Looking Up on Throw Back Thursday
Today’s Ultimate Blog Challenge suggested topic is to share who your superhero was or who you looked up to when growing up. I never had a superhero that I looked up to however I only watched Superman since he was about the only one I remember from my early days. But I had my own real superhero in my grandmother. So I thought today is the perfect day for looking up on throw back Thursday.
My mom’s parents lived with us since I was a small child. My grandmother, Nanny was the one who was always there when my mom and dad worked.
I remember when I was about 4 years old, I had a high fever and Nanny picked up the phone to call the doctor. Back then we had a six way party phone and someone was already talking. She politely told the other party it was an emergency and could she use the phone. That’s how things were in the “old days.” Seems like I had pneumonia and the doctor rushed to the house. Another perk from the old days, doctors making house calls!
Our backyard garden was large enough to feed the family throughout the entire winter and then some! I would help my dad harvast the vegetables and gramma would fill our basement storeroom to the brim with canned tomatoes, green beans, corn, and everything vegetable we had grown. Our big potato bin was filled with potatoes to last until spring. The largst crop was baking beans! After dad and I picked them we would hang them upside down in the garage attic until they dried. Nanny and I would then shell the beans, sort them and put in bags until she was ready to make her delicious baked beans! Her baked beans were loaded with brown sugar, molasses and big chunks of pork! http://themarthareview.com/my-grandmothers-baked-beans/ I love making her recipe but I know use bacon.
She didn’t stop at vegetables, she also made homemade grape juice and jelly from our grapes growing in the back yard! I can’t forget about her wild strawberry jam she would make after I picked baskets filled with tiny wild strawberries!
My grandmother could take a small amount of anything and turn it into a meal for seven people. I know that’s where I got my smarts about stretching food! Of course she made the BEST chocolate mayonaisse cake and my mom would get upset because she let me eat it for breakfast before leaving for school. Gramma reminded mom that her cake was as healthy as any breakfast because her cake had eggs and milk in it! My gramma was SO smart! This is even Nanny platter that she used when making her cake. If you want to try her cake, here is her recipe complete with fluffy white frosing topped with coconut. http://themarthareview.com/chocolate-mayonnaise-cake/
But it wasn’t just food, Nanny was an excellent seamstress and from the time I could sit up I would watch her sew. She recycled my cousin’s navy uniforms and made me a beautiful warm coat from his dress blues. She even used the big brass buttons! I was so proud of my coat with the shiny red lining. Thinking about that now, it reminded me of Dolly Pardon’s coat of many colors that her mama made for her and how proud she was even though others made fun of her.
1967 
My beautiful prom gowns and even my wedding gown along with the bridesmaid and flower girl gowns were made by my Nanny. Everything she sewing was stitched with love. I still put my wedding gown on every wedding anniversary, next July will be 55 years!
Even though my grandmother is no longer with me, she lives forever in my heart and I will always be thankful for all she did for her family and all she taught me.
Fast forward and now I see my grandmother in my when I bake, cook or sew with Lia. I hope everything that Lia and I do together will stay with her and she can look up as she gets older and pass them on to her family.
Since I’m looking up on Throw Back Thursday I’m sharing a blog I wrote a few years ago in honor of my grandmother. I know she is looking down, guiding me and smiling because of all she taught everyone. Thank you Nanny for passing down all your knowledge so I could pass it down through my family. I love youand will always look up to you Nanny! http://themarthareview.com/being-inspired-by-my-grandmother/
I love hearing about your past and how you grew up. Great memories.
I’m do glad Amanda, days of old are gone but the memories remain.
What wonderful memories of your grandmother! She sounds so great. My grandmother (Mama), lived with us for a big portion of my childhood, and I also have such great memories of her. She would let my sister and I have some of her coffee which was fun. The one thing that really stands out is her crochet, she was always working on a crochet project, and now everyone in my family has a few pieces in their home.
Who neat that you grandmother crochet, mine did also! I have some beautiful doilies and scarves she made that will be passed down to Lia. When Lia (and her mommy were young) both called me Mama! As Alex got older, she shortened it to Ma and Lia picked that up too!
Martha,
What a beautiful tribute to your super hero of a grandmother. She sounds so much like mine. I think our generation is one of the last to have these similar memories of grandmothers who could do just about anything from scratch. It wasn’t a hobby or cottage business then, it was a necessity.
And can I say how impressed I am that you can still put on your wedding gown every year for 55 years! It still looks beautiful too. I really enjoyed your post today. Thank you for looking up.
Blessings,
Debi 🍂🍃🍁
Yes, I too thinnk our generation was one of the last great ones Debi! I love everything she has passed down and I in turn can pass on to my family. I’m hoping maybe my gown can be remade into something when Lia finds a love of her life!
What a touching throwback Thursday tribute to your grandmother! You looked beautiful on your wedding day — I love your dress!
Lia will remember your times together — and she has the benefit of better documentation than we did in the past!
I’m so hoping that Lia remembers our times together and when she has a family, she can pass the memories down to them. Thanks for visiting Dominique.
What a beautiful and inspiring story of love and honor. I too had a very special relationship with my Granny and this makes me pause for a moment and reflect on so many wonderful family memories.
I’m so glad this gave you a moment to reflect on your family memories also Minette! So many memories from years past that will stay in our hearts forever.
Great use of what’s on hand! That may be a lost art but easy to revive!
Yes it is Kate! I’m so happy to be able to share my grandmother’s love for sewing on to Lia.
Great reminiscings
So many memories that I love passing down to Lia!!
Hi Martha, thank you for sharing about your superhero grandma. She certainly left her legacy with you and you have honored her with your blogs and sharing your learned skills of cooking, gardening, and sewing with the younger generations of your family so that her memory will live on. I enjoy reading your posts. thank you for sharing. Jaime
My grandmother was the best Jaime. She was like a second mom to me since she lived with us and was always there when my mom worked. I’m honored to be able to pass down what I learned to both Alex when she was Lia’s age and now Lia.
Those dishes look so good.
I love making recipes from my grandmother Amanda. Now I can pass them down to Lia.