Are You Missing A Key

I am sorry to be so slow on this one. I have been "bumping" into these keys for several years as I have gone through stuff trying to figure out what to do with some of the little odds and ends I have. Today it finally dawned on me that perhaps those of you who have some of the little chests from Mom and Dad just might want a key that goes with a lock. So, take a look at these keys and if you think they might fit a chest you have, please let me know and I will send them around. I have even wondered if one of them goes to Grandpa's rolled top desk.

Six Blood Offspring at Dad's Funeral in Cody WY 1993

Ann, Judy, Steve, Dwight, Louise, Elizabeth

The Grinder

This hand cranked equipment was the meat/and everything else grinder.  How else can you correctly prepare the raisens for the raisen filled cookies?  A good chunk of cooked meat could be ground with some seasoning into tasty sandwich makings.

The Best Apple Peeler

One reason I cannot redo my kitchen with new cabinets, is because I would loose my 3 bread boards.  You can see that they are used  as a ground for very modern kitchen equipment.  This is Mother's old apple peeler.

Which of us gave that handle the most cranks?  Even though we were acknowledged for being "good helpers" at applesauce making time, I'm sure that Mother was the winner in this contest.

More Fuel for the Fire

I am "sorting" papers - organizing my life. Found a page in Mother's handwriting as follows:
"Of drink and victuals and suchlike stuff,
A bit too little is just enough."

"He that lets the small things bind him,
leaves the great undone behind him."

"Freedom means you're free to do
Just whatever pleases you; -
if, of course, that is to say,
What you please is what you may."

"Our so-called limitations, I believe,
Apply to faculties we don't apply.
We don't discover what we can't achieve
Until we make an effort not to try."

"In view of your manner of spending your days,
I hope you may learn, before ending them,
That the effort you spend on defending your ways,
Could better be spent on amending them."

Mother did not give an attribution to these quotes - sorry, and hope I haven't infringed on a copyright.

And, I found this little gem in my things, again with no attribution as to author, but, at her request (see, I'm getting you into trouble, Judy), I'm including it here.

"Little pill here in my hand
I wonder how you understand
Just what to do and where to go
To stop the aches that hurt me so.

You sink in regions there below
As down my throat you quickly go,
But where I wonder, Little Pill
How do you know where I am ill?

And just how do you really know
Just where you are supposed to go?
I've got a headache, that is true,
And my achin' back needs attention, too.

But how can anything so small
End my aches in no time at all?
Do you work alone or hire a crew
To do the good things that you do?

I'm counting on you mighty strong
To get in there where you belong.
Don't let me down and please don't shirt,
But do your undercover work.

So down my throat be on your way.
And end my aches for one more day.
Don't make a wrong turn, is my lea,
'Cause I can't take another one 'til three!'

Mother's Blue Sunday School Chair

Was this chair once red? Mother must have liked blue, because she painted this chair and it's larger companion blue - and who has the larger chair? Note the little rubber feet, placed there to save the hardwood floor at Penrose. Lots of children have enjoyed this chair - Who sat in this chair to read? It is a real treasure, but I don't know the complete history of it. I hope for some help in the matter.

The Beaded Purse - Early Style

This little beaded purse used to live in Mother's cedar chest with the other treasures of the past, including Mother's flapper dresses and the elegant green dress with the hobtnail-type trim. Judy remembers it as being our grandmother Louise (Mach-Krajicek)'s - Perhaps Louise will remember its' origin? Somehow I associate it with Aunt Rose (Kray) Allgeier, but my memory about these things may be faulty, too. Anyone who knows and remembers, please let us know.

REAL TREASURES

This weekend reminded me of what the real treasures in life are to us. Scarce moments spent with two unexpected travelers reverberates the joyous sounds of PENROSE MORNINGS.

The Great Ronco Rotisserie Swindle

Judy called this afternoon and was speaking in tongues.  I had no idea what on earth she was talking about.  I finally extracted out of her that she was attributing the Ronco Rotisserie to me that Kemp had just delivered to her.  She was concerned, because now she claimed she had two Ronco Rotisseries, a matter about which she has dissembled for many years.  I wish to absolve myself of sending my Ronco Rotisserie to her and, to prove said allegation, provide photographic evidence that my wonderful machine rests comfortably on the top shelf of my store room.  There is some hanky-panky afoot here of which I have had no part.  Judy and Kemp have collaborated on devious information in re: Ronco Rotisseries for years.  Let this matter now be put to rest.  However, Judy, if you need another Ronco Rotisserie, let me know.  You could incinerate six chickens or three turkeys at a time.  Life would be good.  Dissembling never gets you anywhere.

Childhood Toys

Remember these puzzles? There was the winter that Mother made sets of these to sell and we were surprised with a set of our very own under our Christmas tree. The Horse, is from that very old set. The others were a newer vintage. All are treasured.

A Rare Sixty some Year Old Gem

To celebrate finding a scanner driver that works with my Mac and my old Epson, saving me from having to buy a new scanner, and also simultaneously finding this gem from our Sunday School manual of 1948, I wanted to share.  I have not altered the original in any way.  If I get many votes to delete, I can do that, but it does bring back memories of causing great grief to various Sunday School teachers.

Lilac Plate

This exquisite plate was used only on special occassions, such as Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, or times when we wanted to make dinner a special celebration.. Wasn't it also used for our birthday cakes? It didn't matter that we didn't have fine china, the table setting was pretty with colorful Fiesta ware plates, and the lilac plate gave an added festive air. We all were excited when we go to use it; our values were such that we could be joyful over small things.

And we cannot think of lilacs without remembering the sweet scent from the several bouquets of lilacs that were cut from the big bushes on the Tvedtness place and put in every room of the house, using Mason canning jars for vases. The lilacs in bloom towards the end of May were such a welcome sign of spring and the long cold winter was over.

Sugar Bowl

This quaint little sugar bowl belonged to Sarah Batty Hawkins Blood, our GreatGrandmother. I can't remember when I acquired it.

Beaded Purse

This little purse was my most prized possession when I was a little girl. I remember playing with it a lot. I was heartbroken when the one strand of beads came off; I don't remember if Mother had me put it away at that time. I was told that Aunt Rose had sent it, but I don't recall that I ever knew that it had been Grandmother Louise's. So the letter from Aunt Rose telling about that brought tears to the surface when Ann read it to me. It is another remarkable connectiobn to a sweet grandmother.