Tied To Apron Strings. . .

Dear Ones,
I have a special place in my heart for aprons. . . 

Seems I remember my Moma hurriedly coming in the house from working in her beauty shop. Tying her apron strings around her slender waist was the outward sign that she was about to prepare our evening meal. Just that sight alone invoked in me the comfort and warmth of her love.

My Moma owned and operated her own business when it wasn't the popular thing for a homemaker to do. Carmen's Beauty Shop was attached to the East side of our kitchen and dining room with it's own private entrance. As soon as her last customer of the day had paid and driven away. . .Moma would begin our evening meal. My job was to set the table, pour the drinks, and keep the dishes washed as she placed them in the sink.

Moma had Southern influence in her upbringing. She once told me, "Good Southern manners flowed through her veins." As soon as she dished up the last course of the meal. . .off came the apron. I don't ever remember seeing her wear her apron to the table.

When I married, my mother~in~law would place her apron around her middle tied high, and begin the task of preparing a noon meal for harvest hands. Many, are the memories I have of those labored hours my first Summer of marriage. No air conditioning. I don't remember a fan. . .only the hot breezes coming from the windows.

Mary would hum as she went about her tasks. She was, truly, her happiest when she was doing anything for her family. Having only sons, she wasn't always sure how to ask for my help. Kindness flowed from her being. I took the role of asking,"Would you like for me to peel the potatoes?" In time, she'd begin to tell me what was needed of me. Some of our happiest times were spent at the kitchen sink. She'd wash the dishes, I'd dry and put the dishes away. During those visits, I learned the history of her family. . .my new family!

I remember during our engagement asking my dear future husband, Ed, "Why does your mother always take a nap after she fixes a family meal?" That Summer, not only did I have the answer to my question. . .I took the guest room bed for my nap!

Oddly, the comfort factor from my Moma's apron wasn't felt in the same way as my mother~in~law's apron. Moma's was familiar, my mother~in~law's was unfamiliar. The warmth of their love was equally felt in both their presence!



Blue floral apron belonged to my Mother~in~law, Mary.
Green floral apron belonged to my Moma, Carmen.
The plaid apron belongs to me and is worn in the Spring!

I feel so privileged to have aprons from both my Moma and my mother ~in ~law! They hang together, side ~ by ~ side, in a place of honor on the lower level of our home. One of my aprons hangs with theirs. A pleasant reminder of days gone by and the love that we shared. One could say. . . I'm tied to apron strings!

Below is an e~mailing that I received from my daughter~in~law's Aunt Cheryl. A farm wife, mother, grandmother, and teacher.

The Apron
Remember making an apron in Home EC? Read below:

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 also

because it was easier to

wash aprons than dresses

and aprons 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 folk

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.

Send this to those who

would know (and love) the

story about Grandma's

 aprons.

REMEMBER:

Grandma used to set her

hot baked apple pies on

the window sill to cool.

Her 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 ~

but love. . .

On Crooked Creek will be joining our hostess, Tam @The Gypsys Corner for Three or More Tuesday. You can visit with all the participants at http://www.thegypsyscorner.com/ .

www.astrollthrulife.blogspot.com

Also, linking with Marty @ A Stroll Thru Life for Table Top Tuesday. Be sure to visit these lovely vignettes for ideas in your own home decor.

Until next time. . .