My Great-Granny Mckimmie was a formidable wee woman- I vaguely remember her she lived to be a ripe old age outliving her husband & many of her many children.She looks like a "nippy sweetie" in any photos but life had been hard on her losing her two eldest children & one of her only two sons. She was the local "midwife" & layer out of the dead & giver of advice to lesser mortals. I was terrified of her as she advised my Mother to tie my hands behind my back as a way of stopping my nailbiting.Every time we visited I kept my handsfirmy behind my back.Anyway as the Mother of a large brood including two"Grannies Bairns" of my Grannys she was financially pushed at times.Food was nourishing & of the fill you up variety.Friut was bottled or eaten in season.
The children all attended the Village School & were taught in groups rather than classes.The children were asked to bring Fruit to school for a still life art class.Granny Mckimmies reply"Tell him we eat what we have"
Granny told the Master that her Mother couldnt afford to send any fruit for the class.He totally humiliated her & her sisters two of whom were very talented artists.
Great-Granny was told of the Masters words so next morning she marched all 5 feet of herself into school
"I understand you were angry with my bairns not bringing fruit into class?"
"What fruit I have goes into their or some other poor persons bellies"
Marching to his classroom cupboard she opened saying
"The very job for a still life,lets get all your empty whisky bottles for the bairns to draw"
There was never any humiliation after that for my Granny & her sisters.One huge disadvantage of living/working in the same small village for the poor Teacher.
I wonder what would happen these days?
=D>