A little bit of the good ol days !

I love coming across an old wash board. The wonderful memories I have of my grandmothers! As a child I would watch them put this in a wash tub. I can`t begin to imagine how hard that was on their hands. The time it must have taken! Then came the washing machine, the ones with the hand ringing. That would scare me to watch my grandmother push the clothes through on one end and take it out with the other. The women truly had it rough before technology. No wonder their hands felt so rough. Mine would too !

The Kitchen Secret

The other day I came across my old iron skillet similar to this one. I said to myself how many young women today know about the "secret" of being a good cook? 

 The old used iron skillet was given to me as a wedding present in the 70`s. I thought no way could I ever  use this pan. I did`t have any cooking skills and my next thought was how heavy it was.

 The skillet looked rough to me and it was burnt!  Later I found out that it had to be seasoned. Why I asked? The old women then said by  seasoning it, the pan would keep  your chicken  from sticking. I had to laugh. I did`t know the first thing about cooking chicken or anything else. The thought of cooking something fresh worried the day lights out of me.

 I remember my mother cooking with a skillet. At the  time I thought only my mom  had the skills of  cooking with this pan. The aroma of a country breakfast brought us to the table in a hurry. We loved Sunday mornings!

 As the years passed  by, I found  out that it is truly the best pan ever to have in your kitchen. I think it`s a  must if you want to whip up a batch of cornbread, biscuits, and the gravy is delish!

I wouldn`t part with my " Secret"

I think I will just pass it  down, like the ones before me!

The taste of homemade butter.

I remember when my mother and father would  take us to visit my grandmother. She lived in West Virginia and I was thrilled to see a churn similar to this one, sitting on her front porch. Sometimes we would pull into the driveway and there she sat in her rocking chair, churning her fresh milk then selling the butter.  She would churn all day or at least until her arms ached. All the neighbors on the old dirt road would come by and ask for a tub full of her butter. The butter was the very best and  how fresh it was!
My sister and I would wake up the next morning to find she had made biscuits and gravy for us. We topped off the warm  biscuits with freshly churned butter. After breakfast she would shoo us outside to play. Oh to be young again.    

It was a trip of a lifetime.

After touring Paris, we then moved on to  Cheb Republic. We stayed at this hotel that was so far out in the country. We were driving and I asked my daughter are we on the right road? She said yes, that it was just a little further down this very rural country side. When we approached the hotel I was in complete awe of it. So beautiful. The first picture is the entrance to the lobby. The second is the courtyard and the resteraunt. We had a buffet dinner with foods I have never eaten let alone heard of. It was all delicous.
The rooms decorated in gorgeous soft colors. Very roomy as well. After dinner we rested and I just happen to look out our window and saw this farm. I couldn`t help but wonder how many people came to stay in this beautiful hotel and if they were as happy as we could ever be.
A few days later it was time to come home. In my mind I still see every city and country that we visited . It was a trip of a lifetime!

Paris Bound

We could see the top point of the Eiffel Tower from our hotel room. I remember thinking " I have got to go see that!" Everyone was so excited, so many things to see and do in Paris. Where would we begin? We started out on foot taking in the sights and admiring all the architecture. I didn't know which way we had to go to get there, but my husband found the way. He led us right to it. I remember my daughter, son in law, my grand kids, my husband and myself standing right under it looking up. The sight was absolutely amazing. I just couldn't believe we stood there, all together as a family.

The very next thing, my daughter really wanted to see was the Arc de Triomphe.We walked there stopping to take it all in. My eyes were everywhere all at once. Paris was a beautiful city. So we walked and found the Champs-Élysées, the most famous street in Paris. All the lovely shops, bakeries, and of course my favorite, Cartier! By the time we got back to the hotel, I had sat there and thought " I have been to Paris and survived all that sight seeing" There were so many things we saw and did, but the most important one of all, was spending this time and enjoying the views with my family. 

Just a note...While in town I had the most humbling experience. We were shopping and  sightseeing one morning and I needed to use the ladies room. I thought I would ask the waiter so I stopped him hoping he could help me. I said " Where can I find the ladies restroom?" He looked at me very strange  and said " Je ne parle francais"  Translation- I only speak french! Needless to say I had to ask my daughter for help.

It was very clear how little we really know when visiting another country. At least is was for me!

Shopping!

Yesterday I was thinking about our trip to Germany 3 years ago and what a trip it was! The story begins with my daughter Brenda. She is a military wife and a mother of two handsome sons. Her husband was stationed in Germany and I knew they would be there for 4 long years. It was in the second year that Brenda became homesick and she wanted to see her mom and dad very much.  I think thats when she began talking things over with Jeremy, her husband.  She called me one day and asked if we would like to come and spend a week with the family. I thought "Oh she`s just kidding with me". She was serious! I did not know at the time she had an itinerary all set up. We were about to go to four countries in 7 days!   After landing in Germany 16 hours later, I saw my daughter, son-in-law and my two grandsons. They couldn't wait for our plane to land and neither could we. I want to see my daughter`s beautiful smile and to hug her. I couldn't believe after all that time apart there she was waiting with  open arms and a slice of German pastry. She knows me all to well . I couldn`t take my eyes off her and in the back of my mind I kept thinking "We are here, in Germany?" I had to pinch myself! We spent half the night just talking and catching up on everything. The next day it was time to sightsee. And that we did!

In the next couple of days, I would like to share a few photos of  beautiful places and what we found.

Our first stop was  at a glass factory called Nachtmanns, all the glass products were handmade. I could have spent a fortune there but common sense and will power prevailed, to my husbands sigh of relief.

Nactmann Glass Factory

This is what we saw when we enter Nachtmanns front shop.  Glass of every shape and all hand blown. I wanted to spend the entire day  filling up my shopping cart! I was fixated on buying something but the selection was overwhelming. What to do I asked?  My daughter then said "Pick something that you truly love and we will come back".  I just couldn`t it was if my shoes had been nailed to the floor!   I began thinking to myself,  hurry up and take pictures then think on it for just a day. We agreed.  I knew she would bring me  back before it was time to go home. At the end of that day we did , we picked out a gorgeous red and clear cut glass bowl. It is one of my favorite pieces!