snow into windrows out of the way. They shoveled in 1942 and it worked for me.

Have started eating a lot more hot cereals, leftover steel cut oats are then mixed with an egg and made into oatmeal patties served with homemade maple syrup from my own trees. I had forgotten how much I loved them. Eating by candlelight for the "cozy" feeling.

Being in my own cozy home in candlelight and quiet brings me a lot of peace and calm.

It is snow flurrying again today but if we can just hang in we are supposed to get into the 40 and 50's next week. 

We had one of those canister vacuums until the 70s at least. It was on runners and as a kid I hated using it. It was heavy for me. 

Charles is very clever to modify the drop leaf table to accommodate modern chairs!

Where I am Costco started carrying light olive oil, they call it refined olive oil with 15% extra virgin olive oil, but it is not as light as what you bought.  It is $18.99 for 3 liters (101 ounces).  32 ounces ground Starbucks coffee from Costco is 19.99, that isn’t the coffee we buy but it is most similar to your purchase.  So I think overall you did very well with your choice of stores!  Coffee is definitely a big expense here, I don’t drink it but the guys do.  I do my best to buy the brand we use on sale, which this month will be $6.60 per pound.  That requires a trip to the Costco Business Center.  I’ve been tracking when it goes on sale and how much they use, so I will buy about 20# to last until it goes on sale again in August.  This is one reason I made my grocery budget an annual budget this year, rather than monthly.

Is there anything that you have gotten rid of or stopped using to have a more simple home? 

The last major thing we didn’t replace was our clothes dryer in 2023.  Overall the plan going forward is to not replace things if we can achieve the same result in a different way.  That might be cooking with a pan instead of a small appliance, cleaning and mending torn upholstery, washing dishes by hand, etc.  But I am simplifying in other ways, for example, we switched to the Costco refined olive oil as our only liquid oil.  My husband makes salads with it instead of EVOO.  I cook and bake with it.  We use it for popcorn.  For our solid fat we are using palm oil.  I am looking at many of our pantry foods and recipes and figuring out where I can go more simple in terms of ingredients.  It’s easier to buy in bulk if we are using the same ingredients in many dishes, versus many different ingredients.  An example would be beans, going forward I am only going to buy pinto beans and soy beans (for soymilk) in 25# bags, and then French lentils and navy beans 10# at a time (to fit my containers).  For red lentils, split peas, black beans, and other beans/legumes I am going to buy them in smaller quantities and not worry about keeping them stocked at home — I can buy them easily at Walmart if I am out.  In 2024 the guys found they really love navy beans soups, and they can also be used for baked beans, so now I am exploring navy bean recipes.  I grind popcorn for cornmeal instead of buying it separately or purchasing dent corn to grind.

Have you added anything to have a more functional home? 

We are in a not buying phase of our life, for sure, so other than the big expense of adding solar last year, we aren’t spending money to make our home more functional.  But we are moving things around to use our spaces well, and we did purchase two used oak bookcases ($60 total) to hold our books so I could have more shelf space in the craft/hobby room — I put all of my cotton fabric on shelves so I can see what I have and get to it more easily.

Do you have any projects you are working on?

I am learning how to use my new sewing machine, and am continuing to learn how to repair some older machines, although I also gave away some machines because I didn’t want to spend money to fix them.  This time of year I knit a lot of dish clothes since they are a portable craft and I am often away from home for a few hours at a time.

Have you found any new information about the year 1942 that has been helpful to you?  

I looked into sugar rationing, and learned that people had to declare what sugar they had on hand and would have stamps removed for that.  That makes me wonder how honest people were about it.  The annual ration was 26# per person to start, but they couldn’t get that all at once, of course.  I was thinking that sounds like a lot of sugar, but it was half the usual consumption back then.  Because I bake, I know we can go through sugar pretty quickly if we are making and baking our own desserts instead of buying sweetened prepared products.  I think I read before that sweetened condensed milk wasn’t part of rationing so people used it in recipes, but my son can’t eat dairy so that isn’t an option for us.  I bet people who had a sugar bush started tapping their maple trees if they weren’t doing so already!  Or maybe some enterprising people set up beehives.

I am still aiming for a “timeless” life rather than following the study, but I have been thinking about how I carry 1942 with me because of the generations that came before.  Some family members passed along simplicity and frugality because of their experience during WW2 (and also the Great Depression).  Some passed along buying a lot of stuff and keeping up with the Joneses because of their experiences during WW2.  Everyone coped in different ways.  Interestingly, my family members who were older during WW2 were the more frugal ones and the ones who had more domestic skills like sewing and gardening, the ones who were young adults are the ones who embraced the postwar economic boom.

I am asking myself how I can align my life with 1942 — how can my modern life reflect those times?  I am intentionally becoming more connected with community, especially my church community as we are doing a year of community and hosting more casual gatherings.  I am walking places when they are at a distance no one would have driven a car for.  I am sending physical cards for people’s birthdays.  I am practicing radical underconsumption.  My food purchasing eschews all sorts of brands and ultra processed foods.  I’m looking at ways to do my hair without heat appliances, and I am washing it far less often too.  In many ways I am examining all of the cultural ideas I grew up with and deciding which I will keep and which I need to get rid of, and then I am looking to the past to create my own foundation for living

Thank you again for these wonderful posts. They really remind us of what is important.   And happy to see that Rhonda is back!! Between you two sages we are in good hands!!

The only thing I can think of adding (I really enjoy your posts and began thinking I haven't heard from you, lately Grandma Donna) is if y'all can get an inexpensive coffee grinder, you might be able to get your coffee in bean form when on sale. Freeze them and grind as necessary.

We moved this past year and I feel like we are just finally beginning to get settled. I’ve gotten rid of the same things you mentioned. It really dawned on me recently how much of a “freak” I am when I went to a baby shower for a young mom to be.  It was kinda funny. I thought, “Wow, I’m getting old.” (Haha).
Can you believe a 9’ x 12’ wool rug was $30? Wowza!  Have you seen the price of the same today. Everything now is plastic/synthetic. Also, our oldest niece is expecting in July and she wants to use cloth diapers.  I was at Wmart this morning and they don’t even have diaper pins let alone the plastics or cloth diapers- which I am making for her. I think it’s kinda sad that young people are often not even aware of the options that are healthier and save so much money. I’ve worked on getting my sewing room organized this week. It’s about a third the size of my previous one so has taken some doing, but part of that is the pile of mending and darning (hiding face). I began working on the pile and am looking forward to that being done so I can stay caught up.
Hope you’re staying cozy.

I gave up using a blow dryer many, many years ago.  My hair is thick and heavy and took forever to dry with the thing, looked better when it dried naturally, and I could not abide how loud it was.  I just let my hair air dry now.   I used to occasionally use the clothes dryer but it broke about 10 years ago and I never bothered to repair it.  In the end I found that in many ways it was just easier to hang it and also more pleasant to hang it on the outside line when that was possible.  I appreciate that it can just hang there until I get around to folding it rather than turning to a wrinkled mess waiting in the dryer.   I also have a tv that I never use and probably never will use.   i haven't gotten rid of it yet, though, because I still reserve the right to use it on occasion if I so desire.  I have considered subscribing to the National Theater and watch some recorded theater on it and I may very well do so if I ever have time.   I need home internet now because I work from home but I am going to experiment with giving it up when the time comes that I don't need it for work.  I might also only have it hard wired so that I can only be on when at a certain place.  I think having the wireless and a laptop makes it more addictive.   I have also stopped buying or eating any ultra processed foods and nearly all prepared food.  Doing all of my own cooking, most of it rather simple meals.   

Oddly enough at work recently, I found I was one of only two staff members that had been experimenting with using AI for research.  I don't really like it but the work load can be quite intense and I need the job!

I have a project. One of our oil room heaters got knocked over, and I am trying to fix it. The piece connected to the knob that controls the heat setting level (1, 2, or 3) got broken in the fall. If you plug it in, the heater goes on but with no way to adjust it, and it's not safe to turn it on and off by the plug. We took the unit apart and saw that the inside part was broken. I can't seem to find a replacement part, so we are going to design a part based on the broken one. It's a mostly flat metal piece with some screw holes and a couple of ridges. If anyone knows where I could get replacement parts, I'd appreciate hearing about it. :) The heaters are too expensive to replace just for one silly part!

As always, I enjoyed your post and your pictures.  Your home always looks so comforting, and I can almost smell the chocolate chip cookies and the biscuits.

I looked up the prices on those grocery items and they are probably the same price at our Walmart, minus the grocery tax.  I am really surprised that food is taxed in your state.  Would it be taxed if your were buying items from a farm stand in the summer?  Food is taxed here if it is prepared food from a restaurant or convenience store.  Additionally, people who receive SNAP ( food stamps) benefits can't  use it to dine out, although they can buy a cold sandwich or an un-toasted bagel with cream cheese at a convenience store.  Nothing cooked.

My furniture in my home belonged to my grandparents, and it is mostly circa 1960.  Maple wood, with walnut bedroom furniture.  I am not particularly fond of either, but they are functional and in good shape.  I like the bedroom furniture in the pictures you posted, but that's hard to find in good condition.  The dining room set I think is the set that my MIL had.  We think that she inherited it from her mother.  Does the ad say how much it cost in 1942?

I did see that Rhonda was blogging again, and I am glad to see that.  Although I have an Instagram account, I do not post anything and use it mainly to follow family members.  It's not the same as a blog, which is kind of slower reading and interactive.  I had been following Rhonda's blog for a long time.  She and her late husband had Airedales, I recall, and I think her older son had just gotten engaged.

I am going to give some thought to your questions and respond later.

Ih I remember the chenille bedspreads and I had a Mary’s little lamb spread. I live Rhonda and have her book. Thanks so much for the link and for always giving me new ideas

Thanks so much for the mention about Rhonda's blog reappearing.  I wouldn't  have known otherwise.

Grandma Donna wrote,

Misty K, this was just our most recent shopping day, we have a wonderful hand cranked vintage coffee grinder and have used it for many years and we normally buy the whole bean but they did not have the whole bean when we shopped so we bought this ground coffee. The empty place on the shelf where the whole bean is supposed to be showed that the ground and whole bean were the same price.  Here for us, It is getting more common for the stores to be short on supplies at times.  However, freezing the beans is a good idea, thank you for the suggestions. 

Kimberly F, thank you for mentioning the sugar rationing and how they had to declare how much sugar they had.  Yes, this is found as we move through the study and this was not the only thing that they had to declare.  The only thing that people would benefit to load up and then declare is when the stores were low or completely out of certain items.  In the last study we had no way to know what they were out of but there are stories of having the coupons but none in the store to buy. We still will not know.  Those that did stock up and then declare them would not go through the outages if that makes sense, but then there were most likely more outages that we truly understand when considering the time.  Once the rationing started, stocking up was no longer an option.   People did secretly swap and exchange with one another as we also saw in the series all creatures great and small. 

Also Kimberly F, I like your thoughts, Overall the plan going forward is to not replace things if we can achieve the same result in a different way.  Now I know that you are really understanding where these studies have been taking us.  Critical thinking. :)

My husband recently said to me I want to set up the house so it's comfortable for us as we age. I was so happy! It's something I wanted to do since we bought our house 30 years ago and we were young!! Instead of buying more furniture or storage containers or shelves I've wanted to figure out how do we use our house and make it work for us? 

You could probably take it to a machine shop and they could make you a new one. 

Grandma Donna wrote, 

Lana D, thank you for the reminder about the BOGO's we do not shop there often anymore but we need to keep an eye on that.  We have been topping off the pantry so we can wait for the sales.  We were using down things and now building back up. 

Sara M, and Joyce C, You are a good example of once it breaks, lets see if I can do without it. 

Ann W, Charles would like to visit your home, he is a cookie junkie too. 

Margaret P, Oh my gosh were those old vacuums heavy! 

Debbie in PA, I know the price was on it , I will look to see what it was. 

I can't even begin to remember how much I've gotten rid of last April due to getting new flooring, because everything had to be moved out. It was just like moving out! Cleaned out cabinets so I didn't have to box things up to haul out and back. I realized with kitchen items, so many things came in a set that I never used.  Large sized items, or duplicate items where one or the other was enough. It was invigorating 1) to realize this & 2) that it's now GONE!  Bowl sets, baking sets.  The toaster oven I have I despise, but my husband likes it. I prefer a toaster. So I wish I could have one or the other!  I tried the toaster oven, but I don't like how it toasts bread, but having space on my counter is almost more pleasing.  I got rid of most things in the closets and can now house my Christmas stuff that was also paired down by 3/4, in the house rather than rotting in a hot spidery shed. I got rid of tons of decorative items that made me groan. The space is freeing. And what is it with me and bowls? I guess I love them, but I got rid of over half.  Those table runners that run over the side of the table  - all gone. They bother me - I kept the short 3' ones. I could do without a micro, but hubby likes it.  I could do without my Kitchenaid mixer too, It's a space hog but when it dies I won't replace. It's HEAVY. When the bread machine goes, I won't replace that either as I enjoy kneading my own, but the machine is handy if I'll be gone as I refuse to buy store-bought bread.   I did get a dough mat and dough whisk that is absolutely wonderful!!! The mat simplifies anything you need to roll out and add fllour on. It distributes flour perfectly!  And we cleaned the sheds last weekend - rented a dumpster so I'm feeling better. So much junk everywhere, that when you get older, you realize that there are so many things you're housing, but you no longer use or have an interest in on so many different item levels,  or we kept it so long that it's dry rotted or broken and didn't know it.  It's freeing, all this junk gone has made life breathable! So much junk we don't NEED.   And YAY on Rhonda's Blog!

I wish my husband would say this to me. I've been working on it, but we have a long way to go with getting him to come around on this - like a huge pond that is an eye sore  - usually most things he likes, but I do the work with. ;)  But I am at a loss with some furniture arrangements IF we have company.  

I would love a comfy rocker near the kitchen so I can watch my food, but not sit on a hard chair or a bar stool.  Yep. We need to make our homes work for us for sure!

Today's frugal and old fashioned project was melting down all the scrap candle wax I had saved up. Including quite a few nearly empty jar candles, that were taking up an inordinate amount of space because the wax was still stuck in jars.  I was very surprised to find I had over a gallon of good clean wax!  Tomorrow I will be melting it again (dry this time, in a double boiler) and pouring some nice chunky pillar candles.  I plan to use empty cardboard cans from raisins and cornmeal as molds.  In the past I've always dipped tapers, and enjoy the dipping process, but I've found I don't really love the quality of homemade taper candles compared to storebought.  Plus I don't tend to burn tapers as much as I used to anyway, so this time pillars it is.

I haven't gotten rid of any more appliances recently, but most I either never had or got rid of years ago.  It is pretty much down to the bare basics that truly serve me at this point.  I do toy with the idea of getting rid of my propane stove and cooking entirely with wood, but I don't know. . .  The quick convenience of just being able to light a burner for something quick like heating water for tea is awfully nice sometimes!  Especially in summer, when I don't always need the heat of a wood fire.

I'm not really doing the 1942 study, but enjoy reading along.

Grandma Donna Wrote,

Ann E,  The man is the head, but the woman is the neck and she can move the head any way she wants.  lol  Big Fat Greek Wedding movie.   I took Charles to the kitchen one morning and showed him how to make buttered toast in the skillet. It is the only way we have made toast since. That got rid of the toaster and the toaster oven. :)  I just put my rocker in our kitchen this week.  I can sit and watch what is cooking on the stove and through the glass door of the oven as I peel potatoes, carrots or do some knitting. 

Tea S, your still part of our study because you are here and you have a lot of simple living knowledge. 

Diana, I remember a  Mary had a little Lamb spread. 

Stephanie G,  I am with Lady L, on the machine shop.  At least worth the try. 

Looking at the old advertisements is very interesting. So many items were much nicer than what is available today. Your rolling cart and table are wonderful. It is nice that Charles is so handy.

I have been working, diligently, on writing our family genealogy, on my side, for my children and grandchildren. I have researched all families for over 40 years, so have a lot of paperwork. I won't put someone in if I can't substantiate the information. Supposition is not factual, so I will give suppositions clearly labeled, as an addendum, not factual, but possible. My love for research is never ending, but time is in late winter, at my age, so it all needs compiled.

 Currently, I am working on the 1700's relatives that lived in South Carolina. My mind wanders to how truly little they owned and had to work with to survive. We have become insanely brainwashed over the decades by companies and corporations. Our ancestors would be ashamed of the greed in this world.

I grew up with two grandmother's. One was born in 1886 and the other was born in 1892. I learned so much from both of them. One was from the north and the other from the south. The southern grandmother was a lot less complicated than the northern one. I learned about their growing up years and life during that time.

My northern grandmother had a kitchen designed by my grandfather, a carpenter, that fit her size and needs. She was only 4 ft 10 inches. I loved the metal lined flour bin and a sifter that was all built in. If anyone has seen pictures of early refrigerators and kitchens (1940 and 50's), the appliances were amazing The kitchens were built for usage and flow, not to be pretty and shiny. I would love one of the old refrigerators with the shelves that turned so everything was within reach and the egg bin and butter dish was built in to the inside of the refrigerator door.

Our world is no longer practical or reasonable, so this study is such a blessing. Thank you gDonna.

Grandma Donna Wrote,

Glenda H_2, Genealogy was what got me into doing history studies.  I started in the 1990s researching my family and as you know that spreads out in every direction.  I started making maps and drew out family maps for gifts to the family.  I drew the horse and wagons and the roads to where they were going and I loved it.  Then I could not stop, I wanted to know more.  I have continued to this day and I am trying to condense it down to a smaller version.  Some day they may want to know.  

I too have the southern and northern grandparents.  Also you are so right about the appliances and kitchens that made sense.  

I am following along, but my husband would not go for an old-fashioned life. I am trying to do old-fashioned things. I think I've been "grandma core" since I was about ten years old! I've always made things. 

Currently, I have socks for my grandson, socks for me, and mittens for my daughter on the needles. I also enjoy sewing. I'm also currently learning to weave a rag rug by twining.

I'm 60. We've not been able to save money for retirement, so I have decided to go to work full time. It's the first time I've worked full time in 35 years! Fortunately, it's as a receptionist in a doctor's office just three minutes from my house. My intention is to use the money that I make to pay off bills, make a few repairs, and purchase a few things we've needed for a long time. We'll no doubt have a little fun, too, but I'm focused on knocking out medical bills, the car payment, and saving for retirement. 

It's going to be a big change, but I'll take my knitting for lunchtime and breaks!

Thank you all for sharing!

Laura in Southern Missouri

Thank you for another thoughtful, grounding post. Over the past six weeks we have been making small, intentional changes to simplify our days, and I am amazed by how much they add up. We have swapped our electric coffee grinder for a hand crank one, I have started learning pin curls and sewing 1940s house dresses, and my husband has fallen deeply into beekeeping. He’s hand making hives from scrap wood after researching the role of beekeepers during the war years and we have 2 happy hives in our “bee yard”.

We also invested in a energy efficient chest freezer at the end of last year and bought meat in bulk from our local butcher, which has made feeding our family far more affordable and has led me to explore 1930s and 40s cookbooks for cooking lesser known cuts. One surprisingly impactful change has been switching our children to old fashioned metal lunchboxes. Packing simple Oslo style lunches has removed so much pressure, reduced waste, and made mornings easier vs modern bento boxes with all the little compartments and the pressure to fill each one.

Reading our local paper from 1942 alongside all this has highlighted just how much less information people were bombarded with, even in such an anxious time. The calm, matter of fact tone feels like a powerful contrast to today’s constant sensationalised news cycles! 

What wonderful news to hear Rhonda is returning to her blog. You two ladies are having such a meaningful and positive influence on my life and home

Stephanie G.  -- if you have all the pieces to the switch, super glue might be an option.  I've used it numerous times to fix various items.  Some very successful and a few complete failures but perhaps worth a try.

Margaret P. -- plans for aging in place are good.  There are books on handicapped accessible which you need to plan for if you want to stay in your home as you age.  Bathroom grab bars are best installed before they are needed especially if you are stepping in and out of a tub.  Any remodeling should plan for doors wide enough for walkers and wheelchairs.  Bathroom doors often are way too narrow while bedroom doors might be okay.  

I have a bed like G. Donna's from my mother.  It was left in the last house they purchased.  It is solid walnut and weights a LOT.  Most of my furniture is old.  The oldest is a blanket chest that came by wagon from Ohio in the 1840s and is likely much older than that.  Newest is a cheap computer desk that is at least 25 years old.  Older furniture is usually solid wood or quality veneer over a solid wood not like the pressed wood product with a cheap veneer like the computer desk.   I had my grandmother's solid oak dining table that I lost in a tornado along with the chairs from my other grandmother.  

Thanks for the ads, they were fascinating.

Things I won’t replace are likely my dryer, hand mixer, hair dryer and maybe dishwasher. I hate washing dishes so that one may not happen though. 

I added a Stanley thermal crock for retained heat cooking, a clothesline to replace one ruined by hurricanes, more raised beds in the garden, a larger freezer to hold bulk items, including meat, and a steam canner for replacing water bath cooking. 


Projects include installing thermal curtain liner in windows that now get direct sun after the loss of so many trees, starting a compost pile, and planting trees for future shade. I am also planning on using my sewing machine more. I plan to return to slower meals once I retire. Less things like burgers and pork chops and more slow cooked meat, more vegetables that aren’t quick to cook and putting up more food from the garden. 

I'll reply in a fuller detail later but just wanted to say that I have followed Rhonda for years and love her blogs and her books.  She lives not too far from us too, very inspirational.

I thought the olive oil and coffee prices seemed high, but both have increased considerably and the same branded oil and columbian coffee here cost about the same. I buy supermarket own label and look out for offers. They are both classed as food and are zero rated for tax, though a bought cup of coffee is taxed at 20%. Olive oil was not a common ingredient in Britain, it was sold at the chemist,  in small bottles for medicinal use. In keeping with 1942, to save on the shipping, I buy British cold pressed rapeseed oil, in a glass bottle, which we use in making bread making and frying. 

To save materials and to raise money for the war, people were discouraged from making any unnecessary purchases by the new Purchase Tax of 33.3% from October 1940, which was doubled in April 1942, and became a 100% Tax in April 1943. 

This included furniture, and because of the shortage of suitable wood, and so many homes were demolished by bombing, and new furniture was needed, the Utility Furniture Advisory Committee was set up in 1942 to design basic, undecorated furniture of good quality. The sale of utility furniture was restricted according to need, and a limited number of ration units were allocated to allow people some choice from the catalogue of designs. Newly weds were allowed 60 units to furnish a 3 bedroom house

https://harrislebus.com/utility-furniture-catalogue/

The Utility Mark was used for a range of basic household goods, and linens, and also for Utility Clothing. The Utility Mark items were free from Purchase Tax.

Utility furniture, note the linoleum floor covering. 

Janet W.  The utility furniture reminds me of shaker furniture in the USA.  Very functional.

I have notice a rise in grocery prices again.  Meat and chicken seem to have taken another jump.  Our grocery store has the almond milk I use on sale for the price it has been for a while and on the shelf label has a higher price for the regular price.  Do they think we are stupid and don't see what they are doing?

The question on projects we are working on, I make quilts and I have been trying to finish up some UFO's. That is Unfinished Fabric Objects.  One I want to finish next is a calendar quilt where each block is for a different month.  I am trying something new, quilting each block separately and then I will bind them together.  

But right now I have been spending a lot of time shoveling snow and ice.  It is a real work in progress.  We have about a 2 inch base of ice, then the snow and since we have had a little melting and refreezing there is a little ice on the top which might melt and refreeze again.  It took me 3 days to clear my front walk because you have to use the shovel to chip down through the ice before you can remove it.  

When my husband and I were younger we would clear older peoples driveways for them.  Now that we are the older people The only offer I have had for help has been from a man over 60 who had hip replacement and I had gotten out at that point and said we were fine.  Although I have since gotten the car stuck in the driveway.  So if you are able check on your neighbors.

We had about 2 inches of snow Wednesday night and there is winter weather for this weekend.  Hopefully that will be the end of this winter weather.  Calling for temperatures up near 50 for the end of next week.

It is time to think of gardens in the USA.  I think anyone who has even a little space and is able should plant a simple garden to help with grocery cost.

Glad Rhonda is back.

Ann, thanks for the reminder on door widths. I'm lobbying my husband for a new shower only to replace the tub shower so we don't have to step over. Maybe we'll change the door at the same time. The bathroom is small so we might need to rethink how it's set up.

My daughter and I have discussed this topic a lot recently. She's been encouraging us to plan ahead as she sees her grandparents' struggles because they didn't.  I want to put things in place now when I don't need them so it seems normal when we do plus it will avoid any awkward conversations in the future.

We need new flooring and have the money saved. My husband wants carpet again. I've told him when he's 80 he's not going to want to get out the vacuum or carpet cleaner. I want some sort of hard floor I can just use a swiffer on.

margaret p, My husband wanted tile and carpet when he was 67 and we moved into this house. I did not want any tile or carpet to maintain. Part of the main level already had wood floors. Anyway, he really wanted this house and eleven years later he wishes he would have listened. Now, due to our age and physical health, carpet cleaning and grout cleaning is almost impossible. Therefore, it requires budgeting to have someone come in and do it. It is very expensive.

My advice to anyone that is older or thinking of the future is:  Stand your ground. Wood flooring, vinyl and linoleum (real) are easy to care for at any age.I wish I would have pushed harder eleven years ago. I could see the future and my husband could not. He thought he would be capable of taking care of everything forever.

Thanks, everyone, for the suggestions on fixing the heater part. :)

I've gotten rid of a lot of plastic and replaced it with old-fashioned materials. I don't have a microwave oven or a hair dryer, but I do have a curling iron. I've removed as much digital as possible from my life and replaced it with analog substitutes like a paper address book and calendar, a desk calculator, and things like that. I've also replaced as many electrical items with manual ones as i could. I've mostly added do-it-yourself tools so that we can do as much as possible ourselves.  

It's time for me to buy the annual package of vacuum filters, and it's one expense I can't wait to get rid of! I have a nice wool dust mop for the floors, and I just need some more floors instead of carpet! We plan to replace more of the carpet with flooring this year. 

My husband likes carpet and I told him he's welcome to have some if he wants to take care of it himself. He said flooring was fine. :) 

We are in Michigan and it’s been another cold, sometimes snowy week. I was excited to have very little planned for the week so I could focus on interior  home projects. I finished a table runner (sort of visible in the background of the pic; my sewing supervisor is laying atop), matching napkins and was able to play a bit with this 1941 Singer Featherweight machine. I am amazed at the workmanship of this sewing machine…so much sturdier than my newer sewing machines (which have plastic exteriors). As newer items (mainly kitchen electronics) break, I am trying to be thoughtful as to whether to replace. Convenience is just that, it’s not necessarily better.

Stephanie G, Glenda H-2, Margaret P:  We had new flooring installed removing all carpet last April.  Mistake!!!  Please don't get LVP unless you can't afford anything else. It has to be micro-managed and can't take much for real use.  It's scratched already from basic chair moving at the kitchen table even with felt, it's scratched from dropping a plate and has other scratches from whatever. My laminate lasted for 22 years.  This cost us $25,000 and I have those scratches already within an 8-mo time.  My mom also had gotten it and her kitchen chairs scratched it as well.  I've spent a mint on felting the bottom of everything and it doesn't last with movable items.   Rubber backed rugs, lets say, for around the sink (enter in floor cut from dropping a plate), is a no-no. Rubber backed rugs discolor the LVP.  It's cold, it's very hard on the feet if you're older, and if you add an area rug, it's a trip hazard, still hard even w/a felt backing, and a pain to vacuum both types of floors. We don't have large area rugs (I have a 4x8 for the dogs), but LVP safe rugs are hard to find and they still don't stay put.  I miss plopping myself on the floor for stretching and now I have to grab a mat.  In hindsight, I'd have carpeted my office (think trying to find a LVP safe floor mat for office chair) and our work-out room, and put my beloved laminate in the kitchen.  Just like everything else now, it just doesn't hold up.  And it's stone based which is supposed to be better.  It's beautiful, but I hate it. 

And Stephanie G if I could only have a vacuum that had a bag!  I am tired of dumping the dust bucket that goes everywhere! With a bag, I disconnected it and dumped it!  No million filters to change and manage, no dust bowl breathing, just a bag.  

I do have to laugh though at getting back at the basics.  While our tub was being removed for a new shower these past two weeks, my hubby has been complaining about showering in the other normal sized tub/shower and walking down the hall to do it.  I'm thinking, are you spoiled or what?  Sometimes I think we all need a wake-up call. LOL.

A note on the yarn from the mending compact pattern: from a small amount of preliminary research, it appears that the yarns called for ( "American Thread Company Star Pearl Cotton, Article 90 Size 5 [or] 1 oz ball of DAWN worsted Floss article W 16" ) could possibly be substituted with a modern size 5 pearl cotton thread, such as this. https://www.everythingcrossstitch.com/dmc-pearl-co... 

It was amazingly hard to find anything at all about the Dawn Worsted Floss, but according the the ravelry page for the Dawn Wool Floss it was about 28 WPI, which would make it very similar to size 5 cotton crochet thread/yarn. 

Link to ravelry page for Dawn Wool Floss: https://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/american-thr...
Link to source for cotton crochet thread WPI: https://www.interweave.com/article/crochet/wpi-gui...

Grandma Donna wrote, 

Debbie in PA, to answer your question about the dining room set, I was not sure which paper I found the dining room set in or which day it was but I finally found it.  The ad says the entire 9 piece set, Full Credenza Dining room Suite, was on sale.  Regular price was $159.50 and the sale price was $129.50.  This was on sale for the week of February 9 - 14 - 1942 since the sale paper was in Sundays paper.

Grandma Donna wrote, 

Cassie M, it has been several years now since I made this but today I found the yarn I used.  I cannot remember how I found the research but I remember it took me a long time to figure out how to find it.  I had enough information to start searching for the yarn and found it on ebay so I ordered this yarn and it seemed to have turned out as it should have and I just love this little mending compact.  This pictured is what I found and used.  

Edit here, Also, I am self taught with crochet and I do not know a lot about converting the older yarn to the newer size. I am familiar with yarn verses thread because I also make lace and use thread. 

Thank you for your information that you sent in comment.  I will try using some other yarns I have to see which works out to be the same or similar. 

G. Donna (and all)

Do any of you ladies use Ponds Cold Cream? If yes, would you share with me what it was like, if you liked it, why you stopped, etc.

I grew up with my mom using it, so the smell is just wonderful to me:)

I stopped using it because I was afraid of "chemicals"...but I've been rethinking it. I love the smell, and If I remember right, it was pretty nice on my skin. I haven't worn make up in a long time, so I just need to clean, not remove make up.

Thank you for anyone who shares!!

Rose

K your post made me stop. I have a feather weight and a calico also :-

Margaret P. -- There is a book The Accessible Home, published by Creative Publishing International, that has complete information on handicapped accessible bathrooms as well as the rest of the house.  The copyright for my copy is 2003.

We removed our bathtub after my m-i-l fell twice and dh once.  We put in a curb/walk-in shower and if I was doing it again, I'd do a roll-in shower so that could be part of the radius needed for a wheelchair AND I'd make sure to widen the door.   My dh passed 10 years ago but had he lived he would have been in a wheelchair.  As it was, his walker was too wide for the door, so I put his late mother's walker outside the bathroom door, and he'd switch to it to use the bath.  If you keep the tub, be aware getting out of a tub becomes very difficult even with grab bars.  Most older individuals do not have enough strength in arms/hands to pull themselves to standing from a tub.

I have cushion vinyl flooring in the dining, kitchen and laundry and that works for me.  Small dents or cuts don't bother me, and I like the fact you can drop a dish without it breaking.  Anyone putting in carpet would be advised to use a flat carpet for ease of movement with a walker or wheelchair.  

Also, beware of the "walk-in tubs".   They may be wonderful if you are mobile, but if you cannot get in and out by yourself, they cannot be used as no way for a helper to get you in and out.

My kitchen table is a peninsula connected to the cupboards and bolted to the floor.  When a friend in a wheelchair was visiting, she loved it.  She could pull herself up or push back without the table moving on her.