IN LIFE AS IN THE DANCE : GRACE GLIDES

ON BLISTERED FEET.
---Alice Abrams

Monday, March 22, 2010

A Change of Pace


These are my grandparents, Glenn and Ruth. They were my dad's parents. They met in Sunday School where he gave her a hair ribbon, which we still have (my grandmother kept everything sentimental - I know that's where I got it).

Glenn was a school teacher, then a principal, finishing his career as a district superintendent.
He taught his first class just a couple of years older than his students. Have times ever changed! Ruth was a homemaker but also drove a school bus early in their marriage. Could she cook! I especially loved her Brandied Peaches. I have her recipe but I've never tried making them. It requires a stoneware crock, pickling spices and lots of brandy - and a year soaking in the brine!

This is a family photo with my uncle Cliff (left) and my dad. I love the short pants and stockings. The tie and collar is a real winner, too, but this was in the early 1920's.

My grandmother's father was a minister, and they lived on the Covina plains. This is somewhat between present day Pomona and Pasadena (CA). I remember the big old farm house my great grand parents lived in. To a little child it seemed huge and a little spooky. I remember a huge staircase with dark wooden railings that led up to a landing where I always looked both ways, expecting to see something that I was certain would be from another realm! And what kid is going to stay away from a barn! I can still smell the fresh hay as we searched for kittens and chickens.

My cousin asked me recently if I remembered the "chickies" that our great grandmother would fix us. I hadn't thought of them in ages, until she jogged my memory. She would take leftover biscuit dough, shape it like little chicks, use cloves for the eyes and bake them. She died was I was five or six, and my parents thought it would be a good time to introduce me to the facts of life, so they took me with them to the viewing. Thus began my fear of the dark!

I so enjoyed Sarge's family stories so much that I thought I'd try a few myself.
---to be continued

10 comments:

Barb said...

Im really enjoyed this! Your Grandmother Ruth is quite a beauty, as well as a romantic!

Traveling Bells said...

Precious photos. It is sooo important to keep these photos and records to hand down to the following generations. Our roots are important!

Big hugs...

Sarge Charlie said...

I love the old photos and I also love how you told off miss chick.

Empress Bee (of the high sea) said...

she was beautiful and i, too, love this!!! more please!!

you got my spammer! i had to turn on moderation for a while to get rid of her. pest! ha ha

smiles, bee
xxoxoxoxoxo

Sandee said...

Glenn and Ruth were a handsome couple indeed.

What a great post Gracie.

Have a terrific day. Big hug. :)

Linda said...

Definitely more please! I love stories of families, especially when there are pictures to go along with the faces!

Speaking of which, the pictures look like they are in very good shape and have held up well over the years.

Waiting for part two ...

london said...

precious memories ....and you looks very cute in your half pent..

Anonymous said...

Hi Ms. Gracie:
I hope you are doing well. This is a heart-warming and wonderful remembrance of your family.

Take care.

Levon

Gene Bach said...

Cool stories and pictures. It's had to imagine that there ever large farm houses down there by looking at it now.

Kanani said...

The Covina plains! I'm sure no one uses that phrase anymore, it's so built up with beige houses!
Anyway, I'm enjoying this a lot.