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My mother can get Princess to do just about anything. Like polish the silver. You know, a cleaning task. Because she thinks she really is a Princess and she’s waiting for her servants or fairies or something to appear and do everything for her. I started telling her she was a princess when she was a baby, and when she went to kindergarten, she introduced herself to her teacher and informed her that she was a princess. Perhaps I convinced her too well…. Or maybe it also has something to do with the fact that she is the only granddaughter, which is a catch-all justification for why she often gets this, that, and the other that the boys don’t get because, after all, they are boys and they wouldn’t want it (whatever it is) but she’s a girl. My mother even had a porcelain doll handmade in her likeness and dressed in one of her baby dresses. Not that she’s spoiled and deified or anything…. Okay, she is!
My parents visited recently for a couple of weeks and, as always, Princess insisted that her grandmommy sleep with her in her room. They’re tight, those two. Grandmommy is her favorite person, and my mother is a very good grandmother. She even remembers to pay attention to the boys sometimes. (Just kidding. She loves them, too. And they love her. Did I mention she’s a good grandmother?)
But she has a special relationship with the Princess.
My mother was the keeper of Grandmother Bread in her generation. My father’s mother taught it to her as a young bride brought to West Virginia by my father. My grandmother had two daughters, but neither of them grew up to be bakers. My mother, a daughter-in-law, carried the bread down to the next generation.
I’ve made Grandmother Bread with Princess before, but I wanted her to make it with my mother so that she would remember making this special family recipe with her grandmother.
She looks very serious about it, doesn’t she? She’s the new Keeper of the Bread. It’s an important job.
They measured.
And they kneaded.
And Princess proudly carried her fresh, warm loaf to the car on the way to a family lunch.
As a side note, my father has never made bread in his life, and if my grandmother hadn’t lucked into my mother as her daughter-in-law, this recipe would have been lost in our family. I hope Princess will carry it on to the next generation, but just in case, I’ll teach it to my daughters-in-law, too. You never know who will carry it on. And, no, my boys just aren’t interested. My father, by the way, kept calling it “light bread” while he was here this time. I’ve never heard him call it light bread before. My mother always just called it bread, and that is what my grandmother before her and before her and so on called it. It was just the bread. I did a little research, though, and figured out that “light bread” is an old-fashioned term for any white loaf bread, so it isn’t out of the realm of possibility that it’s a throwback term my father heard when he was a child. He’s 82 now.
My mother had a birthday while they were here (she’s only 29, by the way), and I took her and Princess to lunch at my favorite restaurant in Charleston. (Soho’s at the Capitol Market.) Princess always has to run into one of the shops inside the market and buy a giant lollipop. Because, you know, she needs a giant lollipop.
Then I took them to a spa where I had them scheduled to have massages together. No, I didn’t get one, too. I was the facilitator.
Princess backed out at the last minute. How anyone can pass up a massage, I don’t know. But she’s twelve, so I guess she doesn’t get it yet…… She ended up changing her appointment to a pedicure. (Sorry for the blurry picture! I was sneaking! Look at her pointing at me….! Which is why I was sneaking.)
Her happy feet!
My parents are back in Texas. School’s back in session. Football games are on the calendar for 15, and 17 is in his last year of high school. (How did that happen?!) And I’m already thinking about ice on the driveway………… Where did summer go?
And we readers of your Blog never tire of your wonderful pictures and stories of all your sweet animals! - 
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Your mom has gorgeous eyes!
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Also, I have made Grandmother Bread several times and it is an ‘always successful’ recipe ! I did make it with 2 granddaughters and plan to make it many, many more times in the future. Thank-you Suzanne. KathyB.
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:flying:
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My mother uses the term “light bread”, too. And, “light rolls” to differentiate between whole wheat or rye or whatever.
This was a great post. Thank you for the memory starter!
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catching up from the Labor Day posts…I LOVE Bantys…also, we had Cochens (sp?) they are a little fatter and their legs are totally covered with feathers…it looks like they are wearing chaps! I saw one of your commenters spoke of Silkies…oh my gosh, they are adorable, I totally forgot about silkies…we had a pair and she was a great setting hen. I do remember doing the trick with golf balls too…you might try it…AND I also agree with your other reader, I am afraid you have too many roosters…they will tear up your hens backs once they start laying…in fact you could have featherless backs on your hens once they start laying…it is a mating thing and it gets really really ugly. aawwww I miss chickens….they are so fun …just wait until you have a mother hen…it is just the BEST….
tell Clover thanks for sharing the spot light and allowing a chicken post!!!!
last year of high school….this could be an emotional roller coaster of a year for you huh? good luck. My daughter is only a sophomore but I know the time is getting closer and faster for when she leaves the nest and I just dread it already…. she is my only so it will be very empty when she leaves…I just need to remember how I felt at her age….the “get me out of here” thoughts! ha ha
Tresh in Oklahoma
ps- Happy Birthday to your mom!
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Have you tried adding a 20 to 22 percent protein laying mash in with the feed? It should speed egg production.
I have found that the golf ball does work, as a marker for the hens to start laying in the right places. The nest boxes, not on the floor or outside! Love your writings, homestead, animals, family, pictures, and all your recipes. Grandmother Bread is on the list of things to do today.
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And I’ve never heard that term light bread used for homeade bread before, only for store bought stuff. Werid little kinks in the language I guess
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Heidi
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Cute toe nails, Princess! Does she ever get tired of you snapping pics of her. I know my Boo does!
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Thank you, Suzanne, for sharing yours with us.
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http://home.comcast.net/~mdemuynck/bread%20002.jpg
warning this is a large pic so if you have a slow connection it might take a bit.
I took the second loaf and made it in a biscuit pan so it was only about 3 inches high but about a foot wide which made it great for slicing thin, brushing with olive oil and herbs and then broiling.
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WHEN MY GRANDCHILDREN LIVED LOCALLY WE HAD SPECIAL DAYS: LIKE MAKING HARD CANDY BEFORE CHRISTMAS. THEN WE HAD NEW YEAR’S PARTIES. INVITATIONS – PUNCH ETC. THEY STILL LOVE TO TALK ABOUT THOSE TIMES. A GREAT TIME WAS HAD BY ALL.
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- Suzanne, the Farmer’s Wife
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I don’t think I’ve ever made a real loaf of bread that wasn’t either done in a machine or called Banana Bread (which might not count here).
And my daughter just turned nine last week.
I have read your recipe and how-to (make bread) page. I think Daughter and I shall embark on this adventure together.
Thank you for sharing your family tradition.
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I have a recipe from my grandma, who passed on 25 years ago, in her own handwriting which I cherish. I am looking on line for a couple of recipes each grandma made for me when I was a little girl. This idea of passing on recipes is a big deal. Thanks, Suzanne, for the reminder. I hope my boys will remember the special foods I baked for them and not those times I was scolding them for their messes.
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It made me think of my gorgeous late mother!!!! We were so close and did everything together!!! She also had light blue eyes that sparkled like your mom’s and she was soooo fun and loving and loved to do everything. Fun to be around! She had a PERFECT figure until she died and ADORED her grandkids (all boys) – they were my parents life!!!! Brought back good memories! Classy lady, that mother of mine, as yours is. :mrgreen:
We used to get the large suckers like Princess has!!! My sister told me I dug in a sandpile with someone’s when I was about 3. LOL
Polishing silver – OMG…I get sooo sick doing that….now my husband polishes it for me and he dunks it in a liquid that does it FAST. It works! I almost hate I inherited all that. LOL I think mother had some pieces treated, so they never have to be polished again…I guess I can’t handle that smell, with Rosacea.
They are good people if they live in Texas – my father’s side if from there. :mrgreen: Notice I said “if they live there, cause I know your dad is from Stringtown. LOL”
Thanks for sharing! :mrgreen:
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I lurk more than I comment but I wanted to let you know I gave you a blog award on my blog! Check it out here:
http://karenwritesromance.com/blog/2008/09/02/a-blog-award-for-me/
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This has become a family story.
Nell
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I think there were 11 minutes of summer this year. And they occurred during the night, while we were all sleeping.
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Tell Princess I envy her. I’ve never had a pedicure.
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As for the “light bread,” – that’s what my dad (and my grandparents) always called it too. I guess that was to distinguish it from cornbread which, as far as I know, was the only other kind of bread they ever had. Other than biscuits, of course. He also used the term “sweet milk” – when referring to regular ol’ milk. I guess “sweet milk” is milk that isn’t buttermilk.
My sisters and I often use these terms on purpose…with a smile.
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Princess did an EXCELLENT job on her loaf of bread!
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