June Window

June must have been a welcome month for my great-grandmother, Lydia Jane Hall. By 1921, when she wrote the second quote, she was spending her days in a wheelchair because of rheumatism. But she was also, by that time, surrounded by the busy life of a farmhouse with three young children in it. She patiently sat through her days, watching, trying to help a little, and observing.

"June Window," Carol Crump Bryner, monoprint

“June Window,” Carol Crump Bryner, monoprint

Sunday, June 1, 1913 – “A very fine day – everything is lovely outside. The birds are especially fine around us with their sweet notes, which is very nice for those that are at home like myself. Should be lonely without them.”

Thursday, June 2, 1921 – A nice cool day when the sun shines clear and warm. Everything is beautiful, the fields are full of flowers, the roses and peonies are coming. Lydia [my mother’s sister] brings them in to show me. Soon the harvest will be here. How fast we are going on the wings of time!”

See also – April Window, May Window

On Monday:  Rooms and Doors

3 thoughts on “June Window

  1. Katy Gilmore

    I love how all these characters in your story are beginning to have a place in my mind, and the monthly window is a favorite part of OWH. In the 1913 quote Lydia was home (is this when her children had moved away?), but not because she was confined to a wheel chair at that point? Rheumatism must have been painful.

    Reply
    1. Carol Post author

      Thanks, Katy,
      The children had moved away, except for my grandfather. I’m not sure when Ellen was married, but I don’t think she had been gone too long by 1913. And I don’t think Lydia was confined to the wheelchair yet, but was definitely slowed down by age and by rheumatism, and hated having to depend on outside help to get the housework done. She loved to have Ellen and Hattie come back to visit and to help out.

      Reply
  2. Mary

    I continue to enjoy Lydia Jane Hall’s observations accompanied by your illustrations. Lovely voices. They both remind me to stop and look–and see my world.

    Reply

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