Home > Blogs > Tammy Lankford, > Lake Sinclair: we love it, we know it, & we sell it

"Mom, kroger sells that for $2.00"

By Tammy Lankford,

Real Estate Broker/Owner with Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 GREC# 169695

October 11, 2008 02:33 PM

My daughter called me from college day before yesterday. When I answered she asked me what I was doing

When I told her I was making apple Jelly, she told me they sell that at kroger.

Was I making apple jelly to save money? Well no I wasn't.

Let's take a step back to about 1975. I remember shelling peas and snapping string beans until well after my thumbs hurt and thinking to myself... they sell this stuff at Big Star, what are my parents thinking.

Well in the early 80's when I stepped out into this big world with a little more Independence I began to see the error of my thinking. Canned cream corn... well frankly folks it's just gross. It doesn't taste like anything but sugar and doesn't have much "corn" to it at all. Canned green beans... mushy.

I don't know exactly when I decided to let my mom in on my thoughts on the subject of "making my own". I know it was a tough thing for me to admit to myself the first time that my mom knew best.

This summer alone I put up corn, squash, bell peppers, made two kinds of jelly, apply and, Muscadine and Scuppernong (mixed), I baked apple pies with apples I picked off the tree and put up fig preserves. I also still have stuff in my freezer from previous years and plum jelly I did last summer as well.

It's not about saving money, it's about two things.

1- It just tastes better. Lots better

2. Family tradition. I am carrying on a family tradition pasted down from my parents, who learned from their parents and so on.

My dad also taught my brother and me how to make lye soap. We made it in an iron kettle over an open fire in the yard and poured it up in cardboard boxes to harden and then cut it up into bars. Now I don't really recommend using this soap for anything other than washing your hands when they are really really dirty, but it was a fantastic experience that I wouldn't trade for anything.

So kroger can keep their apple jelly... I made my own. And yup it even might have cost me more than the jar at kroger if you facture in the time I have invested, but that's okay.

What traditions did you learn from your parents and want to teach to your children?

Comments(15)

Comment

Show All Comments

Sort:

Dinah Lee Griffey

Windermere Peninsula Properties - Allyn, WA

Managing Broker Windermere Peninsula Properties

Grandma's garden. I hated canned peas- I would actually gag, but my brother and I picked the peas in the garden and pretended they were candy. Grandma would carve our names in the small growing pumpkins so we could see our names get bigger over the summer.Corn was taller than me.Canning was hot in the summer, but I have canned beans since I was 9. I chased the chickens back in the coop, and it makes me laugh now to think about it. I put all the eggs in a wooden crate to surprise my mom when I was 4, and she was, as I let them roll back in forth against the sides of the hard box. I remember kittens born in our old overturned canoe, and fresh baked bread steaming on the counter. Now my kids have the experience of CC&R's to laugh about with their children. Maybe I should rethink my life-Dinah

Oct 11, 2008 02:54 PM

Tammy Lankford,

Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA

Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

I have often though I was born in the wrong time. I think I would have loved the 19th century. So many things just bug me about today's generation.

Oct 11, 2008 03:15 PM

Marie Westerman

Blanchard and Calhoun Real Estate/ Wilson Parker Homes - Evans, GA

New Homes Sales Specialist Evans GA REALTOR

Good old county living...What we are made of what we are told we should do. What we were blessed with, That we let McDonalds do.... Yea good old country simpler living I'll take it any day to the confusing we have at the drive true today.

Oct 11, 2008 03:21 PM

Bart Whitmore

Keller Williams- Louisville - Louisville, KY

Real Estate Agent

Boy I can really relate to your post, I too can, and I make home made wine and other things. Yes store bought is cheaper and faster but the store bought goods dont taste as good, plus I like the idea of doing things for myself. I also like to split firewood----Bart

Oct 11, 2008 04:23 PM

Bob & Carolin Benjamin

Benjamin Realty LLC - Gold Canyon, AZ

East Phoenix Arizona Homes

Too few families can, freeze or even cook much it seems -- at least it seems that way. The world is too busy for most people to have the time --- but the home canned, and frozen things are sure good -- so much better.

Oct 11, 2008 05:57 PM

Kathy Fey

Fey & Associates - Dacula, GA

My mother hatescooking, so my love of cooking probably stems from the fact that she isn't a good cook. I will not buy store bought spaghetti sauces, pies, cakes, etc. I make everything fresh because it is healthier and tastes better.

Oct 12, 2008 12:08 AM

Mike Saunders

Retired - Athens, GA

Tammy - things that I, or my wife, can make better or healthier we usually make at home. I especially like the flavor of home grown tomatoes and cucumbers much better than store bought. I also make some of our furniture, don't know if the quality is better but there is a terrific sense of accomplisment. And I make toys for my grandson.

Oct 12, 2008 12:14 AM

Tammy Lankford,

Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA

Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

Marie- I drive right past Mickey D's Not my cup of tea... or my dinner

Bart- I did buy my husband a log splitter a few years ago. We do heat with a wood burning stove, but that splitting by hand was taking its toll on him

Bob and Carolin- I agree, it's an art that will soon be lost in America because too few families do it and even fewer are teaching their children

kathy- I learned a few years ago to make Amish Friendship bread- there is nothing better. I love home made

Mike- I might just send my daughter to eat at your house. She loves home grown veggies, but doesn't come home much. They do taste SO much better.

Oct 12, 2008 07:50 AM

Elizabeth Nieves

The Elizabeth Nieves Realty Group - Durham, NC

Bilingual Raleigh - Durham North Carolina Real Estate Team

There is NO comparison between homemade and store bought. I feel exactly the same way. One of these days...I'll have to sample it for you. GBU!

Oct 12, 2008 01:54 PM

Cathleen OnullHannigan

Keller Williams Realty - Cary, NC

Cary NC Homes Pro

Sounds wonderful. I so want the time to make jams and jellies and all sorts of goodies with my kids, before they grow up and move away!

Oct 12, 2008 01:55 PM

Tammy Lankford,

Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA

Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

I remember my parents making wine when I was a kid. They had this jug with a balloon on top of it and day by day the balloon got bigger. I've to figure that out one day.

Oct 12, 2008 02:13 PM

Tammy Lankford,

Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA

Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

Elizabeth- Now if I can just convince my children of that.

Cathleen- you should go for it. I did get my daughter to learn to love to cook. But she's not so much on the gardening end of it.

Oct 12, 2008 03:07 PM

Dinah Lee Griffey

Windermere Peninsula Properties - Allyn, WA

Managing Broker Windermere Peninsula Properties

I have been Mc. Donalds free for a year now, and I do not miss it. I do not always cook home made, but I try-Dinah

Oct 12, 2008 05:07 PM

Cynthia Tilghman, Realtor® Onslow County NC Home Specialist

Kingsbridge Realty, Inc - Hubert, NC

Hi Tammy,
I grew up with vegetables from the freezer that my Mom picked and froze from my Grannie's garden. She also made apple and grape jelly from Grannie's orchard. I must admit I don't do all that but it does taste better and no preservatives!

Oct 13, 2008 12:04 AM

Leslie Prest

Leslie Prest, Prest Realty, Sales and Rentals in Payson, AZ - Payson, AZ

Owner, Assoc. Broker, Prest Realty, Payson,

I made pumpkin butter the other day, and I've made apple jelly (and yes, it's a LOT better homeade). I actually make my own soap (and it's very nice soap) but nobody will use it but me. My husband and sons like lifebuoy or Irish Spring. Some things just feel good while you're doing them. I have great big, blue, canning jars that belonged to my Grandmother. I don't can that big, but they make me feel good anyway, and I think of them when I can or preserve in smaller amouints. Things like that are good for the soul.

Oct 13, 2008 05:53 AM