I don't think our kids know what an apron is. There was hardly ever a time when the vintage housewife didn't have her apron on. The main use of the apron was to protect the dress underneath, 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. 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 men 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. What a great thing the apron was. And not many people today use it anymore. I think a true vintage housewife nowadays should all have one. Here is a few photos I have collected from the internet of some of my favorites.
Looking at them makes you want to cook.
