Frugal Tips to make doll dresses, by Grandma Emma...

Have you ever had a shirt or blouse that the sleeves are too long? You can make the most beautiful doll dresses...Plain and simple, and requires so little fabric and time. Simply sew lace, ribbon and bows on the cuff, hem the other side and you'll have a wonderful smaller doll dress. ( Recycling at its best!)  We still have a couple of these dresses that Grandma Emma made so many years ago...we treasure them everyday...Thank you Grandma!

Webbed lawn chairs.

Oh, do you remember this style of lawn chair?  no these are not the originals, but a close sample of her favorite summer garden chairs.

Krumkaker Recipe for the holidays...

This is a wonderful Norwegian cookie for the Holidays or any day...
                                            Krumkaker:    1 cup sugar, one half cup melted butter, 3 eggs, one half cup of cream or canned milk, 1 teaspoon of vanilla, three quarters of a cup of cornstarch, three quarters of a cup of flour.  Bake on a Krumkaker iron as per instructions... roll or leave flat. These are a great tea and coffee cookie. Grandma always baked these around Christmas...lots of hours. This recipe was used by Grandma and Mrs. Carlsen..  Happy baking.

Krumkaker Recipe

Krumkaker recipe:  From Grandma Emma and Mrs. Carlsen.       1 cup of sugar, one half cup melted butter, 3 eggs, one half cup of cream or canned milk, l teaspoon of vanilla, three quarters cup of cornstarch, three quarters cup of flour.  Mix all together and fry on a Krumkaker iron until golden brown. Roll to shape and store in a container in a cool place. A holiday treat... and some memories also.  Happy Holidays....S.                                                         

Grandmas thoughts on March

Grandma Emma's thoughts on the month of March...

Grandma Emma had a favorite saying for the month of March....On March 1st, she would say, "In like a Lion, out like a lamb" or "In like a Lamb, out like a Lion" and most years she was always right!  March is the transition time from winter to spring. She could always predict how the spring would be... Yes, she was a "Wise Woman of the World" in so many ways...

Grandma Emma's kitchen...

Thinking about how Grandma Emma would put a chair in front of the oven when she baked cookies. I often wondered why?  She wanted those cookies not to burn...she felt if she walked away , they might not be any good.  However, each and every cookie was delicious! A large silver canister was always waiting for who ever stopped by for a visit. She so liked the visits....S.

Vegetable Garden in Iowa.

Our Grandmother Emma was a very wise woman... In the 1930' she lived in the early days in Iowa with our Grandfather and two children. Every spring she would plant a large vegetable garden that would provide most of the families food for the entire year. Her garden filled one city lot with a well rounded selection of healthy vegetables and some fruit also. These included peas, carrots, potatoes, string beans, corn, watermelon, cantaloupe, grapes, raspberries, gooseberries and much more. Grandma would serve and cook the fresh produce and also can and cook sauce for later in the year.... She would also sell the fresh strawberries in a wooden quart box for ten cents, heaped with beautiful, sweet berries. One year she made thirteen to fourteen dollars in profit....She was a farmer and a business person who was successful! She also traded her produce and gave it to the local homeless to help feed many. They would get enough vegetables from her to make large kettles of stew to help feed the workers in the camps along the railroad... when they rode the trains while going between jobs....So indeed Grandma Emma was a clever and kind person....she was living a good  frugal, simple life.... We should take with us our heritage, her good ideas and learn. I hope that someday I will be able to grow a large and healthy garden and provide for my family just as she did so many years ago. So today I say Thank You to Grandma Emma for her knowledge and wisdom.....written by her oldest granddaughter Sandra , July 11, 2013    

Grandma enjoyed a good cup of coffee, brewed or instant, either was fine. She often said that she was weaned on coffee. Every morning, two to three cups of the tasty blend of coffee (that she made) and milk. And always with a couple of cookies. Usually oatmeal or chocolate chip. Only after breakfast. I like to have that special morning cookie, gets a person ready for the day.

Cookies

Today I'm thinking of holiday cookies... Spritz, Krumkake and Chocolate Chip. Yum! Grandma always had a cookie jar just waiting for us...

Grandma Emma.

Grandma Emma's Days, continued

Grandma Emma was born on April 2, 1905. Long time ago ...... Her birthday is on saturday this year. The other day I asked the question" What would she be doing in todays world?" Karen replied, she would be helping me shovel gravel! Karen was right! Grandma always tried to help and worked through any situation that she came upon. She was a person who was always " Thinking" and working. Did any of you know that during the early years in Mukilteo that Grandma made old fashion lye soap? Oh, she did... She would save the meat fat and grease for many days, make the soap with lye, and maybe a touch of perfume.( If she had any at the time) shape it into bars, then shave it up again and wash clothes with it. She said it was really too strong to use in the bath, but it helped save money, so she tried to use it. A clever idea from a very clever person! She was a person who practice frugal living way before it was in style! For her, it was just a way of life. Today I honor her and send her birthday greetings to heaven for her special day... Happy Birthday Grandma!

Walking

Grandma Emma, thoughts on Walking...

Now with spring quickly approaching I often think of the days of living in Mukilteo with Grandma Emma. She loved the flowers of the Spring and being able to be outside again after the cold winter. Every day she would walk, usually in the afternoon. One of her favorite sayings:  The more you walk, the better you walk and the better you walk , the more you walk....She was right with this thought. And that is what she did, Walk.... I believe that this helped her with her long life..Exercise... She was a wise woman of the world....

Planting the apple orchard.

Grandma's apple orchard had a pear tree, cherry trees and many apple trees of all different varieties. In the early summer the first to be ready were the green, sweet and delicious " Transparents" .Grandma would make wonderful Applegoodies and can many jars of sweet applesauce also. She really enjoyed this time of the year as she loved to be outdoors enjoying the day. The apple trees were much work, but so worth the effort. Remember that delicious apple dessert?  I do and most of you do also. Good memories. S.

Friends and Family

Dear Family and Friends, if you would like to share a special memory or story please let me know. This will be an ongoing project that I have been thinking of for a very long time. Grandma's journey was an interesting one that I feel should be preserved as she was part of our history and history in general. It will take me some time to write about her life's journey, but I will, I promise. Enjoy the reading. Thanks Grandma for making this Journey story possible. Your grand-daughter Sandra.

Big Grandma Emma

As a special tribute to my Grandmother Emma I will be sharing stories of her very special life"s journey. She was a daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt, friend, grandmother and most importantly "Big Grandma" Please enjoy the stories of her life and her way she took the "Journey"