Wednesday, December 31, 2008

A Note On Aprons

My grandfather gave me a little story recently on the history of aprons. I have been thinking for a while that I needed to add some mother and daughter aprons to my store, and this has really inspired me to get started on that for the new year. So, I share my inspiration with all of you:

I don't think kids today know what an apron is.

The principle use of Grandma's apron was to protect the dress underneath, because she only had a few. It was easier to was 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 occassion 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 wather was cold, grandma wrapped it around her arms.
These big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, bent over the hot wood stove. 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 men knew it was time to come in from the fields for dinner.
It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace that "old-time apron" that served so many purposes.
Remember the love the aprons in your past hold.

So I leave you with that thought today. Aprons coming soon!

1 comment:

Karen said...

that was a great story. ya know we always knew they had a reason but never really realized it.