I am a throwback, and I am just fine with that...

So, it's the end of July and I am knitting.  I also have an embroidered piece I am working on, a piece of cross stitch and always have some recipe or another going, for dinner or for treats.  And, I realized something curious: each and every "home maker" type thing I do, be it cooking or handcrafts or even 'how' I clean has some association with wonderful memories of special women in my life.  Women who meant everything to me at one time or another. 

Knitting is an easy one.  Growing up, every woman I knew knitted.  My great aunts, their kids, my mother, and the one who first taught me, a neighbour at my parent's house - who actually was more an additional grandmother to me, and mother to mine.  She was always knitting, mittens, sweaters, hats..you name it she knit it.  It was fascinating to me to see this string become something warm and soft and comforting.  And, the fact that she would let me do it too - magical. 

Embroidery and cross stitch was something I learned from a great aunt on the other side of the family.  Her entire house was laden with needlepoint and cross stitched pillows, and she always sat with a hoop in her hands, working on the next pieces.  I learned on a very small piece, and have completed many, even using the skills to decorate my daughter's clothes when she was little.  I still give pieces as baby gifts and wedding presents: including a linen tablecloth and 10 napkins stitched with cherry blossoms for a friend.  There is something both relaxing and structured, leaving time to think when working a project..and there are always pieces in the works. Less so of late, but I have floss and cloth, so there may be a set of bookmarks and other bits coming from my fingertips soon. 

Cleaning was another thing just learned at a knee.  My grandmother always allowed me to follow along and 'help'.  I learned how to use simple things like vinegar and newsprint for shine and coarse salt to lift stains.  I still prefer to wash my floors 3 times, detergent the first, detergent with water the second, and a third water only ( or with some simple scented oil - usually tea tree ) to take up the last of the soap, make it really clean and add a nice scent to the house.  I still can use paste or liquid wax too - and use blutcher's wax on all of the wood here.  

Cooking is where I most notice the connections.  Not only can it be the most obvious example of nurturing and caring FOR someone, I have tons of recipes directly from my Grandmother that I just 'know' and several more copied from her, or on small cards in her hand.  I was just about 2 years old, sitting on the floor of her kitchen as she was kneading bread dough before the final proofing and bake, when she realized that I was reading her recipe book.  Up to that point, since I was always around underfoot, she would read the recipe aloud, pointing to the words, and gathering the ingredients, often allowing me to "help" by mixing.  That day, by the third ingredient, she realized I was reading her molasses cookie recipe, pages away from the bread she was baking.  From that day onward, I was the designated "reader" for the recipes, as I learned to measure, mix and create the wonders that were to be found in her kitchen.  To this day, there are some recipes of hers that I use, and I can actually hear her voice, instructing, guiding, encouraging.  

Not a bad trade off for my time.