Grandma's Apron

Growing up I had only one "Grandma"

My mother's mother

She worked "outside the home" only briefly during the depression

as a Seamstress 

to put food on the table for her three fatherless children

Her job was to do the household chores

the cleaning and the cooking and the washing up after.

Because she was a seamstress she made all of the nightgowns for herself and

her unmarried daughter, my maiden aunt

(everyone needs a maiden aunt!)

She made quilts

(some of which are in my cedar chest)

and she made aprons

Because while she was at home she always wore an apron!

It was part of her at home dress.

When she went out to run errands or to church, the apron came off

because she put on a "good dress"

This Christmas, my great niece gifted me with one of grandma's aprons

It hangs proudly next to my own apron

on the door to the larder!

Everytime I look at it, I'll think of her

A true old fashioned cook

who made everything from scratch

And today, I did as she would have done . .  .

With a bunch of overripe bananas

I made banana bread

From her simple recipe --

bananas, flour, sugar, eggs, leavening, bananas and nuts

which makes two loaves

(There is no economy in making only one!)

I like making smaller loaves, too

For they're just perfect for tea for me

(And they make good gifts for a single friend)

(But grandma wouldn't -- she didn't own any of those mini pans!)

After her daily nap, she often sat at the kitchen table

with a cup of tea and a treat

(which sometimes was this same banana bread)

This afternoon, I sat in the breakfast room

(for we have no kitchen table)

with a cup of tea and a treat

My beloved blue and white is once again in daily use

My "everyday/kitchen" pot

And a centerpiece of a Christmas poinsettia

(grandma always had one every year, too)

And three slices of banana bread

A nice nosh

As we hunker down once again

for more snow

and bitter cold

is on it's way!