DAY 18

 

I got my letters and cards and boxes off in good season and had the last week mostly to make a dress for Ruth, my niece. They told me not to try to do it before Christmas, but I wanted to. It and the collar I made, unknown to them all, were my gifts to Ruth. She came down different days and did my work up so I’d have more daylight to sew. One day she did my washing besides. She’s a good girl and willing to help. – Ina

Here we are at the last week before Christmas in our imaginary 1931, the same as it is here in 2024. Ah! How wonderful to be ready for Christmas and have that last week for the little extras and to create surprises for loved ones. It does the heart good.

Actually, the dress for Ruth wasn’t the surprise. Ruth knew about the dress. The surprise was the collar that Ina fashioned for it. And I’m sure Ina made that collar without benefit of a pattern. Back in the day, people sewed without patterns. My other grandmother, my mother’s mother, prided herself in not using patterns, but my mother said the fit left something to be desired. And me? – I make nothing unless I have a pattern and instructions.

We approach the shortest day (or longest night) of the year, and daylight does make a difference, especially when you don’t have electricity. Lantern light just isn’t good enough for close work. KW