Blessings and Memories from MaMarie

Sorry, it's been awhile.  Had that lovely first trimester nausea going strong and for me it's never just morning, it's ALL the time, and add to that drop down exhaustion...probably due to slightly advanced age <cough> and number of small children I have to get to chase after :o)  I decided to use the wisdom of my years and slept/rested a lot.  Feeling MUCH better now and ready to post more.  FINALLY got some of my pictures loaded to computer so hang on there will be several posts coming next few days.

My dear grandma that my children named MaMarie, passed away March 2010.  I was to get the piano that orig was in her house and then in ours growing up.  My sister got the one that they later moved in their house from Grandpa's homeplace.  Anyway, this July, my folks rented a U-Haul and brought down the piano and lots of other things including a NICE freezer, a gazillion canning jars, and well, you'll see the rest below :o)  Not all are little things, but it's little things like inheriting special items that belonged to those we love that make me SMILE.  Several items were NEEDED items and we were blessed to not have to buy them.  Enjoy!

From l to r...friend of nephew, my dad, my hubby, his nephew and brother looking over our VERY heavy Amish-built wood cookstove.  They finally moved it into our garage (um, storage).  Hoping to get it set up inside soon for heat, not only is it great to heat the house and cook on top of stove, but we will be able to bake and heat hot water as well. 

Happy girls!!  My older girls and I have been anxiously awaiting this day!!  I enjoy the sound of my children  playing on the piano during the day...  Love that they are learning how to play piano on the same piano *I* learned how to play.  A-M still remembered her song she composed when she stayed down there to help.  The flower picture is of July flowers...my grandparents anniv was July 1and was an anniv gift.  Our anniv is July 11.  Very special to now have that picture!  

A "Ben Dawdy original"!  Hubby drew this in high school and my uncle who used to frame pictures for a living framed it.  Thought it looked good next to piano!  Isn't he talented??

Grandparent's old record player/stereo unit.  We listened to Sound of Music that night!!

One year, when they were first having health issues we found a GREAT deal on these recliners and Hubby decided to bless my grandparents at Christmas...they LOVED these chairs and was such a help those last yrs for them.  Now we are blessed with them and just in time, we needed these.

SHHHH....baby boy sleeping...so sweet and quiet when they sleep :o)

Grandma's Singer Sewing machine--built-in cabinet and stool

Old sewing notions from the little pull out drawers.  I want to put them in a shadow box for display.

Sewn many times on this machine.  THRILLED to have this!!  Still works great--back when Singers were made to last!

Almost brand new set of dishes that we SO needed!  Set of 12 dinner plates, bowls, dessert plates and mugs!
Perfect for our family of 10, soon to be 11...

Forgot what this is called, but used to mash cooked apples to make applesauce or cooked tomatoes for sauce.  Love older kitchen tools.  Been in family a long time...

LOVE flowers--some I got marked down--microwave they brought for us in the background...it never worked after it was moved though--LOL!  Oh, well, at least it worked for Grandma!!

MaMarie's wedding set.  Isn't it beautiful?!?!?  My Grandpa worked so hard in the Depression to buy this diamond set for his bride...but she stopped wearing her rings as they were worn paper thin in the back about to break.  In fact, I didn't even know she had a REAL wedding set, only saw her wear a plain gold band.  I was in high school before I knew!!  I vowed the day she showed it to me, that one day I would see her wear it again.  The romantic in me couldn't stand the thought of her not wearing her wedding rings.

One fall after Ben and I were married (before children),  I secretly "stole" her ring--with PaJohn's knowledge and blessing :o) and took it to LR to her nephew, a former jeweler.  He made my wedding set and my mom's. With threats of bodily harm if he changed the style at all, I left the ring in his care.  He did a wonderful job!

Our best Christmas ever, last gift opened and we videotaped it--she was so happy and so emotional when she saw her rings!  Grandpa put it back on her hand and she wore it the rest of her days.  For the last 10+ yrs of her life!  After Anna-Marie was born (her namesake and the 4th generation of firstborn females on that side)...MaMarie told me she wanted her to have the rings after she was gone.  A-M didn't find out until after the funeral.  I wore it for awhile in their memory.   They were married almost 70 yrs!!  My parents for over 40 yrs now...I come from a Long Line of Love!  Now, they're safely stored in the orig box...waiting for A-M.

Briar's cat, Patches, wore herself out from the full time job of inspecting the new things moved in and all the extra people in the house.  After everyone else left, she crashed out on one of our new items...my comfy computer chair.  They had used a set of these swivel chairs w/rollers for the dining table.

Grandma's kitchen before we finished packing it all up a few weeks later.  To the right of the sink is a GREAT built-in feature I want someday...under the white cutting board (to right of the coke cans) there is a cut out in the counter, lined w/laminate for compost items!  Better than a disposal--just toss items thru the opening into the pail below.  Pail sits in a drawer that pulls out.  Easy, clean, and practical way to compost...LOVE it!

I always loved their hardwood floors and this door to the bedrooms and bathroom.
Memories...

Down in the basement....just some of the many glass jars that I ended up with...did I mention they used to garden and then can??   I remember those canning days!  I used to snap a LOT of green beans LOL!

I always thought this old gas cook stove in the basement was neat.  

Meet Mr. Tux--Grandma's cat.  He wouldn't stay at Dad and Mom's, he kept walking back, but the new renters did not want him.  Being the softie I am, he came home with us...after living outdoors all his life, he is LOVING the indoor life!!  

His favorite place is to sit in my lap while I'm at the computer!!  In fact, that is where he is right now!  LOL!  He loves to sit and read with me!  :o)    I love being claimed by a cat again!!  I love our doggies, but I will always be a cat lover at heart!! 

That's all for now...I finally figured out how to post pictures and have the captions like I wanted...took me off and on all day...still learning...LOL!!  Think I have it finally fixed!