Tools of The Trade

When visiting the Texas Ranger Museum with my dad and Emery, they were busy looking at guns and cowboy hats. I searched out the womanly exhibits, that showed the type of home these brave law men had so long ago.
This picture is from just such an exhibit.
It shows a woman's tools of being a housewife in those days. Nimble fingers would hold the wool as it twisted and formed yarn. Careful pouring of wax would be required to make the candles and patience would be needed to churn the heavy cream into butter for her families needs. Sewing done by hand of if you were lucky you might have had a treadle machine. Lighting was poor in most homes but that never stopped fine hand work from being done.
A cookbook of favorite recipes carefully hand written out.
I wonder what an exhibit will look like 150 years from now for a woman's tools of homemaking.
Bread machines, dishwashers, food processors, embroidery machines, prepared foods and restaurant parking lots full.
Turn these items on, go sit down to the computer or talk on the phone and let the work be done.
My dad has enjoyed his visit here he said, its like revisiting the old days. Home made food, no boxed or frozen meals. The smell of bread baking and thick slices for sandwiches.
Snowy white clothes fresh off the line, smelling of fresh air. Eggs gathered off the nests, yolks standing tall and full of color. The warmth of the fire, a rocking chair and lamplight.
Cheery conversations around the table at meal time. No one in a rush to leave the table. Laughter throughout the day about silly things, like fat cats hanging on the door.
Floors scrubbed on hands and knees, filling the house with pine scent. Sparkling clean.
Having pride in keeping my house tidy and ship shape but not feeling like a slave to it.
I like the old ways. Mixing a cake with a spoon until the batter is light and fluffy. Throwing out the scraps for the chickens to eat and watching them come running as I walk out the back door with a bowl of stuff for them. No need for a garbage disposal !
Its all so simple and uncomplicated.
At the end of the day, when prayers are prayed with hands folded, its a good feeling to be tired and know day is done, complete with a mind free of stress.
Give me the tools of the trade from long ago anything !