The effect of the figurative language in this sentence is to convey the deep connection the author's grandmother felt to the land she lived on, emphasizing her close relationship with the natural world around her. The use of the word "memory" suggests that the author's grandmother's connection to the landscape was not just physical, but also emotional and spiritual. The phrase "in her blood" reinforces this idea of a deep, ingrained relationship with the land, suggesting that it was a fundamental part of who she was as a person.