hannagram63: Favorite Childhood memories...

I remember when I was really young, we would travel to my grandmother's house in North MS. Which having a large family as we did, was a major task. All the aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews,and cousins would come over because we didn't come up that often, and it would turn into a big family reunion really quick. The neighbors my dad grew up around would hear he was in town and they would come along as well. We would all play while the grown ups visited together under the big gazebo my mammaw had in the back yard. And the food would just seem to magically appear. Everything the mind could imagine, fried chicken, potatoes salad, slaw, barbeque's, chips and just whatever you could think of. But he best was always mammaw's banana pudding. I have watched her make it many times and can't duplicate it but it was the best in the world. I don't guess we will ever be as good a cook as the older generations, but this woman had it going on. After all the festivities and all had returned to their homes, we would all settle down in the guest rooms. There would be all of us kids scattered everywhere, but it didn't matter, we were at mammaw's. She had a peddle sewing machine that I have put a many miles on during the visit there.

The next morning, we woke up to the smell of bacon frying, which meant the homemade biscuits were almost ready and the fresh eggs were being cooked. As we all wondered into the kitchen, mom and dad were sitting there drinking coffee with mammaw and they kissed us good morning and told us to sit down and mind our manners. After such a big breakfast, we got ready for church and visited with the rest of the town folks. When church was over we would make it back to the house. While momma was getting all our things gather, we were playing in the yard. We would head home with fond memories of this visit, anticipating the next.

As my grandmother got older, she wasn't allowed to live along. She, of course, did not want to give up her independence. My dad bought a small trailer for her and set it up in our yard. I loved for it to be my day to be her helper. I would help her in the kitchen and things like that. She made hand stitched quilts and I would help her set up the quilting frame. She made the most beautiful quilts. I would sit there for hours, playing with her quilting squares, just watching her and listening to her stories of my dad growing up. We all had a quilt on our beds.

I was almost 13 when she passed away. I remember having to pack her things up for the others that wanted to have something to remember her by. I think mostly what all wanted was one of mammaw's quilt tops. I had several of them quilted after I grew up and they are on the beds at my dad's house. But, I can still go into the room with those quilts on the bed and still have such fond memories of such a wonderful lady.My papaw passed when I was less than a year, so I do not remember him at all. Everyone said that she went to be with him. At that age, I really didn't understand that but I think I can now.

The highway department bought the old house for a new highway so I can't go by and visit the place but I will always have the memories that were made there.