Granny Alexander in the front porch swing.

"Youth is happy because it has the ability to see beauty. Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old."
Author: Franz Kafka

Part 3

Granny's table was massive to a four year old's eyes. At one end she kept non refrigerated condiments clustered and covered with a heavy, dark blue with yellow flowers, oil cloth. Pickles, relishes and peppers packed in vinegar for pouring over your turnip greens were kept safely under there. But that wasn't all that was hidden under the cloth. Granny always kept cookies safe from flies under there as well. I remember visiting and waiting anxiously for the adult conversation to dwindle for I mustn't interrupt the grownups. But as soon as they seemed to run out of steam, I would quietly approach Granny sitting there in her front porch swing and wait until she noticed me. Then I would whisper in a timid little voice to this larger than life figure already knowing her answer. "Granny can I have a cookie?" She never corrected my grammar she just nodded and smiled and said 'yes you may have a cookie, you know where they are." Then it was like Christmas Day all over again as I'd approach the oil cloth. Now you must understand that Granny's cookies never changed in variety. They were always the same thing. I knew when I went into the kitchen what kind they would be, where they would be, and how they would look in their little dish. But no matter, something about having to raise that cloth made it feel like I was opening a present. Then I'd reach in and pluck one cookie never more than that, though she never said how many I could have, it was an understood rule of respect to take only one. They were the biggest cookies I had ever had and the only time I ever had them was at her house. They were tea cakes. No peanut butter cookies, chocolate chip, or oatmeal raisin. Just simple tea cakes. Not exactly the sweetest cookies you'll ever have but I can still taste them and they were such a treat to me back then.

Nowadays when I make dessert I often stand around pondering what to make. I hate to present the family with the same pie or cake as the week before, in fear that they will get tired of the same old thing. But then I think of Granny on her baking day she would
bring out the same ingredients each week to make those tireless tea cakes. How simple it was to know each week what your shopping list would consist of and what was expected of you on baking day. One other thing that never seemed to change was the cereal on top of the refrigerator. It was always corn flakes. Again the trip to the grocery store must have been a breeze. Today the cereal isle alone is intimidating, with so many types and tastes to choose from. But that didn't deter her. No matter there were versions with sugar or bran flakes with raisins, corn flakes it was!

Decorating for Autumn

Granny and Granddaddy Alexander

"Today is a smooth white seashell, hold it close and listen to the beauty of the hours." -Anon.

Happy First Day of Autumn!

And what a beautiful season it is!

"As summer ebbs, there is a taste of fall in the air, but I have never been able to analyze it. The world is still full of ripeness, and noons are hot. The roadside stands blaze with color; pumpkins add their rich yellow to the vegetable gardens. Zinnias and marigolds splash patchwork hues. Wild roadside grasses feather out in cinnamons and mauves. Surely everything is the same.
But on one night as dusk deepens over the pond, I notice a cool mist is rising. And the twilight breeze is touched with chill. Do I imagine that the green of the maples is not so assertive? And is there a faint haze over the old apple orchard? And why do I suddenly look at the woodpile just to be sure it is as high as it should be?
The Full Sturgeon Moon rises over the swamp on a serene landscape. But slowly and as always nature follows her own pattern. And mankind cannot change it even in this superscientific era. We must still pick the blueberries now before it is too late. We must fill the house with gladiola, and we must clean the great fireplace and lay a good apple-wood fire.
And as I walk in the yard at moonrise to say my good night to the world, I find myself with a new message-may autumn bring us her own gifts as the leaves turn."
-Passage from Country Chronicle by Gladys Taber

Part 2

Simple how this started. I was in the grocery store the other day and picked up a head of cabbage. I thought about how the younger generation hates the smell of cabbage cooking ,but for me, it reminds me of Granny's house. Stopping by right at dinner time because granny always had the table set at dinner. For those of you not from the south, that means lunch time. The evening meal is referred to as supper. The main meal of the day was dinner not so much emphasis was placed on supper unless there was company. At dinner time there was always a chance of one of the kids or grand kids stopping by to share the bounty of her table.

Just by that smell alone, her kitchen comes into focus. I can remember the layout and almost feel the floor giving under my feet and hear the squeak of the floorboards. the ceiling was low in here because it once was the back porch but was converted into a more modern kitchen.There weren't many cabinets in the kitchen, but that didn't seem to matter, for everything had its place and the kitchen was always in apple pie order. The lack of cabinet space just eliminated the need for excess.
The room off the kitchen was a large room with a high ceiling. It held extra seating when the house was overflowing with company and served as an extra bedroom. But more importantly it was where she did her quilting. Her large quilting frame hung overhead suspended from the ceiling. A few times we stopped by and I had the privilege of spying that frame lowered and seeing a masterpiece held within it. This room also held the old wood cook stove and Granny stilled used it when the newer electric version of it was overloaded. The heat from that old stove was welcome when you first arrived but soon became overwhelming and would force you to seek out another room. That room being the living room, where Granddaddy had the wood stove roaring and eventually have you running for the door to brave the cool temps outside that would start a recurring cycle of musical rooms all over again.

Granny and Granddaddy Alexander with their seven children and just the beginning of a passel full of grand kids, of which I was not yet a part of. My father is in the back on the far left.

Part 1

I had a post in mind the other day about things that remind us of childhood and it has slowly spread and become a somewhat mini series about my paternal grandmother. I hadn't realized how much of my childhood memories consist of Granny Alexander and her house until I started this path down memory lane.
Evelyn Louis was her given name but to me she was Granny Alexander.
Granny was large to me. She was tall for a woman but not willowy and not plump. Just a large woman. Stout is the word that comes to mind. Capable. Even in her elderly years I don't ever remember her looking frail.
When I think of her, I think of aprons, chickens, porch swings and wash tubs. I am reminded of how meticulous she was in her housework and what a help meet she was to Granddaddy in work outside of the house. From over flowing gardens to keeping worm beds and raising chickens, Granny seemed to do it all and diligently at that. So I hope you will come back over the next few weeks and get to know this remarkable lady as I remember her.

Picture Thought

What a way to spend a weekend!

Autumn

I am a summer lover. I love the sun and all the activities you can do under it. I am relunctant to leave summer behind. But early in the morning as the sun shines through the window at a different angle and feel the crispness in the air I can't help but get caught up in the anticipation of the changing of the seasons. Fall colors are emerging in the leaves and the rustling breeze is bringing in the time of harvest.