Community Chat

[CANDLEQUEEN]

My dad's mother was like the ladies on the left. Always wore dresses, and pantyhose, no makeup and did everyone by hand. 

My mom's mom was very different, one of the 1st women I saw wearing a pantsuit, and she wore makeup, got perms, and drove all over. 

My dad's mom never learned to drive and didn't want to learn, and she never worked outside of the home, while my mom's mother worked outside of the home, so both very different, but both so very loving and kind and smart and wise women!!!!!

[beckyb1012]

It is the ones on my right look the youngest but would not surprise me if actually older than their counterparts.  I look at some photos of my grandmothers and realize they were way younger in the pictures than I am now.  My grandmother who was born in 1915 told my husband back in the 1980's that I had it easy.  I sat and listened and totally agreed.  We discussed the difference in the modern world and now look how much different 2022 is to 1988.  

[gertrudecloset]

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@CoffeeNut wrote:

@gertrudecloset    Is that a picture of you?

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Yes, here I am again, @CoffeeNut 

[Queen of shop]

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@SloopJohnB wrote:

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@Queen of shop wrote:

@BoopOMatic  The picture on the left just warms my heart. My maternal grandma looked like that as far as dress and shoes. That's all that was available at that time. Some fabrics we have today weren't even invented yet. lol

My grandma worked very hard raising 11 kids. Made her own bread twice a week and homemade pasta/ravioli and her own sauce from her huge garden. Tended her chickens everyday and killed them herself for food. Had a goat that she milked and raised all her kids with that milk. She had several goats over the years. ALL of her children, my aunts and uncles, lived till well over 90+ except one. So maybe grandma was on to something with the natural unpasturized, goats milk. You never know. Ha.

I lived around the block from her. We didn't live rural. Our City, at that time had no restrictions on livestock or animals. It was a different time. Now, you can't have certain animals there. Very strict rules.

My grandma was beautiful in her simplicity. No makeup. Not even lipstick. She had a million dollar smile and glistening eyes. She gave great hugs. She cared more for her family than herself or "things". She was what you expect a grandma to be imo.

The grandmas on the right leave me cold. But times are changing. I'm glad I had the grandma that I had. She was wonderful. Very strong woman. 

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@Queen of shop   Omg.....are we related?  LOL. Although my nonna only had 10 kids, I can relate to your post.  Throw in sewing, knitting, crocheting, etc, too.  Not to mention learning a whole new language.  ❤

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@SloopJohnB  We could be related by shared experience for sure. LOL.

For "fun" and leisure, my grandma crocheted in her spare time. She made beautiful bedroom dresser pieces. I still have some in our bedroom on the dresser, chest of drawers and night tables. I treasure them. She crocheted bedspreads too. She made a gorgeous white one with pink rosettes. Just mind boggling. She went by no pattern. She couldn't read one if she had one anyway. Just talent and her creative eye.

When my grandma came from Italy, she spoke NO english at all. She couldn't write either. She learned to write her name to become an American citizen many years later.

She had no education whatsoever but, she was smart as a whip. All her children were success stories, as well as her grandchildren, my generation. We all stood on grandma's shoulders and inspiration. If she could have done what she did with 11 children and no education, reading or writing skills, surely we all could have made something of ourselves.

Grandma was the matriarch. She was well loved and respected. She is still sorely missed. All my cousins as well as myself still speak of her and tell stories about grandma with great reverence. Her recipes live on too.

[AngelPuppy1]

People wore what was available at the time.  Grandmas and everyone are the same -- then and now.  It's what's inside that counts!  A loving heart shines through no matter what is worn.  

[qualitygal]

The left picture in the dress, would have been my grandmother, my mother and I, wore/wear pants.  Different eras.

[Alsace Gal]

My grandmother(s) would look like the ones on the left. Both photos represent the times they lived in.

My first thought....when these ladies are waiting to be seated on crowded bus, train or in a crowded restaurant would anyone give up their seat to them?

[San Antonio Gal]

I'm unable to see any of your pics @gertrudecloset . 

[MamaWick]

Of course...the now photo.  That is how I dress as a retired grandmother of 3.  

[SloopJohnB]

@Queen of shop Yes, I hear ya.  My grandmother(s) also tatted doilies to put on top of their dressers, etc.  Yes, they really did it all, didn't they?  Hence the expression, "one mother can take care of 10 children, but 10 children can't take care of one mother."  <3