LUCILLE

Grandma Lucille

Lucille was my maternal grandmother. She and my Grandpa Ben met at the University of Minnesota Agriculture School, where she studied something along the lines of home economics. She also danced, performed in school plays, and pursued other creative arts. She was a clever gal!

Ben and Lucille set up their homestead in west central Minnesota and had their first of seven daughters (my mom) in 1932, in the early years of the Great Depression. There might not have been a lot of money in those days, but love and Lucille's homemaking talents were abundant. She was crafty, resourceful and not afraid to knock down a wall if necessary to make a cozy, comfortable home, including creative recipes in the kitchen and lovely handmade clothes for the family.

There was nothing like visits to Grandma’s. She made the old farmhouse a treasure trove of nooks and crannies to explore and enjoy. Her creativity and craftiness was evident everywhere, especially in her gifts. Grandma crocheted afghans for all her granddaughters as graduation gifts, and gave each of us ivory beads from her necklace, transformed into earrings.

I'll never forget the rocking cradle she gave me one Christmas for my doll, Dinah. It was a Quaker Oats container turned on its side with one half cut away, covered in leftover wallpaper from her dining room project, with fancy trim and a satiny doll-sized quilt and pillow made out of dress scraps.

“The more we mend, the less we spend!” - that was the spirit of those days…and certainly Lucille did it with style.

Lucille’s daughters all reflect her talent and creativity through art, music, and sewing skills, just to name a few. Grandma died in the early ‘90s when I was newly married. There are many questions I wish I could ask her and many times I wish I could tell her how much I appreciate the substance and style she brought to life.

This blog is my attempt to honor her and her spirit of thrifty yet stylish living. Thriving!