Life With Martha: Grandma's House Was Always So Warm and Inviting

I just want to say "Thanks so much!" to everyone who has sent in responses to this tribute! This makes our 17th published post! I also have a couple more waiting in my inbox, as well as a few who don't want theirs published on the blog, but are more than happy to have it included in the book. I REALLY appreciate the amazing responses. And there is still time! You have until Tuesday January 25th to send me yours. It can be as short or as long as you want. And feel free to send pictures too. My email address is.... staciemknapp@gmail.com.

Today's post in our "Honoring Martha" series comes from Shanda Banks, Johnny Bank's daughter.

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As Grandma Ormsbee's first great-granddaughter have been blessed with many memories and stories to pass down to my children.

Whenever we'd go to see Grandma I remember that she always had lots of food and she was always trying to feed me. The refrigerator was at my disposal , the cookie jar was always full and I could eat as many as I wanted to. The cocoa drop cookies were my favorite with the "ever famous" white icing piled high on top.

I loved playing in the playhouse with my cousins and Grandma would always give us eggs, lemon juice, etc. to encourage our creative, want to cook minds. My specialty was "skunk juice". It was nasty! I remember playing in the loft in the garage with my cousin, Tamara.

Grandma O's house was always fun.She had a great tire swing in the front yard and I loved to swing on that, too. Simple fun.

Grandma always let me work in the garden with her - she loved her flowers and was so proud of the vegetables she grew.

Grandma's house was always so warm and inviting, very family oriented with pictures of every family member - you never felt left out at Grandma O's house. She had this toy box in the back bedroom that had some of the neatest things in it - I played in it as well as my children - a memory I'll always cherish. I loved that back bedroom and the sewing machine that was in there.

I remember, Grandma Betty had a snake in her ceramics shop and we're both petrified of snakes. Well, we called Grandma O. and she came to our rescue with a bucket and a hoe and got rid of the snake.

As Grandma's memory started getting bad, she couldn't remember my name but she always told me how pretty I was. I always told her "Thank you, I get my looks from you - after all you are my Great-Grandma".

I love you, Grandma - thanks for being so wonderful.

~Shanda Ryan Banks