Memories & Musings

The challenge word from Generations Cafe this week is SPORTS. As I watched the World Series this year I recalled how often "sports" events have impacted my family life. First I'll have to say that I am not athletic. I flunked swimming and tennis in college. Most of my family are not active sports participants.… Continue reading Week 42: Sports

Can you imagine what life was like back in 1620? Some of my ancestors came to America from England in that time, maybe on the Mayflower. Imagine all the changes in lifestyle that have happened since then. Carriages and carts, not planes, trains and automobiles. Kettles hung over fires, not stoves that light at the… Continue reading Week 41: Changes

If you grew up in the Midwest in the 40s or 50s you will surely know about this type of preservation....canning food or as my Grandma Quist would say, "putting up". All my childhood and most of my married life I was partly responsible for a garden and for the preservation of food. As I've… Continue reading Week 40: Preservation

There are many ways to think about this week's challenge word - STEPS. I recalled this picture of my Mom on the steps of our house with me, my baby sister and two of our foster children. Anne with Joan, Bobbi and foster children However I was more inspired to write about some of the… Continue reading Week 39: Steps

The first game I remember my family playing is horseshoes (which probably originated with Roman soldiers throwing rings around a stake in the ground). I think only the men played and when it got too dark or was too cold they gathered around the table and played poker. Generally it was "penny ante" poker, never… Continue reading Week 38: Fun and Games

My first thought of being on the farm is about the summers I spent with my Grandma and Grandpa Quist on their farm in White Lake, Wisconsin. I was 12-14 years old and spent a couple of weeks there each year helping in the garden, baling hay, feeding the chickens and working in the garden… Continue reading Week 37: On The Farm

Looking back at my female grandparents for three generations I don't see many who worked anywhere outside the home. Most are listed on census records as "keeping house" or "working at home" probably because they had large families to care for. There are a few exceptions. My Grandma Great (Amelia Juhrend) was widowed at a… Continue reading Week 36: Working

My Dad, Jim McDearmid, was a bit of a character. He also had character. I'd like to take this time to recall as much as I can about my Dad. He died on July 4, 1959 when I was 15. Now at 82 my memories of him have faded but pictures and family stories help… Continue reading Week 34: Character

The Wonder Years! Of all the influencers in my life I think my elementary school years had a MAJOR impact on my life...on my career choices, my friendships, relationships and values. Let me tell you about my school, Gurnee Grade School District 56 in Gurnee, Illinois, 1944-1952. Gurnee Grade School circa 1945 On the far… Continue reading Week 35: School

August 2021 and I look at the news where I see tragedy after tragedy but I'll just focus on my Family Tree where I consider the great tragedy of men/ fathers dying too young. My Dad died at age 39 after decades of battling with diabetes. He died in 1954 when I was just 15,… Continue reading Week 33: Tragedy