What a perfect way to initiate my blog: my 5th grade school photo. I look pleased as punch. Mama said she wanted to do something different for my hair—everybody loved it! I look like a crown princess. Mom had a real creative talent for playing with hair and Cindy and I were the victims (Mom's words--not mine).

I'm wearing a dress that Grandma Pope made—can you believe she made our dresses without a pattern? All the detail in the bodice is impressive—the buttons, the ruffles, the contrasting fabric. Mom said Grandma loved doing it and she would even sew coats and shirts for the boys (our uncles, Tony, Billy, and Mike). In fact, she sewed Daddy a silk dress shirt!

When I volunteered at the Humanitarian Center a few weeks ago, I was excited to see an Ironrite. This is a large rotary ironer that was invented in the 1920s, when irons were still heavy and required the user to stand. Ironing was such a big part of Grandma's life--with four males in the household wearing cotton shirts--that the Ironrite featured prominently in the household. The Ironrite had a roller that would press the shirt against a hot shoe, ironing the cloth flat and dry. One edition of the owners manual claimed that ironing with the Ironrite was "restful and relaxing." Cindy and I were fascinated watching Grandma iron dozens of shirts with the steam rising with a satisfying "swoosh" each time she pressed the foot pedal. We always wished we could use the Ironrite, but of course it was off limits.