prepare « Robin Writes

Argh, I’m so tired of this—already! I can deal with cold. Wind, not so much. Cloudy days one right after the other, not at all! Yes, I know it’s only November . . .

Super hard to get motivated to do much of anything.

This makes me think of the pioneers and the isolated farmers back in the day. What did they do all winter?

Well, they still had chores of course. Around here, we start up the fire first thing in the morning and heat water for coffee, then feed the animals. Not so different, really.

Of course, we have meals to cook and clean up, and housework and laundry don’t stop in the winter. The biggest difference now is that we have it a lot easier—electric ovens and propane stoves and a hot water heater. Now, when SHTF, we’ll be using other methods; think about it, when you go camping, how much time it takes to build a fire and cook and clean up afterwards.

We do have to make sure we have a good supply of firewood; most of that was done earlier in the fall, but since this is our first year heating with wood, we’re still in the trial-and-error stage as to quantity. Just like the pioneers, though, we generally let it burn down overnight and start with coals in the morning. It sure helps to have a nice, thick comforter on the bed!

Back in the old days, besides all this, winter was also a time to relax and do indoor activities like playing games, craft projects, making music, and so forth. I’m sure we all remember Pa Ingalls and his fiddle, amiright? Well, I don’t have a fiddle, but I do have a guitar, an organ, and a drum . . . and books. And leather working tools and one of these days I’ll get beyond the second stitch on those damn knitting needles that I’ve carted around for 20 years . . .

Of course, the old folks didn’t have TV and Internet, either. 😉

Winter is a good time to plan your garden, or work in the greenhouse, or start projects, and you don’t have to feel guilty about slowing down during this time. After all, when you’re homesteading or farming, you more than make up for that during the rest of the year!

I read an article about feminism and how women of yesteryear were much happier than they are today. I thought the article was funny as heck, but NOT because I fit the definition of a feminist.

I believe that women can do anything men can do.

I do not, however, believe that women can do anything men can and do it better.

It’s a fact that men are physically stronger than women. Often, I think they have, in general, more physical stamina too. Not saying that’s a fact, just a guess on my part—my husband, for example, could run circles around me like the freakin’ Energizer bunny. However, when he crashes, he’s done. Women, I think, even when they’re “done” tend to keep “doing,” at least mentally or emotionally.

Men just turn on the TV.

Take our recent fencing project, for example. Sure, I could have done that by myself, but because of the strength issue, it would have taken me, oh, ten times as long. Probably. Or, just yesterday, hanging heat lamps in the greenhouse—of course I could do that, but he wanted them on the ridgeline and I can’t reach up there without a ladder. I could have laid all the tile in the house, too, but again, I’d be bringing in like one box of tile a day and crying for months while I wore myself out doing it.

You remember the tile posts, right? Ugh.

Over the weekend, he mentioned the upcoming holiday and said, “Oh, we need to pull out the old ATV this week and make sure it runs before the kids come down.” And I responded with, “I’m pulling the Girl Card—put that on your own list.”

We had quite a discussion then. I told him if he wanted me to do the Guy Stuff, no problem, and he could cook and clean. He said no thanks, he’d rather be able to eat Thanksgiving dinner all at one time. And have it be edible.

This isn’t the first Girl Card I’ve used. When we pulled out the old wood furnace, all 500 pounds of it, I helped get it on the dolly and out the door. I was just about ready to get on the tractor so he could load it up to take to the barn and the neighbor showed up.

That was it, I was done. Not because I can’t operate the tractor, but because that darn thing was HEAVY and would still need to be unloaded after it got TO the barn.

The Girl Card can be useful say, when going to Lowe’s. I like the store just fine, and I can look around there for half an hour, maybe. What I canNOT do is stare at a wall of screws or nails for ten minutes, trying to find “the right one.” They mostly all look alike to me. BORING. Pick one, move on.

To be fair, my husband also does this in the grocery store, trying to find the exact product and/or the best “deal.” I walk and grab at the same time.

And it’s not like I leave all the icky or hard stuff for him. I was right there putting fence posts in the ground and screwing in the boards. I haul wood and clear brush and trim trees—what I can reach. Men will go up in the tractor bucket to reach a branch, I so totally will not. Girl Card.

Yes, we may well have a throwback marriage, but that works for us. And people who say women were miserable in the 50s never watched June Cleaver. Okay, okay, I kid. Think of it, though:

A couple gets married. The mister goes to work, 9-5, Monday through Friday, from age 25 to 65. Forty years. The missus cleans and cooks and takes care of the children, but she does this for only twenty years.

Who got the better deal, huh?

And we women, those in the 50s and those who do what we do now, didn’t wait on our husbands because we HAD to, we did it because we WANTED to, but because we love him and want to make his life easier, just as he provides for us for the same reasons.

Kinda like the Church. Exactly like the Church. Christians don’t obey God because they HAVE to, but because they love Him and WANT to.

I’m fully aware that some women want to have careers. Heck, I’ve dabbled in all kinds of business-y stuff over the years. I’m very efficient and organized and had some free time. And I’m aware that some men expect equality in the home and two salaries coming in and some, yes, MUST have both paychecks. If that’s all you’re focusing on here, you’re missing the point.

And honestly, I think a lot of women WOULD be happier doing things like the “old days.” Come on, you can do all that Pinterest stuff and be with your kids and volunteer in the PTA or whatever. You don’t have to climb the corporate ladder and prove yourself to anyone or any ideals.

If you want to be a feminist and holler for “Girl Power” and all that, feel free. I don’t feel like I’m powerless and I don’t feel like I’m less than anyone else, let alone my husband. Yes, I think women should have equal salaries for equal work/pay/experience/competence, etc. No, I don’t think women can BETTER do everything men can do—see the opening fact above. Yes, I think women should vote. Good grief. I know that’s going to come up. Yes, I think women are smart.

Be yourself. Do you. Doesn’t matter what anyone says.