Every time I think back on visiting my grandma's house, my senses are instantly flooded with the pleasant smells that came from her home — often a mixture of her famous stew and the fire burning from the heating stove in the middle of the front room.
That was just one of the many things I knew I could count on when walking through her door. While every grandmother is obviously unique to her family, there are some things that seem to be universal when it comes to their homes.
Do you remember something special you always knew you'd find waiting for you at your grandma's house, or something you keep on display for your own grandkids today?
Take a look at just a few of the staples we remember fondly below, and let us know in the comments if we missed your favorite nostalgic item.
And don't forget to SHARE with your family and friends!
Thumbnail Sources: Flickr
1. Cookie Jar That's Never Empty
My grandma's specialty was always delicious chocolate no-bake cookies. But even grandmothers who filled the jar up with yummy store-bought options knew it was essential that kids got all sugared up before heading home to their parents!
2. Decades-Old TV
The reception might be a little fuzzy and you might have to turn two or three different dials to find the right channel, but it's also a charming reminder of simpler times.
3. Decorative Baking Molds
Usually bronze or gold, these were never to be used for actual cooking. However, they definitely added a quaint aesthetic to the kitchen.
4. Sweet Inspirational Quotes
Whether it's cross-stitched on a pillow or painted onto porcelain decor, you could likely find more than a few of these uplifting quotes surrounding you in grandma's home.
5. Your Artwork
You probably don't even remember when you drew the picture or colored a specific page in a coloring book, but she still has it proudly on display.
6. Landline Telephone
I loved seeing the old rotary phone my grandma had hanging in her kitchen and would have to be shooed away from accidentally calling random numbers when I tried to play with it.
7. Vintage Board Games
Instead of relying on gadgets or the television, you could always bust out some of the old games your parents loved playing when they were your age.
8. Thick Crocheted Blankets
She's probably also donated quite a few of these handmade blankets to your own home, and they're still the best way to stay cozy and warm.
9. Photos Of All Your Loved Ones
All of the awkward school photos and casual family snapshots cover the walls, fill up albums, and stand on any blank surfaces to show off the good genes to guests.
10. Tons Of Canned Goods
After surviving through hardships like war and possibly even the Great Depression, they know to always be prepared for any emergency situation with an ample amount of non-perishables.
11. Stacks Of Newspapers
My grandma kept these handy to use as kindling or packing material — after she read all the obituaries and updated us on who had passed away in the neighborhood each week, of course.
12. Toilet Paper Dolls
You have to admit, this is a pretty creative way to cover up otherwise unremarkable rolls of toilet paper, if not a tad unsettling to see one staring back at you in the bathroom.
13. Perfume With A Squeezable Atomizer
The liquid inside might be almost as old as your grandmother, but chances are she'll never remove it from her counter along with other older beauty products from back in the day.
14. Jungle Of House Plants
Perhaps hanging from the ceiling in macramé or scattered around in various pots and old coffee cans, these plants have probably required you to be on watering duty on more than one occasion.
15. Endless Tchotchkes
I definitely have lost count of all the delightful figurines lining the shelves in my grandmother's house.
Did we miss anything you remember about being at grandma's house? Let us know below, and be sure to SHARE with your friends!
