ONE OF GEORGIA'S income earning opportunities was to raise chickens. And it also served as a good meal here and there. Here is one story from Doug Von Feldt about the chickens:
"As others have mentioned, one of my memories of the farm is the chickens. When we were little there used to be a lot of chickens. Chickens everywhere it seemed. I liked to go into the chicken coop and walk around. The chickens would scatter and make lots of noise and it always had that smell to it. We never had chickens when we lived in the country, but when my family moved to our country house I had to have chickens. I wanted the kids to have the experience of raising chickens and collecting the eggs. It took us a while to finally get the chickens but we really enjoyed it and that is one of the things that I miss the most now that we have moved back to the city. I think the kids actually miss not having the chickens also. When I think of the fun time my family had with our chickens it always reminds me of Grandma and fun we had on her farm."
What else do you remember about Georgia and the chickens on the farm?
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
PICTURES - Georgia and Christmas
Christmas was a favorite time for Georgia.
She loved all of the family being around.
The kids.
Just a sense of family.
And she could always be assured of hugs by everyone!
And maybe even a few sweet things to snack on.
And of course, we could count on a few things from Georgia....
She would be the "wrapping paper" collector.
She always seemed to end up with a hat on - just to make everyone laugh.
She would be working diligently on getting her gifts done as well. We will miss the hangers!
She also loved "scratchers" - especially the "tic tac doe" scratcher.
It was a favorite thing for us to give, and for her to get.
She would "allow herself" just one a day. Or every so often.
WHAT ELSE DO YOU REMEMBER about GEORGIA and Christmas?
Do you have any pictures you can share?
Add your comments in the comments section below! Or send to Rick, and he will post! (rvonfeldt@yahoo.com)
(Thanks to Marty-Sue for the pictures!)
Georgia working on one of her lottery scratchers.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Georgia's Friends: EDNA HERTACH
The following stories were sent to us by Marcia Lyons and Kay Clark (Granddaughter and daughter of Edna respectively). There are stories collected and compiled for a family gathering on 2/24/01 in Wichita, Kansas celebrating Edna’s 85th birthday.
ABOUT EDNA HINTON HERTACH
Edna Hinton was born in Beaumont Mississippi on March 7, 1916. She was the only child of Edwina Pierce Hinton (fondly know as Mamma Hint) and Tim Hinton. Edna had 2 older half brothers and 2 half sisters (Edward, Gus, Evie & Verda).
Edna’s parents owned their own business. They had a large building that was partitioned off with his General Store in the front & her café in the back. The General Store contained groceries and dry goods items such at fabric, shoes, sugar etc. Edna spent a lot of time at the café. It was conveniently located about a block from their house. Their home did not contain a kitchen so they took all of their meals at the café.
She remembers that they added a side door to the building so you could enter directly into the café. This called for the addition of a sidewalk. She laughed that one-year she received shoe skates for Christmas. Everything in Beaumont was dirt – roads, parking lots and sidewalks except for this one strip of concrete. The kids would borrow her shoe skates & they would take turns skating up and down the little sidewalk.
Edna attended public schools in Beaumont for grade school and her first year of high school. She then went her 2nd year to Progress Boarding school, which was coed. Then her last 2 years were spent at Forrest Co Agriculture high school (also a boarding school) in Brooklin Mississippi. She then went 2 years to a Women's College in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. And finally she attended 1 year at Mobile Alabama Business College.
Edna always had fun regardless of where she was living or attending school. She was good swimmer and would swim in the river and creeks around Beaumont. While in high school she played some basketball. This usually consisted of the female students playing against the faculty women. And she always enjoyed putting together puzzles. She fondly remembers while at the Women’s College that she and her roommate worked lots of puzzles with one of their teachers.
Whenever she was in Beaumont she worked at the Café. As you might imagine during this time in Mississippi there was segregation. They were required to have a room for blacks and one for whites. Edna pointed out they served the same food and provided equitable service but there were two dining areas. The noon meal was served family style at the café. She said there was a train station near by and they would frequently get customers for breakfast and lunch. In addition to working at the café, Edna went to the local Paper Mill and did their payroll on Saturdays.
During World War II she worked at Camp Shelby. She was the Assistant Manager of the PX (Post Exchange). During the war there were ration coupon books for items such as gas, leather shoes, sugar, tires, brand name cigarettes etc. Edna drove several people that worked at Camp Shelby thus she was able to get gas coupons for her station wagon.
It was at Camp Shelby that she met her future husband, Earl Francis Hertach. He was from Claflin, Kansas and stationed at Camp Shelby. He was sent to New Orleans in anticipation of being shipped out to war. While in New Orleans, Edna & Earl were married by a Justice of the Peace in March of 1944. They thought he would be shipped out any day. Two weeks later a Catholic priest married them. Soon after he was shipped out and stationed on Ascension Island until the war ended.
While Earl was off at war, her in-laws (Leo and Frances Hertach) suggested she come to Kansas to meet her new family. She and her niece Jenny Elder traveled to Kansas by bus. During their stay in Claflin, people wondered which young lady was Earl's new wife. And it was during this visit that they received news the war was ending and Earl would be soon coming home.
Jenny returned to Mississippi and Edna waited for Earl’s arrival in Kansas. Eventually, Edna & Earl took a train to St. Louis, then a bus to Beaumont. Edna packed up her things (mostly just clothes because she had always lived at home with her parents) and they loaded them in her station wagon. They drove back to Kansas thus starting their married life together.
Life in Kansas represented a big change for Edna. In Beaumont,
she lived in town in a home that had electricity. The house at Claflin was wired for electricity but it would be 1 1/2 years before they had electricity. Water was by a pump and windmill. The bathroom was an outhouse. Cooking was by a wood stove. And she said she wasn’t much of a cook since all of her meals growing up were at the café. She said Earl really enjoyed “meat and potatoes” and would do some of the cooking himself. Once they did have electricity, she had a two burner electric hot plate, which she would use for cooking. We can all attest that she has developed into a fine cook. Her southern heritage came to Kansas through her ham, black-eyed peas, corn bread, pecan pie, rice and gravy, figs, boiled peanuts and of course grits.
Her in-laws – Leo and Frances Hertach, gave the newlyweds the “home place”. The elder Hertach’s moved to Larnerd where their other son (Earl’s older brother Leo Jr.) was living with his wife and son. Leo Jr. had more farmland and his father thought he could use some help with the land. At the home place Edna now learned to tend cows and chickens. She was so thankful for her new friend Georgia. Mamma Hint always said Georgia was like a sister to Edna. She helped her adjust to life in Kansas.
The next year, Earl & Edna became parents to Dixie Ann in June 1946. In May of 1948 Katharine Frances joined the family and in January 1952 they welcomed Timothy Leo. During most of the years, Edna was a full time wife and mother. She was very involved in the community and the activities of her 3 children.
When Edna moved to Kansas she took instructions and joined the Catholic Church. She was active in the Altar Society and served as President. She belonged to the HDU (Home Demonstration Unit) which was later called the Home Extension. At the school she was active in the Parent Teacher Organization. She was a homeroom mother. And she was always willing to drive on any of the kids’ school or activity outings. With the girls she served as a Girl Scout troop leader. And she helped out when Tim was involved in 4 H.
Edna enjoyed bowling. For many years Earl sponsored a team through Farm Bureau Insurance. She bowled for years at the Claflin bowling alley and when it closed the team went over to Ellinwood.
Edna also enjoys reading. She and Mamma Hint shared the love of reading. They belonged to a book club and they both had an extensive book collection. Reading is a past time that both Edna & Earl enjoyed. It was common for the kids to see their parents reading.
Because of the war, Earl and Edna did not go on a honeymoon. But on their 25th wedding anniversary they went on a wonderful trip to Hawaii. This was a gift from Mamma Hint. Edna said on the way to Hawaii they stopped for several days in Los Angeles and on the way home they spent several days in San Francisco. She was always ready to pack her bags and go on adventure.
The Hertach’s would annually attend the Kansas State Fair in Hutchinson. When the kids were growing up they would generally go on a summer car trip. Sometimes heading back to Mississippi or on some other adventure. Some of the memorable trips were to the Seattle Worlds Fair, Disneyland in CA, Mount Rushmore in SD and Mexico with the ever-famous bullfights. The love of travel has definitely been passed on to her children and grandchildren.
In 1969 Edna went to work at ElKan, a business that did wiring for Ford cars. But she only worked at that job for a few months because Earl was diagnosed with lung cancer and started radiation treatments in Wichita for the next 6 weeks. He died in July 1970 at the age of 55 years.
Six months later, she decided to enter nursing school. She moved
to Wichita and lived with Kay and Marcia for the next 12 months while attending the Licensed Practical Nursing Program at the Vocational Center in Wichita. She graduated in January 1972 and passed her state nursing boards soon after. She did work briefly as a private duty nurse in Ellinwood but eventually decided to stop work and stay home.
Edna & Earl’s three children all found wonderful spouses. And her 3 children have blessed her with 9 grandchildren. Dixie married Gary DeLong and they’re the parents of Tara, Ross, Mike and Steve. Kay married Robert Lyons and had Marcia. And Kay was also blessed by the marriage to Courtney Clark. Tim married Joy Beran and the are parents to Timothy, Anthony, Taylor and Monica.
In more recent years basketball has resurged as an interest of Edna’s. Several years ago she received a new television and the NBA package for Christmas. Her favorite teams have coincided with coach Phil Jackson – one time being the Chicago Bulls and now the LA Lakers. The love of sports is also close to home watching the grandkids play sports in Claflin. And traveling to Iowa to watch the family players and coach. And one can’t mention Edna’s love of basketball without mentioning Jackie Stiles as a Claflin Wildcat and an SMSU Lady Bear.
And the love of travel has been on ongoing theme in Edna’s life. And she did all kinds of trips via cars, buses, planes, cruise ships and trains. She would go large events like the Rose Parade or the Indy 500 as well as trips right around the area. She went with family members such as an Alaska Cruise with Dixie and Kay. She went on a European vacation with her friends Georgia and Martha. And she would even set out on “Mystery” bus tours with Mildred Lyons not knowing the destination until departure. She has a true sense of adventure.
We have all know Edna in many different ways. The mother, grandmother, babysitter, travel companion, roommate, holiday host, cheerleader and mostly importantly a friend. She has shared sage advice through her words and actions. And she never falls short of making us laugh. We all want her to know she is a very special part of our lives. Let’s join together in wishing her a very Happy 85th Birthday.
ABOUT EDNA HINTON HERTACH
Edna Hinton was born in Beaumont Mississippi on March 7, 1916. She was the only child of Edwina Pierce Hinton (fondly know as Mamma Hint) and Tim Hinton. Edna had 2 older half brothers and 2 half sisters (Edward, Gus, Evie & Verda).
Edna’s parents owned their own business. They had a large building that was partitioned off with his General Store in the front & her café in the back. The General Store contained groceries and dry goods items such at fabric, shoes, sugar etc. Edna spent a lot of time at the café. It was conveniently located about a block from their house. Their home did not contain a kitchen so they took all of their meals at the café.
She remembers that they added a side door to the building so you could enter directly into the café. This called for the addition of a sidewalk. She laughed that one-year she received shoe skates for Christmas. Everything in Beaumont was dirt – roads, parking lots and sidewalks except for this one strip of concrete. The kids would borrow her shoe skates & they would take turns skating up and down the little sidewalk.
Edna attended public schools in Beaumont for grade school and her first year of high school. She then went her 2nd year to Progress Boarding school, which was coed. Then her last 2 years were spent at Forrest Co Agriculture high school (also a boarding school) in Brooklin Mississippi. She then went 2 years to a Women's College in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. And finally she attended 1 year at Mobile Alabama Business College.
Edna always had fun regardless of where she was living or attending school. She was good swimmer and would swim in the river and creeks around Beaumont. While in high school she played some basketball. This usually consisted of the female students playing against the faculty women. And she always enjoyed putting together puzzles. She fondly remembers while at the Women’s College that she and her roommate worked lots of puzzles with one of their teachers.
Whenever she was in Beaumont she worked at the Café. As you might imagine during this time in Mississippi there was segregation. They were required to have a room for blacks and one for whites. Edna pointed out they served the same food and provided equitable service but there were two dining areas. The noon meal was served family style at the café. She said there was a train station near by and they would frequently get customers for breakfast and lunch. In addition to working at the café, Edna went to the local Paper Mill and did their payroll on Saturdays.
During World War II she worked at Camp Shelby. She was the Assistant Manager of the PX (Post Exchange). During the war there were ration coupon books for items such as gas, leather shoes, sugar, tires, brand name cigarettes etc. Edna drove several people that worked at Camp Shelby thus she was able to get gas coupons for her station wagon.
It was at Camp Shelby that she met her future husband, Earl Francis Hertach. He was from Claflin, Kansas and stationed at Camp Shelby. He was sent to New Orleans in anticipation of being shipped out to war. While in New Orleans, Edna & Earl were married by a Justice of the Peace in March of 1944. They thought he would be shipped out any day. Two weeks later a Catholic priest married them. Soon after he was shipped out and stationed on Ascension Island until the war ended.
While Earl was off at war, her in-laws (Leo and Frances Hertach) suggested she come to Kansas to meet her new family. She and her niece Jenny Elder traveled to Kansas by bus. During their stay in Claflin, people wondered which young lady was Earl's new wife. And it was during this visit that they received news the war was ending and Earl would be soon coming home.
Jenny returned to Mississippi and Edna waited for Earl’s arrival in Kansas. Eventually, Edna & Earl took a train to St. Louis, then a bus to Beaumont. Edna packed up her things (mostly just clothes because she had always lived at home with her parents) and they loaded them in her station wagon. They drove back to Kansas thus starting their married life together.
Life in Kansas represented a big change for Edna. In Beaumont,
she lived in town in a home that had electricity. The house at Claflin was wired for electricity but it would be 1 1/2 years before they had electricity. Water was by a pump and windmill. The bathroom was an outhouse. Cooking was by a wood stove. And she said she wasn’t much of a cook since all of her meals growing up were at the café. She said Earl really enjoyed “meat and potatoes” and would do some of the cooking himself. Once they did have electricity, she had a two burner electric hot plate, which she would use for cooking. We can all attest that she has developed into a fine cook. Her southern heritage came to Kansas through her ham, black-eyed peas, corn bread, pecan pie, rice and gravy, figs, boiled peanuts and of course grits.
Her in-laws – Leo and Frances Hertach, gave the newlyweds the “home place”. The elder Hertach’s moved to Larnerd where their other son (Earl’s older brother Leo Jr.) was living with his wife and son. Leo Jr. had more farmland and his father thought he could use some help with the land. At the home place Edna now learned to tend cows and chickens. She was so thankful for her new friend Georgia. Mamma Hint always said Georgia was like a sister to Edna. She helped her adjust to life in Kansas.
The next year, Earl & Edna became parents to Dixie Ann in June 1946. In May of 1948 Katharine Frances joined the family and in January 1952 they welcomed Timothy Leo. During most of the years, Edna was a full time wife and mother. She was very involved in the community and the activities of her 3 children.
When Edna moved to Kansas she took instructions and joined the Catholic Church. She was active in the Altar Society and served as President. She belonged to the HDU (Home Demonstration Unit) which was later called the Home Extension. At the school she was active in the Parent Teacher Organization. She was a homeroom mother. And she was always willing to drive on any of the kids’ school or activity outings. With the girls she served as a Girl Scout troop leader. And she helped out when Tim was involved in 4 H.
Edna enjoyed bowling. For many years Earl sponsored a team through Farm Bureau Insurance. She bowled for years at the Claflin bowling alley and when it closed the team went over to Ellinwood.
Edna also enjoys reading. She and Mamma Hint shared the love of reading. They belonged to a book club and they both had an extensive book collection. Reading is a past time that both Edna & Earl enjoyed. It was common for the kids to see their parents reading.
Because of the war, Earl and Edna did not go on a honeymoon. But on their 25th wedding anniversary they went on a wonderful trip to Hawaii. This was a gift from Mamma Hint. Edna said on the way to Hawaii they stopped for several days in Los Angeles and on the way home they spent several days in San Francisco. She was always ready to pack her bags and go on adventure.
The Hertach’s would annually attend the Kansas State Fair in Hutchinson. When the kids were growing up they would generally go on a summer car trip. Sometimes heading back to Mississippi or on some other adventure. Some of the memorable trips were to the Seattle Worlds Fair, Disneyland in CA, Mount Rushmore in SD and Mexico with the ever-famous bullfights. The love of travel has definitely been passed on to her children and grandchildren.
In 1969 Edna went to work at ElKan, a business that did wiring for Ford cars. But she only worked at that job for a few months because Earl was diagnosed with lung cancer and started radiation treatments in Wichita for the next 6 weeks. He died in July 1970 at the age of 55 years.
Six months later, she decided to enter nursing school. She moved
to Wichita and lived with Kay and Marcia for the next 12 months while attending the Licensed Practical Nursing Program at the Vocational Center in Wichita. She graduated in January 1972 and passed her state nursing boards soon after. She did work briefly as a private duty nurse in Ellinwood but eventually decided to stop work and stay home.
Edna & Earl’s three children all found wonderful spouses. And her 3 children have blessed her with 9 grandchildren. Dixie married Gary DeLong and they’re the parents of Tara, Ross, Mike and Steve. Kay married Robert Lyons and had Marcia. And Kay was also blessed by the marriage to Courtney Clark. Tim married Joy Beran and the are parents to Timothy, Anthony, Taylor and Monica.
In more recent years basketball has resurged as an interest of Edna’s. Several years ago she received a new television and the NBA package for Christmas. Her favorite teams have coincided with coach Phil Jackson – one time being the Chicago Bulls and now the LA Lakers. The love of sports is also close to home watching the grandkids play sports in Claflin. And traveling to Iowa to watch the family players and coach. And one can’t mention Edna’s love of basketball without mentioning Jackie Stiles as a Claflin Wildcat and an SMSU Lady Bear.
And the love of travel has been on ongoing theme in Edna’s life. And she did all kinds of trips via cars, buses, planes, cruise ships and trains. She would go large events like the Rose Parade or the Indy 500 as well as trips right around the area. She went with family members such as an Alaska Cruise with Dixie and Kay. She went on a European vacation with her friends Georgia and Martha. And she would even set out on “Mystery” bus tours with Mildred Lyons not knowing the destination until departure. She has a true sense of adventure.
We have all know Edna in many different ways. The mother, grandmother, babysitter, travel companion, roommate, holiday host, cheerleader and mostly importantly a friend. She has shared sage advice through her words and actions. And she never falls short of making us laugh. We all want her to know she is a very special part of our lives. Let’s join together in wishing her a very Happy 85th Birthday.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Where's Grandma? (contributed by Theresa DeLong)
Wheeeere's Grandma???
I had a weekend off and wanted to go for a drive, so I decided to go see Grandma. I went by my cousin Jane's place, and as she didn't have anything going on she said she'd go along for the ride (and the fried chicken that we might find in the frig).
We got to Claflin in the early evening and drove on out to the farm. We pulled up to the farmhouse and went to the back door, but found it locked and no car in sight. I thought she might have gone into town or run an errand so I went looking for the key to the door, but I couldn't find it. By then, Jane and I were getting hungry, so we went into town to get some dinner and beverages, thinking when we were done Grandma would be home.
After an hour (or a little longer) we went back to Grandma's thinking by then she'd be home. Well...to our suprise she still wasn't home, so we went back to town to wait it out a little longer. We went out one last time...and stil no Grandma, so sadly, we called it a night and went home.
When I called her a couple of days later, she told me she'd been out kid sitting and didn't get home until after midnight. And Mom and Dad thought I kept late hours! Well, that was Grandma. Always on the go!
I had a weekend off and wanted to go for a drive, so I decided to go see Grandma. I went by my cousin Jane's place, and as she didn't have anything going on she said she'd go along for the ride (and the fried chicken that we might find in the frig).
We got to Claflin in the early evening and drove on out to the farm. We pulled up to the farmhouse and went to the back door, but found it locked and no car in sight. I thought she might have gone into town or run an errand so I went looking for the key to the door, but I couldn't find it. By then, Jane and I were getting hungry, so we went into town to get some dinner and beverages, thinking when we were done Grandma would be home.
After an hour (or a little longer) we went back to Grandma's thinking by then she'd be home. Well...to our suprise she still wasn't home, so we went back to town to wait it out a little longer. We went out one last time...and stil no Grandma, so sadly, we called it a night and went home.
When I called her a couple of days later, she told me she'd been out kid sitting and didn't get home until after midnight. And Mom and Dad thought I kept late hours! Well, that was Grandma. Always on the go!
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Seldom Ever Wasted (contributed by Sue Von Feldt)
The folks did not get indoor plumbing until 1962; the year after I got married. At that time they remodeled the house and took out the walls between the kitchen, dining and living room. Joe was working for Hughs construction and so I am sure he helped with it. Also took out a big storage closet and turned it into a bathroom. Also remodeled the kitchen, put in new cabinets, etc. We must have taken the old wood cook stove out of the kitchen sometime around 1949 or shortly thereafter. I think we got electricity in 1949. I remember the gas cooking stove that Rick was talking about was in the kitchen when I was between 5 and 8 because there is a chip in the enamel on the left side…..I got mad at Joe and threw a battery at him and he ducked and I hit mom’s new stove and put a chip in it! I was in big trouble; I remember I felt really bad about it and I am sure the end result was a spanking. During those few years, I was known to display a temper.
The out building beside the stove was the outdoor toilet. Geez, I hated those…so cold in the winter time! We had a smaller outhouse and then when the Catholic grade school got indoor plumbing, they sold the outdoor toilet and dad bought it and so we had a really big outhouse; a three seater. The other side of the building was also an outdoor toilet (boys was one side and girls other side), but we used the other side for storage. In fact, I think that is where the old organ from the living room went to storage, but then it got damaged from the elements and it ended up getting thrown away. I am surprised they never gave it away instead of leaving it sit out in the out building like that. Things were so seldom ever wasted back then. Grandma Patzner is the only one who could play it, so after she died in 1949, then sometime after that it was moved to the building for storage.
There was so much hard work that had to be done back in those days. Just to cook anything, the kitchen wood stove had to be fired up. And you cooked three meals a day back then, as people needed the meals for energy for all the work they did. And all the canning in the summer, was also done on that stove, in the heat of the summer, no electric fans, You would get started early in the morning so you would be done by the worst heat of the day. On laundry day, the hot water was heated on that stove. Just to make coffee, you had to cook it on the stove. Sure a lot easier these days, push a button and you have coffee, push a button and your clothes are being washed from beginning to end without ever touching then again to rinse them, push a button and the dishes are washed and dried. I was little enough I wasn’t allowed around the stove that much, but, as Dorothy mentioned, I also remember Joe and I making the “potato chips” by laying the potatoes on the stove top and adding a bit of salt and we thought we had a great treat. However, the better treat was when we would get off the bus and we started walking up the driveway to the house and I swear you could smell the aroma of the home baked bread and then we would make a dash for the house.
Dorothy and I were talking about how we don’t remember talking with mom that much when we were young. I told her the reason was because mom was always so busy working hard. Farm wives worked hard from the crack of dawn until the last one to bed in the evening, and then they got up and did it all over again the next day. I remember walking along with her while she did the evening chores of taking care of the chickens. The chickens were hers to take care of. I remember how you had to sometimes pick that hen up by her tail and lift her up so you could get the eggs out from under her…oops, that should be another story.
The out building beside the stove was the outdoor toilet. Geez, I hated those…so cold in the winter time! We had a smaller outhouse and then when the Catholic grade school got indoor plumbing, they sold the outdoor toilet and dad bought it and so we had a really big outhouse; a three seater. The other side of the building was also an outdoor toilet (boys was one side and girls other side), but we used the other side for storage. In fact, I think that is where the old organ from the living room went to storage, but then it got damaged from the elements and it ended up getting thrown away. I am surprised they never gave it away instead of leaving it sit out in the out building like that. Things were so seldom ever wasted back then. Grandma Patzner is the only one who could play it, so after she died in 1949, then sometime after that it was moved to the building for storage.
There was so much hard work that had to be done back in those days. Just to cook anything, the kitchen wood stove had to be fired up. And you cooked three meals a day back then, as people needed the meals for energy for all the work they did. And all the canning in the summer, was also done on that stove, in the heat of the summer, no electric fans, You would get started early in the morning so you would be done by the worst heat of the day. On laundry day, the hot water was heated on that stove. Just to make coffee, you had to cook it on the stove. Sure a lot easier these days, push a button and you have coffee, push a button and your clothes are being washed from beginning to end without ever touching then again to rinse them, push a button and the dishes are washed and dried. I was little enough I wasn’t allowed around the stove that much, but, as Dorothy mentioned, I also remember Joe and I making the “potato chips” by laying the potatoes on the stove top and adding a bit of salt and we thought we had a great treat. However, the better treat was when we would get off the bus and we started walking up the driveway to the house and I swear you could smell the aroma of the home baked bread and then we would make a dash for the house.
Dorothy and I were talking about how we don’t remember talking with mom that much when we were young. I told her the reason was because mom was always so busy working hard. Farm wives worked hard from the crack of dawn until the last one to bed in the evening, and then they got up and did it all over again the next day. I remember walking along with her while she did the evening chores of taking care of the chickens. The chickens were hers to take care of. I remember how you had to sometimes pick that hen up by her tail and lift her up so you could get the eggs out from under her…oops, that should be another story.
The Workings of an Old Stove (contributed by Anna Catherine Dreiling)
From my earliest memories, this is the stove that was in the kitchen of our farm house. It was a wood burning stove which we used for cooking. I can't remember when we got a later model that burned gas. I know we had one other gas or kerosene burning stove before we got the one that you remember Grandma frying chicken with.
So back to the stove that is in the picture. It is the one Dorothy talked about using to make the potato snacks and heating the irons. At one time there was a wall seperating the kitchen and dining room. This stove sat with its back against that wall. The pipe vented through the wall and I suppose into a chimney. It also had an upper chamber that looked kind of like an oven. I can't remember what that was used for--possibly to keep food warm? I can't remember for sure, but I think we may have put the wood in through a place that opened in the left front. The door you and Doug? are standing on is the oven door. On the side of the stove facing the front of the picture, there used to be a water resivoir attached. We always kept it filled. The water would not boil but it was pretty hot. Also, Grandma Emma Patzner(Georgias mother-in-law) would set her bowl of milk on the top of the resivoir to clabber( to sour and curdle) to make cottage cheese. The cottage cheese will be another story.
I think I've pretty much covered the stove. As you can imagine it was a very hot job cooking on that stove during Kansas summers as wood and fire privided the heat to cook year round.
I think the building that the stove is setting next to in the picture is the old outside toilet. I'm not sure when we got indoor plumbing and a bathroom in the house. Maybe your Mom can remember that.
This is probably more than you wanted to know but your questions opened a lot of memories. The stove description is to the best of my memory--It has been a long time since then.
So back to the stove that is in the picture. It is the one Dorothy talked about using to make the potato snacks and heating the irons. At one time there was a wall seperating the kitchen and dining room. This stove sat with its back against that wall. The pipe vented through the wall and I suppose into a chimney. It also had an upper chamber that looked kind of like an oven. I can't remember what that was used for--possibly to keep food warm? I can't remember for sure, but I think we may have put the wood in through a place that opened in the left front. The door you and Doug? are standing on is the oven door. On the side of the stove facing the front of the picture, there used to be a water resivoir attached. We always kept it filled. The water would not boil but it was pretty hot. Also, Grandma Emma Patzner(Georgias mother-in-law) would set her bowl of milk on the top of the resivoir to clabber( to sour and curdle) to make cottage cheese. The cottage cheese will be another story.
I think I've pretty much covered the stove. As you can imagine it was a very hot job cooking on that stove during Kansas summers as wood and fire privided the heat to cook year round.
I think the building that the stove is setting next to in the picture is the old outside toilet. I'm not sure when we got indoor plumbing and a bathroom in the house. Maybe your Mom can remember that.
This is probably more than you wanted to know but your questions opened a lot of memories. The stove description is to the best of my memory--It has been a long time since then.
Real Potato Chips (contributed by Dorothy Carver)
Rick, your old stove pictures stirred up a couple for me.
Of course the stove was in the house for my memories. The first one was that it was our ways and means of doing our ironing. We had the irons on the stove to heat up and a clamp style handle that would attach to each iron. We had 3 or 4 irons and as they would cool off we would trade out for a hot one and let the used one reheat. Don't like ironing today either.
The good memory of the stove was coming home from school and being hungry. We'd (meaning a few siblings)take a few potatoes peel them and thick slice them and put them right on the hot top of the lids(or burners) of the stove and when the potato was a little crispy we'd turn them over like a pancake cook the other side----then take the slices off add a little salt and enjoy a hot potato snack. Good thing we grew our own potatoes. thinking about this I may have to get out mom's old iron skillet and try this again just to remember the taste or see if it is the same in an iron skillet.
Dorothy
Of course the stove was in the house for my memories. The first one was that it was our ways and means of doing our ironing. We had the irons on the stove to heat up and a clamp style handle that would attach to each iron. We had 3 or 4 irons and as they would cool off we would trade out for a hot one and let the used one reheat. Don't like ironing today either.
The good memory of the stove was coming home from school and being hungry. We'd (meaning a few siblings)take a few potatoes peel them and thick slice them and put them right on the hot top of the lids(or burners) of the stove and when the potato was a little crispy we'd turn them over like a pancake cook the other side----then take the slices off add a little salt and enjoy a hot potato snack. Good thing we grew our own potatoes. thinking about this I may have to get out mom's old iron skillet and try this again just to remember the taste or see if it is the same in an iron skillet.
Dorothy
Clean Boys, Dirty Clothes (contributed by Doug Von Feldt)
OK, here is a story, but it is 6 am so I don't know how good the writing will be.
One strange memory I have is for some reason mom and dad left us at grandma's overnight but I don't think we were supposed to stay longer.
I don't remember why but what I do remember is that we didn't have any clean clothes. I remember grandma saying that our clothes were dirty and they needed to be washed but we didn't have any others with us. So we took off the dirty clothes and all three of sat in the backseat of the car in our underwear with a blanket over our laps while we drove into town to the laundry mat. Grandma took the clothes in to the laundry mat while we sat out in the car.
I don't remember why we didn't do the laundry at her house. It could have been that we washed them using her old hand washing machine and we just took the clothes to be dried so we didn't have to wait while they dried on the clothes line. It is a strange thing to remember but that is the way the mind works.
Rick or Jeff, do you remember this?
One strange memory I have is for some reason mom and dad left us at grandma's overnight but I don't think we were supposed to stay longer.
I don't remember why but what I do remember is that we didn't have any clean clothes. I remember grandma saying that our clothes were dirty and they needed to be washed but we didn't have any others with us. So we took off the dirty clothes and all three of sat in the backseat of the car in our underwear with a blanket over our laps while we drove into town to the laundry mat. Grandma took the clothes in to the laundry mat while we sat out in the car.
I don't remember why we didn't do the laundry at her house. It could have been that we washed them using her old hand washing machine and we just took the clothes to be dried so we didn't have to wait while they dried on the clothes line. It is a strange thing to remember but that is the way the mind works.
Rick or Jeff, do you remember this?
Mud Cookies on the old mud stove (contibuted from Rick Von Feldt)
Is this a story about Georgia?
Perhaps. Maybe not. Definately.
If I think back about my true roots of cooking - it had to start on a gas stove out in Claflin Kansas, on Grandma's farm. And it surely must have started with chicken. Fried chicken. In fact, as I think about it, I am not sure I ever ate chicken at Grandma's any other way. I don't remember it baked or roasted. I don't even remember a grill. It always came from a cast iron skillet. Full of lard. On the a grill that shot flames from underneath.
That was intimidating.
Frying chicken, with crackling grease and having to do it for no less than 8-10 people at a time is intimidating!
When I think about cooking with Grandma - I don't have memories. Truth betold - I am not sure that Grandma really had a "love" for cooking. Rather, it was something you did - something that had to get done. For tens of years it is what she did. It is what she learned from her mother-in-law. And with a family of "bohunks" or big boned people, it was something that had to happen.
I don't remember Grandma ever pulling up a stool to her counter, and asking us to help out with the chicken. Once that process of frying the chicken started, and grease started splattering everywhere, it was intimidating. It was not for little kids.
At eye level, while visiting the farm, I only saw flames. The stove was gas - and when we would visit either from Victoria or Topeka, this kind of stove was foreign. We had electric burner stove. And those flame used to scare me. I thought that live flames like that could blow up. Or make the whole house on fire. It was unruly and unpredictable.
In 2003, in Singapore, I moved into a home that had gas ovens. I was mortified. I saw it like a big monster that could reach out and bit me or my head. I didn't realize that gas stoves were a chef's best friend. It was controlable. I laugh at my memories as a kid from years ago. Since 2003, I have always used a gas stove. And I would not want it any other way. But sometimes, I bend down, and remember what it was like to look at those dancing blue flames out on the farm.
Grandma wasn't much of a food teacher. It was something that needed to be done. Get it done. Get it out of the way. And then move on to more interesting things. Like Scrabble for example. Or cards.
When we were growing up, around meal time, we were "shoo'd" out of the kitchen. Go outdoors, and figure out something to do.
Sometimes, we would walk down the path to the pig house. It was funny to watch the pigs out in their very muddy pens. They lived so far away from the house. I sometimes wondered why they lived so far down the path. Guess who was the city boy? The best thing about visiting the pigs was the small terraced hill that you had to cross to the pig pen. It was fun to run up and over it. And then run back again. And run over again.
Sometimes, we would go to the place where there was shade in the trees. It was where the "hedgehogs" were. Not really. They were actually hedge apples. Or very unattractive fruits. Or vegetables. What in the heck were those. But they were in the back. By the fence line. But it wasn't the weird fruit that made it interesting. It was what was buried beneath it. Treasures. Of glass. And odd things from times long ago. We felt like archeologists. Pick an area. Dig a little. And you would come up with a bottle of colored glass that looked like something from the shelves of a drugstore on an episode of Gunsmoke.
What we didn't exactly realize of course, is that this was the farm's garage pile. As we understood it, no perishable items were taken to this back area of the property, and buried in the ground. By the time we got to it, much decay had happened. And all that was left was the glass. Or so we thought.What exactly were those odd shapes next to the glass?
Sometimes we would consider going to the pond. But that area was off limits unless adults came along. We have great memories of Grandma going with us to fish. My brother Doug has more than the rest of us. My best memory was fishing one day. My line tugged strong. I pulled it in. Something big and strong was trying to pull me back into the water. But slowly we pulled. Me on the line. And Grandma - running down, ankle deep into the water. I thought I had a treasure. A very large fish. She probably knew better and knew what would happen next. Sure enough, the line snapped. But it wasn't a challenge for Grandma. She caught that line in her hand, and dragged the line in, catch and all.
That night, we had turtle soup.
There were always adventures on the farm. But if truth be told, I wanted to be in cooking the fried chicken. But that wasn't for little kids.
So, we decided to make our own kitchen.
At dinner parties - in interviews in my cooking moments in life, when people ask me how I started cooking, I always credit two moments in the life. The second came when in grade school, I started to get bored at cooking roasts after school for the family dinner. My creativity, combined with Campbell soup mixes and Jiffy cake mixes turne me on to real food.
But my first credit for food came from the "mud restaurant" on the farm in Claflin. While on the farm, I spent many an hour creating mud pies, cakes and every conceivable entree in between on the old outside stove.
I would mix the basic ingredients of mud. And water. It was amazing how, when you mixed these items, it could make shapes that could resemble cookies. And even more amazing is that if you laid them in the sun, they seemed to bake.
I would beg my brothers to come to my make shift restaurant. And sometimes, I would even rope them into helping me. At least, that was my perspective on it all.
Here is my earliest restaurant picture. It is in 1967. I am five years old. And I remember details with amazing clarity!
Amazingly, my brother Doug is standing with me. Was he cooking with me? Or was I trying to rope him in to "trying" one of my mud concoctions?
Tonight, as I made Asian braised spareribs, with a buckwheat Japanese noodle and pepper salad, I tipped my hat to my first memories of cooking . It was on Grandma's farm. I wanted to be with my Grandma cooking that chicken. Mud cookies were the next best thing.
(This photo was given to me in 1993, when I was in Claflin visitng my Grandma. She had it in a shoebox. It is one of those "pull out" mini polaroids. I have used modern scanner, software and computer to enhance it. It amazing how clear it looks compared to the original!)
Perhaps. Maybe not. Definately.
If I think back about my true roots of cooking - it had to start on a gas stove out in Claflin Kansas, on Grandma's farm. And it surely must have started with chicken. Fried chicken. In fact, as I think about it, I am not sure I ever ate chicken at Grandma's any other way. I don't remember it baked or roasted. I don't even remember a grill. It always came from a cast iron skillet. Full of lard. On the a grill that shot flames from underneath.
That was intimidating.
Frying chicken, with crackling grease and having to do it for no less than 8-10 people at a time is intimidating!
When I think about cooking with Grandma - I don't have memories. Truth betold - I am not sure that Grandma really had a "love" for cooking. Rather, it was something you did - something that had to get done. For tens of years it is what she did. It is what she learned from her mother-in-law. And with a family of "bohunks" or big boned people, it was something that had to happen.
I don't remember Grandma ever pulling up a stool to her counter, and asking us to help out with the chicken. Once that process of frying the chicken started, and grease started splattering everywhere, it was intimidating. It was not for little kids.
At eye level, while visiting the farm, I only saw flames. The stove was gas - and when we would visit either from Victoria or Topeka, this kind of stove was foreign. We had electric burner stove. And those flame used to scare me. I thought that live flames like that could blow up. Or make the whole house on fire. It was unruly and unpredictable.
In 2003, in Singapore, I moved into a home that had gas ovens. I was mortified. I saw it like a big monster that could reach out and bit me or my head. I didn't realize that gas stoves were a chef's best friend. It was controlable. I laugh at my memories as a kid from years ago. Since 2003, I have always used a gas stove. And I would not want it any other way. But sometimes, I bend down, and remember what it was like to look at those dancing blue flames out on the farm.
Grandma wasn't much of a food teacher. It was something that needed to be done. Get it done. Get it out of the way. And then move on to more interesting things. Like Scrabble for example. Or cards.
When we were growing up, around meal time, we were "shoo'd" out of the kitchen. Go outdoors, and figure out something to do.
Sometimes, we would walk down the path to the pig house. It was funny to watch the pigs out in their very muddy pens. They lived so far away from the house. I sometimes wondered why they lived so far down the path. Guess who was the city boy? The best thing about visiting the pigs was the small terraced hill that you had to cross to the pig pen. It was fun to run up and over it. And then run back again. And run over again.
Sometimes, we would go to the place where there was shade in the trees. It was where the "hedgehogs" were. Not really. They were actually hedge apples. Or very unattractive fruits. Or vegetables. What in the heck were those. But they were in the back. By the fence line. But it wasn't the weird fruit that made it interesting. It was what was buried beneath it. Treasures. Of glass. And odd things from times long ago. We felt like archeologists. Pick an area. Dig a little. And you would come up with a bottle of colored glass that looked like something from the shelves of a drugstore on an episode of Gunsmoke.
What we didn't exactly realize of course, is that this was the farm's garage pile. As we understood it, no perishable items were taken to this back area of the property, and buried in the ground. By the time we got to it, much decay had happened. And all that was left was the glass. Or so we thought.What exactly were those odd shapes next to the glass?
Sometimes we would consider going to the pond. But that area was off limits unless adults came along. We have great memories of Grandma going with us to fish. My brother Doug has more than the rest of us. My best memory was fishing one day. My line tugged strong. I pulled it in. Something big and strong was trying to pull me back into the water. But slowly we pulled. Me on the line. And Grandma - running down, ankle deep into the water. I thought I had a treasure. A very large fish. She probably knew better and knew what would happen next. Sure enough, the line snapped. But it wasn't a challenge for Grandma. She caught that line in her hand, and dragged the line in, catch and all.
That night, we had turtle soup.
There were always adventures on the farm. But if truth be told, I wanted to be in cooking the fried chicken. But that wasn't for little kids.
So, we decided to make our own kitchen.
At dinner parties - in interviews in my cooking moments in life, when people ask me how I started cooking, I always credit two moments in the life. The second came when in grade school, I started to get bored at cooking roasts after school for the family dinner. My creativity, combined with Campbell soup mixes and Jiffy cake mixes turne me on to real food.
But my first credit for food came from the "mud restaurant" on the farm in Claflin. While on the farm, I spent many an hour creating mud pies, cakes and every conceivable entree in between on the old outside stove.
I would mix the basic ingredients of mud. And water. It was amazing how, when you mixed these items, it could make shapes that could resemble cookies. And even more amazing is that if you laid them in the sun, they seemed to bake.
I would beg my brothers to come to my make shift restaurant. And sometimes, I would even rope them into helping me. At least, that was my perspective on it all.
Here is my earliest restaurant picture. It is in 1967. I am five years old. And I remember details with amazing clarity!Amazingly, my brother Doug is standing with me. Was he cooking with me? Or was I trying to rope him in to "trying" one of my mud concoctions?
Tonight, as I made Asian braised spareribs, with a buckwheat Japanese noodle and pepper salad, I tipped my hat to my first memories of cooking . It was on Grandma's farm. I wanted to be with my Grandma cooking that chicken. Mud cookies were the next best thing.
(This photo was given to me in 1993, when I was in Claflin visitng my Grandma. She had it in a shoebox. It is one of those "pull out" mini polaroids. I have used modern scanner, software and computer to enhance it. It amazing how clear it looks compared to the original!)
To Mom, my Aunts and Uncle and to my brother and cousins...
- what do you remember about this stove? About he kids cooking?
- what is the building next to this stove?
- it appears that there is a chimney on the stove, so at one point, it must have been used as an outdoor stove? What for?
- to my cousins, does this bring out any other memories for you?
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
THE QUILT BIRTHDAY (Pictures Tell A thousand Words)
This the first "picture" entry for "The Life of Georgia" website. Many more will come.
These first pictures were scanned by Sue Von Feldt, and send to me a part of the commemoration of her 80th birthday. Georgia loved the lavish attention on her birthdays. And her kids were good at organizing and creating very special birthdays. Whether it was an "Hawaiian birthday" or a "Quilt birthday" or one celebrated over deluxe Belgium chocolates, if you live until 94 years old - you definatel deserve magnificent birthdays.
There will be several entries about her birthdays. This is the first.
On September 9 and 10, Georgia received an 80th birthday surprise party. She knew that 2 weeks later she was going on an 80th birthday trip to Europe. And so, it was hoped she would be especially surprise to have a "pre-party" with her closest friends and family.
ABOUT THE PARTY - the idea, the planning and what happened. (Details to come. Sue/Mom - will you write about the inspirtion of the party - and specifically the inspiration of the quilt. Tell s about how it came to be. Tell us about he party you had to create the squares for the party. Tell us what is in each of the squares And tell us about the quilt today!)
AND NOW - SOME PICTURES!
PICTURE 1: THE GRAND CHILDREN PICTURE
Who is in this picture? Can someone provide the names to the faces?
Who is there - and who is missing from the picture?
(In the comment section below, reference PICTURE 1 - and tell us!)
PICTURE 2/3: THE MORAN FAMILY
This information from Jeni Moran
Who is in this picture? Can someone provide the names to the faces? (Update: Jeni has listed names below).
Georgia ofte talked about her kidsitting.
Which kids in this picture did she sit for? (Jeni: Georgia sat for Kala's kids: Candice and Brett. Mary's Kids: Nicole, Ryan, Shawn and Jacob. 2 of John's kids: Tyler and Courtney.
Who is the angelic Nicole?
Who are the twins?
Where is the rambunctious "Jacob?"
Who is that lady next to Georgia she called one of her best friends?
Who is the God daughter of Georgia?
What are some of the stories of this group? And how did it all begin? (Jeni answered, "As for how it all began. I cannot tell you that. Georgia was just always there my whole life. Maybe Jan or Joe would know since they are older. I have a lifetime of great memories with Georgia. Even when she came over to help mom out it made it seem less like work.")
(left to right): Kala, Mary, Georgia (of course) Jeni and Dottie.
Information from Jeni Moran (The" quilt picture #3 might be a little more difficult, I'll try")
These first pictures were scanned by Sue Von Feldt, and send to me a part of the commemoration of her 80th birthday. Georgia loved the lavish attention on her birthdays. And her kids were good at organizing and creating very special birthdays. Whether it was an "Hawaiian birthday" or a "Quilt birthday" or one celebrated over deluxe Belgium chocolates, if you live until 94 years old - you definatel deserve magnificent birthdays.
There will be several entries about her birthdays. This is the first.
On September 9 and 10, Georgia received an 80th birthday surprise party. She knew that 2 weeks later she was going on an 80th birthday trip to Europe. And so, it was hoped she would be especially surprise to have a "pre-party" with her closest friends and family.
ABOUT THE PARTY - the idea, the planning and what happened. (Details to come. Sue/Mom - will you write about the inspirtion of the party - and specifically the inspiration of the quilt. Tell s about how it came to be. Tell us about he party you had to create the squares for the party. Tell us what is in each of the squares And tell us about the quilt today!)
AND NOW - SOME PICTURES!
PICTURE 1: THE GRAND CHILDREN PICTURE
Who is in this picture? Can someone provide the names to the faces?
Who is there - and who is missing from the picture?
(In the comment section below, reference PICTURE 1 - and tell us!)
PICTURE 2/3: THE MORAN FAMILY
This information from Jeni Moran
Who is in this picture? Can someone provide the names to the faces? (Update: Jeni has listed names below).
Georgia ofte talked about her kidsitting.
Which kids in this picture did she sit for? (Jeni: Georgia sat for Kala's kids: Candice and Brett. Mary's Kids: Nicole, Ryan, Shawn and Jacob. 2 of John's kids: Tyler and Courtney.
Who is the angelic Nicole?
Who are the twins?
Where is the rambunctious "Jacob?"
Who is that lady next to Georgia she called one of her best friends?
Who is the God daughter of Georgia?
What are some of the stories of this group? And how did it all begin? (Jeni answered, "As for how it all began. I cannot tell you that. Georgia was just always there my whole life. Maybe Jan or Joe would know since they are older. I have a lifetime of great memories with Georgia. Even when she came over to help mom out it made it seem less like work.")
(left to right): Kala, Mary, Georgia (of course) Jeni and Dottie.
Information from Jeni Moran (The" quilt picture #3 might be a little more difficult, I'll try")
(left to right front row)
Tyler Moran, Brett Moeder, Ryan & Shawn Doyle and Courtney Moran
l to r 2nd. row-Candice Moeder, Nicole Doyle, Georgia, Dottie Moran, Jeni Siemsen
l to r 3rd. row-Kala Moeder, Mary Doyle, Susan Zink (x of John Moran) Jack Moran
PICTURE 4: THE RELATIVES
Each of the people in this pictures have a relationship to Georgia.
Who are they?
How are the related either through blood, realationship or friendship to Georgia?
What are the stories about their connection to Georgia?
IN THE COMMENT SECTION BELOW - mention a picture number, and give us your lists, thoughts, stores or ideas!
THIS ENTRY POSTED IN CHAPTER 12.
ALWAYS READY TO GO! (contributed by Dorothy Mae Carver)
These are some of my memories of recent years about mom.
In the last few years when we were taking our turns going to the farm to check on mom, Jim and I would on several occasions just go on a day trip.
We got to see several things in Kansas on those trips. Mom was always ready to go. Jim also always liked to see new things. A barbed wire museum, a large ball of twine, in greesburg the deepest hand dug well and just seeing the country side. Mom really enjoyed her car rides.
These car trips really started many years ago when she would drive to topeka for a visit we would take vacation days and we would do day trips out of Topeka also. She was very easy to go with because she would do whatever we wanted to do never ever putting in her want to's.
(Added to Chapter 9: Georgia the World Traveler)
In the last few years when we were taking our turns going to the farm to check on mom, Jim and I would on several occasions just go on a day trip.
We got to see several things in Kansas on those trips. Mom was always ready to go. Jim also always liked to see new things. A barbed wire museum, a large ball of twine, in greesburg the deepest hand dug well and just seeing the country side. Mom really enjoyed her car rides.
These car trips really started many years ago when she would drive to topeka for a visit we would take vacation days and we would do day trips out of Topeka also. She was very easy to go with because she would do whatever we wanted to do never ever putting in her want to's.
(Added to Chapter 9: Georgia the World Traveler)
Monday, September 21, 2009
Day Driving Excursions (Contributed by Anna Catherine Dreiling)
In Moms last years on the farm, when I would go out to see her, we would go over to Great Bend to do whatever shopping she needed. We would then go out to eat. Most often at a Chinese place. She knew I liked Chinese but she did too. Two of her favorite foods were Hot and Sour Soup and Crab Ragoons. On the way home, being the adventurous person she was, we would take different off roads home. If it was paved we took it. She always seemed to find her way back to the main highway. I always enjoyed and will remember those little excursions with her.
(Added to chapter 9: "Georgia the World Traveler")
(Added to chapter 9: "Georgia the World Traveler")
Georgia's story of meeting - loving and marrying Joe
Georgia and her courting with Joe
From Rick Von Feldt
This is the story of how Georgia came to know her husband Joe and the 18 months or so in which they courted and eventually married. But instead of writing it in a story, it is only fitting that Georgia (or Grandma to me) tell the story herself.
Let me give you background.
On June 25, 1993, I was in one of the “in between moments” of my life. I was soon to head off to Colorado for another year in Up With People. And before I left, I decided to drive out to Claflin to spend a long weekend with Grandma. During that time, we spent time on the farm as well as driving around to her friends for long afternoons or evenings of playing cards with her friends. It was a wonderful weekend and something I will treasure for the rest of my life.
On the last day I was there, before I was to head out on a Sunday around noon, Grandma and I had finished breakfast, and we were talking at the table. For years in my past, I had used a tape recorder to tape letters to my friends around the world (long before email and the new technologies). I had toyed with the idea of asking Grandma to let me tape her – but the whole weekend was about spending time with her and her friends.
But on that last day, while sitting at that dining room table in her kitchen – probably like so many many hours also spent with her kids and generations past, Grandma started talking. I asked her if she would mind if I turned on the tape recorder. She gave me one of those “whatever for?” looks – but agreed.
The result was about 75 minutes of talking about various topics. There were moments of happiness. And moments of tears.
Over the next months, I will work at cutting those apart – and putting them into files that I can upload.
But the first tape, that is appropriate on this date – is the story of her courting with her husband, Joe. As you may or may not know, Georgia married Joe on September 21, 1933. Yes – it is the same day as her birthday.
- Her Wichita boyfriend, Bill Beard
- In this taped recording, George tells about: How she met her husband through her cousin Leo
- How her soon to be best friends Joe and Bess helped to bring Georgia and Joe together.
- About Georgia’s “$1 tea towel” test for Joe
- About Georgia’s late night watermelon “run”
- About the $150 wedding
- What Georgia ate for her wedding dinner
- Joe’s plan for a low cost chivalry
- And lastly, what was the prank Georgia’s mom played on her for the famous wedding night.
I have to admit that I had tears in my eyes tonight as I started to listen to this tape. I could not listen to it all. But this is a happy story. And it is a fitting story on Georgia’s 95th day of birth – and her wedding anniversary as well.
I will follow with more of the taped recordings in the future.
This link should take you to the recording.
You would be able to press “play” when you get there – and magically, her voice should appear.
Enjoy!
GRANDMA’S COURTING WITH JOE – CLICK HERE:
http://drop.io/geogiapatzner/asset/georgia-describes-the-courting-with-joe-2-mp3
____________________________________
A few "comments" from the site above after the publishing of this message:
What a Joy! Thank you so much for making me smile on Georgia's Birthday. Tears and smiles. Happy Birthday Precious Lady.
Jeni9.21.2009 (3:27pm)
What a treat to hear Aunt Georgias voice on our birthday! I love this!9.21.2009 (5:38am)
Add your comments in the comment section.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
THE RECYCLE KID (contributed by Sue Von Feldt)
THE RECYCLE KID
Contributed by Sue Von Feldt on September 9, 2009
Added to Chapter 11 of the online webbook
Do you remember how much my mom recycled…..I used to call her the “recycle kid”! On her back porch, she had sacks for glass, cans, cardboard, plastic, newspapers, and a special big one for pop cans as she got money for those. I think all of us kids saved our cans for her and she would take a couple big bags of cans home with her on each visit. She would take all them to the recycling place at Great Bend. She used to burn the rest, which was very little. When the county passed the burning law, she talked to John Herter and asked him is she could put her occasional paper sack of items that could not be recycled in his big trash bin at his shop. He was totally okay with that but one time the cop saw mom doing it and stopped and asked her what she was doing. She explained they had an agreement as he rented her land and that satisfied him and he let her go on her way.
This was her way of being a good citizen and trying to do her part of not filling up the landfills and it just made more sense to her that we should recycle everything we could and not be wasteful. She did not like being wasteful. This applied to being wasteful of food also. She did not like the way younger generations are so wasteful with food.
The bonus was the money the recycling company paid for the aluminum pop cans. She would take the money she got and use it to buy her lunch at one of her favorite fast food places on the 10th Street strip in Great Bend.
With mom living with us these last few years, I could not throw a pop can away; I continued to save them and then when I had about 4 bags full, mom and I would take them to the recycle place……then we would head off to the Pad (a hamburger joint in North Topeka) and enjoy our hamburger and fries from our profit.
I have been thinking, in memory of mom, maybe I should start recycling more; if everyone did what mom did, this earth would be a much better place. Maybe we all should make the extra effort to help our environment. Our Megan is big into the recycling and she was so proud of great-grandma and her recycling.
Contributed by Sue Von Feldt on September 9, 2009
Added to Chapter 11 of the online webbook
Do you remember how much my mom recycled…..I used to call her the “recycle kid”! On her back porch, she had sacks for glass, cans, cardboard, plastic, newspapers, and a special big one for pop cans as she got money for those. I think all of us kids saved our cans for her and she would take a couple big bags of cans home with her on each visit. She would take all them to the recycling place at Great Bend. She used to burn the rest, which was very little. When the county passed the burning law, she talked to John Herter and asked him is she could put her occasional paper sack of items that could not be recycled in his big trash bin at his shop. He was totally okay with that but one time the cop saw mom doing it and stopped and asked her what she was doing. She explained they had an agreement as he rented her land and that satisfied him and he let her go on her way.
This was her way of being a good citizen and trying to do her part of not filling up the landfills and it just made more sense to her that we should recycle everything we could and not be wasteful. She did not like being wasteful. This applied to being wasteful of food also. She did not like the way younger generations are so wasteful with food.
The bonus was the money the recycling company paid for the aluminum pop cans. She would take the money she got and use it to buy her lunch at one of her favorite fast food places on the 10th Street strip in Great Bend.
With mom living with us these last few years, I could not throw a pop can away; I continued to save them and then when I had about 4 bags full, mom and I would take them to the recycle place……then we would head off to the Pad (a hamburger joint in North Topeka) and enjoy our hamburger and fries from our profit.
I have been thinking, in memory of mom, maybe I should start recycling more; if everyone did what mom did, this earth would be a much better place. Maybe we all should make the extra effort to help our environment. Our Megan is big into the recycling and she was so proud of great-grandma and her recycling.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Georgia (Wesely) Patzner
August 20, 2009 marked the last breathing day of Georgia-Wesely Patzner. She passed away in Topeka with family at her side. Georgia live 94 years of amazing life that divided her life into a variety of roles, passions and relationships. She had many names to others – including “mom” “Georgia” “Georgie” and Grandma.
This website is ongoing collection of stories and memories of Georgia Wesely-Patzner. It is written by family and friends of Georgia. It is mean to be an onling living memorial of her life. Children, grand/great grand children and friends will be encouraged to continue to submit small stories or pictures about Georgia. Come back and visit often.
Send your contributions, pictures and comments to: Rick Von Feldt at rvonfeldt@yahoo.com
This website is divided into ten sections – with ongoing contributions by her many friends and families.
Go here for fast sections of her life. Some sections are yet to be developed.
1. Georgia’s Family: 30 children, grand, great and great-great grand children
2. Childhood
3. As a mother and wife
4. Her husband Joe and her mother-in-law
5. Georgia’s working Years
6. Georgia as a Kidsitter
7. Georgia’s friends
8. Georgia’s hobbies
9. Georgia the world traveler
10. Georgia and her Topeka days
11. Georgia and her values: What was important – faith and values
12. PHOTOS of Georgia (coming)
August 20, 2009 marked the last breathing day of Georgia-Wesely Patzner. She passed away in Topeka with family at her side. Georgia live 94 years of amazing life that divided her life into a variety of roles, passions and relationships. She had many names to others – including “mom” “Georgia” “Georgie” and Grandma.
This website is ongoing collection of stories and memories of Georgia Wesely-Patzner. It is written by family and friends of Georgia. It is mean to be an onling living memorial of her life. Children, grand/great grand children and friends will be encouraged to continue to submit small stories or pictures about Georgia. Come back and visit often.
Send your contributions, pictures and comments to: Rick Von Feldt at rvonfeldt@yahoo.com
This website is divided into ten sections – with ongoing contributions by her many friends and families.
Go here for fast sections of her life. Some sections are yet to be developed.
1. Georgia’s Family: 30 children, grand, great and great-great grand children
2. Childhood
3. As a mother and wife
4. Her husband Joe and her mother-in-law
5. Georgia’s working Years
6. Georgia as a Kidsitter
7. Georgia’s friends
8. Georgia’s hobbies
9. Georgia the world traveler
10. Georgia and her Topeka days
11. Georgia and her values: What was important – faith and values
12. PHOTOS of Georgia (coming)
ONE: Georgia's Family
GEORGIA’S FAMILY
Georgia Wesely Patzner
Georgia was born September 21, 1914. (along with a twin brother George)
Georgia was married on September 21, 1933.
Georgia’s husband Joe passed away on September 21, 1970.
Georgia died on August 20, 2009
Mother:
Mother’s Parents:
Father:
Father’s Parents:
CHILDREN
Daughter: Ann (Dreiling) of Wichita, Kansas. Married to Ray Dreiling.
Daughter: Dorothy (Carver) of Topeka, Kansas. Married to Jim Carver.
Son: Joe Patzner of Joplin, Missouri. Married to Pat ___
Daughter: Sue (Von Feldt) of Topeka. Married to Karl Von Feldt
NINE GRANDCHILDREN
Theresa XXX, Daughter of Ann and Ray Dreiling. married to XXX
Greg Dreiling, Son of Ann and Ray Dreiling. married to Kelly XXX
Patrick Dreiling, son of Ann and Ray Dreiling, married to Debbie XXX
Diane Palmer, Daughter of Dorothy and Jim Carver, married to Dave Palmer
Brad Patzner, son of Joe and Pat Patzner, married to Laura XXX
Brent Patzner, son of Joe and Pat Patzner
Rick Von Feldt, son of Sue and Karl Von Feldt
Doug Von Feldt, son of Sue and Karl Von Feldt
Jeff Von Feldt, son of Sue and Karl Von Feldt
ELEVEN GREAT GRANDCHILDREN
Jill Dreiling, daughter of Greg and Kelly Dreiling. Married to XXX
Scott Dreiling, son of Greg and Kelly Dreiling.
Ben Dreiling, son of Patrick and Debbie XXX
Matt Patzner, son of Brad and Laura Patzner
Jacob Patzner, son of Brent Patzner and XXX
Jacob Von Feldt, son of Doug and Alyson Skabelund
Sophie Von Feldt, daughter of Doug and Alyson Skabelund
Meredith Von Feldt, daughter of Doug and Alyson Skabelund
Aidan Von Feldt, son Doug and Alyson Skabelund
Haley Von Feldt, daughter of Jeff and Cindy Howe
Megan Von Feldt, daughter of Jeff and Cindy Howe
STEP GRANDCHILDREN
Draque Carver of Jim and Dorothy Carver
Marc Carver of Jim and Dorothy Carver
Scott Carver of Jim and Dorothy Carver
Lance Carver of Jim and Dorothy Carver
Quenton Carver of Jim and Dorothy Carver
Cherie Stude of Jim and Dorothy Carver
GREAT GREAT GRANDCHILDRENXXX
Georgia Wesely Patzner
Georgia was born September 21, 1914. (along with a twin brother George)
Georgia was married on September 21, 1933.
Georgia’s husband Joe passed away on September 21, 1970.
Georgia died on August 20, 2009
Mother:
Mother’s Parents:
Father:
Father’s Parents:
CHILDREN
Daughter: Ann (Dreiling) of Wichita, Kansas. Married to Ray Dreiling.
Daughter: Dorothy (Carver) of Topeka, Kansas. Married to Jim Carver.
Son: Joe Patzner of Joplin, Missouri. Married to Pat ___
Daughter: Sue (Von Feldt) of Topeka. Married to Karl Von Feldt
NINE GRANDCHILDREN
Theresa XXX, Daughter of Ann and Ray Dreiling. married to XXX
Greg Dreiling, Son of Ann and Ray Dreiling. married to Kelly XXX
Patrick Dreiling, son of Ann and Ray Dreiling, married to Debbie XXX
Diane Palmer, Daughter of Dorothy and Jim Carver, married to Dave Palmer
Brad Patzner, son of Joe and Pat Patzner, married to Laura XXX
Brent Patzner, son of Joe and Pat Patzner
Rick Von Feldt, son of Sue and Karl Von Feldt
Doug Von Feldt, son of Sue and Karl Von Feldt
Jeff Von Feldt, son of Sue and Karl Von Feldt
ELEVEN GREAT GRANDCHILDREN
Jill Dreiling, daughter of Greg and Kelly Dreiling. Married to XXX
Scott Dreiling, son of Greg and Kelly Dreiling.
Ben Dreiling, son of Patrick and Debbie XXX
Matt Patzner, son of Brad and Laura Patzner
Jacob Patzner, son of Brent Patzner and XXX
Jacob Von Feldt, son of Doug and Alyson Skabelund
Sophie Von Feldt, daughter of Doug and Alyson Skabelund
Meredith Von Feldt, daughter of Doug and Alyson Skabelund
Aidan Von Feldt, son Doug and Alyson Skabelund
Haley Von Feldt, daughter of Jeff and Cindy Howe
Megan Von Feldt, daughter of Jeff and Cindy Howe
STEP GRANDCHILDREN
Draque Carver of Jim and Dorothy Carver
Marc Carver of Jim and Dorothy Carver
Scott Carver of Jim and Dorothy Carver
Lance Carver of Jim and Dorothy Carver
Quenton Carver of Jim and Dorothy Carver
Cherie Stude of Jim and Dorothy Carver
GREAT GREAT GRANDCHILDRENXXX
TWO: Georgia's Childhood
TWO
GEORGIA’S CHILDHOOD
1914 – 1933
Georgia was 94 years old when she died. There was a lot of living in all those years.
She was born in Holyrood, Kansas, just a few miles from here. Her father was a professional photographer and had studio’s in Holyrood as well as Claflin. The building across the street (from the church in Claflin) was redone for the restaurant run by Roger and Sarah a few years ago. They researched the history of the building and discovered the upper level had been a photography studio and therefore named the Bar portion of the building the “F. A. Wesely Room”. While Georgia was very honored they did this and provided Roger and Sarah some photos as requested, she would smile and say I wonder if her father would have felt the same honor as he never smoked or drank!!
At age of 5, her father moved the family to Wichita to expand his business. He still kept his studio here and would return on monthly visits to take family pictures. There are many photos in existence around this area with the Wesely marking on them.
Georgia’s strong faith began here. Her grandparents donated the land where the Holyrood Catholic Church stands today. Her parents and grandparents are buried at Cain City. When her father moved them to Wichita, it appears he also became the photographer for taking many of the pictures of the priests and nuns in that area. Georgia and her twin brother George and 3 older brothers all attended St Joseph’s Catholic School in Wichita. Being the only girl and the apple of her father’s eye, when she was old enough to attend High School, he sent his only daughter to Sacred Heart Academy Boarding School for girls in Wichita. And while Georgia did not chose to become a nun (as I think her father was hoping for), her faith was further strengthened by her education there. Georgia had plenty of stories she shared with her family and friends over the years regarding the discipline she learned there as well as many of the funny pranks they would pull.
GEORGIA’S CHILDHOOD
1914 – 1933
Georgia was 94 years old when she died. There was a lot of living in all those years.
She was born in Holyrood, Kansas, just a few miles from here. Her father was a professional photographer and had studio’s in Holyrood as well as Claflin. The building across the street (from the church in Claflin) was redone for the restaurant run by Roger and Sarah a few years ago. They researched the history of the building and discovered the upper level had been a photography studio and therefore named the Bar portion of the building the “F. A. Wesely Room”. While Georgia was very honored they did this and provided Roger and Sarah some photos as requested, she would smile and say I wonder if her father would have felt the same honor as he never smoked or drank!!
At age of 5, her father moved the family to Wichita to expand his business. He still kept his studio here and would return on monthly visits to take family pictures. There are many photos in existence around this area with the Wesely marking on them.
Georgia’s strong faith began here. Her grandparents donated the land where the Holyrood Catholic Church stands today. Her parents and grandparents are buried at Cain City. When her father moved them to Wichita, it appears he also became the photographer for taking many of the pictures of the priests and nuns in that area. Georgia and her twin brother George and 3 older brothers all attended St Joseph’s Catholic School in Wichita. Being the only girl and the apple of her father’s eye, when she was old enough to attend High School, he sent his only daughter to Sacred Heart Academy Boarding School for girls in Wichita. And while Georgia did not chose to become a nun (as I think her father was hoping for), her faith was further strengthened by her education there. Georgia had plenty of stories she shared with her family and friends over the years regarding the discipline she learned there as well as many of the funny pranks they would pull.
THREE: Georgia as a mother and wife
THREE
1933 – 1970
GEORGIA AS A MOTHER and WIFE
LISTEN GO GEORGIA'S OWN STORY OF HOW SHE MET, FELL IN LOVE and MARRIED her husband Joe. Read this contribution from Rick Von Feldt: http://georgiapatzner.blogspot.com/2009/09/georgias-story-of-meeting-loving-and.html
SUMMARY from Sue Von Feldt:
Shortly after graduation, on a return visit to Claflin to visit relatives, Georgia met her to- be husband Joe. He was a friend of her cousin. Within a few months they married and since Joe was an only child, and his father had passed away, he and his mother lived on the farm, and therefore when she married Joe, a live-in mother-in-law was part of the package.
Being an only girl, the youngest child and attending a High School Boarding school, did not provide a lot of training on how to be a farm housewife. She went from all the conveniences of running water, indoor plumbing, and electricity to a farm that had none of these “city luxuries.” While she would tell her daughters she would not recommend the husband & mother-in-law package, she always said she had a wonderful mother-in-law who taught her how to cook and sew and all the things a good farm wife needed to know and they got along beautifully. Georgia had one stipulation at the onset of the marriage, she told Joe she would do whatever to help, but she would NOT ever milk a cow. And while she became a very strong and hard worker, with taking care of the chickens, two large gardens and all the canning, and cooking, cleaning the milk separator, etc., she held strong to that one item and never ever milked that cow. She also helped provide for the family by selling cream and eggs to her regular customers in town.
Georgia’s faith kept her involved with the parish. She was a very active member of the Alter Society and the Daughters of Isabella. She was Regent for several years and she loved her involvement with those organizations.
While she gave up a lot of conveniences from her earlier city life, she was always a hard worker and never complained. Several of her friends went on to become nuns and she kept those friendships alive a lifetime.
1933 – 1970
GEORGIA AS A MOTHER and WIFE
LISTEN GO GEORGIA'S OWN STORY OF HOW SHE MET, FELL IN LOVE and MARRIED her husband Joe. Read this contribution from Rick Von Feldt: http://georgiapatzner.blogspot.com/2009/09/georgias-story-of-meeting-loving-and.html
SUMMARY from Sue Von Feldt:
Shortly after graduation, on a return visit to Claflin to visit relatives, Georgia met her to- be husband Joe. He was a friend of her cousin. Within a few months they married and since Joe was an only child, and his father had passed away, he and his mother lived on the farm, and therefore when she married Joe, a live-in mother-in-law was part of the package.
Being an only girl, the youngest child and attending a High School Boarding school, did not provide a lot of training on how to be a farm housewife. She went from all the conveniences of running water, indoor plumbing, and electricity to a farm that had none of these “city luxuries.” While she would tell her daughters she would not recommend the husband & mother-in-law package, she always said she had a wonderful mother-in-law who taught her how to cook and sew and all the things a good farm wife needed to know and they got along beautifully. Georgia had one stipulation at the onset of the marriage, she told Joe she would do whatever to help, but she would NOT ever milk a cow. And while she became a very strong and hard worker, with taking care of the chickens, two large gardens and all the canning, and cooking, cleaning the milk separator, etc., she held strong to that one item and never ever milked that cow. She also helped provide for the family by selling cream and eggs to her regular customers in town.
Georgia’s faith kept her involved with the parish. She was a very active member of the Alter Society and the Daughters of Isabella. She was Regent for several years and she loved her involvement with those organizations.
While she gave up a lot of conveniences from her earlier city life, she was always a hard worker and never complained. Several of her friends went on to become nuns and she kept those friendships alive a lifetime.
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