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Cheryl St. John: Grandma Stretched the Meal with Noodles & Giveaway

10/16/2011

 

This week we welcome Cheryl St. John to Author Memories.

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Cheryl St.John is the author of almost fifty Harlequin, Silhouette and Love Inspired Historical books for which she has received multiple Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Awards and four RITA nominations. In describing her stories of second chances and redemption, readers and reviewers use words like, “emotional punch, hometown feel, core values, believable characters and real life situations.” Her motivational gifts of exhortation and encouragement make her a sought-after speaker. She's the worship leader at the fastest growing Word of Faith church in her city, serves on her church's advisory board, and is active in  her local RWA chapter, the Heartland Writers Group.

Grandma Stretched the Meal with Noodles
by Cheryl St. John

Most of my best memories from my childhood are of my grandparents, my grandmother in particular. She was a devout Christian woman who raised six children during the depression, and who never had an unkind word to say about anyone.
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Grandpa and Grandma
Neither Grandma or my mother ever drove. On Saturday mornings, my grandparents used to pick us up. Grandpa gave me $2 a week for shopping, and it was enough to buy Barbie clothes and accessories. My own clothes were all hand-me-downs from my cousin, but my Barbie had new outfits and was always in style.

In the fall, we’d get in the car and drive out into the country, where we’d all get out on a secluded road and pick up walnuts. Back at home, my mom and Grandma cracked walnuts until their fingers were stained dark.

On Saturday evening Grandma washed her hair and my mom set it in pin curls with bobby pins. My grandfather never attended church, but he drove Grandma every Sunday and stopped to pick me up. She sang in the choir and often sang solos in her sweet soprano voice.  Grandma never wore trousers. Even cooking, she wore a dress, with an apron.

Grandma was a great cook, and we had a big dinner every Sunday after church. She made noodles with every meal, even if there were potatoes. Now I realize it was one of the many ways she’d learned to stretch a meal. They had fruit trees, so apple and peach pies were a staple.

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She never threw anything away, even reusing bread wrappers and twist ties. If there was a craft to be made, she tried her hand at it: Sewing, doll making, doll clothing. When the church choir got new robes, she’d always bring several home for the costume wardrobe that sat in the basement. My cousins and I spent hours dressing up and putting on plays with those recycled choir robes.

Once during a snowstorm, I was riding with my grandparents, my grandfather driving, when we hit a patch of ice and the car slid and spun. My grandmother said one word: “Jesus!” The car stopped sliding, and we drove safely home. She lived her life as an example of a person who loved her Lord and her family, and who trusted in the power of that mighty name of Jesus. I’m convinced her prayers for me played a big part in the person I am today.

I have a few beloved items that belonged to her and several recipes in her handwriting, but what most reminds me of her are the small moments, like when I’m spending time with my granddaughter, when I tie on an apron—or when I set a bowl of noodles on the table. I treasure those memories as I treasured her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Leave a comment with a valid email address by midnight, Oct 23rd
to be entered to win a copy of the Snowflakes and Stetsons anthology
which contains Cheryl's newest release, A Magical Gift at Christmas.

Note: This book is a Harlequin Historical and won't be found in a Christian bookstore. If you don't want to be entered in the draw, say so. Otherwise if you win the book, skip the parts which may offend you. Regardless, it will be an entertaining, heartfelt read.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 Snowflakes and Stetsons, Harlequin Historicals, Oct 2011

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The Snowflakes and Stetsons anthology contains:

 A Magical Gift at Christmas, a novella by Cheryl St. John

Back cover blurb...

Meredith has always dreamed of a grand life but, stranded on a train in heavy snowfall with two young stowaways, she unexpectedly finds she has everything she needs with just one strong man to protect her.

Cheryl St. John can be found online at

http://www.cherylstjohn.net/


http://cherylstjohn.blogspot.com/

http://petticoatsandpistols.com/
Janet Lee Barton link
10/16/2011 02:21:45 pm

Loved this post, Cheryl. It reminded me of my grandmother--she never drove or said a bad word about anyone, either. Thanks for bringing back some precious memories.

Jenna Victoria link
10/16/2011 09:04:33 pm

Cheryl, what great memories. My Grammie and your grandmother were cut from the same cloth! Grammie was a prayer warrior, prayed for her loved ones and family and our country every single morning - she belonged to the missionary society at church and I can still see her cutting white cotton sheets into bandage strips that she would curl around a wooden dowel - these would be mailed to foreign countries. Whenever the church would have a mimeographed flyer for an event, she would bring home all the leftovers, and tell us to turn them over for writing paper on the clean side. She would wear short heeled pumps, with every outfit, even while hiking the mountains of NY. Thanks for bringing her to memory today.

Sheila Covey
10/16/2011 10:15:12 pm

Cher, your post about your grandma brings back warm memories of my own. I remember reading a post of yours where you talk about playing Barbies with your granddaughter. I'm sure she will treasure those moments, too.

Cheryl St.John link
10/16/2011 11:56:28 pm

Thanks for visiting, ladies!

And thank you Anita for hosting me on your lovely blog.

Robyn R. link
10/17/2011 12:13:54 am

Thanks for sharing, Cheryl. I loved this story...so much of it reminds me of my Grandma B. She never drove either, but she did wear slacks. :-)

Don't enter me in the drawing, but I wanted to say "Hi" to Cheryl. I already have a copy.

caralynnjames link
10/17/2011 12:17:52 am

Hi, Cheryl! Your grandmother sounds like a wonderful woman. I'll bet you still like to eat noodles.

I'd love to read a copy of your new book. [email protected]

Sherri Shackelford link
10/17/2011 12:37:27 am

What beautiful memories! I recall my great aunt and how she used to make us dolls and clothes from scraps. (Which I still have!)

Barb Hunt
10/17/2011 12:56:38 am

What a neat story. . .makes me wish I could have one more pair of footies.

My grandma saved everything as well. Her thing was plastic bags. She would braid them into round rugs. Weren't much to look at, but man were they slick. Great for sliding through the dining room.

Cheryl St.John
10/17/2011 02:22:26 am

Thank you, Robyn, my friend. :-)

Yes, Caralynn, I still love noodles!

Sherri, how cool that you still have those doll clothes. You must show me.

LOL on the rugs, Barb!


Maggie Brendan link
10/17/2011 02:42:16 am

Cheryl, enjoyed your post so much. I'd love to read this book. I was not fortunate enough to have any grandparents so I know that I missed out. However, my mother raised 8 children almost single-handedly without so much as a complaint but had to be very frugal in order to make our meals go farther. One of my favorites and will really fill you up is Red Beans and Rice with cornbread, or Big White Lima beans. I still never grow tired of eating them. Thanks for your post!

Janet Dean link
10/17/2011 02:49:59 am

Anita and Cheryl, thanks for the lovely peek at Cheryl's grandmother.

Many of your memories, Cheryl, fit my mother and grandmother. Neither drove. Both were excellent cooks. Aprons were a must. My grandmother wore bib aprons. My favorite style too. Except she pinned the bib on her clothes.

Her banana cream pudding and biscuits were delicous! I've made noodles. Once. They were good but a lot of trouble.

Cheryl St.John
10/17/2011 03:01:43 am

Thank you so much, Maggie! If you have a recipe for red beans and rice, I would love to try my hand at it: [email protected]

Smooches, Janet!

*lizzie starr
10/17/2011 08:01:05 am

wonderful memories, Cheryl. My gramma was a go getter. She was the first girl at Hastings High to have her hair bobbed--although it was because she complained when her mom was trying to brush it out. :) She was a late comer to slacks, then wore them most of the time. She drove and taught me to drive.

Thanks so much for sharing and bringing me back to my own memories and a lot of smiles!

LoRee Peery link
10/17/2011 08:33:50 am

Cheryl, I was right back in my grandma's kitchen, reading about yours. She saved bread sacks and made round crocheted rugs. She always wore aprons and I still have one of my great-grandmother's.
The walnuts. Hmm. I have a couple buckets of black ones that the neighboring farmers say we can get to if we drive over them and break the outer protective shell. I've already decided we'll wear plastic gloves when we pick them up.

Susan Karsten
10/17/2011 08:48:56 am

$2!! What a generous Grandpa...he gave you that once, or every time?! My Grandma memories are special, too. The first raspberry of the season on my lips brings Grandma right back to me. Would like to win the book too!

Lyndee Henderson
10/17/2011 08:56:01 am

Hi Cheryl,
My maternal Grandmother had a similar talent with food. My Dad lived on rice and raisins at home, but when he was invited to eat at my Mom's house (since they were courting) her mother would serve up a table full of food and my Dad couldn't figure it out. He always said, 'if you're Grandmother had a ham bone, she could serve a full menu for fifteen people.' She just knew how to get the most out of everything that came her way. Thanks for sharing your story. And thanks, Anita for the nice blog. I feel at home here...
Lyndee :)

Anita Mae
10/17/2011 01:29:44 pm

It's been a busy day. :)

Cher - you're very welcome. I've enjoyed your books so much, the least I could do is help promote your latest.

Jenna Victoria - I think I know the pumps you're talking about... I wore the same kind with my full-dress uniform during my 20 yr military service.

Sherri - some little girl will treasure those hand-made doll clothes (perhaps she does already?) and it'll be all the sweeter when they know who made them.

Barb - my grandma used bread bags in her braided rugs, too! At first I thought it was normal, but then I never saw another rug with plastic in it. I still have several of them including some she made to fit wooden kitchen chairs. Never went sliding on one though. Sliding wasn't allowed in the house. :D

Anita Mae
10/18/2011 03:36:31 am

Those recipes some of you have mentioned have given me an idea. I have a section on this website for recipes, but instead of just adding my own (only 3 so far), I wonder if you'd like to contribute?

Any recipe sent to me via my contact page would be added along with the sender's name and any pertinent information - such as where she got the recipe and how long she's had it.

I originally began my recipe pages to showcase recipes given to me by friends and family. I'll also add any I use in my books.

By adding recipes sent in by the readers of this blog/website would make even more memories and that's sweet to me being a historian.

So here's what I have so far:

- Maggie, you mentioned your Red Beans and Rice with cornbread. I've never made cornbread since it's not common here on the Cdn prairies, but I like it at conferences and restaurants. However, I do use cornmeal under my pizzas to slide easily on/off the baking stone.

- Janet (waving to Janet), you mentioned Banana cream pudding and biscuits. Do you mean real banana cream pudding or from a box? And how did she make her biscuits? I can never seem to get them right.

- Lyndee, you mentioned rice and raisins. I wonder if it was like the rice and raisin pudding my mom made?


After years of entering my baking in fairs, I know that the simplest recipes can turn out differently when made by different people. Simple is great. Tasty is better. Would you like to share yours?

Anita Mae.

Lyndee H
10/18/2011 07:24:52 am

Yes, Anita Mae, it would have been like a rice and raisin pudding, but my Grammy on my Dad's side rarely had the stuff to make it into a real pudding. When she could, she added stale bread crumbs and milk to it and a bit of sugar, so it was like a rice/bread pudding. My Dad is 84 now, and he still craves that mixture on occasion! A taste of childhood, I guess.

Debra Hines
10/18/2011 07:58:04 am

Loved your story, Cheryl! I have similar memories of my Grandma Jones, who not only nurtured our family with her cooking and quiet devotion to her faith, but as a matron at the county jail, she received many cards, letters and gifts from grateful women inmates.

Thank you for sharing your memories and I'm looking forward to reading your latest story!

Debra

Debbie Deskin
10/19/2011 04:40:58 am

What a great trip down memory lane. I would love a chance to read you new Christmas Story, please include me in your giveaway.
Thanks
Debbie
debdesk9(at)verizon.net

Suzie Johnson
10/19/2011 02:19:13 pm

Cheryl, I love the memories of your grandma, and the $2.00 a week to buy Barbie clothes. My mom used to make me Barbie clothes while I played Yahtzee and drank Constant Comment tea with my grandma.

Gwen Stewart
10/22/2011 01:14:43 am

Cheryl, this was a lovely tribute to a lovely woman. I too remember my maternal grandmother with fondness; my paternal grandmother is still going strong at age 96!

Thanks for this wonderful, warm remembrance.

gwenstewATflash.net

Anita Mae
10/24/2011 02:32:36 pm

The week's over already? So it's time to use Random.org and pick a winner of a copy of Snowflakes and Stetson's which contains Cheryl's Christmas novella...

...and the winner is... Lizzie Star!

Yay, Lizzie! I'll be sending your name and email address on to Cheryl and he'll be in touch with you about her book. Congrats!

Thank you everyone who dropped by to read Cheryl's post and leave a comment.

And Cheryl, I appreciate you taking the time to share your memory with the rest of us. And please keep writing. I love your books!

Anita Mae.

Ann Lee Miller link
10/24/2011 03:25:10 pm

I love Gina's title and would be thrilled to win her book.


Comments are closed.
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