I grew up watching my family create an amazing array of useful and ornamental objects. My grandmother, born in Appalachia in 1883 when families made most everything they needed, was impressively proficient in all the domestic arts. Her practical and creative talents continued with my father's generation as evidenced in the family stories, items in service around the house, and relics found in the old family mill.
My mother grew up in Calcutta, India, but quickly adapted to life in America and the Appalachian family she married into as a war bride. As a child I was lucky to wear her hand knit sweaters and hand sewn outfits. She spent hours doing beautiful ceramics, crocheting, decoupage and more. Anything that catches her fancy she is able to do beautifully. Perhaps most impressive to me was when she took up basket weaving and the first one she made was a perfect and artful creation.
In more recent years, I've been lucky to experience my husband's family traditions in Chardon, Ohio. Paul's mother, Caroline, reminded me of my grandmother. She was a professional cook having run a family restaurant for years. And she loved flower arranging, nature, herbs and creating fun experiences for her children Carol, Fran and Paul.
Despite a busy work schedule, I enjoy continuing some of the fun traditions from both the Lewis and Kovac families. And my hope is to enrich my children's lives with fun experiences, and to share some of these traditions with you through this blog.
