Takes Me Back

I have to write this down so I don't forget it. As I mentioned before, while we were in northern California we stayed with my Auntie Ann. She had a delicious roast beef, mashed potato dinner waiting for us when we got there after a day of being on the road. As we sat down to eat, I was instantly taken back to when I was a little girl and my family would go to my grandparents duplex on 21st street in Manhattan Beach. This was such a fun house. I associate lots of warm fuzzy feelings with going there, one of which is my grandma's roast beef dinners on Sunday. The food from my grandmother's kitchen made you feel loved, safe, happy.

She always served broccoli with cheese sauce with her roast beef, and true to form decades later, my aunt does the same thing! I haven't had broccili with cheese sauce in forever, and it was an instant transport to back to those childhood days.

When my grandma passed away, my aunt got her Franciscanware Apple Dishes. We always ate on these at Mamo Myrna's and we ate on them that night. Another trip down the lane of wonderful memories. I have always loved these plates. So much so, that I have often considered getting some for my own home. I think they are timeless and classy.

I'm sure Auntie Ann had no idea the feelings these two things would bring to me and I never mentioned it to her, but am grateful for the simple, silent happy experience it was.

( We went to the Newell's this morning to watch the kids open their gifts. Again, people are so kind and generous. Since it was around noon when we finished, Tammie served some of the extra dessert from last night. My favorite is this one that was kind of like a fruit cobbler. I asked her for the recipe and she is going to send it to me. It was amazing, and there is fruit so it's healthy, right? And Auntie Ann wouldn't let us leave without a big breakfast of cinnamon rolls, scrambled eggs, and hashbrowns.

Then we were on the road for home. It's really not too bad of a drive. Mike and Adrianne stayed at the house and took care of Darla and the garden and the flower pots. They did a good job and even had dinner hot and ready for us when we got home. I've been trying to make some headway with Breaking Dawn and am about 1/2 way through now. I'm liking it.)