My Reading Blog

Since my mind drew a blank of what to write this morning, I noticed the Question Jar sitting on the shelf.  My fall back and a good way to share with my kids and grandkids how it was when I was growing up.  So today's question: What games did you play in your home or neighborhood? Had to ponder on this one a while.  I lived on a farm until I was ten and then we moved into town. Living on the farm, our closest neighbor with kids was a quarter of mile away.  The girls were younger than me, but I remember getting together to play with dolls, hide and seek, Red Rover or we just played outside and somehow found something to do.  Our parents always got together several times a month to play cards. We played Canasta with my Grandma and Casino with my Dad.  We learned lots of card games and usually played at least once a week. Moving into town and being closer to others kids, we enjoyed going to the swimming pool, riding our bikes, playing dress up and us...

This morning I received a text from Michelle giving me an idea for my slice.  She is reading a book about identities and the origin of our names.  So I took her up on it. Of course when our parents birthed children, they named them after family members or movies stars or just because they like the sound of the name. My Dad's name was Hartwell Paul Bernard Milling.  The Paul and Bernard were family names, but where did the name of Hartwell come from?  From the story that I remember, Dad was the 4th child born.  They had a farm hand and he/she decided that "Hartwell" sounded like the right name.  I have no idea the origin of it (I don't believe it's German, but who knows).  A coincidence, our neighbor had a brother named "Hartwell" - not a common name. My Mother's name was Darlene Wilhemena Schimpler Milling.  Again, the Wilhemena is a family name, but I'm not sure where Darlene came from, but I like to think she was named because she reminds...

What do you remember about your grandparents? On my Mother's side, my Grandma died at  the very early age of 33, so I did not know her, but knowing my Mom, I'm sure she was a very compassionate, caring woman.  I remember my Grandpa somewhat, but he passed when I was very young.  He was a tall man and very serious.  A hard worker.  He had a "wooden" leg - he lost his leg in a train accident.  I'm sure most of these memories are from pictures and from my parents. On my Dad's side, I have a few more memories although my Grandma died when I was ten.  My grandparents were farmers all their lives until they moved into town.  They spent the winter months in Kissimmee, FL.  My grandpa was an avid shuffleboard enthusiast.  He went so far as to have a shuffleboard court build in his front yard.  He loved to teach everyone how to play.  In FL, they had courts directly across the street and this was his passion. I remember when...

As I struggled what to write today, I went back to what got me thru the March Challenge - The Question Jar. Today's question: What things did you NOT have as a child that we have today? When I grew up, there were no cell phones, no cordless phones, only phones attached to the wall that you cranked to get the operator so that you could place a call.  But first you had to make sure no one else was on the line, because it was a "party line" consisting of probably five or more other families.  Calling someone was only done out of necessity, not because you just wanted to chat. No computers or laptops or I-pads, Kindles or electronic devices - we had dictionaries and encyclopedias and reference books to find out information. No internet or satellite tv -only three (yes, 3) channels to choose from and after midnight the screen went blank and then a test pattern.  No remote controls, you had to get up to change the channel. No fast food restaurants (except ma...

The Question Jar has been a great way to share stories about myself and my family.  It's helped me to remember times that have been well hidden in the deep crevices of my brain.  So with today's question, I had to really stop and think. Have you met or worked with any famous people?  Who, where and when? I'd say that most of the people I have met or worked with are "famous" in their own way, but I guess the question is really asking about "SOMEBODY REALLY FAMOUS". When I worked at Nuclear Data, a group of us went out for a drink at a lounge just down the street from our workplace,  It was a well known place, although I don't recall the actual name., but it was popular because the owner was the One and Only WALTER PAYTON.  For those who don't remember him, he was a great running back for the Chicago Bears in the 1970's.  The evening that we went to the lounge, HE was there and I got to meet him and talk to him.  His nickname was "...

The question jar has been my "go to" for this March Challenge, so here's another one: What musical instruments do you play? I'd love to say that I played many, but really can only "play at" the piano and organ.  I can read music, and probably, if I'd practice I might actually be able to play a song.  I took piano lessons for maybe three or four years from the age of ten.  I can remember that I REALLY didn't like to practice - it was like a punishment, but at least I have the basics.  I have always thought that I would take lessons once I retired, but then there's that "practice" thing.  Maybe in the future.... The other instrument that I have enjoyed over the years is my voice.  I participated in children's choir and chorus thru grade school and high school and have always loved singing - never as a soloist.  I've sang in church choirs and as a duet with my Hubby - we even did a duet for a friend's wedding. I have a ...

The Question Jar has been a life saver during this March Challenge.  Not only has it made me draw from many memories, but I'm trying to give my kids and granddaughters a history that they can look back on and see where they've come from. Today's question: What is the most wonderful thing that ever happened to you? Only one?  Well, I guess it depends upon where I am in my life. Being blessed with caring, loving parents who raised me to be who I am today.  Even though they are no longer with us here on Earth, I feel their presence every day. Meeting the wonderful man, who is my husband, friend, encourager, be-all, do-all.  I don't know how I would handle life without him being by my side. Birthing two wonderful children, Scott & Michelle, and raising them to become the people they are today.  They brighten each day. Being blessed with twin granddaughters, watching them grow and develop. Retiring after almost 50 years of working. ...

Today is our 48th wedding anniversary.  Hard to believe that we've been married for that length of time.  But we've made it through good and rough times and continue to enjoy and love each other. Earlier this month one of the questions from the Question Jar was about my parents' wedding.  Michelle commented that she didn't know much about our wedding, so today I'll slice about that. I guess I'll start with how we met and go from there.  My roommate was Len's sister for a year or two and I had visited with his family over that time.  Len was in the USAF serving in Viet Nam.  When he came home, Carol and I picked him and a buddy from Iowa up at O'Hare and brought them back to Pontiac.  That was my first meeting with him.  His buddy and I did more talking and getting to know one another, but them he headed home to Iowa. Len & dated several times before he left for Delaware where he would be completing his four year tour.  That was in J...

Tell about a frustrating experience you have had with a car. I got my driver's license when I was sixteen and I don't remember any instances during high school.  We always took the bus to school and I'd say my driving was limited to short trips. When I was in business college, I tried to pull into a parking space with cars on each side and apparently I cut it too close and scraped the side of the car, because I wasn't smart enough to stop and back up.  I'm not sure what I was thinking, but I guess because of lack of experience I thought it would be okay to just keep going forward.  Wrong.  Lesson learned. Another time, the car was making some strange noises and Dad asked me to take it into the dealer to get it checked out.  In that time, I guess the mechanics thought that a young woman didn't know anything and they could just say it was fixed.  I drove it around the block and directly back to the dealer and told them that my Dad wouldn't be happy if t...

Question #10 was: What did your father do to support your family?  Did your mother work? Hubby and I got to talking and decided that our kids didn't know all of the jobs that we worked at when we were younger.  So today's slice is about all of our work history. Hubby: Farm work at an early age - thru high school Interlake Steel - for a short time learning the art of welding Johnson Press - for 3 months before entering the military United States Air Force - 4 years Johnson Press - 1 year Department of Defense/United States Air Force Reserves - 26 years Carpentry Specialties - 2 years Heritage Log Homes - 2 years Ahhh, retired at last Me: Babysitting at the age of 10 - 50 cents an hour! Mrs. Merrick (a business woman) - the beginning of my secretarial career - 2+ years Mobil Chemical Company - 3 years (got married and moved to Delaware) International Playtex Corp. - 8 months (biding my time until Hubby's tour was completed) Cooperative Extension Service,...

How did your father support your family?  Did your mother work outside of the home?  Doing what? When my dad came home from the Army, they moved into the farm house where my Grandparents lived and he farmed the 240 acres raising corn and beans.  They also had some milking cows.  But farming was not enough to keep up with the bills. In the mid 1940's he became a carpenter working for a contractor, Al Hendron.  I'm guessing they  built 2-3 houses a year from the ground up.  As far as I know, there were 3-4 men that worked with Al and they did all the labor - from pouring cement, to laying blocks & bricks, to framing the house, roofing, windows, building cabinets and finishing the inside.  He must have had contractors who did the plumbing and heating installation.  Dad worked for Al until he retired in the early 1980's, when he turned 62 or maybe 65.  In addition to farming and carpentry, he also sold Hulting Hybrid seed corn to the...

What did you do as a child that got you in the most trouble with your parents?  With your teacher? I'd like to say that I was the "ideal" daughter and student, but I'm sure my parents might disagree.  I really don't remember getting in trouble with a teacher, but there was one time that I remember my parents were really angry with me. My Dad worked for a house building contractor and helped to build our house in town.  It was almost completed and my parents took us to the house to check it out (and I'm sure they said "don't go down the hallway", but...  I wanted to see my bedroom and proceeded to go down the hall.  What I didn't know was that the hardwood floors had just been varnished and were still tacky and not dry.  I left several foot prints on the floor. Needless to say, my Dad was not very happy with me.  I can't remember another time when he was really mad, but this definitely did not make me his "special" daughter...

Describe getting a Christmas tree with your family as a child.  How did you decorate it? When did you put it up and take it down? I don't remember going with Dad to get a tree, but I do remember him bringing it home and setting it up in the stand.  We probably put it the week of Christmas, but before Christmas Eve.  It was taken down after Epiphany - Jan. 6th. When we lived on the farm, the trees were never too big and as I look back at some of the pictures, they remind me of a Charlie Brown Christmas tree - not completely filled in.  It was decorated with lights - some bubble lights and larger bulbs.  There was silver tinsel - put on piece by piece.  The ornaments consisted of different colors balls, the metal spiral ornaments, some handmade ornaments and the ones that I still have are 3 fragile glass Santas.  There was always a star on top.  No matter how bare the tree looked when Dad brought it in, it was always beautiful when decorated. ...

What were your chores as a child? We lived on a farm until I was 10.  We raised chickens and I can remember gathering eggs.  I also remember Mom rounding up chickens so that we could harvest them for food and I would have to pluck the feathers for further preparation.  Fortunately, this was only done once or twice a year. Actual chores - washing or drying dishes picking up toys feeding the dog and cats cleaning my room  dusting When we moved into town, those same chores were made available, plus weeding the garden harvesting veggies hanging clothes on the line to dry mowing grass I'm sure there were others, and as I grew older, the chores increased.  There was no allowance, it was just something we did to help out around the house.

Tell about your Girl Scout experiences. Never joined the Brownies or Girl Scouts.  I'm sure they were in our area, but the 4-H Clubs were more prominent in our small farm community.  So this is the group that I joined. I'm not sure the year or how old, but I'm guessing that I was probably 10 when I joined.  We had a local group and was led by a neighbor living down the street from us, Mrs. Heminover.  Here's what 4-H is: 4‑H is a community that provides experiences where young people learn by doing. Kids complete hands-on projects in areas like health, science, agriculture and citizenship, in a positive environment where they receive guidance from adult mentors and are encouraged to take on proactive leadership roles.  4‑H Pledge I pledge my head to clearer thinking, My heart to greater loyalty, My hands to larger service, and my health to better living, for my club, my community, my country, and ...

Tell about a favorite vacation from your childhood. I don't recall that any one vacation stuck out more than another.  I do remember that we usually took a trip some place each year. Here's some of the trips I remember: My grandparents were "snow birds" and went to Kissimmee, FL for the winter and we spend several Christmas' with them. Many years we would spend a week at a resort (not what we think of as a resort today - just small cottages) in Spooner, WI on Little Arbor Vitae Lake.  We would take the boat out and do some fishing, but mainly just hanging out. We visited family near Flint, MI.  They had a lake house, but I don't remember where it was located. We traveled to South Dakota and Yellowstone National Park. One year, we went to Niagara Falls and also visited Washington, DC. Travel was much different in the 1950's and 1960's.  We didn't visit theme parks (if they existed), no big cities, no camp grounds.  There weren't ma...

What is the most trying experience that ever happened to you? I'm not sure what "trying" means, but I'm going to take it as "difficult/scary" experience. It happened in 1996.  On a Monday morning, before 6:00 a.m..  I'm busy getting ready for work.  Scott living out on his own.  Michelle at school in Champaign.  Hubby left for work at 4:00 a.m. The phone rings. Hubby calls and says "I'm not feeling well.  I'm coming home.  Don't go to work.  I think we need to go to the doctor."  Now, he works at the USAF base at O'Hare Airport - a 40 minute drive. I asked, "Do you want me to come and get you?".  His reply, "No, I'll be fine." I anxiously waited and waited and pondered what happened the night before when he told me he wasn't feeling very good.  I kiddingly said, "Take 2 aspirins and call me in the morning." He arrived home and was the color of ashes.  We promptly got in the car...

Many years ago, I was looking for something to craft for some friends for a Christmas gift and came upon a list of questions to ponder and relate about one's life, growing up as a child, something to share with your family.  There were about 100 questions - some very thought provoking and others just silly, but a great way to let your family know about your experiences as you were growing up.  So, I gave each of my friends a journal and put the questions in a "Question Jar".  I kept one for hubby and me.  We started out doing a question a day.  Hubby's not one to write, so he would relate his story and I'd put it in the journal and then write my story.  We did really good for a while, then it became a once a week thing and then it faded away. So I thought that this March would be a great time to once again open the jar, pick a question for each day and write about our life experiences. My question for today is: WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE SCRIPTURE AS A ...