Changing Ideas of Home

‘A Christmas Memory’
Truman Capote’s reflective essay was very endearing. During a time of his life where his home was ‘broken’ he found solace in a relationship with his elder cousin. It seemed that Capote was able to bond more with his cousin than with his own parents since they seem to be absent from the story or at least part of the clan of barely there undesirable and uncaring adults. This older woman, his cousin, was able to connect to Capote by being young at heart, but with a wise mind.

I can relate to about 98% of this story with the only differences being in the memories that I had with my Grandfather. My parents split at the same age and I lived with my Mother, sibling, and Grandparents for a few years before my Mother remarried. While everyone else was busy working, watching TV or not wanting to be bothered, I was always welcome to tag along with my Papa. I always felt so comfortable and safe in his company due to the fact that he was always truthful, caring, and honest with me during times when the other adults in my life were the exact opposite. I think that Capote was able to feel safe with his cousin because of the same reasons. I sincerely empathized with Capote when he was forced to move away. I can vividly remember my own feelings of a similar time from when my Mother remarried and I was forced to move away from Papa.


‘Cooking Trends Echo Changing Roles of Women’
A few semesters ago I was briefly introduced to this subject, so I am glad to have read this more in depth essay of the history of cooking trends and women. It is very eye-opening to learn about how cooking changed due to more and more woman joining the workforce and how marketing further pushed the quick meals and convenience which then in turn allowed even more women to join the workforce. Furthermore, men have been increasingly part of the workforce in home cooking(I believe this is mostly due to the electronic cooking toys). In my experience, I thought that it was so strange when I saw my step-father doing most of the cooking because in the first part of my life I was accustomed to my Dad and Grandfather rarely preparing anything other than a bowl of cereal or oatmeal.

I am happy to see that within recent years Americans are realizing a more hands-on approach to cooking and family dinners are important. For the most part I grew up in a household where both parents worked, so meals were plain and quick. Today, being a parent of two young daughters I can’t bring myself to feed them like my parents fed me. I want to be able to say I know what is in their meals and that they are eating a balanced diet. I am thankful for the changes that happened with cooking as far as men playing more of a role in the kitchen. This is important because two tired overworked people can more manageably cook a good meal than one tired overworked woman.

Meals and appliances designed to save time can be damaging. I think that it’s important to know how, what, where and why your food is placed before you. Maybe this comes from the mother in me, but in a world where natural disasters and terrorist attacks could happen at any time, I want to be prepared to know how to make meals with only the basics. In the 1940’s this was a similar feeling and in response many American’s planted victory gardens and made it a point to revive lost home skills. It’s important to know that in the event of a disaster I am not going to find any bananas or coffee growing where I live, or I’m not going to be able to cook from store bought cans and frozen foods or that I can’t eat/grow fresh winter vegetables in the summer and vice versa. I try to also be aware of what my alternatives are if I don’t have any power for appliances.

In the end, it is nice to have some time saving strategies especially if it means more quality time for oneself or with family, but it is important to be aware of what cooking used to be like.

“The Functions of Home: Dining and Hospitality”
Dining and hospitality is still very much alive in America today. This is especially true of affluent people who seem to have dinner parties often. It is a sign of status. People are able to show that they can serve a great number of guests an elaborate meal. It is a social setting where people of the same class are gathered together to talk about common interests. For those who are not as affluent, dinner parties may be small, less often or maybe dinner isn’t served at all. Instead it can be a cocktail party with a few appetizers.

"House Hunting"

I feel like Hido's photographs are cold and lonely. It is weird to see regular, everyday homes seem so lifeless even though there are lights on which would mean that life is inside. I can only envision zombie like humans in a lifeless home with glowing blue windows.

These photos differ a lot from Owens' photos because Owens takes snapshots of ongoing lives that we can relate to. Having people in the pictures with homes really changes the photo. I think this is because the people make the structure of a house feel like a home. Hido's pictures make suburbia look unhappy and a lot less perfect compared to Owens' photos with smiling individuals.

The NPR broadcast left me with the same eerie and unfriendly feelings. The man who wanted them to move away from his driveway was rude and his demand seemed unnecessary. Do the suburbs change at night? It makes me wonder what Hido would capture in the neighborhood that Owens photographed.

"Slowly Calling the burbs Home" & "Suburbia"

I was pleasantly surprised to see that the location of the pictures took place in Livermore, CA - the town I grew up in during the 80's and 90's. When I looked through the pictures I felt like I was looking at my same neighborhood, but just a decade earlier. I felt at home and the picture that stood out the most for me was the one of the two girls sitting on the sidewalk in front of a business with nothing to do. I couldn't help but laugh when I saw this and think of myself with my best friend doing the same thing. We'd both be longing for the day we turned 18 and could move somewhere more exciting. We often questioned why our parents could ever choose to live in such a dull place.

I enjoyed Lahrmer's article because she describes some of the little things that make the suburbs so comforting. I can relate to these comforts now that I have two young daughters of my own and I realize why my parents chose to live in a "dull place." As mature adults and especially as parents there are so many things to do and worry about, so it's nice to counteract that by residing in a location that lacks the hustle and bustle of the city. Life is so complicated and children are constantly keeping their parents on their toes, so why complicate it with further chaos?

Although, Lahrmer describes changes within the community, they aren't so often that it's hard to keep up with. Instead, these are gradual and noticeable changes that feel more personal due to the small community. It is comforting to have the convenience of knowing what to expect, most of the time. Just because the suburbs can be more mellow doesn't make it boring and I think it's what the individual makes of it that can make the lifestyle pleasing.

Criteria for a Healthy Landscape

One of my favorite places to go is Luther Burbank's Home and Garden located in downtown Santa Rosa. It is a city park that displays the home, garden, and grave of horticulturist Luther Burbank. It is a wonderful, peaceful place that I love to frequent and where I discover new things every time. I find it amazing to go back in time and see all that Burbank was able to accomplish during his lifetime(1849-1926).

In Paul Groth's article, "Criteria for Reading a Healthy Landscape," he has put together seven points that he sees as important in making up a healthy landscape. I would like to integrate some of these concepts with the landscape of the Luther Burbank Home and Garden:
1. "A healthy landscape connects its participates to themselves as individuals." Just as I was deciding to go into the field of horticulture I visited Burbank's Home and Garden. It only took minutes before I(the participate) felt a connection within myself to what motivates me.
2. "A healthy landscape connects its participants to their important social groups." This is a place where I can go to find people who have the same love and interest in plants as I do. This is where I can belong and connect with all kinds of people.

3. "A healthy landscape connects its participants to outsiders." Burbank's garden is free and open to everyone. It does not matter how strong your passion for plants is or even if you have passion at all, everybody is welcome. I have seen all types of people passing through the garden and they all seem to find some sort of personal connection(s).

Luther Burbank's Home and Garden is a wonderful place and a healthy landscape.

24hrs at The Golden Apple

The broadcast “24 Hours at the Golden Apple” is filled with interviews of all kinds of people eating at the restaurant and gives the listener an idea of the types of people who come out at certain times of the day. This Chicago diner has three owners who are very present in running their business and the waitresses have made this job their career. These two factors, coupled with the diner being open for 24 hours in a centralized city location, plays a role in the type of people who frequent the diner. It seems like many people go there to achieve some form of friendly social interaction whether it be with the waitresses or the people sitting at the nearby tables. It is a sanctuary and a place where people can feel connected to a little piece of the world around them.

Chain restaurants such as Applebees try to make community a part of their image, but in reality it is not a place to go to feel closer to your community. Although, there are pictures and memorabilia of the community hanging on every inch of the walls, all the Applebees are essentially the same wherever you go. The people who work there do not portray a sense of openness and familiarity. The chain doesn’t hire employees who plan on making this their career; therefore you get service from a part-timer who needs a job while they are going to school and could care less about getting to know their customers. It is all about getting people in and out. Maybe if they spent less money on their image(thru advertising and décor) and more money on paying full-time career waiters they could achieve a true sense of community.