My favorite memories of celebrating the Fourth of July as a kid certainly involved family reunions, great food, and staying up late to watch fireworks over Belleville Lake. But the BEST thing about the Fourth was getting to hold a sparkler. How I loved those silly things. Way into my teen aged years. I bet if I had one now I would still feel the same thrill. What is it about sparklers?
As an adult, one of my favorite Fourth of July memories was fifteen or twenty years ago. My marriage was experiencing a blip in bliss, and I went on a trip to distract myself. This California girl went back to Belleville to visit Grandma Agnes. Grandpa Jerry had died a year or so earlier, and Grandma had moved into a small apartment complex on Liberty Street in Belleville. Her neighbors were all elderly widows, just like herself, and they had formed a supportive and caring bond with each other. Their days were spent visiting back and forth, making trips to the local coffee shop for breakfast, and attending each other's Church Suppers during the week. Grandma would go to the Lutherans on Tuesday with Ida, to the Methodists on Wednesday with Velma, and to the Baptists on Thursday with Edith. And don't forget Bingo at the Moose Hall on Friday nights, with the Fish Fry. Her social life was active and full.
As I slept in Grandma's guest room, under one of the first quilts I had ever made (quilted by hand, don't you know? ), I tried not to think about my future, but to concentrate on our immediate plans to celebrate the Fourth Belleville style. Upon getting up that morning, Grandma and I busied ourselves making potato salad to take to a family party later that day. Around lunch time we walked a block or two into town to Liberty Park, where a band had set up on the gazebo. Men in straw hats and red and white striped vests sang barbershop quartet a cappella songs. The Dapper Dans I think they were called. A bit later, the town band took the stage and played old fashioned favorite tunes. People sat on blankets or beach chairs and sipped lemonaide and ate chicken salad sandwiches. It was hot and everyone wore shorts and tee shirts.
Later, we cooled ourselves off in Grandma's apartment with glasses of cold tea, and then headed just out of town to my Aunt Geraldine's house for supper. Her kitchen was full of women setting out their pot luck contributions of pulled pork for sandwiches, baked beans, big bowls of coleslaw and potato salad, gorgeous sheet cakes and fruit pies. The men sat on the porch or in front of the baseball game on TV. The kids were all running around wishing for darkness so they could see the fireworks. Pretty soon, one of the uncles started up the barbeque and wonderful smells started to come from the backyard. We filled our plates, and sat anywhere we could find a spot and enjoyed the fabulous home cooked food.
Once it got good and dark, the families with little kids headed off to the shore of the lake to watch the fireworks show from an island in the middle of the lake. My Aunt Gerry's house was quiet again, with just the low conversations of the women who were cleaning up the dishes and putting away the leftovers. Finally, we gals finished up and went out to sit out on the porch and watch the fireflies, in quiet contemplation of how good life is.
Now that I have had a chance to think about it, maybe the sparklers weren't the best part of the Fourth of July holiday.
PS--Here's that quilt I made for Grandma in the mid 1980's.
Such a sweet memory. Sometimes it just means getting back to our roots to feel the love and warmth of acceptance. Your quilt is very charming.
Posted by: Jocelyn | July 03, 2009 at 11:20 AM
Nicole what a wonderful, wonderful memory. Thank you for sharing it with all of us.
Posted by: Carol | July 03, 2009 at 11:26 AM
It's amazing at how many details you included in your story, it was an important time for you, Thanks for sharing your wonderful memories with us! Happy 4th!
Posted by: Sharon | July 03, 2009 at 12:31 PM
what a wonderful memory I am glad things worked out for you your quilt is lovely.Happy 4 of july we dont celebrate it here in Australia But I will be thinking of you.
Hugs Mary.
Posted by: Nanna mary | July 03, 2009 at 04:36 PM
What a wonderful way you have with words Nicole. I felt such a sense of nostalgia and longing that I was teary by the time I finished reading your post. Thank you for sharing your memories with us.
Posted by: ranette | July 03, 2009 at 05:04 PM
Love the quilt. Love the memories. Sort of like watching a Frank Capra movie. Have a great 4th, Nicole. Give the doggies a pet for us.
Posted by: Susan Ramey Cleveland | July 03, 2009 at 05:14 PM
Its a lovely quilt and lovely memories.
Posted by: Teresa | July 03, 2009 at 09:13 PM
Thanks for sharing this memory! You did such a great job that I felt like I was there. Hope that you have a fabulous holiday weekend!
Posted by: Becky in Georgia | July 04, 2009 at 05:02 AM
You do have a way with words, enjoyed this post so much.
Your points on your quilt were flawless 20 years ago! I loved the heart pattern quilted into this top, what a perfect design for this quilt.
Happy 4th of July Nicole!
Posted by: Thelma | July 04, 2009 at 05:48 AM
What a wonderful post, Nicole! You should write a book - I felt like I was right there with you.
The quilt you made for your grandma is simply beautiful.
Happy 4th!!!
Posted by: Nan | July 04, 2009 at 07:12 AM
OMG you took me right back to my childhood. Honestly I could go there right now. Life was just wonderful then wasnt it? I miss my grandma sooooo much.
You have a great 4th Nicole.
Posted by: Sharon | July 04, 2009 at 09:30 AM
Sounds like that visit was a wonderful time! The quilt looks great too! Hope your holiday weekend's been grand, and that you get lots of sewing time in! :O)
Posted by: Kim | July 04, 2009 at 04:49 PM
Rainy here today so it's a good time to get caught up with my Sunny California friend! I loved, loved, loved this post. I hope you are printing these off for your grandchildren someday. Seriously. The quilt is absolutely beautiful.
Posted by: Kayte | July 04, 2009 at 05:16 PM
Happy 4th of July, Nicole! I wonder if you really know what an impact your blog is having on all of us lurkers! I am your biggest fan (in my mind) and I love all of your quilts and fabric combinations! Could you please answer a couple of questions:
1) Do you prewash your fabrics and batting?
2) Do you store your in-the-works and future projects in the plastic bins for long periods of time and how does it affect the fabrics? (the experts tell us not to store quilts in plastic bags, etc.)
3) Do you wash and dry your quilts in machines? (The experts say to wash by hand with a mild soap in the bathtub and then put them on sheets in the yard to dry.)
4) How do you use your quilts and do you worry about fading? (could we see photos please?)
I have been quilting for a long time (I hand quilt so I'm not very productive) but I don't have a lot of confidence and often don't appreciate what I've done until I look at the quilt again after a few months, or a year, or decade! Your quilts always look just right and I am always inspired.
Thanks so much,
Karen
Posted by: Karen | July 05, 2009 at 11:26 AM
This is a charming story. I enjoy reading your blog and seeing all of the quilts that you make....amazing. You are inspiring!
Take care,
Lynn
Posted by: Lynn | July 05, 2009 at 08:39 PM
Nicole,
I loved your 4th of July story.I too, have such wonderful memories with my family and friends. It's all about the gathering, and sometimes I really miss when this time of year comes around.
Your grandma's quilt is beautiful. I love the colors and the way they came together.
I hope this 4th of July brought you more happy memories to hold in your heart.
Posted by: Karen | July 05, 2009 at 08:44 PM
You brought back wonderful memories Nicole..thank you
Posted by: Elaine | July 06, 2009 at 04:01 AM