I told you last week, I spent my time in bed sick watching Downton Abbey. Well, it got me thinking of my Grannies. I have always been an old soul, more interested in listening to stories and looking at old pictures than gallivanting with my cousins. I liked baking, and flowers, and dainty things. As a result I have ended up with a handful of family heirlooms. An 8-place setting, set of hand painted gold foil dishes, a carved tinder box, some silver and tea cups. Something that as a single 20-something has been a task to move and store over the years. The dish set belonged to my Grandma Rae, a woman who said as she was going into assisted living, that my grandfather’s “next wife was NOT to have her things,” so she gave away all of her stuff, (and most of his family stuff) leaving him with an appreciatively empty home. He didn’t seem to care, and was more relieved to be rid of all her nick knacks. That woman was a terrible cook. Truly awful. The only time us kids got fast food was after a dinner at grandma’s. It was all dried meatloaf and mushy canned peas. She could bake, but cooking… just terrible. This was one of the things I would look forward to her making because, well, it is pretty much impossible to mess this up.
The engraving says “Lilian 1998″ And it has a stamp of a steam ship. The story behind this spoon is: Emily Carr purchased this commemorative spoon for her favorite niece on a trip from San Francisco -that niece being a great, great, aunt(?).
I have a few items passed down, most everything having been sold or in the Carr house museum in Victoria. I have a couple little pieces of history: this treasured spoon, a couple of tea spoons and a hand carved tinder box. Fame and “value” does a funny thing to family treasures. For example my dish set: 25 years ago NO ONE wanted it. My mother cringed when I proclaimed it was “so pretty” ( I was 9 years old). But in later years when someone thought it was worth something they suddenly demanded to know who had it and why. I told them that they could absolutely have it (to sell, no doubt) but that my moving and storage fees would far surpass the market value. See how tricky I am? I am disappointed that previous generations were quick to sell our family belongings, and cash-in. I guess that is how it works. If I was destitute, I may see it all differently. For now, I love the dainty and pretty, and old. I treasure my family heirlooms, I’ve packed and moved them enough times I have grown to love their weight in family history.
The Waldorf Salad is American turn-of-the-century cuisine. It was dreamed up and named by the Waldorf Hotel’s maître d’hôtel, Oscar Tschirky. The Waldorf hotel was later to become the Waldorf Astoria, originally where the Empire State building stands on 5th Ave, NY. Oscar although never becoming a chef, had a large cook book and was responsible for the popular thousand island dressing, with rumor that he may have contributed to Eggs Benedict preparations as well.
Paleo Waldorf Salad
Waldorf Salad, fruit salad with a satisfying crunch.
Author: www.ThePrimalDesire.com
Recipe type: salad
Ingredients
- ½ cup mayo
- ½ cp chopped walnuts
- 1 cup sliced grapes
- 2 cups chopped apple
- 2 cups chopped celery
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- salt & pepper
Instructions
- Combine all Ingredients and stir well.
- Serve chilled on a bed of lettuce
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