Clearing out a house after death is a sacred act, yet no amount of holiness assigned to this task can dismiss the back-breaking, shoulder-aching, neck-craning job of sorting, recycling, and passing on to others the possessions of a loved one. Aside from clothing and furniture, Mother left behind the tools of her trade in the kitchen along with beloved books of our childhood, some of which are displayed here.
Prepare Food & Serve It
What remains: A scale on which all of our baby weights were noted and recorded (or ingredients for recipes measured), cooking utensils, ice cream dipper, and juicer, most of which have been passed on to grand-children.
My best guess is that these were wedding gifts or first (and only) time purchases. I don’t remember another scale, a different set of utensils, a second ice cream dipper or juicer ever passing over the threshold of our home. The throw-away mentality of our current consumer society never made sense to Mother. “You buy good, and keep it – for a lifetime” was her philosophy! Yes, prepare food and serve it, and with love! Her fancy china set, sterling silver flatware, and crystal glasses and goblets all have found homes with her grand-children.
Don’t Forget to Stir in Imagination
In previous Moments of Discovery, you may have seen other books from Mother’s bookcase or from the attic.
The book below, a reader, is certainly a keeper, recording media and methods that are becoming obsolete.
And one of my favorites is My Bible Book with verses selected by Janie Walker and pictures by Dean Bryant (Rand McNally and Company, 1946). These words and pictures have been imprinted on my childhood memory as I joined the red-haired boy and blonde-headed girl roaming around gardens and romping through meadows with their pets. It was a perfect world!
Aunt Ruthie gave me this book with penciled instructions to read it to my sister Janice, show her the pictures and tell her all about them.
Ever the teacher, she closes with her sweet lead-in question: “Can you tell what each picture means?” This is probably a Christmas gift or birthday present given to me in 1948.
Puppy dogs, a frog, a snowman, a kite, some birds, squirrels, a herd of cows, and a even a special kitty cat amuse the children as the pages turn with words of wisdom all quoted from scripture.
Do you have old books in your treasury of keepsakes? Some special utensils for cooking or serving passed down to you from a generation or two ago? We’re all ears!
Coming next: Button, Button, Who’s Got the Button?
Plain and Fancy 
Lovely mementos! I have some of my parents’ things that are special to me, and I am also the family repository for the historical documents they left. I often wonder who will take them over after I am gone.
LikeLike
Hi, Linda. I wonder whether you are the oldest daughter. Often that rank in the family order gets to serve as the “family repository” – ha. I hope someone in the next generation will keep the your relay of history documents going. Thanks!
LikeLiked by 1 person
No Marian, I am the middle daughter and the middle child of five. Nobody else has any great interest, I’m afraid. One of my sons is a keen family historian, but mainly on his father’s side & these are from my side. Oh well!
LikeLike
Maybe that keen family historian will turn his sights in your family’s direction one day. There’s still time, you know!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope so Marian. 🙂
LikeLike
What a lovely post, Marian! It is so wonderful that you and your family have these items –and what’s more, that you treasure them, not only for what they are, but also for the memories they hold. I imagine as you turn the pages of that book, you see you and your sister and picture your Aunt Ruth’s voice saying the words of the inscription. Your daughter-in-law will have a memory of your mother every time she scoops some ice cream–and something to tell her children, too.
I have some old cookbooks that were among my mom’s first as a new bride. Some of them I used as a child–like the old Betty Crocker cookbook. Of course, the most important “family heirloom” is not mine, but it lives in our house for most of the year. That of course is the ceramic squirrel mold, used to make our cranberry sauce squirrel at Thanksgiving. 🙂
LikeLike
My sisters and I discussed what to do with the jello mold we found in Mother’s things, I remember. However, we ended up putting it on the sale; I think one of us may have kept it if it were ceramic, and not plastic, but who knows.
I wonder if that ceramic squirrel mold has ever made it into your writings. Hmmm!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha, Marian!
LikeLike
I would pay good money for an old ice cream scoop like that, just like my Dad’s, and it was precious and protected–he didn’t like it to end up in another drawer where he couldn’t find it right away. 🙂 Somehow it was Dad’s job to dip the ice cream. (He did not do much in the kitchen until he quit farming, then he’d wash dishes!) Your little copy of “My Bible Book” is one we had too. So precious!
LikeLike
My dad’s presence in the kitchen was very scarce until he hit the 60s although I have a photo of his drying dishes and Mom washing when they were a young couple. Believe me, when we three girls were old enough for kitchen duties, he stayed away.
My BIble Book is very fragile. Now that the pages have been scanned, I hesitate to open it – the binding is so thin. I wonder how many of these books are still in circulation or boxed up in people’s attics. The artwork is so charming, and specific to that era. Again, thanks for adding your memories here, Melodie.
LikeLike
These items are all so special. So pleased they have been passed on. We have been passing on some of mom´s things too as she is now in a nursing home. Pleased that the younger generation appreciates them. I just gave some old pictures to my kids. Our parents did not like the throw away mentality either.
LikeLike
Mother was liberal with her things, and gave SO much away before she died. We were all shocked at how much was left to sort last fall. Fortunately, the grandchildren were interested in some of her best items, which will stay in the family. I’m giving pictures to my kids too, but they sometimes groan when they see me coming with my Ziploc bags of photos. 😉
LikeLike
What a lovely post. You are fortunate to have so much so well preserved. I think I have a glass paperweight with birds in it from my grandmother. We moved around a lot. There’s a ceramic swan that belonged to my mother (Avon, I think), and a few dishes that managed to remain unbroken over the years.
LikeLike
Oh, I think I remember that Avon swan, clear plastic and attached to the cap on a perfume bottle – well, maybe! At least you won’t be accused of being a hoarder, Susan!
LikeLike
This one is ceramic and has pink roses on top of a lid. No perfume. I gave my daughter some of the serving bowls. She was happy to have them 🙂
LikeLike
Ouch – hope you’re not insulted!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Never, Marian. Avon put out some pretty stuff and some cheap stuff too. HA! My dad had dozens of bottles of cheap cologne in cars, horses, motorcycles.
LikeLike
A baby gift from my mother that at first mystified me but I learned couldn’t do without was a scale. I was skeptical about its accuracy, but then I was so grateful to have it and used it every day to confirm my baby was healthy and growing. One more thing, that scale was accurate as the doctor’s office teaching me subtly what mothers know and pass on is pretty spot on.
LikeLike
Thanks for your lively example and the conclusion about mother’s wisdom. Well, we knew it all along, didn’t we?
LikeLike
Interesting stuff you are finding, Marian. And pictures, that is one thing I enjoy, we thought about making a scrapbook of pictures and other things for our grandchildren. THat is one way of passing them along and hopefully
a good way to keep them.
LikeLike
Hoorah for the Hurst scrapbook! Knowing the approximate ages of your grand-children, I can imagine them helping you insert the photos. A keep-safe and also a keepsake!
LikeLike
“You buy good, and keep it – for a lifetime” I LOVE this quote from your mother. We could all learn from that one.
I just love this post Marian and your reminding us of the things we leave behind to be found by those who find delight in them.
LikeLike
Most of the items you see here we knew about, but there were some surprises for Mom’s grandchildren, including the china pattern. Gosh, it’s so good to see you here. Wishing the best for your final writing edits — and your family’s health, Joan.
LikeLike
What wonderful treasures, Marian. I love the illustrations, the ice cream scooper, and your Bible book with written instructions from your Aunt Ruthie to you. Your Mom sounds a lot like mine. She lived thru the Great Depression and things were not replaced until they were wore out. 😉
LikeLike
Actually, I have the same philosophy – more or less, even down to the recycling of aluminum foil. I have the frugal/thrifty bug from both angles; Mennonite, and with Depression-era parents. Thanks for lending your thoughts here once again. I appreciate it, especially since I know you must be tired out from school and paper grading.
LikeLike
I really am lacking in energy. Six more weeks to go. 😉
LikeLike
I loved reading and seeing the pictures of your mother’s things. My sister and I went through our mother’s things while she was still living but moving into an apartment so she told us many stories and it made her things seem so much more valuable, at least to me! My sister is gone now, but I have many of Mother’s utensils and dishes and baby clothes and pictures, etc.
LikeLike
I guess there are advantages and disadvantages to both ways of dispersing of the possessions of a loved one: before or after a change in address, Mother’s now in heaven. Of course, I wish I had had more time to talk about her things and hear more stories.
LikeLike
Marian — You never cease to amaze me at the numerous heart-based items you have on hand that hold countless wonderful memories! I particularly resonate with your mother’s wisdom: “You buy good, and keep it – for a lifetime.” So while I have few material items, they’re all well-crafted and meant to last.
LikeLike
You preach it – you live it, Laurie! Minimum stuff, maximum enjoyment.
I found a statement in a fortune cookie a few days ago that reminded me of you. You say, “Whatever you are not changing you’re choosing.” The cookie say, “When you’re finished changing, you’re finished!”
LikeLiked by 1 person
Marian — Now THAT was a great fortune cookie!
LikeLike
🙂
LikeLike
Such amazing treasures Marian. Your mum was a wise woman and it seems she had passed her values down to her family.
My mum left me many things , the joy of reading is one I will never be able to thank her enough for .
She also had a great interest in film stars of the 20th century. She passed to me a collection of ‘Picture Goer ‘ annuals , do you you remember them ?
We used to spend many an hour looking through the glossy pages , many of them black and white. To this day I can watch an old movie and instantly know the name of the actors . My mum always used to say Calton Heston used to make her toes curl , meaning he was drop dead gorgeous, I always loved that expression 😊
Cherryx
LikeLike
No, I haven’t heard of Picture Goer annuals. I wonder what the US equivalent would be. Maybe a movie feature edition of People magazine. I love your reminding me of the expression “toes curl.” Your Mum gives you precious memories, as does mine. Thanks, Cherry!
LikeLike
Now that’s a nice cream scoop! If I had one like that, it would be a keeper.
The Bible Book is so sweet and I love the illustrations.
My favorite keepsakes from my grandmother are an apron, handwritten cookbook and embroidered dish towels. Although I don’t use them, I keep them in a drawer in my kitchen. They bring back such good memories of her and the meals she used to make.
LikeLike
How interesting that both of our keepsakes (aside from the books) have to do with food. My Mother, probably like your grandmother, equated food with love. Thanks for popping up again here – appreciate it, Patti.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s sad work – but I’m glad you found some good memories.
LikeLike
Grief and love are a package deal, as a good friend said. Mother passed on the love too!
LikeLike
Such great treasures and so much grief and love embedded in the memories. (And there you are quoting me in the response to the previous comment.) It’s hard to accept that love and grief come together, but they almost always do and the great poets know it and told us even if we ignored them. Your mother obviously left buckets of love and many treasures that will help you and your family smile in sweet memory. My favorite? “Be ye kind.”
LikeLike
I ironed my dress today on mother in law’s old ironing board and I live in my parents old house. We seem to have been clearing my father in law’s house forever but it’s finally done now and it feels sad to say goodbye to it.
LikeLike
There was an urgency to get Mother’s house cleared out because we had a buyer for the house. My sisters and I worked day and night it seemed after the funeral and then about 3-4 weeks in separate spates after that. It was a bittersweet task, the last act of love to honor Mom. (Oh, my aching back!) You say “it feels sad to say goodbye to it.” I can relate in that when we drive by the house, we can’t go in – somebody else lives there now. It’ will seem so strange.
LikeLike
Your emotions and discoveries remind me of those of my own family as we go through my grandmother’s house, which has to be sold soon. Thanks for sharing them!
LikeLike
We are on parallel tracks in some ways though a generation apart. It’s nice to see you here today. Thanks for stopping in, Rebecca.
LikeLike
It’s my pleasure!
LikeLike
I’m glad I have the opportunity to hear your story, not to mention see your pictures!
LikeLike
😉
LikeLike