California is having a major drought and many of our lakes are shrinking and may even go completely dry. That's probably why I was drawn to re-read the book, Gone-Away Lake when I noticed the title in one of my bookcases.
Elizabeth Enright wrote the book back in the 1950s when I was a kid. It's about some children who wander into the woods near their summer home and discover a village of dilapidated old houses next to what is now a swamp, but was once a lake. And the houses aren't completely deserted.
The kids become friends with the aged people who live there, learn a lot about the past, and one of them even has a terrifying encounter with quicksand. The book is fun, educational, and heartwarming.
Of course this story could never happen today; children are not allowed to go outside without adult supervision (in some places allowing that is considered child abuse) and they certainly wouldn't talk to strangers or wander off alone into the woods.
But it's not impossible that summer cabins on the shores of lakes that dry up may become deserted and dilapidated. I hope our lakes don't become gone-away.
Showing posts with label Drought. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Drought. Show all posts
Saturday, April 25, 2015
Friday, March 20, 2015
Bathing
Back in earlier centuries when lots of America was farmland or forests and modern plumbing wasn't available most people usually bathed once a week. They might have used metal or wooden wash tubs for their baths. The water would have been carried from wells, streams, rivers or lakes and heated over wood burning stoves.
Usually the father would take the first bath, and he'd probably be sweaty and dirty from his labor.
Then the mother would use the same water for her bath, followed by the children from the oldest to the youngest.
By the time the last child bathed, the water must have been very dirty, but carrying and heating separate tubfulls would have been a lot of work.
In California we're having a drought and have been asked to cut back on our water usage. The drought would have to be mighty severe for families to bathe only once a week and share one tub of water. Thank Heaven we aren't having one that serious!
Usually the father would take the first bath, and he'd probably be sweaty and dirty from his labor.
Then the mother would use the same water for her bath, followed by the children from the oldest to the youngest.
By the time the last child bathed, the water must have been very dirty, but carrying and heating separate tubfulls would have been a lot of work.
In California we're having a drought and have been asked to cut back on our water usage. The drought would have to be mighty severe for families to bathe only once a week and share one tub of water. Thank Heaven we aren't having one that serious!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
