Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Grandma in the Peoria Home

This is one of several old photos I found when we were looking for pictures for Mary Lee's senior page in her school yearbook. This was taken in 1989 when I brought Andrew to Illinois for some reason (too many years later to remember why) and we visited Grandma in the Peoria home. I thought this would bring back some memories for all.

16 comments:

Ada said...

I just fixed myself a Folgers Cafe Latte Mocha Fusion, got a piece of biscotti, and came in here to check my email and the blog - my first morning activity.

I think you came to Illinois just to show off your darling little boy. Wasn't he a doll! (and of course still is.) And look how happy you made your grandma! I think there are some pictures somewhere of that trip and where we were all at Aunt Mary's house.

Sometimes I still miss Mother especially when I think about something from "way back when" and she's probably the only person that I could ask about it. Or sometimes - when I'm ironing - I think of her standing in the kitchen ironing. Did you know she used to make a batch of fudge to eat as she ironed. Guess that would make ironing fun!

Nog Blog said...

With her Bible on one side and her knitting on the other, and a baby in her lap. She really does look happy in this picture...just the way I remember her looking. Thanks, Ann.

Anonymous said...

Being from Peoria where Grandma lived her final years, Kathleen and I can say that she was content, somewhat independent, and always a good example to others. In her own house, she was the ultimate cook and housekeeper. I do remember the fudge Ada mentioned that she made and also the great chocolate cookies with the white frosting. And many, many other good memories.....
Cleve

Ann said...

I think that's a ball of that "sugar and cream" cotton yarn that she used to knit dishcloths with. Do any of you remember that? I still keep one of those, never used, that she made years ago.

Nog Blog said...

Ann - if you ever come to Uncle Perry's annual Christmas gathering, you will be blessed with a similar dish cloth (and a pot holder) specially made by Aunt Alice. It's one of the treats of that day, along with the fabulous food.

Shelley S said...

Does anyone have the recipe for the chocolate cookies that Uncle Cleve mentioned? I'd love to have it.

Shelley

Jason-Janice (mostly Janice) said...

after clicking on the picture to enlarge, I believe that is Jason's senior picture in the frame on the side table. The light suit, skinny pink knit tie, and blonde fuzzy almost-mullet lead me to that conclusion.

Ada said...

Janice--Enlarge again---that is A, D, & J in the collage on the wall up behind her.....The larger pic is of Angela as a flower girl

Jerry

Jason-Janice (mostly Janice) said...

I now see (and recognize) the boy scout uniform picture up there!

Ada said...

Shelley - do you have the Klopfenstein cookbook that I made a few years ago - the blue one? The recipe is on page 33. I thought this was her original recipe and have tried several times to make the cookies but was not successful. I don't know what her trick was and I have given up trying. I believe Alice knows how to make them and maybe has a better recipe than mine. They were "the best" as was most of the things she made!

Anonymous said...

Shelly, Rhoda makes good chocolate
cookies every Christmas. She'll have to reveal her secret. Mark, Lynn and RKK really go for those cookies.
How is the new home coming?
Aunt Mim

Shelley S said...

I do have the Klopfenstein cookbook - I'll give them a try. Aunt Mim, our house is doing great. We moved in about 4 weeks ago and feel settled already. There is still a lot of work to be done outside but the inside is pretty well organized. I'm loving it! I'll post some pictures some time soon.
Shelley

rk2 said...

Somehow I ended up with Grandma’s recliner. It was in my apartment in Morton, house in Peoria, apartment in Daphne, AL, apartment in Xenia, apartment in Chattanooga, duplex in Chattanooga, and house in Xenia. Needless to say it made many moves with me. After at least 13 years of my having it, the recliner had seen better days. Several of the springs in the back had sprung and while not poking out of the fabric, did poke the person sitting in the chair.

When people ask what style I decorate in, my reply is dead relative and donated. I can look around my living room and see Grandma K., Grandma Hemmer, Aunt Louise, Aunt Mary, Mom/Dad, my friend Gwen, etc. In fact, when I bought a new recliner to replace Grandma’s a friend said, “You have my sympathies.” When I asked why he said that he said that if I had a new piece of furniture then someone must have died.

When I moved in 2004 I gave Grandma’s recliner to some friend’s daughter who wanted a recliner for her dorm room. She used it for a couple of years and then passed the recliner down to her brother. I can’t imagine how it must have looked after 3 or 4 years in a dorm. Anyway, when my friend came to get the recliner she said, “Well, Grandma’s going to college.”

rk2 said...

Shelley, the thing I’ve learned is that you can put in too much flour since the recipe isn’t specific. Mom needs to look in her cookbook with the recipe as I usually make them when I get to Alabama for Christmas, but I think I’ve found that 7 cups of flour is the most to use. I also use a lot of flour on the counter when I roll them out.

I like to make the chocolate cookies not just because I like them, but 1) I like to make them for my dad and brother and 2 and probably even more so) that I’m carrying down a memory of Grandma K. at Christmas. The same goes for springerles.

Ann said...

Wow - I go off to a convention for three days and come back and there are 14 comments on here!

I never really cared for the chocolate cookies that everyone else likes, but Rhoda does make a mean batch of them. I do remember Grandma's fudge, and also the thingies she made that had chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, and chow mein noodles.

Shelley S said...

I'm going to try a batch of the chocolate cookies this week-end if I have the time. I'll add a post when I'm done to let you know how they turn out. First I have to go to the store for more flour -- 7 cups - wow!