Miriam Nathan Roberts
"Mom's Kitchen"
55"h x 67"w.
All cotton materials, except for nylon tulle and shiny stuff.
Machine pieced, machine applique, hand painted, machine
quilted. When I was done quilting I missed the safety pins. I thought it
looked better with them in, so I put some back in. It goes with the MOM
theme...Moms always have safety pins.
When I received the dishtowel I was concerned about what I had gotten myself into. The memories of my mom's kitchen of my youth came floating back. My father took lots of pictures of the family but none seemed to be in the kitchen.
Growing up in Pittsburgh, Pa., we had lots of things made of steel, including a built-in stove, probably from the turn of the century. My memories centered on that stove and on the kitchen table where my mom taught me to roll out dough and to bake. I clearly remember the excitement of my dad bringing home a pint of ice cream, and my brother and I watching him divide it into four portions, making sure they were of equal size. There was always matzoh and fruit in our kitchen.
I have not seen that kitchen in forty years. Since I have no photographs my memory has that dreamlike quality; lots of small images , not necessarily fitting together, scale and style determined by vignettes and not reality.
My mother had only one saying up on the walls of our house. It was in the kitchen and came from the Pennsylvania Dutch: "We grow too soon old and too late smart." I did not appreciate it in my youth as I do now.
© 1999 Miriam Nathan Roberts. 1351 Acton St, Berkeley, CA. 94706. 510-525-5432. Nathanrob3@aol.com
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