Happy 100th Birthday to my Grandma

Evelyn Phebe Randell was born on 24 June 1916 in “Caringa Private Hospital”, the first hospital in the small town of Gumeracha in the Adelaide Hills.

She was born in the town, grew up living in the town, went to the local school, and married at Salem Baptist Church in Gumeracha too, and is buried there too. Known as Ev to some, Lyn to others, Evelyn was my grandma.

Although she is no longer with us, having died a few years ago, I am remembering her on this day that would have been her 100th birthday.

When I was young, the apple orchards, and her place at Cudlee Creek were my second home. So I have a lot of memories from that era.

The daily morning and afternoon teas with Sao biscuits, the picnics on the side of the road, rock buns and jelly cakes, roast dinners, the old oven, the pantry, the outdoor loo, the small knife that was permanently in her bag to cut up a burger from McDonalds in half, the birds, the washhouse, her aprons, how she used a cup and saucer (rather than a mug), and the garden … oh she so loved her garden!!

She would elbow my grandpa to wake him up during church, she would comment on what people wore, and the way she and my grandpa would sit in the car in their driveway on a Sunday afternoon, if it was cold but sunny. I remember how she got hooked on watching both Home and Away, and Punky Brewster, and was quite upset when it was taken off, even writing to the TV station. When she wasn’t cooking, cleaning or in her garden, she was crafting – taking up knitting, hobbytex, quilling, paper tolle, leather crafting, beadwork and tapestry to mention a few.

I could go on and on …

Happy Birthday Grandma, we’re still thinking of you …

One Response to “Happy 100th Birthday to my Grandma”

1. Crissouli says:

   July 1, 2016 at 11:54 pm

   I have included your post in Interesting Blogs at

   http://thatmomentintime-crissouli.blogspot.com.au/2016/06/friday-fossicking-june-30th-2016.html

   Thank you.

   Reply