Cast Iorn

Thank you,I'm wittleing it down, maybe others can use the ones that I don't.

Great collection!

I'm in heaven, looking at your collection!

I hope this doesn't offend you, but when I first came across your photostream I printed out some of your photos, in particular of your cookstove and your pantry, and shared them with friends at our local Fraternal Order of Eagles.

In view of our country's impending economic crash, I (in good-humor) asserted that you were the new gold standard of "marriage material" to be desired in a woman, because: (1) You enjoy cooking on a wood-burning cookstove, (2) you love to can/dry/freeze food grown in your own garden, (3) and can grow a garden big enough that your family will never starve. And if that's not enough, your cookware is all cast-iron! "No effeminate, way-too-gay designer no-stick cookware for this lady!," I exclaimed. "Just give her a good, old-fashioned cast-iron skillet and 'Dinner Is Done!'"

We all got a good laugh from my schtick, but your photos gave my friends some "food for thought." Your husband is one lucky man to be married to you! *warm smile*

Well, Thank You so Much!

LOL! Thank you for being gracious about it. A couple days after I posted, I was thinking "what on earth made me post THAT?!" It must be my Seasonal Affective Disorder. Or something...

Anyway, some friends and I have been watching what the Feds have been doing to the economy. Our consensus is that the USA is heading for a crash. And not just the 1930s, either, because too many people are now dependent on the government instead of on God and each other. Because of the energy and fiscal policies enacted by Washington, when the dominoes start falling we fear this crash is going to take us all the way back to Little House on the Prairie, in that you better grow your own food and preserve it or you will starve. A crash unlike anything the USA has ever seen before, where we may witness Americans killing one another for food.

About that time I came across your photostream, and while looking at it I realized those most likely to survive this crash are those who are the most "disconnected from the grid" as possible. Especially where growing and preserving your own food is concerned -- and living as far away from populated urban areas as possible. Your photos that I saw told me you already had this figured out; that you were way ahead of the curve.

And so, in my usual "male chauvinist pig" style of humor, I saluted you to my fellow Eagles as the "gold standard" in "desirable marriage material," not only for the "guy humor" aspect but also because, no matter how severe this crash may be, you strike me as someone who's going to survive regardless of the odds. Thus, as I said, your husband is a lucky man to be married to you.

In closing, I apologize for the awkwardness of the post, and I do appreciate your responding as graciously as you have!

I too am worried about the economy, it is Great that your Friends are thinking about ways to take care of themselves,just "in case". In the late 70's I lived with out electricity in a old log cabin, for quite awhile. The old fashioned ways and love to do things with my hands. Tho now, live with many modern conveniences, some I'll never like(microwave ovens etc.) but if we had to make the way back to the 1800's, it wouldn't be too much of a shock. Yes,start collecting those Heirloom Seeds for your Garden!

wow! fantastic collection!

Thank You!

Holy Molly! What a wealth!

GermanDragon so funny, said that you are a new gold marriage material, but so true! Some women don't even know how to cook beans, I was always wondering how do they expect to get married :)

@Gdaiva Being a 53-yo man, I'm probably somewhat biased in my viewpoint. That notwithstanding, within my own lifetime I've seen my country's (USA) culture turned upside down. You see, when I was a kid the husband was expected to provide for the family, and the wife was expected to do the domestic choirs while also raising the children. Her most important responsibility above all was to impart to the children their history, moral values, and to bring them up as law-abiding citizens. In this regard, the husband was more expendable than the wife, for she was raising up possibly the next generation of leaders.

Nowadays, it's a mess around here. :(

Many of us here in the USA openly question when our economy is going to crash. Some even fear that the crash will be so severe that we will witness Americans killing one another for food. That's why I remarked to 7thSwan as I did, for she truly is a "rare bird" around here: She can cook on a wood-burning cookstove, she cans what she can grow in her garden (as well as meat from what her husband hunts). She is, as we call it, "unplugged from the grid" in that if the economy died tomorrow and all utiliities were shut down, she has the skills to keep her family alive.

As for the women who, as you say, "can't even cook beans", well, they will starve with all the others who are not learning to prepare for the future.

You are Right Dragon! My Mom and her family escaped a camp in Russia, at the end of WW2, came here thru Germany. They about starved, except for my Grandmothers skills at foraging for food. My Grandmothers stories had a huge influence on me as a child. The things going on in our Country literally have me Terrorised,not to get too political, but something in me scenes pure Evil.

Gdavia, Boy, I wish I was better at cooking beans! I'm much better at Pasta and Potatoes:-)

@7thswan: I was wondering what had inculcated such survival skills within you. I can see how your Grandma's stories could influence you like that. Hopefully you've been able to pass them down to your children as well.

I understand what you mean about "sensing something Evil" descending upon our country. I sense the same thing, as do many other people. It seems there is a force "out there" that hates what America was founded upon and represents, and so it wants to rot America out from within by a seemingly coordinated take-over of academia, government, news media, education, and the arts. It wants to force its message to the exclusion of all else, towards the end of snaring and/or corrupting as many unwitting Americans as possible.

How intresting and fortunate for your mom's family, 7thswan. Unfortunately my mom's family didn't escape from comunist's camp. But we survived and learnt a lot. What i see now in US the sadest part for me, that most people don't see and don't want to see whats coming. Scary? Yes, a liltle, but i think i'll survive. I wish, though, that would many more could survive, but i know they wont....unfortunately

German Dragon, I have no children of my own,my choice, as being a Parent is the most Awesome Gift. From many things I've learned from a young, innocent age, there was/is no way I'd take the position lightly. Maybe that is the way it was meant to be, Mothering Nature and her gifts have given me a connection to something that is important, possibly a lost sense such as Hearing, Tasting ect., I don't know how to make words of it, it's not anything I've had anything to do with. I just Follow. No matter...what is going on here with our Home, the fight instinct has become Fierce in me,catches one off gaurd.We all come to things in our own time, I so Respect, now, those that give their Everything for our Country. God Bless America, and those that Serve.

Gdaiva, I'm so Sorry. I can't imagine the pain. My Grandma had 13 siblings, all gone during the war. As far as seeing, my Mother doesn't want to see, she has said it can never happen here. That is what the enemy wants our people to think.I'm sure you will survive, there is nothing that can ready one- better than the Truth. Your picture is Beautiful, you Will survive, and Keep the Smile,no matter what.

If I might suggest it, I recommend that you write a book retelling all the stories that your Mom and Grandma told you about her escape from the Russian camp. I think it would make for compelling reading, and is something the world needs to be told.

GermanDragon, you are right. My Grandmother could only speak very little english. I would like very much to research my Grandparents. My Grandmothers Grandfather was the Horse Breeder/Trainer for Czar Nicholas. When the Bolsheviks(best I can figure so far)came thru seizing Farms and such, He was hung because he shot his prize Stallion the Czar had given to him as a retirement gift. He shot the Horse, rather than let them take it.My Grandmother also told of a bag of coins with the face of the Czar , he had given, they buried it at a specific corner of the big barn. Grandma also told, that they hid some of the Money by wrapping yarn around it, to hide it as they traveled,because they were kicked off their farm. Such a change they went from, they lived the Aristocratic lifestyle, to absolutely nothing.Funny, my Grandma still had that little trace of "uppityness". But she was such a wise strong Woman.

WOW! Here I thought I had alot of cast iron(mine,my mothers,grandmothers and mother-in-laws).lol