From Elva's Kitchen (+ A Goal for 2013)

Thursday, January 3, 2013


Hey there.
I wanted to share a few things that we ended up with from Eric's grandparent's house last weekend and yesterday while I was in 
the kitchen baking muffins with Charlotte and the sunlight in there was oh so perfect,  I decided it was a good time to take some pictures.

If you have been reading along you may know that In November Eric's grandma, Elva, passed 
away at the age of 97. 
His grandpa passed away just this past April at the age of 96.
They were married for 71 years.

Oh, they have such a neat story to tell and as we go through more of the stuff we were fortunate enough to keep, 
I will share some more.
They lived through the depression, he was in the war and stationed in Italy, they were both big bowlers and wonderful parents, 
grandparents + great-grandparents(and surrogate great-grandparents to me). 
AND, they documented their life so well ... going through their house last weekend really has me determined to start 
printing pictures this year and to actually make photo books as well as a blog book.

All this online stuff is wonderful-- the sharing, the documenting our lives in this easy and convenient way, sharing pictures
and moments through  facebook and blogs + instagram but I want hard copies of REAL pictures for my kids one day... and their kids... and their kids.



* (above) look at that apple cookie jar! it always sat in the same spot in their kitchen
    and it always made me smile. it just looks cheerful, huh? i am so happy it is sitting
 on our kitchen counter now.

* (below) green recipe box we got two of those, filled with all of her recipes.
and she was a good cook-- and an excellent pie maker.
plus, it is just so awesome to have these recipes in her handwriting.


* (below) this adorable little dish towel was found tucked away in a cabinet
in the basement,  probably a gift from someone and never even used-- but i couldn't leave it behind!



I have a lot more to share-- a whole set of dishes, old board games, the 65-year old wooden bowling set, old quilts, tea towels.... 
the list goes on and on.
Being able to keep some of this stuff that belonged to his family is a dream for someone like me who 
absolutely LOVES things from the past that have family history behind them.

So....
Goal #1 ::  Print pictures this year. Make photo books/Project Life books and have a book of MY BLOG made. 
I can do this... I am going to do this.
Have a great Thursday everyone, we are going roller skating today... Must get these children 
out of this house. 

PS--  Just leave a comment here or on my Virtual Coffee post or tomorrow's post to be
entered to WIN that super adorable fox coffee mug. I just love mine.
Go look at it here. and Good luck!





11 comments:

  1. Have you seen those tea towels made from old recipe cards? I'm obsessed.

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  2. oh what a great post and pics! i can't wait to see more. Thanks for sharing. I can't imagine being married for 71 years! wow.


    Trish @ Tales from ...

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  3. that big yellow mixing bowl!!
    My mom has that and got from HER mom and I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!
    I told her it's the only thing I want someday! LOVE IT! so many memories of cookies being mixed, pasty crust being made, bread being made in that bowl!
    love this post so much!
    I have my blog sucked into BLURB.com to make a book but it became TOO overwhelming for me so I just copied and pasted my favorite posts from over the years and printed them at home and have them in a folder. BUT, I keep journals for each of my girls, scrapbooks for each of them, Project Life family books, bins full of papers organized by school year, and photo albums, plus baby books up to age 7. I LOVE to memory keep it's my HOBBY!
    tara

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  4. hi amy!
    happy new year!:)
    love all these adorable tresures.
    i am in a big memory saving mode too lately. i am still about a year behind in printing all my photos...but i WILL get caught up this year!:) and i would love to see how printing your blog goes...i want to do that too.
    have a happy day

    ps
    just made your muffins yesterday:)

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  5. I just love how you have these wonderful reminders of Eric's family..so so sweet! Love love love this post :)

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  6. We had a very similar scenario earlier this summer when my grandparents (who are like parents to me) moved into assisted living and sold their home. There was SO MUCH STUFF to go thru. I came home with so many beautiful treasures that reminded me of my childhood growing up there. Even my grandpa's old type writer and some of his highschool books, my grandma's towels and original Pyrex mixing bowls. Grandparents are such a delight! I think Elva is proud knowing her sweet things are being loved at your house:)

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  7. I love love love this=) I am so lucky I still have my grandma, she is 92 today!!! And her kitchen has been the same for the last 50 years. New fridge and oven but other then that evertyhing is pretty much the same. Same color, same wall art and the same cookie jar that I have my name on for when she passes, because when you come visit now you have to put your name on something. I have gotten a few things through the years from her including an old recipe box that was actually my great great grandmothers. I too want to leave stuff like this for my kids to see and have memories of when they have their own families and I have grand babies.
    Thank you so much for your post and I am so glad I found your blog, its so down to earth and real!!!

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  8. Love the things you were able to keep and that they have some memories associated with them. I don't think I have much of anything from any of my grandparents-none of them are living, and I certainly don't have warm fuzzies of going to grandma's house. Boo...I LOVE that enamel jar holding your utensils! Also, please tell me where you found the super cute recipe cards!!
    Thanks so much!
    Elise

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  9. all of that stuff is just soooo adorable. vintage and lovely.
    i'm glad you saved such treasures!

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  10. Such beautiful little treasures and such lovely memories :) x x x x

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