Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Grandma's Glass


It's time again for Vintage Thingie Thursday! I haven't participated in a while, but thought I'd jump back in this week with a couple pieces of pink glass that belonged to my grandmother on my dad's side.

Grandma Frieda would have been 101 years old on May 1. Every year on her birthday, we kids would cut some pretty tulips from our garden and deliver them to Grandma, who lived about a mile away on the other side of our small town.

Grandma was a soft-spoken woman of few words, but she was always there with a warm, soft hug and a listening ear. She enjoyed the simple things--tending her vegetable garden and flowers, baking a pie or kuchen for Sunday visitors, and enjoying the cool evening breeze on her front porch after a long day of household chores.

Quick with a smile and a perpetual twinkle in her eye, Grandma was good company. Her home was an oasis from whatever chaos or drama may have been happening at our house, and I would often steal away and pedal my bike across town to visit with her for a while. Things were uncomplicated at Grandma's, and peaceful. That is, except for holidays and other family gatherings when everyone descended on her little house. Then it was a free-for-all, with lots of laughter, beer drinking, cigar smoke, Shafskopf playing, and table pounding--and that was just in the kitchen! We girls would play tag and other games, and my brothers and their cousin cohorts would wrestle until some kid came up crying.

Grandma was of German ancestry, and although she grew up speaking English, she attended a German Lutheran church and was "confirmed in German," meaning she had a fair understanding of it growing up. She had a few odd expressions that made us chuckle, including, "Ach, yay-o-yay!" which was the equivalent of "OMG" today. "Yoish!" meant something along the lines of, "Jeez!" or "Crap!" with a hint of "Whaddaya gonna do?" Her answer in the affirmative was never "Yes" but "Yah," based on the German "Ja," as well as being standard Wisconsinese for that generation. Her word for toast was "toast-bread," and to remove something was to get it "offen" there. If she wanted you to hang on, she'd say, "Wait, once." (How would a person wait twice, anyway?)

Grandma & Dad

When Grandma passed away, the few possessions she had were divvied up, and I came by these two pieces.

The covered dish had held Grandma's dusting powder on her dresser. The puff smelled like Lily of the Valley.

Love that little dog on the lid.

The other piece is--well, I don't know what you would call that kind of glass. Maybe you know? I'm not even sure what it was for. It's pretty, though. I like the way the glass is pleated and folded.

The doily didn't come from Grandma but was crocheted by her sister-in-law probably in the 1930s or '40s. The pink and white colors remind me of the voluptuous peony bushes Grandma had alongside her house.

These pieces, while neither expensive nor rare, are treasured because of the memories they hold of my gentle and genial Grandma Frieda.

Thanks so much for stopping by to visit today! Be sure to check out more vintage goodies listed and linked at Colorado Lady.

29 comments:

Coloradolady said...

What precious memories you have and wonderful treasures that belonged to your grandma. I love the little dish with the dog! Sometimes the value is not in the worth, but the heart! Have a great VTT!

Sarah said...

Beautiful pink glass, and all the more special because it belonged to your grandmother.
And thanks for stopping by HFTS. Hope to see you again.

Deborah said...

Love the soft pinkish color of both pieces. Thank you for sharing the memories.

Pink Roses and Teacups said...

Loved your story about your grandma. I have fond memories of my grandmas house too, pies baking in the oven, canning, and helping do the laundry with the wringer washer. Thanks for sharing.

Debbie

Maureen said...

Pink and ruffles and memories of grandma - what's not to love! Wonderful story.

CC said...

Grandmothers are the very best..and to have such sweet things of here,are surely treasures. Thank you for sharing your grandmother with us.. She was a lovely lady. Happy VTT...

Unknown said...

What wonderful memories!!! I also had a German grandmother who lived in Wisconsin...she was just like yours, a woman of few words but I know she loved me! The piece of glass are wonderful! I would say the second piece was a special dish for food.....I lvoe your photos!!!! Thank you for this post!

Lisa said...

I love your grandmother's glass pieces! I remember seeing flower arrangements in containers like your pleated/ruffled glass dish. They used to let the Garden Club display their flower arranging entries in our school auditorium when I was in elementary. I thought we were so lucky to get to see all of them. Enjoy your glass pieces for so many different things! We are lucky souls to get to be caretakers of the beautiful things belonging to our grandparent's.

iheartsunnydays said...

What wonderful treasures and memories of your sweet Grandma. The little doggie is so cute!

Vonlipi said...

Thank you for sharing stories from your Grandma. I love both pieces, but especialy the vanity jar.

Postcardy said...

Sweet memories. I love that dog dish. I think he looks a little lonely with nothing inside.

Linda @ A La Carte said...

I love your two pieces from your Grandmother! Such sweet memories and lovely glass! The little dog box is so cute and that bowl is really pretty. Maybe Fenton? Doesn't matter it is priceless to you.

Unknown said...

Very pretty! My mother has both dishes and doilies similar to these that were my grandmother's and they are priceless!

Have a great day!

Sarah

A 2 Z said...

Hi,

Thanks for dropping by. I love the pink glass. We had a bunch in the family and I guess I was not there that day when it was given away. Too bad. Its true that grandmas's provide a feeling of comfort and safety from the outside world. Thanks for sharing. I'm a new follower. Lets keep in touch! :)

Anne-Marie

Unknown said...

Something fun and cute, and something elegant and ladylike to remember your grandmother. How wonderful!

Unknown said...

What lovely pieces...I especially like the doilie :)

Blessings!
Gail

Charlotte said...

These are beautiful! And the doily is gorgeous! I am bias when it comes to crocheted pieces. You are so lucky to have a Grandma like that. My grandmother was not a "grandma" like my mother is to her grandkids. If you get tired of these beautiful glassware, I will be happy to take them off of your hands. :)

Michelle said...

Lovely glassware, and even lovelier memories. Perfect! I would have liked to have known your grandmother.

deb said...

What a wonderfuly touching post!
Happy VTT!
*hugs*deb

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much for your kind comments on my blog. I really enjoyed visiting yours today, I loved the memories of your Grandmother, and seeing into another culture. I'm not sure what the game was playing in the kitchen, but in my Grandmas kitchen you could always find a game of domino's or "Moon" which was played with domino's. Great read!

SueWis said...

Very sweet, thanks for sharing. Your doily reminds me of some I have that my grandma made. I swear your and my family trees might converge somewhere back in time. And if not that, our ancestors probably went to the same church and used the same recipes!

Chel ~ said...

Such beautiful vintage tokens of your grandmother. Thanks for the special story in addition to the wonderful pictures!

Roslyn said...

Gorgeous glass you are very lucky!

Ann said...

Very pretty pink glass. Your so fortunate to have it since it was your grandmas. Happy VTT

LV said...

I love your post today. We both shared memories of our mothers and grandmothers. Guess with mother's day near, rekindled our memories.

★Carol★ said...

What an incredibly sweet tribute to your beloved Grandma! She sounds like a real sweetheart, and it sounds like you have alot of wonderful memories of her. My Grandma on my Mom's side lived in Wisconsin too. Those two pieces of glass are beautiful keepsakes of your Grandma's!
Happy VTT!
Carol

Stacey said...

This post was a lovely tribute to your grandmother. I love the objects and think they are indeed special because of the story behind them. Treasure them always!

Browndirtcottage said...

Oh yes....I am all about pink!!!

sewtakeahike said...

I love the stories of your grandma! Her expressions are priceless and made me giggle. I'm not sure what the fluted piece is called, but it sure is pretty and they're both lovely things to remind you of your grandma!