I never knew my Mum's mother. But my paternal grandmother was a force to be reckoned with. She was strong in her faith, adored her husband, loved her children, and did all she could to make the world a better place. But she had two particular habits which honestly terrified me as a child. I was convinced these dangerous practices would lead to her untimely demise. I thought about her on Sunday as I took my bread knife to church for the Harvest lunch [I needed to be sure there was one sharp enough for slicing French bread and fruit cake*]
If she was on Sandwich duty, she would clutch the loaf to her bosom, and grasp the knife, slicing the bread horizontally towards her chest!
I was convinced she'd go too far and blood would come spurting out of her heart all over the black and white tiles. I'd hide my eyes
behind my hands and pray hard she would survive.
I hope she would be pleased with the way her family has turned out.
*the fruit cake was because we wanted to celebrate our 45th wedding anniversary with our church family.
The little flowers were produced very quickly and easily with this little gadget from Lakeland. I was going to do 45 daisies, but somehow ended up with 52. Because, as Nana taught me "a wedding is one day, but marriage is a week-in-week-out commitment"
Lovely to read about your Grandmother and the cake looks lovely.
ReplyDeleteAlison in Wales x
👍🍰
DeleteEnjoyed reading about your grandmother. I didn't know my paternal grandmother; she died when my father was about 2 years old. I did know my maternal grandmother. She died when I was about 15. The cake looks lovely with all the pretty flowers. :)
ReplyDeletethank you Bless
DeleteBoth my grandmothers cut bread this way, producing wafer thin and straight slices. Something I singularly fail to do and they both lived long and healthy lives !
ReplyDeleteWhere did this method come from?
DeleteMy husband, a plumber, once unknowingly swallowed a panel pin. It had to be surgically removed many years later!
ReplyDeleteOuch!
DeleteI've got quite a bad gag reflex in recent years and I can't seem to keep anything in my mouth without holding it with my hand without immediately panicking I'm going to swallow it and have to take it out instantly, including my toothbrush!
ReplyDeleteThe cake is pretty. I think my mum must have used the same gadget for our wedding cake.
Nice to hear about your Nan. Kx
Goodness, however do you manage to play the recorder, Kezzie? I just looked back at your stunning wedding cake [11 years ago!] and the flowers do look very similar - but much more colourful
DeleteBecause I'm holding it in my hands and it is only resting on my slips, not past my teeth, it's fine
DeleteLips 👄 not slips 🎽! 😘
DeleteYes-my Gran did both the bosom threatening bread cutting and as a tailor, was often to be found with a mouthful of pins! Your cake looks lovely and it was a delicious treat for your church friends. Catriona
ReplyDeleteThey are such lovely people, and it was good to share
DeleteMy Gran cut bread in exactly the same way! The slices were always even and neat. How? It looked so dangerous. That is a very pretty cake, I am sure it was delicious 😋. Regards Sue H
ReplyDelete😋
DeleteMy Grandma cut bread in the same way! What a pretty cake.
ReplyDeleteWHY did they all seem to do it like that?
DeleteYour cake is a beauty. Congratulations again on the wedding anniversary. You and Bob make a delightful couple. Many happy returns.
ReplyDeleteThank you Susan
DeleteThat post took me right back as my Granny used to do the same, and the bread was always cut so thinly. She sharpened the knife on the outside dining room step which led into the garden. If you were having tea at hers, you had to eat 2 pieces of bread with butter, then you were allowed jam on the next one. Hugs Xx
ReplyDeleteOh the absurd rules that surrounded family meal times back then
DeleteThe farmer's wife at a place we stayed in Devon as a child sharpened the bread knife on the back doorstep, then buttered the loaf and cut nearly transparent slices the same way as your gran!
ReplyDeleteMy grandmother, Oma, was a family rock, in love and faith.
So now we have doorstep-sharpening to add into the mix...
DeleteYour cake looks lovely, and reminds me of the wild purple asters we see around here. I just sent a photo of them to Bless, commenting that in England we had something similar called, Michaelmas Daisies!
ReplyDeleteThat was a kind thought, Bushlady - Bless loves flowers. Yes they do look a bit like Michaelmas Daisies [Michaelmas is 29 September]
DeleteI love the flowers on the cake. Do you have to add the centres after making the petals, or are they an integral part of the stamped piece?
DeleteThe press marks the centre- some I left blank, others I pressed a silver ball into the centre
DeleteYour cake is lovely. My mother used to hold pins like that in her mouth, and she'd keep on chatting. I also worried! (I can't seem to sign in. This is Celie)
ReplyDeleteHi Celie! Do you think our generation does NOT do the pin thing because we were so worried by our mums and grans doing it??
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