Peonies and Memorial Day

Our Pink Peonies are beginning to bloom. The first one opened yesterday, on May 30 which was Memorial Day originally. It makes you think the Peonies know more about when the day of "remembering" should be than the politicians who changed it. While we took plastic flowers to the Cemetery last Saturday, I believe we will pick the Peonies that are in bloom tomorrow and take them  out to our Parents' graves. This ritual was so much a part of both Elaine's family and mine that to do anything less would bother our conscience. I have little doubt but what the tradition will not be continued much longer. However, we do it not so much for those that have gone on before as we do it for ourselves. I will even take along a Dandelion digger to get a couple of them that I saw near my Folks and Elaine's parents' Tombstones when we were out last week. Dad and Albert would expect me to do so. 

Looking Somber

We did many interesting things during the time the 3 older kids were in college, working, etc while Jon was still at home. One of his favorite questions while he was in HS, when we came home from work was, "What are we going to do tonight?" We had this "Tin Type" picture taken in the "Old Country" Amusement Area in Virginia during that time. We were to look serious since the time of exposure was some 2-3 minutes in which we were to hold still. The expressions on our faces might have been representative of parents sending that youngest son off to the Civil War. Little did we know at that time that some 40 years later he would be so deeply involved in Civil War History. Just this morning he sent us an email telling of his responsibility in the preparation of a sign describing a historic site.

We also look that somber after our days activity. Elaine had her last Bible Study with Rev. Doug due to his transfer, I learned about the death of an old friend at my Coffee group. Then we did Home Delivered Meals with only a minor problem of misreading an address. As I closed the garage door it went back up and required 30 minutes of work standing on my old garage chair to get the cable properly adjusted. After another 1.20" of rain last night and the gutters overflowing, the mission for the day was to get them cleaned out. Three of the downspouts were completely blocked with the "flower stem" residue that had fallen of our trees. We got them all cleaned out and even washed some mud out from under the Buick's fenders. The Nebraska Women lost the first game of the College World Series this morning. We were all set to watch the Royals-Cardinals game to see if the Royals can break out of their 8 game losing streak, only to find it in a rain delay so we are still looking pretty somber.

Cousins Reunion, June 27, 1998

Plans are being made for a Vrana Cousins reunion in late June at the time Janice and Larry are here from California. We will get together for lunch and visiting in Lincoln the day after my birthday. The group pictured here was at Mahoney State Park near Omaha, NE. We continue to be a very compatible group. 

We mowed our entire lawn this afternoon, trimmed Lilac bushes, etc. Then had storm watches and tornado warnings in the area. We received another 1.0" of rain but no hail nor storm. At one time about 6:00pm they were reporting the likelihood of 8 tornadoes on the ground in Southeastern Nebraska. We haven't heard any damage reports but I am sure there was some. 

Grandma Vrana

Pat got out a Vrana Cousins Newsletter this morning. I included my Blog site address for anyone who may be interested. To be sure there would be something they could all relate to, I'm adding this information I wrote on our Grandmother some years ago.
Antonia Milacek (September 28, 1870-June 2, 1960)

Grandma was born at Damirov (Caslav), Bohemia, in Czechoslovakia and came to America at the age of 3 with her parents, John (Jan) and Antonia (Fannie) (Prasil) Milacek. They settled on a farm in Saunders County, Nebraska near the village of Weston. After having a younger sister Mary, her mother died. John, her father sent back to the Czech Republic for a second wife (Maria Houfek) who came to America with her daughter Anna. John and Maria were married soon after her arrival and eventually had five more children, 2 boys and 3 girls. John died in 1909. Maria lived to be 91 years of age and I remember her as a very pleasant, little white haired lady.

At the age of 18, Grandma married Joseph J. Vrana and they lived on a farm near Linwood, NE. John, the eldest son was born in 1891, my dad, Anton in 1896, Rose in 1898, Emma in 1900, Anna in 1902. After moving to the Seward County farm in 1903, Joe was born in 1906 and Tillie in 1910. In addition there were other children who died at birth or as infants.

While my early memories of Grandma date back to a similar time that I’ve written about Grandpa, she was in many respects, a mirror image of him. She was a strong, large boned, rugged woman with an “outgoing” personality and a heart of gold. I believe everyone who lived in the village of Bee during the 1930’s, 40’s & 50’s knew Grandma Vrana. In fact, she had probably done something for many of them. It was easier for her to communicate in her native Czech language but had no problem making herself understood in “broken” English. She lived a full life without ever learning to sign her name or be able to read.

I have heard stories of Grandma not only shocking grain but also helping pitch bundles onto a hayrack at thrashing time. And, have distinct memories of her working in her garden and with her chickens, ducks and geese. She loved her flowers. Their little house in Bee had a perpetual smell of oats being cooked for the chickens. Her chickens were her friends. She raised them after being hatched under a “setting-hen” and knew them all by name. I remember on at least one occasion of her leading a cow out to the farm in exchange for one that had just come “fresh”. The cow would then be tethered along the Northwestern railroad right-of-way just across the gravel street east of their house.

Grandma’s greatest attribute, according to my memory was her concern and care for others. This was especially demonstrated by her care and love for her grandchildren. I don’t know the details of her grandmotherly care but do know several of the grandsons spent enough time with her and Grandpa that they learned to speak a lot of Czech. She had a knack of telling me and my siblings about what great things our cousins were doing. It wasn’t until we were teenagers that we learned she was “bragging” to the cousins about us. She not only told us about our cousins but also some of the things the Bila and other Bee kids were doing. Some of it was an example of what not-to-do.

The big buffet in the living room held pictures of all of the grandchildren among others. Setting nearby was the Christmas cactus that seemed to bloom perpetually. My memory is not clear on the utilities in the house but I remember helping get a radio set up in the living room for them in the mid-40’s. I believe the house consisted of the kitchen, living room and 2 bedrooms along with the “back porch”. Most of the meals were eaten in the kitchen. Roast duck, dumplings and sauerkraut were always special.

Grandma did some sewing. Probably making most of her own clothing. Her favorite was making aprons for all the granddaughters and probably other little girls in Bee. I believe she also made comforters and possibly little quilts. Though a black dog is shown on this picture with her, it seems her favorite was a little Dachshund.

Grandma weathered the loss of several babies and infants in her early life but also of Emma on March 23, 1931, Rose on September 5, 1948, Grandpa (Joseph J.) on February 7, 1950 & Tillie on November 20, 1959 in addition to several grandchildren. I remember of Aunt Anna commenting that she would tell Grandma of Aunt Rose’s death in Czech because the words wouldn’t be as harsh as in English. Emma’s death was the result of falling out of a unlatched hay mow door during a barn dance. Reflecting on her life, I marvel at her ability to “carry-on” and to make the best of what life provided. I have no idea of whether or not Grandpa would have consoled her from his biblical studies during her times of grief. She lived a subservient life in a male dominated society and yet, she was the one that “held everything together”. I don’t ever remember hearing her complain and believe she took great pleasure in the simple things of life: her family, her friends, her pets (chickens, etc) and her garden. Maybe she taught us more by example than we have ever realized.  

Sadie Enjoying the Municipal Band Concert

You may wonder what Sadie was enjoying and giving her full attention but it was the Seward Municipal Band. They played their first concert of their 126th season last evening at the Seward Band Shell. Sadie's Grandmother Carolyn had her set up on the blanket while John and Julie played in the Saxophone section. Great Grandparents joined the party with lawn chairs. While 7:00 pm is her normal bed time, she was a real trooper at the concert which was from 7:30-8:30pm. John has been playing in the band for the past 8 years and though Julie played in it some years ago, this is her first year back. They have a good number of Band members, excellent leadership, and should have a good season. The clouds seemed to build as the evening progressed and by this morning we had some 2.0" of rain in our gauge. Lincoln had over 3 inches and Omaha had winds of over 70mph which did considerable damage. Though we had sunshine all afternoon, we are again in a storm watch area. A tornado has already been spotted  near Smith Center, KS in the storm that's headed our way. Fortunately, we have a basement in which to take cover if necessary and a sturdy workbench under which to take cover it necessary. Elaine put fresh water in our container downstairs and the workbench isn't far from other sources of liquid that could be consumed in an emergency.                          

Walker Grandparents

Among the graves that we "decorated" yesterday were my Maternal Grandparents, William H. and Anna Walker. Also resting in the plot are Aunt Dorothy and Uncle Bill. Grandma died in 1943 at the age of 63, Grandpa moved to Seward after her death, he remarried a lady who was his "housekeeper" and died in 1951 at the age of 74. Grandma was very kind to me as a kid when I stayed with them for a week or so during several summers, but I never really felt like I knew her very well. Grandpa and I had a much closer relationship. He was the one I spent time with herding cows, doing chores, making hay and even cutting wheat. I was 26 years old when Grandpa died and we had a close relationship even as I grew to adulthood, married and had our oldest son. In addition to "inheriting" some of his genes, he was a factor in helping make me what I am. It is truly a blessing when Grandparents and Grandchildren can have that relationship. 

Sadie doing "Patty-Cake"

We got out to see Sadie this afternoon. Grandma Carolyn was taking care of her while John and Julie planted landscaping material around their house. We had some 0.60" of rain during the night so it was a bit wet. As shown on the photo, Sadie has learned to "patty-cake". In fact, Carolyn says that if she sings the song with Sadie and "throws it in the oven", she will swing her arms just as Carolyn does. Sadie has also learned to waive "bye-bye". You might say she is being "Home schooled". We did some planting too this evening by putting in a climbing Black Eyed Susan. This is the 3rd year that we've had one climbing up a Trellis that I built out of "Chicken wire" next to the clothesline post. While the first two vines were a bright yellow, this one is orange. We hope it does as well as it's predecessors. It wasn't until after we had it planted that I remembered the difficulty of cleaning the dead vines off the chicken wire last fall after that first hard freeze. But it was worth it. There was never a time, even with our dry weather last summer that we didn't have yellow flowers in bloom. I think Sadie will like the looks of the pretty flowers but we won't let her eat them.