I was a kid, back in the 50s, and my grandma Vilula was Dutch & into very serious herbal - holistic healing. She grew marijuana to make tea for migraines & menstrual cramps. She was also very popular with musicians. Funny, marijuana was illegal, but nightshades were not; and she grew both. No one died that I'm aware of, so I guess she knew what she was doing. And if you used any nightshades, you best know what you're doing. She also did that PA Dutch Pow Wow ritual. As a kid, it just freaked me out. Then the icing on the cake; I was born with a caul, the veil ( supposedly 2nd sight ); so grandma had me in the loop toot sweet. She carried a Top Break .32 revolver. Played stride piano. Never wore shoes, except for bingo. Drank beer with sugar. Cursed like a drunken sailor. Smoked 2 packs of cigarettes a day. Very interesting childhood. Ya just can't make this up.

Jim, was this Pa Dutch or Netherlands Dutch?

crawgarden said:Jim, was this Pa Dutch or Netherlands Dutch?

My grandmothers family came from Holland to NY ( East Coast ) waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back, & then migrated to PA. I grew up in a house where German - Dutch was spoken. But when I started school the family switched to English when I was around, just to make it easier for me to learn. She spoke Dutch - German - and PA Dutch dialects, and of course English. Many similarities; but PA Dutch is a bit unique. I heard Baden Baden a lot when I was a kid; so it's possible the family was there before the Netherlands. Lost in time & translation. My grandma was very avant-garde. Probably because she had many generations in America behind her. Most other people in my town were Ellis Island descendants. It was a very cool neighborhood. Lots of motion. Lots of life. Great food.

East coast has great food!