Of Pillows, Potatoes, and Dogs

If you still make homemade mashed potatoes (and is there anything better?) you probably use a potato ricer, or a plastic-handled tool with a wiggly wiry metal masher-thingy on the end of it. Or maybe a masher with a flat metal plate with lots of little holes in it.

I doubt that you use one of these:

But my grandmother did, and this is hers. It is probably a good century old, as Grandma set up housekeeping around 1900.

The handle is warped. You can only wash wood so many times before it gets a little bent.

Well worn and well used, it bears the scars of countless battles with stubborn spuds.

It's worn smooth with use.

Age has its privileges.
Grandma's old potato masher lives in retirement in our kitchen,
a reminder of when kitchen tools were made by hand and powered the same way.

My Dad still loves good homemade mashed potatoes.
(Although he's not too sure about that skin-left-on business.)

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My sister Peggy and I went to lunch with our father today; Peggy had my Christmas gift for me.
I love presents.

Last fall, while leafing through a catalogue, Peg found some sweatshirts that reminded her of each of her siblings (don't ask). But rather than just give us sweatshirts, she transformed them into something entirely different!

The sweatshirt that she chose for me says,
"A book in my hand and a dog by my side... We belong together."

If you know me, you know this is perfect.

And I love the Edward Gorey illustration!

On the back, Peg used the ribbing from the bottom of the sweatshirt.
I can remove the pillow through that opening and wash the cover.

My little sister has talent! Thanks, Peggy!

Dion thinks this is brilliant.
He is a big fan of pillows. Books, not so much.

But I think he is about to tell me to leave the computer, grab a book, and snuggle up on a sofa with him.

He's waiting. 'Bye! -- Cass

Thanks to Leigh of Tales From Bloggeritaville for hosting Thrifty Thursday. Click here!

And thanks also to Suzanne of Coloradolady blog, for hosting Vintage Thingy Thursday! Click here.

And thanks also to Gina at The Shabby Chic Cottage for Transformation Thursday. CLICK!