Storm at Sea

"January 19, 1995:  Sunny and thawing a little.  Much better than the foggy weather we had last week.  Lois and Linda went to Fremont to see Dora -- she took a turn for the better -- knew them and visited with them.  Started Jayme's Storm at Sea quilt.  Greta cut all the pieces for me.
January 22, 1995:  Too much ice for me to go to church.  Spent the week working on Jayme's quilt and doing some cleaning.

By my count this is the third Storm at Sea quilt Grandma made.  Well, the third in the journal I am working from right now.  I do not recall what colors were in Jayme's, but I imagine I would have seen it at some time.  It is a wonderful pattern in my opinion.  It looks like you need to be concentrating pretty well to get it all pieced properly but to a pro like Grandma it was probably a pretty tame project -- alliteration, anyone?  An internet search will bring up quite a few different variations, but the photo above is I believe close or the same as what Grandma used, although she used more monochromatic themes.  It's neat how the lines look curved when in fact they are all straight.

Found the book!

"June 30, 1992:  Norris, Vicki and Ann N. visited here in p.m.
July 3, 1992:  Nancy came at noon.  We fixed food for tomorrow -- played Manipulation in evening.
July 4, 1992:  Picnic at Dorothy Jo's.  Those present:  Norris, Vicki, Ann; Ramon and Linda; Myrtle, Gaylord, Lois, Mark and Jeff; Irene; Bernie, Carol, Kris and Ryan; Marvin, Betty Ann; Linda and Christopher; Gary A., Jennifer and Karen; Kevin and Mary; Betty Jo; Rick, Mary, Mitch; Greta and Lester; Helen and John; Nancy; Howard and I; Bob, Mary and Michelle.  Lloyd in hospital for tests, an irregular heart beat."

Grandma had a new line in her book for each family unit so her list looks more impressive.  But it was still a pretty good-sized bunch that year.  And we just had our early 4th this last weekend.  Wunnerful.

I have pictures of Christopher from this particular 4th, but I gave them to Linda a while ago.  And of course, I don't know where the photos I kept are at the moment.  This photo is of a different branch of the family tree and may or may not have been taken on the 4th but I simply love it, so I am posting it.  I don't care if I've used it before or not.  Love it!  Love it!

A very merry unbirthday?

"February 2, 1992:  Bill, Jayme, Nancy, Tom, Merilyn, Dale, Dane, Kyleah, Mary, Rick, Mitch, Greta, Dorothy Jo and Johanna here for dinner.  Gaylord, Lois and Linda and Myrtle came in p.m.  Lester came home from hospital in p.m.  Myrtle Jacobsen died.
February 5, 1992:  Myrtle J.'s funeral.  I didn't go.
February 11, 1992:  Lila took me to Norfolk.  I bought a new floor lamp -- cost $120.79."

All those people there and no mention that it was for Grandma's birthday.  Her 80th birthday in fact.  She cracks me up sometimes.

Of course, we can't let a mention of Myrtle Jacobsen go by without relating how Nancy believed Tom came to join the family.  Rather than share the story of the birds and bees with Nancy, Grandma told her she fell down and hurt her leg and Myrtle Jacobsen felt sorry for her so she gave her a baby.  Nancy confesses that sometimes she wasn't sure if she liked Myrtle Jacobsen or not.  I for one, always liked Myrtle Jacobsen.  And I do believe Nancy has come around as well.

The photo is from Grandma's 90th birthday, but it was the best I had.

Yet another birthday, actually two

"December 16, 1990:  Birthday dinner for Howard -- Tom, Merilyn, Nancy, Dane, Raymond, Marina, Irene and Greta here.  In p.m. to Helen and John's for the gathering of the clan:  Elmer, Myrtle, McKeowns, Dorothy Jo, Bob's, Johanna, Linda, Karen and those from here.
December 19, 1990:  Busy Bees had Christmas dinner at Stop-Inn.
December 20, 1990:  -2 degrees in morning -- windy.  Wind chill -20 degrees or more!!"

There are two relatively little things I like about these entries; that Grandma called the family "the clan" and that she used two exclamation points in talking about the wind chill.  I have no idea why I find both of those things smile-worthy.

Grandpa would have been 83 for this birthday, so Uncle Elmer would have been 93.  Grandma doesn't say so exactly, but I am guessing the gathering at Aunt Helen's was for Uncle Elmer's birthday as well as a continuation of Grandpa's.  It wasn't uncommon to have one cake for both gents at the bigger get-together.  Grandpa was born in the 20th century and Uncle Elmer in the 19th.  As world events go, in the year Grandpa was born, the RMS Lusitania made its maiden voyage from Liverpool to New York City.  And unbelievably, in the year Uncle Elmer was born, the word "computer" was first used; at that time it meant an electronic calculation device.  Nebraska had been a state for only 30 years.

The photo is of me in the snow (selected since Grandma was talking about the cold), and so was obviously not taken in 1990, but look at all that white stuff.  I remember this particular storm but don't recall any storms of that magnitude since.  The one drift was so high that you couldn't see the house across the street to the southwest.  Well, I couldn't anyway.  And even I could step over the clothesline in the backyard since the snow was so tall underneath it.  Crazy stuff.

The Centennial

July 20 - 22, 1990:  Centennial.  Nancy came Thursday night.  Tom and Merilyn came Thursday night and stayed with Ted L.'s at Norfolk.  Ray and Aileen here Friday and Saturday -- stayed at Norfolk motel.  Bill, Jenny, Jayme came for Saturday and Sunday, spent the night at Helen's.  Dale's just in Winside on Saturday.

Hmmm.  I am not sure what to think about this one.  I happen to know that Rick and I also made it up for the centennial.  Either Grandma forgot to note that or . . . we didn't make it up to say hello.  I suppose either is equally possible, but I would like to think she forgot us.  I am sure we would have at the very least said hello during or after the alumni banquet.  But it was a huge affair up at the school gym, not in the auditorium downtown like usual.  So, dunno.  My 10 year class reunion got somewhat gobbled up by the centennial celebration, but that's fine.  Tom once told me that reunions after the 20th are more fun than the 10th.  At ten years, you and your classmates are still a bit busy trying to impress with what you drive or where you work or where you live.  However, by 20 years and beyond nobody really cares anymore.

I should have gone on a bit more about family 4th of July picnics in my earlier post.  They are always great fun with lots of fireworks and food and visiting and kids running around.  My favorite foods from our gatherings would be fresh raspberries (from Aunt Myrtle), new potatoes (from anybody) and cream pie (again, I don't care who makes it).  The first picnics I can remember were at Uncle Elmer and Aunt Myrtle's place, then they moved to Leonard and Dorothy Jo's and then to Ramon and Linda's.  It's always a good time, but I certainly miss those of our hosts and hostesses that aren't with us anymore.  Oh, and can't forget Ramon's dog who liked to run at the fireworks instead of away from them.  Such a kick in the pants!

The photo is probably from a previous Old Settler's.  I believe Grandpa grew a beard to enter a contest.  Look how dark his tan is -- I remember those days.