My mom sent me this email not too long ago. Lauren, and all of my apron wearing friends, this is for you. Now get your apron on ladies and get to work!
The History of APRONS:
I don't think our kids know what an apron is.
The principal use of Grandma's apron was to protect the dress underneath, because she only had a few, it was easier to wash aprons than dresses and they used less material, but along with that, it served as a potholder for removing hot pans from the oven.
It was wonderful for drying children's tears, and on occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears....
From the chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half-hatched eggs to be finished in the warming oven.
When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids.
And when the weather was cold grandma wrapped it around her arms.
Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, bent over the hot woodstove..
Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron.
From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables. After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls. In the fall, the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees.
When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds.
When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the porch, waved her apron, and the menfolk knew it was time to come in from the fields to dinner.
It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace that 'old-time apron' that served so many purposes.
REMEMBER:
Grandma used to set her hot baked apple pies on the window sill to cool.
Her granddaughters set theirs on the window sill to thaw.
They would go crazy now trying to figure out how many germs were on that apron. I never caught anything from an apron.
Here I am with my apron. I wear it almost everyday, all day. It makes me motivated and helps me get a lot done. Do you wear an apron? I’d love to hear about it!
I LOVE the poem. I loved aprons before but now I do more so because the poem gave me a new perspective on it.
ReplyDeleteMy first apron was a purple apron with LWML plastered on the front that I won at at a seminary giveaway. I wore it inside out when guests came. I've retired it.
My two favorites are from a dear friend and my husband. One is turquoise and brown and one is black and hot pink. I feel so feminine and domestic when I wear them and get so much more accomplished during the day. It's like a mom uniform.
I can't imagine living without my apron. When I put it on, I know it's time to work, and when I take it off it means my work is done. (Or at least as much as is getting done. :) ) I wish soooo badly that I had one or two of my Dad's mom's aprons. She had a drawer full in her kitchen, and when you worked in her kitchen you wore an apron. I always loved picking an apron out of that drawer.
ReplyDeleteI posted about my aprons here http://daybydayathomeaway.blogspot.com/2009/11/national-tie-one-on-day.html
ReplyDeleteHave you read The Apron Book?
Wow, I love that poem. Can't wait to share it with my mom. I have never worn an apron but after reading that, I want to. It's like a mom's superhero cape!
ReplyDeleteI wear an apron all the time. I wore a Maker's Mark apron (see post below) for a long, long time, but my personal favorite right now is a bright yellow one. It just makes me feel happier.
ReplyDeletehttp://erin-e3.blogspot.com/2007/09/full-body-kitchen-bibs.html
I wear an apron all the time. I wore a Maker's Mark apron (see post below) for a long, long time, but my personal favorite right now is a bright yellow one. It just makes me feel happier.
ReplyDeletehttp://erin-e3.blogspot.com/2007/09/full-body-kitchen-bibs.html
I have quite an apron collection! I love them... which one I wear totally depends on my mood. Hmmm... that would make a good blog post, wouldn't it?
ReplyDeleteI wear an apron. Mostly just when I cook, but other times too.
ReplyDeleteI love yours though, it's so pretty!
Marsha, I would love to see all of your aprons!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.apronmemories.com/
ReplyDeleteI think you'll love this website! Maybe check out The Apron Book from the library? I purchased The Apron Book and The Linen Book as a splurge for myself.
A few years ago our Ladies Aid at church had a woman's night where they invited other area LCMS church women. The program was based on this poem. The women of the host church modeled their aprons. Then we went downstairs and each chair had an apron on the back of it-the women gathered up all their aprons and loaned them for the evening. Plus women loaned their china and each table had a set of china on it. The women made little aprons which they put on a water bottle at each place that we got to take home and put on our dish soap. Even my dish soap has an apron in my kitchen now! It was a really fun evening with good memories of getting together that evening. My interest in aprons peaked then and has increased since I read The Apron Book.
Derek gave me an apron as my "thanks for putting me through four years of seminary" present. It's filthy and stained and people always laugh when they see it (esp. now as my giant pregnant belly in the apron is a bit odd!) but I love it and would never cook without it. Or, I should say, when I do, I always mess up my clothes!
ReplyDelete