Monday, October 5, 2009

Granny Chic




It's always a little sad to me when I walk into a garage sale that's obviously an estate sale...a younger family selling off what looks to be granny and grandpa's stuff. For a minute I contemplate that some day this will be my stuff that people will, some distant day on a fair summer afternoon, stop their cars and walk up look through, each of them taking a little piece of my life and spreading my belongings, gathered from near and far, through different towns, counties, or perhaps even other states.

I try to remember that everything that might be a treasure to me might make my children and their children laugh and say "What did she want/buy/keep/need this for????" Or...just out of necessity and lack of room, my treasures will end up with someone else.

Then...

I quickly shift from melancholy to merry when I spot a sweet little 'granny chic" item like this pink aluminum ice cream scoop--or shortening scoop as the embossing on the spoon handle states--in a box for a quarter.

(Recently, Cyn over at "Farmgirl Cyn" posted about Granny Chic: I had no idea my disease had a name, and am so glad I found a diagnosis for what's up with me. Go here to read more about this disease.)


As I scoop it up, I think how lucky am I? And that granny might be tickled that all these years later I remember how well these things worked and that I'd like one to put in my own kitchen. (I mean, you can't buy these things anymore!)

The cool thing is this: every time I use it, I remember the granny's home that it came from, her little white bungalow with black shutters on a hill in northern Michigan, and that she once loved it and used it, too.


And too, I wonder, when granny was done scooping the ice cream with that scoop, did she lick it to feel how awesomely COLD that aluminum spoon can get?
Maybe granny would be giggling if she knew....
Because I do....

(I tell you I just can't help it!)

Now, if granny would only have had a set of those brightly-colored aluminum drinking glasses....!

10 comments:

Thistle Cove Farm said...

psssst...give ya a dollar for the scoop!

smile.

I'm not truly a Granny but therein the difference stops. Every time I go to an antique or consignment shop I see my house. When people ask me what I'm going to do with all "that stuff", I tell them it's called "inheritance" and my nephews are going to deal with it one day.

Gena said...

I love granny stuff! I have everything of my grandmother's that I could possibly get. I had to share with my brother, but that's okay - he takes good care of it!

I also love those aluminum glasses - my grandparents had them. Nothing gets colder than those cups!

Mimi Sue said...

I think the same thing. I especially find it hard to see handmade stitchery items that the granny has spent many hours working on and it sits on a table for a dollar. I usually snatch them up. Mimi

KathyB. said...

I have often lamented the fine needle worked items that are practically given away at many garage sales and thrift stores. I wonder that someone would have stitched the items, probably with love, and that it was discarded for some reason or other.Often I do find myself feeling sad when I see these things.If I can afford it I will buy well done embroidered items.

Kathleen Grace said...

I used those aluminum tumblers as a kid every day, my mom still has some! They are pretty dinged and scratched from all those years of use though.

Bloggin bout my Boys said...

Wow We used to make FIZZIES in those aluminum cups! Anyone remember fizzies?? The turquoise color cup was always my fave. I have my Gramma's old soup pot...wouldn't take a million for that thing! Sue

★Carol★ said...

I feel the same way about pawing through someone else's treasures at an estate sale! I'd never heard of "Granny Chic". All along, my home has been a showcase of granny chic!

Shaorn said...

Don't worry that those left behind won't want it ... you want it ... so get it ... and enjoy.

Elenka said...

I remember a thing like that! We also had those aluminum tumblers.

Wendy said...

Oh seeing that ice cream scooper brings back all kinds of memories!! My grandma had a few of those and when she died my aunts put them in a yard sale and I never got to steal one for myself!