Practical Orchard Quilt Block

     I am in the Front Range Modern Quilt Guild and am participating in a challenge to use Habitat fabric by Jay McCarroll.  I thought these fabrics looked like fruit so were perfect for the Practical Orchard quilt block.  The pattern comes from The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt by Laurie Aaron Hird, but I enlarged it to make this block 9" square finished. 

     In this continuing story about her father, my grandmother describes their move to Emporia, Kansas in 1906 and their preparation for it.

from A Kansas Yankee by Harriet Woodbury George -

"Mother was suggesting and anxious for us to have a good education.  Dad was considering and planning how they could manage.  Mamma was not strong enough to do the work of a farm wife - so Papa bought a big house in Emporia rather than build one on the farm, and we moved to Emporia in September 1906.  Minerva remained on the farm to keep house there for Dad.  Later he hired a man and his wife who shared the responsibility of running the farm.  Mary and Eva entered high school in Emporia.  Ruth was in the seventh grade at Garfield.  Howard and I were in Century Grade School.  Philip (Ted) was ready for Grade 1-C Class, a Beginner.

"The migration to Emporia was made principally in September 1906.  There was necessarily much preparation to complete the summer and early fall work of caring for the fruit of the orchard.  A friend and her daughters came from Olivet to help us.  I recall how Ruth, Howard and I helped with drying of apples, which our elders peeled and quartered and cut in slices.  We helped to spread them up on the roofs of some of the porches and small outbuildings which were not too high nor steep, so the sunshine could reach them.  The apples were spread on sheets, and we used rocks or bricks to keep the sheets from blowing.  Then mosquito netting was placed over them to discourage the ever-present flies.  The warm sun and air did the drying.  Possibly we turned the slices later, I have forgotten.  The winter apples were not yet ripened but would be harvested later, and cider made.  Some early apples would be used as cider for apple butter.  All of our goods from the farm were hauled in by teams and wagons from home - no moving trucks then."  

Before leaving the farm for Emporia in 1906
Howard        Ruth        Hattie
                                           George          Anna       Teddy              

                       

Sunday School Class, First Methodist Church, Emporia, Kansas 1907

Back: Lesta Alvord, Goldie Gunzelman, Lee Grubb, Florine Richards, Lillian Bishop

Front: Gladys Tibbals, Mrs. Robert Vickers, Hazel Bishop, Paul Spofford, Hattie Woodbury, Paul Hatcher

You might enjoy reading my previous blog entry:

http://starwoodquilter.blogspot.com/2011/08/sister-star-quilt-block.html