Pig Pen Quilt Block

     I found the pattern for this 9" Pig Pen block in Golden's Journal: 20 Sampler Blocks Honoring Prairie Farm Life by DeArmond, Lang, and Spitzli.  I used their templates and followed their good directions and was pleasantly surprised to discover that this block, with its curved seams, was not as difficult as I expected.

     In these diary entries, Luke, Rag, and Duke are horses.  Charlie is a hired man.  Mr. Frank J. George is Hattie's future husband (but they are only just starting to date).  Howard (18) and George (12) are Hattie's younger brothers.  My grandmother Hattie is 20 years old as she writes this.  The porch she refers to is a sleeping porch, wonderful for sleeping during hot Kansas summers. 

Monday, June 26, 1916 -

"I did the very 'unique' stunt of going to town in the hog wagon tonight.  I wanted to go to town, and as they were shipping and using Luke and Rag to drive the cattle and Charlie had to interfere just as Papa was about to say I could ride Duke, I decided I was 'game' to go with the other hogs. . . On our way home we stopped at May's, and I wrote a hasty note to Mr. Frank J. George, and she will mail it in the morning. 

"As this was wash day and is now almost eleven, I will run to the porch until a gentle voice disturbs me."

Wednesday, June 28, 1916 -
"Howard tried in vain to get the engine started again tonight, so I am using my candle.  I sure want to get to bed.  I have felt so disenergetic all day as it has been quite warm, and we were finishing the ironing this morning.  Of course, that tired me.

"Papa and Mother went to Mr. and Mrs. Griggs' Golden Wedding Anniversary this afternoon.  I didn't do very much of anything.  I had a brief nap and read and wrote quite a while, then dressed and got supper.  I hope I feel more lively tomorrow.

"Papa and George just now drove in.  I wonder if I got a letter?  Hope so!"

Howard's grandson and Hattie's nephew, Howard H. Woodbury, later writes in 1985: "Great-Granddad had a great love for his cow herd.  He had Shorthorn cattle until about 1895.  Then he began raising registered Herefords. . . However, cattle weren't the only livestock on the farm.  He ran an equal number of hogs behind his cattle.  He also had chickens and several milk cows.  Saddle horses and eight teams of mules also resided at the Woodbury Farm."

     from "Woodbury Farms: 104 years of continuous ranching in the East Central Kansas Flint Hills" by Howard H. Woodbury, 1985

You might also enjoy reading my previous blog post:

http://www.starwoodquilter.blogspot.com/2012/01/midsummer-night-quilt-block.html