Things our Grandparents Did

[braided-rug]

Memories of one set of my Grandparents include things like my Nana putting wood into the stove, she did it so often it is hard to forget it actually. My Grandfather was good with bees, and collected bees from places from where they shouldn't be and put them into their little house. My Grandpa loved to talk and when I hear bush poetry I think of him. He camped in the bush alot for his work.

[sunshine]

My mom's mom-- made all her own clothes, and had a "dust cap" to match each house dress. She lost all of her hair one night, due to a thyroid storm - and used a dust cap for the rest of her life. I recall her crocheting many, many doilies- mostly ones with roses, pansies or grapes in them.

My mom's dad- I especially remember him playing the juice harp when I was little (he's the only one of my grandparents to live til I was an adult, so I have tons of memories of him). He'd get it out in the afternoons, when I was supposed to be taking a nap, and play it- to try to get me to go to sleep. I think it worked the opposite though, as I'd want to stay awake to hear him play more.

My dad's mom- I remember her cutting up bread wrappers and crocheting them into rugs.

My dad's dad- he died when I was barely 6 yo. . . and was pretty sick for years before that. . .. about all I remember of him, was him lying in bed when we'd go to visit- and he's always have peppermint candies for us kids.

[Admin]

My mom's mom....lovely lady but sickly most of her life. She was a severe diabetic. I remember her good cooking mostly.

My mom's dad...a snappy dresser, who was a neat freak..Loved his cars

My dad's dad passed when I was a year old. No memories of him

My dad's mom. Strict but loving German lady. Love to feed us and keep us in the summer. I remember many summers at her home.

[lynn]

My maternal grandpa was a practical jokester. He once dared one of the cousins....a boy, of course, to put a freshly laid egg, the whole thing! in his mouth. Grandpa told him he'd give him $5 if he did. He was nearly 7 feet tall and had a shock of red hair. Tragically, he died from injuries sustained in a car accident when I was just 9.

maternal grandma was a great country cook and seamstress, too. She was a real go getter and was very strong willed. If she set her mind to do something, well, you could bank on it. She'd do it or die trying.

Paternal grandpa - still living and recently celebrated his 96th birthday! Wow at the changes he's seen....he tells us about his very first car, the first alligator he ever saw and dancing with Grandma. It just amazes us, his memory is so good and so quick witted! He has consumed enough animal fat to kill him and yet, his cardiovasular system is great. And the coffee he drinks!!!! He likes it strong and black. He has never been one to get in a hurry and therefore, has avoided stress most of his life. When we kids were little, he had quite a collection of chickens and peafowls. He had a spotted dog that he named Spot (what else would you call a spotted dog!) and a tan colored one. He quickly dubbed him Rot. We kids thought that was hilarious...he and Grandma were married 72 years when she passed away 2 years ago.

Paternal grandmother - she was a little tiny thing and quite the spitfire. A strong disciplinarian, but you always knew where you stood with her. She never learned to read, but she could whip up the best meal out of nothing, it seemed, that you had ever tasted. I guess that came from raising a family during the depression. She loved yard work, tending to her flowers and vegetables and listening to good ole' Gospel music on the radio. When I was a teenager, I taught her how to write her name. And when I got married, she gave the first iron skillet I ever owned and a beautiful seductive looking gown....guess she wanted me to cook outside the kitchen.....!!! After being married for so long, she figured she could give me a few tips, I guess.....lol....

I love threads like this.....love reading every one's memories of their grands.....

[braided-rug]

I am very interested in those peafowls. Are they guineafowls? Love those.

A German grandma. That would be great because you would know about German cooking. I am trying to learn it. I have to, that is about the only ingredients they have in the shop.

Gospel music on the radio, that's cool.

And the crochet! I love crochet with flowers. I made some when I was a younger teen I think.

[lynn]

yep, BR, that is what they are. we always used those 2 terms interchangeably.

[braided-rug]

Check this out:

www.guineafowl.com/board/album/index.html

I love guinea fowls. They look lovely walking around and sound lovely. I was so happy when we bought a pheasant when we first got married and it did heaps of sounds, and one sound I was sure sounded like a guinea fowl. Whether it did or not, I was happy lol.

[Tammie]

So fun to read the special memories of each one's grandparents.

My paternal grandmother had 9 children, one after the other, so she was just always busy. She saved rainwater in a barrel in the summer, strongly believed it was the best thing to wash your hair in...she still has long hair to this day, never cut it. And Grandpa ran a little grocery store and butcher market, I remember him giving me and my brother boxes of Cracker Jacks as a treat! (we loved to get the prize inside.)

My maternal grandpa was a small dairy farmer, quiet man, but loved to drink a Pepsi in the evening and listen to the baseball game on the radio as he played Solitaire with cards!
My maternal Grandmother is near and dear to my heart as she let me stay with her in the summer. A busy farmwife, she still always had time for games, reading, and making grandchildren feel important. She used to make French Toast for breakfast and then heat up Karo syrup in a pan on the gas stove so we could pour warm syrup on our toast!
*contented sigh*
Lovely, special memories!