dawn's grandma and grandpa memories...

I, too, come from the generation that only remembers the house in Carroll. It was always packed with people and we were usually shooed either upstairs, down or outside to get us out of the way...

Food:
There was always tons of food. I believe my first introduction to Little Debbie snack cakes (and the only place I ever got them) was at Grandma's. More than anything I remember agonizing about what to eat from the array of goodies cause I knew I wasn't going to get to try them all without a stomach ache. Which I often had anyway. And it was a happy day when I graduated to being old enough to use the funky tv trays.

As for Grandma's own cooking, it all boils down to the one time I remember her coming to have Thanksgiving with us in Storm Lake. She made sweet potato balls and they rocked my world. I only had them once but man were they good. Years later I did finally remember to track down the recipe from her and have since added them to my own Thanksgiving dinner menu.

Upstairs:
Even when we knew it was going to be freezing cold (since it was not heated in the winter) or scorching hot (not airconditioned in the summer), it was always a great time playing upstairs. Poor Grandma, I am sure we left that place in such a disarray becuase we would get into absolutely EVERYTHING to see what treasures we could find. And the absolute best was the old school wheeled chair upstairs. Hours of entertainment and I am sure hours of worry for the parents that we would send someone down the steps in it...

The Backyard:
It's not even that big of a back yard and I don't remember playing true games - although I do remember Elaine's 40th birthday being celebrated back there - but it was still a good time. Lot's of lillies of the valley. LOT'S of them. Plus playing in the "woods" as we called the trees and plants on the slope. The adults had us sufficiently trained not to eat the red berries we found but we would always have to grind them up into a nasty looking "stew" in the one tree perfectly shaped for a kettle. Yes, I also remember the neighbors swimming pool or should I say swimming ool (no p in it and they would like to keep it that way) which was probably why we liked to torment the kids who lived next door. They had a pool and we didn't...

Games and Toys:
Hours were spent playing with the old Monopoly set which is the only one I know of perfectly equipped with a gizillion 500's which is exactly what you needed playing with about 6 people. You also can't go wrong with the wooden houses and hotels...

Martin, you are absolutely right about the printer paper. There was always a huge stack of it and I for one never questioned where it came from or why it was there. I just remember the zen of tearing the perforated edges off...

Lisa, if I ever find Password and get your name at Christmas, it is so coming your way. I know you already have Mastermind which you were always making me play.

Checkers. I always ended up playing checkers with Grandpa. And he always let me win. "You are getting too good for me" was his standard line. Knowing how much I suck at checkers, he must have been bored out of his mind letting me win over and over and over.

And finally, I will apologize now for the times you all had to listen to me playing the violin - which was Grandpa's - when I was just learning. It was a happy day when I could finally go to their house clutching sheet music for Turkey In the Straw in my hand because every time I would take the violin that is the one song Grandpa would request.