I do too but usually due to age!I can cook from scratch. Today's generation gets taken out or something already prepared in the freezer.
Thanks so much for sharing that @ghandi44 — cooking from scratch really is a valuable skill! There’s something so satisfying about making a meal from start to finish with fresh ingredients. What’s one dish you make that always gets compliments? Or maybe a recipe that’s been passed down in your family? I'd love to hear what your go-to is, especially since we first asked this question a little while back and comfort food season has well and truly been and gone!I can cook from scratch. Today's generation gets taken out or something already prepared in the freezer.
Thanks for sharing @Vivian — that’s such a timeless and practical skill! Home canning takes patience and know-how, and not many people do it these days. Do you still can regularly, or was it something you mastered years ago? I’d be curious to know what your favorite thing to can is — maybe something you always looked forward to opening during the cooler months after preserving it earlier in the year?I can can fruits, vegetables and some meats.
Thank you for sharing @Malanna — shorthand and cursive handwriting are such lost arts these days! It’s amazing how much faster and more efficient note-taking could be with those skills. Did you learn shorthand for work or school? And do you still find yourself using cursive or shorthand now, even just for jotting things down around the house?Shorthand and cursive handwriting
Thanks for sharing @deaf1Oliver — it’s amazing how second nature those tools became for so many people. Using an adding machine takes real technique, especially compared to today’s tap-and-go calculators or apps. Did you use one in an office or retail setting back in the day? I imagine younger folks now would be baffled by the noise alone!Adding machine and calculator.
Appreciate you sharing that @Gnanna50 ! It’s surprising how few young people today even learn cursive, let alone use it regularly. There’s something so elegant and personal about handwritten notes in cursive. Do you still write that way when sending cards or letters? Or has it become more of a nostalgic skill these days?Writing in Cursive
Thanks so much for sharing @malch — quilting is such a beautiful and meaningful skill! It takes patience, creativity, and a real eye for detail. Do you still make quilts these days, or have you passed the torch to someone else? I imagine each one you’ve made tells a bit of a story — do you have a favorite piece or one that holds special memories?Quilting
Thanks for sharing @tennis — that one definitely made me smile! Jumping French Dutch isn’t something you hear about every day. Was it a game you played as a child, or part of a playground trend from years ago? I’d love to know how it was played — sounds like something that would leave today’s kids scratching their heads!jumping French Dutch.
Thanks for sharing @Saltymermaid3* — that sounds absolutely delicious! There’s nothing quite like the smell of fresh bread or pizza straight from the oven. Do you still bake often, or was this a skill you mastered years ago? I’d love to know — do you have a favorite topping combo or a secret ingredient that makes your dough extra special?Making home made bread and pizza![]()
Thanks for sharing @NIBOR0 — that’s a very specialized skill! Auditing medical charts takes such attention to detail and a solid understanding of medical terminology and procedures. Were you working in a clinical setting or more on the administrative side? I imagine the paperwork was intense — especially compared to today’s digital systems!Auditing a medical chart.
Thanks for sharing @Kitkin — cursive handwriting really is becoming a lost art! There’s something so graceful and expressive about it that typing just can’t replicate. Did you learn it in school when penmanship was a big focus? I’m curious — do you still use cursive for things like journaling or writing cards, or has it become more of a nostalgic skill now?Cursive handwriting?
Thanks for sharing @ponyrun — that’s such a practical skill, and one that’s surprisingly rare these days! With so many digital payments now, younger generations often miss out on learning how to handle cash confidently. Did you learn it through a job in retail or was it something taught at school? I bet it’s a skill that stuck with you over the years!I can count back change from a cash purchase
Thanks for sharing @mtnmama25 — those are two wonderful skills to have mastered! There’s something so rewarding about creating something from scratch, whether it’s a handmade garment or a freshly baked treat. Do you still find time for sewing or baking these days? I’d love to know — what’s your proudest creation, either at the sewing machine or in the kitchen?Sewing. Baking
Thanks so much for sharing @ccolpitts05 — that’s incredibly impressive! It’s such a great feeling to be able to maintain your own equipment, and it’s even more empowering when you’ve mastered it yourself. Did you learn by watching someone else, or were you mostly self-taught? I love that you take pride in doing it all — especially since so many would just hand it over to a repair shop these days. Do you still keep up with it each year?Tune up your own lawn mower and getting it ready for the year. Change the spark plug and change the filter. Make sure it has the right oil and gas for the lawn mower. Most of all I am a woman who can do all these things. Today's generation would get it done at a shop.
Thanks for sharing @Wellman — that’s quite the collection of skills! Each one of those tells a story about a very different time. Dialling a rotary phone alone would leave many young people completely stumped! Do you still hang laundry out in the fresh air or drive stick shift now and then? I’d love to know which of those skills you think was the most satisfying to master — or the one you’d bring back if you could!Dial a rotary phone, use a scrub board, drive stick shift, hang laundry on a clothesline
Thanks for sharing @CGM823 — baking bread is such a comforting and satisfying skill! There’s nothing quite like the smell of fresh bread wafting through the house. Do you have a favorite type you like to bake — maybe a classic white loaf, sourdough, or something a bit more rustic? I imagine your kitchen must be extra cozy!Baking bread!
Love The GrayVine? Share it with a friend by
clicking here