The Way Back Machine

"Maycomb was a tired old town, even in 1932 when I first knew it. Somehow, it was hotter then. Men's stiff collars wilted by nine in the morning; ladies bathed before noon, after their 3 o'clock naps, and by nightfall were like soft teacakes with frosting from sweating and sweet talcum. The day was twenty-four hours long, but it seemed longer. There was no hurry, for there was nowhere to go and nothing to buy... and no money to buy it with. Although Maycomb County had recently been told that it had nothing to fear but fear itself... That summer, I was six years old. "

- Scout's narration from To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

The Farmer and I traveled to South Carolina several years ago. We stopped on our way down the coast to Charleston at a place called McClellanville, which I promptly designated as the town that time forgot.

It was incredibly hot that day. We spent some time down by the docks watching the shrimp boats return from their day fishing on the Atlantic. On our drive down Pickney Street back to the main highway I spotted a huge live oak tree, dripping with Spanish moss.

"Stop the car," I yelled.

The Farmer complied, accustomed to my photographic whims.

The scene reminded me of something out of To Kill a Mockingbird. I snapped the shot and grabbed the book as soon as we returned home. It was wonderful to read the words again. This was perhaps the third time I've read Harper Lee's classic. I felt satisfied when in my reading, I came across the quote that matched the photo.

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Don't forget to place your entry for the Cherry Picking Field Trip Giveaway. The deadline is today, July 5th at 6 p.m.

The Way Back Machine

The time: Summer, 1984
The place: Grandma's House, Palmyra, Tennessee

It's Sunday, which means it's time for another trip in the Way Back Machine.

This photo was taken in my mother's back yard in Palmyra, Tennessee. When I say this is grandma's house, it has a double meaning. The little country home was built by my grandmother for her retirement. After her death my mom and stepfather moved in. For my children it was both grandma and great-grandma's place. It's still owned by family members, but rented out for the time being.

In the back there's a shed, filled with stuff that a shed accumulates. There's a contentious lawn mower in there somewhere. It was the focus of an ongoing feud between my Grandma Martha and her sister. I never fully understood the argument but as with anything, it's never about what you think it's about.

Off to the left you'll see another structure. It's the outhouse! The house was built as money was available and the bathroom plumbing was the last to be installed. The outhouse served as the "facilities" for quite awhile. My grandmother was into angels and all kinds of flowery decor, so the interior of that outhouse was decoupaged with angels and cherubim. It was quite a sight.

Behind the outhouse was the "tip". Those of you in the south may have some idea what that is. There's no garbage pickup out in the sticks and to this day I believe you have to load up and drive your garbage to a spot where the large dumpsters are located. Back in the day people burned the paper items and everything else went over the hill into the tip. Many years in the future I envision young archaeologists digging up my grandmother's tip in search of evidence of our lifestyle.

I was always amazed at the wide range of facial expressions my children were able to come up with. My daughter is just SO HAPPY to be walking. She was a very anxious and unhappy baby because she knew in her heart of hearts that she should be able to do something besides sit in a high chair or swing. She was literally screaming to get out into the world. It continues to this day, she's an energetic go-getter.

My son was always the artistic, sensitive one. Today he works with disabled young adults, mostly Cerebral Palsy patients. And..... hooray.... he's finally been accepted to the nursing program at the local college, after a 2 year waiting list.

I remember at the time this photo was taken I had no idea what direction their lives would take.

The Way Back Machine

The time: Summer, 1982
The place: Cumberland Drive, Clarksville, Tennessee

My mom and stepdad were living in the beautiful brick home on Cumberland Drive and it was horribly hot and humid. There were no public pools available to us and the old creek out in the country was 20 miles away.

What did we do? My mom filled up a wash bucket and we plopped my son inside. He was happy, contained in his own little swimming pool.

Simple pleasures.

The Way Back Machine

The time: June, 1979
The place: Silverton, Colorado

One of the Farmer's first jobs out of college was working for one of the largest producers of dairy products in the U.S. He was invited to participate in a business seminar that was being held at a resort in Silverton, Colorado. We'd only been married for 6 months and luckily for me, the wives were invited along for the trip.

We flew a jet from Chicago to Denver. That's a story in itself, as days before our departure a jumbo jet crashed after taking off from O'Hare, killing everyone onboard. It made for some nervous travelers on this trip. This is the plane we took from Denver to Silverton, although I remember it being much smaller.



We stayed in this dramatic resort on the side of mountain.



Not much sleep for flatlanders who were afraid of sliding down the mountainside in the middle of the night.

Look how young the Farmer looks! And relaxed too. He was a workaholic even back then.



One of the activities offered at the resort was a trail ride up into the mountains where you'd go fishing in a lake. Most of the group from his company decided to participate. I don't remember alot of the wives being along on this trail ride.

I pretended to be a cowgirl. I'd never spent more than 20 minutes on a horse in my life.



The Farmer kept looking back to make sure I was still in the saddle.



We rode for about an hour, up into the high country. There's was a shack where they kept all the tackle. Yes, it was THAT beautiful.



Do you see all those guys at the water's edge? They're the big executives from the company. They thought it was a good idea to walk down to the edge of the lake right in front of the shack and just start fishing. Hmmmmm.....

It seemed to me that they never had a grandpa who loved to fish. The kind of grandpa that required you to learn to fish if you ever wanted to spend any quality time with him. Nope, they never had a fishing grandpa.

I did.

My grandpa showed us how to walk around a lake and scout the holes where the fish might be hiding. Like this one.



He taught us how to bait a hook, be patient and jerk the line to set the hook. He taught us how to reel 'em in and string 'em on a line.

And that's what I did.



Lots of them.



So many that we were able to have the resort's chef cook them up for appetizers at that evening's meal.

The executives on the other side of the lake? They weren't very good sports about the whole thing. They kept asking the Farmer, "What's your wife doing over there?"

"Oh, nothing," he answered. "Just a little something her grandpa taught her."

NOTE: I do not remember EVER being that skinny. The South Beach Diet starts today!! Yes, our glasses are so 1970's.

The Way Back Machine

Martha Z., my Grandmother, Edna Y.

The time: Late 1960's
The place: Playboy Resort, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin

My grandmother and her two friends were having a girl's weekend. They often went to nightclubs together to see their favorite musicians. I was pretty surprised that the back of the photo revealed the location - the now-defunct Playboy Club Resort in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.

It was a nice hotel complex and entertainment venue and the ladies were probably their to see someone like Tony Bennett. Years previous they would travel into Chicago to the Chez Paree nightclub and enjoy an evening in their finest party clothes. Once they saw Nat King Cole and my grandmother sweet talked a member of the staff to let her go backstage where she met Nat, his mother and his wife.

On this sunny day they were just enjoying each other's company and looking forward to a show.

NOTE: The winner of the apron giveaway will be announced tomorrow morning at the Monday Morning Staff Meeting. It's OK to attend in your pajamas.

The Way Back Machine

The time: Easter 1983
The place: Our kitchen, Bartlett, Illinois

Yes, dying Easter eggs is a very long and boring process to an almost three year old.

At least the Farmer looks happy.



It's a hard life when you're dealing with a new baby sister.

NOTE: Erica Laine- If you're reading this please send me another e-mail because I can't find the original one in my clogged up mailbox!!! (Erica was Evan's childhood friend.)

The Way Back Machine

The time: ??
The place: La Fox, Illinois

There's a question mark on the time of this photo because the style of dress would indicate that we're back in the 1800's.

The man looks as if he was someone of importance, a mayor perhaps, or some type of community official.

In fact, this photo was taken a couple years ago at Garfield Farm Inn and Museum in La Fox, Illinois. And the man is an official of sorts, he's Jerry Johnson, the Executive Director of Garfield Farm.

For those who live in northern Illinois, or others looking for a fun weekend trip, be sure to check out the calendar of events.

There's a prairie walk on April 18th - $6 - Reservations required. (630) 584-8485

May 17th is the Rare Breeds Show. $6-$3. This is a wonderful day in the country with lots of rare livestock breeds on display. Here's the Baby Southdown Sheep that was at the show a couple of years ago. It took all my will power not to bring one of these fur babies home.


Southdown Babydoll Sheep

Upcoming there are also beekeeping lecture, farm camps, prairie festival and more.

We need to support these living history organizations. They do such wonderful and interesting work. Those of you who are home schoolers will find that these activities provide wonderful learning opportunities.

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Thanks to everyone who wished me well on the dinner party. It was great. More about that later.

The Way Back Machine

Once again it's time for a visit in the Way Back Machine.



The time: Mid 1950's
The place: Near Cumberland, Wisconsin

What's that you say? You've seen this one before? You're absolutely right. I've featured this photo of my grandfather's retirement home once before. This is where he and Grandma Blanche lived during the summer months. During the winter they lived in a small trailer on the Gulf coast of Florida.

This was a one-room schoolhouse that my grandpa converted into a home. There were two bedrooms, a kitchen, a large living room with fireplace, a bathroom and the most important feature of all - a school bell.

We would take turns ringing that school bell until Blanche would beg for mercy. Her brother Clarence, who lived across the road, would call and ask that the kids quit ringing the bell.

As I remember there were LOTS of Norwegian bachelor farmers living in the area. I don't know why they couldn't find wives.

Here's the front of the old schoolhouse. This is an unusual photo because it was taken in winter and they rarely spent time up north in the winter.



If you look above the doorway it says "Pine Hill" and the date 1928 (or 1923). I wonder if this brick structure replaced an earlier wooden building.

Here's why I'm featuring the schoolhouse a second time. Heidi, the Milk Man's Wife, has offered to help me locate the place. She lives just a bit south of Cumberland and she's promised to help my sister and I locate the spot so that we can visit it on our trip up north this spring.

I can't imagine that it's not still standing because it was one solid building. It would be fun to take photos from the same spots, just to see how things have changed. I'm sure there are still plenty of birch trees around. I wonder if the Nelson home is still standing across the road.

Time changes everything. We'll see.

The Way Back Machine

The time: Late 1930's, early 1940's
The place: The pineywoods of the Florida panhandle.

Here's my great-uncle Jack. He was a real character and a businessman of sorts. His business? Distiller of spirits, a.k.a. moonshiner!

He took himself seriously and as you can see he'd show up at the job site in a three piece suit! He kept meticulous records and receipts for the smallest items. I have some of them and they are included in the design of my banner.

Uncle Jack lived in a very nice dog-trot style house. These houses had a hallway that cut through the center of the house, open to the outside. In the north we would call such a hallway a breezeway. Each room of the house was accessible from this hallway. The rooms on each side were connected. The name derived from the fact that the hound dogs would lounge and trot down this hallway.

His property was beautiful with large palettos in the yard. And he had his own gas pump out near one of the outbuildings! I'd never seen anything like it but in the country (and in his line of business) he needed access to fuel.

I related this story to someone who was appalled that I would admit to having this particular skeleton in my closet. Skeleton? I didn't feel it was a skeleton. He was a real live character straight out of the American south. And besides, I've never been into revisionist history.

The Way Back Machine

The time: 1955
The place: Illinois

This young couple had to fight off the objections of both families who thought them to young to marry. She was barely 17 and he wasn't much older. Pronouncement were made concerning how young and foolish they were.

"It will never last," said someone close to the family.

But they were young and in love, and determined to make a life together. And they did.

This is my aunt and my uncle who are now married 54 years.

It reminds me of an old song, ".... it goes to show you never can tell."

P.S. The reluctant flower girl is none other than myself, in a dress sewn by my mother and a hat and basket made by my grandmother.

The Way Back Machine

The time: Circa 1963
The place: Northern Illinois

This is my grandmother's friend Martha. You remember her, she's the dramatic one. What am I saying? All of my grandmother's friends were dramatic.

This is obviously a staged photo with Martha sitting at her small folding leaf dining table. Why do I say it was obviously staged? Because her place never, ever, EVER looked this neat and orderly. Her apartments were always packed to the rafters (literally) with books, magazines, patterns, fabric, trims and everything else imaginable.

She was insistent on one thing though. There was always a spot carved out of the chaos that was her dining room table and in the midst of the crazy clutter was one perfectly arranged place setting of beautiful china, crystal and sterling silver. It was her way of staying civilized in her jungle of possessions.

I notice that she's wearing her white uniform. One of the many accomplishments in her life was the fact that she graduated from nursing school. She was also a renowned milliner in Chicago and towards the end of her life she was an expert on herb gardens and was the curator of a garden at a local college. She never ceased to be excited about learning.

Like I said she was quite a character. Was your childhood populated with colorful characters? Inquiring minds want to know.

The Way Back Machine

The time: Summer, 1982
The place: Our kitchen, Bartlett, Illinois

We'll title this one, "Baking a Chocolate Cake". Although on second look the bowl is small for a whole recipe of cake batter.

Our daughter would be born in a few short months, but for now this little guy was an only child. That meant that he didn't have to share the bowl with anyone. Doesn't this look like fun?

I can remember that wallpaper in the kitchen and how many books I poured over before making the decision. I also remember, years later, how insanely difficult it was to remove it. I swore off wallpaper forever and I've kept my vow.

The framed piece on the wall was an old piece of filet crochet that said, "Bread".

I'm stunned to think of how many years have passed since this happy little moment baking a long forgotten chocolate cake.

The Way Back Machine

The time: Somewhere around 1915
The place: Palmyra, Tennessee

This is one of the prodigal photographs that I feared was forever lost in a landfill. Thankfully it found it's way back into my hands. I cannot imagine how sad I would be if that had been it's fate.

In the center is my aunt Pearl and the elderly people are her grandparents. Pearl was the eldest daughter of my grandfather and his first wife, Lena V. Boone. At that time men often married several times as wives were lost to illness and in childbirth. Pearl, two sisters and a brother were grown adults when my grandfather re-married a younger woman who also died shortly after giving birth to my mother.

It's easy to see how difficult their lives were and my best guess is that the grandparents are not as old as they look by today's standards. My grandfather was born in 1895, so perhaps they were born shortly after the Civil War. My mother was adopted by one of her older, half-sisters and it was this woman who I remember as my "grandmother". She was really my aunt! She told the story of how, once a year, her sisters Pearl and Edie and brother Tom would ride to town in a horse drawn wagon. In this day and age it's only a 35 minute drive from their old homestead. They would watch shooting stars from the porch of their home which had no electricity or running water. She was always amazed to have watched a man walk on the moon.

If you read anything about the personal histories of those who settled our country you are struck by the fact of how many children died in childhood. Our own family cemetery has many sad markers that speak to this fact.



Sadder still is that all the older timers are gone, the great storytellers including my Uncle Tom and Uncle Murdoch. Born..... died.

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The Time: 1930's
The Place: Chicago, Illinois

The photographic genre of the photo booth remains one of my favorites.

My first allowances were spent on penny candy and photo booth portraits.

This is my grandmother's long time neighbor and friend Martha. She was quite a character, bohemian in temperament and the original home alone mom. My mother still tells the story that Martha ran off with a matador to spend a week in Cuba, leaving her children at home for my grandmother to watch.

She was an interesting character who inspired others to live more colorful lives.

The Way Back Machine

This edition of the Way Back Machine is dedicated to my husband, otherwise known as the Farmer. Remember that techincally he's not a farmer, not the one that plants the acres and acres of organic herbs. He's the one that manages the large operation. He's also the one that raised some good kids.

His birthday was on Thursday but he was in California on business so we are celebrating this weekend.



I knew when I started dating him that this was a man who understood family and commitment. We shared our values, which is very important.



We've weathered lots of storm together. We've been poor. We've been challenged and disappointed. He's provided a steady base for us to build a life upon.



Happy Birthday party animal!

The Way Back Machine

The time: Circa 1958
The place: The Hotel Baker, St. Charles, Illinois

I'm guessing on the date of this photo but certainly it's in the mid to late 1950's as evidenced by the clothing and the hats!

On the right is my grandmother Martha Anne, seated with her friend, also named Martha. They were both milliners and had vast hat wardrobes. They loved nothing better than getting all dolled up and going out on the town. In this case it was to enjoy brunch.

The Hotel Baker is still standing and has recently gone through a multi-million dollar makeover restoration. It's a stunning example of the Moorish architecture popular during the 1920's. It's only about 12 miles as the crow flies from our home and they still serve brunch. I invite you to look at the video of the hotel. Although this was certainly produced as a marketing piece for the property, it also includes some spectacular views of the beautiful Fox River Valley. St. Charles is typical of many lovely river towns up and down the Fox.


The Hotel Baker from Hotel Baker on Vimeo.

The commentaries found on the back of a photo are sometimes more interesting as the front. My grandmother and my mother both had their say on this image.



At the top in my grandmother's handwriting it says, "My girlfriend here. She is dying with cancer. This was made 5 years ago in the Hotel Baker in St. Charles. We had brunch."

At this point I'm thinking, huh? I can do the math and she must have wrote this in 1963. Dying of cancer? I know for a fact that she lived until 1978 or 1979.

In my mother's handwriting it says, "Martha (She did not die!!"", and indeed she didn't until many years later.

Relationships between mothers and daughters can sometimes reveal themselves in the comments on the back of photographs.

The Way Back Machine

The time: Somewhere between 1943 and 1952
The Place: A bar, somewhere

Since we just observed Veteran's Day I thought this might be an interesting photo to share. My father in on the far right. The back of the photo reveals a few names but no identifying date. This could be anywhere between 1943 and 1952. My father as not in the Navy for that period of time, he served twice, once in World War II and was activated from the reserves to serve again in the Korean War.

It appears that these men have done their best to keep the brewery's busy. None of the appear as if they've overindulged, they're just out having a good time on shore leave. It's summer because they're wearing their dress whites. I've looked this photo over carefully and there's not one civilian in the shot.

It's amazing how much about a personality can be revealed by the face.

Look at the guy on the right.



The guy on the left looks like a farm boy to me, and the one on the right is shy.



Notice that the guy sitting to the left of my dad has his hands folded in his lap. It appears he's not too comfortable sitting in a bar.



My dad's broad smile in this photo took me aback. I was stunned that the facial expression reminds me so much of my nephew, his grandchild.

We can't deny our ancestors because we carry them around with us each and every day. Every time we smile we broadcast a bit of the past. Do you notice resemblances between generations? Sometimes it's stunning.

NOTE: This week the MIlitary Channel ran documentaries about Veterans returning to Vietnam, Iwo Jima, Bataan and Corregidor. My hometown held a Bataan Day parade every year to honor those who were forced on the death march. In those days young men from a town were assigned to fight in the same company. In the case of Bataan it meant disaster for the community. Survivors marched but few talked about their experiences. Also, seek out a documentary called "Vietnam Nurse" hosted by Dana Delaney. It was beautiful and sad and heart rending. It's important for us to bear witness to their experiences. They talked about the young men with such reverence and love. It was amazing. Their treatment when they returned home was an utter disgrace.

The Way Back Machine

The time: Circa 1953
The place: Wisconsin

This is great-grandpa and great- grandma Gussie. We're going to concentrate on Gussie simply because great-grandpa was a stinker! He was a miser and my mom often tells the story of arriving at the cottage to find Gussie burdened in layers of clothing because great-grandpa would turn the heat up.

His large Chesterfield chair was positioned next to the large heating grate. On the other side of the chair was his silver and onyx smoking stand. He'd smoke his cigars while slowly passing his hand over the grate. My mom would sneak into the other room and turn the thermostat up in an attempt to save Gussie from freezing to death.

In a few moments the heat began to rise and he bellowed, "Who turned the damn heat up?"

My mom answered back, "I did. Gussie is freezing."

Gussie was the sweetest soul, a very gentle and loving woman. This is photo reveals some things that are very indicative of the 1950's. Let's be cultural and fashion anthropologists and dissect the image.

Look at her apron. It's a classic piece of 1950's domestic culture. Gussie would have gotten dressed and attended church. On her return she prepared the Sunday meal, protecting her Sunday best with an apron. This one appears to have some type of image printed on the fabric. Her hands are folded in her lap.



My mom owned many aprons back then. There would be a utility apron that would protect her clothing and provide a place to wipe her hands. Just before dinner was served she'd change into a hostess apron which was a frilly, flimsy confection intended to impress the guests.

Gussie's dress has a nice laid down collar which was probably made of satin. I'm amused by the small wing of fabric that takes flight from under her collar. She's wearing what appears to be two scatter pins. I'm guessing that they're crystal or aurora borealis which was very popular at the time.



Of course she wore pearls and in this case it's a nice triple strand.



She's wearing rimless glasses which have come back in and out of style several times. Her earrings are simple single drop pearls.

But look in her hair! What is that? It's some type of flower with airy leaves reaching skyward. It's such a fanciful thing for an elderly lady to be wearing but it reveals a playful streak, don't you think?

Perhaps this is where I get my love of vintage jewelry. My large collection includes many sets of pearls, aurora borealis and the later genre of Trifari and Coro. Every time I wear a piece of vintage jewelry I get compliments. People of a certain age relate memories sparked by the jewelry. I remember in the 1960's everyone had to have a circle pin. Many rumors floated around as to it's symbolism.

How about you? Do you remember an iconic piece of jewelry from your past?

The Way Back Machine

The Time: Late 1950's
The Place: Nippersink, Wisconsin

This photo must have been taken towards the end of Great-Grandma Gussie's lifetime. She was never this heavy and she looks to be bedridden. My step-grandmother Blanche is looking out the window and there's something beautiful about these two women bathed in the light streaming in. Gussie has the comic section of the Sunday paper in her lap. I can still visualize the colors in the barkcloth that covered the sofa.

Blanche was such a truly sunny personality and I'm sure than her and Gussie had a good relationship. They were probably spending a Sunday afternoon together at the old cottage in Wisconsin.

In my minds eye I see Gussie in her small bedroom, putting on some pearls. Whether this is a real memory or just the way mind's eye pictures her is not clear. She died when I was a young girl and so many years have passed. Still, it's wonderful to think of her getting dressed for church, fastening the pearls around her neck.

The Way Back Machine

The time: May, 1948
The place: Great-grandma & great-grandpa's place in Nippersink, Wisconsin

This is my mom, standing in front of my great-grandma & great-grandpa's small lakeside cottage near Nippersink creek in Wisconsin. It was a small white frame cottage built on a slope. The front of the cottage faced the road and was only one story but because of the slope down to the lake the backside of the cottage was two levels. I remember it being very small and you can clearly see in the photo that it's not much bigger than it's garage.

My uncle returned to the cottage a few years ago and was stunned. The tiny white frame cottage has been expanded to a large multi-million dollar lakeside home. He saw the bones of the original cottage and is very sure that it wasn't leveled but enlarged.

My mom looks very young in this photo. She already has one child and will have a second child in another year.

I'm not sure who was behind the camera but I love the use of negative space. It also proves to me that there's absolutely nothing like film.