This Christmas, my husband gave me something that I have wanted (and ok - coveted) for about 7 years. A Pyrex set of 4 nesting bowls from the 1960's.
I received many great gifts this year from my family and friends, but nothing compared to the set of 50-year old used mixing bowls that he found for me on eBay.
Why, you may ask?
Because of this fabulous 91-year old woman.
This is my Grandma Callie. One of the most amazing, strongest, kindest, smartest and beautiful women that I know.
Her marriage to my grandfather was a model to all who knew her. After 50 years of marriage, they were still completely "hot" for each other. I remember many times my Grandpa walking by her and grabbing her butt and her saying "Oh Book (his nickname) - not in front of the kids!"
But back to the Yellow Bowl.....
Growing up, we would spend the week between Christmas and New Years with my mom's family in Indiana. There are so many memories of those times, but one thing that stuck with me was this yellow bowl. It was my Grandma's "go-to" bowl for anything.
It was part of a 4-piece nesting set made by Pyrex between the 1940s and the 1970s. I don't even know if she still had the other bowls in the set - but she had that Yellow Bowl! It was used for mixing. It was used for serving. It was used to hold fruit. It was used to gather things. It was used for everything!
The Yellow Bowl is Grandma Callie!
Fast forward about 20 years and my sister is hosting most holiday dinners (she has the biggest house and 2 ovens) and I am tasked with making the corn pudding. My mom tells me that I need to "grab the Yellow Bowl" from my sister's cabinets. Turns out that my grandmother, when she was younger, would go out to garage sales and flea markets looking for parts of this iconic bowl set, gather them and send them to the women in the family.
My sister got a set many years ago and if I asked her to find me a set, she probably would...but she is 91! There is no way that I am going to ask her to do that! So now we have several years of Easter and Thanksgiving of me joking every time that I have to make corn pudding that I "need" a Yellow Bowl (because that is the first part of the directions for many of my grandmother's recipes - "Grab your Yellow Bowl")
Well - I guess Brad had heard enough about me teasing/complaining that I didn't have a Yellow Bowl of my own, because he bought me a set of the 4 nesting bowls off of eBay this year.
I don't know if I can ever accurately explain how happy getting The Yellow Bowl made me.
It is a connection to my family. It is a connection to my childhood. It is a connection to a simpler time.
And there won't be one time that I use The Yellow Bowl that I don't smile and think of my Grandma Callie.
Do you have your own version of The Yellow Bowl?
Brandy Gunderson
I have a bowl that my Grandma Zane gave me. It's about the color green in your set. It has a handle on it. I have so many memories of cookies, salad, mashed potatoes everything went in it. I took it out of cupboard and broke into 100 pieces. Well like you my hubby got me 2 from eBay. Just incase I broke one again. As he said 1 for backup. I gave it to my Mom. I got it back in March of this yr as Mom passed.
Mrs. Gail E. Cheshire
That Sentimental Old Yellow Bowl is filled to the brim with "Memories!" I was born in 1943 and my greatest joy as a child, was to work in the kitchen with my Grandmother! This bowl was used for mixing, serving, gathering up silverware from the dining table, as a fruit bowl on the farmhouse table and filled with pecans we could crack and eat while the family gathered around the radio in the evenings! Just the sight of it brings such a flood of warm memories! Thank heaven for precious grandmothers with hearts full of love, who spent many years teaching their granddaughters to cook using "The Old Yellow Bowl."
You've inspired me to make it a permanent part of my new kitchen! I will be purchasing the set sometime this year!
Mindi Cherry
My Yellow Bowl now has a permanent spot on my counters....I can't look at it without smiling!
Mindi Cherry
That is one smart husband that you have, getting you two of them! Sorry about your mom 🙁
Kaelee
My "yellow bowl" is a tin measuring cup that I received after my Grandmother passed away. My Grandfather and Grandmother lived very simple humble , lives. Their home was full of lots of love and generosity to others. It was not unusual for them to feed passers-by,(hitchhikers),that crossed their path on their rural country road. I played with this cup when we went to visit,to "cook" or "bake" things in the bathtub and it is a constant reminder to add a n extra portion of love to everything I make.
Mindi Cherry
That is a great story! Love the "extra portion of Love!" 🙂
Gilda Thomas
oh my goodness I have the same yellow bowl my grandmother had that set it was the giant late nights special k. Creal. bowl the cookie dough bowl the frosting bowl .I so understand.god bless grandmothers
jenni
For a few years I have been collecting two sets of these bowls for myself and my daughter. We are collecting them because we are I Love Lucy fans and she had them on her kitchen shelf. I know the joy in these bowls! I get so excited when I see one of them at a garage sale or flea market. I practically knock everyone over to get there first. I just finished my search last month when I got the last bowl that I needed - the little blue one for my daughter. I won the bid at an auction. The people actually cheered for me when I won because I was so excited!
Sheila
I love your story. I also have great memories of this set of bowls. My Mom, who just happen to be an awesome cook used a set like this. Banana pudding would not have been as good in any other bowl. I was able to locate a set for myself and even though they aren't my Mom's originals. They still stir wonderful memories.
Sheri
Most of my memories are in the kitchen as well. Recipes, measuring cups, mixing bowls, cookbooks.. Thankfully everything you long to own for yourself is easily had on a number of online sites today!! I enjoyed your story.
Tanya wiseley
These bowls are the best.I have mine on a shelf displayed in my kitchen with some other cooking favorites from days gone by.Loads of memories