I had this conversation once with my oldest daughter, Shannon, who is much like me in this respect, in that she derives the same pleasure and satisfaction from doing things "the hard way". I think that we both decided it is because we come from "pioneer stock". My Great Grandfather was a homesteader in southern Idaho. He signed up for a hundred acres, built himself a sod home to start with and went to work growing sugar beets, potatoes and corn. He had to make good with his crops for a period of time and then the acreage became his. He then built a great big farmhouse for his bride, my grandmother and they continued working together to provide for their family. I still remember their farm and apple orchard and fields. I remember my Great Grandmother sending me down to the cellar, (it was dark and scarey), to get apples for her to make some applesauce for us for breakfast. (To go along with the oatmeal, bacon, eggs and biscuits that she also fixed every morning!) You have to realize that my Great Grandfather had already put in at least two hours of work on an empty stomach before this first meal of the day, so a hearty breakfast was necessary! Now, of course, I do not eat breakfasts like that, but I very much enjoy the "putting by" as it used to be called, and the doing for yourself rather than totally relying on the grocery store. So, there's the theory as to why I am the way I am. I blame it on my Great Grandparents who rode the immigrant train west to make a place for themselves.
This picture is of my Great Grandfather, (seated) and his brother and one of their first crops of potatoes. You can see how Idaho became the potato state, SEVEN potatoes, SEVEN feet tall!
God Blessed America!
