Grandma Style / Estilo Abuela

As the below photo from the 1920s shows, my father’s mother had some style. She probably wouldn’t have fit in here in Fuengirola, although her Russian would have come in handy on the Costa del Sol. She was born in Slutzk!

My grandmother died when I was 3 years old. But I remember she had a covered cut-glass dish filled with hard candies with soft raspberry centers. The dish sat on a kidney shaped tea table in the living room and she used the candies to coax me out of my shyness. It always worked.

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Como muestra la foto de abajo de la década de 1920, la madre de mi padre tenía algo de estilo. Probablemente no lo habría encajado aquí en Fuengirola, aunque su ruso hubiera sido útil en la Costa del Sol.

Mi abuela murió cuando yo tenía 3 años. Pero recuerdo que ella tenía un plato cubierto de vidrio tallado lleno de caramelos duros con centros de frambuesas suaves. El plato se sentó en una mesa de té con forma de riñón en la sala de estar y ella usó los dulces para sacarme de mi timidez. Siempre funcionó.

Author: Moving with Mitchell

From Brooklyn, New York; to North Massapequa; back to Brooklyn; Brockport, New York; back to Brooklyn... To Boston, Massachusetts, where I met Jerry... To Marina del Rey, California; Washington, DC; New Haven and Guilford, Connecticut; San Diego, San Francisco, Palm Springs, and Santa Barbara, California; Las Vegas, Nevada; Irvine, California; Sevilla, Spain. And Fuengirola, Málaga..

30 thoughts on “Grandma Style / Estilo Abuela”

    1. Kathleen:
      I have some really fun photos of my paternal grandparents from that time… with and without kids, and having fun with friends.

      1. Deedles:
        Yes, I loved that comment! I guess some things never change. I, on the other hand, became more outgoing as I got older.

    1. Mistress Maddie:
      I didn’t see her much even in those few years, so remained shy around her. But I remain she had a really sweet smile and I really wanted to get to know her. Anyway, the candies always got me. The ones she had were actually more oval in shape.

    1. Jim:
      I have some really great photos of her and my grandfather from the 1920s. You’ll be seeing more!

  1. I thought I recognized that candy. I was hoping that it wasn’t a picture of some exotic gourmet dish involving monkey brains or something 🙂 You never know around here. I love that vintage picture of your grandmother.

    1. Deedles:
      And more photos to come. The candies I remember were actually more oval in shape. Otherwise, just like that. No monkey brains.

    1. Debra:
      I’ve been going through more old photos. I know I have a stash of really cool photos of my grandparents from that time. I can’t find them… because I put them someplace safe.

    1. Anonymous:
      The candy I remember was more oval in shape. I wonder if that’s still around. Other than that though, it’s really easy to find even after all these years.

    1. anne marie:
      And I really have to stay away from those. I never learned how to suck (now stop it) hard candies. I try and then suddenly I’m chewing. NOW STOP IT!

  2. One of my grandmothers is still alive, the other died while I was in high school. My great grandma I did meet and she died right around I was 2 or 3.

    1. Adam:
      Jerry, too, knew great-grandparents. Three of them actually. And one didn’t die until Jerry was in junior high. My paternal grandfather died when I was around 12. My maternal grandparents died when I was in my 30s. I knew them really well.

    1. Willym:
      I have so many great photos of my paternal grandparents. When my maternal grandmother died, a cousin (one of 17 of us) took all their photos and, sadly, I’ll never see any of them again. (She doesn’t share.)

  3. I remember my grandmother’s candy dish, starlight mints were her candy of choice. Connections to the past. Great photo.

    1. David:
      I never knew the name for those mints. They’re still so popular. Jerry’s father had bags and bags. His truck was littered with wrappers.

  4. My soul swoons! Raspberry cordials are my favorite !!! I ordered a bag last Christmas for a personal treat for myself. They are fantastic !

  5. Oh my goodness!! I remember those candies at my grandma’s as well. Yummy!! She used to work for Safeway a looooong time ago so I know she got them there. I wouldn’t even know where to begin to find them today, if they even still made them.

    1. hollihd:
      The candies are easily found now. I know Brach’s makes them. The ones my grandmother always had were more oval in shape. It would be kind of magical to find those exact ones now. SWEET memories. As a result of your comment, i did a search on Safeway. I had no idea they were around since 1915!

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