Contrary Wife or The Revolt of Mother Quilt Block

    
      I wasn't planning to include the Contrary Wife block in my quilt.  The name bothers me. Then I read in this entry that Harriet presents a piece called "The Revolt of Mother" at a high school pie supper.  I found the piece online, so I decided to include the block, along with my revised name for it.  You might enjoy reading the short story like I did.
http://etext.virginia.edu/etcbin/toccer-new2?id=WilRevo.sgm&images=images/modeng&data=/texts/english/modeng/parsed&tag=public&part=1&division=div1
     I made this block 12" square so I could include as much of each chicken as possible.  I found the pattern here: http://www.quilterscache.com/C/ContraryWifeBlock.html
    Ted is Harriet's 14-year-old younger brother.  A graphophone is an early version of a record player or a CD player.

Friday, March 3, 1916 -
"Ted took me to a pie supper the high school kids gave, and we just got in.  As it was 11:55 by my clock, and said clock was stopped, I know it must be a little 'early,' so I'll write details later.  I had a real good time and got along pretty well with my piece, however.  I gave Mary Wilkins Freeman's 'The Revolt of Mother,' and although I didn't do as well as Myrtle Mc did out at C. of E. (College of Emporia), I didn't make any serious blunders.  The program was quite good - an immense graphophone made quite a hit.  Then they sold the pies afterward.  I hadn't taken any, for I hadn't given it a second thought until Ted came home from school, but Mr. Miller bought several for the high school at the restaurant, and he asked permission of several of us girls to put our names on them.  I consented for I felt I should help them out.  I was scared stiff that a certain person had got my pie, so I felt really relieved when Tim brought Mike Rennolds around with it.  But luck of lucks, it was a raisin pie! - the only kind I don't like.  But I ate a little for politeness' sake. . .

"Alpha is getting up a surprise on Grace for next Tuesday night.  She gave me the privilege of choosing from four boys who I should like for an escort.  Following are the 'eligibles': Leroy McCune, Glen Robinson, Earl Matney, and Howell Lusk!  Needless to say, I have not yet decided upon the most desirable one."

Aunt Minerva's Sour Cream Raisin Pie

1 cup water

1/2 cup seedless raisins

1/2 cup sugar

1 heaping tablespoon flour

1 cup sour cream

2 egg yolks, beaten

1 teaspoon vanilla

1- 8" pie shell, baked

1.  Combine water and raisins in a saucepan.  Cook until raisins are quite tender and juice is low.

2.  In a bowl, mix together the sugar and flour.  Add sour cream and egg yolks.  Add mixture to raisins and cook until thick.  Stir in vanilla.

3.  Pour into baked pie crust.  Use the egg whites for meringue.   

            - from The Woodbury Larder: A Legacy published by Phyllis Woodbury Bryant

     I found a recipe for the meringue since Aunt Minerva's recipe ended as above.  

Beat 2 egg whites and 1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar on high speed until frothy.  Add two tablespoons of sugar slowly until peaks form and are stiff but not dry.  Be sure all sugar granules are dissolved.  Using a rubber spatula, spread meringue over warm pie filling, spreading over pie edge to ensure a firm seal.  Swirl top of meringue with spatula to create peaks.  Bake at 350 degrees until peaks are golden brown.   

You might also enjoy reading my previous blog entry:
http://starwoodquilter.blogspot.com/2011/09/linoleum-quilt-block.html

Linoleum Quilt Block

     I made this little 6" Linoleum quilt block from a pattern in the book The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt by Laurie Aaron Hird.  I found a free pattern for a 12" block online at http://hoecakesandhemlines.wordpress.com/2012/03/16/adjusted-linoleum-tile-quilt-block-by-amanda-h/.
     Uncle Will is the younger brother of Hattie's Mamma, Alberta Emily Young Woodbury, who passed away three years earlier.  Orvel Beckner is a hired man about Hattie's age.  Mother is Hattie's step-mother, Louise Daniels Woodbury.  
     
Thursday, March 2, 1916 -
"We were quite surprised to find 4 or 5 inches of snow on the ground this A.M. when we awoke, and it has snowed the greater part of the day until it is quite deep - good for sleighing.  Ha!

"Uncle Will left this A.M.  He says they have had no snow, nor even rain, at Wallace all winter, so we arranged for him to have a sleigh ride to the depot.

"Orvel killed a rabbit this morning, which we had for dinner; it was fine.  Then he came in this evening with another.

"Mother went up to see Dr. Mills this P.M.  She has been having such terrible headaches lately.  Of course, it is her nerves that cause the trouble.  While she was gone, I undertook to scrub the kitchen floor for the first time on record.  I have mopped a number of times but never got down on my knees to do it before.  But it looked lovely (if a kitchen floor is capable of being 'lovely') when I had finished.
 

"I have been doing a little darning and incidentally learning my piece this evening.  I hope the snow will not melt to make it muddy, and perhaps we can go in the sleigh tomorrow night." 

You might also enjoy reading my previous blog entry:
http://starwoodquilter.blogspot.com/2011/09/checkerboard-quilt-block.html