I Wonder What our Ancestors Would Think

 We live in a time of instant gratification.  We can do about anything today with little effort.  We have fancy phones that also entertain with TV, movies and the Internet.  We have cars that can get us anywhere in no time at all.  We have appliances that do absolutely everything - cook, clean, sweep, mix, chop, blend, wash and dry.......... you name it.

We can buy a fancy home pre-made and fill it with furniture with little effort.  We have our grocery stores that sell food and other items from all over the world.  We buy clothes and household items and linens in beautiful colors. 

We have access to EVERYTHING!

Voo-Doo or magic is what some distant ancestors would think!!!!

Remember - there was a time when there were no towns, cities or commercial areas.  Someone had to come through an area and clear the land just to make a hap-hazard road.  Someone had to build that rural village.

I think about how life had to be - and honestly I can't even imagine.

They cleared the way for roads - they cut trees to clear land to build.  They looked for areas with a water source.  They built their  own homes from the trees that were cut.  They made furniture.  

They used wood for heat and cooking.  

They had to create everything!!!!

The hunted and fished.  They grew what they could.  

At some point in time - everyone lived only with what they and the land could provide.

Slowly areas grew and small towns started.  Some items began to get traded, bartered and bought.  Even today, some folks live very far off the beaten track and live off the grid and very simply.

I have tremendous respect for all my ancestors.  If they had not persisted and worked hard - I wouldn't be here today - nor YOU!

Just think about it.  They built their homes with the wood of the land.  They chopped wood for heat and cooking.  They used wash boards and the creek to launder clothes (and body).

They had to raise grain for feed for livestock and to grind for themselves.  

They had to grind their own corn.

The gardened and canned, preserved, smoked and salted whatever they could.

They had to make everything.  Clothes and bedding.  Soap to clean themselves and their laundry.  They cooked over fire.  

They churned butter.  They tapped trees for syrup (sugar).    They spun wool.  They wasted absolutely nothing!!!!!!  They couldn't - everything was needed to survive or for their animals to survive.

Ever heard of fish head soup?  Head cheese?  They ate every part of an animal (including all organs).  They used the hides for warmth, clothing, shoes, etc.

People died - they had to make coffins (if used), dig graves and make markers.

Women and children had to work just as hard as men.  No one was exempt.  Children learned to hunt and fish and trap at an early age.  They learned to help with gardens.  Women did a bunch of of the gardening, the preserving and even dispatching of farm animals (to ready to eat).  Women often took care of everything at the home while men went on long hunts or worked in mines or logged for a living.

Gardens were often terraced on hill/mountain sides - as folks lived in the valleys for protection and water.  Many still do this today in the Appalachia area.

They learned to glean the land - hunting for nuts, berries, mushrooms, animals, fruit......

For entertainment the sang and played instruments.  They read their Bibles.  They grew tobacco and learned to make moonshine!  Heck, everyone in this world has had vices - and these ventures often provided good income!

I just can't imagine what they would think today.  The first settlors were so primitive (in all countries) and had a work ethic that didn't stop.  They couldn't stop or they would die.

They had tremendous faith.  They had to - to set off on such adventures and not know what was ahead.

Today we are soft.  Life is truly easy.  We are spoiled.  Yes, there are still poor people and people who live in areas that are not modernized - but for most of us - we truly want for nothing.

We complain when an item is out of stock at the store.  Oh no, no pumpkin!  Oh no, no TP!  Oh no, no tomatoes!  It seems most people don't take the time to think of an alternative to situations.

If the car breaks down - what will we do?  My goodness, we have so many alternatives and none that those folks could even imagine.  They walked or rode a horse for miles and miles.

I don't want to cook - run to the fast food joint.

I can buy anything - furniture, clothes, pretties, food, medicine, animal feed, etc.

I have had this all on my mind for a few days.  I heard someone belly aching about absolutely everything in their life and how unfair it all was - and the truth be known - they are just flipping lazy and want it all handed to them. (the situation I heard).

Ticks me off to no end.

Self and instant gratification seems to be the way of the world today.  I find this so sad.

I am guilty too.  We all like our luxury and ease of getting things.

I have such great admiration for the first settlers who learned everything the hard way and yet survived.  Life was never easy and the work was difficult and never ending. (could be why no one smiled in pictures!).  Sacrifice was made daily - just to survive.

Thanks to them - we are here today - living a wildly good life!!!!

Thanks for reading.  Just have had these wonderful people on my mind lately.  This is my way of celebrating them!

(pictures are not mine - stock pictures)