I wanted to add this bit of information, as my grandmother Bessie gave me some wonderful advice on living...both as a woman and as a "lady". Note here...my mother Lois, her daughter, always thought of herself as a "modern woman", and felt that some beliefs that my grandmother had were a bit "old-fashioned". I on the other hand loved them!
She was born during a time when being a "Lady" was extremely important for any young girl to aspire to, and she had been blessed with all those qualities and raised that way by HER mother. Let me preface this by saying that I'm quite sure that her family was a modest one, probably not very wealthy (I don't know for sure because no information was ever passed down regarding them), but she knew instinctively what the term "lady" meant, and always conducted herself accordingly, God Bless her. The main idea being that money does not make the lady (or gentleman, for that matter), but that manners and attitude most certainly do. Whenever we went to visit in the summers, I got quite an education on the proper form for a lady, in whatever she did. She was always a lady, and I learned as much just from watching her and being around her as I did from what she told me about life and living in general.
She tried always to be gracious, to keep her home clean and ready for family and friends at all times, and to present herself each day unfrazzled, with a freshly ironed dress and apron (when at home) on, her silver hair neatly curled. She was tall...about 5'9", and thin, with blue eyes and a quiet sense of humor. She taught me about good china...I've inherited a beautiful set of "Flow Through Blue" from the mid-1800s that she always used at dinner and on special occasions. She also had dozens of pieces of cut crystal that she was so proud of, and that I washed with the utmost care whenever they were used. I was taught to look for those quality pieces, and to know the difference in both china and crystal. They always sat on her china buffet, in front of a huge mirror, gleaming in the morning and afternoon light. She also loved to garden, and taught me almost all I know about planting and gardening. I remember her pointing out pansies to me, asking if I could "see the little face" on the flower...her way of making sure she called my attention to each and every petal. She would always cut roses in the morning, and put them in a vase in my bedroom during my stays there...the smell was heavenly! I developed a love for gardening and plants, which I have to this day, and I can still see my grandmother in her pair of men's slacks, a big overblouse, and a big straw hat, out in the yard planting this or that, watering, and smiling. She kept her bible close, and read it daily. I realize now just how lonely she must have been...my grandfather died when she was only in her late 30s, and she never remarried. Her only child, my mother, was living in Reno, so we really only visited in the summers, and the rest of the year she was alone. She did have a good friend (Olga Daniels) who lived down the street, but it's not the same as having your family around you. She was the person who gave me my very first book...a large "Golden Book" filled with ABCs, etc. I remember being very excited - I was very young, but remember it came at Christmas. I remember standing in front of her home in that older neighborhood of Los Angeles, buying fresh vegetables from the vendor who came by every day with his truck...the same with the Helms Bakery truck that brought fresh bread and pastries daily, and yes, the Milk truck too, with butter, eggs, milk, and fresh cream. And, after dinner each evening, walking with her around her block or two...she always called it her "evening constitutional". During that time, most people in the neighborhood did the same thing, so you would see each other out and about, stop and say hello, etc.
This woman gave my life a direction, and I've never forgotten it, or her. To her, an appreciation of this life that God gave us was the most important thing... and she lived it well.
She was born during a time when being a "Lady" was extremely important for any young girl to aspire to, and she had been blessed with all those qualities and raised that way by HER mother. Let me preface this by saying that I'm quite sure that her family was a modest one, probably not very wealthy (I don't know for sure because no information was ever passed down regarding them), but she knew instinctively what the term "lady" meant, and always conducted herself accordingly, God Bless her. The main idea being that money does not make the lady (or gentleman, for that matter), but that manners and attitude most certainly do. Whenever we went to visit in the summers, I got quite an education on the proper form for a lady, in whatever she did. She was always a lady, and I learned as much just from watching her and being around her as I did from what she told me about life and living in general.
She tried always to be gracious, to keep her home clean and ready for family and friends at all times, and to present herself each day unfrazzled, with a freshly ironed dress and apron (when at home) on, her silver hair neatly curled. She was tall...about 5'9", and thin, with blue eyes and a quiet sense of humor. She taught me about good china...I've inherited a beautiful set of "Flow Through Blue" from the mid-1800s that she always used at dinner and on special occasions. She also had dozens of pieces of cut crystal that she was so proud of, and that I washed with the utmost care whenever they were used. I was taught to look for those quality pieces, and to know the difference in both china and crystal. They always sat on her china buffet, in front of a huge mirror, gleaming in the morning and afternoon light. She also loved to garden, and taught me almost all I know about planting and gardening. I remember her pointing out pansies to me, asking if I could "see the little face" on the flower...her way of making sure she called my attention to each and every petal. She would always cut roses in the morning, and put them in a vase in my bedroom during my stays there...the smell was heavenly! I developed a love for gardening and plants, which I have to this day, and I can still see my grandmother in her pair of men's slacks, a big overblouse, and a big straw hat, out in the yard planting this or that, watering, and smiling. She kept her bible close, and read it daily. I realize now just how lonely she must have been...my grandfather died when she was only in her late 30s, and she never remarried. Her only child, my mother, was living in Reno, so we really only visited in the summers, and the rest of the year she was alone. She did have a good friend (Olga Daniels) who lived down the street, but it's not the same as having your family around you. She was the person who gave me my very first book...a large "Golden Book" filled with ABCs, etc. I remember being very excited - I was very young, but remember it came at Christmas. I remember standing in front of her home in that older neighborhood of Los Angeles, buying fresh vegetables from the vendor who came by every day with his truck...the same with the Helms Bakery truck that brought fresh bread and pastries daily, and yes, the Milk truck too, with butter, eggs, milk, and fresh cream. And, after dinner each evening, walking with her around her block or two...she always called it her "evening constitutional". During that time, most people in the neighborhood did the same thing, so you would see each other out and about, stop and say hello, etc.
This woman gave my life a direction, and I've never forgotten it, or her. To her, an appreciation of this life that God gave us was the most important thing... and she lived it well.
I wanted to add this bit of information, as my grandmother Bessie gave me some wonderful advice on living...both as a woman and as a "lady". Note here...my mother Lois, her daughter, always thought of herself as a "modern woman", and felt that some beliefs that my grandmother had were a bit "old-fashioned". I on the other hand loved them!
She was born during a time when being a "Lady" was extremely important for any young girl to aspire to, and she had been blessed with all those qualities and raised that way by HER mother. Let me preface this by saying that I'm quite sure that her family was a modest one, probably not very wealthy (I don't know for sure because no information was ever passed down regarding them), but she knew instinctively what the term "lady" meant, and always conducted herself accordingly, God Bless her. The main idea being that money does not make the lady (or gentleman, for that matter), but that manners and attitude most certainly do. Whenever we went to visit in the summers, I got quite an education on the proper form for a lady, in whatever she did. She was always a lady, and I learned as much just from watching her and being around her as I did from what she told me about life and living in general.
She tried always to be gracious, to keep her home clean and ready for family and friends at all times, and to present herself each day unfrazzled, with a freshly ironed dress and apron (when at home) on, her silver hair neatly curled. She was tall...about 5'9", and thin, with blue eyes and a quiet sense of humor. She taught me about good china...I've inherited a beautiful set of "Flow Through Blue" from the mid-1800s that she always used at dinner and on special occasions. She also had dozens of pieces of cut crystal that she was so proud of, and that I washed with the utmost care whenever they were used. I was taught to look for those quality pieces, and to know the difference in both china and crystal. They always sat on her china buffet, in front of a huge mirror, gleaming in the morning and afternoon light. She also loved to garden, and taught me almost all I know about planting and gardening. I remember her pointing out pansies to me, asking if I could "see the little face" on the flower...her way of making sure she called my attention to each and every petal. She would always cut roses in the morning, and put them in a vase in my bedroom during my stays there...the smell was heavenly! I developed a love for gardening and plants, which I have to this day, and I can still see my grandmother in her pair of men's slacks, a big overblouse, and a big straw hat, out in the yard planting this or that, watering, and smiling. She kept her bible close, and read it daily. I realize now just how lonely she must have been...my grandfather died when she was only in her late 30s, and she never remarried. Her only child, my mother, was living in Reno, so we really only visited in the summers, and the rest of the year she was alone. She did have a good friend (Olga Daniels) who lived down the street, but it's not the same as having your family around you. She was the person who gave me my very first book...a large "Golden Book" filled with ABCs, etc. I remember being very excited - I was very young, but remember it came at Christmas. I remember standing in front of her home in that older neighborhood of Los Angeles, buying fresh vegetables from the vendor who came by every day with his truck...the same with the Helms Bakery truck that brought fresh bread and pastries daily, and yes, the Milk truck too, with butter, eggs, milk, and fresh cream. And, after dinner each evening, walking with her around her block or two...she always called it her "evening constitutional". During that time, most people in the neighborhood did the same thing, so you would see each other out and about, stop and say hello, etc.
This woman gave my life a direction, and I've never forgotten it, or her. To her, an appreciation of this life that God gave us was the most important thing... and she lived it well.
She was born during a time when being a "Lady" was extremely important for any young girl to aspire to, and she had been blessed with all those qualities and raised that way by HER mother. Let me preface this by saying that I'm quite sure that her family was a modest one, probably not very wealthy (I don't know for sure because no information was ever passed down regarding them), but she knew instinctively what the term "lady" meant, and always conducted herself accordingly, God Bless her. The main idea being that money does not make the lady (or gentleman, for that matter), but that manners and attitude most certainly do. Whenever we went to visit in the summers, I got quite an education on the proper form for a lady, in whatever she did. She was always a lady, and I learned as much just from watching her and being around her as I did from what she told me about life and living in general.
She tried always to be gracious, to keep her home clean and ready for family and friends at all times, and to present herself each day unfrazzled, with a freshly ironed dress and apron (when at home) on, her silver hair neatly curled. She was tall...about 5'9", and thin, with blue eyes and a quiet sense of humor. She taught me about good china...I've inherited a beautiful set of "Flow Through Blue" from the mid-1800s that she always used at dinner and on special occasions. She also had dozens of pieces of cut crystal that she was so proud of, and that I washed with the utmost care whenever they were used. I was taught to look for those quality pieces, and to know the difference in both china and crystal. They always sat on her china buffet, in front of a huge mirror, gleaming in the morning and afternoon light. She also loved to garden, and taught me almost all I know about planting and gardening. I remember her pointing out pansies to me, asking if I could "see the little face" on the flower...her way of making sure she called my attention to each and every petal. She would always cut roses in the morning, and put them in a vase in my bedroom during my stays there...the smell was heavenly! I developed a love for gardening and plants, which I have to this day, and I can still see my grandmother in her pair of men's slacks, a big overblouse, and a big straw hat, out in the yard planting this or that, watering, and smiling. She kept her bible close, and read it daily. I realize now just how lonely she must have been...my grandfather died when she was only in her late 30s, and she never remarried. Her only child, my mother, was living in Reno, so we really only visited in the summers, and the rest of the year she was alone. She did have a good friend (Olga Daniels) who lived down the street, but it's not the same as having your family around you. She was the person who gave me my very first book...a large "Golden Book" filled with ABCs, etc. I remember being very excited - I was very young, but remember it came at Christmas. I remember standing in front of her home in that older neighborhood of Los Angeles, buying fresh vegetables from the vendor who came by every day with his truck...the same with the Helms Bakery truck that brought fresh bread and pastries daily, and yes, the Milk truck too, with butter, eggs, milk, and fresh cream. And, after dinner each evening, walking with her around her block or two...she always called it her "evening constitutional". During that time, most people in the neighborhood did the same thing, so you would see each other out and about, stop and say hello, etc.
This woman gave my life a direction, and I've never forgotten it, or her. To her, an appreciation of this life that God gave us was the most important thing... and she lived it well.
Family Members
Siblings
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
