"Let nothing be wasted" John 6:12

Today in my inbox from one of the Yahoo groups I'm in I got the CUTEST little story and I knew right away what I wanted to blog about today.. You see.. and as most of my readers know I LOVE old things.. I love the old fashioned way of living... ( Remember that farm house I wanted.. Ü) One day I hope to actually live like this.. and not really have much to worry about in life.. YES.. I could do it now... but life moves fast.. and I see my children moving fast with it... and even though I'm still one of the very few moms in my area that actually cooks from scratch.. I don't think my kids realize just how relaxed the past days were... So.. let me share the story about the FLOUR SACK.

THE FLOUR SACK
BY COLLEEN B. HUBERT

IN THAT LONG AGO TIME WHEN THINGS WERE SAVED,
WHEN ROADS WERE GRAVELED AND BARRELS WERE STAVED,
WHEN WORN-OUT CLOTHING WAS USED AS RAGS,
AND THERE WERE NO PLASTIC WRAP OR BAGS,
AND THE WELL AND THE PUMP WERE WAY OUT BACK,
A VERSITILE ITEM, WAS THE FLOUR SACK.

PILLSBURY'S BEST, MOTHER'S AND GOLD MEDAL, TOO
STAMPED THEIR NAMES PROUDLY IN PURPLE AND BLUE
THE STRING SEWN ON TOP WAS PULLED AND KEPT;
THE FLOUR EMPTIED AND SPILLS WERE SWEPT.
THE BAG WAS FOLDED AND STORED IN A SACK
THAT DURABLE, PRACTICAL FLOUR SACK.

THE SACK COULD BE FILLED WITH FEATHER AND DOWN,
FOR A PILLOW, OR T'WOULD MAKE A SLEEPING GOWN.
IT COULD CARRY A BOOK AND BE A SCHOOL BAG,
OR BECOME A MAIL SACK SLUNG OVER A NAG.
IT MADE A VERY CONVENIENT PACK,
THAT ADAPTABLE, COTTON FLOUR SACK.

BLEACHED AND SEWN, IT WAS DUTIFULLY WORN
AS BIBS, DIAPERS, OR KERCHIEF ADORNED.
IT WAS MADE INTO SKIRTS, BLOUSES AND SLIPS
AND MOM BRAIDED RUGS FROM ONE HUNDRED STRIPS.
SHE MADE RUFFLED CURTAINS FOR THE HOUSE OR SHACK,
FROM THAT HUMBLE BUT TREASURED FLOUR SACK!

AS A STRAINER FOR MILK OR APPLE JUICE,
TO WAVE MEN IN, IT WAS A VERY GOOD USE,
AS A SLING FOR A SPRAINED WRIST OR A BREAK,
TO HELP MOTHER ROLL UP A JELLY CAKE,
AS A WINDOW SHADE OR TO STUFF A CRACK,
WE USED A STURDY, COMMOM FLOUR SACK!

AS DISH TOWELS, EMBROIDERED OR NOT,
THEY COVERED UP DOUGH, AND PASS PANS SO HOT,
TIED UP DISHES FOR NEIGHBORS IN NEED,
AND FOR MEN OUT IN THE FIELD TO SEED.
THEY DRIED DISHES FROM PAN, NOT RACK
THAT ABSORBENT, HANDY FLOUR SACK!

WE POLISHED AND CLEANED STOVE AND TABLE,
SCOURED AND SCRUBBED FROM CELLAR TO GABLE,
WE DUSTED THE BUREAU AND OAK BED POST,
MADE COSTUMES FOR OCTOBER (A SCARY GHOST)
AND A PARACHUTE FOR A CAT NAMED JACK.
FROM THAT LOWLY, USEFUL OLD FLOUR SACK!

SO NOW MY FRIENDS, WHEN THEY ASK YOU
AS CURIOUS YOUNGSTERS OFTEN DO,
"BEFORE PLASTIC WRAP, ELMERS GLUE
AND PAPER TOWELS, WHAT DID YOU DO?"
TELL THEM LOUDLY AND WITH PRIDE DON'T LACK,
"GRANDMOTHER HAD THAT WONDERFUL FLOUR SACK!"

Last weekend on one of my yardsale extravaganza I found 2 SUGAR sacks.. for .25 each.. I was ECSTATIC.. I scoffed em up and plan to iron them and frame them for my kitchen.. You see I collect old cookie cutters, muffin tins, cooking utensils from the past, cookie cutters.. you name it.. I LOVE the vintage tools.. and do I use them..?? YUP I do... Here are a couple pics of the sacks I obtained.. ( cause a long with kitchen items I LOVE taking pics.

I challenge you now to look around your home and find one item in today's modern world that would do the many things that this one SACK did for our family of yesteryears... I don't think I can find an item in my house for 101 uses like the SACKS .. I personally couldn't see my 16 year old daughter wearing a dress from a flour SACK... I think she would absolutely die if she had to...

In today's age.. if we do make a meal to share for others.. do we not scramble in our cupboards for the least expensive plate.. or a plastic container that once held butter ( remember NO substitutes.. but the tub is being recycled)... in FEAR that we may never see our "precious" dishes again... I know honestly.. I have.. but think back to the days where women.. just like us.. used their BEST in presentation.. maybe they used their most colorful flour or sugar sacks.. gave the best portion of their meats.. and the tastiest loaf of bread out of the dozen they made that day.. greed didn't seem to be noticeable... I'm not a fool.. I know greed is everywhere and in every generation... but I feel women from yesteryear took pride in their homemaking skills more so than women of today.. yes.. lives are different.. things are different.. but those were the days when being a Suzy Homemaker wasn't looked upon as being "special"...

So I challenge you this week... to make a meal.. a bread.. or simple cookies and bring it to a neighbor or friend who LEAST expects it... This is my CONTEST and challenge this week for you!! I want you to use a the nicest presentation that you can come up.. I want a happy heart in this..."for God loves a cheerful giver" 2Corinthians 9:7 You need to tell me what you made and how you presented it...and who you gave it to..What I would really love is a picture of it posted on your blog..!! If you do this.. come back and let me know you did it!!.. I know.. I know.. it sounds hard and defeating.. and time consuming.. but think of whom you will bless by this... Your prize.. hmm well.. Nothing a little KING ARTHUR can't handle.. one of my favorite baking catalogs and stores!!! You have til Friday night to let me know what you did... Happy giving!!!