Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Wistful Wednesday: 1952

This is a photograph of me and my Grandma D.  in the spring of 1952.   This is a picture of my Mothers Mother.  She lived a good long time, and probably would have lived longer if my grandfather hadn’t died.  He was much older than she was ( 8 years)..he died and in two months and three days she was gone too.  They both died in 1995, Grandpa was 92 and Grandma was 84.  I was 44 years old that year. 

Elsie and Connie 1952 (2)

It was Grandma’s birthday last Monday, her birthday is just six days after mine…I like to think that perhaps I was an early(40th) birthday gift..but she was seven months pregnant with twins at the time.

I loved my Grandma very much…and she knew it, and she loved me too.  When she died, they made her up kinda fancy lying there in the casket.  Makeup and bright red lipstick with her hair all fluffed up. She didn’t look anything like my grandma. Except for her hands they couldn’t change them..she had pudgy little fingers and hairy arms…I said goodbye to those hands and arms, with the familiar ring and the watch that made marks on her arm.

She was a wonderful cook and she was happiest cooking  and baking.  There was always food in the pantry, usually a cake..a spice cake with raisins and brown sugar frosting..or Lemon Bars.  There were jars and jars of canned goods..she always sent a jar of pickles home with me..she knew I liked them and the yellow string beans..those were the best beans ever!   She made dressing (stuffing) with raisins and apples at Thanksgiving and Christmas.   She made fresh peas and new potatoes in white sauce.. yummy!  She made cole slaw with slices of apple, and Sauerkraut that was to die for!  A pork sausage that I used to watch her and grandpa run through the meat grinder into a tub where it was mixed with spices and then stuffed into the empty intestines that were cut and tied every so often. I can still taste that sausage in my mind..I have never found another ring sausage that even compared to theirs. Elsie  (2)

Grandma cooked at the church, she was very active and it seemed like she was always helping out someone by cooking and serving at a wedding or a funeral.

This year I was 60, and Grandma would have celebrated her 100th birthday.  She was born September 26, 1911 and died October 17, 1995. 

I am sure she would be pleased that I remember her for all the good food I associate with her, all the flavors of summer with fresh garden ingredients, the bountiful fall harvest and the preserved and canned foods for winter meals:) 

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18 comments:

The Musical Gardener said...

Thank you for sharing about your grandma. She sounds like a wonderful soul. Actually she sounds very much like my mother, who passed away in 2003 at the age of 80.

She was a wonderful cook, and yes they made her up to be something else in her casket, but the hands were the giveaway - you couldn't alter those loving, hardworking little hands.

Gail said...

Your grandmother sounds so very special as she should be.

What a wonderful story.

LindaG said...

I'm sure she is very happy. ♥

Country Gal said...

Your Grandma sounded just like my mum who passed away 3years ago at the age of 73 they made my mumup as well and like you it was the hands that you couldnt change my mum had long but thick fingers working hands but she always had lovely nails and kept them polished so nicely. both were very special people in our lives. Lovely photos. Have a good day !

Laura said...

What a wonderful tribute to your grandmother! I'm sure she would be happy with the memories you hold in your heart.

Anonymous said...

What a precious tribute to your beloved grandmother. Aren't you thankful for these photos? I enjoyed reading your memories of her.

DJan said...

She sounds like she was a busy woman all of her days. And your tribute to her is just wonderful, I can almost see her table set and ready to go on Thanksgiving. You are a wonderful granddaughter.

L. D. said...

Great memories of your grandmother. My grandmother would sing as she cooked and it made her happy when I stayed with her as she had someone to cook for.

Barbara said...

She sounds like a woman after my own heart, thank you for sharing your grandma with us, have a blessed day.

Just Stuff From a Boomer said...

You were fortunate to have had her that long. I call these memories the "warm fuzzies" that I have of my grandmothers too. We remember the food best. That generation did so many yummy things that are almost lost now. Your memories are very warm and takes me back too.
Thanks for sharing them. It's kind of like a warm hug from her.

Anonymous said...

I can still smell all the Cuban and Spanish foods my Grandma made for our huge family..I was the only one who lived with her at the end of her days but I learned to cook those dishes I loved..She waited up for me when I went on dates I was only 18 and I never ever stayed out too late, she was watching Perry Mason on a teeny tiny black and white tv and I would come home early from my dates, she had food galore for me..I always nibbled these fabulous cookies with tiny nuts and fruits in them and had I would say it is now called a Latte..we were extremely close, when she passed from this life, I could not live in San Diego anymore, it was too painful, I went up the coast of california to Ventura to escape my grief, she was always and is always in my heart..Sharing your feelings of your grama is wonderful, few people today even know their kin..you had the rare opportunity and experience of all she was, how wonderful, the foods she made sounded just like my grama, do you make those recipes she lovingly did????? hoping so..one's relatives really stay in their hearts & minds forever for the next generation I think this, our only child favors her (great grama) she dresses and cooks like her, even has a face similar..she lives on in my family (familia) love your blog, keep it up.have a wonderful rest of the week too!

Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise) said...

It's very evident that you grandma still lives in your heart sweetie!

I adore seein' the pictures of this truly remarkable woman.

Have a blessed day sweetie!!! :o)

Rita said...

What a wonderful tribute to your grandmother. She must have been lost without her husband-her love. So often you hear of them passing within a year of each other. Can hear how much you loved her. :)

lisa said...

Such a wonderful story! Thank you for sharing.

Pamela said...

hmmm... sausage maker... pudgy hands.
(O:

that generation worked hard. we have it so easy. No one will remember me for spice cake and brown sugar frosting.

Alan Burnett said...

Lovely memories, perfectly retold.

Anonymous said...

What wonderful memories of your grandma! She sounds very much like mine.

Lanny said...

Oh man!