Last week, this group of retired people enjoyed gathering together for the first time in over a year. They were celebrating being together and the fact that everyone had received their COVID-19 vaccinations.

On Tuesday, March 30, a group of tenants and Auxiliary members gathered for the first time in nearly a year at the Edgebrook apartments. All of the attendants had received the COVID-19 vaccinations and were happy to be together again.

They celebrated the coming of spring and looser restrictions with pie! The event was coordinated by Edgebrook Auxiliary. They called the event “Remembering Grandma’s Kitchen.” Everyone wore an apron to the luncheon, many of which were old aprons that their mothers or grandmothers had worn.

Iva De Boer read a few interesting writings about grandma’s apron (see poem below), and how it had so many uses.

Some of the aprons worn were new aprons, including one worn by Helen Schuld, which is a scarf-style apron with two potholders at the end. That works well for keeping track of your potholders and making sure you can get those hot pies out of the oven.

One of Iva’s readings pointed out that grandma cooled her pies on the window sill and today’s women use the window sill to thaw theirs! The pies that were made included many favorites: apple, pecan, sour cream raisin, lemon meringue, strawberry, pumpkin, banana cream, cherry, and mixed berry.

The Edgebrook Auxiliary made as many pies as they could think of for their “Remembering Grandma’s Kitchen” party last week.

She also asked people to tell stories about two things there chidden would not understand. One person commented that their children would never understand using peach wrappers as toilet paper! Iva commented later that one of the best things about the whole event was the laughter.

GRANDMA’S APRON

The strings were tied, it was freshly washed, and maybe even pressed.

For Grandma, it was everyday to choose one when she dressed.

The simple apron that it was, you would never think about;

the things she used it for, that made it look worn out.

She may have used it to hold some wildflowers that she’d found.

Or to hide a crying child’s face when a stranger came around.

Imagine all the little tears that were wiped with just that cloth.

Or it became a potholder to serve some chicken broth.

She probably carried kindling to stoke the kitchen fire.

To hold a load of laundry, or to wipe the clothesline wire.

When canning all her vegetables, it was used to wipe her brow.

You never know, she might have used it to shoo flies from the cow.

She might have carried eggs in from the chicken coop outside.

Whatever chore she used it for, she did them all with pride.

When Grandma went to heaven, God said she now could rest.

I’m sure the apron that she chose, was her Sunday best.

by Tina Trivett