Two Noras: August 7, 1914 and August 7, 2021

Nora Bauer: Friday, August 7, 1914

Was to 6 o'clock news this morning. Clara, Gertrude and I went out for a little walk this evening. 

Nora Spitznogle: Saturday, August 7, 2021

Had a fun day at the State Fair with Annie Herr Mitchell. Worked at the Red Key this evening. 

I wonder how old Clara Brill is? Once again, I'm thinking that I wish I had a big chunk of time off to research the family tree....although would I spend much time on learning about the niece of a great-great aunt by marriage? 

Ann Mitchell and I went to the State Fair this afternoon. In previous years Ann and I would walk to the Fair from my house and spend hours looking at every single thing on the Fairgrounds. Today's visit was a little shorter, although we covered a lot of ground. 

We checked out my open show projects in the Indiana Arts Building, we watched the parade, and visited Pioneer Village. We both purchased a loom-made rag rug - here we are posing by the sign that points out that we are the same age as the Pioneer Village. It's a milestone year for all of us 1961'ers, 

I had time for a quick nap before my Red Key shift. Another busy day shift! 

Two Noras: August 6, 1914 and August 6, 2021

Nora Bauer: Thursday, August 6, 1914

Was to singing class tonight. Talked to sisters afterward. Sr. Blasia & Sr. Serga were cleaning ?. Anna & Clara Brill had been here. Clara is going to stay at our house. 

Nora Spitznogle: Friday, August 6, 2021

Worked at Second Helpings today. Culinary Job Training Class #139 graduated - always an exciting and emotional day. It was a beautiful night at the State Fair - friends, slushies, and tractors. 

I can't decipher what Grandma Nora was saying the Sisters were cleaning...let me know if you can figure it out. 

It took me awhile to place Anna and Clara Brill in Nora's life. Anna and Clara are from Shelbyville, IN and are the nieces of Nora's Aunt Lena (by marriage)...newspaper articles mentioned that Anna and Clara Brill were the guest of John and Lena Bauer. The problem is that I can't place and age appropriate John Bauer with a Lena. The John Bauer that also lived in Shelbyville was was married to a Mary, although she died in 1912 - maybe John remarried Lena? I have so much research to do. 

It's always a great day at Second Helpings when a  Culinary Job Training class graduates! 

It was another fun evening at the Indiana State Fair.

I met up with Tammy and our friend/neighbor Laura. A new attraction at the State Fair is the Backyard BBQ, a spot with flatbed trailer music, hay bales, and seats right next to my beloved Pioneer Village and the vintage tractors.  And they sell those delicious peach bourbon slushies. 

I enjoyed another excellent parade chockfull of antique tractors. 

Brother J.R. called - he was at the Red Key.  Tammy and I met up with him and some friends that had golfed together this afternoon. 

It was a lovely summer Friday in Indianapolis. 

Two Noras: August 5, 1914 and August 5, 2021

Nora Bauer: Wednesday, August 5, 1914

Was working pretty hard today. Got my trial balance. 

Nora Spitznogle: Thursday, August 5, 2021

Work, dentist, and Indiana State Fair adventures this evening. 

I wonder if Grandma Nora was miffed that she didn't get to go to Milwaukee of if that was her choice. I guess someone had to hold down the office. It sounds like she had a productive day at least. 

I ran from work to the dentist (dang cavity!) to the State Fair. I took advantage of the $3 Thursday sensible sized food specials this evening. I enjoyed a mini elephant ear and a pulled pork BBQ sandwich.

I got to the Indiana Arts Building just in time to hear the winners of today’s pie judging announced. There were 22 different divisions of pies that could be entered – I can’t imagine how many pies the judges tasted today. The best of show winner was a honey pie – I’m looking forward to seeing the recipe for that.

I took my time looking at the youth art, textile art, woodworking, and pottery open show entries on the lower level of the building. I made the trek to the third floor to visit The Lamp. She’s still giving me that blank look. 

I was thrilled to get a text from my friend Liz. The 4-H Llama costume contest is about to start in the Champions Pavilion. It’s sort of the Ugly Lamp contest for llamas. The 4-H’rs create a story and make costumes for themselves and their llama to carry out their theme. The story is read over a very scratchy echo-y microphone and the kiddos and their llamas parade around the ring. The cuteness factor is off the chart. I have no idea how the judge picks the winners.

Two Noras: August 4, 1914 and August 4, 2021

Nora Bauer: Tuesday, August 4, 1914

Mamie & Anna went to Milwaukee at 4:10 this morning. Aunt Kate & Mrs. [Isibs? Gibs?] went with them. Saw Mrs. Bauman up town. She said Nora Halbleib was home. 

Nora Spitznogle: Wednesday, August 4, 2021

Worked at Second Helpings today, followed by a Tonic Ball meeting. Raced to the State Fair to get in before they closed the gates. Had a nice walk around. 

Oh my goodness Grandma Nora, so much juicy information in this post....I've spent way too long trying to decipher the names and looking through newspaper archives. 

I assume that Nora's sisters, Mamie and Anna, and her aunt, Kate, were going to visit Kate's daughter, Sister Hyacinth, at the Sisters of Notre Dame convent. 

My research on the visiting Nora didn't turn up a dang thing either. 

Busy day for me - work followed by a Tonic Ball meeting. It's the big meeting where we choose the bands that will be covered for the November event. I had to scoot out before the final decision was made - not that I could share the news anyway! 

I made it into the Fairgrounds just in time. I hightailed to the Indiana Arts Building. I slipped in the door just a few minutes before the building closed at 8:00. Fans of the Ugly Lamp contest have been asking to see the second and third place entries. This year produced a bumper crop of not-so-pretty lamps. It must have been hard to choose.

I had a Wafflewich from the Dairy Bar for dinner - a buttermilk waffle grilled cheese. I didn't love it, but it's a fun idea. I looped around the Fairgrounds on the tractor shuttle and landed by the Free Stage. It was rocking on that side of the Fairgrounds. Josh Turner has a great fan base and people were happy and cheering. There was even line dancing happening in the bar tent.

It still feels odd to have a cocktail at the Fair, but who am I to resist change? I ordered the boozy slush – it may be called something else, but that’s what it is. It’s made with Jim Beam bourbon, lemonade, and peach slush. It was delicious – one was enough. One of my many rules around drinking alcohol is that if it’s served with a straw, one is plenty.

By the time I was carded, wrist-banded, ordered, paid, and got the straw wrapper bits out of my drink, Josh was singing his last song. I did have a lovely conversation with a friend (and fan of Dad) and her lovely mama on the way out.

Back home to write by Day Four State Fair blurb for NUVO. 

Two Noras: August 3, 1914 and August 3, 2021

Nora Bauer: Monday, August 3, 1914

Was at the office by myself today. Anna is taking her vacation. 

Nora Spitznogle: Tuesday, August 3, 2021

No State Fair today, worked downtown at Second Helpings. Opened more sympathy cards. 

I keep forgetting that Grandma Nora's older sister, Anna, worked with Barnes Construction also. I wonder where she was vacationing? 

Another work day for me, meetings and such - nothing exciting. 

Yesterday's tomato victory sparked an interest in what I can salvage from my spring planting. The peanuts and cotton seem to be hanging in there. Peanuts and cotton in Indianapolis you ask? 

I'm a big fan of the horticulture program at the Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired. They open their greenhouse to the public four times a year and I try to be there each time. All of my already-started plants come from there. Not only do they offer the typical plants that you see everywhere - tomatoes, peppers, squash, herbs - but they have some exotic-to-me plants for sale. This is my second year for growing both cotton and peanuts. 

I honestly had no idea what a cotton plant looked like or the growing process. It's a very pretty plant and the maturity process is fascinating. Click here for a basic explanation. I love that they produce white flowers and once it is pollinated, the flowers turn purple and produce the boll. 

I need to take a better photograph. There are two plants in this pot, one is purple and the other green - I can't remember what the difference is. I've circled two of the bolls, the plants have four all together. 

Last year I only harvested one boll - Tilly Cat thought the cotton fluff was the best toy she'd ever been given. I'm not sure what I'll do with this year's bountiful crop. 

I'm still opening sympathy cards - they are so lovely and have thoughtful notes and memories. 

Two Noras: August 2, 1914 and August 2, 2021

Nora Bauer: Sunday, August 2, 1914 

Florence Z? was at our house for dinner. I went down to the station with her. She left at 4:00 o'clock. Joe Rech went back with. 

Nora Spitznogle: Monday, August 2, 2021

Worked at Second Helpings today - we rescued 4-H veggies from the State Fair. Even though I've thoroughly ignored my garden, I harvested a tomato today.  

I spent way too many hours today trying to figure out who Florence Z and Joe Rech are. I've searched the newspaper archives for a mention of Joe Rech and a Florence together. I've searched for every combination of the letters that I think are in her last name. 

I can't find a mention in the papers at all of Joe in 1914, although there was a blurb in 1916 that he was visiting from Dayton, Ohio. I wonder if that's where he was in 1914? Maybe Grandma Nora will give us some more clues soon. 

This image is from the Indiana Historical Society digital collection - Pennsylvania Railroad Depot, Logansport, 1914. 

The State Fair is testing out an odd schedule this year. Open over four weekends, closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. 

One of the things I'm most proud of starting at Second Helpings is the tradition of the 4-H vegetable entries being donated after being on display the first weekend of the Indiana State Fair. 

The first few years one of the Indiana Extension Agents and I just did it. No one at the Fair was willing to sign off on it, but they seemed happy that it was happening. After the second year we made some cute signage that explained where the veggies went - it was much better than seeing them wither on the paper plates and hear snide remarks from fairgoers about how that wrinkled thing could win a ribbon. 

Here are the 4-H'rs that helped gather and load our van. I really love that behind the van is the door that Dad and Jake Richason used to sneak out for their after-hours shenanigans circa 1956. 

Sorting the veggies at Second Helpings. 

Huge cabbage! 

While the 4-H'rs were diligently growing that beautiful produce,  I totally ignored my garden for the last month. I've done some half-ass watering, but that's it. I was thrilled to spy a ripe tomato when I pulled in the driveway this evening. 

I'm sure that I spent more time setting up the self-timed photo than I did actually growing the tomato. 

Two Noras: August 1, 1914 and August 1, 2021

Nora Bauer: Saturday, August 1, 1914

Was to church this morning and then went to market. Did not get uptown this evening went to church and came right home. 

Nora Spitznogle: Sunday, August 1, 2021

Lazy morning, slept in, missed church, invited Schaun to go to the State Fair with me, came home and wrote my wrap up. 

I hope that Grandma Nora was praying for her yet-to-be-born grandchildren, because this one has been spotty about church attendance in the last few weeks. 

This is the first time that I've hear her mention going to the market. I wonder what she was shopping for? Cake-making supplies? 

It was so nice to have no agenda for the day. We wandered through Pioneer Village - my favorite spot. I paid special attention to the equipment from 1914 - it was fun to see a truck and a very complicated tile laying machine. 

1914 Buckeye Tile machine

I hope that you can click on this photo to make it large enough to read. Before this machine was invented, all drainage tile was laid in hand-dug trenches. Machines like this truly revolutionized farming. I wonder how long it was before any Bauers or Spitznogles had access to things like this? Even in my lifetime we've gone from clay tile to plastic and using GPS to position the drainage for the proper elevation. 

This 1914 truck is for sale. You know that I want it! 

 

Two of my favorite musicians, Andra Faye and Scott Ballantine, were playing in the Opry House barn and several friends were in the audience also.  It was so nice to catch up with people and let the lovely music wash over me. 

We saw the Budweiser Clydesdales hitch up and watched the parade on the way out of the Fairgrounds. 

Schaun dropped me off at home. I wrote my wrap up and was in bed at a sensible time. 

You can read all about my Fair visit by clicking here.