19-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:
Wednesday, July 29, 1914: Nothing much these days.
Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:
Since Grandma didn’t write much a hundred years ago today, I thought that you might enjoy this advertisement.
19-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:
Tuesday, July 28, 1914: Nothing much these days.
Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:
Since Grandma didn’t write much a hundred years ago today, I’ll share an old seasonal recipe for Spiced Blueberries. They make an excellent relish to serve with pork and other meats.
Spiced Blueberries
6 pints fresh blueberries
1 cup apple cider vinegar
1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons whole cloves
Combine blueberries, sugar, and vinegar in 5-quart pan. Put cloves in a cheesecloth bag and add to the mixture. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for approximately 25 minutes, or until the liquid begins to jell.*
Remove cheesecloth bag, and ladle into hot pint jars, filling to 1/8 inch of jar top. Wipe jar rim, and adjust lids. Process in boiling water bath for 15 minutes.
Makes approximately 4 pints.
*The Portland Preserve website has a nice description of how to tell when the jellying point has been reached.
19-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:
Monday, July 27, 1914: I just finished writing several letters. So you see I am in the mood for writing this evening. A regular down pour of rain drenched the earth this afternoon. Am glad of it, for I realized how deep the dust was, when I went off on an errand of Pa’s this morning. I took the nearest cut and went across the field. This involved climbing fences or crawling through them as the case happened to be. I chose the latter, when I found a place large enough to admit my ponderous body. I still cling to the idea that I am big and fat, but nevertheless I am losing weight as the summer advances, so you see, the time may come, when I will be reduced to normal weight.
The people here have gone to bed, so I will shut up for awhile.
Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:
Grandma-
How much you weigh? It can’t be very much. What is a “normal weight” for your height?
On March 23, 1914, you wrote:
Got a streak of sewing today. I get the streaks quite often in many variations. Another one is to get rid of some of my superfluous fat. 140 pounds (January) is entirely too much for a girl of my age. I don’t weigh that now, since I lost six and gained about three. Intend to take advantage of the other three and fight for dear life.
And, on March 29, 1914 you wrote:
. . . Am rather tired of dieting by this time. Have lost ten pounds.
—-
My memory is that Grandma was quite short—probably 5 feet 1 inch . . . maybe 5 feet 2 inches. She probably was a little taller than that as a teen, but she definitely was not very tall.
19-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:
Sunday, July 26, 1914: Went to church this afternoon. I was pretty warm.
Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:
Grandma-
Whew, it doesn’t sound pleasant. I bet that it was hard to concentrate in the heat. Was there a breeze coming in through a window?—or was the hot air still? Did you have a fan?
19-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:
Saturday, July 25, 1914: Nothing doing.
Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:
Grandma-
You must have done something. Do you and your 9-year-old brother Jimmie ever go fishing on hot summer days in the the nearby Warrior Run Creek ?
19-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:
Friday, July 24, 1914: Nothing doing.
Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:
Grandma-
I hope that you aren’t doing “nothing” because you’re still in pain from the hay-loading accident two days ago.
If you’re stiff and sore, maybe Sloan’s Liniment would help. It kills all pain in man or beast.
19-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:
Thursday, July 23, 1914: Can still feel the results of yesterday.
Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:
Grandma—
Are you going to be okay? Your accident yesterday didn’t sound good—and I still think you should have gone to the doctor and the dentist. I hope that your father at least gave you the day off—and that you are lounging around the house.
—
Grandma hurt herself while loading hay or straw. She wrote:
I’m feeling awful sore in my lower region. Have a sore nose and two sore front teeth. Was loading hay this afternoon. While at work on the last load the train rounded the bend. I glanced in that direction. This next moment I was lying on the ground with the breath knocked out of me.
July 22, 1914
As I described yesterday, I think that hundreds of pounds of hay fell from a hay hook as it was being lifted into the barn.
