My Granny passed away over ten years ago but she’s with me every day. Through the things the said that have stuck in my head. Here is just a brief list of some things I learnt from her:
How to make a cup of tea. Warm the tea pot, rinse it with hot water. If you don’t my Granny will proclaim that you have ruined the tea and make you start again. Also the milk and sugar goes in the cup first and then you pour the tea. (The best way to wake up is with your Granny bringing you a cup of tea and two cookies).
You get dressed before breakfast.
Eat everything on your plate. Yes everything. We usually had to serve ourselves and if I took it and put it on my plate I had to eat it. Even if it took hours.
Granny was big on lady do’s and don’ts:
- A lady never leaves the house without lipstick and her hair done.
- A lady keeps her hands manicured.
- A lady always wears a slip with a skirt.
- A lady keeps a clean house (the closets are fair game, you can shove a ton of crap into a closet as long as the door closes, her closets were jammed FULL).
- A lady may ask questions out of concern but doesn’t gossip. (Granny was concerned a lot).
- A lady does not swear or drink beer (cider shandy is ok)
Granny was totally against any kind of adornment of feet (I don’t know why) apparently if you decorated your feet with red nail polish, an ankle bracelet or toe ring it was a sure sign that you were a whore. Hmmm….. maybe the guy that called me a whore could tell that I had painted my toe nails? CLICK HERE if you missed that story. Whenever I get a pedicure I feel guilty, like I’ve done something wrong but I love a good pedicure so I’ll live with the shame and cover my feet. If I’m not showing them in public it’s okay. Isn’t it?
Her advice on men was “If he hits you leave, nothing is worth staying for” and “If he cheats lock him out, keep everything.”
Well I live by some of the things I learned but I’ve also learned I’m not much of a lady by Granny standards.
Still I love still being reminded of her just through the little things I remember her saying every day.
What did you learn from your Grandma?
My Grandmother says she opened the windows and aired the house out every Thursday, so matter how cold that northern NB day. I am reminded of that when I do the same, even if it is not on Thursday.
That’s so lovely and you don’t have to feel guilty like I do with my pedicured toes!
What would your granny think of me? I can just imagine her telling you not to hang around with that whore! The tart with the ankle bracelet ….. hee hee
She would think you were lovely but would give a disapproving look at the ankle bracelet! You know the look!
I am familiar with that look, yes!
Greetings,
I learned how to make chicken soup, Chicken paprikas, and to knead dough to make quite decent bread. She also watched TV wrestling (!!!!) and so did I with her, but I stopped watching after we moved away and never kept the interest. But I still know who André the Giant was.
All best wishes,
g
Mmmm Chicken paprikas! So the food stayed with you but the wrestling is just a memory!