Go into your kitchen and explore a bit. Do not look for food. Instead, look at all of the appliances that you have. Is there an over the range microwave oven? Maybe there is a range and refrigerator. There is probably a coffee pot, also. All of these things make you life easier than your ancestors. The twenty first century kitchen is a cornucopia of time and work saving appliances. Walk into a kitchen of the past and you see a different scene.

The first thing you notice is plumbing. There is probably no running water available. If so, it may be a hand pump design. There is no be hot water readily available either. This makes things like washing dishes, a little more difficult.

The kitchen may be full of people. Meal preparation is often a team effort. It is not a simple task, these days. You cannot go over to a countertop microwave and place a potato in it. People also gather in the kitchen and talk. They also use the kitchen area for warmth in the winter. The stove is a good source of heat. There is no central heating.

Do you know how to cook on a wood stove? You need a great deal of skill. It also helps to have years of experience. Someone else, usually a male family member will provide wood for fuel. This wood must be cut and split. It must be stacked months ahead of time, to dry.

Are you having trouble finding the refrigerator? Look closer and you may see an icebox. These things keep your food cool to prevent spoilage. They will not freeze ice or food. The iceman brings a large block of ice to your house. He drives a wagon that is pulled by a horse. Ice is put into the icebox. Gradually it melts into a pan below. Someone has to empty the pan. This is a little more involved than opening a refrigerator door.

The only noise in the kitchen will be the conversation of others. Of course, there will be sounds of food preparation. There are no televisions, radios, or CD players. Life is very different than it is today. There is very little spare time. Most of the time is spent on the business of living.

Conclusion

If you go back one hundred years or so, you will find things different. There are no appliances like your ge microwave oven and refrigerator. Most of your time is spent doing essential things. There is very little leisure time. You work much harder than people of the twenty first century. You may know your family and neighbors better. Everyone has to work together to get through the day.

Tagged with: • •