Thursday, November 19, 2009

My Grandmother's Apron

I have so many wonderful memories of my dear old Grandmother. I am happy to say that she is still alive, and I enjoy sending her a letter now and then. I have worked alongside my Grandmother for many hours back before I got married and when we were neighbors. I have learned many an important thing about housekeeping and cooking from her. There is so much I could say about her, but I will leave that for another time. O, I feel priveledged to have such a wonderful Grandmother. The one thing that will come to mind when I think of her, is her aprons. In fact, if you have ever wondered where the idea of the black checkered apron comes from that I am wearing in the blog title photo, well, it comes from her. She had a few of those that were worn and stained. When I saw the exact same kind of fabric at Walmart, I just had to buy it and make myself an apron. I don my apron with pride when I work in my own kitchen now, especially when I make her chicken noodle soup. Maybe I can make our home feel just a little like Grandma's if I wear an apron like she does. We are now thousands of miles apart, but when I wear my apron, I feel just a little closer to her, because chances are, she is wearing hers too...

I found this poem about Grandmother's apron, and it explains her so very well. Instead of carrying apples, she would carry mangoes or oranges.


GRANDMOTHER'S APRON

Author: UNKNOWN

THE PRINCIPAL USE OF GRANDMA'S APRON WAS TO PROTECT THE DRESS
UNDERNEATH, BUT ALONG WITH THAT, IT SERVED AS A POTHOLDER FOR
REMOVING HOT PANS FROM THE OVEN.

IT WAS WONDERFUL FOR DRYING CHILDREN'S TEARS, AND ON OCCASION
WAS EVEN USED FOR CLEANING OUT DIRTY EARS.

FROM THE CHICKEN COOP, THE APRON WAS USED FOR CARRYING EGGS,
FUSSY CHICKS, AND SOMETIMES HALF-HATCHED EGGS TO BE FINISHED
IN THE WARMING OVEN.

WHEN COMPANY CAME, THOSE APRONS WERE IDEAL HIDING PLACES FOR
SHY KIDS.

AND WHEN THE WEATHER WAS COLD, GRANDMA WRAPPED IT AROUND HER
ARMS.

THOSE BIG OLD APRONS WIPED MANY A PERSPIRING BROW, BENT OVER
THE HOT WOOD-STOVE.

CHIPS AND KINDLING WOOD WERE BROUGHT INTO THE KITCHEN IN THAT
APRON.

FROM THE GARDEN, IT CARRIED ALL SORTS OF VEGETABLES. AFTER THE
PEAS HAD BEEN SHELLED, IT CARRIED OUT THE HULLS.

IN THE FALL, THE APRON WAS USED TO BRING IN APPLES THAT HAD
FALLEN FROM THE TREES.

WHEN UNEXPECTED COMPANY DROVE UP THE ROAD, IT WAS SURPRISING
HOW MUCH FURNITURE THAT OLD APRON COULD DUST IN A MATTER OF
SECONDS.

WHEN DINNER WAS READY, GRANDMA WALKED OUT ONTO THE PORCH,
WAVED HER APRON, AND THE MEN KNEW IT WAS TIE TO COME IN FROM
THE FIELDS TO DINNER.

IT WILL BE A LONG TIME BEFORE SOMEONE INVENTS SOMETHING THAT
WILL REPLACE THAT 'OLD-TIME APRON' THAT SERVED SO MANY WORTH-
WHILE PURPOSES.



Sunday, November 15, 2009

Sunday Project

On Sundays I like to spend special time with Jessica, doing a craft, having tea or doing something else interesting. During the week those things just don't happen, so I've made up my mind that on Sundays I will always try to make that time for her. This is what we did today.

It was a nut box that came from Walmart. We pasted black paper all around, then glued a wide ribbon around the center. Put some glue on the edges of the ribbon for glitter, and tied a ribbon and bow around the big ribbon. Made a small bow for the top lid, and pasted a button in the middle of it. (I was inspired for this and some other ideas by this lady's blog. )

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

What do you think?


The other day I was at a thrift store, and saw this most beautiful ornament in the antique section. A lovely wash basin with matching pitcher, with forget-me-not flowers on it. I had always wanted one, but never come across a good one that I could afford. This one was priced for $38.00. Whew! A lot of money, and I wasn't going to pay that much! But, they had this sale several days later, and I made it happen that I went into the city for some business that day, so I dropped by the store and went right for it; sure enough, there it was. I didn't hesitate. I picked it up and carefully carried it like a real treasure.

So, what do you think? Would you pay $19 for something like this, or would only I do such a thing?

Friday, November 6, 2009

Piano Girl

Here is my little girl, after three piano classes. (Actually that was 4; what was I thinking...)I think she is doing awesome!

I love the way Joseph is listening in. Timothy, no, he's not happy, but that is because of teething; -again.



Yep, that explains all three children's characters very well...

Friday, October 30, 2009

The Family Dinner Table



Perfect Dinner Table

A table cloth that's slightly soiled
Where greasy little hands have toiled;
The napkins kept in silver rings,
And only ordinary things
From which to eat, a simple fare,
And just the wife and kiddies there,
And while I serve, the clatter glad
Of little girl and little lad
Who have so very much to say
About the happenings of the day.

Four big round eyes that dance with glee,
Forever flashing joys at me,
Two little tongues that race and run
To tell of troubles and of fun;
The mother with a patient smile
Who knows that she must wait awhile
Before she'll get a chance to say
What she's discovered through the day.
She steps aside for girl and lad
Who have so much to tell their dad.

Our manners may not be the best;
Perhaps our elbows often rest
Upon the table, and at times
That very worst of dinner crimes,
That very shameful act and rude
Of speaking ere you've downed your food,
Too frequently, I fear, is done,
So fast the little voices run.
Yet why should table manners stay
Those tongues that have so much to say?

At many a table I have been
Where wealth and luxury were seen,
And I have dined in halls of pride
Where all the guests were dignified;
But when it comes to pleasure rare
The perfect dinner table's where
No stranger's face is ever known:
The dinner hour we spend alone,
When little girl and little lad
Run riot telling things to dad.

Edgar Albert Guest

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

What the garden brought in...

I didn't post too many gardening articles this summer, so I thought I should wrap it all up here. In midsummer when the sun is sweltering and the weeds are awful, one wonders why do we have such a huge garden!? But, once all is brought in and preserved for the winter, it is time to sit back and feel good, right?

We had plenty of sweet corn, and still have some frozen. the ears were not too big, so next year we need to focus more on fertilizing them better.

I was able to can lots of tomato juice and some soup, but did not have quite enough to make ketchup and salsa this year.

In Iowa the season is hardly long enough for peppers, but if I have enough plants I can still harvest plenty.

Sweet potatoes! I never raised them before, but tried it this year, and was very pleased when I was able to dig up several pounds of these. That's more than I've ever bought in a whole year, so that is great! Now, I can make as much sweet potato casserole as I want to. HMMM YUMMMM.

Carrots, carrots and carrots! Not very sweet around here, but the juice is drinkable. We also like them cooked and in soups.


This is what will keep us healthy this winter. This looks like a crazy amount of onions, but we had to throw some out because they got rotten and I could'nt keep up with cutting and freezing fast enough. We might still have enough to see us through the year.

One thing I didn't take photos of is pototoes. We got boxes full of those stacked away already, and as slowly as we're eating them, they will surely last all year.

And then there were the bunches of sunberries; I have some bags of those in the freezer for pies. We have also enjoyed fried okra several times this year, which was a real treat.

"Moreover, that every man should eat and drink and taste enjoyment in all his labor; it is the gift of God." Eccelesiastes 3:13

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Goodbye, Dixie

Today we gave up our baby horse and her partner, Trixie. I know, its not long ago when we got Trixie, and we would have loved to keep Dixie, but there comes a time in life when you have to weigh between what you need to do and what you would love to do, and sometimes you just have to do the sensible thing. for us it meant giving up our horses.

One last treat of apple for our girl. we had decided to sell the horses at an auction, until we found out most horses are shipped out of country for slaughter. We couldn't bear to see our beautiful Tennessee Walker being slaughtered and fed to the dogs, so we were glad when we found someone that wanted to take her in and care for her.

We will never regret that we had horses, and when Dixie's mama Rose was still with us, we had lots of fun riding her. Our children have learned a lot about horses and farm life because we had horses.

We are gonna miss not having her, but it's for the best. There's not much use having two horses that need to be trained, but nobody has the time to train, and having horses costs money and time, both of which we don't have plenty extra nowadays. We can always get another horse later on.

I see relief written all over his face. Now, its time to hang up that hat, and get back to the engineering life!




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