Quilting lesson, part 2

"January 25, 2002:  Received 14 birthday cards and a package from Helen -- contained homemade candy "turtles".
January 26, 2002:  Called Helen to thank her for the candy.  Received a birthday card.  Greta had placed a request in The Wayne Herald and others for a card shower for my 90th birthday.  Joan N. called this evening explaining why she wasn't at my farewell party.
January 27, 2002:  Called Greta in a.m.  Received three birthday cards.  Nancy brought supper -- I showered and then we played Rummikub."

I certainly hope I sent or delivered a birthday card to Grandma.  I think I am ranked nationally in the bad-about-sending-cards category.

Here's more of the quilt speech:

A missionary from Boston to the Hawaiian Islands gave the native women scraps of material to make quilts because she thought "idle hands do the devil's work".  The native women gradually substituted their own material to display their much-loved motifs -- grape vines, shadows of the bread fruit tree, or taro leaves.  The swirling, curved stitching instead of the diagonal or parallel is indicative of the Hawaiian gentle nature.  Families made their own patterns and shared them with no one else.  These patterns were treasured by the family.

Amish quilts have strong design and striking colors.  [believe only God is perfect, the quilts have plenty of imperfections]  The quilts are composed of three primary shapes -- the square, triangle and rectangle.  Often the square is placed on its corners to make a diamond.  Small triangles may be placed along these edges to form a saw tooth diamond.  The Amish felt it was sinful to have excess pride in wordly possessions, so the early quilts were constructed of large, simple pieces.  In the early 1900's they began to use more intricate designs being influenced by English neighbors.

Many books have been written about quilting in America.  Among the early colonists, cloth was too scarce and expensive to waste, so homespun and worn calico dresses were cut and sewed into crazy patch quilts.  In time the European motifs were replaced by traditional American designs still used today.  Colonial ladies in Boston and Philadelphia, others on southern plantations, and the pioneer women of Kentucky or Kansas made many quilts.  New designs were created and they were named after the new land -- the Ohio Rose, Arizona Cactus, and the Rocky Road to Kansas.

The famous Lemoyne Star was the forerunner of the Lone Star, Twin Star, California Star, Star of Bethlehem, Morning Star and Broken Star and many more.  The Log Cabin with its many variations was one of the most popular of all.  (Quilt at Pioneer Village).

And to illustrate Grandma's point about the log cabin pattern, here is one variation.  The writing on the back of the photo would indicate this was given to Uncle Raymond and Aunt Marina.

Quilting lesson

"January 22, 2002:  Foot still hurts some.  Warm today -- high of 59 degrees.
January 23, 2002:  Mary came at noon and ate lunch -- I showered.  In evening to Book Club.
January 24, 2002:  Myrtle's birthday -- Also Mary's.  Called Myrtle in a.m.  Helen Jones called in p.m.

I found a speech Grandma typed out and most likely gave somewhere, sometime.  There is nothing I've found so far to indicate an audience or a date.  But, I haven't read through it all so maybe there will be hints along the way.  Since Grandma was a prolific quilter, it is only appropriate to put here what she knew and researched and liked about quilts.  It will take a few posts to get it all, but that's fine with me.  Here we go.  Oh, I am going to include her notes to herself that aren't complete sentences just because.

[Glad to be here]
[Miss Ramsey]
["fruited plane"]
[Not a professional orator]

Little is known of the early history of quilting.  The noun quilt is derived from the Latin word "culcita" meaning a sack, mattress or cushion filled with feathers, wool, or hair used to lie upon or as a cover.

From ancient statuary it has been learned that quilted clothing was used 3,000 years ago.  At the time of William the Conqueror and the Crusades at the end of the 11th century, quilted jackets were worn under the knight's armor.

Explorers in India, Egypt and other eastern countries discovered patchwork and it was brought back to the Mediterranean countries and then across Europe and into northern England.

In the 1200's quilting was a cottage industry in Wales and northern England.  In the 1700's fashionable women in the British Isles enjoyed the warmth and beauty of quilted [bulky!] silk petticoats and coverlets.

French needlewomen are credited with introducing the art of applique [Dresden Plate, Mary's butterfly] and the Italians gave us trapunto [have read about trapunto, haven't seen any, looks like a lot of work] , which is outlining a design and then stuffing it to give a 3-dimensional effect.

Well, a granddaughter who stayed the night is requesting muffins for breakfast, so I better go make some.  More quilt information tomorrow.  But before I go, a photo that cracks me up.  I don't think he was truly angry, but it certainly looks like Grandpa is not enjoying Aunt Marina's turn at cards.  He wasn't playing so she isn't beating him, but he does look dissatisfied. 

What now?

"July 22 and 23, 1995:  Raymond and Marina in Lincoln.
August 3, 1995:  Raymond and Marina left for California.  In p.m., Howard and Marvin A. came to visit.
August 5, 1995:  Greta got some diabetic things for Howard. 
Helen and John visited Raymond Jones during the middle of August.
August 20, 1995:  Went to Lincoln for Anna's baptism.
August 27, 1995:  Katie B. and Louise H. visited here in p.m.
March 29, 1998:  Marina died.
April 3, 1998:  Marina's funeral."

Yup, that's correct -- Grandma went from August 1995 to March 1998 in this particular journal.  I have to remember to grab something new for my next post.  I do not immediately recall a 1998 or 1999 journal, so we may very well take an even greater leap with the next journal. 

Had to post a photo of the lovely Marina.  She and Uncle Raymond always seemed so very happy and infatuated with one another.  It was fun to be around them.

Grandma must have been worried

"July 20, 1995:  Howard to Dr. Patel -- took biopsy.  Raymond's took us to Toni's to eat.
July 21, 1995:  Pinochle at Ida's.  Gaylord's and Lee and Virginia N. here in the evening.
July 23, 1995:  Helen and I played Scrabble.  Bill here at noon -- Jayme was at music camp.
July 25, 1995:  Helen and I played Scrabble here.  John brought the stand for cassette tapes.  Raymond and Marina went to Elmer & Myrtle's."

I am thinking Grandma was worried about Grandpa's health, or very involved with company and cards and Scrabble, but I am positive we were up to Winside prior to July 25 to introduce Anna to the family, and there's been no entry by her about that.  Even if that date is incorrect, I have looked ahead in Grandma's journal and there's no mention of a visit prior to Anna's baptism in August and I know we were up before then.  But, I will forgive her the lack of a mention.

I imagine Mom remembers how ornery we were with the first Anna visit.  I hatched a plan and Rick dropped Anna and I off in St. Paul's parking lot and then he and Mitch rode down to Mom's.  We had to tell Mitch it was okay to tease Grandma this one time.  So, they get in the driveway and Mom comes out and Rick tells her that it was hot (which is was) and I was really tired so Anna and I stayed home.  Mom admits she told them in sullen tones to just come on in the house then.  By that time I was walking down the hill with Anna, so we didn't tease her for too awfully long.

Well, I thought I had a photo ready of Grandpa and Anna during the introduction visit and now I can't find it.  So instead, for no particular reason, here are Uncle Elmer and Grandpa living it up.

Grandpa back home

"July 13, 1995:  To Norfolk in a.m. and p.m. to see Howard.
July 14, 1995:  1/2 inch of rain in evening.
July 15, 1995:  Nancy came -- went to see Howard in p.m.  He's diabetic -- also has infection some place.  Raymond and Marina took Nancy and me to The Granary to eat.
July 16, 1995:  Howard called from hospital at 8:00 a.m. that he could come home.  Nancy and I went after him."

I am glad Grandma wrote this kind of stuff down.  I had no idea when it was that Grandpa was diagnosed as a diabetic.  I wouldn't have even been able to come up with a good guess.  Not that it's so important now, but I think it's good to exercise my brain a bit and put things in there to recall later.  Also, that kind of stuff makes me look smart.

The photo was taken in July, so Anna is less than a month old here but look at those healthy little thighs she has going on there.  This is during the time Mitch was heavily in to those temporary tattoos.  Now that he is old enough to get real ones, I am glad he doesn't have one on his face.  Anna might be getting back those tummy lines from being folded in half.  But she doesn't look to be unhappy about it.

Anna's here!

"July 6, 1995:  Anna LaRayne was born.
July 7, 1995:  Pinochle at Leona's.
July 8 and 9, 1995:  Nancy came -- cleaned the kitchen cupboards for me.
July 12, 1995:  Raymond and Marina came in late afternoon.  Howard got sick.  Greta, Marina and I took him to the emergency room at the Lutheran Hospital.  Howard stayed at hospital.

I guess I was wrapped up in a new baby, but didn't remember Grandpa being in the hospital so close in time to that new baby.  I know he was not in the hospital by the time we went up for the first visit with Anna, so maybe that is why I am not recalling that very clearly.

The photo was taken very shortly after Anna decided to quit fooling around and breathe.  We had more than a few tense moments (seemed like minutes and minutes and minutes . . . ) during which Joann (midwife) was thumping Anna's feet and banging on her back before she took that first breath.  Joann admitted later that she was just about to call in the big guns to get her breathing.  Anna sure looks over-baked with those red fold lines on her tummy.  But then, she was.  And other than those two issues, she hasn't been much trouble.

One trip a success, another cancelled

"November 30, 1994:  John and Helen went to Lincoln.  Tonight they'll go with Tom and Merilyn by plane to Las Vegas and then drive to Laughlin.  Will meet Trina, Paul, Marina and Raymond there.
December 4, 1994:  Cold -- didn't go to church -- have a cough.  John and Helen came home this p.m.  Finished piecing the 3" square block quilt top.
December 5, 1994:  Was to go to Yankton to Dr. Sprik today.  Cancelled the appointment -- very cold, just 10 degrees above -- and my cough is still a problem.  Will go Friday instead."

It's still Saturday, right?  I didn't miss a whole weekend of posts again, did I?  Unfortunately, it is Monday.  Fortunately, however, my laptop should be fixed soon so that I can post from home on the weekends again.  We do have another computer at the house, but when I think about posting John is in the middle of something and when he isn't, well I don't remember to go post something.  Ah, well.

I had to blather on a bit about that topic as I don't have any particular thoughts on Grandma's entries.  I don't like to think about 10 degree days, I do have a thought on that matter.

For no reason, here's a photo of Grandpa talking to a dog.  Looks like Fuzzy to me, but I'm not sure.  As a bonus, I realized there is a quilt in the photo so it ties in with this entry after all.  It's not the 3" square quilt though, that's for sure.

Knitting?

"November 13, 1994:  The entire family plus Helen, John and Dorothy Jo there at Greta and Lester's for their 25th anniversary.  The family went together and gave them a bread maker.  We gave them the Storm at Sea quilt.
November 14, 1994:  Beverly N. took me to Legion Auxiliary meeting -- Lila brought me home.
November 15, 1994:  Mailed knitted doily to Marina and Raymond -- anniversary present."

Knitted doily??  What's up with that?  I would bet the farm and all my critters that Grandma did not knit.  I don't think Grandma Anna knitted.  I lived my entire childhood thinking we were crochet people, period.  Maybe Grandma had one from the Iversen side that she was given or something.  But other than that, I'm stumped.  I can't see her going out and buying one, but I suppose that is a possibility, too.  I have an anti-knit bias and would like to see this settled.  Mom?  Nancy?  Jim? 

I think I am caught up now with this being Tuesday and this also being a post for Tuesday. 

Here's Grandma Anna contemplating, I am sure, the inferiority of knitting.  I love the doodad in her hair.

Post-reunion normalcy and baseball

"July 8, 1994:  Pinochle Club here.
July 10, 1994:  Marina, Greta and I to church in Pilger to hear the new ministers, Gary and Ruth Larson.  Ate dinner at the Black Knight in Wayne.
July 12, 1994:  Raymond and Marina left for home.

Things were getting back to normal for Grandma, which means I do not have a wealth of material here on which to comment.  So, I'll steer towards Pilger.  Turns out that a major league baseball player, Bud Tinning was born and raised near Pilger and attended high school there.  According to wikipedia: 

"Tinning was born and raised in Pilger, Nebraska, where he was a sports star for the high school and local sandlot baseball teams. Tinning was born into the Arthur Tinning family. His father was a farmer by trade and the family lived northwest of Pilger on their farm. Bud's siblings included two sisters Mabel and Marie and two brothers, Oger and Dewey. Bud's mother died in childbirth when Bud was only two years old. As a youngster, he attended Pilger High School for two years however he quit school to help his father on the farm. In the summer, Bud played baseball with country teams on local sandlots such as hayfields or in pastures. Marty Willers was a catcher for Bud during that time and said that Bud was known as the hardest thrower around with an excellent fast ball. He was first noticed by professional baseball scouts while pitching for the Genoa, Nebraska town team, and began his professional career with the Omaha Packers, a franchise in the Western League.  His minor league career was highlighted by earning all-star status in the Western League for Des Moines in 1930, as well as for his 1931 season with the Minneapolis Millers, where he was noticed by the Cubs and was signed for the 1932 season at the age of twenty-six. Lou Gehrig wrote: 'Lyle hung up one of the most sensational minor league records ever established in 1931 while pitching for Des Moines in the Western League when he won 24 games and was beaten only twice'.  While a starter in the minors, Tinning soon proved to be a success as a long relief pitcher, who could be counted on for occasional starts. Bud was 10 years younger than the manager for the first part of the 1932 season, Rogers Hornsby. In the 1932 World Series, Tinning pitched three shutout innings against the New York Yankees in two relief appearances, and stuck out Babe Ruth. The Baseball Almanac described Bud as 'a crafty pitcher.'"

An injury ended his career and he and his wife lived in Indiana.  According to the article, they visited Pilger frequently.  He and his wife are buried there.  I won't comment on the fact that he pitched well against the Yankees.

Good news, sad news

"June 30, 1994:  Met Tom and Merilyn at Wee Town.  Then on to Fort Randall -- Howard and I with Raymond and Marina.  Merilyn struck it rich -- got $2,500 on the poker machine.  Nancy came in evening.  On way home we stopped at Prenger's to eat.
July 1, 1994:  Rose Thies died, funeral July 5."

I am not a pessimist by nature, but I am pretty sure I could play a poker machine for 15 years straight and not hit $2,500.  I just don't seem to be that lucky.  But, oh well. 

I've talked before about visiting Rose Thies when I was a little girl.  I always liked her.  And so accordingly, here is probably the only photo I have of her.

What a bash!

"June 25, 1994:  Nancy did some odd jobs for me.
June 26, 1994:  To church.
June 27, 1994:  To Dannebrog -- very interesting.  Nancy went home from there.  Raymond drove.
June 29, 1994:  To Greta's in evening for her birthday.  Dorothy Jo, Frances C., Jean, Marjorie, Helen, John, Raymond, Marina, Howard and I there."

In reading ahead a bit, I believe I know why so many out-of-towners were at Mom's for her birthday, but still!  That's quite a bunch to entertain on your birthday.  Hope somebody else brought the cake. 

I have been to Dannebrog a few times.  Always had to stop at Harriet's to eat.  I wonder if she is still there.  She was getting a little bit up in years but very engaging and energetic so far as I could tell.  Always had a nice time chatting with her a little bit.  Bought her cookbook, too.

I thought I had scanned the photo from the family ancestry book that had Grandpa and Grandma Iversen and their children in it, but apparently that is not the case.  I thought with several branches of that family at Mom's party, it would have been quite appropriate.  Instead, here is Wilma holding Mom, and Dorothy Jo holding Ronnie.  With Wilma dying young, I don't think I will have many chances to use her picture by tying her in with something Grandma wrote.  She is quite lovely here and quite enthralled with Mom.  And that is only right since when Mom was a little girl she adored Wilma in that way that littler girls are enchanted with older girls they find pretty and grownup and everything they want to be some day.  Apparently Dorothy Jo thinks Ronnie or someone off-camera is pretty funny.

The TV saga

"June 19, 1994:  Greta, Rick, Mary, Mitch, Dale and Dane here for dinner.  Kyleah had been sick during the night so Lynn stayed home with her.  Nancy finished cleaning the front porch.
June 20, 1994:  The TV had a burnt out fuse and a loose dial -- cost $37 to repair.
June 22, 1994:  Raymond and Marina came.
June 23, 1994:  Nancy came in evening.
June 24, 1994:  Nancy took me to Norfolk and got the TV."

Looks like maybe Nancy was naughty and didn't get to have dinner on the 19th; she just got to clean the porch.

Now, 1994 wasn't that long ago but when was the last time you, dear reader, had a television with a dial on it?  It's been awhile for me.  Some comedian was saying how his folks and grandparents told him how tough they had it when they were young, like walking two miles uphill both ways to school.  He wondered what he would tell his grandkids -- that he had to get up out of the chair and turn a knob to change channels?  Such a tough life.  One time when the electricity went out and Mitch was young enough to be a bit scared about it all, I told him the things I didn't have when I was his age like Nintendo and a computer and such.  Even at that young age, he was impressed thinking how miserable my childhood must have been.  The photo is of me on my non-motorized vehicle laughing at his naivete.  I am guessing those are my diapers on the line behind me.  How scandalous!

Lots of October

"October 15, 1993:  Helen had Raymond, Marina, Howard and me for dinner.
October 17, 1993:  At night Raymond, Marina, Greta, Lester and I ate at the Brass Lantern.
October 18, 1993:  Raymond and Marina left.
October 20, 1993:  Busy Bees.
October 22, 1993:  I had Pinochle Club.
October 28 and 29, 1993:  Snow flurries."

I don't normally put so many entries in one post, but oddly enough, this is it until two brief entries in December and then we are on to 1994.  Maybe I will find another journal where Grandma put something more for this particular time period (perhaps she misplaced this journal and recorded elsewhere) or maybe she was just too busy or pre-occupied with things to write stuff down.  In any event, I thought I'd clump the rest of October together and hit December tomorrow.  And then we are to 1994.

No Aunt Marina pic this time, but here's, among others, Grandpa and Uncle Raymond and Uncle John, who I imagine was also at the dinner on the 15th. 

Life getting back to normal

"October 8, 1993:  Elta J. had Pinochle club -- I traded days with her.
October 9, 1993:  Froze last night.  Tom came after Raymond and Marina, brought them back Sunday evening.
October 13, 1993:  WELCA.
October 14, 1993:  Raymond and Marina took Howard and me to the Black Knight for supper."

Not much here except normal, which is well . . . normal.  Another outing to the infamous Black Knight, that place I don't remember.  I bet if I were able to go again (which I'm not), I might remember it.  Ah well.  I think I will happily live out the rest of my life without remembering but I do get a kick out of recalling something I thought was long gone from the data bank.  Here's a photo of an occasion that I have a legitimate reason not to remember.  Wish I had those photographs hanging on the wall.

Not a happy time

"September 18, 1993:  Pinochle at Marie H.'s.
September 30, 1993:  Irene died.
October 1, 1993:  Raymond and Marina came.
October 2, 1993:  Nancy, Tom and Merilyn came.
October 4, 1993:  Irene's funeral."

Unlike several occasions Grandma has mentioned, I do remember the events surrounding these particular days.  My post title says this was not a happy time, but I imagine it was for Aunt Irene; to be free of the constraints on her body and joyful spirit.  She was freed from all that. 

Pitch

"July 17, 1993:  Tom and Merilyn came in p.m.  We played Pitch until 9:30 and then they went to Helen's for the night.
July 18, 1993:  Just Tom and Merilyn here for dinner -- had such a good visit.  Greta came in p.m. -- played Pitch again.  Tom and Greta weeded all the flowers -- they look so nice now.  Called Marina for her birthday.

I know it's the weekend and this is yesterday's post that I am just getting to now today, but I am drawing a blank here as to what to comment on or about.  Pretty normal stuff.  And it goes without saying that it was a nice visit....our family ALWAYS has nice visits.  Maybe it was exceptionally nice, which is totally believable.

Here's a photo of Tom when he wasn't playing cards; just hanging out with a couple of cute kids.

Heart on the mend

"May 12, 1993:  Pentecost breakfast.  Talked to Marina in evening -- home from the hospital already.
May 14, 1993:  Pinochle Club at Ida's.
May 19, 1993:  Busy Bees ate out at noon in Norfolk."

Darn it!  Work is getting in my way of updating this again.  Glad to have work, actually, and so am not really complaining. 

I guess I was right about Aunt Marina being okay.  The more I think about it, I recall Grandma and/or Grandpa commenting on how quickly after surgery they had Marina up and walking around.  Rather unheard of compared to how they used to do things, but better obviously, or they wouldn't be doing it that way.  Some one is always out there learning something.

For no real reason, here is Anna on the 4th of July in 2001, hopefully not giving herself heart palpitations with all that smoke.

Little bit of everything going on

"May 5, 1993:  John had a cataract removed this morning.  Marina was to have her heart surgery.  Don Orvis came with bill for the shingling.  It was $272 instead of the $400 he gave as an estimate!!!  Greta came and helped Howard plant some more garden.
May 9, 1993:  Mother's Day.  Greta, Howard and I to Lincoln.  Howard, Nancy and I at Tom's for brunch.  In p.m. Bill's, Dale's, Mary's and Greta came for visiting and lunch.  Kids gave me a cordless phone -- combination birthday and Mother's Day -- also received cash."

No report of Aunt Marina's surgery, but I seem to remember it all went well.  Otherwise, everything here is plenty straight forward. 

Since the celebration was for Mothers' Day, here are five moms.  Well, not all were moms at the time, but you get my drift.

Feeling bad for Aunt Irene

"April 17, 1993:  Helen and I played Scrabble in p.m.  Raymond and Marina called in a.m.  She will have heart surgery May 4.  During last night Irene fell -- her left eye is swollen shut.  She is in Lady of Lourdes Hospital.  Just a chance she had another slight stroke.
April 18, 1993:  Sunny all day -- then in evening thunder, lightning and rain.  Howard planted some onions.
April 19, 1993:  Rained during the night."

I should add that Aunt Marina wasn't having a fun time of it either.  I used this photo rather recently, but since it had both lovely ladies in it, I'm using it again.

(I had a doctor's appointment this morning and it threw off my whole routine.  Didn't even think about my daily post until a little while ago.  Getting old!)

A bit of this and that

"January 26, 1993:  Helen and I Scrabbled in p.m.
January 28, 1993:  Greta took Howard and me to see Irene in the evening.  She seemed pretty good.
January 30, 1993:  Brought amarylis up from basement."

Not a lot going on at the end of January 1993 but that's okay.  Not all excitement is good excitement.

Here's a photo of Aunt Irene and Aunt Marina.  I have to believe it was taken in the 1990s sometime after Aunt Irene went to live in Norfolk.  It is an especially nice shot of Aunt Marina.  I like that she is holding on to Aunt Irene -- she was a touchy person, but in a good way, even to we reserved Scandinavian types.  The picture also shows the sleigh bells, the mug rack and the bottom of the shelf that held the clock -- all things I remember with fondness.  And the chair Aunt Irene is sitting in, the one I always forget the name of.  Those were the days, right?