The simple pleasures of home shine brighter
when the spirit of God intertwines our hearts
with His gentle Joy.

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

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/ .



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. . .

21 comments:

Martha said...

What a beautiful post!!!! Glad to see you still use an apron -- I do, too, when I'm in the kitchen, and off it comes when I go out!!!

That's the way it is -- eating with an apron -- never!

My grandmother always wore an apron and I have a few of hers -- my mother wore one when I was really small but then didn't any more.

And aprons are good for many things besides keeping your clothes clean!!!

Great post!

pammiejoandfriends said...

EXCELLENT post, Pat! So well written and definitely a piece of family history to be handed down in one of your "books"!

Anonymous said...

Lovely post. I'm your newest follower.
http://moogieland.blogspot.com/

Mary said...

Pat~ It's so nice that you have such fond memories tied to apron strings! I can't recall my mom wearing one & I wish I had one of my grandmother's aprons...I love seeing your mother's & MIL's... Wonderful memories & post!

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

Pat, I love the aprons, they are wonderful and such lovely fabrics. I use to wear an apron all the time, now I don't think I even own one. I need to fix that. Thanks so much for joining TTT Hugs, Marty

Anonymous said...

I have been given several darling aprons the past 2 years and so try to use them. I usually remember about the time I get something on my clothes!!!

I do use one when I volunteer serve for the senior lunch time. Today I almost walked out the door with it still on!! Such an airhead I am sometimes!!

I love your pretty table setting in your last post! THat black and white is such a great combination!!

bee blessed
mary

Confessions of a Plate Addict said...

How wonderful to have those aprons, Pat! My grandmother always wore one and I'd give my eye teeth to have one of hers! Hope you are having a great week!...hugs...Debbie

Sue said...

I really enjoyed your post.

Susan

bj said...

Well, I am just grinning and cryin' at the same time, Pat.
I, too, remember my momma wearing an apron when I was a young girl. Later in life, she quit and I'm not sure why. I didn't think to ask when I could have. :(
Now, my little momma in law wore one daily, right up until she passed away. I have one of her aprons but none of my mother's.
I have a few aprons but seldom wear them...I am going to start, tho. :))
hugs and thanks for a wonderful post. I did enjoy every single bit of it.
love, bj

Sarah @ Modern Country Style said...

I love using an apron. It makes me feel just like my mum!!

I love this post. It makes me feel all nostalgic! My mother always seemed to be wearing an apron in my memories. And always smelt of food and loveliness!

Sarahx

Jacqueline said...

What an enchanting post. So glad I stumbled on over. My first sewing project was an apron when I was 8. I remember it was pink and it was a half apron with the skirt gathered. Wish I had that one. I love that you have hung these meaningful aprons and thanks for sharing what they mean to you.

Anonymous said...

I love aprons too, Pat. Especially the old ones, with big pockets that fit over front and back like a pinafore.

Kelsie from Our Country Home and Studio Photography said...

Such a wonderful post....Thank you for sharing these wonderful memories with us, I feel both blessed and honored to have visited both your mom and MIL's kitchens, if only thru your post.

I did have to chuckle at the last part about counting the germs...as a bit of a germaphobe I was actually thinking about the germ factor while reading the poem lol...I have worked too many commercial kitchens to not think about it...

I also have a drawer full of apron's left over from above mentioned jobs...My favorite though is an old white one I have had for years and it is covered in various colored globs of oil paint...I have had it since art school and can't wait until the wee one is old enough that I will get to wear it again :)

Blessings Kelsie

bj said...

G'morning and thanks for coming by. I love Orange Cranberry tea, too. I am out of it so need to put it on my groc. list.
Yes, tea at Martha's is one of my favorite spots, too.
hugs, bj

HollyC said...

This is such a touching post! When my Grandma passed away, I recieved her favorite apron. I alway enjoyed wearing one of her aprons when I would be in the kitchen with her. I still wear it! Thanks for sharing this. I have awarded you with the Stylish Blogger award.
If you like, you can pick it up over at my blog.
Blessings,
~Holly

Alicia@ eco friendly homemaking said...

What a heart warming post. I love it.I have aprons from my grandmother, my husbands grandmother, my mother-in-law and my mother.I cherish them all.

Happy To Be/ Gl♥ria said...

What a fun trip down memory land for me also today..I still have my mama apron hanging in my kitchen..she wiped many a tears from us kids on her apron..I loved your story today..Hugs and smiles Gloria

Janean said...

your post melted my heart! my grandmas always wore aprons and my never did. i adore them and have several.

Lynn at Cottage and Creek said...

Hi Pat,
I'm a follower and I've just nominated you for the Stylish Blogger Award. You deserve it - your blog is lovely! Check out how you can receive the award and grab the button on my post: http://www.cottageandcreek.com/Blog-Archive.aspx?id=617&cat=Life

I love what you wrote about your relationship with your mom and mother-in-law. How blessed you are by their influence in your life.
~ Lynn

Confessions of a Plate Addict said...

Hi Pat! Just stopping by for another look at those aprons! I think of my grandmother every time I see this post! I wonder where hers are? Happy week!...hugs...Debbie

podso said...

I love aprons and love this post! I wear them all the time and not just coz I'm messy in the kitchen--there's just something homey about them I think!