I'm reading a cookbook which introduces people from the south, mostly Tennessee, with each recipe. Each recipe is from one of their grandmothers.
It's called: At My Grandmother's Table: Heartwarming Stories and Cherished Recipes.
Sometimes they tell a cute story, other times they give a quote from their grandmother, and then, of course, a recipe that they all love/d and often still make.
My question is, if you were writing to such a book to have your grandmother added in, what would you say about her? What kind of cook was she, did she make certain meals when people came to visit, what did she do in her 'spare time,' did she ever offer words of wisdom, etc.?
What did you learn from them?
I learned, I believe, what it is to be a good grandmother, from my grandmothers. I did watch them cook, but it was a lot more than that. I watched how they treated family with making sure that they made memories, enjoyed doing things with family out, showed so much patience, how they got things done by working to complete their tasks for the day, and so forth.
I remember how they made me feel, and that's what I want for my grandchildren.
Maybe they spoiled us with a treat on shopping day or an ice cream cone sometimes, or perhaps they let us help with something that they were doing. One took me for walks to a field to pick flowers, the other took us on neighborhood walks to pick warm grapes off the vine, and honeysuckle flowers. Neither really had the time, but they did it anyway.
Did my grandmother have the time for me to walk through the laundry that she was hanging? Or, to let me help her prep her Sunday school projects? It didn't matter, they did it anyway,
They let me in their kitchens when they cooked, made the time to make doll clothes for my doll, and made us quilts. They let us take wooden chairs and blankets in the yard to make forts with our cousins, etc.
That's the feeling that all children should have.
I credit all 4 of my grandparents with many good things in my life, including setting good examples in many things.
One grandfather showed me to learn everything, be generous, and to be adventurous. The other showed me that you could do anything - including build a house or fix an annoying door, but that having a sense of humor and having fun with family was very important.
One grandmother taught me to embrace the country lifestyle, and embrace your entire family, but also to love nature. The other showed me that you can work at an important job, but still consider treat your family like the most important thing in your tangible life - she's the one who worked with the rocket scientists in the naval dept.
How about your grandparents?
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