Friday, December 14, 2018

Keeping Warm in 1700's

The average family was not well off.  They would live in a 1 room house with no separate bedrooms, kitchen, or closets. All the family activities where typically around the homes fireplace. As homes were cold and drafty most did all their activities during the cold season by candle light and wood fire. The average family had a small fire place that was badly designed and most of the heat would escape. The fire place served as the kitchen too. Some families with children would create a loft with wooden ladder for children to sleep in. One of the ways they kept warm were sleeping side by side (body heat). They kept all their clothing on no matter of cleanliness. Also, the heat rising from the fire place would help. The parents would sleep below to keep an eye on the fire and keep it going. This would provide a bit of privacy for the parents as well. The examples above is a typical home found in the USA. There are many different kinds of homes depending on your families financial status. 

 Other ways people kept warm were by keeping busy. Daily chores would not only provide task completion but warmth by moving the body. At night to help warm their beds stones or coals placed inside linens or bed warmers (see below) were used. These were used between sheets and blankets. Average home would have many homemade quilts and blankets that would be piled up on top of one another for warmth at night. 

Clothing and hygiene was different during those times as well. The average person would not bathe weeks, months or just 1/2 times a year. Which did not help with illness and disease.

The clothing of the average family or working person was made for functionality. It would serve for warmth during the cold but not comfort or fashion. The outer layer of clothing would be made of wool (typically itchy) underneath the linen would help with the scratchiness of the wool. The linen fabric would serve as a layering piece as well. Most of the time these where not washed or removed for extended periods of time. It was said they believe the smoke/peat from fires would act as a deodorizer for clothing worn. So, it would not be surprising if most smelled of smokey clothing and body odor.


 Coats consisted of wool and animal skins. Hoods and smaller interior hats of linen would keep the head and body warm. Coats/Capes where typically made of wool and animal skins. Hunters would have leather (animal skin) pants and jackets that would be worn during all kinds of seasons. These would keep skin dry from snow and rain. They also wore mittens during those times made of leather or wool. 

 



Thursday, December 13, 2018

Homemakers Pantry and Prepping Challenge

Here are some canned foods I bought from the Dollar Tree today to help expand my pantry and prepping efforts.A friendly reminder most Dollar Tree stores accept manufacturer coupons. Please visit their website for the coupon rules www.dollartree.com. I looked up prices online to see what my savings are and I was pleasantly surprised. 

How to Extend Your Canned Goods:
Simple ways to extend canned meals by adding chicken/beef stock, vegetables, rice, noodles, or all. These canned foods are also good for left over chicken or beef you simply break it up add and touch up with spices. 

Crider Dark Chunk Chicken 10oz goes for $2.17 at Walmart
my savings are $1.17
Campbells Kitchen Classics Chicken Noodle Soup 14.5 oz cost 
online $1.98 my savings are $.98 cents
Campbells Kitchen Classics Beef Barley Soup 14.5 oz cost 
online $1.98 my savings are $.98 cents
Hormel Chili made with Chicken 10.5oz cost online $2.00 my savings are $1.00
Hanover Wedding Bell Soup 15oz goes for $1.58 online my savings are $.58 cents