[graciegirl]

My grandmother was way ahead of her times, drove a car far before many women drove. She was witty and disarming, a hard worker, thrifty, innovative, adored her family and was the community midwife. She liked a beer, was a terrific cook and was the sweetest person in the world.

She raised a garden, canned the vegetables, particularly green beans, tomatoes and pickles. Churned butter, made cottage cheese, sewed my clothes . Made her own laundry soap. Made the most delicious yellow two layer cake with white icing without measuring and made biscuits every morning for breakfast.

She was both my grandmother and my mother too. My own mother died of complications of childbirth after my birth. My grandmother always said it wouldn't have happened if she had not gone to a hospital and allowed my grandmother to assist at the birth at home.