Saturday, August 29, 2009

Nothing Like Grandma Margie's Bowl

So this morning we woke to the sound of shattered glass. Scott immediately jumped out of bed and when I got to the living room I saw 2 sheepishly looking boys and my husband who said, "You are Not going to be happy!"
Apparently one of my favorite kitchen items or just items in general had been dropped and was now shattered all over the carpet. At first I saw the yellow pieces but it had not registered what it was. I was glad the boys were OK and then sent them to their room. It was then when I asked what it was, that my heart began to sink. OK, OK "its just a bowl" you say. And yes, no item on this earth is more cherished than my family.....but then again, this wasn't just any bowl...it was that 1940s, vintage yellow, Pyrex bowl that had belonged to my grandma so long ago. My first memories in the kitchen were watching my grandma put things in that yellow bowl. I loved when she would pour the yeast into the warm water and sugar and watching it bubble.
"no touching" she said, "just let it rest for a few minutes".
And then to see that become such a beautiful dough that wasn't quite done until it "felt like a baby's bottom" (no clue where she came up with that one(-: ) And then she would roll out the dough, spread out melted butter, sprinkle some Cinnamon sugar and the most delicious Cinnamon rolls would emerge. So simple, yet so hard to replicate!
There wasn't a time that I used that bowl that I wouldn't just think of Grandma, if only for a second. Just yesterday Elijah and I were mixing a batter in it and I thought to myself, "How cool, my grandma gave me a passion for baking and cooking starting with this bowl and now I am sparking an interest with my son."
One of our favorite uses for the bowl was what we did with it last night...it was the vessel to some might yummy popcorn. Anyway, the bowl is gone and with it a symbol I would always equate with my grandma. Thank goodness God allows us to keep such special memories with or without the bowls.