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The magic of Home Ec class…

July 24, 2014 By Talya Tate Boerner 27 Comments

The last time I was home on the farm, I found this black and white photo of my mother. On the back she had written made brown dog in Home Ec. junior high 1954. Ahhh, the magic of Home Ec.

See the brown dog on the shelf behind her bed?

Then I noticed the brown dog in the guest bedroom (the room my sister and I once shared). I don’t remember ever having seen it before.

The Bat Cave contains many treasures.

Sweet!

This reminded me of my own Home Ec class in the 1970s. At the time, I thought it was pointless and even tried to take shop class with the boys, but Momma and Daddy wouldn’t hear of it. Home Ec turned out to be one of the most enjoyable classes at Keiser Junior High. During that one hour a day, we learned a bit about cooking and sewing and a lot about ourselves. In a room full of girls without the distraction of cute boys, the hour felt safe and easy. Our young teacher was approachable. There was nothing we couldn’t ask; no topic off limit.

I never learned to sew, nothing more than a straight seam anyway, but I still remember the special time we spent together in the Home Ec kitchen and classroom.

Home Ec is now considered passé. Like cursive writing and hot cafeteria food and the Pledge of Allegiance, so many things have disappeared in favor of progress or technology or political correctness. Gradually. No big deal. Until it makes a big difference in our society.

I say bring back Home Ec.

Grace Grits and Gardening

Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

Musical Pairing:
Tim McGraw – Back When

Bring Back the Saddle Oxford!

July 5, 2014 By Talya Tate Boerner 10 Comments

I think it’s high time the saddle oxford reappear on the fashion scene.

A few days ago, John and I saw Jersey Boys, the film version of the Tony-Award winning musical. Loved everything about it. If I could go back in time, I’d visit the 1950s. The iconic music. Poodle skirts. The jitterbug. The saddle oxfords…

In the 1970s, we wore saddle oxfords as part of our cheerleader uniforms. It took weeks to break in a new pair, and until that time, giant Band-aids protected our heels. In junior high, we sometimes threaded gold and black pom pons through the laces to match our uniforms.

Keiser Jr. High School Cheerleaders 1974

In high school, our saddle oxfords were red and white instead of the traditional black and white. I thought that was cool.

Men still have oxford options (especially with golf shoes), and some kids today wear saddle oxfords as part of their official school uniforms, but for the most part, saddle shoes have disappeared. Every other shoe style seems to have circled back. Platforms. Peep toes. Ballet flats. Clogs. But the saddle oxford? I think it’s high time. They go with everything.

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/489907265688006524/

Are you with me?

Grace Grits and Gardening

Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

Musical Pairing:

Frankie Valli – Can’t Take My Eyes Off You

Do you remember making Valentine’s Day boxes?

February 13, 2014 By Talya Tate Boerner 15 Comments

a snippet from my book (coming soon)…

Other than snow days, the only wintertime excitement was our class Valentine’s Day party. In fifth grade, we nearly lost the privilege because we were so bad. At least that’s what Miss Friend threatened each morning before first recess. The thing is, we weren’t any worse than we were in fourth grade. Or third grade. Or any grade. We were always the same, just older and bigger.

The real issue was Miss Friend.

She had no control.

After lunch when Miss Friend was worn to a frazzle, she let us work on our Valentine boxes. This was pretty smart on her part. The girls could sit for hours and hours gluing pink and red pieces of construction paper to the shoeboxes brought from home. Sometimes Miss Friend even brought out the red and silver glitter—an extra special treat.

Even though the boys didn’t care one iota about their Valentine boxes, they were quiet too. They could sit for hours squirting blobs of Elmer’s glue on their fingertips, and then pulling it off like dried skin.

Grace Grits and Gardening

Musical Pairing:

Be My Valentine, Vince Guaraldi Trio

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Food. Farm. Garden. Life.