Fun Working with “Seniors”
When I came to St.Louis to stay with my, Aunt Irene, and brought two children with me, from Florida, decided to help out with the extra work. With the two children and we were only staying a couple weeks, clothes were getting dirty and I felt I should do the laundry just like I did in Florida.
As old as Aunt Irene was there was no changing her in her laundry equipment. She was still using a ringer-washing machine. I was using a new Kenmar Wash Machine in Florida, but in Florida – I enjoyed hanging the wash out on the lines. Clothes hanging on the lines are given a little extra in the hanging on the lines , especialy in Florida Sunshine. So, I had to put up some lines between the trees and carry out basket after basket of wet clothes – just as fast as I could coordinate the wash-nachine with wash and rinse and use the ringer carefully so, as not to catch my arm in it – and I was as busy as I could be.
It was fun for me and in the between running in and outside, we sat outside in the yard watching the clothes wave and blow in the wind. The sunshine was better and the clothes seem to dry faster in Florida. It may seem silly – but that is one thing I do enjoy doing – hanging the wash outside and on the lines for the freshness and so much easier to fold sheets and pillow cases. To put the folded linens away after being in the sunshine – gives the linen closet a much fresher smell and when finally use on the beds – helps you to get a better nights’ sleep!
That was a good time for all of us to be under one roof – together. Working and having fun means alot to senior citizens – and I know Aunt Irene enjoyed herself as much as I did . I know this because I now am a senior ciizen and now the shoe is on the other foot!
Have fun working with the “senior citizens” in your family!
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“Brady Matriarch”
When our Aunt Irene Riley, who has a birthday coming up next week, brcame a widow – she also took over the role of “Matriarch.” She was the eldest living member of the “BRADY” Family and had the stability of being able to bring all family members, together.
As, I remember as a teenager, she would call me on Sunday mornings – early – so that when she would inquire to see if I had gone to church – if, I said “NO” – she would inform me – “get ready” you still have time to go! If, I had said “YES” – that was the end of the conversation. I’m guessing she went down the list and called everyone – letting all of us who did not go, or were not going to go to “CHURCH” – that we were despicable sinners, and it was “her duty” to see to it that we went to “CHURCH.”
Generally, when a “HOLIDAY” would be coming up – she would send cards out to everyone and then there would be a net work of communication going on, as to who would be doing, what and when and where and “WHO” will be picking her up? And who else will be on the same “PICK-UP” list, as there were some people, not to offend anyone – can not mention names – but there are some people who did not share “time and space” in harmony. Always, something that had happened so long ago that the real story has been long forgotten – but there were two of the clan that never forgot and never plan on forgiveness!
For the most part, everybody would get along, because they did not want to be taken out of Aunt Irene’s will. Every one knew that someday they would receive something more than they, wanted to forfeit – by acting like a “FOOL!” So, until and after the funeral – everyone got along.
The “HOPE” of receiving – makes for an “amiable” family!”
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Weekly Training Plan!
Since my Aunt Irene Brady Riley lived to be 83 years young – having been the longest living “Matriarch” in the Brady Family – have to write of some tings I remember!
When she was a little girl in the early 1900’s – families were more organized so that each member of the family had chores and or duties to do each day, so that larger families could live together under one roof – with dignity. So, each child had some kind of work in the home to do or work for others at some amount of pay. Little Irene was the first girl and at the age 5 was to start to learn all about food preparations and clean up, because there were four older brothers working outside the home as day labours while going to school.
First day of the week was Sunday, and the whole family went to Church, followed with big amounts of food for family and friends. A day of rest!
Monday was “WASH DAY” – and it took the whole day for a family of five children and FATHER AND MOTHER, and more on the way!
Tuesday – everything that was washed – now needed someone to iron and that includes lots of linens as well as lots of shirts for the men in the family. Did anybody complain – – that it was too hot? The women wearing long dresses with a couple of petticoats and those long bloomers under it all?
Wednesday is the day to finish up whatever you did not get to do on Tuesday. If you were able to finish “TUESDAY’s” work you then started with dusting and other cleaning
Thursday and Friday were the days for some real good in the house cleaning – into the dirty corners and the changing of the bed linens and getting the fancy living room linens in their place as well as the covering on the piano – taken out and hung on the line to freshen up for the weekend. Also, the front white stone steps scrubbed and the vestibule area cleaned – just in case someone sits on the steps in their “Sunday” best attire. I do have old photos of every one standing and sitting – ready for the camera!
Saturday, little Irene gets an up front and on the job training from the best of best “Chef” her mother, Mrs. Anne Smart Brady! If you wanted to learn anything about cooking or baking – you would want to be in little Irene’s place. This was “Top Drawer” learning at its best!
They made all the breads and sweets that would be eaten for the week. And everything was gone so fast – it was so good, and every “SATURDAY” had all the baking to be done again – week after week.
Professional training of the children done in the home, and by the parents! Is there a better way? Let me know?
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JULY Birthdays!
Happy Birthday to everybody born in the month of July! With the Holliday of the 4th of July and our Indepedence Day Celebration over – can now get the old thinking cap put on straight and try to remember to do a few other things regarding “JULY!”
First birthday for the month of July and also on the 1st of July – Alan Aldrich. I did write about Alan and wished him a Happy Birthday and was also invited to his birthday party. So, he is now enjoying a new year in life – just one more year added on – for good measure!
Next on the July birthday list is Paul Berryhill and he will be celebrating on “Cloud 9” with all those who are no longer here!
Another July birthday is Dallas Wetzler, who will be celebrating with his wife , Sandy Wetzler.
My Aunt Irene Riley, and she also will be celebrating on “Cloud 9” with lots of old friends and new ones are always on their way to join in with the fun!
Seems like I am forgetting a few birthday people – but without my old lists and “Halmark booklet” with all birthdays and anniversaries in one place the brain cells – just do what they do best and forget.
My best of wishes to all the “Birthday Friends” is for our Heavenly Father to bless each and all with His abundant blessings – forever!
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“Full-Time Home-Maker”
My Aunt Irene Riley’s birthday is the 17th of July and she was born in 1888! That makes this year to be her 125th if she were still here with us. She had everything going just great for her when she was 89 years old. BUT, Seems she was in bed and was reaching for something on her night stand, and either lost her bearing or something slipped and she bumped her head on the corner, and naturally saw blood and called for help. She was taken to the hospital and two days later – died.
Looking up the numbers from her birth date to see what they reveal – her number would add up to be a “four” making her a seeker of security! She definitely had security all her life. I remember my Mother telling me – that in the 1940,s Irene had to brag about being so well off that – with their investments and everything going for her and her husband that she would never have to work a day outside the home – not in her life time.
So, with no real earthly work to do on her part, nothing that she really had to do – she found herself enrolled in the “RED CROSS” and since this was during the “WAR YEARS” – the group of ladies she met with, would roll bandages a couple days of the week. She would also make aprons, and pillow cases and complete these with hand embroidery and a lot of other fancy crochet work for Our Lady of Sorrows Church – the ladies’ Auxiliary Branch.
One of her table cloths she crochet – she would have on her dining room table so often, and always looking so good – I now have. It is beautiful and will out last any of us. She did do good work. When I was a small kid she would make lots of my clothes and all this work was done on a treadle type sewing machine.
One of the other things she did – was to bake cakes and cookies. These were from scratch and better than you could buy. She was an excellent cook and baker! Even as old as she was before she died, she would make regular visits to see her attorney and always with some of her cookies – always enough for the whole office. Her home-made gifts were always the best of gifts to receive and every one misses them – as no one makes treats as well – even with all of todays’s latest and greatest equipment!
Happy Birthday – Aunt Irene – Heaven has received a real “Home-Maker!”
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“DOG Tired and HOT!”
Is the “DOG” tired or what? Can you believe how hot it is? How long will we be having these “hot” days?
Looks like we are starting on the down-hill calendar months now, but first have to go through “Dog Days” – and that could be from July 3rd till August 11th – approximately 40 days! Or, there is another source in which we suffer through a longer time frame – from July 7th and ending on or about the 5th of September? So, how do you stay “Cool” while wading through the “Dog Days” of Summer?
I do not have a “Farmer’s Almanac” and have not bought one in years, because there really isn’t anything that I can do to change the weather. Just decided to take each day as it comes and be ever so grateful that I have another day to do something worthwhile – while I’m here to enjoy! How about you?
The poor dogs that live outside are the ones who really suffer. Sure hope “Dog Owners” are putting more cool water outside for their dogs and maybe even an extra dish for strays that just might show up – just to be with their friends!
How are the people born under the sign of “The Dog” and their mates born under the sign of “The Cat” getting along in all this heat? Being born under the different signs and having to put up with lots of extra hot and humid weather could put a real strain on a perfectly good relationship? Just thinking about those – that I know – born under these signs?
Well, like I was saying it’s all downhill now – so start thinking about the cold snow that we will be having and then the complaints – it’s too “COLD!”
Do like every smart “DOG” – find a nice cool sofa and take a nap – stay “COOL” and let someone else do all those “HOT” outside jobs for the next few days!
When it is “COOL” tonight – go out side and see if you can find the cause of these “DOG DAYS” floating around in the sky, the “DOG STAR?”
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