THE “PATTERN BLANKET”

 

Our grandson Silas, visiting us at Christmastime, came running to me talking about the “pattern blanket.”

“Will you make me a pattern blanket,” he asked.

“What’s a pattern blanket,” I asked, to which his mother responded that he meant the striped afghan we put on the bed we made for him in Mike’s office. In recent years I’ve made several striped scrap afghans – color stripes alternating with gray. I made the first one – the one Silas was talking about – for myself. Son Murray admired it, so last year I made one for him.  

Of course, I assured Silas, I would make one for him. Hallie was dubious, implying that this was a thing of the moment and that he would forget about it. This may well be true, but I know from experience that all too soon the children stop asking for the simple things I do. Moreover, that stash of leftover yarn is still available – and I would love to buy more. And besides, how could I ever say no to such an earnest request from one of my favorite people?! I was on it in a flash! 

The thing with a scrap afghan is that it doesn’t truly work unless you buy more yarn. I figure each scrap afghan costs $40. And then you have leftover yarn again, and this just continues to feed on itself. With the finish of each scrap afghan, the stash of leftover yarn has grown but some colors have to be replenished. It’s really rather fascinating how that works.

“And,” said Hallie, “he isn’t going to care what you do.”

Sure he cares, I think to myself. He wants a “pattern blanket” that Grandma made just for him, and a pattern blanket he shall have. Maybe Hallie just doesn’t understand how easy it is to make my “pattern blankets.” It’s a stitch, not a written pattern. Or, maybe she meant that I don’t need to overthink the color combinations.

I must have restarted Silas’ “pattern blanket” four times, but this is necessary. To start rightly is to end rightly. I practiced with hook sizes, holding the yarn tighter, and measuring my beginning row. At last, I was satisfied and it began to grow.

How long will it take to finish it? Let’s just say that I hope to finish it while Silas still remembers he asked me to make it. Meanwhile, I bring it up on our facetime visits. This morning I sent a message to ask if he wanted the pattern blanket to include white and black or just bright colors. Hallie said he didn’t have to think twice. “Just bright colors.” KW

 

HOLIDAY RECAP -- 1930 / 2025

 

I feel like I can settle down to just living again and enjoying my gifts and memories of a very happy Christmas to which you added a great deal. – Ina

I can truly echo Ina’s assessment of a good Christmas well-celebrated. We crunched and munched and mussed and enjoyed Silas’ delighted “Oh wow!” with everything Santa brought him. Now the house is so very quiet, but I can “settle down to just living again.”

In my imaginary 1930’s Christmas, Sadie loved the rag doll that her Aunt Shirley made for her, and after Christmas she looked on as Shirley made several dresses for the doll. Eventually Ethel and Sadie will return home, and Myrtle will go back to her job in Portland, but for the rest of this week, they will enjoy a quiet family reunion.

Meanwhile, here in 2025, we thought that the predicted mild winter would mean that we could celebrate Christmas with the ghosts in the old farmhouse. What could possibly happen to cancel a farmhouse Christmas if the weather continued mild and we had no snow? Mike and I made several day trips to the farm to take gifts and food for the anticipated holiday. I made the beds! We brought in the tree! We were sure our farmhouse celebration was going to happen. 

But -- Mother Nature had other plans. Instead of cold and snow, on Dec. 17, a ferocious windstorm (70-80 mph) hit our region. I’ve already reported about the downed trees and power outage. (See Day 20 below.) We still hoped for restoration of power, but on the 23^rd, Mike made calls and learned that a pole was down on our side of the ridge and had to be re-set. Our place would be among the last to be restored, probably because we are the fewest affected. At that point, I said it was too late to revive our plans for a farmhouse Christmas.

On Christmas Eve morning, Mike and I, daughter Hallie and family, and son Clint drove to the farm. That’s when the roof damage on the back of the house was discovered. A loose limb, not especially large but with a javelin-like point, was thrust with such force that it not only pierced the metal roof but also went through an interior brace and poked a hole in the ceiling of the master bathroom. The guys got out our longest ladder, and Mike climbed up and onto the roof to patch it with a scrap of metal roofing and some adhesive insulation.

As we drove back to town, we met the Clearwater Power workers, and they said power would be restored by nightfall – too late for us.

Then on a cold Sunday the 28^th, Mike and I drove to the farm again. He toured the perimeter on the 4-wheeler and found other downed trees but only a few limbs in the fields. While he worked in the wood at the bottom of the lane, I tended the burn pile. His last task was to patch the bathroom ceiling with a piece of tar paper and clean up the mess. Hopefully it’s sealed for the winter, but we’ll need a contractor to fix this damage, and that’s in the works with our good friends, the folks at Disaster Response. KW

DAY 24 – A FARMHOUSE CHRISTMAS

Christmas is here – or almost here, but suddenly Jack has a plethora of un-Christmassy things to do. A fence is down and the cows got out, so he and June (and Dick the Dog) chased down the cows and mended the fence. It took all morning.

Meanwhile, the four women and Sadie were busy with Christmassy things. Shirley and Ethel decorated the living and dining rooms with boughs and the Oregon holly sent by Aunt Ida. And when Vance’s box was opened, Ethel nearly wept to see the beautiful door piece and table decorations made with fir boughs and holly from the Washington coast. These things added much to the family’s enjoyment of the holidays.

At 4:00 p.m., Bertha and June arrived. Bertha brought roast chicken, frosted ginger cookies, and two pumpkin pies. At 5:00, the other guests arrived – the Boehms and Mrs. Cordell and her son Jay. The party was lively, and a good time was had by all.

After the dinner dishes were cleared away, Shirley set out the pies, cookies, and Ethel’s fudge. Then Ina called them all around while she lit the candles on the tree. The moon shone in on the tree, adding enchantment to the scene.

And now we must leave them to their revelry, knowing that it was a skimpy Christmas with everyone well remembered. KW

DAY 23 – A FARMHOUSE CHRISTMAS

 

With the Christmas Eve party just a day away, the three women – Ina, Shirley, and Ethel – were busy, busy, busy. Ina called her sister Bertha at least twice to confirm the menu and scheduled her baking. Shirley rolled the gingerbread cookie dough and supervised Sadie’s use of the cookie cutters while Ethel tended the fire in the old cookstove.

After lunch, Ethel noticed Jack and Sadie whispering with one another conspiratorially. “Just leave it to me,” Jack said to Sadie.

“Ina, Sadie and I were thinking that we could cut the tree today and set it up. Yes, it’s a day early, but why not? Then it would be done. One less thing you’d have to worry about tomorrow.”

“Well, it would be a break with tradition,” Ina said in a serious tone, but she was only teasing. She agreed approved their plan, and Ethel helped Sadie into her snowsuit and boots. No, it hadn’t snowed, but it was cold.

Off they went – Jack and Sadie with Dick the Dog trailing along – while Ethel watched from the kitchen window until they disappeared, only a little apprehensive that the hike might be too much for Sadie, or that Sadie’s needs might be too much for Jack. All went well, though, and the trio was back at the house within an hour. It was a tough hike for the four-year-old, but she chatted happily all the way to Jack’s chosen tree and all the way back to the house.

As Sadie looked on, Jack put the tree into a stand and set it on the library table in front of the south window. Shirley and Sadie hung a few red balls and tinsel saved from the trees of previous years. Then Sadie was allowed to put the new candles into the candleholders, and Ina clipped them to the tree.

But that was as much as Ina allowed. Now they must wait until after Christmas Eve dinner to light the candles.

Just before dark, Shirley happened to look outside and saw her sister Myrtle coming through the gate. They hadn’t expected her until tomorrow, but her employer excused her a day early and she was able to take the night train into Lewiston.

And now, thought Ina, it really seemed like Christmas. KW

DAY 22 – A FARMHOUSE CHRISTMAS

Dickens' Chimney Sweeps

Must stop now and go “grind” the old washer. So very much love to you and the merriest Christmas. The most Happy and successfulest New Year! – Shirley Dobson

It was washday again, and Ina did her best to focus Shirley on the task at hand. “Shirley, we just can’t let everything go because Christmas is coming. Please leave your letter-writing for now and help with the washing.”

So, Shirley quickly closed her letter to Vance and began to “grind” the old washer, whatever that meant.

Meanwhile, Ethel took advantage of the hot stove to make penuche (brown sugar fudge). She had planned in advance and brought brown sugar and nuts with her so as not to use Ina’s supply, but she knew that cream and butter would be in plentiful supply at the farm.

Once the laundry was hung, Shirley mixed the dough for gingerbread cookies with a wooden spoon, and thank goodness she had strong arms, but by the time the dough was mixed, everyone was tired, so they decided to let the dough sit overnight in the “cellar” and roll the cookies tomorrow.

As daylight waned, they were so tired that they decided that bread and milk for supper would be “just the thing.” Sadie didn’t like bread and milk but knew better than to say so. Ethel quietly allowed her a little extra sugar and cinnamon on her serving. And Ina's applesauce for dessert was a treat!

And then Sadie was bundled into her pajamas, robe, and slippers, and the four adults took turns reading aloud from Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Actually, the adults enjoyed the reading more than Sadie. It was a little boring for a four-year-old, but again, Sadie knew better than to complain. After all, the longer they read, the longer she stayed up, and she didn’t like to go to bed upstairs by herself. At last she fell asleep, and Jack carried her to bed. KW

DAY 21 – A FARMHOUSE CHRISTMAS

 

Did I tell you that our teacher, Miss Dorothy Johnson, has organized a singing group and that we’ve been meeting at Wilbur’s to practice? We sang two Christmas anthems for church Sunday and they went very well, though they could have gone better, but it helped the service anyway. – Shirley Dobson, 1932

Ethel cooked breakfast this morning while Ina prepared the pot roast for dinner. Shirley did the morning chores with little Sadie in tow. Then they hurriedly cleaned the kitchen and dressed for church. 

The circuit minister was there today, and the sermon on the birth of the Christ-child was inspirational, full of peace, hope, and the world’s need of goodwill. A group of young adults, including Shirley, sang several Christmas anthems, and of course, the congregation sang Christmas carols. In fact, they stayed after the service for a rousing carol sing. Christmas cookies, coffee, and hot chocolate were served.

 

After dinner, Ina licked and affixed stamps for the last of her outgoing Christmas cards. She was finished now and could settle down to enjoy the season. She moved to her rocking chair by the window and soon Sadie climbed up to join her. It had turned colder and Sadie’s favorite blanket provided welcome warmth for them both against the draft. Before long they were both sound asleep.  

In the evening, Shirley tuned the radio to Christmas carols performed by a renowned church choir in a distant city. Ah, technology! But as beautiful as the music was, Ina thought that it wasn’t more meaningful than the fellowship of singing carols with one’s friends. KW

DAY 20 – A PRESENT-DAY REPORT

 

Today we let our farmhouse family of 1930 continue their Christmas preparations while I tell of real-time trials.

Road blocked

At 5:30 a.m. Wednesday morning (Dec. 17), my phone warned of tornado-force winds for the next 45 minutes. As Mike and I sheltered in our cozy bed, we also thought of those tall pines at the farm and worried about damage, especially to the house. Yesterday (Friday, Dec. 19), we drove in to check.

Looking back toward Jeep

“Hallelujah!” exclaimed Mike as the farmhouse came into view. We could see that she stood free and had sustained no damage, but as we rounded the bend toward the lane, our progress was abruptly blocked by a large downed pine tree and branches. As I disembarked from the Jeep, I heard the neighbor’s generator running and knew that we had no electricity.  We walked up the lane to the house, where we discovered the electricity had been off for some time, evidenced by thawing food in the freezer.

Tree blocks lane

Mike was immediately in “git ‘er done” mode. He set up the generator to run the fridge, and as he pulled on his coveralls, he assigned me to call Clearwater Power and the county road department. “Don’t even ask for an estimated time of restoration,” said a recorded message at Clearwater Power. “We are swamped with multiple outages throughout the region.”

Technically, the downed tree was lying on a county road, so my next call was to the county road department. The dispatcher sounded young. I was polite as I described the problem and asked if it would be all right for Mike to begin removal. The dispatcher contacted her supervisor and called me back. To my surprise, she reported that two men would drive out to help us but meanwhile, we could start on it ourselves. I admit that I was dubious that they would come, but she assured me that workers were on their way.

Cutting into sections

So, as Mike cut the downed limbs, I piled them. “What a pity to waste these good fir boughs,” I thought to myself, remembering how my dad decorated our house with DIY wreaths back in the day. Then Mike began to cut the trunk where it blocked the lane.

We had worked the better part of an hour when the county guys showed up in an old pick-up with a plow on front. One guy commenced to stack limbs while the other got his saw and made further cuts on the trunk. Then the three men rolled the trunk sections out of the road so that the lane was accessible. The county finished by pushing remaining tree parts to the roadside with the old pick-up, and with a hearty “Merry Christmas,” they drove out of sight.

Pine tree in grove snapped off

But this tree was not the only damage. A pine on the north end of the grove snapped and fell into the north field. There are limbs in the pond, and the yard is littered with limbs and various tree debris. But we are so relieved. It could have been so much worse. The house is fine, and even though the electricity is off, the poles and lines are intact. And Mike, who has been worried about where his next firewood would come from, is almost gleeful. He even ordered a new saw.

Limbs in pond

Mike lit the stove for me, and I warmed soup for lunch. Then he worked another hour at the tree in the lane while I packed up the perishables from the freezer and refrigerator. Thankfully, nothing spoiled and is now safely stored in town.

In the past, the farmhouse saw many Christmas celebrations, but we aren’t sure it will happen this year. Without electricity, we don’t have water either. Grandma Ina never had electricity or plumbing in this farmhouse, and she kept her perishable food in a cold house. I hear her laughing at us all the way from 1930. KW