Saying Goodbye to Grandma's House

This is a hard post to write.  We stopped by Grandma and Grandpa's house Thursday morning.  Things were boxed up and sorted and ready to be sold/donated/given to family.  We picked out a few sentimental items and said goodbye.  The house went up for sale in April and within a week there were 20 offers and it sold well above asking price.  I couldn't hold back the tears saying goodbye to this house...so many thousands of memories here, so much happiness and love.  So much of my childhood and my adult life was spent here.  I love this house, but it didn't feel the same without Grandma and Grandpa sitting there welcoming you as you came in the door.

We never entered in the front door--I think I can probably remember the number of times we used that door!

The side door is how we always entered.

 Walking right into the laundry room that always smelled like fresh laundry--it still smelled the same today.

Grandma's jacket still hanging in it's place.

 Seems strange that a kitchen table would hold so many many memories, but it does.  So many wonderful family dinners here (fried pork chops, mashed potatoes or rice a roni, vegetables, rolls), breakfasts when we spent the night (platters of french toast, bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs).  Making a ham sandwich for lunch--with miracle whip that I loved (but only had at grandma's house).  You could never claim to be hungry at Grandma's house!  Lisa and I tried to find the gold and white checked tablecloth that  Grandma always used, but we could never find it.  I don't know if grandma ever had a different table, I only remember this one.    

 Caroline loved the face on their tree--I think my Aunt Annette gave it to them one year.  My dad said no one had wanted the face so we brought it home to Georgia to put on a tree in our house.

 This is my ideal back yard--it is huge, a few beautiful trees, and lots and lots of grass to run and play on.  So many games of tag, follow the leader, horse shoes, Frisbee  etc., etc.  were played here.  I'm not saying anything, but there may have been a few times the Frisbee was intentionally thrown on the roof so we would "have" to go up on the roof to get it.  For many years the patio in the back held a huge white freezer--and it was always full of ice cream!  When they got rid of the big freezer, they bought a little one that they put in the laundry room--but it still had plenty of ice cream for anyone who came to visit.  The first thing Grandma would say after giving you a hug was to let you know there was ice cream in the freezer if you wanted any. 

 Grandma's kitchen has definitely changed over the years--but I still picture her in here cooking--making pies, potato salad, and so many other things.  Even when she was in a wheelchair, she still would cook everything that anyone ate while at her house--it took some serious arguing before you were allowed to cook anything in Grandma's kitchen.  I still remember seeing burns on her arms because she was cooking with several pots on the stove, while in her wheelchair, and the pans in front would burn the underside of her arm.  

My favorite recipe of all time is Acini de Pepe fruit salad.  Grandma made this salad for every family gathering.  It was the only time I ever got it, because my mom hated it.  Anytime Grandma made it I would eat it until I couldn't possibly eat anymore.  When I went to college grandma gave me her recipe and I make it all the time.  Matt loves it as much as I do (we must have been meant for each other!) and we have it quite often--though none of my kids seem to like it yet.

Here is Grandma's recipe:

Acini De Pepe Salad

1/2 box acini de pepi pasta (very small round pasta)

3/4 cup sugar

1/2 tsp salt

2 eggs

3 TBSP flour

1 3/4 cups pineapple juice

14 oz pineapple, crushed

14 oz pineapple, canned, tidbits

2 cans mandarin orange sections

1 can fruit cocktail

12 oz frozen whipped topping, thawed

8 oz mini marshmallows

Cook acini de pepi and rinse.

Combine sugar, salt, beaten eggs, flour and pineapple juice and cook until thick (just barely boiling). Set in fridge to cool. When cooled, combine acini and sauce and place in fridge overnight (at least 4 hours).

Drain pineapple, mandarin oranges, and fruit cocktail. Combine with acini and sauce.  Add marshmallows and whipped topping.  Other fresh fruit can be added—strawberries or grapes.  Bananas are good, but will turn brown if the salad has any left overs.

This table was right next to Grandma's recliner--always.

The boys waited in the living room.   I just wanted Grandma to be there--sitting in her recliner with Grandpa right next to her.

I cried walking into the house, I cried leaving, I'm crying while writing this post.  I know it is just a house, and without Grandma and Grandpa, it isn't the same, but I love it.  I love remembering and I'm so blessed to have spent so much time at their house over my lifetime.  The house wasn't special, it was the love Grandma and Grandpa had for us that made it such a wonderful place to be.  It is still hard for me to believe that Grandma is gone--life can change so fast.  Just a few months ago things seemed to be the way they were supposed to be and now she is gone, the house is sold and nothing is the way it should be.  If there is one thing I've learned from this, it is to not wait to show love, make memories, or tell people what they mean to you.  I love you grandma and I wish I had more time with you.