About

Carrying on Grandma's best traditions; 

improving on what we know better.


  Let's learn more.
Let's listen to yesterday's stories.
Let's make the most of today, for our children's sake.

What if we could all breathe clean air, drink safe water and eat healthy food without spending a fortune on it?  When will we get serious about preventing cancer and other terrible diseases, even if it means taking an honest look at everything in our environment? Why not spend a moment each day thinking of someone who might follow decades later in our footsteps or of anything bigger than ourselves?

I'm the child of full-time family farmers, the daughter of an extraordinary woman who died too soon from cancer, the wife of a man who still cringes when I spend more on organic produce, the mother of children who deserve a healthy start in life just like yours do.  While I try to respect all faiths, mine happens to be Christianity.  

My degree is in broadcast journalism from the University of Missouri.  If you believe that journalism should remain a public trust and want to support independent voices like mine and others you'll find here, please show your support by liking, following, bookmarking and telling everyone you know about this little online magazine. 

Thank you,

Anne

ps: occasionally I do get out of the kitchen and wear shoes

Remembering Mom's Flour Sack Dresses

My grandparents and many others in their day survived the Great Depression with faith, fortitude and self-reliance.  They worked hard because it was the right thing to do.  They raised their own farm animals, grew a large garden and baked their own bread.  They mended and reinforced things instead of throwing them away.  Frugality was necessary for their survival.

Then over the next few years, life got a bit easier.  More convenient, you might say.  As easy as canned goods from the grocery store, fast food from the drive-through, and baby formula. 

Fast forward to today, with poverty, unemployment, hunger and homelessness in the United States.  The new reality is that even the middle class -- people with educations and jobs -- or who at least had solid jobs until a layoff -- are having to watch every penny. 

It turns out that some of the back-to-basics ideas like growing your own food or making stuff last longer might not only be frugal, but better for our health and the environment.  I am thankful for my grandparents' inspiration. 

Could Simpler Be Better?

Sticky Summer Days

What's In It For You?