Household tips and tricks I learned from my Grandma Rydalch

I've been accumulating a mental list of all the "housewife" life lessons my Grandma "taught" me, either by her actions or words.

1. There truly is 101 Uses for Vinegar. Grandma washed windows with it, scrubbed her floors with it, cooked with it, soaked her bad leg in it, gargled with it when we had a sore throat, and drank it.

2. Take mini breaks throughout the day. Grandma would always take little mini breaks and sit on the sofa to watch a favorite TV show, or listen to the radio. They were just long enough to refresh her for the next household task.

3. Pay a child a penny to kill flies. G & G's house used to sit next to a small dairy so every summer swarms of flies would enter the house. Grandma would pay us Grandkids a penny per fly we would kill with the plastic fly swatter. I think the most she paid out was 50 cents to each kid.

4. Keep a food reserve. I knew if we encountered any kind of natural disaster all of G&G's children and grandchildren would come to their house and live off their food and water supply for years. The importance of "stocking up" always stuck with me and whenever I see a great sale, I always buy plenty. It has got us through tight money times as well.

5. Be creative in the kitchen. Grandma was always trying a new recipe out of the Taste of Home magazine, some good, some terrible, but always creative. She would substitute ingredients she didn't have for something she had on hand. We always were served iceberg lettuce salads with pineapple, apples, and cottage cheese. She had issues with bugs invading her dry goods so many times you would find extra protein in your rice, cereal, pancakes or homemade bread.

6. Never leave a pan on an hot stove. Countless times I would see Grandma leave her pots and pans to burn on the stove, ruining many. She always seemed to get interrupted. The most common interruption was a a phone call from a political telemarketer wanting a donation. Or someone looking for Grandpa. The phone was the cause of much stress for her, especially during meal time.

7. Never use your hand as the juicer pusher. She did this and ground off the tips of her fingers one day. I'll never forget that one!

8. Always have dinner ready for your hubby. Then stick your head out the door and call, "Bud, it's time to eat", over and over again until it drives both of you crazy.

9. Recycle your gift wrapping. I do this now too. I save everything from bags to tissue. Grandma always saved wrapping paper, folding it nicely so she could reuse it. Sometimes we would get Christmas wrap on our Birthdays or newspaper when all wrap was used up.

Grandma taught me so much about being compassionate, caring, giving, resourceful, strong and lovable. You will always be one of my Heros.

Grandma Rydalch, Part Two

So my post on Grandma's anniversary opened up a fload gate of wonderful memories and I decided I want to put them here to share with all of you. I think I'm going to need to carry a notepad with me in my purse so I can jot things down as they come to me. If anyone has pictures of Grandma and Grandpa, please email them to me and I will post them on this blog.

Grandma had a love of music. Some of her favorites were The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, The Three Tenors, barbershop quartets, and hymns. I loved to hear Grandma sing at church. When I was a little girl sitting next to her at church, I would watch her mouth move and rub the soft skin on her arm. Sometimes it would put me to sleep (I think it would put Grandpa to sleep as well). Grandma and Grandpa were proud supporters of any choir, band or play that their grandchildren were in, sometimes traveling 2 hours or more to see us perform.

I spent many evenings enjoying performance with them, including plays, muscials and choirs. They almost always had one of us grandkids with them.

Chruch hymns were such a comfort to me while Grandma was in the hospital. I sat by her side with my hymn book and sang all of her favorties; Oh My Father, I Need Thee Every Hour, Love at Home to name a few. Silent Night always reminds me of her because Samantha learned it and sang it for her.

I'm sure they are enjoying the beautiful choirs of angels in heaven. I'll sing extra loud and sweet this Christmas so they can hear me!!

My Grandma, EvaDean Last Rydalch, Part One

I wanted to create a post that was dedicated to the wonderful memories of my Grandma Rydalch. Dec. 20th is the 5 year anniversary of her passing. What a huge loss for our family. I still tear up when I think about it. She was the light of our family and Grandpa was the foundation. So now I'll share some of my thoughts with you. I will add to this post as I remember more.
Grandma taught me to sew when I was 8. My first project on her sewing machine was a pillow. I can still smell the oil from the machine and the nuts stored in the freezer in her sewing/ironing/storing room. I loved to go through the big drawer that stored all of her patterns. Most were dresses, pajamas and Jenny's. Every year she would make us girls a new church dress for Christmas. It always made me feel so special.
Some of my favorite food items that Grandma made were divinity with walnuts, whole wheat bread and pancakes with critters in them! We all know Grandma wasn't much of a chief and she would always come up with something "creative" with ingredients on hand. Whenever we had a meal, we would kneel down by our chairs and have prayer. It was always so uncomfortable to little knees. As Grandma and Grandpa got older, they stopped kneeling by their chairs, and I think we kids were just a little grateful.
We had some of the best family party's at G&G house. Birthdays, holidays and Christmas were always celebrated at their home. This time of year, I miss having those gatherings in their home. Christmas carols and hymns, the nativity story and enactment, opening presents, and visiting with one another.
I love you so much Grandma and your memories will always be with me...Love, your oldest Granddaughter.