Canasta

When I was very young my family taught me to play canasta, as it was The Game! I have such great memories of my brother and I going down the street to our grandparents house and playing canasta all evening. Then through the years the foursome became dad, brother, sister in law and me. Mom thought the games lasted too long! Well this week I have been moving some of my dad's books, etc from my stepmother's house in preparation to sell and when I opened the drawer on the coffee table this is what I found;



It took my breath away! I haven't seen this tray for so many years that it shocked me when I saw it. For those of you who play canasta you recognize this tray. Even the cards that were in it were ones we played with many times. What a fun game it is and I have not even taught my girls to play. I have dropped the ball on this tradition and really need to teach them. Late in my grandad's life, you could go in his house and hear him talking or laughing and he was there alone. We would ask, "granddaddy who are you talking to"? (He was sitting at a card table with 4 hands dealt) He replied "well I am playing for mr. north, south, east, and west, and mr. north is cheating"!!!! He was having fun all by himself. That is how much he loved to play canasta.

Do any of you know how to play? We also had many hours of fun playing rook. I don't think families play cards as much as we did years ago. It is sad too because we talked, laughed and spent time together. I miss it!

Time to start dinner, Chicken and Dumplings tonight, yum, yum!
Have a good evening all!