Reading with Grandma - 1951

On this day 135 years ago, 1890, my dear grandma was born in Salt Point, Duchess County, NY.  Queen Victoria was on the throne and America was in its "Gilded Age". She lived with us my whole life and I learned to read at a very early by sitting on her lap and following along as she read her magazines or books.  She taught me to sew, knit, crochet and embroider.  I loved making "scrapbooks" with her by cutting out pictures from old magazines and gluing them in the book.  "Turn the paper not your scissors", she would remind me. Much, much later I would tell my students the same thing. My grandpa lived with us from April to October and I helped him put in our vegetable garden.  He taught me so much about plants, nature and his Quaker faith.  I loved listening to all his stories.  They both gave me a love and deep appreciation of family history, and they were both kind and gentle souls who greatly shaped who I am today.  Happy Heavenly Birthday, Grandma and thank you Grandpa for patiently answering all a little girl's incessant questions. (Extra is a photo of us around 1956. My love of animals was evident even then.)