I just had to share my Aunt Anna Rapp's 17 year old diary entry for today. She is such a hoot!!

September 30, 1941
Up qt 7:00. Ate. To school. Had some fun today.Went down to the furnace room and talked to Tadpole.(current boyfriend) Edyth went along. Silly. Had a ball game after school at Beaver Dam We won 6to8. Good game after supper Mary A. and I went with Gib A. and Red W. Tony P. to Mentone. Knocked on doors and asked how to find Burket. (they all knew how to find Burket). More fun. Came home. Washed and fixed hair. To bed.

My cousin Ron Rapp sent this letter about Aunt Count that was read at her funeral. Thanks Ron and thanks Larry.

My fondest memories from childhood are similar to my brother, Larry's. Home-made cherry pie, grocery store right across the street, their dog Skippy with the constant oil streak on his back from sleeping under the car, outhouse for 'day use' and chamber pot for 'night use', large yard where we kids could play, and of course, the active train tracks within a stone's throw. Aunt Ina Mae was always so 'kid friendly' - very tolerant, patient, and caring.

As an adult, I remember visiting Burket with my wife, Dorothy, and our family of three children. How Aunt Ina Mae would laugh when we would hear the trains coming, scurry to place a penny or two on the tracks, and then attempt to locate the coins after the train passed. She would always cook something special if she knew we were coming (even if we requested she not bother). Once my Dad passed away in 1987, I realized just how much Aunt Ina Mae reminded me of him - similarities in appearance, sound, values, etc. Eventually, during each visit, the conversation would turn to Aunt Ina Mae telling us stories of growing up with our Dad, or of receiving letters from him when he was in the Air Force. You could pretty much track what was important in her life, just by reading the notations on that calendar that hung on her kitchen wall. She remained mentally sharp through the last of our visits, and could recall so many details of her younger days.

In our living room, Dorothy still has the Christmas cactus that started from a sprout given to us by Aunt Ina Mae. I'll likely pause each time I pass by that plant, and smile each time it gives off those pink blossoms. Life's journey has ended, Aunt Ina Mae, but many of us were blessed by your presence. Enjoy eternity with your heavenly Father (and say hello to my Dad)!

From cousin Larry Rapp

I asked Larry to send me his favorite memories of my aunt Count. His dad was Wayne . Count always said Wayne was the one who gave her the nick name but I guess he wanted his children to show respect by calling her Auntie Ina Mae.

Aunt Ina Mae

Oh, yes.., I remember my Aunt Ina Mae. I was born just about the time this picture was taken… back in 1947. My dad told my brother and sister and I she was our “Aunt Ina Mae”…. But most other folks knew her as Count. I guess he used to call his sister Ina Mae back on the farm when they were kids.

Some of the things I remember best about my Aunt Ina Mae include:

· She had a cherry tree in her backyard. And she made this delicious cherry pie. She came to know that I loved that cherry pie. When we would come down from Michigan for a visit, she always fixed me up with some cherry pie. It will always be the best I have ever tasted.

· The Nickel Plate Road ran right by Count and Shorty’s house. When I was a kid, I loved watching the steam engines chug by. I didn’t like the outdoor loo that much, though.

· Aunt Ina Mae and Aunt Anna always sent us kids a Christmas Package…. And she never forgot to send me a birthday card. I think she sent them to all of us.

· She introduced me to my Rapp family genealogy. She had lots of old pictures…. And never tired of telling me who was in them. Later, she hooked me up with my cousin Jim…. After which I traveled to Wittenberg, PA to find the house and grave of my great-great-great grandfather George.

· Of greatest distinction, she showed her kind heart by caring for her dying sister Anna for the final months of her life.

Thank you for everything Aunt Ina Mae. I loved you. Larry Rapp

A tribute to Count

MY aunt Ina Mae (Count Kiefer) died last night. I am sad about the loss of her personality and family memory. However she was in such pain and misery and although she could not speak she knew what was going on to the last.
Count never traveled very far from home. She did not seem to need anything beyond Northern Indiana or Southern Michigan. She valued and kept her early friendships. Baking was easy for her and she was very good in the kitchen. I never tasted custard pie that was any better- even my grandma Grace Anglin did not top her. After her husband died she spent alot more time with her sister Anna -then moved in with her to care for her through her illness. Anna was so lucky to have her there so she did not have to endure the nursing home. We will all miss her sharp opinions and sometimes salty observances.

Happy B-day

Hey! today is my birthday and I am so thankful to be walking up-town to the bank and coffee. It is beautiful out and hopefully will rain later this afternoon . If he remembers it my " gentleman friend" is taking me out for prime rib. In my aunt Anna's diary for this day she does not mention that her little niece has a birthday because seventeen year old girls have lots to think about-just like now. Her major complaint is that it is boring in Rochester where she lives and she wishes she were still in Detroit where she spent most of the summer and things are hoppin'. She did get to see a movie "Road to Singapore" and ate at the Candy Kitchen . I remember the Candy Kitchen and wish I could still go there but it is now " The Chocolate Shop " and a serious old lady runs it instead of a couple of funny old Greek guys. Some change is good- some not so much.

Movies in the 30s and early 40s

I admit that when I was a child living at 315 N. Washington, My brother and I attended way too many movies. Of course this was late 40s but even the first run movies (we did not get very many), were relatively innocent compared to today. Sometimes on a week-end we would see a double feature in both theaters. The Strand had more B run movies but had local news because the theater owner was Mr. Boyce who could be seen at all the games and special events to add to his presentations. The Centennial , on Center street was fancier and showed newer movies. Back then there was a new movie title every week, sometimes every few days.
Anyway, it seems that in the 1930s movie magazines were in their prime. Girls would collect them and cut out their favorites to post on their walls or paste in scrap books. I remember passing countless hours looking through Aunt Bette Anglin's detailed movie scrapbooks when I was a girl. She had assembled these as an early teen, I am sure, and they ended up at Grandma Graces for some reason. The movies depicted were no longer seen except maybe at an outdoor free show. In any event, some of these movies are considered classics now and are shown on TV.
My favorite of all time is "Bringing up Baby". Silly funny shtick with Katherine Hepburn and Cary Grant. My favorite John Wayne era movie is not a western but "The Quiet Man" with a way younger than she looked, Maureen O'Hara.
In Aunt Anna Rapp.s seventeen year old diary written in the 1940s mentions a lot of movies she went to mostly on week-ends. Here is a short list: Bittersweet with Janette McDonald and Nelson Eddy, Love Thy Neighbor with Jack Benny and, Fred Allen and Mary Martin, Kitty Foyle with Ginger Rogers and Dennis Morgan, Andy Hardy- Private Secretary with Andy Rooney, Penny Serenade with Irene Dunne and Cary Grant. I have seen that one on TV and remember it was a very melodramatic.

Marge writes about friends, tasks and making do.

Phyl Knepper Landis, a life long friend came to spend the night with me at the farm. though we were good friends the attraction was named Jack. When we thought we could sneak downstairs and outside to D.W.'s vehicle, we found all we needed to roll our own smokes. Jack eventually came home. I think he was more interested in Phyl's sister. How stupid we were, and smart we thought we were.

There are so many things that were done as commonplace then and so foreign to the young today. You can just not imagine all the jobs to be done. The butter to paddle before the churn came. The lamps to fill, the wicks to trim, and the globes to clean. there were always socks to darn, shoestrings broken and, yes, often cardboard insoles to use until shoes could be found. I was so blessed with hand-me downs from cousin Marilyn, who lived in Minneapolis. she had lovely things, and mother would remodel to fit me. I did not really know Marilyn then., except that she was Aunt Ethel's grand daughter.

G.G. had what was called in summer her "good dress", made of washable cotton. When it was showing some wear, it became her everyday dress. And as it became more used, the remaining good parts were made into and apron and what was yet to be salvaged cut into quilt blocks. The cycle was repeated over and over. Button, snaps, edt. were removed for other use. Men's clothing was recycled into pants, knickers,and jackets for young boys. I loved to go through the button box and often thought sewing might be fun. I never experienced that joy until many years later. I'm sure the game- button button who's got the button must have been born at some mother's knee. Mending for THE BOYS surely never got caught up. Live-in grandmothers were a blessing for this. Shoes were few and so-called everyday shoes always used when required. Sunday shoes were just that, until retired to the former as needed.

The list of jobs to take care of is beyond belief. The garden, the canning, drying the corn, and daily tasks to perform. Likely there were times when G.G. was pregnant, diapering another, chasing several. She had super strength, physical and mental. She loved the arts and I am sure that helped. She was known for her flair for speaking readings.

Life on the farm had it's many blessings, but oh, the hard work. Animals to be born and nurtured, children sick, overworked husbands.

Why must I reach old age to realize the sacrifices made for me.

What a sad day when Uncle Don's wife and son died. What heartbreak engulfed the family and friends, the young husband shaken beyond belief.

Having two uncles in World War 2 filled me with pride and untold fear all at once. I pray all who read this will never need to experience the devastating news that my Grandparents received on that tragic day in December.

THE BOYS had a great capacity to love. They showered me with it. Bill taught me to drive even though I think the real reason was so he and Wilma could smooch. The lesson was brief about the ditch on the right, and go slow. They gave money they did not have, lodging they could not spare, aid in obtaining a job (that I walked out on) and the list goes on. I received advice and was too dumb to accept , loved me like a sister and tolerated me like a spoiled niece.

Appreciate your family ties and keep them tied.

It has been said that Grace Anglin thought her BOYS could do no wrong. You know she was right.

July 27, 2000-----------Marge Anglin Gast

More about Marge's farm days

There was a gravel pit near, but that was really off limits. However working in the onion was allowed at all ages. That was hot work. I did not like to eat onions but they sure did smell good.
The granddaddy of all smells was Ferd Fribley's mint fields.
After working the onions, we would grab the soap, jump into ole Avery(topless vehicle,actually i think it was 4 tires and not much else) -off to Huffman lake to clean up. Some days if you got too hot, you might get to jump in the horse tank.

Ironing was a big job and was done with irons heated on the cook stove., which were also used to warm your feather bed in the winter. Sometimes I got to iron handkerchiefs, or sugar sacks made into dishtowels.

I loved to go in the store building, there seemed to always be something in there I had not noticed before.

G.G. was very busy with her church and D.W. was an ever present figure of authority. They took their Christian teachings very serious. We went to Millwood Chapel and sometimes to Stony Point. We got on our knees to pray, and to pass the sermon time away I made dolls in a hammock with a handkerchief, which had a corner for your gum if need be. There were lots of wonderful people at Millwood. I could name so many but some stand out. Walter Thomas who was the only man good enough for my mother to marry. Dallas Hartzell who could really play the piano if you needed to hear it. Lilli Harmon to teach everybody to sing, except the two Mary Joaneses Orlie's Mary and Henry's Mary. They already knew how to sing.
Rev. John Hartman kept you at attention with his sermon deliveries I will never forget staying with he and Lilly. Going to church , prayer meeting , ect was never discussed as to whether you were going or not. You knew you were going.
In the winter it seemed that we always returned home to the sickly smell of sulpher burning. So you got your chest greased, a warm flannel rag over it and upstairs fast to escape the smell that was to save us from ills.

D.W. had a very large dictionary on a table that always interested me, but I know I was not to touch it. I can still see the table with two shelves, likely made at Atwood school. I can still see so many things-a picture of a baby in a doctors bag, a pretty vase with flowers embossed. I never wanted anything changed. G.G. said don't you want me to ever have anything new???

Animals had names for the most part, but I cannot remember a single cats name. The mules were Jack and Jen. The dog Dolly was beloved by all. As the story goes Dolly killed 42 rats in one day---what a dog!

More Marge-flowers, hucksters, meal-times ect.

There was a large clay tile outside the kitchen door and G.G. filled it with moss roses, and she had morning glories climbing the kitchen windows to the east. Flowers added to my summer activities, making dandelion chains and dolls from hollyhocks. Uncle Don had a flair for the lovely, so he spent considerable time working working on a stone walk on the southwest corner of the lawn. I can be assured that G.G. was so appreciative of his handiwork.
It seemed that I was either waiting for the Huckster Wagons or the mail man a lot. Shorty Marsh was generous to me and the whole scene of everything from long drawers was exciting. You cannot imagine the variety of things that the rural household might need , from thread to "anything else that you could not raise, can, smoke or have in your cellar.
The mailman was not so much fun but Orin Miller was so nice, and it was fun to take the mail to G.G. and D.W. In the fall, waiting on the mail was made more lovely with a fence sporting bittersweet.

G.G. would let me walk to Community Center, usually to get an all day sucker. I enjoyed some people on the way. Tillie Chivington and McCuens were so nice to me but the prize was Viv Huffman. She liked to talk about Homer. I think that Homer may have been adopted , and oh, how she loved him. I spent lots of time on her front porch. She loved life and had a laugh you could never forget.
Sometimes I would walk to Alma Zent's house. I called her Elme, and she was so kind to me. Her husband, Bill, teased me and I was afraid of him. I think I was there with G.G. the night he died.
It is hard to beleive that I was allowed to walk on gravel roads. Todayit is hardly safe for your children to play in their own yards.

G.G. has a little social life and the affairs of the church were uppermost on the schedule. Often I could go with her to Ladies Aid, ect. It was not often that you went to see a neighbor, but if needed, you went. G.G. helped deliver the Swartz twins. All the Amish that I knew in my childhood were wery special people.

G.G. made bread and lots of it. She had a long board that came out from under the upper cupboards and it held lots of loaves. When you came home from school you knew what aromas would be waiting. On Monday ,wash day, we had beans and what she called light rolls. Oh how I wish you could have had that pleasure. You just cannot imagine how tiring to mix and knead that amount of bread for such a large family plus who ever they invited. She was so happy when she was able to have a machine to help with that chore.
Certain foods were stored in the south room upstairs. Kraut, dill pickles and some staples. Don's drawings were there too, and not to be touched.

Meal time was pretty big, with lots of food., hotcakes she made on a special little griddle, that you could flip over and use the other side. Fried potatoes, eggs and meat too- all of this to do after she was up, dressed, had the pots emptied , cook stove going, and much more I am sure.
D.W. drove the school bus after milking, and other chores. Everyone was at the table and there were devotions and not too short. Some in later years were supplied by Suze and Marg. D.W. always said the same blessing (something about the up-building of our bodies). Goodness knows someone had to help with the building of those bodies. The cook stove had a reservior that had to be filled for warm water needs. The Sat. bath was something all endured whether dirty or not. Being clean for church was very important.

Marge cont. Stone house,windmill,privy,trees ect.

The stone house was quite a place,usually fairly cool and also housed the cream separator. That operation was really neat, but there was that smell, chicken and eggs stink, so does warm milk. I never drank milk until I was pregnant for Gretchen and Bob insisted. The stone house was a place of importance and so was the windmill near by. The sound of the windmill seemed ever present and what it accomplished was wonderful. Not too far away too far away was the out-house, and it, too, was of great importance. Oh yes, while we are talking smells, it was kept very clean and loaded with lime. The black and white pages of catalogs were the first to disappear and as important as it was, it was visited as needed and quickly exited.

About the only eggs that I liked to gather was Easter eggs. Oh what a lot of eggs were colored and hidden. Easter was such a wonderful day, and how tired G.G. must have been. Family gatherings were large and food always seemed to be delicious and plentiful. If memory serves me right, I think that on one such occasion Uncle Dal had Army rations for his dinner , as punishment for his lack of correspondence to his brothers serving their country.
G.G. seemed to have an unspoken rule that THE BOYS should come on Sundays. I marvel at THE BOYS obedience through the years.
There were trees on the farm that I recall and impacted my kid-hood. Mulberry trees may have fruit for some humans, but it seemed like the birds won out. Poor G.G. who had to deal with the fly-over on the laundry.
There was a catalpa tree near the end of the drive with very big leaves and very big worms. I don't recall D.W. ever fishing, but others enjoyed the worms. There were pine trees of some size in the yard and they would not be of any significance, except that o a nite of hide and seek A.J. Rusher shot a bead of urine on me. I am sure I let it be known to all guests that were attending Dal and Doris' wedding shower.

Marge Anglin Gast ...continued

Wash day was something to behold. Can you imagine all the shirts, sheets,pants, socks ect.to be washed? It's good that baths were Sat. night. That may have cut down on towels. Can you think how many towels a family of ten would go through today? The sturdy Matag with the loud motor served G.G. very well and I am sure she thanked God for it. Not everyone had that luxury.It took all day to do the wash, hoping winds would dry it. The items to be ironed would be sprinkled, rolled and put in a large basket, to be ironed on Tuesday. People took pride in how the clothes were hung, making sure that items were sorted, hung in groups, ect. Blankets were washed later and rugs and so-called rags were last. At long last some of the soapy water was used to scrub the stone house.

Marge Anglin Gast wrote Anglin farm memories.

The weather we are in for this next week is almost as bad as the worst winter weather here because I will have to spend most of the time in the house. I can get out early in the morning and late in the evening to walk and water. I am thankful, because in deep winter I can't even do that, so here's to this simmering summer.
I found an essay that my cousin, Marge, wrote back in 2000. It is very important Anglin reflections that I wanted to copy here before but had accidently buried in a stack of papers.
Here is the first installment:
TO ALL OF YOU WHO PROUDLY RECALL EXPERIENCES ON THE FARM WHICH STILL STANDS, SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS, AND WHO KNOWS WHAT PLEASURE WE MAY HAVE IN STORE FOR US. By Marge Anglin Gast

D.W. & G.G
I guess there is no place to start, but summer is here and I will tell you how G.G (Grandma Grace) tried to keep me cool, likely also to keep me quiet or better yet asleep. She hung wet sheets over the screen facing the North, and if I would lay on the floor, perhaps a slight breeze would do the trick. The Anglins were floor sleepers and THE BOYS could be instantly asleep or instantly awake at D. W.'s (Daddy Wash) demand.

Thrashing day was a big event on the farm and I am sure G.G. did not need any help from me. Everything about threshing was big. Big machines, big meals, big aprons, big men with big appetites. The fellowship of the days toil surely must have kindled lasting friendships. Being a kid and spoiled what fun to get in the bins and have a rush of grain flow around me. Oh that you could have had that experience. That smell of rye and wheat, so fresh you had to eat some of it on the spot.

When I think of the many fun yet simple games we played I am reduced to tears. Only THE BOYS (two now) can fill you in on Goulah??? which was played north of the barn. Inside games were hide the thimble and fist-off. For more dangerous action we swung on a large rope from the east side of the barn way out the door!

Putting hay in the barn was work, but it seemed like fun to me. Talk about smells , hay is so wonderful. Actually I did not do any work except dusting, which I still hate. I was allowed to scrape some casing on butchering day but I had instructions on how to do it chisled in my brain.
Butchering day did have some excitment, but I hated killing the animal. Yet I had no trouble eating the good fried side meat. I was never bothered about killing chickens for Sunday dinner . It had to be done and I don't care for live ones. .....to be continued.

Summer in full swing

There is a Blues and Bar-B-Q fest in the park tonight. Don't know if my date will actually come.
He has said he would in the past and absolutely forgotten the words. Very un-Glen like . It's brutal out there at this age. Seems I thought the same thing as a teen. Oh well , now, I just want to dance.
I taught a lot of lanky teen boys to dance in my early teen years. After I met my college boy, that stopped. He put up with a lot of teen hops and rainbow dances just to please me. Later we would go to Rochester to see the Big Bands still touring the country. We danced to Stan Kenton, some band that claimed to be the Glenn Miller band, and Ray Anthony who sounded like the real Glenn Miller Band. That was a special night. It was beautiful there at The Colonial Gardens on Lake Manatau.
The front of the building had white pillars all the way across. The lake side of the building had a pillar supported balcony that spanned it. I think it was when they were playing " Moonlight Serenade" that Glen escorted me out to see the moon's reflection on the water. Yes that is where he popped the question -down on one knee. Too perfect, I know but that was the way it was. I don't even think he knew that that is where my father purposed to my mother while listening to Hoagy Carmichael's " Stardust".
You can quit gaggin' - that is enough of the Long side for now

Aunt Anna's Sweet Sixteen/Seventeen Diary cont.

A reoccurring theme is that the family always wants Anna to come visit awhile . I am sure it is partly out of the goodness of their heart but also because she is such a good worker. Here is her entry for her 17th birthday(May 26): Monday My Birthday-17 Dear Diary, up at 9:00 ate did dishes. Painted in the bathroom, Blue and White. Got dinner (what we would call lunch) ate, did dishes. Proceeded with painting. Ate supper did dishes. Received present from Aunt Mae, an Uncle Sam bandana. Pretty. I went to the show. "That night in Rio" Don Ameche, Alice Faye, Carman Miranda. Very good. More laughs. To bed 11:30.
She did get a job that summer keeping house in a vacation cottage on Hudson lake over by New Carlyle, In. They must have been friends of the family because they treated her like family although she was working nonstop for them and got paid. Probably not much.

Aunt Anna's Sweet Sixteen/Seventeen Diary

I am rushing to get the twins birthdays in the mail and getting ready for my herbal apprentice to arrive for garden help.
Digging for more Rapp writings we found Aunt Anna's Diary. She talks about how much fun her friends are and how "swell" her junior year of high school is turning out to be. Although the circumstances of her life are not ideal at that time she is making the best of everything. Her mother and big sister,(my mother) have died. Her father and new bride are living in Rochester, In. and Fort Wayne, but she is boarding with people in Burket to finish out her high school career.
I may change some punctuation and spelling but that is all. Starting with the January 1, 1941 she has filled almost all the pages of that year. ":
Dear Diary, Resolutions I have made; Do not swear, Do not speak bad about others. Lose weight. Got up at 7:15. School. Husted's father died. I am teaching shorthand this week. Went to basketball practice. Bob Dugly was here and we played cards and had fun. Wanda E. was down . Messed around with "Corny Dorany" Saw Count. To bed 12:00."
At that time she is boarding with the Erwin or Ewert family -helping with house work and child care.
Some of her friends have funny names and some of the things they do are typical but interesting.
I will write some of the more interesting later.

Early August

It is hot, hot, hot today so it reminds me of August, not July. I danced in the park at the concert last night ( with a partner) in the cool of the evening. Lots of couples got up and danced when they saw us. After some non-dancers came up to us and said how much they enjoyed watching us dance. It was a fun finish to July's first Friday celebration.
I was looking through some Rapp letters Count gave me a couple of years ago, yesterday. That is when I came across this neat little post card written by my mother, Mary Rapp Anglin, to her mom and dad who were on a fishing trip. The card was addressed % G.W. Wise, Arbutus Lake in Michigan. It was dated exactly one week before I was born.
In very small and straight script she wrote:
Dear Folks, the boys are getting ready for market today. Us girls have 2 hired hands to get dinner for. I canned some pickles and plumbs for you yesterday and went to the Doctor in the afternoon.Dr. Baum sent for me. I guess he (there is a word missing here)that it was all over with. Ina Mae and Anna are feeling frisky. Wayne is about O.K. again and Kaye Donn's cold is a little better this morning. Glad to hear you are getting lots of fish to eat-wish we had some here. There is an ice cream social at the church tonight. The kids are all going. Ina Mae and Anna said tell you to have a good time and don't worry about anything. Let us hear from you. Lots of love, Mary

Hangin' on to June by my garden caked fingernails

So much has sent June skidding past . My only remaining aunt ," the Countess" of the Rapp family, gravely ill, has made me think a great deal of family and memories. Her mother, Minnie. died relatively young - partly of overweight and overwork. They went to the church down the road which was the church my great, great grandfather founded out in Millwood. This was most certainly where my father met my mother. Anyway, my maternal Gramma Minnie belonged to the same Ladies Aid Society that my paternal gramma Grace belonged to for many years. I don't remember Gramma Minnie but Gramma Grace was my guide and my rock through many of life's trials.
One of the fun things I remember about some of the summer days I stayed with her and Daddy Wash at the farm was the Ladies Aid Society meeting. There were many but the one I remember most was in June when I was ten or eleven. The ladies had decided to stage a "mock wedding" and Gramma Grace had volunteered to host it at her house. I was given responsibility for getting the decorations and music around. The funny part was that the entire wedding party and guests were ladies ( is that the opposite of drag?). The ladies portraying guys-groom, best man, minister were wearing someone's best suit; there were roars of laughter when they appeared in the parlor. I think I found the veil (lace curtain) for the bride. The decorations were white paper streamers and bells. There were plenty of roses for the bride's bouquet. I picked from several bushes. My favorite was a double powder puff pink located immediately off the front porch . They perfumed the entire house. Music was contemporary for the day; "Because"and "Always". It was a formidable task keeping the wedding party and the guests in line because they were all laughing so hard it was like they were on drugs or something . You can be sure that was an impossibility!!!!

June was for Anglin family strawberry festivals

There were many memorable times spent on the Anglin family farm when I was a child. June stands out in my mind as especially fun because of all the work/fun activities. There was a large strawberry patch just south of the old grape arbor It was easily accessible from the side of the gently sloping front yard. Straw was applied and reapplied to keep berries clean. Birds were discouraged - although I do not remember how. When the strawberries were right at their flavor peak . Aunts, uncles and cousins were called in to pick, clean and hull. While the strawberries were being prepared, Grandma Grace would get out her tried and trusty rich shortcake recipe. Several batches were put into the jumbo sized oven at the exact right time. The result was nothing like the little sponge cake cups we experience now in the grocery store right next to the old tired ,sometimes tasteless strawberries.
A couple of the aunts would have been stirring up ice cream to be distributed between three or four huge hand crank freezers. there was a running argument about which ice cream (always vanilla) recipe was best -the one made with eggs and cooked like a custard first or the one made with rennet, a natural thickener. I won't tell where rennet comes from. Once in a while they would use both.
Then the men were called in and things got real interesting. There would be an unspoken challenge to get the first freezer finished. Of course Uncle Dal would usually win because he was the first to hook up the crank to the jacked up wheel of his car. The bung hole on the freezer had to be watched closely to make sure the salt did not plug it and cause the water to get onto the lid which could ruin that freezer of ice cream.
Since I was the only one staying over most nights breakfast would be strawberries and melted ice cream on my cereal. YUM!!!!

Rain, Rain Go Away

But don't forget us in July, please. My friend and dance/ gardening partner was sweet enough to take me out to the Boathouse for lunch ,today, after I helped him find some references to the property he just bought, in the basement of the courthouse. He estimates the property went from the Indians to speculators to the Bixler family, through several owners after the Bixlers and now back to the Indians =Rainwater. Although I have found very few Rainwaters in this country who could claim ties to native Americans, I won't burst his bubble.
We celebrated Easter all day yesterday with a little nap in the middle. Hersh (Rainwater) made it in for the big ham event about 6:30 p.m. Son, Chris Long, did most of the food after being up into the wee hours of the night with band job and church.
Uncke Jack Anglin was very happy in church yesterday because his kids and cousin Dave Anglin from Fort Wayne were there and stayed for dinner.
I was out to see Count last week and she told me more about life on the farm where she grew to a teen. The upstairs "dorm style " room was never finished beyond the studs. The boys- Wayne, Herm and Doyle slept on one side of the big chimney and the girls -Mary, Count and Anna on the other side until you know, PUBERTY. Then a small civilized room was made up for the girls downstairs. Count could draw a detailed chart of exact placement of every room in that house right now Talking about it seems to bring her comfort.

Garden time for Count

I went to see Aunt Count at Grace villiage today. We talked a little bit about farm gardening when she was a little girl. Between grousing about the too smokey "BBQ ribs" they served her for lunch and the "interfering activities lady"she almost waxed poetic about her 8 year old hours weeding the carrots and beets. She allowed that the very best carrots are the ones you pull out of the sandy soil, wipe off on your dress and chow down right there. This was so satisfying because these were the very vegetables where she and Anna poked holes in the newly prepared area and dropped seeds just weeks before. Sometimes her dad took excess produce and fresh dressed chickens to the farmer's market in South Bend. The night before she would hold the comb on the head of the chicken and drag the entire chicken up on a prepared board for execution. EEOOW!! She didn't have to pluck the feathers ( a really stinky job). Then they had to get up about four in the morning. No stop for a fast food breakfast on the way up . One trip she remembered: the old truck was runnin' OK but about half way there on 19 the windshield just fell right out onto the road. Count was born on the farm in 1920. They moved to Burket and opened a grocery store without benefit of a market study and sure enough it folded within a short time. The only thing I remember about that store was the time K and I were toddlers and Count and Anna who were late teens taking care of us for the afternoon. They decided to have a little fun watching us try to eat peanut butter. They opened a new jar and sat us up on the counter. then they insisted that we each eat a huge spoonful of the thick gooooooy stuff. It is a wonder we didn't choke to death. I know I gagged. Teens can be stupid- watch 'em.

New and old times

I had a well rounded day starting with some yoga and pilates exercising , went to lunch with a friend then drove out to see Aunt Count. She was just waking and glad to see me . I read her some stuff and then she asked if I could bring in the big Rapp family picture so she could tell me about some of the relatives that lived ever so close to the her dad's farm so I will have more to say about that later if I can find the picture.
Grace called to tell me that the Dr. said that she has shingles. I hope the meds take care of it.
I talked to my daughter Cecily to get permission to copy an essay that she wrote when she was seven or eight. Here it is: Titled MY DOG BITE
I was walking with my girlfriend (no names so to protect the inocent) when she usherd me into the neibor house. I didnt know they even had a dog, but presto before I knew it the dog had jumped up on me and scratched me. I sat down on the couch and the dog, named RASTISS, jumped up and licked me very hard. one of the boys called him away and he went immediately.
Mrs. X as I will call her, called me over to look at my scratches, I didnt think he did anything but scratch me. We soon left and I showed my girlfriend what he did to my back. She was alarmed and said it was bleeding. She took me home and her mother put aniseptic on it. Soon the Mr. came and said it was a mere nip and took me home.
Mother was upset because it broke the skin, but thought it was alright. Later when she was examining it carefully she got worried because it was a hole. Dad was mad because he did not hear about it until 10:00 because we forgot. The next day I had to get a tetanus shot. If the dog was a stray I would half to get 21 rabies shots. But it was a house dog. They half to keep it pened up regardless as a state law, and if it gets sick or dies of rabies within ten days I will at least have 5 rabies shots. I'm sure looking foreword to NO more dog bites. THE END

Spring is supposed to be where?

It is so spring in my heart and on the calendar but not in reality when I step out the door. This is Wednsday and I have a full day with library visits and my car needing an oil change. The museum will be open until one so maybe I will do some research there.
More about the Rapps here:
Aunt Count gave me a peek into uncle Wayne's personality. When everyone else was playing cards around the kitchen table at night he would be reading a book. He felt responsibility at a young age, and he was good with kids in her estimation. When his mother was having her first a heart attack he sent one of the older kids for help at the nearest neighbors while he stayed by her side and rubbed her arms because she was in great pain.

Since I just got back to this blog with the help of my daughter Grace Long Johnston, I am setting a new policy of telling a little about what is going on now before history takes over. Today the Johnstons are here to spend the afternoon and we are touring the greenhouse, watching movies and eating broccoli rice casserole . We took a little stroll over to uncle Chris's and he demoed his new guitar . It is good to know he has several band jobs booked up ahead and I hope to get to dance at most of them. My gentleman friend and dance partner just called to say that he thinks the old house he is restoring has a secret widows walk on the roof. How exciting! Now if we can just keep him from falling off it.
Rapp Family
I went to see Aunt Count this last week and she was telling me some things about her brother Wayne. She said she was closest to him and he is the one who gave her the name "Countess de Grasse. He read constantly so he may have gotten the name from one of the books he was reading.
She explained that he bossed most of the farm work while Grandpa Earl worked for his dad in the garage and auto business. I would like to know more about that.