Hello world... About this blog

Good day, dear folks. I am Mrs. Florence, and I will be sharing my ventures into learning knowledge of the past. I am constantly amazed at the amount of knowledge we have gained over the generations: we know how truly small the world is; we can use highly technical equipment practically from birth; so many of us can speak two or more languages; we've learned how to heal illnesses--sometimes even over the counter--that used to kill us; and we've learned so much about increadible food.

But... what knowledge(s) have we lost? Just going back two generations, my grandmother could grow fruits and vegetables; kill animals and butcher them; pick cotton; design and then sew everything from quilts to clothes to slipcovers; play the piano; navigate the great outdoors (knowing all the plants and animals along the way); and do a crossword puzzle in about 10 minutes. She could quote long pieces of poetry and the Bible. She could recall incredible details of living a very different life from mine. (I can't remember what I had for breakfast!)

But what, pray tell, does all this have to do with life in the 21st century? Well, more than we might know. A couple of recent natural disasters have shown just how fleeting technology can be, not to mention running water, electricity, or even a roof over our heads. I'm hardly a back-to-nature type, or an end-of-the-world-is-nigh type, but I am simply amazed at how much knowledge...how many skills... we have lost even as we've made huge strides in learning.

Some of my posts will be about rather large ideas. Many will be about rather simplistic things. And very many, I feel certain, will be things that large numbers of folks will say, "Well I still do that!" or "I've always known that!" But I won't be one of the privileged ones to that knowledge or skill. And if I'm not, I would guess others aren't!

My interests include home skills, social skills, language skills, fashion, politics, and, well, anything that strikes my fancy. After all, I don't yet know exactly what I don't know, do I? I hope you come along on this journey with me, and we'll learn together. Shall we?

More later, dear folks.