Little Heathens by Mildred Armstrong Kalish

Moderator---Kim

Growing up on a farm in Iowa during the Depression years is captured in this lovely memoir by Mildred Kalish.  The work is non-ending.  Every season brings a new challenge.  Money is tight.  The times are hard.  Yet, there are the rewards of family and good food--lots of good food.  And how that generation survives and grows is one of the take-aways the book provides.

For anyone not familiar with farm life or the simplicity of the past--before technology and the internet--this book answers it all.   Medicine included  Vaseline, lard, Vicks and boric acid.   Peroxide was a mainstay.  You knew that to relieve the pain of a bee sting--black mud, ear wax, or baking soda would do the trick.  House cleaning was done without vacuum cleaners, swifters or store bought window cleaners.  Saved wingtips from Geese consumed on the farm made excellent dusters.  Bon Ami kept the windows sparkling clean.  Monday was laundry day and that was a production in itself.  From having to boil the water, to slicing soap, to operating the manual washing paddles, to making starch, to getting the clothes on the line to dry,  Monday was a long day.

And the food--it is fair to say Mildred Kalish ate well and heavy cream and sugar were staples in her diet.  Meals are not only described in the book, she shares plenty of old family recipes with the reader.  Family meals, like big Thanksgiving dinners, were the core of farm life.  Though there was lots of work and children started at an early age doing it, there were also family outings to gather nuts, box socials, singalongs, pets and pranks.

Ms. Kalish wrote her story when she was well into her 80s.  Prior to the memoir, she had a full life that included college, joining the Coast Guard during WWII, furthering her education with the GI Bill, marriage, family and teaching at various colleges around the country.  Her hard work and values followed her.

Winner, winner --Chicken dinner

Compliments of the colonel, fried chicken,
mashed potatoes and gravy with biscuits
and green beans.

"Conjures up memories wherever you grew up."---Kim
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"Good book."---Kathy
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