Alright, so we’ve gotten thru quite a bit of stuff at the house. Some stuff I wish I didn’t have to and some things I’m glad I found. The amount of items that my family had that goes back to my grandmothers is still astounding to me. I have run across items that make me sit back and remember when one grandma or the other used that item or wore that item or had that in her house. Mind you, I come from a background of very strong, independent women. Both of my grandmothers raised children on their own while holding down jobs, sometimes several at a time just to make ends meet. This was back in a time when most women didn’t work outside the home but yet these two women did it with grace and strong work ethics instilled in them at a young age. I had one grandma who cooked at a vets home and then would hang wallpaper at night after that sometimes until 11. She also could recover chairs and couches better than anyone I know. She sewed her own clothes with no patterns. A lot of what she had she made herself. My other grandma work at the hospital and then at night would take in laundry or sewing for others. She sewed some of her own clothes also. She also took care of an elderly lady in town until she passed away. Neither of these women complained or made excuses for anything. They knew what they had to do and they did it and I am so grateful they did. Although I can’t sew very well and have enough doing my own families laundry, I did acquire their ability to work until the job was complete.
I have found some of their old sewing items and crochet items and I wonder how many times they sat down to use these. Some of them are pretty worn, looks like they were used to the end. I have found old receipes they used to make and admire the way they could make a meal and the dessert like they did. Both of them made their own jelly and rolls and pies and cookies. I’ve found some of the jelly and cookie receipes and have vowed to one day try this for myself, making jelly that is! When I am all done with the cleaning project that is on my bucket list.
Back when I was little, I remember when we would go out with them or if they were just coming to visit, they both were dressed up. That meaning that what little jewelry they had, they would match it to whatever they were wearing at the time. That was very important to look appropriate when you went out back then. I have that jewelry and it all holds a special place in my heart as I look at each piece and remember when they wore it and how they looked with it on. I have found some old pictures of them and most of them have some of these pieces in the pictures.
My parents grew up in a small town so during the summer we would go vacation there for a few weeks and that way we got to see both grandma’s as the same time. They were so respectful of each other that they would get together ahead of time and plan who was going to make each meal and what they would have so neither would repeat a meal. They called each other Mrs, never by a first name even though they had known each other a long time. We would alternate staying with them, a few days at one house, a few days at the other. My one grandma would read me stories at night and play paperdolls with me while the other would play games and make me “flower” oranges.
Take the time to get to know your grandparents, they have such wisdom and insight you’ll be glad you did. Spend time with them just remembering something special they used to do with you or for you. Look at old pictures, take some new ones. These will be times to carry with you for a lifetime.