Oh, my goodness -- it has been a long time

So much going on, so little attention to this blog.  But here I am again.  For how many days in a row, or something close to resembling "in a row", who is to say?

Fri., February 14, 2003 - Saw a movie this evening, a tribute to Big Bands -- those taken from Lawrence Welk's shows.  Rained in p.m. and evening.

Sat., February 15, 2003 - Started to snow during the night.  Snowed almost all day.  Talked to Greta at noon.  They had snow, too.  Played cards in p.m. -- the group that plays on Mon. night.

Sun., February 16, 2003 - Nancy came at noon.  She made me a new kind of cheese & potato soup.  Very tasty.  Mitch & Anna here while Mary wen to Writers Group.  We played cards.  I popped some popcorn for them.

I'm having trouble reading Grandma's writing re the big band show, but I'll go with what I have there.

Of course, I cannot let dear Jenny's passing from this world to the next go unmentioned.  I should have posted something much closer to the event.  It wasn't for lack of caring about her, but just me being the usual me and not getting things done when I should do them.

However, since some time has passed it is much easier to say now how very happy I am for Jenny that her suffering is over, and for both she and Bill to be together.  The Lord works in mysterious ways.  I will always miss the two of them and particularly their laughs; both very different, but both very genuine and fun.  Bill and Jenny have left behind a beautiful legacy of lives well lived.  Their sons and grandchildren are testament to the lovely people they were.

I still need to find a Bunco group

Thurs., April 2, 1936 - Mr. Nieman took us to school this morning and started a fire.  Quilting at the church again today, so we had a ride home tonite.
Fri., April 3, 1936 - Had a ride to school again and Mr. N. also started the fire.  Raymond came after me and took me to town about 6:00.  Howard couldn't come tonite because his folks were going to Chris & Clara's.
Sat., April 4, 1936 - Warm today instead of the usual wind and snow of the past week. Annie and kids came in this p.m.  Annie helped us tie the wool quilt Mom pieced for me out of old dresses of mine.  Went to Wagners' to a birthday party for Kenneth.  Howard won high prize.  We played Bunco.

I have been dreadful about mentioning any, as had been my plan, but I notice I missed both Grandma Anna's and Uncle Raymond's recent birthdays.  I was not able to post on Uncle Raymond's actual day anyway because of being away from the computer to go to Marvie's funeral, but I should have/could have noted Grandma Anna's big day.  Grandma Anna's namesake started her new "big girl" job today.  So, I can note that, at least.

Quilting lesson, part 5 plus a birthday

"February 3, 2002:  Eleven cards (I think).  A wonderful time here in the party room at Pioneer House.  All the family here, especially Jayme and his girlfriend.  Had wonderful meal, birthday cake and ice cream.
February 4, 2002:  Nine cards today.  Played cards - "Seven Up" -- in party room this evening.  Six to eight people came.  Afterward played Cribbage at Delorous's apartment.
February 5, 2002:  Seventeen cards today.  Listened to tapes from Lester.
I remember the party and Grandma was right, it was wonderful.  The littler kids had a grand time running around (kinda anyway) in the lobby and back to the party room and back to the lobby again.

Speaking of running, I'm running late with this and will just hit the quilting lesson now.

A unique modern day quilt was made by Mary A. Lundy of Joplin, Missouri.  She wanted to enter an original quilt in the Kansas State Fair.  She used an 8" x 11" cross stitch embroidery sampler for her pattern.  Searched through stores in many cities for just the right color coordination.  Cut more than 18,000 one-inch squares for the quilt and 14 months later the quilt was completed in time to enter the fair.  It is a magnificent king-sized, mosaic-type picture, made entirely by hand. 

"Christ in Gethsemane".

World's largest quilt is in Columbia, South Carolina.  Director of Adult and Community education half-jokingly asked Hazel Ross to make the world's largest quilt to depict what goes on in community education. 
Measured 25 feet square.
397 blocks -- 396 were 12-inch square -- center block 24" square.
184 of these were log cabin, rest were represented house styles, churches, other buildings of interest in Columbia, park scenes, community education courses and recreational activities.
92 houses -- many representing the homes of quilters -- blocks worked in applique, piecing, cross stitch and shadow embroidery -- each block was lap quilted, then joined to others.
8,000 hours of labor
9 months of which 3 months taken to decide on design, fabrics, etc.
Husband very understanding at first -- his clean underwear -- buy new ones -- murmured "I'll be glad when that quilt is finished."

During the last weeks the workers were there every day and many in the evening, too.  After the quilt was unveiled, the man who started the idea gave a reception to pay tribute to the 150 workers and their long-suffering husbands.

Grandma's notes aren't quite clear as to whether the Mary Lundy quilt was a representation of "Christ in Gethsemane" but one might conclude that.  I tried looking online but after a quick search did not find information on this quilt.  I wonder why a Missouri resident was entering a quilt in the Kansas State Fair.  Maybe that's why I can't find any information -- it has been hushed up.

I've used the photo a couple of times already, but had to use it for this post since it was taken during the birthday party in question.  What a happy bunch.

Always a teacher

"December 9, 2001:  Greta called in the morning.  I watched 'Anne of Green Gables' a sequel, all afternoon.
December 10, 2001:  Tom stopped in evening to get his keys.
December 11, 2001:  Bill came for me about 11:00.  Went to Wahoo -- had dinner.  Jenny washed my hair.  Went to Alicia's school at 3:00 and told the pupils about one-room schools.  In the evening went to school program that Alicia was in.  Bill and Jayson brought me back to Lincoln.  Had a wonderful time."

Of course Grandma had a wonderful time -- family, kids and getting a chance to teach.  I don't remember Grandma ever going on and on about how much she did or didn't like to teach, but I always thought she was good at it and she sure was fond of her students.  Alicia would have been in kindergarten or first grade and that's a fun age where kids are engaged and wanting to listen, so I am thinking the talk about one-room schoolhouses was great fun.

Since we have Bill and Jenny and Jayson in this particular post, I thought it only fair to get Jayme in there, too, so here he is in a photo.  Sure wish he would have cheered up a bit for the occasion.

Vacation in Lincoln over

"April 8, 1995:  I did up all the washing.  Nancy came for me -- was after 6:30.
April 9, 1995:  Palm Sunday.  Couldn't get my shoes on this morning -- so wore my house slippers to Bill's.  Tom rode with Nancy and me.  Had our family Easter dinner today.  Afterward a family baby shower for Alicia.  Lora's folks were there.  At 4:30 left for home -- raining most of the way and from Wayne on home it was freezing on the sideview mirrors and bug guard.  Home by 6:45.
April 10, 1995:  Sleet and rain all day.
April 11, 1995:  No power for several hours in p.m."

I have been calling Grandma's trip to Lincoln a vacation, but with all the chores and running around doing this and that, it wasn't overly restful I don't believe.  I do believe, however, that she had a good time.  Time spent with family was always good as far as Grandma was concerned.

Like a lot of events, I am not recalling this baby shower but I am guessing I was there.  Seems I should have been keeping a journal of my own all these years.  I am doing it now, but . . .

Speaking of family, here is Grandma Anna at a Kahler reunion.  I absolutely love this photo.  I can't explain why but I do.  I do think Grandma Anna is looking very nice in that dress.

Two babies in one day

"March 31, 1995:  Finished Alicia's quilt.  Merilyn came home in p.m.
April 1, 1995:  Merilyn feels good.  Nancy came after me in late afternoon.  Tom grilled steaks for us for supper.
April 2, 1995:  Jayson, Lora and Alicia stopped to see us in p.m.  After they left Nancy and I went to see Doug, Dana and new baby Madison Marie -- then over to Tom's.
April 3, 1995:  My feet are so swollen I can't wear my shoes.  Tom worked late."

It's very irritating that work is keeping me busy as of late (no post yesterday) so I am doing this semi-first thing in the morning to be sure I get it done.

1995 was the year for girl babies, I guess.  Nothing wrong with that.  And Grandma got to see two in one day.  Nice!  Also nice that Merilyn was doing well.

I couldn't resist adding this photo of another girl baby.  Isn't she just precious?  :-)

Vacation in Lincoln, Part I

"March 27, 1995:  Tom came for me in late afternoon.  We went to Misty's -- met Merilyn there -- for prime rib, then to their house.
March 28, 1995:  Up early and at the hospital by 6:00.  Merilyn in surgery from 7:30 to 10:30 and in recovery room over an hour.  Tom took me back to the house about 3:30 -- he went back in evening to see Merilyn.
March 29, 1995:  Started hand sewing the binding on Alicia's quilt.  Tom worked all day and visited Merilyn in evening.  Did the washing.
March 30, 1995:  Rick came over in p.m. and we played Yahtzee.  Nancy came in evening.  Had pork chops according to her recipe."

I am guessing it was Grandma that did the washing on the 29th, not Tom.  Just an educated guess.

Thankfully, Grandma had a much smaller quilt to sew the binding on this time.

I guess I haven't yet commented on Merilyn's surgery.  I am guessing it was her back -- I don't believe Grandma says one way or the other.

Not sure when I would otherwise use this photo of Taffy, so I am doing it now.  This was 1988.  He is looking fabulous, as always.  I recall he had some visits up to Winside from time and time, and of course alerted Tom and Merilyn to the kitchen fire back whenever that was.  I always liked how he knew the tricks he was taught and had always done them in the same order.  The end result was that by just telling him to "sit", he would automatically start with sit and go through his whole repetoire in a matter of seconds.  Fun dog.

Busy times and another new baby

"March 24, 1995:  Went to Wilva's in a.m. and Pinochle Club at Marie H.'s in p.m.  Won 1st prize.  Rick and Mitch came in p.m. to Greta's.  Madison Marie.
March 25, 1995:  Busy day getting ready to stay in Lincoln.
March 26, 1995:  Left about 7:45.  Mary was at Columbus for a meeting of day care leaders, so we had to go that way to get her.  Greta left Howard and me at Nancy's and then went to Dale's.  Went to the church at 1:00 for Alicia's baptism -- then to Jayson's for a no-host dinner.  I went home with Nancy -- Tom and Merilyn came and we had pizza and then played Rummi-Cube."

Grandma was so busy, she only had time to mention the name of the new baby but she gave more details in later days.  Those will be coming up soon enough.

I am pretty sure I had a fun time in Columbus.  I think this was the convention when someone fell in the pool quite accidentally, of course.  The group I was associated with from Lincoln were a fun bunch of gals.

And here is a photo of Tom and Dale and myself, for no other reason that we are all mentioned in Grandma entries.  Plus we are pretty cute -- all of us.

More quilt stuff going on

"March 19, 1995:  Greta took me to church.  I talked to Nancy.  I'll be staying in Lincoln from next Sunday -- the 26th -- until Palm Sunday.  Merilyn will have surgery the 28th.
March 20, 1995:  John and Helen took me to Pierce to Dr. Voss to have my prescription renewed.  Sewed binding on Alicia's quilt.
March 21, 1995:  Baked peanut butter and ice box cookies.
March 22, 1995:  Sewed binding on Merilyn's quilt."

Now, I have not made a full-sized quilt ever.  But I think I would probably want to take a beating before I was able to finish doing the binding.  I am assuming Grandma is talking about hand-stitching the binding down as the final step in finishing a quilt.  First, I am too picky and would fuss and stew over each and every stitch ("Should I go over to the right an extra millimeter, or is this okay?).  Second, I don't do well doing any one thing for as long as that must take.  Well, I guess that isn't true since I don't mind crocheting for long periods of time.  But with crocheting you can see progress by just holding it up quickly.  With a quilt, it just all looks the same, I imagine until suddenly, poof!, you are to where you started.  I don't think the four corners would be progress enough to keep me going.

Enough about me and my quirks.  Here's a photo of Mom undoubtedly smiling about her future daughter's borderline insanity.

A new baby!

"March 8, 1995:  Jayson called.  They have a baby girl -- Alicia Kaitlin born at 11:03 a.m. -- weight 7 lb. 14 oz. and 20 1/2 inches tall.  Finished piecing the Rail Fence quilt top and started putting together brick quilt pattern.  Pieces were cut several years ago.  Cold and icy -- didn't go to WELCA.
March 10, 1995:  Warmed up -- Club at Ida's.  Arlene R. took me.

Well, I was unable to lay hands on a baby photo of Alicia last night.  She was a cutie, though.  Still is, even though she is now all but grown up and ready to graduate at the end of this school year.  It's crazy how time flies.  Oh and Grandma didn't mention Lora by name, but since she did all the hard work, I've included her in the labels for this post.  It seemed only right.

Here's the only photo I had ready of Alicia.  She's the one on the yellow looking at Grandma.  Very cute!