At the time you're in school, there may be a lot of challenging things, ups-and-downs, and maybe you just want to grow up and graduate! Well, then you get older, and start having selective memory, and have fun thinking about the things you enjoyed in school.
My favorite class was Home Ec. ("Home Economics." I think today they call it "Family and Consumer Sciences.") I loved our teacher, she was a good teacher, could be strict (remember "seam-ripping," anyone?), but she was also a lot of fun. We covered a lot of different things - cooking and baking, nutrition, sewing, crocheting, etc. Back then, the girls started taking Home Ec. when they were 8th-graders, then on through four years of high school. You didn't have to take all four years, but I did and liked it.
Cooking was fun, we divided up into groups, there were four "kitchenettes" in the classroom. We baked. We planned and made meals. We learned canning. I remember tomatoes, relish and marmalade.
One time she taught us to crochet, making a "granny square." My best friend was left-handed, so we sat facing each other, and she copied what I did, and that worked pretty good.
Of course, we all have indelible memories of sewing and RIPPING OUT SEAMS. We'd labor over a straight (so we thought) seam, and show it to her .... if it had a glitch, she'd say, "Rip it out!" So *SIGH* we'd rip it out and do it all over. I remember making a denim-colored skirt, and some blue/gray-check pants that had a YOKE, a BACK ZIPPER, and required matching the fabric at the seams! Ooh, I think that was a poor pick, but somehow I got 'er done.
Now, let me show you something - this is .... my SEWING BOX from all those years of Home Ec.! Don't you just love that nice, bright chartreuse-green? :)
Looking inside - most of this is stuff I've put in through the years since school.
The lid lifts out for more storage underneath.
But believe it or not, there are some things that have been in there since high school! Ummm .... over *30* years ago? Wow! One thing is this seam gauge, which I still use, it's VERY handy.
And can you believe, these squares of marking chalk? Ha ha, "antique chalk."
Back then it was no problem, but NOW ... I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND carrying it by the handle, that latch ain't as secure as it once was!
I LOVED Home Ec. Jacob is taking "Foods" this year and is really enjoying it. They do some fun stuff it sounds like
ReplyDeleteBTW--I've missed you and your blog posts! =)
I loved Home Ec too. I still enjoy cooking and even get some odd comments from gals that I work with because I cook for my family pretty much every night... I have to plan ahead to squish it in between working full time and all the evening activities, but it is important to me. My daughter is involved in theatre and her freshman year, the call went out for people with sewing machines to help with minor alterations on the costumes for Wizard of Oz. Out came my portable sewing machine and my little sewing box that Mom and I put together my 8th grade year. I have a few of Mom's old sewing notions in there... the felt needle book, the tomato pin cushion... always feel closer to Mom when I find these little things that used to be hers.
ReplyDeleteAdd me to the list of home ec class lovers. I took it all 4 years of high school and even took one unit in summer school just because I liked it.
ReplyDeleteI learned so much in home ec- meal planning, cooking, sewing, child care, home management.
fun memories!
Me too...loved Home Ec.!! Stop by and say hi...would love to have you visit. :)
ReplyDeleteBoth my boys are in family and consumer science this year too. .their project last week was to fix a meat, veggie, fruit and bread. .to feed 4. .for $7! They enjoyed the challenge. .but Grant got away thinking that RELISH for a hot dog is REALLY a veggie!!! Hmmm!!
ReplyDeleteThanks gals for your comments! I appreciate and enjoy them all. I've been away from blogging for quite awhile, am hopefully getting back into it. :) I've missed y'all, too, and Farmchick, I'll have to stop by! :)
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