Many “come back home” thoughts came rushing back to me after receiving a delightful email from a dear friend, which came to her by the customary ’friend to friend’ electronic grapevine. The many uses of aprons in days past will cause some of you to recall such uses by family members, or you yourself; as you meander through the various memories further into this article. Let us begin with the present moment.
We are impressed with a beautiful table setting and with it comes a winning meal. But prior to the meal comes a fanciful memory of a mother or grandmother wearing an apron in preparation to an old world, country, or classic meal. Whatever the case may be, mom or grandma would place on the family table a favorite recipe, or a new incredible edible. Some of you might enjoy global dishes brought by your immigrant ancestors. We discover the world bite by bite. Whatever the style, the appetite can meet the pleasure, followed by a promenade around the block.
Let us open our memory bank and recall that hardly a day passed when the lady of the house didn’t wear an apron for nearly all tasks at hand. The apron was a standard piece of daily apparel.
The introduction of an automatic washer and dryer was a dream beyond her imagination. She did whatever she could to save on the mountain high family laundry, the drudgery of the week.
Good food or simply the aroma of it on entrance to the family home has created lasting memories. The apron is synonymous to food, generally, but many other treasured memories come to mind. The wearing of an apron brings many comments from both men and women. It seems to be a comfort memory, it denotes home and warmth, but most of all it means mom or grandma.
Now let us go beyond the chemistry of good food, and chuckle over comical and practical uses for the apron sent me by a special friend. You will have your own thoughts that will come to mind, as I do mine. We are so good together filling our hearts with memories that are worth the remembering.
Grandma’s apron had many uses:
- Removing hot pans from the oven.
- When the weather was cool, Grandma wrapped her apron around her arms.
- Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron.
- Her apron carried all sorts of vegetables from the garden. After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls.
- 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.
- In the fall season, 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.
- Her aprons were made from sackcloth for every day use, and broadcloth for Sunday best.
- She showed off her sewing skills by adding embroidery designs and frills to her “company cooking apron.”
- When little tykes came visiting, her apron wiped ice cream around eager mouths.
- 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.
- Her apron served as cradling comfort to a new grandbaby.
- With her apron and adoring look, clean a smudgy face with a final kiss.
- Her apron was a wonderful benefit for drying a children’s tears.
Dear Friends,
Years ago, a Mother’s Day “gift” apron gave her a message of love, but to the giver it spoke of home comfort and devotion to family … today it strongly creates nostalgia for women and equally for men. An apron wearer deserves a hug. An exceptional meal with mom or grandma is the good life. Raise a glass to the woman you love. Happy Mother’s Day!
