13 February, 2015
Chelsey’s Gramma Blindu’s Rolling Pin
Chelsey Blindu’s Gramma passed away when her Dad was in high school. Chelsey never met her, but she was very close with her Grampa Blindu and his girlfriend Sofie. I know that she has many many fond memories of spending time with them both in their little house in Detroit and eating what Sofie prepared for her when she was a little girl.
When Grampa Blindu passed away we, the sisters, were invited to his home to choose from his treasures what we might love to have. I remember there were piles of unusual things from war memorabilia to books to kitchen supplies. I however only chose one item. A beautiful wooden rolling pin. (The one pictured above in the lighter wood.) I was always a cook and loved baking pies so this was a real and rare find. I am sure it is more than sixty years old today.
I have used this rolling pin dozens of times making fruit pies as well as Mom’s famous meat pies for Christmas Eve. This rolling pin has a wonderful feel to it as well as just the right weight and smooth texture that is required to get the dough to roll just perfectly. It really is a beautiful tool.
Well last month my Son Patrick noticed it hanging behind the stove on its two iron hooks that I purchased specifically to showcase this treasure… He asked how long it was there and I said for as long as we lived in this condo. I continued to tell him the story of finding it in the basement in Detroit and how I would love to pass it on to its rightful owner, Chelsey, the granddaughter of the original owner, but I was sure I wouldn’t be able to bake another pie without it. Well, Patrick said that his friend did woodworking and that he might be able to replicate it for me as a birthday gift! I let him borrow it so that his friend could inspect it.
On my birthday this year Patrick presented me with a beautiful new wooden rolling pin that is an almost exact match to the 60 year old treasure except for the color of the wood. The rolling pin is handcrafted of entirely wood and has no screws or pins holding it together. I now have a new pin to use and pass on to the next baker in the Roberts’ clan of women…. or men…. It has taken its place on the iron hooks behind the stove.
On her birthday in July, I will be presenting Chelsey with the old treasure from her Gramma Blindu in hopes that she will honor and enjoy its presence in her kitchen for many years to come.
Alana