My paternal grandmother came to our house early in the evening with her profound love, mystical kindness, homemade divinity candy, and peanut butter fudge (for crying out loud!). It was exciting to have her in our house. I can still hear her sweet, Tennessee drawl. I continue to feel her steadfast love. I'm not sure a better person ever walked this earth.
Grandpa wouldn't always come with her. Sadly, as he got older he became a cranky old misery guts. Oh well. Somebody's gotta play Scrooge.
 |
| She had just walked in. I didn't even let her take off her coat before I took her picture. |
That was a lovely post, Colette. I have very similar memories. I did not have a grandmother, but I had the most wonderful aunt. These people always stay with us and the memories become even sweeter with the years that pass.
ReplyDeleteIt's true. The memories become sweeter.
DeleteHow good it is to have that special grandmother who knows the meaning of everything, and especially grandmotherly love.
ReplyDeleteIt was very good.
DeleteWe always opened our presents on Christmas Eve too since my Dad always had to Work on Christmas Morning and all of Christmas Day. He was in charge of the Mess Hall at the Base and the feeding of the Young G.I's that couldn't get Leave was something he took very seriously to make the Holidays {without their Families} as Special and Memorable as he could. Home-Made Divinity is something my Mother-In-Law made for us every Year too!
ReplyDeleteI wonder if anyone still makes divinity candy?
DeleteI don't know anyone that does now that my MIL has passed, she was 88 and in her Era I suppose many people did. I bought some but it's just not the same and I didn't like it.
DeleteThank you for sharing that. It brings back memories of all the lovely people that crossed the doorstep in the holidays. Come and gone but leaving a sweet essence in their place.
ReplyDeleteSo true.
DeleteI love how you loved your grandmother. The true gift of the season.
ReplyDeleteShe was a unique person.
DeleteWe always went to Mass on Christmas eve, Midnight Mass. I remember I was about 10 years old when the magic occurred. It was Mass, I'd been so many times, how could it be any different? We entered the church with cloudy skies and a bit over an hour later we walked out to a gentle blanket of snow. Far eastern Oregon magic, perfectly timed, on the night before Christmas.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to everyone.
Magical!
DeleteMy dad was like your grandpa. You are lucky to have known your grandma and to have those wonderful memories. Now I have to go look up divinity candy.
ReplyDeleteIt's very sweet, and very good.
DeleteDivinity was my mother's favorite Christmas treat. We still make it for family on Christmas Eve.
ReplyDeleteThat's so nice that you still make it.
DeleteYou have the perfect role model there. What lovely memories.
ReplyDeleteShe should have really given Grandma lessons to the masses.
DeleteA special memory of a special time. Golden.
ReplyDeleteand covered with glitter.
DeleteLove. :-)
DeleteCranky old misery guts - could that be me, now or perhaps tomorrow? It's always difficult to imagine how one is perceived by others. Don't forget, by the way, Scrooge is redeemed
ReplyDeleteThis is true (Scrooge redeemed), but that's because he changed.
DeleteThank you for your Christmas memories. One of my older neighbor friends had that sweet Tennessee drawl, profound love, and mystical kindness. Your memories of your grandmother have reminded me of my friend who would be over 100 years old now if she were still alive.
ReplyDeleteMy mother had a well-used copy of The Joy of Cooking. In that book was the recipe that I used for making divinity. Now I'm wondering if I made it at my mother's suggestion. I don't remember hearing about it outside our family. Along with other treats, I remember that she made delicious fudge at Christmastime. I remember taking fudge from the tray in the refrigerator and then moving the other pieces around, thinking no one would know I had taken it. It was irresistible (-:
Great memory (moving the fudge around). I love that.
DeleteDivinity candy - recipe please! And such a loving tribute to your granny. All our loved ones are remembered at Christmas time.
ReplyDeleteDivinity
Delete2 ½ cups sugar
½ cup water
½ cup white syrup
1 cup walnuts
2 egg whites
1 teaspoon vanilla
Mix sugar, water and syrup. Cook until mixture spins a thread 3 inches long. Have egg whites beaten stiff. When mixture spins thread, pour slowly over stiffly beaten egg whites. ½ of mixture to stove and cook till it pops when you put a little in cold water. Then slowly pour over rest of mixture, beating all the time. Add nuts and vanilla, beat with spoon then till stiff enough. Put on greased board by spoonfuls
This is the recipe from my Grandma. When she says white syrup, I believe she means Karo. As for cooking it until the mixture spins a thread 3 inches long...I'm not sure that that's all about. You might do better to google a recipe with more modern terms. :)
DeleteI have always loved Christmas, but even more now that I'm a parent.
ReplyDeleteI totally understand.
DeleteThat was beautiful. Thank you for sharing these memories Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jennifer. I know you had a treasured Southern Grandma, too.
Delete