Hello Cuties! I hope everyone had a good Christmas. We had the family here. Always enjoy seeing them all growing up and it seems so fast, too.

I was thinking how times have changed. I read a poem today about help in the kitchen, did you want it or not? So, I thought about how it used to be.

I was the youngest of three girls and mamma only wanted us in the kitchen, when it was washing dishes time.
When I met my ( now husband) and would go to his moms, it was completely different. He had eleven sister and brothers, mostly all married, as he was number eleven, so a lot of them had kids. A lot of people,all ages-lol
Most Sundays, a lot of them and us included, would go for lunch. Years later, I often wondered how they afforded to feed everyone. They had a garden, chickens and animals so I know that helped.
Anyway, the women helped with the cooking and clean-up in the kitchen and it really was a small one. I actually learned to cook there, by first watching, then doing. The table was in the center of the kitchen.
The ‘first’ table was when the men ate, altogether. When they finished, we hand washed their plates, while other plates were placed for the children, the ‘second table’. The bowls of food were replenished at this time, too.
At last was the 'third table or last table', depending on how many had been seated and fed before, when we women ate.
After eating, one lady washed dishes and sometimes we traded out, one would dry them, plenty others to put away clean dishes and food, one cleaned stove top, and another swept the kitchen floor. We were through in no time, always laughing and joking while we worked.
If summertime, we then retired to the big front porch, for a rest and visit. At 2 pm we always made and served pots of coffee. I learned to drink coffee there too-lol- I could tell you about when I served one day, but that's another story. Now where was I...
It was here than my youngest learned to play her fiddle on the back porch. She was playing Amazing Grace and my sister-in-law Weeda told us all to listen. Everyone stopped talking, to hear her first song she played by ear and we really recognized. (Weeda was the mother, to the nephew Brad, I just made the quilt for. I miss her)
We still get together with all the sister/brothers/families twice a year, at the old home place. We still help in the kitchen, but I find the young ones are missing out on the fellowship that we had. It seems most are content to stay on their phones. SIGH...
I miss those times and people that are no longer here. Thank God, I still have my memories (so far!-lol)

Fast forward-I like to have the food prepared before they all come in and get in my way. It seems like SIL Grayson likes to be just in front of where I need to get, in a drawer or cabinet. Ashley tells him finally, he is in my way. If he's not helping, get out of the kitchen!
However, when the eating is over I do like help cleaning and clearing up. I usually have help from my daughters, but seems like 'some women' act like they have been to a restaurant! Leaving clean-up is not an option. It is too many of us ( it was about 24 of us this year) and too much mess as they stay for both meals.
I always felt if someone was willing to spend time preparing a meal for me, the least I could do was help with the clean-up.
So, my question is, Do you like help in your kitchen?