Grandmothers

by Shirley

First of all I would like to dedicate this blog to Jodi and her Grandma. It was the recent passing of Jodi's Grandma that got me thinking about my own Grammie (Dad's mother) and writing a blog about her.

She was a very compassionate woman and very stubborn. She knew what she wanted and you couldn't change her mind. She was tall, busty and strong. She took in numerous foster children over the years. She played the organ at the local United Church for many years.She lived in a small community called North East Harbour. It was about a half hour drive from where we lived in Shelburne. Everyone knew everyone, and they all helped each other. Every Sunday afternoon (to my mother's dislike) we made the trek out there to see her as well as other relatives.

Her cooking was amazing! She made soft molasses cookies that were almost as thick as biscuits! Her beef barley soup and apple pie were to die for, and her bread...OMG!!! I always remember her wearing a hair net, apron, white sweater and those light brown stockings (usually two pairs) all the older woman wore before pantyhose were invented. She wore glasses and always had rosy cheeks. I remember she always left the clean everyday dishes and cutlery on the table, covered over with a cloth. She did have a hutch that the "good" dishes were kept in.

Grammie recycled before the word recycle was invented! At least that's how it seemed to me. She had jars of buttons, a huge ball of string and boxes of fabric pieces used to either patch something or make quilts. She gave me a quilt a long time ago and I remember some of the fabric pieces as dresses she wore. Grammie had a use for everything. She would remove the paper from the butter, wash it off and use it to wrap up something and put in the frig. She took the label off cans and used them to make grocery lists or notes for herself. If someone gave her a card and they hadn't sealed the envelope she would cut off the sticky parts and use them instead of tape on presents. All of her hymn books were covered with brown paper bags so they wouldn't get ripped or dirty.

Grammie died when I was 13. The last five or so years of her life it was usually only Dad and I who went out there every Sunday. It didn't matter what I did for her she always gave me money. Now mind you it was only a dime or on rare occasions a quarter, but she insisted that people should get paid for their work. I only helped Dad with bringing the wood in and filling the wood box or washing the dishes. or sometimes Grammie would get me to wash her hair. It felt nice to be appreciated.

As I remembered Grammie this past week it made me feel really good. I would love to be able to walk into that kitchen one more time, smell the wood burning in the stove and the food cooking on top of it. Sit down in the rocking chair my grandfather made many years before, hear the clock chime on the mantle over the cot that Grammie took her naps on, and watch as she did a crossword puzzle or watched Oral Roberts on the little black and white TV with rabbit ears. Now that I've shared with you I'd like to hear what you remember about your grandmothers.

Thanks Jodi for always sharing your Grandma with us and inspiring me to write this blog and use your picture. If I can get a picture of my Grammie on the computer I will share it with all of you. Thanks for reading and lets hear those grandmother stories.

****************************