September 8, 2010

Mamaw and Her Lard Kettle

As I was flipping through an old album last night I saw this. I couldn't believe it was right there after doing my lard post yesterday. I just had to share it. This is my Mamaw standing next to the lard kettle that they made lard in every Fall/Winter. It stayed flipped over like that until time to use it. I can also remember her making lye soap in the kitchen and saying, "Stand back child this stuff might burn you!" I now realize she was mixing her lye at the time without goggles or gloves.
Photobucket
I loved this woman so much! She was my best friend. She kept me while my mom and dad worked during the week. She taught me to make homemade biscuits and to scramble eggs on a little wood stove before I was old enough to go to school. My love for animals came from my Mamaw. She had chickens, guineas, turkeys, cats, dogs, pigs, cows and goats. She sewed little clothes for my Barbie dolls and we dressed the cats up in them. And when I spent the night with her, she would tell me story after story until I fell asleep.

My heart shattered into a million pieces when she passed away. I was 10-years old, I had never lost anyone close to me and remembering that sadness still brings tears to my eyes, but I know she would be proud that I garden, can, raise animals and hang my clothes on the line to dry and that I am so often reminded of her in my daily life.

8 comments:

Cindy said...

What a great find! :) Frame it and hang it in your kitchen, so Mamaw can watch you doing all those things she'd be so proud of :)

Kathy in KY said...

I treasure old photos of my family. My grandma was born in 1894,and when I was little, I would go to her house and spend time with her looking thru old photo albums of when she was a little girl since her Dad was a photographer, so there are a lot of photos in there from the turn of the century. You have written a very tender post today, and I really enjoyed hearing about your Mamaw - I can tell you loved her very much, and miss her to this day. She would be so proud of you, and what you are doing on your farm. Take care, from KY

Rose H (UK) said...

I'm with Cindy on this one - frame it and hang it in your kitchen.
Your Mamaw loved you just as much, and passed on treasured memories and ways to help your life today.
What a sweet post.

~ H said...

Post like this make me treasure my photo albums even more! I keep telling my son (who has Asperger's and dislikes his photo being taken as much as he dislikes social situations) that pictures are important. When looking back through family photos he won't want his kids, his nieces and nephews, grandkids... etc... to wonder why there are no pictures of him. Pictures are SO IMPORTANT! They are so much more than just a piece of paper. They are treasures!!! Thanks for sharing :D

Julie Harward said...

How blessed you were to have her in those formative years...she sounds like a true angel, all children should be so blessed! :D

Patrice said...

What sweet memories! I bet she'd be proud of the things you do, the person you are, and that lovely family! Some people are never blessed with someone like her in their lives.

Michelle said...

What a great lady and such wonderful memories you have of her!

Jen said...

Nice...

ANNOUNCEMENTS

For those of you who are new followers/readers, don't forget to check out the forum and join in on our discussions there.

My Country Blog of This and That Forum

I love each and every comment my blogging friends leave for me!


All images and graphics on this page were made by me with the exception of that little rooster! He came from Beth Logan's Checkered Chickens at pccrafter.com. Photos were taken by me and graphics were created using Photoshop CS2.
If you see something you like please ask for permission before using it!
Thank you!