Saturday, January 21, 2012

Happy Birthday Grandma

                                                    Today is my Grandma's Birthday
I am reposting this from last year.
I love her so much I want to honor her every year.
      


She was born January 21, 1904, the year of the St Louis Worlds Fair. She was such a little princess all her life.
She was the only daughter raised on a farm by two loving parents. She was born Ruth Forest but changed her name legally to Ruth Virgina.

She married young and moved to Detroit Michigan and lived there during the depression. Her only child was my mother.


                             I love this picture of my Grandparents outside their apartment house in Detroit



She was the only Grandmother I ever knew, my paternal Grandmother (who lived at 1515) died before I was born. She was active in Eastern Star and I think I got all my interest in flowers, decorating, entertaining and love of dishes from her. She always decorated for every holiday. I use to love to dress up in her gowns. 



She never hardly sat down during a meal, her little 4' 9" frame stood over you wanting to know if someone needed something...she would have her apron on and had a habit of running her hands over the front of her apron.
The apron she has on hangs in my other Grandmother's kitchen at 1515.
In her kitchen of her little pink house.


We were great friends, she never drove so when I got my drivers license I would go get her to go shopping on the square in Charleston and we would sit and watch everyone walk by.

She was thrilled to get her one and only Granddaughter...I was so lucky!

The best gifts she gave me were family heirlooms, she was so excited when I got married and my new initial was the same as her Grandparents and she gave me their initial tablecloth and napkins. Of course I kept all her china, silver and glassware. She wrote notes and tucked them in things or wrote on the back of things of who the things belonged to thank goodness!

How many times when I went to visit she would go out and pick roses, daffodils, tulips, or marigolds and wrap them up with a wet paper towel and a rubber band to keep for my 2 hr drive home so I would have fresh flowers when I got home.

I still make her Swiss steak for my birthday and I have the musical plate stand that plays happy birthday she had.

I have all the letters and cards and letter we ever wrote each other and until the other day when I read one I forgot how she always wrote and the end "love you a bushel and a peck".


"I love you a bushel and a peck Grandma"

22 comments:

Rebecca said...

oh my gosh-a wonderful tribute to a neat lady. I love the pic with her in her blue ballgown and her in her heels in the kitchen. She looked like she was always fixy! What a neat bond you both shared!

Robin@DecoratingTennisGirl said...

Ann,
I am confused. So this is your Dad's Mom holding you? Your Mom's Mother passed before you were born? I love the flapper picture and the other picture with your Grandma in the kitchen and the harvest gold coffee maker!

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful tribute to the grandma you love so much. Great pictures. :)

Anonymous said...

Just reading about your beautiful little Grandmother makes me feel like I love her too. What a wonderful blessing she was in your life, and she is lovely in each picture!

Tete said...

I love this post and it's a wonderful way to say how much you love and miss her. What a grand lady she must have been and how lucky for you that you called her grandma.
Hugs- Tete

Grannys Attic said...

I do love your grandmother, you were so blessed to have someone that special in your life. My granny pass when she was 95 and lived with us the last 30 years of her time here on earth. I miss her so much. Thanks for bringing back sweet memories of both our grandmothers. Blessings, Vicky

Honey at 2805 said...

Looks like we are both sentimental!

Honey at 2805 said...

And she is so stylish!

Richard Cottrell said...

memories are sometimes all we have to hang on to. But, aren't they special? Richard from My Old Historic House.

C'est moi Claudette said...

The first pic of your grandma looking in the mirror is rare Ann. Kids were always just looking straight into the camera and so serious. LOVE LOVE LOVE the way you loved your sweet grandma so so much. I loved mine too, both of them, but had to share her with so so many cousins, but that was ok, we all had fun.
Happy Birthday to your dear grandma Ann. She's looking down blowing out her candles on her special cake dish.
xoxoxox

Donna said...

What a wonderful tribute to a very special grandma! Grandma looks like a real fashionista! Love the photos of the two of you, how lucky you are to have spent so much time together:)

Ann from On Sutton Place said...

You are truly blessed. My daughter and my mother had a wonderful friendship too...it's changed since my mom's dementia has progressed but my daughter has so many good memories. Happy Sunday Ann.

Lynn said...

Oh Ann, what a lovely tribute to your Grandma. Love each picture. My grandmother, mom's mother was born in 1898, she was married in 1918 at 20. The very special picture of your grandparents on the runner of the model T reminds me of ones I had seen of my grandparents. I was the first grandchild and my grandmother lived with us for several years. My grandfather passed on at 56 and my grandmother passed on at 90. He was the only man for her and she lived almost half her life without him. So I know just how special the beautiful dishes and notes, letters are from your beloved grandmother. What a blessing you were to each other. Thank you for sharing and I believe she is looking down with love today.

Teresa@1800 Farmhouse Rd said...

Ann, this is sooo sweet! I can't even imagine having a grandmother like this. You are a very lucky lady to have known this kind of love!

Suzanne said...

Such a beautiful post. Your pictures remind me of my own childhood. I was blessed to have two wonderful grandmothers myself, and I treasure those memories. Thanks for making me smile. I'm now a follower:-)

Paulette said...

What a sweet blog post honoring your grandmother. I love the photos, she looked as if she loved life and from what you wrote she loved you very much. Special day, special memories.♥

Decor To Adore said...

Everyone should have such a wonderful grandmother! I love the photos.

Anonymous said...

What a lovely tribute Ann, I love the flapper picture, what a treasure.
Hugs Rosemary...xx
P.S. So you have a shed filled with old pots do you??? :)

Anonymous said...

Oh, Ann, this is just precious! Your grandmother sounds like she was such a special lady! Love the sweet snap of you and her! ;) Look at her in her ball gown! I'll bet you did love to play dress up!
Be a sweetie,
shelia ;)

Victorian1885 said...

What a beautiful post.. great memories of a wonderful Granny!

★Carol★ said...

Grandmas are such special people, arent' they? I still have all of the cards and letters that my Grandma sent me too. I really enjoyed this beautiful tribute to your Grandma, Ann!
Happy Monday!
Carol

The Charm of Home said...

What a sweet post! I had a Grandma like this. What special memories. Thanks for stopping by!
Sherry