I've been tagged by the Hootin' Anni! And it is a fun tag to do!!! First, the rules are simple. As follows:
6th Picture Meme!

1. Go to your Picture Folder on your computer or wherever you store your pictures.
2. Go to the 6th Folder, then pick the 6th picture in that folder.
3. Post that picture on your blog and the story that goes along with the picture.
4. Tag 5 other peoples that you know or don’t know to do the same thing and leave a comment on their blog or an e-mail letting them know you chose them.

This is a picture of my maternal grandmother, Candace. She was born in 1905. Her mother died the following year and from what we've gathered, she died in childbirth.

When Grandma was 3 years old, her father died of a rare blood condition, which had been passed down to Grandma. Alfred (her father) bled to death.

An orphan, Grandma went to live with an aunt and then on to another aunt. Throughout her childhood, she was bounced from one family member to another. At 19 years old, she met my grandfather and they were married the following year. She had my mother, her oldest child, when she was 22.

Three years later, my uncle Walter was born. Two years after him, Aunt May arrived(she passed in November)...then Jim, Willie (deceased 1967) and Mabel, the youngest. Yes, Grandma had six children and they were all born at home. Most without a doctor present. With her blood condition, I'm surprised she survived all of these home births.

Grandma was in and out of the hospital all of her adult life. When I was a child I used to help her. She couldn't bend over to pick anything up or she would hemorrhage. Much of my childhood was devouted to helping Grandma who lived right next door.

When I was 12, Grandpa decided to move 100 miles north. No one knew what would become of Grandma because there weren't many hospitals in the area. However, she often came home to be admitted at St. Joseph's because they knew all about her blood condition as did her doctor, so it was worth the 2 hour drive to be sure she got the proper care.

Grandma could stitch like nobody's business. She made quilts (you can see one in the photo) embroidered and sewed all of the clothes for her children until Mom and Aunt May were old enough to sew.

One thing I remember about Grandma was her ever-present apron. It seemed that she had one for all occasions and she is wearing one in the photo above. They were all made on her treadle sewing machine, which was a Singer. I learned to sew on that machine, as did all of her daughters.

Before Grandma and Grandpa moved north, she had no electricity in the home. All meals were cooked on the cookstove and an oak icebox sat against the north wall of the kitchen. A long oak table and pressed-back chairs stretched across the room. Today I have that table and there are eleven leaves that go with it. It can seat 40 people.

There's so many memories that I could write about Grandma. She taught me many things, gave advice that I still remember to this day and pass along to my own grandsons. She also took me to church with her and learned me a love of God.

I still miss Grandma and have very few photographs of her. That is why I was so blessed just before Christmas when my mother gave me this photo of Grandma and another when she was very young, holding my mother.

Do you have memories of your grandmother. If so, I would love you to tell me about them in the comments.

If you would like to read about Grandma's Kitchen, you can do so HERE.

Now I am to tag five people to do this meme. So, here we go:

1. Renie at Renie Burghardt's World

2. Denise at Shorty Bear's Place

3. Pea at Pea's Corner

4. Paula at On A Rainy Night

5. Amy at I Love Retro Things

and of course anyone else who would like to take part. Just leave me a comment to let me know you've participated in the meme. I'd love to see your photo and read your story.

Have a great evening and stay warm and safe. ~Blessings, Mary~