The principle use of Grandma's apron was to protect the dress underneath, but along with that, it served as a holder 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 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 to dinner.
It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace that "old-time apron" that served so many purposes.
Some final thoughts
Today at work we were discussing a cover for a new book. One comp featured a woman in her 50's, wearing an apron over her dress. The committee commented that No one wears aprons anymore. Well, I do - - and on a regular basis too. I must own at least 8 of them. I put one on every day when I go home for lunch and dinner. It really saves on my clothes. Plus, it just feels right.
1 comment:
That's a really sweet post. I have a couple aprons too but I usually forget to wear them! When I bake I end up covered in flour & whatever else I'm using.
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