Being Inspired by my Grandmother
Today is Tuesday September 1st and the beginning of the Cornerstone Content Blog Challenge. This is a new blog challenge that will be hosted in September, December, March and June where participants will write a blog each day for the months listed. I’m looking forward to this challenge, it will be my 6th challenge since April! My first topic is about being inspired by my grandmother.
From the age of about 4 years old my grandparents lived with us. Both my mom and dad worked so my grandmother was a major part of my my life. My grandmother was the one who made sure I started my day with a healthy breakfast before school started. My mom had her differences with this because there were times gramma would give me a big piece of chocolate cake. But she told my mom it was healthy because it was made with dark chocolate and mayonnaise which has eggs in it! Add a glass of milk and I’m getting a wholesome breakfast. Obviously my gramma won that argument. This is my grandmother’s delicious Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake. http://themarthareview.com/chocolate-mayonnaise-cake/
I learned so much from my grandmother with her baking. Besides her chocolate cake she made old fashioned doughnuts, canned and froze vegetables from our garden and made a dinner meal that would stretch for three days. I know that’s what inspired me to be frugal when it comes to cooking. I love to cook something and stretch it into at least 3 more meals. Check out how I Stretch a Chicken.
But the one thing that my grandmother taught me was the art of sewing. Since I was young I would watch her sewing beautiful garments for everyone in the family. I will never forget the navy blue wool winter coat she made when I was 7 or 8 years old. She made it from my cousins old Navy uniforms, had a bright red lining and she even used the big brass buttons from the uniform jacket. I was so proud to wear the clothes she made for me and I never had to worry about anyone having the same prom gown.
The one sewing item I an proud to cherish is the Christening gown my grandmother made for her seven children back in 1907. After my mom got married and had children, the gown was passed down to her and my two sisters and I wore the gown. After I got married and had our first daughter, my mother intrusted the gown to me for our two children to wear. Fast forward to when we had grandchildren and three of our grandchildren also wore this beautiful Christening gown. Never thinking as far as having great grandchildren, it was 112 years since my grandmother made this gown that Lia was blessed in the Christening gown. My grandmother made this silk gown all by hand and love. I hope it will be passed down and worn for many more generations. This is a blog I wrote about the Christening gown worn by Rich’s and my children and grandchildren. This was written before Lia was born, I have to update it! http://themarthareview.com/christening-gown-passed-down-through-generations/
My grandmother to the right of me in my wedding picture 53 years ago is the one that made my school clothes, my play clothes, my prom gowns and even my wedding gown and attendants gowns. I didn’t realize all the time I would sit and watch her sew that I was actually learning to sew myself.
When I got married my husband and I started our sewing business and it grew into an interior decorating business with a store front and complete window treatment workroom. For over 50 years we designed and fabricated window treatments from formal to casual and everything in between. http://themarthareview.com/how-mar-cs-was-born/
I know I was being inspired by my grandmother from the time I was young and it’s because of her I am where I am today.
My hope is that I can inspire Lia like I was being inspired by my grandmother and she continues to enjoy her baking and sewing passion as she grows older. I love when the art of something that has been passed down through the generations lives on.
Wonderful story
Nanny was a great inspiration to me for sure Rich.
What a lovely story. Your grandmother reminds me of my fathers mother. She baked homemade bread in a wood cook stove and sold it right up until she was 90. She’d “humph” today at me with my bread machine that only makes a loaf at a time. 😂
OMG that’s super Nancy! I can’t imagine when my grandmother would think about they way things are cooked in today’s world!
Martha, as always you brought tears of joy to my eyes. I loved reading about your lovely grandmother. I sure you are a huge inspiration to Lia. You are an angelic soul and it comes through in Lia.
Awww Brenda, now I need a tissue! Thank you so much, my hope is that Lia ia inspired by me if even in a small way.
This post was so moving, Martha! It made me tear up. Your grandmother was inspiring in so many ways. In fact, I want to learn how to create meals I can make last for several days. I’m all about meal planning on a budget, but haven’t thought about it in this way for a while. I love Lia in the christening gown! I wish I lived close enough to you that I could hand you my cardigan that I want to turn into a long vest. I do have a friend who says she will show me how to do it with fashion tape, though.
I forgot the tissue alert Jeanine! I have so many more memories of my grandmother, she was one of a kind. I had a delicious leftover meal today, it might work in tomorrow’s blog!
Your grandmother must have been a incredible women because look at you. Just as my grandmother. I just wish she had had the opportunity to meet Charlie but that wasn’t the Lords will.
Yes she was incredible in so many ways Glenda. I’m sorry Charlie wasn’t able to met your grandmother but you can pass down her memories through you.
Great personal history. Thanks for sharing and bringing a smile to my face!
Thanks Roy, I can still smell her donuts. frying in a huge pan of oil. Talk about cholesterol! LOL
What a beautiful tribute to a very special grandmother. I am so happy that she was such a big part of your world and that she gave you cake and said that it was nutritious!
My grandmother was one of a kind Alice! I hope she is looking down and seeing all that Lia does just like I did when gramma and I were together. Oh and BTW her name was Alice too!
You are certainly inspiring Alex and Lia as much as your grandmother inspired you!! Loved this post and that christening dress as well as your wedding gown are so gorgeously beautiful..
my grandparents were certainly a huge influence on my life as well.. (I have a post as well about them for this challenge.. had originally written that for today and then wrote a whole other post which is why I was late posting for day 1)…
Thank you Vidya, my grandmother’s memories are so special to me and hope Lia remembers the ones her and I share. Looking forward to reading about your grandparents.
Martha, Thank you for such a beautiful and inspiring story. Your grandmother sounds like such an amazing woman. Reading your beautiful story was just like revising my connection with my Nana. She, too was such an incredible cook and baker and did all her own jams, jellies and canning. She did every handicraft there was and she also taught me how to sew. Eventually we ended up running the family real estate business together. She raised me and there was nobody like her. She was my everything. We shared such a special and unique relationship and she will live in my heart forever. Thank you for adding this precious spark to my day by reminding me of how much I love my Nana.
Your Nana sounds just like my gramma Vidya! The life skills they have taught us will stay with us to pass on through generations. I’m so glad my stories bring back memories to so many.
Great post. I miss my grandma.
Grandmas are so special and making memories with them is what keeps them alive in our hearts Amanda. I’m hoping that’s what Lia will do, hany on to the memories her and I make together.
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