Mother of Invention
11 Nov
A friend of mine sent me this link, which pretty much changed my entire morning outlook today. You need to read these. Really, you do. You know how how I am about sap and feel good links, so go over there now.
I thought I’d include my favorite sign from the bunch, the one that really resonated with me.
This quote ties into something I’ve been thinking about: how to answer Leslie’s question about my grandparents’ farm and its influence on my life/blog/outlook. (You’ll see the connection – I promise). I’ve been writing about days on the farm more frequently for a number of reasons, but I think it’s because I’ve carried a number of philosophies and ideas from that time period into my current life. In recent months, I’ve been more self-examining and thus, I can notice certain traits in myself.
Let’s start with food.
My grandparents taught me the importance of not wasting food, and that’s how this meal (or rather, “invention”) was prepared last night. Old ingredients (still fresh enough) and the usual spices, and I have a belly hug indeed.
We didn’t waste, and we always ate leftovers. That’s how it was. In addition -my grandmother also bakes constantly. Every day (even now, at age 92) you can find a fresh batch of cookies or bread or gobs on her counter.
And if she burned them, it would never get her down – because that’s what she created with her own hands.
I could share a million stories about the farm, but suffice it to say this: we were left to our own devices. We were forced to create, to think creatively. We didn’t watch TV. We built slip and slides out of old tarps and dishwashing soup. We built tree houses out of “Corn for Sale” signs. We were inventors.
So how did the farm influence me as a person/writer/blogger?
1. I appreciate well-made food and natural ingredients. I understand the time it takes to cultivate. I know not every dish will be perfect, but it may still be enjoyed. I am free to experiment in the kitchen.
2. I am a hard worker. I know things don’t come easy. They are not there “for the plucking.” Everything in my life is an invention, an extension of me.
3. I reinvent stories. I retell stories based off real life. I create fictional stories based on things I feel. I want to share the human experience through language.
This is a long-winded answer, but I hope it resonates.
I couldn’t relate more if I tried. Growing up on a farm for me made me into the person I am today!
I love this post. I did not grow up on a farm, but I often wish I had
You should post more about it!
You do an amazing job of sharing the human experience through language. I call it “using my words”.
Great writing, great stories, great blog
Wonderful post — I am sending the invention sign to my sister. She will love it.
i think this is the best response i could have possibly received to that question. i really love this post, rose. the concept of everything in life being an invention. the joy of making things with your hands, good, bad, or different. the rewards of hard work. i think it’s fascinating how our past experiences translate into our philosophies.
but most importantly: “i want to share the human experience through language.” me too. and it’s beautiful.
Great post Rose! And thank you so much for posting that link. I’ve been stressing out about the future (because I don’t know what I want to do as a career) and those quotes were just what I needed. There were so many good ones. Ones I had heard before and ones that I had not. But they were great. Thanks!
I grew up in the country, and although we weren’t technically a farm (but did have pigs for a few years and always grew vegetables), life was definitely different. The summers were long, we were constantly tilling, weeding and watering the garden, then picking vegetables and shucking corn.
One time, I picked corn from the “cow corn” field, and sold it to the neighbors for $2.00 per dozen. When the phone calls started rolling in that evening, my parents didn’t know whether they should be mad at me, or encourage my entrepreneurial prowess. =)
Our favorite place to be was in our “tree house”, which was really just a tree that we climbed and stuck 2 x 4′s between the branches to make seats. Sometimes, we climbed to the top of the dirt pile (“stage”) that bordered our cornfield, turned on the boombox, and pretended we were Aerosmith. TV was no match to being a pretend rock star.
As I approach the days when I will have my own kids, it makes me scared. I live in the city now, and I’m afraid that my kids won’t have the same opportunities as I did. Growing up in the country is a lot different. How do I teach my kids about hard work, imagination, and the bond of community in such a different environment? That is going to be my challenge. =)
Wow. That was long. My bad.
I love this post. Everything about it makes me smile. Last night, I tried to make a portobello & polenta lasagna. I was so excited about it but it looked AWFUL when I took it out of the oven. Instead of eating bummed about it and throwing it away, I ate it. It was delicious! No use crying over “burnt cookies.” Life is too short.
I love this post. I didn’t grow up on a farm, but I did grow up in a very agricultural area with lots of farm values, so I definitely related to this post–thank you for sharing!
I think it’s farmer’s kids but it’s also depression-era kids, because my grandmother is the same way.
And seriously, leftovers just TASTE good!
I love reading your farm stories. This was beautiful.
I love the inspirational site your friend sent you–Im scrolling through now & its great. Thanks for sharing as always. I really loved hearing your relationship to the farm and how its molded you. Beautifully written and captured!
Love that site, and love the quote you’ve posted. It hits close to home for me as well.
you’re not going to believe this..but ive never had lentils! i see you post about them a lot..are they easy to make? i need to give them a shot.
Thanks for this. Well timed.
I love you, Rose Huber. And I love (I typed live on accident and didn’t realize until just before I hit submit… perhaps I should have left it!) this post. It’s very existential/ post-modern, constructionist… or constructivist… I still can’t tell the difference. Anyway, it’s also very narrative therapy, which I mentioned to you before… philosophically and in practice. We should talk more.
That’s a really cool post. And the line I like the best is :
“And if she burned them, it would never get her down – because that’s what she created with her own hands. ”
I love that!
Love that quote. And the leftovers too