Saturday, June 17, 2006
Great trip:
Cindy, Sam and I had a great few days at the camper - it was really a giggle and fun get away. So relaxing!
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
My Passion:
Just thought I would let you all know that I am headed for the camper at Bennett Springs with my daughter and grandson Sam. They are having their annual "Hillbilly Days", suppose to be many crafters and some fun - catch you all on the other side. I am working on my draft to honor my Dad on Sunday.
Normandy Junior High
Ninth Grade Dance:
I wanted to post these two so that you would see the wonderful dress that my Mom made for my first dance. She worked on this dress for a very long time and I was really, really proud of it and her. We had fun picking out the material - it is a white background with a light pink design - the train-like on the back was pale pink. She actually had to roll the hem on the train to make the hem.
This is one of the few times you will ever see me with longer hair - yuck.
In our school system you went K - 5 for Grade School, 6-9 for Junior High and then 10-12 for High School. We may not have been the Baby Boomers yet - but our school was very large and crowded. There were 500 something in my class alone.
In Junior High I made some good friends that are still my very good friends - especially my best friend Marilyn. The night of the 9th Grade dance she was crowned the queen and I was so proud of her - I didn't mind loosing at all to her.
I wanted to post these two so that you would see the wonderful dress that my Mom made for my first dance. She worked on this dress for a very long time and I was really, really proud of it and her. We had fun picking out the material - it is a white background with a light pink design - the train-like on the back was pale pink. She actually had to roll the hem on the train to make the hem.
This is one of the few times you will ever see me with longer hair - yuck.
In our school system you went K - 5 for Grade School, 6-9 for Junior High and then 10-12 for High School. We may not have been the Baby Boomers yet - but our school was very large and crowded. There were 500 something in my class alone.
In Junior High I made some good friends that are still my very good friends - especially my best friend Marilyn. The night of the 9th Grade dance she was crowned the queen and I was so proud of her - I didn't mind loosing at all to her.
Monday, June 12, 2006
Letter from Grandma
I remember Grandma visiting us in St.Louis, but for the life of me I can't come up with any pictures that were taken while she was there - very strange. This was in August of 1957.
Meeting at Grandma's house
We didn't seem to make as many trips down to Green Forest as we did before Grandpa died. However, I do remember that whenever Aunt Betty came in from California, we would make a trip to see everyone.
We always sat as a group out on the front lawn under the shade tree. I remember Grandma always had homemade lemonade for us to drink on those very hot days of summer.
Again, it was so wonderful to listen to all the stories that this group could tell.
We always sat as a group out on the front lawn under the shade tree. I remember Grandma always had homemade lemonade for us to drink on those very hot days of summer.
Again, it was so wonderful to listen to all the stories that this group could tell.
Grandma in town
Grandma sold the farm and with the proceeds moved into a large house in Green Forest and she was a very content woman. It wa a huge house and she took in renters. She was across the street from Uncle Jesse's wife, she could walk to town and church. I truly remember the beautiful flowers on the front porch - Angle-winged begonia's. In side there were two couches facing each other that seemed to grow closer together as the years passed.
Grandma had a TV and on the TV sat the family from "As The World Turned". The shell horn that could be blown sat close to the TV and there was a bearskin rug on the wall that Uncle Chuck and the boys had sent her.
Her days were happy and she was ever so glad to be in town. She continued to work on her quilts and to crochet - for which I am ever grateful to have some pieces she made. She sent me the most beautiful dollie for graduation of High School and then for college graduation she made me a quilt. I got to pick the pattern and colors - pink checked flowers. It will always be a family heirloom.
Grandma had a TV and on the TV sat the family from "As The World Turned". The shell horn that could be blown sat close to the TV and there was a bearskin rug on the wall that Uncle Chuck and the boys had sent her.
Her days were happy and she was ever so glad to be in town. She continued to work on her quilts and to crochet - for which I am ever grateful to have some pieces she made. She sent me the most beautiful dollie for graduation of High School and then for college graduation she made me a quilt. I got to pick the pattern and colors - pink checked flowers. It will always be a family heirloom.
Letter from Grandpa
You all got me to thinking and I remembered that there was a letter from Grandpa Powell to me in my scapbook that Mom kept for me. I know it is during WWII time because he talks about his friends getting a tire for him on the black market. He also refers to Aunt Winnie as "Bill" and mentions Tommie Lou - so this must have been when Aunt Thelma was living with Grandma and Grandpa during the war while Uncle Tom was in the service.
Sunday, June 11, 2006
'55 Club House in St. Charles
The Merk Get - Away:
Dad was working such long, hard hours at McDonnell that we decided that we, as a family, needed a quiet Get-Away. So - dad had this very simple two car garage turned into a sort of a club house. At first it was a lot of work, but eventually it was just a quiet, close place to get-away. The Reed's would come with us many times, and Jim came with us many, many weekends.
We also had a boat that was more for speed and water skiing that we kept at the harbor area within walking distance of the house. Mom tried to be ever so brave, but she really was deathly afraid of the water and of course, I swam like a fish and loved every minute of my time on the lake. We had many friends that also had boats and we would actually spend most of the time out on the water - therefore, Dad just kept trading up with the boats until we finally sold the cabin and just had an old, ugly boat that would sleep six. Mom, however, felt much safer and enjoyed our outings more.
Dad was working such long, hard hours at McDonnell that we decided that we, as a family, needed a quiet Get-Away. So - dad had this very simple two car garage turned into a sort of a club house. At first it was a lot of work, but eventually it was just a quiet, close place to get-away. The Reed's would come with us many times, and Jim came with us many, many weekends.
We also had a boat that was more for speed and water skiing that we kept at the harbor area within walking distance of the house. Mom tried to be ever so brave, but she really was deathly afraid of the water and of course, I swam like a fish and loved every minute of my time on the lake. We had many friends that also had boats and we would actually spend most of the time out on the water - therefore, Dad just kept trading up with the boats until we finally sold the cabin and just had an old, ugly boat that would sleep six. Mom, however, felt much safer and enjoyed our outings more.
July 15, 1954
My records all show that this is the day Grandpa died. I still have so many memories of the days leading up to July 15th. I think we were there at least a week before his passing. I remember sitting with Grandpa by his bedside in their bedroom, putting cool towels on his head and Aunt Thelma and Uncle Floyd giving him shots to keep him comfortable.
I remember Daddy comforting Mom, she was so distraught and because she really thought after we arrived that he would get better and make it through this spell - she soon came to the realization that he wasn't going to battle to get better in her opinion.
I am pleased that my parents allowed me to go through the stages with Grandpa and that I was allowed to go to the funeral. I remember there being a lot of discussion about me going over to stay with Gene and Valence, but I told my parents I really wanted to attend Grandpa's funeral.
The day of the funeral was probably the hottest day I remember in my life - there hadn't been rain in weeks. I remember each car going at intervals down the lane and each taking the opposite direction because the dust from each car was enough to choke the one behind. There sure must have been a great deal of discussion about how we would all get to Sunny Lane, because it sure is a vivid memory.
I truly remember the church being packed and we all had paper fans - the tears seemed to turn into mud on our faces. However, the most powerful part of the whole day is that I remember truly hearing the promise that Melton was now in Heaven - my young heart really did calm and rejoice. I learned that you can have great sorrow and rejoice that Grandpa wasn't suffering anymore and that he was in a better place. What a lesson for a 12 year old to hear and understand.
I remember Daddy comforting Mom, she was so distraught and because she really thought after we arrived that he would get better and make it through this spell - she soon came to the realization that he wasn't going to battle to get better in her opinion.
I am pleased that my parents allowed me to go through the stages with Grandpa and that I was allowed to go to the funeral. I remember there being a lot of discussion about me going over to stay with Gene and Valence, but I told my parents I really wanted to attend Grandpa's funeral.
The day of the funeral was probably the hottest day I remember in my life - there hadn't been rain in weeks. I remember each car going at intervals down the lane and each taking the opposite direction because the dust from each car was enough to choke the one behind. There sure must have been a great deal of discussion about how we would all get to Sunny Lane, because it sure is a vivid memory.
I truly remember the church being packed and we all had paper fans - the tears seemed to turn into mud on our faces. However, the most powerful part of the whole day is that I remember truly hearing the promise that Melton was now in Heaven - my young heart really did calm and rejoice. I learned that you can have great sorrow and rejoice that Grandpa wasn't suffering anymore and that he was in a better place. What a lesson for a 12 year old to hear and understand.
Aunt Betty came to St.Louis
I only remember Aunt Betty coming to St.Louis one time for a visit. She brought along this picture of Uncle Chuck and the boys that were back in California.
I do remember a little about them living in Green Forest before they went out to California. But it seems like all my other times to see Aunt Betty were when she would travel back to see Grandma and we would make a hurried trip down and enjoy every single minute of her visit. I just know I could have been around Aunt Betty every day of my life - I did so love her. She and I just really clicked - she always seemed more of friend than an Aunt, I could talk with her for hours and absolutely share anything with her. She was really easy to make laugh - especially the day she taught me how to cut up a chicken and fry it. The two of us were sweating and laughing all at the same time ( this was in Grandma's big house in town.) Later I will tell you about our one and only trip out to California to see Aunt Betty - between my Junior and Senior year in high school.
I do remember a little about them living in Green Forest before they went out to California. But it seems like all my other times to see Aunt Betty were when she would travel back to see Grandma and we would make a hurried trip down and enjoy every single minute of her visit. I just know I could have been around Aunt Betty every day of my life - I did so love her. She and I just really clicked - she always seemed more of friend than an Aunt, I could talk with her for hours and absolutely share anything with her. She was really easy to make laugh - especially the day she taught me how to cut up a chicken and fry it. The two of us were sweating and laughing all at the same time ( this was in Grandma's big house in town.) Later I will tell you about our one and only trip out to California to see Aunt Betty - between my Junior and Senior year in high school.
My grade school years
I have searched through pics everywhere, but this is the only Girl Scout picture I can find. The reason I want to post this is to tell you that my Mom, a person that did not like camping or outside stuff, was my scout leader from the time I was in 3rd Grade until the end of 9th Grade. This period of time involved a lot of camping and Whipporwill's hanging out over her tent all night. Jim and Skip were also kind of mascots for my troup - especially Jim. Mom had us all cook out in our backyard one time on some kind of coffee can cooker we each made - I shared mine with Jim. When we had to make pancakes I certainly remember him melting his plastic fork in my pancakes.
Most of the time from 5th grade through 7th my Dad worked the second shift at McDonnell. I very seldom saw him during those years except on the weekends. I really never was a morning person, and bless his heart, he would try to stay up until I got up in the mornings - he would always say "Good Morning Sunshine" and I would absolutely grumble at him. When I look back, I really look at the wasted morning moments that I wish I could take back.
Most of the time from 5th grade through 7th my Dad worked the second shift at McDonnell. I very seldom saw him during those years except on the weekends. I really never was a morning person, and bless his heart, he would try to stay up until I got up in the mornings - he would always say "Good Morning Sunshine" and I would absolutely grumble at him. When I look back, I really look at the wasted morning moments that I wish I could take back.
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