What did love the most about your Grandparents??

southern yankee · Post by **southern yankee** » Sat Jul 26, 2008 6:31 pm

I never knew either of my grandpas.

Also my dad's mother passed when i very young.

But my mom's mother.:-4 She was what the true meaning of a grandma should be. She was 4'10" always wore her hair in a bun. And a aprin. and her concertive house dress. oh, her orthopedic black shoes. She lived with us from the time i was 17 mos. A wonderful woman. with heart as big as the great out doors.:-4 Many times i can rember sitting on her knee. as we sang old songs. or she would tell me stories from her youth. Also big fun was picking silly words out of the newspaper. one timed we laughted til we cried over a COW SLIP (flower) how silly she said a cow wearing a slip!! I had ADD and with her help i learned to read. She was self educated. I was so blessed with a grandma like her.

Please share your stories with me. i lost her in 1974. when i am a grandma. i hope i can be half the grandma that she was,

hoppy · Post by **hoppy** » Sat Jul 26, 2008 6:56 pm

In my journal I wrote much about my grandparents on mom's side. They lived with us. Neither one had much formal education yet, they knew how to live. Gramps was a pretty rowdy roughneck type but granny was quiet, gentle unless riled, and a great cook and housekeeper. Many evenings, when work was done, she and mom would sit at the kitchen table thumbing through the pages of our Sears Roebuck catalog, looking at the many things they would never own.

My dad's parents had little to do with us.

qsducks · Post by **qsducks** » Sat Jul 26, 2008 7:04 pm

My mom's mom used to make this "to die for raisin bread with icing". She was a great cook and she did pass down many recipes including Scon (Irish soda bread) with raisins. Yum. I make it every Christmas.

southern yankee · Post by **southern yankee** » Sat Jul 26, 2008 7:09 pm

qsducks;931879 wrote: My mom's mom used to make this "to die for raisin bread with icing". She was a great cook and she did pass down many recipes including Scon (Irish soda bread) with raisins. Yum. I make it every Christmas. making cookies with grandma at christmas, still makes me smile 40 years later, God rest my mother's soul. i sure it still makes her cringe. We had flour EVERYWHERE!!:wah: mom was a clean freak.

qsducks · Post by **qsducks** » Sat Jul 26, 2008 7:11 pm

My cousins & I still make the scon every year but cannot get the recipe for the raisan bread with the icing quite rite. Always ends up looking like a big terd in the oven:wah:

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Sat Jul 26, 2008 7:15 pm

My grandmother would get cardboard boxes and take us up to the hill behind her house. We would slide down it all day long, then she would pop us in the tub to be clean and neat before my grandfather got home. He thought we sat there all day long like nice little girls, and not running around in the dirt. :wah:

southern yankee · Post by **southern yankee** » Sat Jul 26, 2008 7:17 pm

qsducks;931890 wrote: My cousins & I still make the scon every year but cannot get the recipe for the raisan bread with the icing quite rite. Always ends up looking like a big terd in the oven:wah: yep, grandma's have a magic touch:-4

southern yankee · Post by **southern yankee** » Sat Jul 26, 2008 7:22 pm

chonsigirl;931898 wrote: My grandmother would get cardboard boxes and take us up to the hill behind her house. We would slide down it all day long, then she would pop us in the tub to be clean and neat before my grandfather got home. He thought we sat there all day long like nice little girls, and not running around in the dirt. :wah:
that is sooo cute.

CARLA · Post by **CARLA** » Sat Jul 26, 2008 8:18 pm

I was lucky to have known all 4 of my Grand Parents. They were all wonderful in so many ways. My mother parents were Polish who came to this country through Ellis Island they lived in Chicago. They spoke little english but boy could "Busha" cook I can still smell her "Sweet & Sour Cabbage" to die for. Polish food is wonderful I have great memories of helping make Pierogi with many different fillings. My mother was second to last of 14 children so I had and still have a ton of uncles, Aunts and cousins huge family on my moms side.

My dad parent lived here in San Diego so I know them best. My dad's father was a Scotsman who came to the US through Ellis Island as did my mothers parents. My grand father was bumped off the TITANIC at the last minute. Thank God or I wouldn't be here.

My dad's mother was from Topeka Kansas and the sweetest women I have ever know, with the most beautiful hair I have ever seen to this day. My sisters and I spent many weekend at their house as my dads sister lived down the street and we loved my cousin Janie. My grandmom was a great cook I loved her "Bread Pudding with white sweet sauce" :-4

I feel very luck to have know them all it is a blessing for sure.

southern yankee · Post by **southern yankee** » Sat Jul 26, 2008 8:33 pm

CARLA;931941 wrote: I was lucky to have known all 4 of my Grand Parents. They were all wonderful in so many ways. My mother parents were Polish who came to this country through Ellis Island. They spoke little english but boy could "Busha" cook I can still smell her "Sweet & Sour Cabbage" to die for. Polish food is wonderful I have great memories of helping make Pierogi with many different fillings. My mother was second to last of 14 children so I had and still have a ton of uncles, cousins huge family on my moms side.

My dad parent lived here in San Diego so I know them best. My dad's father was a Scotsman who came to the US through Ellis Island as did my mothers parents. My grand father was bumped off the TITANIC at the last minute. Thank God or I wouldn't be here.

My dad's mother was from Topeka Kansas and the sweetest women I have ever know, with the most beautiful hair I have ever seen to this day. My sisters and I spent many weekend at their house as my dads sister lived down the street and we loved my cousin Janie. My grandmom was a great cook I loved her "Bread Pudding with white sweet sauce" :-4

I feel very luck to have know them all it is a blessing for sure. i am Polish on my dad's side. never got to know them "BUSHA passed when i was about 2 or 3. Will not spell it right JAH JaH passed when my dad was 16. yes the food. Here is another mispelling-- Kieska. for breakfast on Sunday mornings.. poor mom was from Ark. i am sure it was big ajustment for her.

CARLA · Post by **CARLA** » Sat Jul 26, 2008 8:43 pm

I haven't heard or said Jaja a very long time, thanks for the memory.:-4

[QUOTE]JAH JaH [/QUOTE] :-4

OMG Jab yes we would make enough for an army and pass them out to everyone in the neighborhood and we still had hundreds left. I also remember stuffing Kielbasa.

[QUOTE]You and me both Carla! I love Pierogi! We still make them by hand with my mom and it's like a production line cuz we make hundreds of them. [/QUOTE]

hoppy · Post by **hoppy** » Sat Jul 26, 2008 8:55 pm

I had some Polish friends I used to visit when I could. When they invited me to stay for a meal it was like dying and going to heaven. I love polish cooking. My dad's parents came from a mountain village a short hike from the Polish border, in the Tatra mountains.

Peg · Post by **Peg** » Sat Jul 26, 2008 9:02 pm

Both my grandfathers were dead before I was born. My mom's mom always had Ritz crackers and sweet pickles for me. I remember her saying, "Jimmeny crimeny, jimmeny cricket" when she was upset. :wah:

My dad's mom was diabetic and always baking sweets. Chocolate no bakes with raisins, "butterflies" which were fried dough shaped like a butterfly and rolled in powered sugar. She used to make us Hungarian Goulash.

Patsy Warnick · Post by **Patsy Warnick** » Sat Jul 26, 2008 11:15 pm

I love the stories... Southern Yank - good thread

Brings back warm memories I had forgotten

1 Gramps - I remember him whenever little breakfast sausage is cooking.

1 Gramps - owned a BAR - became family involved business - all I remember is my very big man called Grampa would pick me up (3-9 yrs old)and set me on the bar. calm down - the place was empty & the whole family was there & cleaning.. ( my Mom's Dad)

1- Grandma - large woman - loved kids - always kept her hands folded, and always in the kitchen - always.

1- Grandma - very thin woman - ( my mom's mom) loved to crochet - tv tray with her beer and tomato juice. I always stayed with her - She couldn't get me to eat anything but spaghetti. which was "GETTI".

1- Grandma - very short - stern - kinda didn't like kids

My Great Grand Mother - BLACK - very very large woman. That's when I knew I was partially Black I was @ 5 ish. My Grandfather - the very large man/bar owner - that was his Mother, who was a plantation slave, my Grandfather's Dad is the plantation owner.

Carla - Jab - I'm Polish - love the cabbage - cooked it all the time and I mean huge pans of cabbage, my Step-Father ( Full Blooded Polish) had to have the cabbage... I cook Kielbasa every Sunday

I loved it

Good thread - I've enjoyed reading the replies

Patsy

Hope6 · Post by **Hope6** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 12:01 am

My parents had me so late in life that all my grandparents had passed on except my maternal grandmother. Granny was like a second mother to me, she was a little woman, always wore a print dress and her hair up in a bun. she had been raised that it was a sin for a woman to cut her hair, so hers was never cut in her whole life. it was snow white and just beautiful.

she stayed with us off and on when i was a kid, very religious woman but very mystical too, she saw ghosts here entire life and used to tell me the greatest stories! she also could remove warts if you had any, just by giving you a penny, she called it buying them from you, what else she did after she gave you the penny was a big secret!:wah: :wah:

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 1:23 am

Probably my favorite memory is the Easter both grandmas got drunk and started fighting then one of them passed out with her face in the sweet potato's. :-6

shelbell · Post by **shelbell** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 5:06 am

This is so cool reading all these stories...thanks for the thread SY!:)

I had one set of grandparents that lived across the street, then we both moved and they lived around the block.I was closest to this grandma...they were over every Sunday after church and always brought us doughnuts.

My other set of grandparents lived out of town so we didn't get to see them as often.

I had a grandpa (originally married to grandma #1) and he loved to move around a lot. We would visit him in all kinds of different states...just depended on where he wanted to live at the time.

My Great Grandma and Grandpa would have me and my cousin over to have slumber parties. She was granny. she died at 92 at the time we had 5 generations of women.

My 2nd grandma (the out of towner) is still alive at 90 and we have 5 generations again except the last generation is my grandson. All my grandparents were great and I am fortunate to have good memories of all of them.:-4:-4

southern yankee · Post by **southern yankee** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 6:34 am

Hope6;931997 wrote: My parents had me so late in life that all my grandparents had passed on except my maternal grandmother. Granny was like a second mother to me, she was a little woman, always wore a print dress and her hair up in a bun. she had been raised that it was a sin for a woman to cut her hair, so hers was never cut in her whole life. it was snow white and just beautiful.

she stayed with us off and on when i was a kid, very religious woman but very mystical too, she saw ghosts here entire life and used to tell me the greatest stories! she also could remove warts if you had any, just by giving you a penny, she called it buying them from you, what else she did after she gave you the penny was a big secret!:wah: :wah: i was born when my parents were older too. my daughter still has her father's parents, but they are not close.

Victoria · Post by **Victoria** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 8:22 am

My mothers parents were wonderful, from them I learned love isn't just for young people.

My gran would bake in the kitchen and in a small space between the end of the worktop and the fridge was enough space for a small narrow chair which my grandad would sit on and watch her work.

He would sup his tea, pouring it into the saucer which always made her tut and call her by his pet name Ella.

When she put the baking in the oven he would kiss her floury face and say 'Ella, you smell so good, I love you'

After he died and when my gran decided to go into sheltered housing she asked if I wanted anything from their house and I asked if I could have that chair.

She was really surprised because its just an old kitchen chair but to me it will always bring back special memories.:-4

southern yankee · Post by **southern yankee** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 8:42 am

Victoria;932276 wrote: My mothers parents were wonderful, from them I learned love isn't just for young people.

My gran would bake in the kitchen and in a small space between the end of the worktop and the fridge was enough space for a small narrow chair which my grandad would sit on and watch her work.

He would sup his tea, pouring it into the saucer which always made her tut and call her by his pet name Ella.

When she put the baking in the oven he would kiss her floury face and say 'Ella, you smell so good, I love you'

After he died and when my gran decided to go into sheltered housing she asked if I wanted anything from their house and I asked if I could have that chair.

She was really surprised because its just an old kitchen chair but to me it will always bring back special memories.:-4
That is sooo sweet. i have my grandma's purse. just the way she left it. i look in every so often. nothing special inside. just what she needed. i understand about the chair.:-4

southern yankee · Post by **southern yankee** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 11:24 am

jimbo;932384 wrote: i really loved my grandfathers sense of humour he was such a funny kind guy :-6, i really loved my grans cooking and how she used to hug me and i really miss how much i knew they loved me

:(
no one can hug like a grandma:-4

southern yankee · Post by **southern yankee** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 11:39 am

JAB;932473 wrote: I only remember my gramps' hugs and they were pretty cool too. :-4 sorry, would never mean to leave grandpas out.:yh_hugs:yh_hugs:yh_hugs

buttercup · Post by **buttercup** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 1:59 pm

My Granda, now gone from this world R.I.P old soldier :-4

He always said - honesty was the best policy.

The ever dutiful Grand daughter ive followed that statement all my life. After my granny's funeral we had some time alone to contemplate, lying on top of their bed with him in the dark & silent room after many hours of silence i said - you know Granda you told me honesty was the best policy & ive followed that all my life believing it was right, good & true because you said it but its got me into nothing but trouble.

At that moment he laughed, probably for the first time since Granny died & looked at me so proud i just knew that he was right & no matter what the consequences were i'd stick with it.

I miss some crazy things about the old guy. I miss cutting his toe nails & eyebrows & nose & ear hair & all the other things no-one else would do. I miss all the aspects of his personality that irritated my Granny & Mum. Man they were the best bits. I adored him.

Thanks for posting this thread & bringing him back to me :-4

southern yankee · Post by **southern yankee** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 2:11 pm

buttercup;932679 wrote: My Granda, now gone from this world R.I.P old soldier :-4

He always said - honesty was the best policy.

The ever dutiful Grand daughter ive followed that statement all my life. After my granny's funeral we had some time alone to contemplate, lying on top of their bed with him in the dark & silent room after many hours of silence i said - you know Granda you told me honesty was the best policy & ive followed that all my life believing it was right, good & true because you said it but its got me into nothing but trouble.

At that moment he laughed, probably for the first time since Granny died & looked at me so proud i just knew that he was right & no matter what the consequences were i'd stick with it.

I miss some crazy things about the old guy. I miss cutting his toe nails & eyebrows & nose & ear hair & all the other things no-one else would do. I miss all the aspects of his personality that irritated my Granny & Mum. Man they were the best bits. I adored him.

Thanks for posting this thread & bringing him back to me :-4 it has made me smile too:) you sound like my daughter and my father. who just passed 2 mos. ago:(

Helen · Post by **Helen** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 2:49 pm

i didnt know my dads parents, they both passed when i was very small as did my mums dad but my nan.............. she was wonderfull. i loved her to bits. there were five generations of us when she died on xmas eve in 1992 aged 94. sadly she lived too far away from us to get us all in any photos together.

she had waist length hair that she promised her mother she would never cut, always worn in a long platt and wound round her head and pined into place. sadly, due to arthritus in her hands, she had to have it cut off in the end.

she wore knee length bloomers !! that she always pinned to her bra as one day the elastic broke and they fell to her ankles in the middle of the street

when we went to stay with her, she slept in a tent with me in the garden, saved me the skin on the custard, cooked me scrambled eggs on toast for breakfast. read to me from my favorite books.

i was lucky enough to live near her for two short years, 1983 /85 but sadly her mind was begining to wander.

the day i moved to cornwall, i went to say goodbye and she gave me 50p to buy some sweets for the journey !!

that was the last time i saw her................................

along-for-the-ride · Post by **along-for-the-ride** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 3:41 pm

All my grandparents have passed away. I do cherish the moments I spent with all of them. My fathers mother passed away when I was seven, so I truthfully don't remember her so much. My mothers mom would come visit us when she could and take us on walks to get ice cream. Both my grandfathers were warm and funny guys who love to dote on us grandchildren. One grandfather was a carpenter, the other was a butcher and an artist.

My fathers father was a semi-professional boxer until he married my grandmother. They had eight children together; my dad being the oldest. Below is their wedding picture, taken around 1925. The other stills ( from a home movie) are how I remember them.

Attached files

Hope6 · Post by **Hope6** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 9:14 pm

southern yankee;932180 wrote: i was born when my parents were older too. my daughter still has her father's parents, but they are not close.

i always wished i could have known a grandpa, i always felt like i missed out , not having a grandfather!

my one granny that i did know was so dear to me, i wish i could have had that with all of them!:(

Hope6 · Post by **Hope6** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 9:20 pm

Helen;932749 wrote: i didnt know my dads parents, they both passed when i was very small as did my mums dad but my nan.............. she was wonderfull. i loved her to bits. there were five generations of us when she died on xmas eve in 1992 aged 94. sadly she lived too far away from us to get us all in any photos together.

she had waist length hair that she promised her mother she would never cut, always worn in a long platt and wound round her head and pined into place. sadly, due to arthritus in her hands, she had to have it cut off in the end.

she wore knee length bloomers !! that she always pinned to her bra as one day the elastic broke and they fell to her ankles in the middle of the street

when we went to stay with her, she slept in a tent with me in the garden, saved me the skin on the custard, cooked me scrambled eggs on toast for breakfast. read to me from my favorite books.

i was lucky enough to live near her for two short years, 1983 /85 but sadly her mind was begining to wander.

the day i moved to cornwall, i went to say goodbye and she gave me 50p to buy some sweets for the journey !!

that was the last time i saw her................................

speaking of things pinned to your bra reminded me, my granny had a little bag that she kept her money in and she always wore it pinned to the inside of her bra! :wah::wah: