Friday, February 22, 2013

Mama's Canning Strainer ~ A Favorite Thing

I remember my mother using this canning strainer when she made turnips or rutabagas -- she would take the pestle and squash the cooked vegetables against the sides and out they would come through the little holes (this fascinated me as a child)!  I'm sure she used it for canning since she canned and preserved a lot, but I only remember those rutabagas and turnips!



 Speaking of rutabagas and turnips, I couldn't stand the turnips (but duly ate them as a good little girl should) -- besides tasting yucky, they were WHITE for crying out loud. Who wants white food except for ice cream or milk? OK, sour cream and angel food cake -- but that's it!!!  Rutabagas, on the other hand, were a nice orange color and tasted good with some pepper and butter mixed in.



Anyway, I used the strainer now and then but have not used it in years -- poor thing was relegated to the back of the kitchen cabinet, never to see the light of day.




So, when my daughter was here weekend before last, she tackled the closet in my office. (An awesome undertaking!) And a strainer just like my mother's was back in the corner of the closet.

Can I have this, Mom?
Well, I say, I did buy it at an estate sale to sell in my vintage shop.....
But when I juice veggies in the blender, there are still lumps and this would reeealy help.
Puh-leese, Mom?
(like a little kid -- she knows that gets to me every time)

and then....
LIGHT BULB MOMENT!

I go to the kitchen, rummage around in the cabinets, 
and find my mother's strainer




I have my mother's strainer, I tell her.
I remember when she used it, I say.
You can have it if you want. The legs and handle are rusty and the strainer is a little dented....

The estate sale one is in better condition.... but you choose which one you want....


and she said, 
my grandmother's, of course.

The grandmother she never knew.

Makes my heart swell.

♥♥♥♥♥


♥♥♥   Linking my mother's strainer over at Claudia's for A Favorite Thing

afavoritething


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15 comments:

  1. Oh, what a wonderful, wonderful story. Your daughter sounds like she appreciates those well used and well loved things that are passed down from our parents and grandparents.

    Thanks so much for joining in this week!

    xo
    Claudia

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  2. Very nice post. Sentiment always wins out!!

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  3. What a wonderful strainer! Shared family heirlooms are the best.

    Hugs,
    Susan and Bentley

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  4. Great story! Your daughter was rewarded well for her cleaning efforts. TFS

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  5. What a wonderful gift!
    I don't think I've ever eaten a turnip or rutabaga!

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  6. that is awesome that your daughter nows his your mom's strainer and will use it! I use ours all the time as well.

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  7. My Mom had a strainer just like that.She used it for applesauce. Wonderful that your daughter now has it and will put it to good use.
    Balisha

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  8. She picked the real treasure. :) Thanks for sharing the story.
    Thanks for stopping by and nice comment. Hope you are enjoying the weekend.

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  9. How nice that she wanted your mother's. Perhaps a future picker herself?

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  10. Wonderful! My Grandmother had one exactly like this, and she always lined it with cheesecloth and used it to extract all of the juice from raspberries when she made jelly. My Mum and I have used it to make a few batches of jelly, and in a way, Gram was right there with us... These every day items have a certain magic to them, don't you think?

    Thanks so much for dropping by earlier--comments make my day!

    Leisa @ Day by Day

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  11. I love old kitchen gadgets and this one is no exception!

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  12. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh that was precious! Gave me a lump in my throat.....
    big hugs,
    Cheryl

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  13. I love having my mother's and grandmother's things around me. There is just something so special about working with the same items from the women in your family. Wishing you a blessed Easter from Still Woods Farmhouse!

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