In these modern times, breakfast is grab that cup of coffee to go! Or at home- sometimes a bowl of oatmeal or cereal/piece of fruit or a warm toasty bagel.

 

Breakfast in the 1950's was quite different and waaaaay before what I refer to as designer coffee (i.e cappuccinos/espresso/macchiatos and/or lattes)

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It was on one day,while sitting at the doctors office waiting for my appointment, that my mom began sharing with me memories of food smells, when she and our parents were young children.  Snuggling under the warm covers on a school morning, "You would start to smell bacon and eggs when everyone was getting ready for school. Such a heavenly smell it was!"

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Other times with everyone coming back from a long day at school, "We would walk into the house and smell spaghetti, onions or meatloaf cooking!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It seems that the Bruemmer siblings learned how to cook and/or bake from each other or from grandma. Grandma did most of the breakfast and dinner cooking until some of the Bruemmer siblings learned how to cook on their own.

 

In other words, if there was some thing that they wanted they would have to make it themselves. I have had the divine pleasure of eating with Uncle Bill and Jeff during the past several years on my annual birthday vacation.  This was his exquisite culinary cuisine dish from October 2022.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bill is both an amazing cook and baker. If there are lemons and/or apples on the trees they will be made into pies/cakes etc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As cousins we probably remember that Uncle John worked as a professional chef.  My mom loves to cook and inspires me to try different things.

 

In fact, last Sunday we attended a Challah bread making class at the Corte Madera Library.  Challah is a delicious traditional Jewish bread and each of us had a large plastic bowl with all ingredients pre-measured out. After mixing the dough and braiding it out, we each took our breads home in a secure tin foil package. Mom's and mine certainly rose over time and the baking smell in my apartment was just marvelous!

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I asked my mom what was Thanksgiving like during her days growing up in San Rafael.  "Your grandmother made the stuffing from scratch.  I remember being the one who got to chop the apples. Our thanksgiving dinner was usually just us (meaning just the Bruemmer siblings). Sometimes our grandparents Charles and Nell came down from Cloverdale which my sister Sue loved! Alternate years, Charles and Nell would spend thanksgiving with Aunt Eleanor's family and Sue would get upset!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As a family we well remember the annual Thanksgiving that Aunt Nora and Uncle Bill would host every year. During the planning, Bruemmer siblings would discuss which dish to bring- BUT HOW MANY of you remember the dish we called the "green stuff" which was the Lime Jell-O with pineapple/shave carrot and coconut

As cousins in our younger years, we would always yell out, "Ewwwwwww not the green stuff!"

I probably posted this before on Facebook but will unabashedly admit that

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Right here and now that

I always liked the green stuff!

Uncle Bill and Aunt Nora‘s annual Thanksgiving in Rohnert park included just about every single relative, aunt, uncle, cousins, husbands/wives and children of cousins too etc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One year it included the phone call with Uncle John who was in Peace Corps with Aunt Katy. As I recall, they were in Papua New Guinea so at the most, each relative had about 2-3 mins to talk and say hello!

When I look at pictures of those days, I really miss our gatherings and our grandma Barbara! Even though no particular memories come out, I do get the mini flashbacks from time to time of those days.  This afternoon I was able to find the original copies of the photos taken by me at the thanksgiving of 1985. I have revised and enhanced them and must admit they look great. Ahh those were the days and yet somewhat sad to see those who have passed on but they live forever in our hearts!

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Most of us are now married with families of their own to continue on the Thanksgiving tradition. Being the only single cousin among you all, it gets quite hard and depressing sometimes but I still have a family on the Seitas side to do the annual Thanksgiving with.

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But it is with a huge heart and love that I thank you Uncle Bill and Aunt Nora for hosting all those wonderful annual thanksgivings!! You brought our large and growing family together which I know was very special for Grandma Bruemmer!