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We are blessed with a continued long, slow, glorious descent toward winter. It is still warm, and those feisty Aspen resisted the quick cold snap, waiting until now to blaze bright yellow!
This is not just time for harvest of course. Now that we have thinned out the stuff, put by jars of fruit, stocked in hay and other feed, we have a chance to clean, repair, and fix up.
While I help fix up, restore and re-use, I think I am a make do and mend dog. Let me tell you about this.
I’ve brought history to my story here, a cowdog’s version of how people handled major changes to their lifestyle, such as what happened during catastrophic events like the Great Depression and World Wars.
Sometimes I listen to the news with dad, and there sure seems to be a lot of troubles out there now! Our life is different here on the ranch, but I see big ships languishing in the bay, waiting to unload. It seems to me that buying products made close to home would sure eliminate this problem.
There are store shelves everywhere that are empty, and people are already fretting about getting Christmas orders in time!
As I help cleaning shovels and putting them away, stowing away life jackets since the boat has been winterized, repairing hoses and tarps, I think about times when everyone needed to fix up and reuse instead of buying new. Maybe now would be a good time to re-learn this habit , and why wouldn’t this be a reasonable way to live all the time? A cowdog likes resourcefulness, resilience and preparation I tell you!
In the 1940’s, during World War II, during a time of rationing and material drives to support a fight against evil, there were several Make Do and Mend Campaigns. This encouraged the habit to wring every bit of use from their possessions, not throw out and buy new. Learning to sew became a popular skill, fashions changed related to fabric shortages, and fashion ideas focused on self-sufficiency and conservation. Patches became a patriotic badge of honor.
During the Great Depression, feed sack or flour sack dresses were popular. Their popularity came back in fashion during the Make Do and Mend campaign. By the 1940s the bag manufacturers were turning out bags in bright colors and printed designs. During World War II, there was a shortage of cotton fabric for the civilian population, and the recycling of bags became a necessity, encouraged by the government. I wish everything came in pretty cloth bags now, and I know mom would like them better than slinging those slick plastic feed sacks! You can still get fabric like that here: https://amzn.to/3ndPO7I
The first practical attempt to “spring forward, and fall back” began as a conservation measure during World War I., in many nations. It was part of a plan to save on electricity and divert extra coal to soldiers on the front. Daylight Savings was originally a wartime measure, but after World War II the practice became permanent most places. I’m not sure how it makes any sense – we still have exactly the same number of daylight and dark hours, regardless of what you call it. But for most of us, it ends and we “fall back” November 7th this year.
While the Make Do and Mend campaign of WWII focused primarily on clothing and textiles, the idea behind the campaign was really to practice resourcefulness in all things. In tough times, this is common sense survival.
A victory garden is always a great idea.
Mom has years of wisdom in all of this, but she has good reference books also. This is a favorite of hers, with the fanciful name of “The Have-more Plan”: https://amzn.to/3jrNYPH
It was not just about fabric and clothing, but a mindset of using up and not wasting any resources – it was about clothes, food, gardening, fuel, rationing and repair – and wouldn’t that be wise now? 
As I’ve said, I have good toys that last, and I re-use my bones for a long time. 
I bury a few and save them for later. My needs are simple, and our lifestyle here in the mountains is already one of resourcefulness.
The cats especially are good at making do – those critters can play with anything! Sometimes they play with things the rest of us don’t even see! 
I am a Make Do and Mend dog because of my past. I came from a shelter where I had lived 4 months, in my very early times. I heard I would not make it out of there alive, because I was scrappy, confused and scared, and reacted badly to everyone.
But mom and dad saw usefulness and value in me. They didn’t need to go buy a perfect Heeler puppy after the great Ruger returned to heaven. We found each other, but they weren’t settling for less. I needed a bit of mending, accomplished with love, patience and prayers.
We can all practice make do and mend, use it up, wear it out. Sew, refurbish, maintain tools. It will simplify and enrich life, it may help us work closer together. It is good to be a little self-reliant, and not dependent on promises from Washington, or a ship out in the harbor.
So I’ll keep helping, getting done all the little things that keep this place and us going. I like using up the gift of every day to get something done. I hear today that means working on the chicken coop, and repairing the saddles before we put them away! 
