This post was originally published on 1/25/13.
Grandma’s House
My Grandma M didn’t have a lot of fancy things in her house. She had a few nice dishes, most had little chips from 5 farm boys passing them around like bulls in, well, in a china shop. I have a few things that were Grandma M’s. Our dining room set came from Gram and Gramp’s house. We’ve really enjoyed having that set. I’ll share it with you someday. 🙂 One of my favorite things from Gram’s kitchen is her big blue bread bowl. Say that 10 times fast! I have used it for ‘whomping up’ a batch of bread, as my Dad says. But most of the time it is filled with our favorite fruits for snacking.
I remember my Grandma mixing up sugar cookies in this bowl. They were the best sugar cookies in the whole world! Sometimes Gram put a dab of currant jell in the middle of the cookes, but usually it was a raisin. There was always a big glass of milk or a spot of tea to go with the cookie.
My sister Beth and I had horses in my Grandparent’s barn , just about a 5 minute walk down the road from our house. And every day we’d go over to take care of the horses and then stop in for a snack with Gram and Gramp before heading home. At home we weren’t allowed to have cookies that close to dinner. I miss visiting my Grandparents…but I’m glad that I have a few things to remember them and their old farmhouse.
Did you grow up near your Grandparents? I’d love to hear your memories of them!
Lisa, I never knew any of my grandparents. By the time I was born in 1940, they had all passed away. However, when I married my husband in 1964 I hit the Grandparent Jackpot. He had 8 living grandparents. At 24, he had 4 great grandparents. I learned to love all of them, but I fell instantly in love with his fathers parents and they with me. I treasure the years I was able to spend with them and the things I learned from them I still use today. Grandmother B was a true pioneer woman. She made everything from scratch, kept a kitchen garden year round, raised chickens, canned all excess veggies, and raised most of the meat the family used. All 4 of the great grandparents lived to be between 95-100 years. Grandmother B lived to be 92. Even back in the 60’s she preached about eating too much store bought stuff, “It will kill you”, she used to say. I think of her today sitting in her rocking chair in heaven shaking her finger at the world and saying, “I told you so”.
Hi Joyce,
I’m sorry to hear that you never knew your own grandparents. But how wonderful that you had so much time to spend with your husband’s grandparents and great grandparents! Grandma B sounds like a wonderful lady…wish I knew her! Great wisdom in her words!
Thanks so much for taking the time to tell us about her! I always love to read about other peoples family. 🙂 Have a great day!
Great Memories to go with your Bright blue bread bowl. Your sugar cookies reminded me of my Grandmother who used to make brown sugar sandwiches for us – ha, how much of a no-no would that be theses days? And I don’t quite remember but I bet it was on white bread!
Thanks for the memories 🙂
Wrenx
Hi Wren,
We’d have toast with butter and cinnamon and sugar 🙂 Still good on whole wheat!
So glad to share a happy memory! Thanks for sharing yours!
What a lovely memory attached to a simple tool…
🙂 So true! Thanks for stopping by Madge!
I love your Grandmother’s bread bowl! The color is just beautiful and I can just imagine all the memories that come flooding in while you use it. I have my late mother’s potato salad bowl. That’s all I ever saw her use it for. It’s a big yellow pyrex bowl, and that’s all I use it for. 🙂
Hi Magnolia,
We have a yellow pyrex bowl that belonged to my Mother in Law…it is our mashed potato bowl 🙂
Thanks for sharing!
“In all things give thanks.” Thank you for being here this morning. I needed to be reminded of something good, and you reminded me of when I lived across the street from my Grandparents. I spent long summer days with my Gram in her one acre garden, and cozy winter nights in their tiny house. I woke to the smell of her bread in the oven. While she is gone (and I miss her terribly) I think of her when use the same sturdy drinking glasses we used as children, and when I iron the beautiful linens I was able to save from her things. I make my own bread from a recipe she gave me and keep her letter tucked in the page as it was the day she mailed it to me. I have my own beautiful bread bowl, and I hope one day, my own grandchild will write of good memories just as you have here. Thanks again for a bit of joy on this day.
Hi Katrina,
Your Gram was a wonderful lady, I can tell by the way you speak of her! I’m so glad that you have those wonderful memories to help you through the rough days. I’m so happy that this touched you and reminded you of those happy days. 🙂
Thanks for sharing this at the Saturday Round Up!! Very sweet 🙂
Thank you for hosting Sara!
What a neat story—you are blessed to have that bowl to remind you of special times with your grandma!
I’m very blessed indeed! Thanks for stopping by!
Hi Lisa Lynn, I am afraid I didn’t live near my surviving garndparents, but used to visit them occasionally, whereupon I was spoiled rotten with desserts of ice-cream, meringue and cream!! You sound so very fortunate to have had them so close by and even keep your horses in their barn. beautiful lapiz-coloured bowl too! Always delighted you pop by Seasonal Celebration Wednesday! Rebecca @Natural Mothers Network x
Hi Rebecca,
I’m sure you have wonderful memories of those visits! I was very blessed to live so close to my grandparents. I have so many fond memories. 🙂 Thanks so much for your wonderful comments…they are always appreciated!
That looks exactly like my Grandmother’s bowls. Thanks for bringing back wonderful memories.
Very glad to!
What a wonderful story! I was very close to my Grandma and I remember spending the summers with her. Precious memories~ I have an old bowl of my Grandma Rose:) She made her mashed potatoes in them, plus many other yummy things. What a great idea to share her bowl…Lynn H
Thanks Lynn! I hope to see some pics of your Grandma Rose’s mashed potato bowl someday. 😉
Beautiful story, and bread bowl too! 😉 I was always close with my grandparents. When I was little they came to visit every day. If a day passed that I didn’t get to see them I cried my little eyes out. As an adult we bought the house right next door and enjoyed having them near to enjoy their great granddaughters too. My grandma passed away a few years ago, then in August we lost my grandpa too. I miss them so very much! After my grandpa’s death, our family went through all of their belongings together. Much like your grandparents, they didn’t have many fancy things, but what they did have was of huge sentimental worth to us!
I now have my grandma’s lovely old jewelry box on my dresser. It’s old, time worn, & wouldn’t be worth much at an antique shop … but it’s the jewelry box I used to pull my grandma’s jewelry from to try on as a child. Much like your bread bowl, it brings me joy and floods my mind with precious memories each time I see it.
Thank you for sharing, and for caring to hear others’ stories as well. What a blessing grandparents are, even after they’re gone the memories are forever cherished!
Brenda, your story brought a tear (or two!) to my eyes! I’m so happy that you have such wonderful memories…it is hard to say goodbye, but we always hold them dear in our hearts and minds. 🙂
Thanks so much for commenting! It really makes my day to hear from my blogging friends!
I wish I would have grown up around my grandparents. I am fortunate to be the grandma that our grandchildren get to grow up around though. perhaps one day they will cherish something like a bread bowl as much as you do yours. lovely post. Hugs and thank you for sharing at Thursday Favorite Things 🙂 P.S. The new giveaway started today!
Hi Katherine,
I’m so glad for you that you have your grandchildren close by! Have fun stirring up memories with them 🙂 Thanks for stopping by and letting me know about the giveaway!
Love your blue bowl! We have my husband’s grandmother’s red fiesta ware bowl. I have some dishes from my Grandmother and a few glasses she used to make us root beer floats in during hot summers…so nice and we always enjoyed seeing them. Thanks for the memories!
Hi Nancy! I would love to see that red fiesta ware bowl in a post someday 🙂 hint hint! That’s wonderful that you have so many nice things to remember your grandmothers by!
What a lovely post. I grew up a 12 hour drive from my grandparents, so we usually only saw them once or twice a year. As we grew older though, I learned to appreciate the skills she had, the beautiful things she hand crafted, and the experiences she had to share. I treasure the few items that I received when she passed away – and I make sure to use them, not just leave them sitting on a shelf.
Thanks for sharing!
That is the situation with my son and my parents. He sees them a couple times a year. I feel so bad that he didn’t have them next door like my grandparents were to me.
I’m so glad that you have those special items and you are enjoying them! Thanks for sharing your story!
Beautiful bowl and precious memories. I grew up with my grandmother as my babysitter. I couldn’t have been luckier.
Hi Joan,
That’s wonderful! I bet you have great memories of spending so much time with her. 🙂 I used to spend the nights with both of my grandmothers and I loved it! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Beautiful memories! 🙂 My grandma is 92 and still uses her things! 😀 But I have plenty of memories of going to grandma’s house. Thanks for reminding me. 🙂 And thanks for sharing on Wildcrafting Wednesday!
My big, yellow bread bowl was made in my grandfather’s factory. It’s about 80 years old and still working hard in the kitchen. Love your pretty blue bowl and all it’s wonderful memories!
Thank you, Maureen! And how cool that you have a bowl from your Grandpa’s factory! Thanks for sharing!
How wonderful you have your grandmothers bowl! What a treasure that is, so very lovely and filled to the brim with memories.
I only really knew my fraternal grandmother, she lived just a few blocks from us until we moved when I was nearly ten. After we moved she’d come up to our house every Sunday for dinner and she’d always bring something. After my father passed away, I found a box with some of her things in it in his garage – I guess they had been quickly packed up after she passed away many years before and never looked at again. I was overwhelmed with happiness and tears when I found the china serving bowl that she would always bring her cole slaw in to our house. 🙂
Thank you for this post and all the memories it stirred.
Happy week to you!
Hi Sally,
How wonderful that you found the box of treasures! I’m so glad you have these precious memories of your Grandmother and the special times you shared with her. 🙂 I much prefer the chipped and cracked possessions of my Grandparents to the new stuff from Wally World!
Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing your story of your Grandmother!
The bread bowl is simply beautiful. I love that cobalt blue color. But what makes it priceless is that it was your grandmother’s and has so many wonderful memories for you,
Thanks so much for joining in this week.
xo
Claudia
Thank you Claudia 🙂 I love the color too. And yes, you are correct…the best thing about it is the memories it stirs up!
What a treasure and sounds like a great childhood too! 🙂 I grew up next door to my maternal grandparents and it was great. I think that I was there more than my own home 🙂
It was a great way to grow up 🙂 How wonderful that you were able to spend so much time with your Grandparents too! Thanks for visiting me 🙂
Beautiful bowl, and what nice memories attached! How lucky to have horses at there place! I lived close to both sets of grandparents, but in suburbia– no horses!
Thanks Diane! We were very blessed to grow up with access to my Grandparent’s 400 acre farm 🙂 It made for some very memorable days. It’s great that you grew up near your Grandparents too! My son is 600 miles from his…I feel bad that it is such a long way to see them. Sigh.
Yes, things are a lot different today. 400 acres?! Can you tell I’m drooling?
:J Totally understand! When my Grandpa passed away the farm was divided between my Dad and his surviving brothers. He has 100 acres that he plans to leave to my siblings and me. But we live so far away that we can only visit once a year and take walks on the land, and dream. 🙂
I lived next door to my grandparents also and we used to walk thru the field to their house. Gram taught us how to make chelsea buns (cinnamon buns with candied peel, candied cherries and lots of brown sugar and butter). She passed away when i was 10 and as far as i know i am the only one that still makes chelsea buns. When they cleaned out her house my mom took the big baking pan and years later gave it to me. Thanks for bringing back good memories.
What a great way to remember your Gram! And those buns sound delicious! Thanks so much for sharing your story with us. 🙂
I was very fortunate to have my grandparents until just a few years ago. I spent almost every weekend with them until I was about 12. My grandma made the best homemade apple pies and she always gave me the crust cutoffs to make cinnamon sugar twists with. They divorced when I was 12 but I still spent as much time with them as possible. I just had to split it between the 2 houses. My grandpa was a musician and we are fortunate to have several of his instruments now for my son to play. I know that every time he plays, his great-grandpa angel is smiling down from heaven and doing a little dance 🙂
Hi Maria,
It is wonderful that you have your Grandfather’s instruments! What an amazing way to remember him as you listen to the music. It’s so great that his love for music has been handed down to such a talented young man too! Thanks for sharing your memories. 🙂 I love to hear them! (But then you already knew that!) 😉
I have always been the “keeper” of grandma’s things…..linens dishes, clothing, furniture. We are downsizing by more than 2/3 and the kids don’t want the stuff. Its so hard to let go because each thing holds such loving memories. I’m making shadow boxes with pictures, gloves, sewing pieces and recipe cards, etc. But I’m afraid much of the furniture will have to be sold–climate controlled storage is just too expensive. (Sigh)
Hi Deborah,
I’m so sorry to hear that you may have to let some things go. 🙁 It is really hard to say goodbye to things that have been in the family. When my Mom cleaned out Gram’s house, I wanted to take all of the nice things that no one else wanted, but I just didn’t have room to put them. I’m so fortunate to have as many things as I do. I hope you can choose the things most important to you and cherish them forever.
What a beautiful bread bowl tied to so many precious memories. I need one like that. I picked up a large bread bowl at a second hands store, but it is falling apart. I need a sturdy one like this. Hmmm. Ebay?
Hi Rachel,
Sometimes you can find wonderful things at second hand stores. I have seen a ton of wonderful things at antique shops in our area, but the price is often pretty high because they are selling to collectors. I try to keep my eyes open for garage sales at old homes. I’ve never bought anything off ebay, but I’m sure you find some great things there too. Best wishes on your search for a wonderful bread bowl!
I don’t purchase from Ebay very often, but it is interesting the things you see. I have seen things I grew up with in my home. I often look just to smile and say “we had that”.
I will be keeping my eye out for a bowl. There are a few more thrift shops in the area.
It’s fun to ‘window shop’ online 🙂 Can be dangerous too! I hope you find a bowl you like. Let me know if you do!
Sweet memories of your Gram.
🙂
Love the story and the memories! I was young when my mom and I cleaned out my grandma’s house, but I remember my mom asking if I’d like some of the things. I picked a few vases, but bless my mom for wrapping up some of the cut glass my grandma had received for wedding gifts. Now, my holiday salads are in my grandma’s bowls.
Hi Meredith,
That’s wonderful that your mom saved those nice pieces for you! Thanks for stopping by to share and I’m so glad you enjoyed the post 🙂
Loved your story, i know the feeling when it comes to those grandparents. I have a few of my grandmothers pieces as well, and i love using them and reminicing about the days spent with her. I love, love that pretty blue bowl of yours………………..
Thanks Sheryl! I’m so glad you have some things of your grandmother’s too 🙂