Maggie

My Grandmother Maggie

My grandmother, Maggie, was probably one of the most hard working women I have ever known. When I was growing up, I stayed with her a lot during the summer and was always amazed at her never-ending energy. She was up every morning about 5:00 and cooked breakfast, put on her boots and headed outside. She plowed - she planted - she weeded - she harvested and cooked. Whatever was left at harvesting time, she canned for winter. Each day, she stopped working long enough to cook lunch and supper. As soon as lunch was over, she was back out. Take a look at her yard - she maintained it herself. She had a "green thumb" and a knack for landscaping.

I have a fond memory of the fresh blackberry cobbler that she made late in the afternoon before she cooked supper. She would cross the road and go up on the bank and pick fresh blackberries and bring them home, wash them and make fresh blackberry cobbler to go along with the great supper that she cooked. A couple of my other favorites were her rhubarb pies and kilt lettuce that we often had for lunch. Of course, the homemade molasses and "big biscuit" were always on the table.

She also loved music. On several Saturday nights, we walked to a neighbor's barn where the local musicians would gather in the loft to play music so everyone could dance. She loved to dance and play the spoons at the Saturday night gatherings. Of course, the next morning was church meeting time and big lunch day with her children and grandchildren. She had minimal rest on Sundays and was up the next morning at 5:00 to start her busy week again.

My grandmother was a lady with many talents, including art and music. Her accomplishments were many. The words "idle" and "doing nothing" were not in her vocabulary. Life was never dull around her and she was quite an amazing woman. She certainly created many great memories for me.