Stories from the Stringam Family Ranches of Southern Alberta

From the 50s and 60s to today . . .



Tuesday, December 25, 2012

At Grandma Berg's House

Merry Christmas!
I'm with my family . . .
So here's a repost!

My Grandma and Grandpa Berg
Who loved me.

Christmas excitement at the Stringam house was always two-fold.
There was the anticipation and joy over the gift-giving.
And getting.
And then there was the Christmas trip to Grandma and Grandpa Berg's house (hereinafter known as 'Grandma's House').
My Mom's parents.
I'm still not sure which was more exciting.
After the frenzy of unwrapping had dwindled and the euphoria and excitement of yet another Christmas morning had waned, it was time to pack the car for Grandma's house.
Yes!
We were allowed one suitcase.
So I had to carefully choose what gifts to bring along.
Much wrinkle-browed thought was put into what would accompany me.
One had to keep in mind that it would be many days before one could play with all of the other new toys, so the decision could not be made lightly.
What clothing and necessities went into the suitcase, however, were hap-hazard at best.
And most of the time . . . no less than sketchy.
It wasn't unusual to find that I had forgotten such necessities as . . . underwear. Pajamas. Shirts. Pants. Socks. Toothbrush.
In fact, as my Mom pointed out on at least one occasion, "Diane, what did you pack? Because there certainly aren't any clothes in here!"
I would look up at her.
Oops.
She would sigh and go to ask Aunt Eva or Aunt Louise if their kids had any clothes I could borrow.
It didn't matter. I was happily playing with my numerous cousins.
None of whom cared what I was wearing.
And that was just the start of the fun at Grandma's.
My older sister and I got to sleep in my Mom's old room at the top of the grand stairway.
In a bed with a delicious feather tick.
Perfect for a little, warm sleeping nest.
There was also a little, hidden cupboard
Deeply secret.
No one knew it was there, except Chris and I.
And of course whoever hung the old clothes and other stuff stored inside, but why quibble over details?
Just outside our room, against one wall in the hall, was a ladder.
Leading to the incredible, top secret attic.
My brothers spent hours up there, reading old comics and stuff left by my mother's brothers.
I was never allowed to go.
'Cause I was a girl.
Whatever that meant.
The large bedroom across the hall from mine was where my brothers slept. It was full of treasures. Books and games from my Mom's childhood.
Or at least from her brothers'.
I imagine they happened about the same time . . .
At the bottom of the staircase in the warmly shiny, plank floor was a square vent.
Just wide enough for Sharon, Julie, Susan and I to sit on.
Or lay on.
Or play . . . you get the picture.
All during Christmas, it blew warm air.
Just for us.
Hour after hour, we cousins and siblings would crouch together on the slatted steel. Warm and toasty.
Paradise.
There was plenty to eat at Grandma's house. Food that left her large, sunny kitchen in great, delicious quantities.
And just as quickly disappeared.
And the all-important cookie tins.
Grandma always baked many, many different kinds of cookies.
All delicious.
Then put a selection into several tins and placed them throughout the house.
It was like a treasure hunt.
Except that, invariably, the Smaarbucklesa (spelled phonetically because it's Swedish and none of us kids knew what she was saying . . .) disappeared immediately.
From every, single tin.
Rats!
Even the furniture at Grandma's house was an adventure just waiting to happen.
When Grampa Berg wasn't sitting on it, there was always his chair, sitting innocently beside the great living room window.
The chair that vibrated, if one turned the dials.
Like the rest of Grandma's house, it was magic.
And there was always the carved, wooden feet under the dining table to sit on.
And hide.
Although, looking back, I really don't know how effective my hiding was.
Especially when someone would ask for Diane and someone else would say, "Probably under the table."
Sigh. 
Secret agent material, I wasn't.
But the most exciting part about being at Grandma's house was the little sun room on the side of the house.
A sunny little place.
That had a tenant.
Hanging silently on one wall.
Just waiting for the most daring cousin to dart in and . . . touch it.
And run away screaming.
Okay, okay, so I was always the one who was scared to go in and screamed on the way out.
Sheesh.
But you have to admit that a stuffed moose head is really scary.
Okay, you don't.
But it was.
When I was four.
At Grandma Berg's house.
The best place on earth.

20 comments:

  1. It's so easy to be there with you. Love your writing styles.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for being there with me. It's such a sunny, warm place . . .

      Delete
  2. I'll never forget the trips to Grandma's house, especially before Highway 36 was paved and there was no bridge across the Bow River. The ferry was beached for the winter making us drive across the river on the ice. Back then there was real ice but it was scary because you could see numerous stress cracks in it. But it never caved in. Incidently you weren't allowed up in Grandma's attic because there was a spook up there...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Totally missed the cracking ice beneath the car wheels. Probably a good thing. I would have been wrapped so hard around Mom's neck, they would have had to peel me off like an orange. Huh! So THAT'S why girls couldn't go up. You were just keeping me safe. I never knew . . .

      Delete
  3. Oh I bet. I used to raid my grammas pantry too. She always had stuff my Mom didn't lol

    Merry Christmas to you again :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you LL! Grammas always have neat stuff. Is this the moment to admit that I LOVED her pickled herring? Probably not . . .
      Merry Christmas!

      Delete
  4. Such beautiful and fun memories... I remember going to my grandmothers for Christmas, she always made the best stuffing that we would all sneak bites of when no one was watching :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sneaking bites is the best thing about being at Gramma's! See? You get it!

      Delete
  5. Your Grandma's house sounds so perfectly perfect! All the stairs, the attic, the sunroom. Just wonderful.
    I never went to my grandma's house, it's kind of a long way from South Australia to Hamburg Germany.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. But how truly wonderful it would have been! Mmmm. Germany for Christmas! That's my fondest dream!

      Delete
  6. I hope Christmas is a long and magical for our grandchildlren, as well.

    ReplyDelete
  7. My Grandma Berg's House is in the UK. It's so a beautiful look. I am a student and I go on vacations at grandma's house if I have any issues related to my study I get support from Online Class Help. They provide the best service on the online platform.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Choose Takemyonlinexam.com for a stress-free, reliable, and efficient online exam experience. Contact us today to get started!

    Website:https://takemyonlinexam.com





    ReplyDelete
  9. At Topexamhelp.com
    , we understand the importance of academic success, and we strive to ensure that each student receives the best possible help to achieve their full potential. We are committed to providing our services at affordable prices to make academic assistance accessible to all.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Take My Class Done: Your Ultimate Academic Lifesaver! Need to conquer that challenging course? Look no further! Take My Class Done is here to relieve your academic stress by providing top-notch professional assistance. Our team of experienced tutors and experts are ready to take on any subject, assignment, or exam, ensuring your success. With our personalized approach and commitment to excellence, we guarantee you'll achieve the grades you desire. Say goodbye to sleepless nights and hello to academic triumph with Take My Class Done!"




    ReplyDelete
  11. Looking to breeze through your coursework effortlessly? Look no further than Takemyclassdone.com! Our innovative online platform connects students with qualified experts who will not only take your classes for you but ensure top-notch performance. Whether you need help with math, science, humanities, or any other subject, our experienced tutors are here to make academic success a reality. Say goodbye to stress and hello to convenience with TakeMyClassDone. Don't just pass your classes, excel in them!




    ReplyDelete
  12. Takemyclassdone.com is the ultimate online academic solution that takes the stress out of your educational journey. Whether you're a busy professional, a full-time student, or someone seeking to expand their knowledge, TakeMyClassDone offers comprehensive assistance in completing your online classes, assignments, and exams. With a team of experienced tutors and subject matter experts, we guarantee top-quality work delivered on time, allowing you to focus on what truly matters. Say goodbye to late-night study sessions and endless coursework. Let TakeMyClassDone handle it all, ensuring your academic success with ease and convenience.




    ReplyDelete

Thank you for visiting! Drop by again!

Real Estates: All Murders Included in the Price!

Real Estates: All Murders Included in the Price!
My FIRST murder mystery!

Blessed by a Curse

Blessed by a Curse
My very first Medieval Romance!

God's Tree

God's Tree
For the Children

Third in the series

Third in the series
Deborah. Fugitive of Faith

The Long-Awaited Sequel to Daughter of Ishmael

The Long-Awaited Sequel to Daughter of Ishmael
A House Divided is now available at all fine bookstores and on Amazon.com and .ca!

Daughter of Ishmael

Daughter of Ishmael
Now available at Amazon.com and .ca and Chapters.ca and other fine bookstores.

Romance still wins!

Romance still wins!
First romance in a decade!

Hosts: Your Room's Ready

Hosts: Your Room's Ready
A fun romp through the world's most haunted hotel!

Hugs, Delivered.

Compass Book Ratings

Compass Book Ratings

Ghost of the Overlook

Ghost of the Overlook
Need a fright?

My Granddaughter is Carrying on the Legacy!

My Granddaughter is Carrying on the Legacy!
New Tween Novel!

Gnome for Christmas

Gnome for Christmas
The newest in my Christmas Series

SnowMan

SnowMan
A heart warming story of love and sacrifice.

Translate

My novel, Carving Angels

My novel, Carving Angels
Read it! You know you want to!

My Second Novel: Kris Kringle's Magic

My Second Novel: Kris Kringle's Magic
What could be better than a second Christmas story?!

Join me on Maven

Connect with me on Maven

Essence

Essence
A scientist and his son struggle to keep their earth-shattering discovery out of the wrong hands.

Essence: A Second Dose

Essence: A Second Dose
Captured and imprisoned, a scientist and his son use their amazing discovery to foil evil plans.

Looking for a Great Read?

E-Books by Diane Stringam Tolley
Available from Smashwords.com

The Babysitter

The Babysitter
A baby-kidnapping ring has its eye on J'Aime and her tiny niece.

Melissa

Melissa
Haunted by her past, Melissa must carve a future. Without Cain.

Devon

Devon
Following tragedy, Devon retreats to the solitude of the prairie. Until a girl is dropped in his lap.

Pearl, Why You Little...

Pearl, Why You Little...
Everyone should spend a little time with Pearl!

The Marketing Mentress

The Marketing Mentress
Building solid relationships with podcast and LinkedIn marketing

Coffee Row

Coffee Row
My Big Brother's Stories

Better Blogger Network

Semper Fidelis

Semper Fidelis
I've been given an award!!!

The Liebster Award

The Liebster Award
My good friend and Amazing Blogger, Marcia of Menopausal Mother awarded me . . .

Irresistibly Sweet Award

Irresistibly Sweet Award
Delores, my good friend from The Feathered Nest, has nominated me!

Sunshine Award!!!

Sunshine Award!!!
My good friend Red from Oz has nominated me!!!

My very own Humorous Blogger Award From Delores at The Feathered Nest!

Be Courageous!


Grab and Add!

Search This Blog

Ghost of the Overlook

Ghost of the Overlook
Need a fright?