I am such a happy camper!

I was working on another post right now, but my husband just walked in the door from being gone all weekend. (Ok, he is unpacking and talking to my daughter, so I don't feel too guilty that I'm still typing even though I haven't seen him since Friday morning.)

He went with another man from our church down to an area hit by Hurricane Ike. Though all the other workers slept in sleeping bags in a church building all weekend, my husband and our friend stayed with my grandmother. They had roast and rice and gravy for dinner. And swiss steak and gravy for lunch. And pancakes (without gravy) for breakfast.

My man was freaking out because my grandmother made her own maple syrup, but I told him she has been doing that all of my life. What's the big deal?

Needless to say, they were treated well, but I would never have expected anything less. Because my Nanny? Well, there just isn't enough room in this little post to tell you how special she is. She would need at least a whole post to herself, and even that might not do her justice.

And I am not trying to make light of what all is still going on in South Texas, believe me. I have seen the pictures, I have talked to close friends who still live there, and all my husband can say after being there is, "You just can't believe it." My heart breaks for those who have lost anything from this storm, and I hope to get down there in a couple of weeks and help, also.

But the reason I am such a happy camper right now is because of this:

These may look like ordinary pots to you, but to me they are precious. Like gold.

I bought a cast iron skillet several months ago and I absolutely love it. All the women in my family have used them for as long as I can remember, and when I bought my first one I understood why. I don't know if it's because I feel like I'm following in their footsteps by using it, but I swear the food tastes better when it's cooked in cast iron.

These pots, though, are from my Nanny. She will eventually be moving into a smaller house (closer to family, praise the Lord!), and she is starting to go through her stuff and is scaling down. I mentioned to her once how much I love my cast iron skillet, and she told me then I could have all of hers when she went to be with the Lord.

[Just a side note-- Why do older people talk about that? When my

great aunt was alive, she would start talking about so-and-so, "you know, they're buried next to me in the cemetery". And she would be very much alive and well while telling this story. I just don't get it it.]
Anyway, I would much rather have my Nanny than any of her stuff, but I am so excited about getting to use these treasures. In fact, I think I will form my grocery list tomorrow around what I can make while using them.

Just like I did when she bought me my rice pot.

Originally posted October 2008 @ Mom in Transition