Four families came together last month to butcher four pigs that had been raised off the table scraps of the Stokes’ and Mathews’ family land. Though we could have each stressed, worried and worked extra hard to complete this task alone, a community effort was far more enjoyable. We ladies donned our aprons, and the men folk sharpened their knives, and we had ourselves a good ol’ fashioned pig butcherin’, like the Amish.

First I must advertise a wee bit for the gentlemen hog and lady sow. Thought, the sight that comes to mind for most, is not altogether comely and attractive. There is a general mis-conception about pigs. Many feel that they are nasty, stinky, beastly creatures that must be raised on giant feed lots. But, I am here to speak on behalf of this poorly painted breed and put pig raising back on your to-do list.

There are so many benefits to raising a pig or two. They are truly one of the most economical investments you could make living on a small homestead. They require no more space then an outdoor dog and no bonding time. They can survive mostly on the scraps from your table and garden, along with a little bit of corn.(to make good lard) If you have a garden and can your veggies, your pigs will be in hog heaven with all of the leftovers, apple peels and pea shells are just a couple.

Pigs do not stink IF you simply do not give them enough water to make a pig sty out of their pig pen. Some people like to free range their pigs, however I do not really recommend it because they burn up too many calories.

So if I haven’t redeemed this wonderful breakfast treat and sold you on raising a pink pig with floppy ears and a curly tail, go ahead and scroll down and look at all the fun we had. (after all, you can’t eat a poodle.)

All aprons worn for this day’s event were created by Amelia’s Aprons. Pictured are 2 basic kitchen aprons, but also worn were the ruffles and curves apron, and a regency style apron that we did not get pictures of. It is often handy to have extra aprons around for company to wear, especially if you engage in these types of community projects.

The Holland Sentinel
Posted Apr 07, 2010 @ 02:23 PM
Holland, MI — “Apron Strings,” the new gallery show which just opened at the Dekker Huis Museum in Zeeland features, what else — aprons.
“Apron Strings” will run all summer.
The museum is located at 37 E. Main Ave. in downtown Zeeland and is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursdays, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. Admission is free and donations are accepted.

Here is part of the “grandma’s Apron” poem that has been circulating around. It was part of this original post, but just did not make since to have it stuck in the middle.

“The principle use of Grandma’s apron was to protect the dress underneath, because she had only a few. It dried children’s tears, wiped dirty ears as well as runny noses. It carried eggs from the coop, vegetables from the garden and apples fallen from the tree. When dinner was ready Grandma waved her apron from the porch to summon men folk from the field. “

It’s that time again! The days we all look forward to with such anticipation. The days when the sun shines bright and we can feel it’s warmth on our face. We can wear a flouncy skirt and a floral apron and pick a daffodil which spring has so kindly welcomed into the world!

There is something soothing and surreal about the spring-time. It is comfort for the soul, withered by a long winter. It helps us come to the recollection that it is finally time to bloom again! I think that women every-where have always welcomes with open arms, Lady Spring.

It is pleasant to imagine Laura Ingalls Wilder walking the prairie in calico apron, feeling the same warm thoughts as I do. And it seems to me that the crocuses, daffodil’s, Iris’s and other early spring flowers that can withstand the hardships of the cold nights and last winter frost are the ones that bloom so very beautifully.

“The true way to live is to enjoy every moment as it passes, and surely it is in the everyday things around us that the beauty of life lies.” ~Laura Ingalls Wilder

 To view other apron styles that are available vist our products page
here. 

To view apron styles that are available visit our products page
here. 

 Aprons have been a part of our culture for hundreds of years. If you take a look back in history, you will see that aprons were used for many practical purposes and were worn by both men and woman. They were worn by blacksmiths, farmers, shopkeepers, and millers and used in daily chores like gathering eggs, working in the garden, cooking and cleaning. The main function of the apron was to protect the clothing and keep trade tools handy. Whatever you were doing on the farm or in your profession, the apron extended the number of days that an outfit could be worn before washing and extended the life of the clothing underneath. Most aprons were long and made of durable fabrics; some were even made of wool to protect women from burning when cooking over an open hearth. As the years progressed, apron styles began to change to meet the needs of the wearer. With the end of World War II came a boom of home entertainment and dinner parties. It was the “Leave it to Beaver” era, and moms were in the kitchen. Homemade pies and breads awaited hungry children almost every afternoon, and mom enjoyed her daily task of home management. The apron then took on a new look. It was no longer worn for just practical purposes; it was now worn for style. Aprons were soon known as the symbol of the homemaker, and every mother and hostess had one, if not several. There were hundreds of styles and colors, and most moms had fancy, decorative aprons to match outfits for special occasions. Then, almost overnight, the apron was gone. Not quite without a trace, but gone as far as the fashion industry was concerned. I have heard the apron called an icon of the past, so where did it go? With the dawn of the women’s liberation movement, more and more jobs became available to women, and women slowly began to leave their homes. There was no longer a need for feminine fashion statements that had such close ties to the home and hearth. There was no time to bake or entertain–no time at home to do many of the things women once enjoyed doing. Many of the homemaking skills like cooking, baking, sewing, and even cleaning were looked upon as drudgery. We hired maids, cooks, and childcare professionals to do our jobs for us, and the skills of the home manager were all but lost. Our young maidens no longer had moms at home to teach them how to be homemakers, so they, in turn, went off to work, too. You could say, “We’ve come a long way baby”, but I think we have been traveling in the wrong direction. However, I do not despair, for I see a change in the tides. There is hope on the horizon, because the apron is back! I know the apron by itself cannot help women reclaim their home and once again embrace motherhood. But, statistics show that sales of aprons are on the increase. If more women are buying aprons, that means more women are once again embracing God’s design and returning to the home–returning to raise their children, cook the meals, clean the house, be helpers to their husbands and managers of their homes, therefore having a need for functional, feminine aprons.