I Bought an Apron
As amazing as it may sound, I have never owned an apron. In fact, I can't even recall ever wearing an apron...except perhaps in chemistry lab. Admitting this, I realize, is somewhat embarrassing and geeky, but totally true.
Recently I was at a friend's house and she donned an apron to make lunch. Just whisked it out and tied it on as if it was the most natural thing in the world, and all for making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. I was intrigued! I had to ask about her apron, apron wearing and etiquette, necessity and purpose. We had a nice (and surprisingly long) conversation. Is it to keep food off your clothing or to keep your "day" off the food. Do people make aprons or buy them? Do you need more than one? How often do you wash them? What do you put in the pockets? How come some aprons go around your neck and others just go around your waist? You mean people wear aprons for "housekeeping" too?
It was like a whole universe opened up to me. A universe where June Cleaver resides. And there are, indeed, modern day apron-wearers! And I never knew!!
The Apron percolated around in my brain for a few weeks.
I talked to Kimberly.
Yes, of course, she's from Texas, she wears aprons. She has bunches of aprons. She has aprons that match her daughter's aprons. Aprons picked up from special places like souvenirs. So many that they fall off the hook in the pantry and onto the floor.
And then she said something that is perhaps key, "I remember my Mom passing out the aprons as we all cooked together at Thanksgiving. Most of them were her mother's aprons- so we each loved wearing one of Granny's special aprons. My favorite was the one with a dark background and autumn colored leaves sprinkled all across it."
So aprons are, perhaps, cultural. Familial. Perhaps inherited and handed-down, like The Good China or a square jaw-line or Grannie's recipe for sticky-buns.
A culture of being in the kitchen together. Cooking together.
Sharing recipes. Sharing stories.
Working together. Creating together.
I made it a mission! I had to get an apron!
Canvas aprons in solid white and solid black were good choices. They suited the utilitarian purpose of The Apron and, honestly, are a good match for my personality. But, I thought, if I am going to do something as radical as change my whole culture, it needs to be a little more notable than that! How about black with white polka dots? OK, but not really me. What about pink with ruffles and satin ribbon ties and a princess bodice? Really? What's the purpose of that?
This is what I finally decided on!
I'm not sure that this apron will make it into the halls of history or be passed down from generation to generation or be fought over by my great-grandchildren, but it's a start.
It is also utilitarian and a little bit fun!
It's called Habanero (like the chili pepper).
I like it already!
And, in my opinion, that detailing along the boarder just might make this an apron worth fighting over.
Do you wear aprons? Why?
Where did they come from?
Recently I was at a friend's house and she donned an apron to make lunch. Just whisked it out and tied it on as if it was the most natural thing in the world, and all for making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. I was intrigued! I had to ask about her apron, apron wearing and etiquette, necessity and purpose. We had a nice (and surprisingly long) conversation. Is it to keep food off your clothing or to keep your "day" off the food. Do people make aprons or buy them? Do you need more than one? How often do you wash them? What do you put in the pockets? How come some aprons go around your neck and others just go around your waist? You mean people wear aprons for "housekeeping" too?
It was like a whole universe opened up to me. A universe where June Cleaver resides. And there are, indeed, modern day apron-wearers! And I never knew!!
The Apron percolated around in my brain for a few weeks.
I talked to Kimberly.
Yes, of course, she's from Texas, she wears aprons. She has bunches of aprons. She has aprons that match her daughter's aprons. Aprons picked up from special places like souvenirs. So many that they fall off the hook in the pantry and onto the floor.
And then she said something that is perhaps key, "I remember my Mom passing out the aprons as we all cooked together at Thanksgiving. Most of them were her mother's aprons- so we each loved wearing one of Granny's special aprons. My favorite was the one with a dark background and autumn colored leaves sprinkled all across it."
So aprons are, perhaps, cultural. Familial. Perhaps inherited and handed-down, like The Good China or a square jaw-line or Grannie's recipe for sticky-buns.
A culture of being in the kitchen together. Cooking together.
Sharing recipes. Sharing stories.
Working together. Creating together.
I made it a mission! I had to get an apron!
Canvas aprons in solid white and solid black were good choices. They suited the utilitarian purpose of The Apron and, honestly, are a good match for my personality. But, I thought, if I am going to do something as radical as change my whole culture, it needs to be a little more notable than that! How about black with white polka dots? OK, but not really me. What about pink with ruffles and satin ribbon ties and a princess bodice? Really? What's the purpose of that?
This is what I finally decided on!
I'm not sure that this apron will make it into the halls of history or be passed down from generation to generation or be fought over by my great-grandchildren, but it's a start.
It is also utilitarian and a little bit fun!
It's called Habanero (like the chili pepper).
I like it already!
And, in my opinion, that detailing along the boarder just might make this an apron worth fighting over.
Do you wear aprons? Why?
Where did they come from?
Comments
kmc
Top that one, girls. :>)
Porky