How Did My Grandma Do It??

Sunday, November 27, 2011

How Did My Grandma Do It??

Hubby's birthday is tomorrow so we decided to celebrate today (Sunday). In my head I thought I was planning a low-key celebration for our little family. The celebration was supposed to have three parts:

1. Making Hubby's favorite meal (chicken and spinach lasagna from scratch)
2. Making cupcakes to use for singing Happy Birthday so that the kids could help blow out the candles
3. Making fossil handprint ornaments as a gift for Daddy

Although the lasagna is a bit labor-intensive, I thought this sounded totally a totally reasonable plan. I will admit that I'm not the best cook ever. In fact, I take no offense when Hubby makes fun of my cooking because I'm bad. Very bad. However, he does love my chicken lasagna. I planned to have Munchkin Girl help me with the baking. I started everything at 3:30.

By about 5:30 (two hours after I started) this is how my kitchen looked and I was beginning to think I had taken on too much:

Dishes littered the counters. Food was everywhere. Munchking Girl lost interest about thirty minutes in, so the the kids were tackling each other and crying in the other room. I still didn't have a complete meal, cupcake, or ornament. I was beginning to worry that it would be 8:00 before we were ready for our birthday celebration.

This got me to wonder, how on EARTH did my Grandma do this every day??? Back in the 50s, I know they made meals from scratch every single day and usually dessert as well. I've wondered this before, but seriously. I'm super glad this is a Sunday activity that I don't do often.

I persevered and pretty soon everything came together. Munchkin Girl started working on the ornaments:

The cupcakes and lasagna were finally done and the birthday cupcake was ready:

The fossils even turned out pretty well and I made a few extras for Christmas presents. All in all, it turned out well, but yet again, I'm soooo happy to be a Modern Mommy with a microwave and plenty of pre-made meals options.

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10 comments:

Mama FinchNovember 27, 2011 at 8:01 PM
Isn't it amazing the things our grandmothers accomplished in a day? I know mine not only cooked from scratch, but also grew most of what they ate and sewed all their clothes. I guess we have it better than we think.
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Shannon BreenNovember 28, 2011 at 2:34 PM
Oh, lets not even talk about those women of the past! I get such an inferiority complex. ;) Not only do I think of all the cooking but all the dish washing (without a dishwasher). Ugh!
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J.November 28, 2011 at 3:17 PM
Amen and amen! Just thinking about washing clothes by hand like my mom had to do as a kid--depression era--makes me cringe.
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Diane T.November 28, 2011 at 6:21 PM
How did you make the fossil hand print ornaments? Sounds like something I'd love to do with my kids!
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stlavonladyNovember 28, 2011 at 9:50 PM
I love making homemade gifts. Even though it takes more time, it also helps us slow down and enjoy each other. I remember making the hand print ornaments when I was younger.

Following you from the Monday blog hop and I would love a follow back. Have a good rest of the week!

Julie from Stlavonlady Beauty Tips and Tricks, Savings & More
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Grace InAZNovember 28, 2011 at 10:10 PM
I'm glad all turned out well@
New follower from Get Connected Tuesday. Stop by & follow me, too. Growing Old With Grace http://growing-old-with-grace.blogspot.com/.
Hugs, GraceinAZ
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JoDecember 1, 2011 at 7:37 AM
Hi, visiting you from Thoughtful Thursday Blog Hop....love this post, makes you stop and think....Please come on over to http://wts2011.blogspot.com/ and follow our journey!
Thanks
Jo
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ShilohDecember 1, 2011 at 11:11 AM
Lol, I've wondered the same thing too. Or even a little earlier than that when they did all that, and their laundry by hand.
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Jessica @FoundtheMarblesDecember 1, 2011 at 6:50 PM
It is pretty amazing when you think about it. I wouldn't survive without my microwave.

Everyone talks about how much simpler life was then, but I don't think it's simplicity. I think it's fewer distractions.
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EricaDecember 3, 2011 at 8:51 PM
Thanks for stopping by www.callemami.com! Great blog!
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Sunday, November 27, 2011