Aug 10, 2009

Southern Hospitality

My Grandma Reese's 80th Birthday is this month and our assignment is to do a scrapbook page for a recipe book. I fixed a meal and took many pictures (65 to be exact) and I reflected on the many things I've learned from her. She was raised in the south and they live at the family farm in Northeast Ohio. They struggled, along with all of our grandparents, to support five daughters through droughts and her disability from polio. But the one thing that has always been important to her is hospitality. When you knock on her door, you can be sure that she will hand you something to drink and she'll pull out a chair on her ivy covered patio to chat for a while. Age is quickly taking from her the ability to pull all the weeds in her garden and keeping her roses trimmed, but you can be sure that as long as she is able, you will be made welcome in her home. I have learned some things from her, such as....

Make sure that everyone is holding a drink. A good hostess keeps the glasses full.

Homemade bread is the only way to go.

Garden fresh salads make any meal gourmet.

Search for the perfect recipe for the occasion.
And don't be afraid of ingredients that you don't have in your pantry.

Measuring spoons are not a requirement.

Polish your silver regularly. (This I don't do.)

Do not use disposable plates. These are enamel, but she always uses china.

Fresh cut flowers are a must!

And the fellowship that follows with great friends....

Well, that's just Icing on the Cake.

Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
Romans 12:9-15

3 comments:

hubbardgirl said...

your grandparents are beautiful! lots of times we don't realize what they are teaching us til we have children of our own..and they could soon be gone forever.......so treasure them and LISTEN to what they are telling you by their examples! btw, the plates are to die for.ha

Jessica said...

Suddenly, my wal-mart martha cardstock seems insufficient to tell grandma what she means to me. Of course, the fact that I HAVE recipes, I MAKE them (sometimes), and I love feeding my friends and family- that's all her. Happy birthday, Grandmother.

ranelle said...

aw i love seeing the twins on here :) i echo what asusan said, my grandma just turned 80. i wish she could be around 80 more years with me! and food looks delish !!