Sunday, January 13, 2008

Grandmother Potts: She Taught Me How to Live


.....Today my mind went back to a time in my life so precious that I thought I would share a bit. However in order for the post to not get too lengthy I will write it in two parts....




PART 1...............


......... Grandma Potts... We called her Pottsy in our older years.. she would have switched the back of our legs if we had called her that when we were children. ........ She was a small woman with dark slate eyes that would look at you and you would know that she knew!!!!!!!! She always knew. She was my grandmother on my Moms side. I was able to spend a lot of time with her because of my father being in the Air Force. Mom and us three kids would always go to Ada where grandmother a lived and I can remember those days as though they were yesterday.



... Sadly those days are just about all I remember of my childhood but looking back on it all I think I understand more that I can pen on this blog........ Maybe another day... getting back to grandmother..


... She loved me unconditionally ... she always loved me... She never changed.. she was one of those types of people that you knew what you were getting every time you were in her presence.. She was always the same, and she spoke her mind. I am thinking that is where I got my (clear my throat) attitude.


... She was my friend and more than that she was my mentor. What I know about life I learned from her. She had wisdom that was simple and simply spoken and she never held back that wisdom when I needed it most.


.... At the age of 11 or 12 while living with her in Roff, Oklahoma she decided one morning to teach me to cook......and we fried chicken. .. then the next Saturday morning she thought it was time for me to learn to sew and sew we did (without a pattern) I can tell you now that I can still see that blouse and the material that we cut it from (It was always feed sack material) I think if I go through all the quilt scraps that I have that belonged to her I would find a piece of that blouse. The following Saturday it was time to garden and garden we did and the next Saturday it was crocheting and then and then and then... and so it went the 11th year of my life... Thought that I would be soooooooooooooooo glad to get home... Tired of all that learning!


.... While teaching the simple tools of a woman's life she taught me the hard lessons of life. What a wonderful woman was my grandmother Potts... Ida was her name.

8 comments:

Sandra said...

She was a great woman. I always loved spending weekends at her house and helping her with her hair and makeup for church. She taught me how to make pie crust and tuna patties. She always had me make those for her when I stayed at her house. I have pieces of an old quilt she and mom worked on together. I added a lot to it with her help when I was in high school. One day I'll finish it. I'll never forget the time she cut the top off of her fake Christmas tree. Everyone was so mad at her, but she didn't care. It didn't fit the way she wanted it too so she made it fit. That's exactly how she was.

Karen H. said...

Good Afternoon Denise,
What a beautiful tribute to your lovely Grandmother. She sounded like a wonderful and loving Woman and I know you were proud of her and loved her very much. I never knew my Grandparents on my Dad's side because they died when my Dad was a young boy. All of the brother's raised themselves. I did know my Grandparents for a short while on my Mom's side. They lived in California most of the time tho. They had planned on moving back to the town where my Mom lives now, but the night before they were to fly out here, my Grandpa died. They had a Memorial Service for him out in California and then flew his body back to Arkansas to be buried here. My Grandmother flew out as well. My Grandmother lived a couple of years after my Grandpa had died. I got to get to know her some more and spend some more time with her. She used to dip snuff. I remember in 1973, I was 11 years old, and they lived in Arkansas for a while then, I was at her house spending the night and I wanted so much to be like her. I asked for a dip of snuff. LOL. Needless to say, I didn't ask for anymore. LOL. She was a good Woman also. She sure could cook too. "THANK YOU" for sharing your lovely Grandmother with us. Also, "CONGRATULATION'S" on the Awards that Deena gave you. She passed them on to me as well. Deena is such a sweet person and I sure do enjoy visiting her as well as you. Both of you Inspire me so much and I "THANK YOU" for that. Take care my friend and have a great evening. May God Bless You and Yours.

Love & Hugs,
Karen H.

Sharon Brumfield said...

I did not get to spend as much time with my grandmothers as you did. I would like to think that the Godly heritage of at least one of them flows in my blood.
Dad's mom did not become a Christian till just before her death. She was a character. An Italian Grandma.
I probably got a little of her mouth.
But God is modifying it. :)

I am glad God provided such an awesome woman for you to grow up with.

Also, I am glad your Mom is home.
And I will pray about her doctors visit this week.

I will also pray for some sweet time for you with our Father. Silence is sweet. His voice is sweeter.

Denise said...

Your grandmother sounds like a precious blessing, so glad you got to spend such quality time with her my friend.

Mary said...

Denise,

Thank you for introducing me to your maternal grandmother. My Grandma learned me life lessons and so much more, such as how to plant and harvest a garden, grow flowers, enjoy the beauty of nature and how to love God. She also taught me to cook, clean house and do so many other things.

Did your grandmother wear an apron? Mine did and I will never forget the many aprons she had. They were very versatile tools that could wipe tears, hold eggs from the hen house, vegetables from the garden and a multitude of other tasks.

Thanks for the walk down Memory Lane. It brought back memories of my own grandmother. Her name was Candace Mary.

Blessings,
Mary

Katt said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
MelanieJoy said...

What a sweet post. I loved being able to grow up near both sets of my Grandparents. I only have my Grandmother left here with me. She is 86 yrs. old and still loves her cooking. It's nothing for her to send us something to eat every other night. It gives her something to do for the day...she's the best cook on the face of the earth too ;)
My Papaw was a Preacher and worked for the Railroad. My Granddaddy was the most wonderful man on the face of the earth. I was his little shadow!! I carry on his middle name too. They all passed down a legacy of Faith to us all. Boy, I sure do miss them.
p.s. Grandmother has tried to teach me to cook some...I didn't get those genes =)

sharon brobst said...

How wonderful to have such a woman in your life! You were blessed! I have very fond memories of my grandmother too, but unfortunately the times I spent with her were few since we lived in a different state!