GRANDMA'S APRON

I got this email today and here is what it said

The History of 'APRONS'

I don't think our kids know what an apron is. The principal use of Grandma's apron was to protect the dress underneath, because she only had a few, it was Easier to wash aprons than dresses and they used less material,

But along with that, it served as a potholder for removing hot pans from the oven. It was wonderful for drying children's tears, and on occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears. From the chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half-hatched eggs to be finished in the warming oven.

When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids. And when the weather was cold, grandma wrapped it around her arms. Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, bent over the hot wood stove. Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron. From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables. After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls.

In the fall, the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees. When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds.

When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the porch, waved her apron, and the men knew it was time to come in from the fields to dinner.

It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace that ' old-time apron' that served so many purposes.

REMEMBER:

Grandma used to set her hot baked apple pies on the window sill to cool. Her daughters and granddaughters set theirs on the window sill to thaw.

They would go crazy now trying to figure out how many Germs were on that apron. I don't think I ever caught anything from an apron.

This got me to thinking about the old days again. How many of your mothers wore aprons? I know mine had them - even though she worked full time as a 'clippy' she still had her apron. How many of us cook and do every thing now without an apron and how many of us have ruined clothes because of this? I know I have.

No I am not hankering over the old days cause they were also tough but it does seem like we left some good and practicle things behind in the journey along this road.

I remember granny's crossover pinny that she wore all the time. She wore it whilst doing the washing on a Monday with that old boiler and she had whites, whiter than any OMO could get them, even thought the men all worked down a pit.

She wore it whilst getting the zinc bath filled in front of the fire that she cooked on and heated water on and then sat beside at the end of a long hard day for 5 minutes just to relax.

When peeling the vegetables often grown in the garden and used to feed the 12 hungry mouths of her children and then her and her 'man'.

There were no spa treatments for her or a visit for a lip and eyebrow wax. Her gym was the house where she had two rooms and 14 people living. So don't lets kid ourselves of where we come from. Without my Grandma I wouldn't be the person I am today and I just want to say thank you to her who sacrificed so much to give us what we have today and which we so often forget to appreciate.

She didn't ask for accolades. All she asked was that her kids grew up hale and hearty, that they made good lives for themselves and that they acted honourably and treated people with respect. When her sons managed to buy a car she was amazed at how wealthy they were.

Funny millions never came into it!

Thanks Grandma and all those like you.

WET MONDAY

Well it is a very wet Monday here with a weekend that has just never stopped raining. I thought this morning we would wake up to blue skies - well last time I think I can tell you. It has been a steady down pour for most of the night and guess what! - it's still coming down.

Oh well what is a bit of rain - ask my dogs. They were very unhappy to go out this morning and Lizzie decided she would use the patio for her business not some wet grass. So once again she is in the 'dog box'. (Please read that as on my daughters bed sleeping)

The weather got me to thinking how it never used to rain when I was a kid! Did it rain when you were young? I mean I must have grown up in drought conditions in Scotland in the 50's, although I have tried to research this phenomenon on the web and they have a total lack of information on it. Really a big gap that needs filling.

Sure we had snow in winter and in fact I remember walking on the local 'burn' which was frozen over and there was a really sneaky thin patch and of course it moved to under my feet and I slipped through into the icy depths below. It doesn't matter that it was only six inches deep after my clothes soaked up the water, it was cold and did I get it from my mother when she walked down to find out where I was. It was only a thin walking stick she had and there was no child abuse involved just a good belt and then get hame tae that warm bath and the fire.

No Scotland definitely was dryer than South Africa and Gauteng in particular is today!!!! In fact if it doesn't improve I may just have to emigrate to the Dessert

DEAR GOD

Dear GOD:
I want to thank You for what you have already done.
I am not going to wait until I see results or receive rewards.
I am not going to wait until I feel better or things look better.
I'm not going to wait until people say they are sorry or until they stop talking about me.
I am not going to wait until the pain in my body disappears.
I am not going to wait until my financial situation improves.
I am not going to wait until the children are asleep and the house is quiet.
I am not going to wait until I get promoted at work or until I get the job.
I am not going to wait until I understand every experience in my life that has caused me pain or grief.
I am not going to wait until the journey gets easier or the challenges are removed.

I am thanking you right now.
I am thanking you because I am alive.
I am thanking you because I made it through the days of difficulties.
I am thanking you because I have walked around the obstacles.
I am thanking you because I have the ability and the opportunity to do more and do better.
I'm thanking you because FATHER, YOU haven't given up on me.

I just had to share this because so often we focus on the things that are negative instead of the things that are positive. We have so many blessings in our life - the fact you can sit and read this means you have electricity, access to a computer and are able to read. That means you are not starving and livig on the street.

I remember a song that was sung when I was a young girl - Count Your Blessings Name them One By One, and you'll find out what the Lord hath done. It is so true. Count them and list them and say THANK YOU Lord

Have a wonderful day