Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Grandma Loved to Read to her Grandchildren

Remember that feisty young wife who went back to Ireland, and let hubby move to the farm?  Well, she loved her grandchildren, of course.  She spent part of her year with my Uncle's family, and part with ours.  She was a big help to Mom around the house, and I think that she loved to take care of me while Mom got the housework done.

I loved stories.  Spoken, read or on tv, I loved to follow along and listen to the tales.  Grandma would read to me for hours.  Here's a picture to prove it.  If you look very closely, maybe you can see that the book is upside down.  That's the way that Grandma always read the stories, so that I could see the pictures.
I was the youngest grandchild and, by the time I was old enough to remember things Grandma had, unfortunately, become quite senile.  I wish I could have gotten to know her better.  I think that we would have been good friends, as well as Grandma and Granddaughter.

19 comments:

Sharon said...

Wonderful picture! It's too bad she became senile before she had told you all her stories. Sorry about that.

Jacqueline Donnelly said...

That photo says something so tender and loving. I had a wonderful loving grandma and she was mine until I was 31 years old. Lucky me.

Saucy said...

You need a "like" button, Louise. :) I like this post very much.

Judy's Corner said...

I like this, Louise. I like that she held the book upside down so you could see the pictures....that's a good Grandma, senile or not!

KB said...

That's a great memory. I have to say that I'm most amazed by your grandma's ability to read upside down! She sounds like a feisty woman. I betting that you have at least a few of her feisty genes!

My favorite memory of my grandma was that I'd wake up super early before I was supposed to get out of bed when we were visiting her. She'd sneak into my room, beckon me to come with her, and we'd sneak some cartoon time together. It's amazing how the simplest little actions speak volumes of love to a kid.

Janet said...

Lovely photo ! At least you have wonderful memories of her reading to you !

My Mind's Eye said...

Louise what a treasured and well preserved picture!! Your G-ma was a beautiful lady.
My maternal G-ma (we called her Annie Ma, because the first grandchild could not say g's) was very much like your G-ma. She had 7 (6 girls,1 boy)children...the last two born when she was 42 and 44(my mom). The funniest thing I remember was the roll call she went through when she wanted one of us. Boy could she cook too and you did not leave her house hungry if you did it was your fault.
Thank you for sharing this beautiful picture,
Madi and Mom

Sheri said...

What a wonderful photo to have. I'm sorry you didn't have the opportunity to know her better when you were older. You were cute as a button!

John Going Gently said...

the love of words and books is a lovely legacy
I hae just watched a movie with the same themes
( see yesterday's blog)
jx

TexWisGirl said...

Awww. That is so sweet. Love that she read upside down for your sake. SO sweet. I never knew any of my grandparents as the last one died when I was 1 yr. old. You were lucky to have her while you did.

And I agree with KB - I think you might have gotten a few of those feisty genes. :)

Anonymous said...

Louise,
Those are certainly memories to treasure! What a great lady, I do remember the story about when she went back to Ireland :)

My grandparents were all gone when I was born. Unfortunately. Would have loved to know them.

Jim said...

What a good photo to have to bring back those memories. I don't think kids today have that opportunity to have their grandparents living with them. Like yourself for a while, my grandmother lived with my family for a long time. It was so so good for everybody.

A Brit in Tennessee said...

A touching photo I'm so glad you were able to enjoy time together, and have wonderful memories, albeit too short of a time.
I wish my children had known my grandma, they would have loved her.
Hugs.
~Jo

Dreaming said...

Yes, the photo says so much. How sweet.
My aunt used to read to her kids and I loved visiting and being read to. It meant so much to me that I read to my boys - sometimes even when they were in high school they would ask me to read to them!

Terry said...

What a loving and thoughtful person you Grandmother was, reading to you with the book upside down so you could see the pictures. The photograph is charming.

Iowa Gardening Woman said...

Wonderful photo! Your Irish family must have been much different than mine.

AJ-OAKS said...

Awww, that photo is great! And what warm memories you have of her. True treasures!
Hugs.

Inger said...

Those are great memories though. I knew my dad's mom very well (she with the dimple in her chin) but not my mom's (the beautiful one). I wish I had known them both. It is wonderful to look back through the generations, I think.--Inger

Kritter Keeper at Farm Tails said...

oh louise that touches my heart as i often yearn to know my grandparents that have long died even before my mom was born. your grammie was such a good soul, i can tell, look how she read upside down! i am sure she is with you in spirit. i always think like that and pretend my ancestors can hear my prayers for them...our world is precious, isn't it?