I still peel potatoes and make my own hamburger patties! We use about 10 to 15 lbs of potatoes per week! I also cook from scratch, I am not that fond of most of the boxed meals! I do occasionally cheat but not for the most part. I Hate instant potatoes.
For tatting make sure you keep that shuttle thread tight after you make your stitch so it slides on the thread loop around your hand. Sometimes you have to kind of pop it or give it a tug, you will see the thread loop over the bottom thread. Clear as mud?