MUSINGS ON A VINTAGE MOHAIR COVERLET

My mother's vintage mohair coverlet of many colors

 My mother and dad used to travel to Canada once in a while to visit relatives. While there, Mother shopped, coming home with wool tartans and beautifully embroidered pillowcases. And one year she came back with a gorgeous many-colored mohair coverlet. She brought me a coverlet, too – mostly yellow. I appreciated her thoughtfulness, and never told her that I coveted her coverlet of many colors.

When Mother passed in March of 1997, her children each chose one of her afghans or coverlets. I honestly don’t remember which one came my way, but the coverlet of many colors evidently went to sister Harriet, the eldest. I gave it no more thought . . .

Darn that mouse!

. . . until one day a month or so ago when I picked up some stuff at Harriet’s for the P.E.O. rummage sale. And there on top of a box was Mother’s mohair coverlet of many colors. The damage was readily apparent, but I still loved it. And so, as I mentioned in the previous post, I bought a skein of mohair yarn in Seattle, and yesterday I darned the holes.

Close-up of mended area

An expert darner I am not. Back in the day, Mother tried hard to teach me, insisting I mend my socks as I grew up. I just never got the hang of weaving teeny tiny stitches across a hole, and I knew it was an exercise in futility – so often the way with mends. But – I was determined to mend this coverlet. True to form, I didn’t do a good job, but it seems to me the overall effect isn’t too bad, given that the damage was extensive.

Mended area from a distance

As I finished the work, which took several hours, it dawned on me that the coverlet really does belong in the rummage. It has “seen better days,” as we say. In the mending process I discovered the evidence that mice, not moths, were responsible for the holes, and they had also skimmed off the mohair “fuzz” here and there. Mrs. Mouse probably built a nest that was the envy of all her neighbors. But the fact remains that the coverlet is also soiled but isn’t worth the price of dry cleaning.

Gracing the sofa in my studio

So, maybe it should have gone to the rummage after all, but the good thing is that I don’t have to worry about protecting it. I can use it – and use it up – without worrying about the mice and the moths. KW

A SATURDAY IN SEATTLE

Not quite the right shade -- oh well

Damage -- moths or mice?

Knowing that our time in Seattle would be short and that no one else would enjoy hanging around fabric or doll shops, I tried not to make demands. But I did ask Hallie to help me accomplish one thing. I have come by a beautiful mohair coverlet that has sustained moth damage. I decided to repair it even though I can’t make it like new, and I wanted to buy a little mohair yarn for that purpose.

So, Saturday morning we quickly settled on a yarn shop a short distance from the little Tudor and were there in a matter of minutes. It would have been wise to have taken the coverlet with me, but I didn’t. I knew I could never match the color or the yarn anyway, so it didn’t take me long to just pick a green from what was available at the yarn shop. It will be what it will be, and the coverlet will put its best side out with the mend folded under.

As we watched TV Friday evening, Hallie demonstrated how their “Chromecast” enabled us to watch videos from her phone on the TV screen. “Hey,” she said, “you could have a Chromecast.” Discussion ensued, and we determined that our TV set would be smart enough. So, on the way back to the house from the yarn shop, we stopped at Fred Meyer and there was a Chromecast amongst the groceries as we checked out.

Nice gate!

Nick and Mike install the gate

After lunch, Mike assisted Nick in setting the gate he built. It still needs a latch and a decorative piece, but now the backyard is a secure place for Primo.

  

The Troll under the Bridge

Mike still wanted to sight-see and geocache (mostly geocache), so Hallie and Nick humored him. We went to visit “the Troll,” where I quickly located the cache. Then we made several trips in and around the Fremont library where we were eventually successful in finding another cache. The next one was discovered at the bottom of a steep hill near the water. Climbing back up the hill was not fun. Mike pulled me for several blocks.

Many brick Tudors, different entries

On the way home, we stopped at a wonderful fish market where Hallie and Nick bought delicious crab cakes for our dinner. At the bakery next door, Nick selected a loaf of fresh-baked bread. I saw lots of goodies there, but we didn’t indulge.

Little Brick Tudor -- alive and well

The tour ended with a drive through the neighborhood to see the variety of little brick Tudors, all built in the ‘20s and ‘30s. There are many of them, and Hallie says the main difference is the entryway. And there are larger Tudors as well. As far as I could see, most of them look great, and it’s wonderful to be able to say that Hallie and Nick's does, too, thanks to them.

And by the way, you can read the story of Hallie and Nick's "Seattle Tudor Renovation" here. KW

THE STEEP AND WINDING ROAD TO SEATTLE

Thursday sunset (Clarkston)

Our drive took us from the rural southeast corner of the state of Washington to the urban northwest corner. It was Friday, March 23, and at 6:23 a.m., Mike, Bess, and I were off to the big city – Seattle – in our little VW GTI, arrangements having been made to board Nellie. Mike had an appointment for an amendment to the GTI at 1:00 in Seattle.

Thursday sunset (Clarkston)

We wended our way over curvy country roads in agricultural / ranching country. We were halfway to Seattle before we came to the divided highway that blends the traffic from northern and southern localities into one, and then once again we traveled a two-way highway across the vast interior of central Washington State. On we went until we came to the freeway that carried us over Snoqualmie Pass, where it was snowing, and on into the city. 

Little Tudor

Finally, just before noon, we arrived at the little brick Tudor where Hallie and Nick live. Mike went off to the GTI appointment while I settled in to wait with Bess and Primo, our grand-dog, until everyone would begin to come home. Hallie and Nick both had to work. 

Bess in the fireplace

Bess and Primo had to get acquainted, of course, scuffling in the process. At length they settled down. Bess managed to pull a dog pillow into the fireplace for a cozy nap.

It turned cold on Thursday, and I thought I should probably take my winter coat – just in case. “Nah,” I decided, “it’s not going to be so cold that I need my coat. After all, it’s spring now, and the car is so little, and I can do without it.” So, there I was in Seattle without my coat – and it WAS cold. Well, I had my old fleece jacket and my raincoat, and I had taken a pair of gloves and my warm undershirt, so I made out all right. The weather on Saturday was warmer, convincing me that I’d made the right decision after all.

We spent Saturday doing things with Hallie and Nick – and I’ll talk a little about that tomorrow. Sunday came all too quickly – time to go home. We headed out about 10:00 a.m., doing our route in reverse – out of the city and back to our quiet country roads.

Campground at Lyon's Ferry

Near Lyon's Ferry

We arrived at the town house at 3:30, just after a shower. We quickly unpacked and then settled down to wait until time to pick up Nellie at the boarding facility at 5:00. Mike went to get her, and she was so happy to be home! – dancing and prancing all about the house. We then went for our customary late afternoon walk, and Nellie ran the whole way – so relieved to be back home and see the familiar places. (At 14, Nellie usually saunters along. Running more than a short distance is unusual for her.)

Mike said that Nellie earned a good report from the boarding facility. They said she was a sweet girl. KW

INA THE TRAVELER

Ina Dobson, 1948

Winters are harsh in the upper elevations of remote Idaho, such as the Gilbert area where the Dobsons homesteaded. And still today, as winter turns to spring, the ground turns to mud for a month or six weeks. During "mud season," Ina often chose to visit relatives. She wrote this brief note her son Vance in February 1934.

Dearest Vance,

I am figuring on coming. Round trip to Chehalis via Portland is $17.12 but only 10 days. They are looking up the 30 day ticket price and also cost of trip via Seattle. Seems to me the Portland way is nearer and I could see Myrtle, too, going and coming. .... Almost mail time and I’m very busy today canning meat and otherwise caring for it. Weather like spring – fields and hills are greening.

Closing now.

With love,

Just got return call from depot. Via Portland to Chehalis one way is $9.51. To Seattle one way $9.02. Can’t get longer than a 10-day round trip, so I'll just get a one-way ticket, see? 


In other words, she could only stay ten days on a round trip ticket -- no 30-day option. Since the difference between two one-way tickets and a round trip ticket wouldn't amount to much, she would just buy one-way tickets.

In another letter she briefly described her trip from Orofino to Portland just before Christmas. At that time she was a widow, her husband Jack having died in November 1945. 

I left Orofino Sunday p.m. after hearing sermon and songs at the Christian Church and having dinner there. Edgar [a relative and minister at the church] took me to the train, and finally I was off for my long-planned trip. Couldn’t get a berth, but managed to sleep some anyway. Vance and a friend met me at the station in Portland, an unexpected surprise, and they brought me out to Lynn’s. She met us in her dressing gown, as she hadn’t expected us so soon. The boys soon left and we had breakfast in due time.

The photo of Ina was taken in October 1949 in her son Earle's yard in Idaho Falls. I can just imagine that she looked very much like this as she traveled. She likely wore a suit accessorized with gloves and hat. That was the norm for traveling women in that day. "One does what one can," Ina would say. KW