Memories of Grandmothers and Aprons plus photos #TBT
Posted By RichC on November 26, 2020
Since I’m pre-writing this by a few days for Throwback Thursday #TBT, I realized just before post it that it will also be Thanksgiving on Thursday. Our family won’t be getting together as usual (same for a lot of families for a COVID19 resurgence), but ours was planned that way since we rotate holidays; Katelyn, Drew, Annalyn and Ellerie will be with the Oostras this year.
Ok .. so I didn’t quickly find a photo of either of my grandmothers with an “apron,” but I can guarantee you that my Grandma Bluhm had it ‘on’ more than she had it ‘off’ … and I am almost positive the same could be said for Brenda’s Granny Howard. Nevertheless, I’ll archive a couple photos from DadC’s slides of me and my Grandma and Grandpa Bluhm before sharing the “Grandmothers and Aprons” story below (and all the grandkids above: Bob, Ron, Diane and me with glasses).
Now for the story that was shared on a friend’s Facebook page, but almost everyone my age either remembers a grandmother, relative or family friend who resembles a grandmother wearing an apron.
If this doesn’t bring fond Throwback Thursday memories to you, then I feel sorry for you … you really missed out.
Grandmothers and Aprons
I don’t think our kids know what an apron is. The principle use of Grandma’s apron was to protect the dress underneath because she only had a few. It was also because it was easier to wash aprons than dresses and aprons used less material. But along with that, it served as a potholder for removing hot pans from the oven.
It was wonderful for drying children’s tears, and on occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears.
From the chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half-hatched eggs to be finished in the warming oven. When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids. And when the weather was cold, Grandma wrapped it around her arms.
Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, bent over the hot wood stove. Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron. From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables. After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls.
In the fall, the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees.When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds. When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the porch, waved her apron, and the men folk knew it was time to come in from the fields to dinner.
Grandma used to set her hot baked apple pies on the window sill to cool. Her granddaughters set theirs on the window sill to thaw. They would go crazy now trying to figure out how many germs were on that apron. I don’t think I ever caught anything from an apron – but love
– author unknown
It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace that ‘old-time apron’ that served so many purposes.
Send this to those who would know (and love) the story about Grandma’s aprons.
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