Names have been changed to protect the innocent...and my husband...and me...but not the dog. His name is Dexter.

Monday, June 2, 2008

Lardy, Lardy!

I got this in an email and it reminded me of the stories I've heard of Great Grandma Gibson.

The History of Aprons

I don't think kids know what an apron is.
The principal use of Grandma's apron was to protect the dress underneath, but along with that, it served as a potholder for removing hot pans from the oven.
It was wonderful for drying children's tears, and on occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears.
From the chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half- hatched eggs to be finished in the warming oven.
When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids.
And when the weather was cold, grandma wrapped it around her arms.
Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, bent over the hot wood stove.
Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron.
From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables. After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls.
In the fall, the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees.
When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds.
When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the porch, waved her apron, and the men knew it was time to come in from the fields to dinner.
It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace that 'old-time apron' that served so many purposes.

The only apron I currently have is one I made for GC that says "May the forks be with you". I think it's time for the kind of apron this talks about.


3 comments:

Brad and Jenn said...

I loved that! My mom was only 5 when Grandma Gibson died but her best memories with her were making sugar cookies. My mom just bought me my first apron for Christmas this year after learning that I'd never had one. Just putting it on makes me feeling like "really cooking." Thanks for the post!

jillytacy said...

Aprons are my new love so I just love this post! I think I'll have to post this too! You need an apron my dear friend! I'll warn you, it's a bit addicting! There are so many aprons to love!

Happy Granny said...

I love aprons because of their usefulness and because of the part they play in the most important parts of your life. I never saw Grandma Gibson without an apron on, except when she went to church. I have so many sweet memories of her and I remember my heart broke when she passed away. We should use more aprons because they are so useful, but keep us connected to those who came before us and spent their days in the trenches caring for all the needs of their families. I'm going to see what I can find. xoxoxo

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...