Cream the white and brown sugar with the shortening. Beat in the eggs and vanilla. Combine the raisins, coconut, and nuts, grind fine in a food processor or grinder. Add to the above. Sift the flour, baking soda, and salt together; add these, along with the buttermilk, to the above. Divide the dough into several parts; roll each part into a long, inch thick snakelike shape; cut the snake at approximately half inch intervals. Arrange the nut-like cookies on an ungreased cookie sheet; bake at 325 degrees for 10 12 minutes, depending on whether you prefer softer or crunchy cookies.