Pancakes...

Grandma Emma served many Pancakes over the years...She carefully placed the right amount of batter in the frying pan or flat skillet. Let each pancake bubble on each side to a soft golden brown and serve with butter topped with maple syrup...so tasty and good.  A good breakfast from a wonderful time in history.

A Scissors to Lend...

While living in Iowa my Grandmother and Grandfather met many wonderful people. Grandma Emma had a favorite memory of a time when she lent a stranger her good scissors that she had with her from Norway. He approached her and told that several of the men in the "hobo" camp had an opportunity to work locally if they had haircuts. He said " I have nothing to pay with, but you can have my watch until I return your scissors". Grandma Emma traded the scissors for the watch. As he left, she wondered if he would ever bring her treasured scissors  back. They next day he did just that. He told that she had saved those men, all had gotten work. He thanked her, she returned his watch, then left. Never saw him again....but  a small kind gesture she had shared in the community at a time in history when it was often difficult to find work.  This was part of her special journey...good lesson here.

Grandma's chair....

Grandma Emma had a favorite chair in the later years in Mukilteo...It was so comfortable and cozy. Fit her so well. But what really made that chair work for her was the small foam pellet filled foot stool. She always sat with her legs up...not in the down position. Turns out this was helpful...kept the circulation better. Grandma was a very wise woman....

Wave Watching at the Beach...

Watching the waves at the state park with Grandma Emma in Mukilteo is such a nice memory... Sometimes we would even walk some also....but usually only in the summer. Good days.

Grocery Shopping...

Every week  we would make the trek to Top Foods in Everett for our groceries, then a special treat to McDonalds restaurant for a Hamburger and fries for lunch...We would talk and eat then back to Mukilteo...A good outing and time for all of us.... nice memories.

Eating Yogurt...

Everyday Grandma Emma would eat at least one cup of yogurt. It was easy and tasty too. Maybe she knew about those great health benefits long before the rest of us....

Double Red Geranium...

Every Spring we would carefully bring out of the garage a very wonderful double red Geranium. It was planted in a large clay container that I painted white. The new shoots would begin emerging very slowly until the warm days of spring sunshine would produce the most beautiful red blooms. Grandma would tend this colorful geranium all summer til the first frost in the fall. Then return it to its winter rest in the warmth of the garage. She had this plant for almost ten years...truly amazing!

Being Frugal, Recycling, Reusing, Re-purposing.

Being Frugal was a way of life and still is. Saving small items such as string, paper clips, tacks, cork, extra nails and bolts, a pencil, pen, extra paper always came in handy to mend or fix something around the house. Grandma had a kitchen drawer with all of those above items and much more, carefully organized. So many times she would go to that special place to find just what she needed. What treasures she saved for the Drawer... good memories.