Quote 7
"Do that," Grandma said. "And one more thing. You give Effie Wilcox back her house, free and clear. It wasn't worth nothing anyway—apart from its historical value."
"Mrs. Dowdel, that's not business," the banker said. "That's blackmail."
"What's the difference?" Grandma said. (6.130-132)
Even the banker can't tell Grandma what she can or cannot do. In fact, she straight up blackmails Mr. Weidenbach into giving Effie Wilcox her house back…and doesn't act scared of him at all.
Quote 8
A rounded figure with a head cocked like a bird filled the screen door. It was Mrs. L.J. Weidenbach, the banker's wife.
Grandma looked up from her breakfast, scrapple and corn syrup with sides of bacon. "Only ten after six," Grandma muttered, "and she's already girdled and gallivantin'." (7.59-60)
Grandma is stubborn as a mule, and she refuses to give in to Mrs. Weidenbach's plans for her. She will not be one of the helpers at the Centennial Celebration, and she won't give the Weidenbachs the satisfaction of sweeping all the awards, either.
Quote 9
Grandma's sleeves were already turned back, or she'd be turning them back now. She pointed at me. "Scoot uptown and bring me a twenty-five-pound sack of sugar. Tell them to stick it on my bill. After that I want every gooseberry off them bushes out back." She turned on Mary Alice. "And you're going to learn a thing or two about pie crust." (4.39)
If Grandma Dowdel is going to enter the pie competition, then she's going to make sure that she wins. She's going to be baking pies up until the very last minute so that she gets the recipe just right.