A kitchen table that seats 2 but extra leaves can be put in, expanding to almost overfill the small dining room and seat 8-10.
One level living. Adequate space. Not new and modern but comfortable, homey (to us), and always in a state of something being overhauled or remodeled. Ongoing projects that seem to never quite get done but we keep trying. Our granddaughters call it The Cottage. They are so sweet with their little rose colored glasses ever in place!
Last year before our daughter and the girls left, we told the girls we were going to do some changes in the kitchen over the winter. We warned them because they don't want one single thing changed. Anywhere. Anytime. They were still missing a door that had been closed off to make a bathroom wall. Their reaction was very sentimental to pending kitchen changes. To their young eyes this was a place of perfection and beauty. Truth be told. It was a rather run down sad state of affairs!
The wall paper was some sort of super old print that had salt and pepper shakers, wooden spoons, daisies, teapots etc. It was an all over pattern. Sort of muted and subdued. They asked us what we would do with the walls. We said that we liked wall paper but not the current one and we would change the wall paper. They were truly devastated and stated their love of it, pleading with us to leave it, how beautiful it was etc. etc. So I made them a promise. We would paint and wallpaper everything except for the interior of the cupboards over the washer/dryer. That spot would be left for them to look at and enjoy.
We are winding down the preparations for their arrival and today, when I grabbed a rag from that cupboard, I saw the old print and smiled. Even got a bit misty-eyed for a second, in thinking of how much Grandma's love all their Grand-babies, and the silly things they do for them to make them happy.
Oh, My!....the things we will cook for the girls and then repeat the same things when we get to McCall and unite with more of our children and grandchildren. Things with memories and stories that engender tender feelings of connectedness and love and tradition.
Family traditions are many times, simple things, just done on a regular basis....over and over and over. Then you end up with 5 adult children that all know Sunday Dinner means one thing. Roast, sauerkraut, potatoes, carrots and onions.
A part of our summer fare food-wise celebration, will include breakfast dishes like...Dad's Alaska Sourdough Pancakes, Dad's Poor Man's Mush aka WallPaperPaste, 3 bear Porridge (corn meal mush)
My heart is so looking forward to seeing my children and my grandchildren. It's little things that tie us to together. All these little repetitive simple details really do count!!!
This verse of an old song popped into my mind....
Give me your hand when I've lost the way
Give me your shoulder to cry on
Whether the day is bright or gray
Give me your heart to rely on
Send me the warmth of a secret smile
To show me you haven't forgot
That always and ever, now and forever
Little things mean a lot.
This little school poem popped into my mind....
Little drops of water,
Little grains of sand,
Make the mighty ocean
And the pleasant land.
Thus the little minutes,
Humble though they be,
Make the mighty ages
Of eternity.
And this verse of scripture popped in also!....
Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing,
for ye are laying the foundation of a great work.
And out of small things proceedeth that which is great.
--64:33
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