Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Mother's Kitchen Scales

I come from a large family. Twelve children. Actually, thirteen. I had a brother that died when he was thirteen before the younger babies were born so we grew up twelve. Six boys and six girls. But that will be another post.

My mother baked bread - LOTS of bread. She'd weigh the bread on an old-fashioned kitchen scales. That scales is sitting in my kitchen today. Somehow, as I get older, I think of her more. I wonder how she survived having thirteen children in eighteen years. But again, that will be for another post. Today it's about the kitchen scales. It's rusty, very rusty...so rusty when I was baby-sitting B last week, he pointed to it and said, 'it's dirty!' and I said, 'yes' it's dirty' but I don't see the 'dirt' - I see my mother's hands shaping, shaping, shaping bread loaves again and again and again...

Last week I sanded it down as much as I could without damaging the lettering and yesterday I sprayed a gloss on it.
Now it sits on a cupboard in my kitchen. The enamel plates on top of the scales came from Mr D. His family ate off of these plates in his childhood years. The rose was gifted to me on Sunday from a dear friend as a thank you to me when I'm the one who thanks her for the lessons she teaches me! The chicken feather came from granddaughter S who loves to give me gifts from their yard. Oh, how blessed I am!
Today, that scales with all its meaning and all its glory, sits in my kitchen as a monument to my godly mother.

10 comments:

Jane said...

That is a beautiful scale and I love the story behind it. 13 kids in 18 years...god bless your parents!! I want to hear more about growing up in such a big family. I'm one of six kids and I thought that was hectic!!
Jane

Lewaina@cliffsideranch said...

Sweet post.
I can almost see your mother making bread.
I'm so very grateful for the Godly women in my life. My own dear mom, her mother, and her mother before, and for daughters who know who they are.
Enjoy you scales in their new place of honor.
Mercy

Blondie's Journal said...

What a great keepsake. I know you think of your mother and how hard she worked every time you look at it. 12 children! She was a saint!

XO,
Jane

Holly said...

What a neat keepsake!
Followed a link from Clarita and enjoyed your kitchen remodel pictures. *trash can drawers are the best invention ever:)

Have a great day~

Holly

Michele M./ Finch Rest said...

Oh, how truly precious.

I love your vignette and love your story and REALLY love the photo of you and your very large family.

So neat.

Rachel said...

I love it when a piece isn't just an antique, but has meaning/nostalgia with it. I can only imagine the use that scale had. I love what you did with it.

elaine said...

How special to have that scale as a reminder of all the time your Mom spent providing for her family.Was your Mom a patient at Fairmount?I remember caring for a lady whose husband told me that they had lost a young son unexpectedly.

Anonymous said...

dear,it will be 2 years on sun mom left and i love her things too.I was amused at the paper you have the scales sitting as you worked on it!Check it out and have a good day and i did not forget what we experienced together 15 years ago this winter.Thank you!!RJN

Passionate for White said...

How wonderful that you kept your Mom's scale for all those years.

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