Friday, September 30, 2011

Farmer's Wife Friday: A Wonderful Gift

The writer of this week's letter is from Sauk County, Wisconsin. This farmer's wife, like many before her, does not want pity. "We have as many conveniences and pleasures as city women...with improved roads we easily reach the city 15 or 30 miles away to shop, attend lecture, concert or movie."

#23, Country Farm

It was easy to choose the colors for this block: I thought of the dusty brown of the road probably leading up to their farm, the green of the trees, maybe some corn growing in a field.

This is the first letter to give actual statistics from a county farm survey, which she uses to illustrate the point that "we are not so far behind the times:

Number of farm homes: 3460
Number of automobiles: 2,500
Number of oil, gas or electric stoves: 1,925
Number of pianos or Victrolas: 2,120
Number of power washers: 1,300
Number of farms having running water in the house: 1,260


#98 Waterwheel

It was interesting that only about a third of the farms surveyed had running water in the house. I tried to imagine living without running water, but I can't really imagine it. So, three watery shades of blue for this block, which looks a lot more complicated to construct than it actually is.

"We do admit that we have a lack of amusements but the lack may be a blessing. There are thousands of city hearts sick with misery caused by over-abundance of amusements."

#61 Northern Lights

Perhaps they are able to see the Northern Lights in Sauk County, Wisconsin. I actually googled the colors of northern lights, having never seen them myself. They look fantastic--and most of the pictures were kind of a turquoise and violet, almost iridescent in quality.

The writer is happy with the education provided by the country schools, along with the responsibility the children learn daily from growing up on a farm.

"Last but not least, we...have in our souls the peace and content that money cannot purchase. That surely is a wonderful gift."

I love how she ended her letter:
"'They lived happily ever after.' So end the fairy tales the children love. If fairies still ruled the world, would that they might grant that my daughter, the Princess, wed the Prince of the Soil, and live happily ever after in God's country, land of sunshine and flowers, health and happiness."

#80 Single Wedding Star

When I was about 5, I was the flower girl in a wedding. I distinctly remember the color of my dress; the color of this block is quite close and seemed like the proper choice.
Forty blocks. It hardly seems possible that the halfway point isn't that far away.
Don't forget to check out Carla's blocks. She consistently chooses bright and cheery prints, and never fails to have a great perspective on the letter of the week.

15 comments:

05 08
The Luedtke Family said... #

Impressive, as always! I remember seeing the northern lights for the first time in Milwaukee, Wi. I was on a school bus, driving back to Green Bay from an International Bazaar that I went to with school as part of taking Spanish. They were very fascinating and iridescent. At first I did not know what I was seeing.

Wow, 40!

Ruth said... #

These are beautiful - I especially like the waterwheel block, and the link with the 'lack of running water' in the farm survey.

Terriaw said... #

How cool - I live about 10 miles from Sauk County! Naturally, I especially loved hearing more about the letters for these blocks. Another beautiful round of blocks. They look so amazing together!

MB in MI said... #

Love the thought you put into each block! And together they are beautiful!!

Deborah said... #

Your blocks are amazing....stunning.....extraordinary!

JHNickodemus said... #

Holy smokes?!? The halfway point isn't that far away?! You're not almost done?!?

Letterpress said... #

You are cooking along on your Farmer's Wife Blocks--impressive. I loved seeing all the different ones together at the end, and enjoyed reading the stories of each block. My mother still remembers when her grandmother got electricity--they were a farm family, too.

Cindy said... #

Your quilt is going to be so beautiful! I love how precise your piecing is and your choice to stick with solids.

Archie The Wonder Dog said... #

Another set of fabulous blocks!

Janine @ Rainbow Hare said... #

Those look fab - I love the Country Farm block.

Mrs Flying Blind... said... #

That's one mighty 40!! Bravo x

Anonymous said... #

I love the palette for Country Farm! A whole quilt made with them would be very country :)

Victoria Paige @ Boutique Uniquely said... #

I've so enjoyed watching everyone in the FWQAL. I like what you've done with just using solids. It really makes each block stand out.

Jennifer D said... #

I came from Carla's page and your blocks are looking beautiful, too! Just a little bit of info: we live about 3 hours northeast of Sauk County (we live in Forest County) and we can't see the Northern Lights, so they sure can't. It's interesting why this block would go with this letter.

Elizabeth Dackson said... #

Wow, I love your waterwheel block! So cool! Your quilt is really coming together nicely - which reminds me I need to pick mine up again and get cracking! :)