Christmas Comes To A Delta Log Cabin

 I happened upon this iconic log cabin in Bernie, Missouri (yes, it's a part of the Delta), several years ago when we arrived at White House Creations for a unique shopping experience . . .It was an added bonus that we knew nothing about. . .Finding such a place of history representing the families of our Delta past come few and far between these days. . .There was a time. . .and not so long ago and even into the latter half of the 20th century. . .that scenes such as this were not uncommon. .but with 'progress' more and more of our farm family houses fell into ruin. . .

But there was a time when even the simplest of Delta farm houses were decorated every Christmas in as grand a style as possible for the pocketbook. . .Rows of tenant houses on the back roads of farms and the countryside sported strings of lights outlining the humble porches. . .homemade wreaths on the doors. . .and a Christmas tree always in the window. . .Everyone celebrated Christmas. . .with few exceptions. . .

I was so thrilled recently when I visited Dottie's White House Creations to find that true to a love of Delta history, her old log cabin close-by was decked out inside and out with Christmas cheer. . .I just had to snap a lot of photos. . .to capture a snippet of a time long gone but still in the hearts of so many of us. . .

Dottie and I share many of the same memories of growing up in Northeast Arkansas and the Bootheel of Missouri. . .It was a way of life common to us both. . .I can also relate to her childhood stories of Missouri. . .My Duncan grandparents lived in Kennett. . .I have roamed all over the Bootheel with Daddy and my Granny. . .Life in both areas was pretty much the same. . .based on agriculture and the small towns that served the communities. . .and Christmas was no different. . .Celebrated and decorated by all, it was a time of truly great joy and anticipation. . .

No matter how common and simple. . .

By the way, for a true Delta experience from the past, you can spend the night here, too. . .Just call Dottie at White House Creations in Bernie, MO, and she will give you all the details. . .

SEASONED SOUTHERN STYLE: A List of Basics From Mom's Kitchen Cupboards

 

I was checking my kitchen cupboards one day, making a list for the grocery, when I realized something was wrong. At first I didn't know what the problem was. Then I realized they didn't resemble Mom's--nor mine up to the early 90s--much at all. Yes, I do cook from scratch, but today's recipes call for items my mother would never have dreamed adding into her dishes. . .Recipes nowadays seem to call for so many ingredients that will only be used for that one dish. . .My shelves were full of items I knew I really didn't need. . .and most I did not want. . .You see, I have found that I am not a fan of many dishes that are different from the basics of Southern cooking. . .Although I do appreciate trying new ones whenever we eat out or by my own hand, I most often return to the foods I know so well. . .I don't search Pinterest for new recipes much anymore either because I have more than enough in my own collection from the family. . .tweaking them when necessary for my gluten free diet. . .

I thought about all this as I looked at those stuffed shelves while visualizing Mom's kitchen cupboards. . .She had less of them for one thing. . .Yet, none were stuffed full. . .All were well organized, too. . .Maybe I should follow her example? . .It would certainly be simpler. . .

I had to sit down and think about this. . .for a while. . .

So. . .what WAS in Mom's cupboards? Pretty basic stuff. . .however, she created absolutely delicious, nutritious and a wide variety of meals. . .True. . .most of our vegetables and fruits were home canned or frozen fresh. . .The meats came from the farm or the chickens in the backyard. . .Daddy fished all the time, so at least one meal a week was fried fish and hushpuppies. . .Cornmeal was about the only addition needed. . .but what else did we have in our cupboards? . .I began to make a list. . .and went beyond the cupboards. . .to add the refrigerator and freezer, too. 

MOTHER’S KITCHEN CUPBOARDS

Flour, Cornmeal, Oats, Sugar, Brown Sugar, Powdered Sugar, Karo Syrup-Light, Cocoa, Unsweetened Chocolate, Salt, Baking Soda, Baking Powder, Cream of Tartar, Vanilla Extract, Almond Extract, Vegetable Oil, Crisco, Cake Mixes

White Rice, Elbow Macaroni, Shell Macaroni, Spaghetti Noodles, Egg Noodles, Crackers, White Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes in season, Dried White Beans, Dried Pinto Beans

Pecans, Chocolate Chips, Raisins, Jello, Instant Puddings

Black Pepper, Bay Leaf, Chili Powder, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Oregano, Thyme, Mustard Seed, Dry Mustard, Celery Seed, Allspice, Cinnamon, Cloves, Ginger

Vinegar, Prepared Mustard, Ketchup, Salad Dressing/Mayo, Salad Dressings, Lemon Juice, Pancake Syrup, Sorghum Molasses, Worcestershire Sauce, A-1 Steak Sauce

Home Canned: Green Beans, Tomatoes, Tomato Juice, Tomato Relish, Pickles, Chow-Chow, Kraut, Beets, Pickled Beets, Pears, Pickled Peaches, Pickled Okra, Hot Pepper Vinegar

Strawberry Jam, Blackberry Jam, Peach Jam, Pear Jam, Pear Butter, Apple Butter

Bought Canned Goods: English Peas, Green Beans, Whole Kernel Corn, Cream Style Corn, Pork and Beans, Mushrooms, Hominy, Tuna, Vienna Sausage, Salmon, Treat or Spam, Tomato Soup, Cream of Mushroom Soup, Cream of Chicken Soup, Vegetable Beef Soup, Chicken Noodle Soup, Sliced Pineapple, Crushed Pineapple, Fruit Cocktail, Mandarin Oranges, Peaches, Flaked Coconut, Evaporated Milk, Sweetened Condensed Milk

 Coffee, Tea, Kool-Aid

Fridge: Milk, Buttermilk, Eggs, Butter, Parmesan Cheese, Cheddar Cheese, American Cheese, Onions, Celery, Green Pepper, Iceberg Lettuce, Cabbage, Carrots

Freezer: Meats: Beef, Pork, Chicken; Homemade Sausage and Bacon; Lake Fish; Cream Corn; Corn on the Cob; Okra; Eggplant; Yellow Squash; Purple Hull Peas; Baby Lima Beans; Green Peppers; Hot Peppers; Mustard Greens; Collard Greens; Turnips cooked with a hot pepper; Red Hot Fried Apples; Apples; Pears; Peaches; Strawberries; Wild Blackberries, Pecans, Ice Cream 

ONE MONTH LATER: I have thought about it long and hard. . .and made a commitment to returning these old farmhouse cupboards to those stocked pretty much as Mom's. . .and probably just in time since grocery shelves are becoming bare of anything but basics. . .I totally believe in the health benefits of cooking from scratch. . .eating fresh anything when available. . .reducing meal sizes back down to those portions of my childhood. . .not eating between meals. . .cutting down on sugars and all junk foods. . .and most of all, enjoying what is cooked, baked, or roasted with our own hands for the pleasure of it. . .While I admit that it does take a lot more time, work, and planning, the benefits I believe will be worth it. . .Let's see how it works this year. . .as we go. . .BACK TO BASICS. . .Mom's basics, that is. . .

Watch for More RECIPES in the coming year. . .

"We Had A Job To Do For This Country. . .And We Did It"

I miss the Greatest Generation tremendously every day. . .but when Veteran's Day rolls around, I miss them even more. . .Of course, they are not the only Vets we celebrate on this day. . .I know many from the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and many, many who served since. . .But a Veteran's Day mostly brings back memories of my Daddy and Uncle Lloyd, sitting around the dinner table, swapping WWII stories. . .I knew every one of them by heart. . .They rarely talked of the hardships. . .It was mostly funny stories. . .but I have been delving into their four years in the Navy and it wasn't easy on either of them. . .Yet. . .both said over and over that they never regreted it. . .

The special thing about these two men was their deep love of country, their patriotism, and their desire to serve for the greater good. . .Daddy never finished high school until after the service. . .He signed up in 1942. . .Uncle Lloyd wasn't far behind. . .Neither could wait to fight for this country, although Uncle Lloyd was only 15. . .as the story above tells. . .Of course there is more to the story. . .

Uncle Lloyd did stay in the Navy but he never saw his brother, my Dad who served in the Mediterranean and whose story I've told on other Veteran's Days. . .Lloyd was shipped off to Hawaii, where he trained for an electrician's mate third class. . .Hawaii was his base, but he was on the Pacific Ocean most of the time. . .repairing submarines. . .More than once, he was stuck on one as it had to leave the area quickly. . .He spoke of the Philippines and Guam and other islands that I longed to see. . . but not during a war. . .He saw some action when a couple of convoys he was in were attacked. . .Mind you, he was only 16 years old by then, but did he go sniffling back to his Mom? . .NO!. . .More than once I heard him agree with Daddy. . ."We had a job to do for this country, and we did it". . .

I tell this story because I think this year more than any others, we need to be reminded that all of our Veterans served with the same loyalty and love of country. . .We cannot forget them. . .We need to thank them and hold them in honor. . .Just like Uncle Lloyd and Daddy, they also have their story. . .but the bottom line is. . ."They each had a job to do for our country. . .and they did it." . . .We are a better country, a safer country, a free country because of them. . .Take a moment and reflect on this. . .and Honor Our Veteran's on this special day of remembrances. . .They are all heroes. . .

And. . .I would like to thank mine. . .

LOVE AND MISS YOU BOTH!

Historic District Recognized In Online Media

Well. . .John said from the beginning that our historic district would one day be on the map! . .But I wasn't sure I agreed. . .Many in Dell laughed. . .It takes a lot of promoting and work just to get the word out. . .which is one of the reasons I began the Country Farm Home and Duncan Farmstead blog. . .We have such a jewel of history and tradition here in Northeast Arkansas that I wanted to share with as many others throughout the country as I could. . .It was because of these blogs that I began getting calls from state agencies, AETN, magazines and newspapers, wanting to cover our story. . .And, on one surprising day, the editor of the nationally published Country Rustic called and asked me to write the farm stories for her magazine. . .It was only to be for a year. . .That was three years ago. . .and I have no plans to stop. . .D.J. loves the stories of our Delta farm area, and they have brought much interest in the way of life here with her readers. . .

Recently I found by accident that we are now in the Encyclopedia of Arkansas! We are officially recognized as a part of Arkansas history now!

In case you are not familiar with the Encyclopedia of Arkansas, it is a free, authoritative source of information about the rich history, geography, and culture of Arkansas. Text entries. . .media galleries. . .places. . .events. . .legends. . .and lore of the 25th state are covered in encyclopedia style. What an honor to be among those! 

WIDNER-MAGERS HISTORIC DISTRICT-ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ARKANSAS 

DELL, AR--EofA--WMFHD MENTIONED 

I decided to search the Widner-Magers Farm Historic District further. I often did this in the past to see if anyone was talking about us, but I have not in several years. Low and behold, there we were on Wikipedia! And sure enough, they marked us on a map! . .John's prediction come true. . .

CHECK IT OUT AT:

 WIDNER-MAGERS FARM ON WIKIPEDIA

Never say "never" folks! . .I have been constantly amazed over the years at the blessings, honors, and interests that have fallen upon us with our sixteen year farm history project. . .It has been the building of a legacy for our Delta area where I had heard for years there was no history at all. . .Wrong. . .There is rich history here. . .and we continue to preserve it. . .We have in no way quit gathering artifacts, farm items and equipment, family genealogy collections, books, research, etc. . .Donations are still gladly accepted and will remain at the historic district long after we are gone. . .That's what a legacy is all about. . .

If you have items or family history you would like to make a part of this ongoing project, we will gladly accept them and enter them into the inventory with your name and a little about it. . .Don't let our history disappear. . .Be a part of the the national exposure that has put us "on the map."

And thank you again to all who have donated and/or helped in some way. . .Dell area history will live on because of you. . .