Apron Power!

Posted on by Niki Turner Posted in Aprons, Cooking, Home, Women

The simple act of putting on an apron is akin to the spiraling metamorphosis of mild-mannered Diana Prince into the bustier-wearing, lasso-throwing Wonder Woman.

I’m a relative newcomer to apron-wearing, and sometimes it’s still hard for me to remember to toss one on before I cook dinner or whip up a baked delight.


But when I tie my apron strings, suddenly it’s easier to do the dishes, to set the table, to create nutritious, well-balanced meals for my family. Donning an apron is a tangible reminder that I am the queen of my household domain, and inspires me to rule my roost with renewed grace and creativity.

Whether you’re married or single, a working woman or a stay-at-home wife and mother, a grandma, an auntie, a gourmet chef or a successful TV dinner preparer, you can change the world through the simplest of acts: wiping a child’s tear, making a cup of tea for a hurting friend, starting a grassroots campaign for a cause you believe in, or running a multi-national corporation.

The humble apron is just one token reminder of the awesome power that belongs to women to transform the world around them for the better

You may have seen the following essay on aprons already, since it has circulated the blogosphere and e-mail loops for quite some time. Even if you have, it’s well worth another read.

“The History of Aprons”

 I don’t think our kids know what an apron is. 

The principal use of Grandma’s apron was to protect
the dress underneath, because she only had a few. 
It was easier to wash aprons than dresses 
and they used less material, but along with that, it served as a potholder 
for removing hot pans from the oven.
It was wonderful for drying children’s tears,
and on occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears.
From the chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half-hatched eggs 
to be finished in the warming oven.
When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids.
And when the weather was cold, grandma wrapped it around her arms.
Those big, old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, bent over the hot, wood stove.
Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron.
From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables.
After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the pods.
In the fall, the apron was used to bring in apples 
that had fallen from the trees.
When unexpected company drove up the road, 
it was surprising how much furniture that old apron 
could dust in a matter of  seconds.
When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the porch, waved her apron, and the menfolk knew it was time 
to come in from the fields to dinner.

It will be a long time before someone invents 
something that will replace that old-time apron 
that served so many purposes. 

I haven’t been able to locate the original author of this little essay to give proper credit, but I trust God knows who she (or he) is and will bless the writer accordingly!

Photo credits: 
Apron button via playingwithbrushes@Flickr
Wonder Woman apron Miss Vicki via wists.com
Aprons on the line via klynslis@flickr 
Pink & black via zebraa13@photobucket
Apron art via reahnell@photobucket
Vintage pattern via IrishBlake@photobucket
 

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5 thoughts on “Apron Power!”

  1. Reply
    Georgiana Daniels says:

    This makes me want to pull mine out. Of course, I'd love to find a new one, but mostly I think they must be handmade now. I rarely see them, at least the pretty ones!

  2. Reply
    Niki Turner says:

    Wednesday and Friday I'm going to include some links for places to buy some of these new aprons. I'm amazed at how many are available these days, and how adorable they are!

  3. Reply
    patti says:

    Last birthday (a year ago TOMORROW!!) my son gave me TWO aprons, one with jalapeno chili peppers all over it and one with a nice English Yardley flowery pattern.

    I SO love to cook and just feel like a creative chef with one of my two aprons on. Did I mention both of my kids totally see my role as their cook??!!

    patti

  4. Reply
    Jill Kemerer says:

    I love the ruffly ones with puppies and such. Mine, alas, is boring, dirty, and shapeless. I may have to purchase a fun one. With puppies!

  5. Reply
    Andrea says:

    We tried the pheromone collars and they helped a little.
    Hope your little guy receives peace in the storms, soon, too.

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