Honchey

Hi Everyone, I hope this goes thru!!!
Well, we are here at the 3rd week of this journey and I'm off to Bingo!!! AND I still don't have this weeks blocks done. I will be sewing tomorrow...I met a quilting buddie down here and now I know they will get done. Talk to you later, Honchey
Now for the letter:

Week #3--Bertram Eldridge; Stark County, Illinois</pre>
Bertram won his pony "Beauty" at Christmastime 1908. He sold $104.45 worth ofsubscriptions to win the pony, harness and cart that was valued at about $300.Bertram Niel Eldridge was born in April of 1900. He was the second of fivechildren; Ferne (b. 1899), Eileen (b. 1903), Ona (b. 1905), and Max (b. 1908.)All five of the Eldridge children are seen in the photograph on page 9 of ThePony Club Quilt book.He married a woman named Hazel in 1919. They had also had five children; George,Lomen, Phyllis, Lillias and Bernie.Bertram's father, Lomen, was a school teacher and Bertram appeared to befollowing in his father's footsteps by studying education at the University ofIllinios. However, Bertram ultimately chose farming instead and moved his youngfamily to be able to share a farm with his wife's stepbrother.In 1943, a young woman by the name of Betty Ann, met a handsome young man by thename of Lomen, whose nickname was Tuff. They married, and in the Eldridgetradition also had five children; Jan, Camille, Kathy, Linola and Jim.In July 2010, Betty Ann Eldridge, Bertram's daugher-in-law was interviewed for anewspaper article. (Someone had found a picture of Bertram and "Beauty" and werecurious about the history behind it.) She states that her husband, Bertram's sonLomen, had passed away in 1999. "I'm the only one left of the Eldridges," BettyAnn said, referring to the older generations. "My husband (Lomen) would havebeen elated," she said. "We didn't know any of this history. I supposed (theolder folks) assumed we knew all about it."Bertram died in December 1976 at the age of 76. I think that it is wonderful toknow that there is someone still alive who knew one of our Lucky Pony Winnerchildren. </pre>

janRN

Thanks Anne for taking the time before Bingo to post this info. I love reading the follow-ups.

I posted my pics (yes, I'm early this week) but for some reason the left 1/3 of my pics get cut off. I checked the size and it's fine, within the legal limit. If anyone knows why this happens, please let me know. I worked hard on all those points and I want them to show LOL!!
I changed the name of my Depot block to "in the doghouse" to reflect my fabric.

QuiltE

Honchey ... looks like you have your priorities straight ... B.I.N.G.O.!!!! HOpe you won!
A NC Quilting Buddy will be a good motivator for you. Although I'm not sure you need one as you seem to do pretty good yourself!!

JanRN ... my pics get cut off on the left side, and too, are in the limit of size. I now try to not have anything over on the right side when I take the pic, so when it gets chopped, who cares! I have no clue! Maybe JeanieG our Resident Computer Geek will have some answers?

Moi? ... you've lost me to FWS for now. I decided being that I was SO close to the end, I was going to stick with FWS and not jump back and forth. Seven to go and then I will pony up again, and be on track for the rest of the journey (I hope!) and won't have a lot of catching up to do. The sashing etc. will be an in-between with the PC blocks!

In the meantime, I'll join the Quilt Whisperer's Association, and drool all over my keyboard as I oooh and aaaaah at your beauties! (and while I gather ideas for my blocks soon to come!)

Now .... off to check JanRN's blocks!

JeanieG

Well, my photo's that I took with my camera of the two blocks side by side did the same thing. I guess you could take them maybe one on top of the other??? Maybe the program does not like the width??? Who knows! The last two I put in the scanner, like I did all the FWS blocks.

janRN

Thanks-I'll try stacking them next time. I knew someone would have a suggestion--thanks, Jeanie!

gardnergal970

QuiltE: I had been looking for you! I appreciate you're wanting to get the FWQ done so there's always a rope waiting for you to grab hold and pull up to the lead PC riders. So far Beauty has been the most challenging but I'm sure you will do the qualifying ride.

All: I so appreciate your questions, encouragement and instructions. I've never been with a group like this before and expected it to be fun...I'm not being disappointed.

QuiltingNinaSue

Alas, no blocks to show this week, but there is hope for next week, I think. Meanwhile, I can sit back on the chuck wagon bench and marvel at your blocks. Wonderful color to see, great form on the blocks, and stories update by Honchey. Although, the price on the harness and buggy seem to be too much for that era. Good income then was about $2.00 a week. It was not until 1940s that the school teacher was paid $40.00 a month and boarded with the trustees of the school. Men were preferred over women and were paid more than the unmarried woman. No married lady could teach because they might get in the family way.

Check the old 1909 Sears catalog and harnesses and saddles, I think, were not that high in price. GGGrandfather Benjamin H. was a harness maker (and horse trader) and I have riveted by share of bridles and harnesses in my youth. Never made a saddle, but have looked pictures of making a saddle.

We missed the preacher who was pre-arranged to marry us in the Ozarks, because I insisted on stopping in Cuba at the Mexican Import to buy my three year old niece a birthday gift, small pony saddle, about 12 inches from saddle horn to back rest of the saddle. But. alas, the time elasped, the preacher had given up on us and left his home to do other things. All other preachers were at a convention in St. Louis. We rode around the hills and curves with our best "man"( and his wife, dressed for a wedding and had marriage license in hand) trying to find another preacher who would marry us that Thursday evening.

DH family lived in Iowa and had said they could not come for the wedding, and my Grandma (who lived with me as a chaperon) said she would not attend, either, in that case, but fed us supper after our workday, before we headed out to get married. We were finally blessed and married by Rev. Priest at his home in the small town on Route 66 in March 1966 where we taught school.

We all journeyed back to Iowa that weekend to see his folks and take my Grandmother back home. And delivered the saddle to my favorite niece, who saddled up her pony (about 30 inches tall) and rode around with a big smile on her face.

QuiltE

Oh couldn't you see me GGal, I'm the one back behind covered in dust! I had my deals with myself and did the first block, and as I charged ahead to allow myself the 2nd block, I could see the end in sight, and muttered to myself, but I wannna do the PC, but I know the FWS would be better done than delayed. So here I come to the FWS finish line .... and then, you I'll grab that ropedragging behind the posse!

deranged_damsel

I was able to print off a bunch of pages yesterday now I just need to find my dining room table so I can get cutting

Wonderful blocks everyone!!!

oksewglad

Another great story QNinaSue!