Celebrating Grandma

Last week Grandma, who was 105, passed away very peacefully.

Many of you know that she was the one that taught me to sew... years and years ago. I think I was about 7 when she first sat me down at her machine (so about 50 years ago...WOW!).

 

There are so many things that she taught me over the years but sewing is what I'm most thankful for. There is hardly a day that goes by that I'm not stitching on something. It's so much more than a hobby.

 

My parents, cousins, siblings, and other family and friends celebrated grandmas life this weekend. We all had wonderful memories and stories to share. All the old pictures came out which sparked more memories (and lots of tears) of her and grandpa. She had touched so many lives in her 105 years and we feel so lucky to have been able to call her our grandma.

 

Much of the family is spread out around the country so there were some that just weren't able to make it. And the weather! Bitterly cold with lots of snow...felt like Minnesota (that's where grandma was originally from). How appropriate.

 

I had a chance to visit with my cousins, Laura and Eric, from "out west". When we were young, we would get SO excited to hear our WESTERN cousin were coming to visit. You know kids...we pictured them living on the wild west, with cowboy hats and horses...:)  Laura and Eric flew in for the funeral. I am so happy they did! We had a good chance to talk and catch up but mostly share memories.

 

All of us loved the "picnics" in grandma's yard. She had a HUGE garden and lots of lawn for us to run around on. Grandma let us climb around in the house attic (with the secret pull down stairs), the barn attic and the potting shed (what a great playhouse). We would play dress-up with her old hats and dresses. We'd eat tomatoes fresh from the garden (take the salt right out there). She'd make the best potato salad, baked beans, deviled eggs and desserts. It's funny that those picnics were just about everyone's favorite memory.... something so simple. Grandma, you'll be missed. 

 
 

Deb, Lisa and cousin Laura