Tuesday, March 08, 2011

Grandma loved blue

My Grandma Stott loved blue. Her bedspread, the house dresses she wore, little touches here and there around the old ranch house. My grandma of the snowy white hair. Of 50+ tricot baby blankets, hand-quilted in tiny, precise stitches creating a generation of grandchildren addicted to sleeping in silky softness (I still sleep with mine!) Of sugary cereals stashed away for a grandchild's visit, the kind our mothers never let us eat.

My grandma, sitting on the concrete front steps, shelling fresh garden peas and I'm certain, knowing exactly how many peas I sneaked into my mouth instead of the bowl. Of playing library in her basement with all the old Reader's Digest books. My grandma, worthy of admiration and respect, a hard-working wife to a Montana rancher with 12 children who loved and adored her.

























Almost seven years has passed since she left this earthly life, but I can still smell and taste the hot bread loaves, fresh from her oven. I can still hear the marbles as they roll back and forth on the homemade marble track, a favorite toy in her basement. I can still see small heads making a bump under her current quilt, tacked up on the old wooden frames.

My Grandma loved blue.

10 comments:

Lisa said...

Simply beautiful. I am printing this post out for Mountain Man's history. Gma Stott was (and is)an incredible example of a beautiful woman. Love you!

Diane Payne said...

love your layout and the fabulous vintage photo too!

Melissa said...

Beautiful layout and memory! This has inspired me to do a few layouts about my Grandma like this.

Unknown said...

Oh thanks for making sure I saw this. I haven't thought about the heads under the quilt for awhile....funny. My kids still sleep with theirs too, well except for Desi and Clint's fell apart. I know my two boys love theirs...I have made 3 now...am I even close to her....not even...

lisa truesdell said...

so sweet, and what a pretty page!

Michelle said...

PRetty layout! Love the flowers!

(mizzm on SC boards)

Allison Waken said...

Aw, I love your memories. I remember my grandma shelling peas too :)

Nick and Lindy Troy said...

ahh...that made me miss and love my grandma all over again...and ps i loved that marble toy as well a family favorite! and the best home made bread ever...what a great lady...what a great heritage!

Steve and Larae said...

The marble toy was a good one...I remember her always having the "fun" cereals too and also when she knew we were coming up she would get a loaf of cinnamon rasin bread just for me because she knew it was my favorite thing. I still miss the 3 sweet kisses in a row she would give us. I feel a great sense of pride to be able to call such an amazing woman my grandma. :)

Torrie said...

I need that picture. I love what you did with it. It is always great to hear what we all remember most. My blanket it long gone but I can still remember how it felt. I have been thinking about doing some heretigage lay-outs and this is perfect inspiration!