LET'S CELEBRATE -- AGAIN

Mike and I hosted a "meet the couple" reception for daughter Hallie and husband Nick at Hells Gate State Park near Lewiston on Saturday, Sept. 26. Blog followers will know that Hallie and Nick married on August 29 in Seattle. The focus of this reception was to allow friends and family, some of whom were unable to travel to the wedding, to celebrate with us. Our nephew Shann with the able assistance of family and friends cooked "kabobs" for us in his "pig roaster." And, of course, wedding cake for dessert.



Even though it's late September, the day was beautiful at this spot on the Snake River. We enjoyed sharing a meal and lots of visiting.








Hallie and Nick chat with Loris while Kathy stands behind the cake.








Adoring look . . .




This is a couple experienced in cake cutting. I heard them discussing and giving each other cues. "Ready? -- Now!"





Gifts --
Hallie admires holiday embroidery by "Aunt" Chris.

Aunts Joni and Harriet are close to the action.


Well, that's it. Now we move from organized celebrations to the celebration of life events, adding a new couple to our family. KW

A FEW RANDOM WEDDING DAY PHOTOS

Downtown Seattle from the wedding venue, Hamilton View Park in West Seattle, which sits above Elliott Bay. A rainy morning turned into a sunny afternoon, just as the bride predicted. The view was beautiful. Some guests were reluctant to take seats for the ceremony.



Family members chat in the parking lot before the wedding. On the left, Elisha and son Clinton; son Yancey (brown suit, back to camera); our eldest grandson, Douglas; Tiara (bonus granddaughter); grandson Jack; Mike (back to camera); son Milo (mostly hidden by Mike); my niece, Chris, and her sister-in-law.

Both Milo and Chris told me this story. It must have happened. Chris approached Milo and said, "Yancey?" to which Milo replied, "No, guess again." And then she got it right. My parent's grandchildren, "the cousins," were born over a 26-year time span, with our children much the youngest. Chris hadn't seen Milo since he was in high school.




"Isn't my bouquet awesome?!" Hallie shows her bouquet to the photographer. I have often wondered why professional photographers come to the wedding dressed in loud, sloppy clothing. (No offense to the photographer but . . . ) I believe I know the reason. The presence of that loud sweater cannot be overlooked and ruins many snapshots, thereby preserving the photographer's work.



Mother-of-the-bride -- ready to go to the park. I was so fortunate to have found this dress in the wedding colors early in the process. Who would have thought brown would ever be a wedding color? It's everywhere this year. My pink crystal beads were my mother's. I wore the pearl earrings my dad gave me on my wedding day 34 years ago.



Little Emerson Lynn, our youngest grandchild, appeared in a beautiful ruffled brown taffeta number. It would have been such fun to send her down the aisle with a basket of blue and pink flowers. Alas, at 14 months she's just a little too young -- would rather stay with mom and dad, Yancey and Kelly.


The bride's attendants listening to the ceremony. Bridesmaid Jade was Hallie's roommate at Oregon State. She recently earned her MBA and now works in Nome, AK. Maid-of-honor Ellen was Hallie's roommate at the University of Idaho and works as a forester in Colville, WA. (Yes, she is very tall.) KW

ON TO THE RECEPTION

The reception took place immediately following the ceremony. Well, as immediately as driving from West Seattle to downtown Seattle and finding parking can make it. In Seattle, where event venues come at a premium, Hallie and Nick happened to meet the manager of the MOD Pizza Parlor who was delighted to work with them in planning a fun-based reception. She and her staff were wonderful -- handling all the set-up and decorating to Hallie's specifications and baking individual pizzas to order. We had so much fun, and they did, too.

Such a fun cake! Rich chocolate mousse with a fudge-like fondant frosting. Very rich. Done in the wedding colors -- brown, turquoise, pink, a touch of white and some polka dots. The topper reflects the bride's sense of humor.

Hallie visits with her cousin, Chris (who, by the way, will be a grandmother any day). Aunt Joanne and Uncle Chuck sit in the foreground. Dubbed "Hallie's elders" on the program, my half-brother, Chuck, and his wife were the only representatives of the eldest tier of our family, serving as "stand-in" grandparents. Good choice -- they know a lot about being grandparents and great-grandparents.



This is one of my favorite photos. Hallie's nephew, Douglas (Murray's son), Uncle Chuck, and half-brother Murray taking last-minute photos of the cake before the cutting.



Hallie and Nick enjoy a taste of their wedding cake. We have no regrets about the cake -- we all really enjoyed it, but I mentioned to Hallie that I thought I'd go with a more traditional cake for our local reception later this month. I was surprised by her immediate "no kidding! -- and let's have the buttercream frosting." I brought the topper home with me for that next cake. KW

HALLIE & NICK -- FIRST UNOFFICIAL WEDDING PHOTOS

Here they are -- the first unofficial wedding photos taken by the bride's parents. Hundreds of pictures were taken on this day by a professional photographer and the groom's mother with her professional-grade camera. I found it a bit intimidating -- and maybe a little "over the top" -- and a distracted mother of the bride just wasn't feeling imaginative. But anyway, here are candid shots of Hallie's wedding day, and rest assured, when Nick and Hallie return from their honeymoon trip to Ireland, we will have many, many, many wonderful photos from which to choose.



Almost time to leave for the park . . .

Hallie was surprised by the groom's gift -- beautiful earrings









Bride and groom meet for pictures prior to the ceremony.







Hallie and her two brothers, Clinton and Milo -- a precious moment for a mother. "Bigger" brothers, Murray and Yancey were also in Seattle with their families for the wedding. It was a great reunion.





Just a few more minutes . . . Are the guests seated yet?









Waiting with Dad in the shade behind the bushes.







The ceremony -- performed by the Reverend Erin Chase, friend of bride and groom.

With this ring . . .





Into Dad's barracuda for photos -- then off to the reception . . .

SHOES TO MATCH MY DRESS

No? Not quite right?

GIRLY STUFF

I've been saving this post for a long time. Knowing that the subject matter is not of general interest, I've waited for an active time to slip it in.


As a child, I enjoyed paper dolls. The set shown here was special to me and somehow survived the years so that I still have it. It helps that the set came in a folder that subsequently protected the cut-outs. Note that it was copyrighted in 1955 and cost $.29 -- hours of affordable fun. In the end, though, paper dolls are expendable, and maybe not so much fun once the cutting is complete.


As you can see, the theme was a wedding party. You can also see by the sample sheet of what remains to be cut out that it was the pageantry of pretty dresses I enjoyed. Most of the guys' clothes and much of the bride's trousseau remain to be cut out. And I think if you knew me in the 1950s -- like if you were my best friend or something -- you can probably see how I could identify with the flower girl -- brown hair and eyes, straight bangs.

Clint was in town from Hagerman this past weekend and Mike rode with him to Boise on Sunday -- Father's Day -- so that he could ride his new motorcycle home on Monday. (That happened.) So being at liberty to watch "chick flicks" on Sunday, I tuned into "Father of the Bride," the 1950 Spencer Tracy / Elizabeth Taylor version. Since we're planning a wedding this year, I especially enjoyed comparing the experience as presented 60 years ago with today. I think today's young couple is more apt to be involved in the process -- in putting together their own special event, while in the '50's timeframe, the bride's parents made the major decisions -- and the movie bore that out. In the 1950's event, the mother-of-the-bride was really the central player, juggling grumbling father on one side and starry-eyed daughter on the other. But in a sense, nothing much has changed in 60 years. The event is still a wedding --a ceremony and a reception -- and that requires an industry of support. KW

ON BEING A MODERN RETRO WOMAN

Growing up, my goal was to be a housewife. I had plenty of role models – my mother, my grandmothers, my best friend's mother. In fact, I grew up in an era when most women were housewives. A man hoped to make a good enough living so that his wife didn't have to work outside the home. Things began to change in the '60s and '70s as the feminist movement influenced our lives. As women, we were told that "just being a housewife" wasn't good enough for us. Don't get me wrong -- I have no quarrel with liberation. But I do think that in the process we undermined the value of homemaking and consequently, we de-valued the place of the home in society. In the midst of these changing values, I went off to college. I was confused as I struggled – and failed – to find a focus for my life's work. Years later my mother would say, "If you had chosen a major that fits your interests, it would have been home-ec." I could see that she was right.

When I retired two years ago, I had the privilege of re-inventing my life. I could once again be a housewife, but the children were gone and my efforts felt a little fruitless. As I reviewed the things that had come to me through my mother and grandmothers, I discovered a burning desire to learn, re-learn, and practice the household arts they valued – to become a "modern retro woman." We're modern – because, of course, we aren't stupid: We're not going to turn in our modern time-saving, labor-saving devices. But we're retro because we love the values, the ethics, of practicing the household arts. Making a study of it has brought a dimension of interest to my daily life.

The "modern retro woman" is not my catch phrase. It belongs to Julie-Ann McFann, Ph.D. I first became acquainted with Dr. Julie-Ann through the podcast, Grandma's Sewing Cabinet. I then began to read her blog by the same title, and from there I discovered she authors yet another blog, "modern retro woman." She recently mentioned our blog (mwhomestead) as "embracing homemaking as a creative process," and that's exactly what I have endeavored to show – with honesty – through my daily activities. It's great to find an online support group for the retro feminine arts. (See links below.)

I recently had a bit of fun dialoging with Dr. Julie-Ann. She confirmed what I suspected -- that her paternal grandmother who taught her to sew was the same age as my mother. That means they themselves were taught the household arts by mothers and grandmothers who never knew electricity. They were children during World War I, young mothers during the Great Depression, approaching middle age during World War II. They listened to radio programs before television became a fact of life.

[The photo above is of Mother, Daddy, and me watching the county fair parade in Orofino, Idaho, 1951. The photo to the right is of my mother fitting my wedding gown in April, 1975. "The wedding dress should show the bride," she said. If only she could see today's dresses. She appliquéd the quilt on the bed by hand and dressed the doll in the frame.] KW

Fairy Godmother's Guide to Happiness

http://fairygodmotheradvice.com

Grandma's Sewing Cabinet

http://grandmassewingcabinet.com

A Modern Retro Woman

http://modernretrowoman.com

“AND PRETTY MAIDS ALL IN A ROW”

Hallie's appointment at David's Bridal in Seattle was Saturday at 2:30. So, Hallie and I arrived at the store at the appointed time. She had been there before and narrowed the field of dresses to two or three simple styles, none of them "poofy." The consultant assigned to her was a young Russian lady who led us to the rear of the salon where there were mirrors everywhere – rows and rows of mirrors that proved to be doors opening to fitting rooms. I was practically dizzy with the effect and was glad to sit and get my bearings. There wasn't room for Hallie to model on the slightly raised platform before me, so I was given a chair near her dressing room which allowed me to observe the other brides modeling their choices.

I knew I was watching people and it was none of my business. On the other hand, the set-up was for the purpose of watching, so somehow it seemed okay. I couldn't help but wonder about the story each bride might tell. One slender, poised young lady, probably 20, with beautiful long dark hair was modeling strapless dresses before four women – her 40-ish mother, a grandmother with long gray braids, a younger sister, and another who might have been an aunt. All the women, including the bride, were unpretentious in appearance. The choice of dress was serious business. Discussion was quiet with no joyful animation. The bride seemed indifferent about the dresses she was trying and somehow the dresses seemed wrong for her. Something more demure would be better, I thought. Maybe they thought so, too, but there's no such thing at David's Bridal where somehow all the dresses look alike.

Now Hallie stands before me in a strapless, tea-length gown – what we used to call waltz length in the '50s – perhaps a little shorter. She prefers the short length to the long for her August 29 garden wedding at a West Seattle park with reception at a pizza parlor, but she isn't comfortable with the strapless bodice. The consultant confirms that they have no tea length styles that aren't strapless. "Unthinkable," I think to myself. In a different age I would have said, "Come on, Hallie, let's go," but we have both done enough research to know the "big box" wedding gown will cost as much as we're willing to pay. At other boutiques the gowns start at $1,000. Hallie moves back to the dressing room.

Now I'm watching the cute young girl with sandy hair and freckles. I imagine she's a high school senior who will marry as soon as she graduates. As we note with petite young girls who haven't fully matured, every dress she tried was darling on her. "Tells you something about the target group here," I think to myself. Her support group sits on the floor and takes pictures of her as she models. What a great idea – but I left my camera behind. We pass this way but once – at least for the first time.

Here's Hallie again in a strapless gown with a strap that goes around her neck. Hmmmmm. She goes back to the dressing room to try the dress she likes best.

To the credit of this corporation, they have dresses that make even the plumpest among us look great on her wedding day, as evidenced by the young woman at the end of the platform who spent a long time in her gown. A pretty woman of ample proportions, she seemed comfortable in her gown. Of all the people I watched, she seemed the happiest. That was good to see.

Now Hallie models the gown she likes best – at least she likes the halter bodice and the general line of the gown is lovely. It has a train – she doesn't like that. The consultant suggests another gown for her to try, and off they go to the dressing room.

I've been distracted for a while, and when I turn back to the platform to resume my bride watching, I feel as though I might have stepped back to the '40s. The bride is wearing a street-length white sheath dress with horizontal tucks across the front. I would guess it's probably the least expensive option offered at this store. Her consultant came with a piece of netting – more of a hat than a veil -- that they clipped to her hair. I envisioned her meeting the groom for a simple wedding so that they could move on with life.

Well, Hallie has chosen the halter dress and is once again modeling it. "But look," she says, moving closer to me and speaking in confidential tones as she points to a soiled spot. "Do I have to have this dress?" The consultant explains that they sell dresses from the rack only, but when Hallie explains, she checks and says that the store will order a fresh gown for her which will arrive early in May. They will then fit the dress and shorten it for her – for a fee, of course. I'm glad she will have a new dress.

In this environment filled with women, our final contact was with a young man, the cashier. He looked like a high school student and wasn't comfortable discussing the bra. As we finalized the sale, he said firmly and audibly, "You must sign this slip, acknowledging that you know the sale is final. No returns for any reason." KW

FROM 1947 -- DOROTHY WALRATH WEDS VANCE DOBSON HERE SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7

The home of Mayor and Mrs. C. O. Portfors was the setting for the marriage of their daughter Dorothy Walrath and Vance Dobson Sunday, December 7 at 5 o'clock.

Two younger daughters of the bride, Farrol Joan and Nina Ruth Walrath lit candles preceding the rites read by the Rev. Marvin E. Smith of the First Christian church of Lewiston. A son, Charles P. Walrath played the wedding march as the bride entered on the arm of her father.

The bride wore a dress of shell pink slipper satin and carried a bouquet of orchids on a white prayer book. She was attended by her oldest daughter, Harriet Lee Walrath, who as maid of honor was also in pink slipper satin with net trim and wore pink roses in her hair.

Farrol Joan and Nina Ruth were in long dresses of white and yellow and had shoulder bouquets of pink roses.

Jeannine Larson sang, "Through the Years" and "I Love Thee" accompanied by Barbara Hughes.

The ceremony was performed before the altar which covered the fireplace flanked on either side by tall candelabra. The mantel was draped with chrysanthemums, iris and buddleia.

The bridegroom is the son of the late Julian Dobson and Mrs. Ina Dobson, pioneers in the Gilbert area. He was attended by a nephew, Dale Johnson as best man.

Mr. Dobson has made his home here for several years after teaching piano at Raymond, Wn., and is currently conducting classes here in addition to his farm interests.

A reception followed at the Portfors home with Mrs. T. M. Walrath cutting the mammoth wedding cake, Mrs. Vernon Kalbfleisch pouring tea and Mrs. Francis A. Portfors serving coffee. The hostess wore a gown of rose beige with a corsage of talisman roses.

A WEDDING AT THE HERITAGE HOUSE

At the time that I managed The Heritage House, the thinking of the board was that the house would appeal for very small events – like a wedding chapel. I remember only once when it worked like that.

A woman called from Orofino one afternoon and said she and her boyfriend were getting married. It would be just the two of them on Friday afternoon. No guests, no attendants, no cake – they just wanted a place for the ceremony. Sure, I said, and told her it would be $35 for such an event. She was pleased – maybe even relieved, I thought. Did I know where she could find a minister, she asked. I suggested Stan Lyman. And would I serve as her attendant? At that point my heart went out to her because I realized she had no one special to be beside her at this important time, and I said I would. She also asked me if I could find a second witness. Yes, I said, wondering which board member I could coax into helping.

I didn't have to wonder long. Just then Johnny Johnson of Lewiston Morning Tribune fame came through the door. "Johnny," I asked, "would you serve as best man for this couple?" To my surprise, he said yes without even asking questions. It was so easy I wondered if he would remember or if he would wear a suit. (My job at the Historical Society was much the same as my job at home -- mother.)

On the appointed day, I wore a dress to work. Johnny showed up at the right time wearing a suit just as Stan Lyman walked in. The three of us greeted a beaming and nervous middle-aged couple – he in an old suit, she in a two-piece white dress with a lovely corsage. My intuition told me they had come to Lewiston that morning to shop for her dress, the corsage, maybe even the ring. They weren't prosperous but my on-the-spot assessment was that the groom was doing what he could to make the day special for his bride. Immediately following the ceremony, the bride blurted out, "Didn't I get a great guy?" And I still remember how Stan and Johnny nodded and said "uh-huh" in unison.

It turned out that Johnny was an old hand at witnessing weddings. He related that as a reporter covering the courthouse he had frequently been asked to step into the role of witness. It couldn't have worked out better if I'd had time to think about it! KW

FROM 1929 – YOUNG COUPLE TO WED SAT.

Miss Muriel Dorothy Portfors and Mr. Fairly John Walrath, both of Orofino, will be married at the Lewis-Clark hotel in Lewiston Saturday, May 18^th, by Rev. Chas. H. Addleman, pastor of the Christian church of Clarkston, at 5:30 p.m. The ceremony will be performed in the presence of a few intimate friends of the bride and groom. The informal double ring ceremony will be used. Following the wedding the young couple will immediately leave by car for Walla Walla on a honeymoon tour which will take them into Washington, Oregon and southern Idaho. They expect to return to Orofino May 25^th and will be at home after the first of June.

The bride is the only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. O. Portfors of Orofino, a graduate of the Orofino high school, and for the past year bookkeeper for her father in his Ford garage. The groom is the elder son of Mr. and Mrs. H. L. Walrath, Orofino, also a graduate of the Orofino high school and of the University of Idaho forestry school, and for the last two years has been employed by the Clearwater Timber company in woods and office logging work.

They are well known and well liked young people of this community and have many friends who wish them future health and happiness.

Mrs. E. W. Jewell and Mrs. H. R. Snider tendered the bride-elect a china shower at the latter's home May second, when many beautiful dish gifts were received. (From the Clearwater Tribune, Orofino, Idaho)

So, one day I questioned my mother about this wedding. She explained that she and Fairly arranged to have all the furniture removed from a room at the Hotel Lewis-Clark in Lewiston. Grandma Portfors made her wedding dress, a flapper-style dress of gray satin with an overlay of gray lace. On her wedding day, she and Fairly together with their attendants left their parents behind and drove to Lewiston where they were married as pre-arranged at the hotel. To my knowledge no photographs were taken.

"What!" I said. "Surely you could have had a big wedding in Orofino!"

"I know," Mother answered with a shrug and a sheepish grin. "That's what my mother wanted. She wanted to make me a white wedding dress and invite the Canadian relatives and have a big wedding at the Christian Church."

"Why didn't you?" I asked, still incredulous.

"I refused," she replied, with no further explanation.

I recently related this conversation to a friend who quietly said, "Your mother wanted to be in control." Yes, I think she put her finger on it. KW