We Took to the Woods

By Louise Dickinson Rich

Originally published in 1942

Here I am, reading one of my favorite books of all time in one of the most comfortable chairs.  When I’ve mentioned to people that We Took to the Woods is on my list of favorites, most are unfamiliar with it.  The author chronicles the years she spent in the remote woods of Maine after marrying her husband in the 1930’s.  

She left behind a conventional life as a high school English teacher to become a homesteader in a tough, yet beautiful area of the country.  Part of the year, after the lake froze over, there was no way out.  Except during logging season, there were very few people for many miles around.  Then, during logging season, the people that were around were quite colorful characters.  

Her practicality shows through in her clear, concise writing style.  The calmness is which she chronicles her sometimes humorous, sometimes dangerous adventures shows the strength of character she needed to raise a family in the Maine woods.  When I read Louise Dickinson Rich’s book, I feel like I’m sitting by her fire and she’s recounting the stories to me personally.  

I’ve wondered why I love this book so much.  I really have no desire to live the life she did.  While I enjoy spending a lot of time in nature, I really, really enjoy my indoor plumbing.  While I don’t like grocery shopping, I do appreciate being able to get to the store more than once or twice a year. 

I think this book is a favorite because I’m inspired by the courage the author had to live her life in a way that was so far from what everyone else expected from her.  I wonder what this world would be like if we all paid less attention to conventions.  To have the courage to follow a dream, regardless of what society will think, is an admirable quality.

Is there anything you would have done differently, if society wasn’t pressuring you to follow the norm?

How to Eat Well Though Rationed

Martha Reynold’s Recipes That Save Points

Nutrition Hints, Preserving

Copyright 1943, Chicago Times Inc., Chicago, IL

“How to turn the colored stamps in the War Ration Book into hearty, healthy meals is a problem for the experienced housewife as well as the new bride.”

Written at a time in our nation’s history when frugality was not only a household necessity, but also a patriotic duty, this book gives recipes and tips for serving the healthiest meals possible with minimal waste.  The housewife is given the responsibility to keep the family healthy and well fed in order to support the war effort.  Men need proper nutrition in order to serve in the armed forces and the rest of us need strength to keep the home front flourishing.

One tip for stretching the meat ration involves saving bits of meat remaining from several dinners in the refrigerator.  Then, to make sandwiches for the children’s lunches, grind the meat pieces with some pickles and salad dressing.  I can only imagine how this would go over at my house!

Dessert recipes are included that use sweeteners other than sugar, such as syrup or honey.  

Sexist sentiments in this book aside, I’m reminded of the great spirit of the American people to come together in times of great need.

During World War II, we saw this quality when households were faced with rations on not only food but on gasoline, tires, nylons and more.  The greatest sacrifice, of course, was of the young men heading to war.  

In present times, I see this quality during times of natural disasters.   When a community is devastated by a tornado, neighbors rush in to help.  Stories of bravery and sacrifice abound as strangers come to the rescue.  

So much has changed since the 1940’s, but some things remain the same.  Great adversity still brings us together.  

Following is a recipe from this cookbook that my family has enjoyed:

Golden Cheese and Rice

½ cup raw, white rice, washed

3 cups scraped, shredded, raw carrots

2 cups grated, processed American cheese (I used cheddar)

2 eggs, beaten

1/8 teaspoon pepper

1 ½ teaspoons salt

2 tablespoons minced onion

½ cup milk

Cook rice, as in boiled rice, adding carrots the last 5 minutes of cooking.  Drain.  Combine with remaining ingredients, reserving ½ cup cheese.  Place in a greased, or oiled, 1 ½ quart casserole, and sprinkle remaining cheese on top.  Bake in a moderate oven of 350 degrees F. for 30 minutes.  Serves 6.

The Wonder of Girls

Hallmark Cards, Inc.

A little booklet of poems from Hallmark Cards is another memory from my childhood.  Today, on Mother’s Day and my oldest child’s college graduation, one poem impresses me in particular. 

      

 Invitation Accepted

Laura and her Mom

          She stands by me

         this child of three,

          Holding out

         a picture book;

          Her eyes in upward

          pleading look.

          I think of pressing

          tasks of day,

          Of waiting things

         of near demand,

          Yet swiftly reach

          for her small hand,

          And go with her

          to Fairyland

     -Katherine Edelman

Fortunately, I can read this poem today with no regrets.  As a child of three, my own mother always took the time to read to me.  This is why today, I can look at books I still own from my childhood and remember so clearly every picture on every page.  The hours spent looking at the pages while they were read to me have ingrained the drawings in my mind.   

What is ingrained in my heart, though, is the idea that someone cared enough to pause their busy day to sit next to me and read.  

As my daughter graduates from college, I’m confident that she has had this same feeling.  Housework always needed attention, but not at the expense of showing a little girl that she is treasured above all else.  I can think of little else that expresses this to a child better than reading books with them!

1944 CAULDRON

It is an interesting moment in life when one first catches a glimpse of what their parents were like before children appeared.  For me, this moment came years ago while looking through the Downers Grove High School Yearbook from 1944.  There, I saw my Mother, shyly glancing at the camera.  There, I saw my Father, a rambunctious cheer leader and comedic actor. 

Today is his 86^th birthday.  86! 

He never tires of telling the story of how he met his future wife.  Word is that they were in the same Spanish class.  She was a good student.  He, not so much, at least as far as language was concerned.  They were seated next to each other.  My Mom says it’s because she was so quiet that by seating them together, the teacher thought he would quiet down and study. He ended up dropping out of the class.  He still, however, managed to stop by and talk to the quiet girl he was just getting to know. 

That year, they attended a dance together.  My Dad tells how he walked all the way to my Mom’s house to pick her up, and then together they walked to the high school.  After the dance, they walked to town to eat.  Finally, he walked her home, and then had to walk all the way back to his house.  The smile on his face as he tells the story is priceless.

Fast forward not quite 70 years, nine children, many grandchildren, and even a few great grandchildren later.

What lessons have I learned from them?  Too many to tell.  But a few stand out. 

Everyone makes mistakes.

It takes strength to seek forgiveness.

It takes strength to give forgiveness.  

Love is a decision. 

Thanks, Mom and Dad. 

Oh, and Happy Birthday Dad!