2024 Week 22 of 52 Ancestors 52 Weeks - Creativity

        Knitting, Crocheting, Sewing . . . those are just some of the crafts that were done when I was growing up.  Do you remember saving popsicle sticks?   We had a lot of crafts with those – making all sorts of things.  In Girl Scouts, we made candles using ice cubes and hot wax.

       My maternal grandmother made rugs out of wool – I believe they were hooked.  They lasted a long time!  We also made rugs out of plastic bread bags.

       Grandma also crocheted doilies.  I still have some.  Mom also crocheted them.  I learned  how to crochet but not the fine stuff.  I did purses, scarves, etc.  They also made afghans – especially the granny squares.

       I mentioned knitting – I have a huge collection of needles.  I’ve made scarves, a sweater, slippers.  I learned this in 4-H as well as in home ec class in high school.  Mom & my dad’s sister knitted.  Not sure about grandma.

       Quilting was another big craft.  Mom is still busy with quilting – although she is starting to give it up as it is hard to do the hand quilting.  I have a few quilts that she made.  I also have one or two that was made by my grandmother.

       Embroidery was another craft that I learned.  Had lots of floss and patterns from my grandmother.  I still have them.  Although, I don’t have as much time for it.  I’ve done some variations of embroidery like crewel embroidery, counted cross-stitch, and latch hooking (rugs/wall hangings).

Almost all of my clothes were home-made.  I learned how to sew and made some of my own clothes.  Modeled them too for 4-H.  Haven’t sewn clothes in a long time.  Although, I recently made an upcycled apron out of a button-up shirt.  Mom made the one in

this photo.

Enough of the hand crafts . . . my dad’s favorite hobby was model railroading.  He built some of his own cars as well as his layout.  Home-made buildings and trees.  Then he advanced to a little larger train – and built a couple of those cars as well.

Dad also built other things – like a retaining wall, picnic tables, and who knows what.  Papa (his dad) also built things out of wood.  Like doll beds and a vanity.

2024 52 Ancestor 52 Weeks - Week 21 - Nicknames

         Lots of nicknames in my family tree.  Mine is “Marcy”.  My brother had “Eddie” and “Eddie Bill” to distinguish him from our paternal grandfather, Ed.  When he became an adult (actually in high school), it was shortened to “Ed”.  Our grandfather had passed away before then.  Actually, it might be better to start with the oldest generation – our great grandfather, William Edward Kludt.  I don’t think he had a nickname – everything I have found had him going be William.  His son, Edward William, was known as Ed.  My dad was William Edward and was called “Billie” when he was growing up and then later shortened to Bill.

       That is just part of the typical nicknames where the person’s name is shortened.  Another is Christopher Maynard with the nickname of Kit.  Probably to distinguish him from his grandfather and uncle, also named Christopher Maynard.  Another nickname in the Maynard family was “One-Eyed Kitty”.  He was the son of  Christopher Maynard.  I’m not sure how he got that nickname.

A great grandmother was named Rosazettie and was known as Zettie.

       Also, there is the typical Molly or Polly as well as Peggy.  Do I know the real names?  Not really.  Some are for Mary, others for Margaret.