Beginner's Delight Quilt Block

     I found the pattern for this Beginner's Delight block in The Quilter's Album of Patchwork Patterns by Jinny Beyer.  I drafted the pattern to make it 8" finished.  By the way I constructed the block, I ended up having to sew only one Y-seam.  I fussycut the center fabric as well as the yellow fabric.
     At the time of this diary entry, World War I has begun in Europe two years earlier on July 30, 1914, but the United States does not enter the war until April of the next year.  I found information on what I believe to be the film Hattie watched with Frank here:  http://www.answers.com/topic/the-battle-cry-of-peace
     In the July 30 diary entry, Hattie continues to learn how to drive and is both "crumbed" and "enthused!"

Wednesday, July 26, 1916 -

"I am writing this Thursday as it was 11:30, and I was a little tired when we got in. . . It was after 6:30 when Frank arrived.  Otis Bedell, Elza McGraw, McKinley Reid, and Ruth Edwards were all in the back seat, but we sure did a little speeding and reached Waverly soon after 7:00.  'The Battle Cry of Peace' certainly is a wonderful film.  I don't see where they could get such scenes.  But it didn't seem to waver Frank's opinion about 'Preparedness.'

"We took the kids to Lebo first and, after pulling the garage man out of bed to get some gasoline, we came on home."

Sunday, July 30, 1916 -

"It is very hot tonight - the worst heat we have had, I think.  But it seems to be several degrees cooler out on my cot than in here.

"It is shortly after ten; Frank left promptly on the hour.  He came over about five and after talking politics, etc. with Papa for about an hour, we started out for a ride, and I ran the car after we crossed the bridge.  We went to Osage City and of all the most ridiculous boneheads, I pulled the worst.  I had no trouble at all - we just sped along fine until we got clear into the city, and Frank said we would stop and get something to eat.  The Brown's Drug Store is on the left hand side, and I didn't want to cut across and be accused of 'jay driving.'  I drove to a corner and tried to turn around, but I didn't turn quite sharp enough, and I couldn't hold in the foot brake to save my neck - and smash we went into the curbing and onto the sidewalk.  Needless to say, I was crumbed!  Frank straightened things out, and we went on to the drug store.  I didn't look up to see if there was anyone around that I knew.  One man remarked to Frank, 'Say, those Overlands can just go any where, can't they?'  But we came along just fine coming back. . ."

Monday, July 31, 1916 -

"Ditto for the weather - I'm through discussing that topic.  I'd ought to be in bed now as I want to get up early in the morning - I'm going to vote! . .

"I've been thinking today how thoughtless of me it was not to offer Frank anything to eat when we came in last night.  Hope he doesn't take it to heart.  But I wasn't the least bit hungry and was so enthused about driving the car that I completely forgot that we hadn't any supper. . ."

You might also enjoy reading my previous blog post: 

http://www.starwoodquilter.blogspot.com/2012/02/rocky-road-quilt-block.html

Rocky Road Quilt Block

     I found this 12" Rocky Road block in a book from 1970, Modern Patchwork by Rachel Martens - Farm Journal quilt blocks from the Twenties.  It was a 14" block I reduced down to 12" finished.  

    In Sunday's diary entry, Frank and Hattie are going on a date to the Chautauqua in Burlington, Kansas to see the Ojibway Indians.  Fannie, Frank's sister, and Miss Bertha Hempstead, a week-end guest of the Woodbury family, act as chaperones.  (Miss Hempstead is a newspaper woman from Topeka.)  Hattie drives a car for the first time!
     The Chautauqua Movement flourished in the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.  It included various traveling shows and local assemblies that provided popular education combined with entertainment in the form of lectures, concerts, and plays.  The Movement was modeled after activities at the Chautauqua Institution of western New York (Merriam-Webster On-Line Dictionary).

Sunday, July 23, 1916 -
"This should really be dated Monday as it was 1:30 A.M. when we got in and, of course, I was so dead tired that I didn't open my desk at all. . .

"Frank called up right after dinner and wanted me to go to Burlington to see the Ojibway Indians.  Mother said I must take Miss Hempstead along, so he said there would be plenty of room, and I asked him to come for supper.  We started soon after six and went over and got Fannie.  Then I got in the front seat, and Frank told me to slide over in his place and drive!  Of course, he helped me and, although I made a pretty crooked track part of the time, Frank said I did just fine.  But I don't think I did, for after I had driven several miles, of course hitting every rock in the road, we had a puncture and Frank had to change tires and pump it up, too.  I was more than willing to let him drive the rest of the way, but we were late getting there.  The tent was full, and we had to stand up in the back.  The Indians were good though.  They enacted 'Hiawatha.'  We had to wait a half hour for the garage man to vulcanize the tire, and so we went up to Calvert's a little and to an ice cream parlor to kill time.  It was after eleven when we left Burlington, and we had a little trouble with something in the engine making a very nerve-racking squeaking sound.  Frank tried several times to fix it, but he couldn't.  But sometimes if we would hit a bump quite hard, it would stop for a while.  I was quite sleepy, and my neck was almost stiff by the time we got in.  Miss Hempstead and Fanny had slept between bumps most of the way home.  Although it was 1:30, Mother woke and told us she had left some watermelon in the refrigerator for us, so we went down and ate it then.  It was about two when I finally crawled in."

Monday, July 24, 1916 -

"I broke the news of my driving very gently to Mother tonight.  I didn't intend to tell her until I was thoroughly accomplished, but I only gave her an idea.  I didn't tell her we had a puncture." 

You might also enjoy reading my previous blog entry:
http://www.starwoodquilter.blogspot.com/2012/02/bookworm-quilt-block.html

Bookworm Quilt Block

    
     I found this 10" Bookworm block in Judy Martin's Ultimate Book of Quilt Block Patterns.

     In Thursday's diary entry, Hattie is reading in serial form the book The Proof of the Pudding, written in 1916 by Meredith Nicholson.  http://www.amazon.com/Proof-Pudding-Meredith-Nicholson/dp/1117174514#_  After the threshers leave, she has time to catch up on reading and personal chores.  On Friday, Hattie and Frank George (her future husband) have a date to go to the Chautauqua in Burlington, Kansas.  Russell, Frank's brother, goes with them.  (Miss Ada Sullivan later marries Russell.)  Frank promises Hattie that he will teach her to drive!
     The Chautauqua Movement - traveling shows and local assemblies that flourished in the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries - provided popular education combined with entertainment in the form of lectures, concerts, and plays, and were modeled after activities at the Chautauqua Institution of western New York (Merriam-Webster On-Line Dictionary).

    

Thursday, July 20, 1916 -

"This has seemed like the longest day!  Of course, we were up pretty early, and it is about 10:30 now.  But it has been nice and cool, and perhaps we have been able to accomplish more.  The threshers finished about nine-thirty, so of course, we didn't have to plan dinner for them.  But I had already put a hen on to stew and Mother had made bread and pies. 

"Mother and I did another washing this morning.  Hardly that either, but Mother washed two of her dresses, and I washed three of my light ones and some silk hose.  I had Anna take my picture while I was hanging up my middy suit.  Then I sat out under the cherry tree and on the steps and read The Proof of the Pudding.  It ended tonight.  I ironed my dresses this afternoon and sewed some more on my new one.  I feel as if I were getting my wardrobe in shape just a little temporarily."

Friday, July 21, 1916 (written Saturday) -"As I had just got in as the clock struck twelve last night and as I was so dead tired that I fairly wobbled, I didn't stop for many preliminaries but 'hit the hay' as soon as possible.  Frank called up in the morning and wanted to know if I wouldn't go to Chautauqua in Burlington.  Since I missed out on the Bryan deal, I was anxious to go.  He came about six o'clock and after discussing politics, we started.  The ride was lovely both there and back as it hadn't been very hot all day.  Russell went with us and Miss Sullivan accompanied us home.  A sextette gave a prelude and then Granville Jones lectured - it was very interesting and not too long.  We went to an ice cream parlor afterward and then struck out for home.  We came quite swiftly in spite of some bumps, and it really was chilly.  I am going to learn to run the car.  Frank says he will come over some evening, and we'll go out while it's cool." 

You might also enjoy reading my previous blog post:
http://www.starwoodquilter.blogspot.com/2012/02/corn-and-beans-quilt-block.html

Corn and Beans Quilt Block

    
     I had several Corn and Beans blocks from which to choose.  I thought this pattern from 5500 Quilt Block Designs by Maggie Malone fit best with my fabrics. They were scraps from a picnic blanket quilt I had made from a variety of food fabrics.  I had to limit this block to 7-1/2" finished due to the size of my scraps.  I also found a free pattern online at The Quilter's Cache right here.  (At The Quilter's Cache, it's called North Wind, another name for this block. 
     In these diary entries, Hattie had planned to go on a date with Frank George (her future husband) to hear William Jennings Bryan speak at the Chautauqua in Burlington, Kansas.  http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=b000995  (Bryan was a former U.S. Congressman, unsuccessful Democratic candidate for President, and former Secretary of State for President Wilson.)  Anna is her younger sister, and Grace is a hired girl.  

Tuesday, July 18, 1916 -
"Oh, I could fairly bite nails!  To think that I didn't go to Burlington when I might have just as well as not.  But such is life.  (Frank) said if I could go, he would be down about four o'clock as we were to be in Burlington for supper.  So I told him it would be all right.  Well, about noon, Papa got word that the threshers would be here this evening, probably for supper, so after Papa had talked to them and they had phoned that they would surely be here, I phoned to Frank and, explaining matters, told him I couldn't go for I wouldn't leave Mother with threshers to feed.  Frank knew we were expecting them as they had just been to his place so, of course, he was real nice about it.

"I did a little baking and ironed until nearly five o'clock, and it was a mighty hot afternoon, too.  We got word that the threshers were going to Mr. Ellis' first, so we gave up the pleasure of anticipating them for supper.  And they didn't even reach Ellis' until seven o'clock this evening, will thresh there in the A.M. and will not be here until dinner.  I call that just downright hard luck!  But as fate decreed! 

"Mother, Grace, Anna, Papa, and I went to town this evening. . . Mother sold some cucumbers so treated us all to ice cream."

Wednesday, July 19, 1916 -
"The threshers finally arrived at noon today - I don't think they are half bad, I rather enjoy the excitement.  Mother, of course, did most of the cooking, but we helped and I waited on the tables.  We had a small table in the opening to the hall.  There were fifteen men and boys (counting our own) here for dinner and fourteen for supper.  They are not finished yet but may leave before noon tomorrow.  The oats are fine.  Mother and I went down and watched the men at work a little while this evening.  They didn't come in until late this evening; in fact, it was 8:30 by the time all were through eating.

"I am going right to bed as I'm tired.  My feet and ankles hurt as, of course, I have been on them a good deal today.  We finished the ironing this afternoon, for which I am glad.  It has been a little cloudy and cooler since noon but no rain as yet.

"I was sort of stunned by the force of a remark Mother made this morning.  I was sprinkling the clothes to iron, and she was showing me about starching the collars.  'I'll just show you,' said she, 'so you will know how to do up Frank.'  She said it so earnestly and neither one of us cracked a smile, but the queerest feeling ran through me.  Everybody seems to take us so seriously!"

Hattie's Corn and Oysters

2 cans cream style corn

1 can oysters, drained

14 saltine crackers

2 Tablespoons butter

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 

2.  Pour one can of corn into a greased 1-1/2 quart casserole dish. 

3.  Cut each oyster in two.  Put half the can of oysters in a layer on top of the corn.  Break up 7 crackers over the oysters and dot with 1 Tablespoon butter.

4.  Repeat with the rest of corn, oysters, crackers, and butter.

5.  Bake 20 to 30 minutes until bubbly and the crackers are browned.  

This is a traditional Thanksgiving and Christmas dish at our house.
 

You might also enjoy reading my previous blog post:
http://www.starwoodquilter.blogspot.com/2012/02/farmers-daughter-quilt-mosaic-81-blocks.html

Farmer's Daughter Quilt Mosaic - 81 Blocks

      I have now completed 81 blocks of my Farmer's Daughter Quilt.  Since last summer, I have been making appropriately-named quilt blocks to accompany my grandmother's 1916 diary entries, written the year she turned 21. 

     1916 was an important year in my grandmother's life.  As a Kansas farmer's daughter, she perfected her homemaking skills, learned to drive a car, wrote every day in her diary (over 400 pages in all), and began dating her future husband.  The next year, on October 24, 1917, she would become a farmer's wife. 

     Since there will be 140 blocks in the completed quilt, I have 59 more blocks to make.  The blocks are in the correct order in the picture to match their appropriate diary entries.  However, my blocks range from 6" to 12" square, so my quilt will not look like this when finished.  Still, it's fun to see all of the blocks together!

     My grandmother loved to write and kept a diary nearly all of her life.  To write in her diary was the last task of each day.  When she passed away in 1986 at the age of 91, her diaries were distributed among her children and grandchildren.  The earliest diary I have of hers is from 1912, written when she was a junior in high school.  The last one is from 1979, the year she turned 84.  She wanted very much to attend college - to study to become a teacher and a writer.  I think she would be pleased to know that people in 85 countries have read portions of her diary and have learned something of her life.         

You might enjoy reading my previous blog post:

http://www.starwoodquilter.blogspot.com/2012/02/sun-rays-quilt-block.html      

Sun Rays Quilt Block

    When I saw this Clothesline fabric, I knew I had to include it in my quilt for a Monday diary entry because Monday was always Laundry Day.  The fabric is part of Heather Ross' Far Far Away III collection and is a beautiful Japanese fabric of 85% cotton and 15% linen.  I found this 12" Sun Rays Quilt block in 5500 Quilt Block Designs by Maggie Malone. 

Sunday, July 16, 1916 -
"This has actually been the hottest day!  The folks went to Marshall today, but as I had promised to teach a class this A.M. and Frank was coming at 6:30, I couldn't very well have everything, so I decided to stay with Grace and hold down the house.  She and I went to Sunday School, and really I was wringing wet when we got home. . . We set out a cold lunch for Charlie and ourselves, and about two o'clock we had a light shower - just a sprinkle - and everything is now clear.  I tried to sleep, but the sleeping porch is full of bees, and it was so hot so I wrote a letter to Eva. . .

Monday, July 17, 1916 -
"It has been another scorching day, and I have sure worked.  We had an immense washing and were a little late finishing as we had to wait for Howard to bring out the new laundry stove.  Then we gave the basement a thorough cleaning.  But it was cooler working down there than lying around upstairs.

"About the time I was ready to rest, a strong breeze blew up and we hurried out and brought in the clothes.  It didn't rain, but the air is nice and cool."

You might also enjoy reading my previous blog post:
http://www.starwoodquilter.blogspot.com/2012/02/calico-spools-quilt-block.html 

Calico Spools Quilt Block

    
     When I saw this fabric line, The Dressmaking Collection - Vintage Notions by Amy Barickman, I knew I had to include it in my quilt.  I found this Calico Spools block pattern in 5500 Quilt Block Designs by Maggie Malone and drafted it to be 9" finished. 
     In these diary entries, Grace is a hired girl who helps with the housework and lives with the family during the week.  Howard, Ted, George, and Anna are Hattie's younger siblings.  Frank George is Hattie's future husband (and my future grandfather), but they are just starting to date.  Osage refers to Osage City, Kansas.  A milliner is a person who designs, makes, trims, or sells women's hats. 
     Can you imagine a dress with eighteen yards of net for ruffles? 
   
Thursday, July 13, 1916 -
"We thought we were going to have a rain tonight, but by the time we had most of the windows closed, it seemed to be blown over.  But it is now lightning in the west, so perhaps we'll have a shower before morning.

"Mother, Grace, Anna, Howard, and I went after the mail tonight.  Mother and Howard and I each had a strawberry sundae. 

"I didn't quite finish my dress today, but it was quite a job hemming about eighteen yards of net for ruffles and then gather it and set it on.  Mother got her panama hat all fixed up.  I wish I had mine fixed.  Papa said I could go with him to Osage and take it to a milliner there, but I would a great deal rather send it to Mrs. Ballwey.  Anyhow, just so I can get it done by Sunday."

Friday, July 14, 1916 -
"There is an eclipse of the moon tonight.  I have been watching it and hope it will be a total before I go to sleep.  But I am tired enough to fall in my tracks.  It is a little late.  The folks went to Lodge at Lebo tonight.  Frank George and his mother came and got them.  I have been crocheting and writing and studying my Sunday School lesson.  I am to teach a class Sunday.  Ted and Howard and George have taken turns coming in here and bothering me a while.  Howard had the blackest hands.  He had been working with the engine.

"I have cleaned a good deal today.  After finishing the sweeping here on the 2nd and 3rd floors, I helped Grace wash windows downstairs.  It gave me a headache, so after dinner I took a little nap then cleaned a few more, then did some mending before I started supper.  So it has been quite a full day.

"I hope Frank does not think that was a 'stall' I gave him about the toothache last Sunday.  I told Mother to be sure and emphasize the fact that I had had the toothache." 

You might also enjoy reading my previous blog post:
http://www.starwoodquilter.blogspot.com/2012/02/girls-joy-quilt-block.html

Girl's Joy Quilt Block

    
     I found the pattern for this 8" Girl's Joy quilt block in 5500 Quilt Block Designs by Maggie Malone.  It was originally published by Ladies Art Company.    
     In this diary entry, Grace is a neighbor and a hired girl.  Ted is Hattie's almost-15-year-old brother. 

Saturday, July 8, 1916 -
"It has been a long day.  I was up before 5:30, and it is now nearly eleven.  The others have all been complaining of the heat, but I have not felt warm at all.  I cleaned downstairs this morning, and this afternoon I cleaned my room and did several other things.  Then I rested a little and mended and helped Grace fix her dress and then had a bath and dressed for supper.

"Ted was in such an awful accident this afternoon that we all feel very thankful to think that he escaped with so few injuries - a sprained ankle and considerable scratching.  Some way the mules jumped a ditch and caused the slug rake teeth to go down into the ditch, and Ted was hauled ahead of the team and then run over and dragged a little ways under the slug.  My!  How near that was to being very dangerous, perhaps fatal!  But he is very brave and good about it and is resting." 

     Howard H. Woodbury, great-grandson of Fred H. Woodbury writes, "Most of Fred's farm work was done with mules.  Mules couldn't be worked to death like a horse because a mule, unlike the horse, would quit when he got tired instead of working himself to death.  Three mules were used on the walking plow. . . Woodbury Farms acquired its first tractor in 1922.  It was an eight horse-power Woods tractor that was used to grind cattle feed and saw wood to heat the big house."  - 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/2012/02/fourth-of-july-quilt-block.html

Fourth of July Quilt Block

    
     I found the pattern for this Fourth of July quilt block in Judy Martin's Ultimate Book of Quilt Block Patterns.  I reduced the pattern from 14" down to 7" finished. 
     In this diary entry, Hattie is celebrating the 4th of July with Frank George, her future husband (and my future grandfather).  Betty and Fannie are Frank's sisters, and Bobby is his youngest brother.  Miss (Ada) Sullivan later marries Frank's brother Russell.  Ruth Jones later marries Wayne Traylor, and the couple are life-long friends of my grandparents. 

Tuesday, July 4, 1916 -
"I am writing this Wednesday because it was 20 minutes until one when I came in this morning, so I thought I might just as well wait until later in the day.

"But I did have the best time!  Beginning with early in the morning, I'll relate:  We had a fine breakfast - raspberries, baked potatoes, etc., and it was accompanied by small reports from the kids' firecrackers.  Soon after breakfast, Mrs. Abbott and I went to town and got some ice and the mail.  It was nice going but began to get pretty warm by the time we came home about nine.  Then I made the ice cream and busied around until dinner time.  We had the usual Fourth of July spread - fried chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, tomatoes (sliced), cucumbers, jelly, preserves, cake, ice cream, and ice tea.

"Frank came just as we were finishing about 12:45.  He ate some ice cream, and then we were off.  It was certainly warm and dusty.  But while we were listening to the speaker, Reverend Hatfield, a cool breeze blew around.  Then we went to the ball game, and here we got in a pretty warm place but enjoyed the game nevertheless.  After Key West had won over Prairie Queen, Frank went to take Mr. Hatfield to the train, so I was with Betty and Miss Sullivan awhile . . . We rode up town and found Ruth and Wayne and Glen and Lela, and as we were invited over to Ruth's for supper, Ruth and Lela climbed into the back seat with Fannie and Gwilym and we all went over to Jones'.  We were sure glad to get some of the dust from our countenances, and Mrs. Jones and Ruth had a fine lunch for us.  Mrs. George and Betty and Bobby were also there. . . As Frank and I and Fannie and Gwilym were going to Burlington for a home talent play, we left there about 7:30.  The ride to Burlington was grand as it had become much cooler.  We reached there about 8:30 and went immediately to Newk's Theatre where the play began in about ten minutes.  It was fine, and there were some real clever stunts between acts.  

"We went to some drug store and had something to eat and started home about 10:30.  It seemed like a terribly long ride, although we came along at a pretty good rate, but I was just naturally tired.  But I sure had a good time every minute - much better than if I had gone with Howell!"

You might also enjoy reading my previous blog post:
 http://www.starwoodquilter.blogspot.com/2012/02/hatties-choice-quilt-block.html

Hattie's Choice Quilt Block

     I found this Grandmother's Choice quilt block free on-line at    http://www.quilterscache.com/G/GrandmotherChoice2Block.html and decided to rename it Hattie's Choice.  Because Hattie is my grandmother, I don't think the name change is too much of a stretch!  I marked and stitched the Y-seams carefully and did not have any trouble with them.
     In these diary entries, Howard and Ted are Hattie's younger brothers.  Minerva is her already-married-with-children older sister.  Jesse is a hired man, and Grace is a young woman hired to help with the housework. 
     Hattie is in a predicament and has a choice to make - between spending the 4th of July with Howell Lusk or with Frank George (her future husband and my future grandfather)!   

Sunday, July 2, 1916 -
"When I awoke at seven o'clock this morning, I was fairly sunburned!  Of course, lying there in the broiling sun!  I must remember to close the curtain a little when I want to sleep late.

"Before I went to Sunday School this morning, Frank George called up and wanted a date for tonight.  So I gave it to him and asked him in time for supper for good measure.

"Papa and Howard and Ted and Jesse worked cutting and shocking oats today.  It seems as though they always choose the first Sunday in July as a work day - they made hay last year.  We kids went in the buggy to Sunday School, as there was no one to drive the car.  I broke the Sabbath also today by trimming a hat before I went to church.  But it was so blooming hot that I had to wear something to keep off the sun, so rigged up my panama.

"I sat around, read and napped and talked with Mother all afternoon until about five o'clock.  Then we strolled down to the oats field to meet Papa.  That field is certainly beautiful - I think I'll have to get a picture in the morning.

"The folks all went up to Minerva's to eat ice cream right after supper.  Frank and I sat around until church time and talked.  I think I either shocked or tickled all the natives.  I'm in sort of a predicament.  Here, Howell asked me last night to spend the Fourth in Lebo, and Frank asked me tonight.  It really should be "first come, first served," but forseeing the possibility of receiving another invitation, I didn't promise Howell anything, nor have I accepted Frank's.  Mother says, "Take the latter, by all means," and I want to, for I know I could have a better time.  Still, I don't know what to say to Howell.  I have until tomorrow evening to decide.  Which shall it be?"

Monday, July 3, 1916 -
"We have been getting ready for the Fourth today.  Mother and I both did some baking, and Grace cleaned the kitchen and basement.  Papa and Ted went to Osage City and made numerous purchases, including watermelon, etc. and a flag.  Mrs. Abbott came this evening, but I stayed home for I was expecting a telephone call.

"Howell did call, and I refused him!  I hated to do it, but I couldn't very well accept both.  I hope he doesn't feel 'stung,' for he certainly has been nice to me, and it's a rotten way to treat him, I know. 

"I was thinking back tonight and could remember what I had done for the last eleven Fourths!  Hope that I have as good a time tomorrow." 

You might also enjoy reading my previous blog entry:
http://www.starwoodquilter.blogspot.com/2012/01/midnight-star-quilt-block.html