Thursday, February 23, 2012

Miss Elizabeth Is 91 Today...

Miss Elizabeth, our friend and the grande dame of our city block, is 91 today. Originally from Oklahoma, she took a circuitous route to St. Louis, and her stories about her life are always interesting. She's still active in her church, involved in her charities and clubs, and thriving in her oversized Victorian home. Her large flower garden often contributes new starts for mine at Le Rustique.

Yesterday Big Daddy and I took her to lunch on The Hill - noted for the best Italian markets and restaurants west of the Mississippi, as well as being the childhood home of baseball stars Joe Garagiola and Yogi Berra.

Since Big Daddy and I are listening to Timothy Egan's audio book The Worst Hard Time: The Untold Story of Those Who Survived the Great American Dust Bowl and since Miss Elizabeth lived through it in Oklahoma, we asked her to tell us a little about growing up then. 


As you can see from the picture, we laughed some in spite of the rough life she had then and the harshness of the times she was talking about. I think she had just remembered the time she failed to kill the chicken for Sunday dinner, because she just couldn't get the hang of it.

Still laughing after all these years.
Miss Elizabeth, Here's to many more years of listening to your stories about rural living at a different time. We love having you in our lives. Happy Birthday!!

Linking up with Rural Thursday 
Check out some of the others blogging about the rural life.
Rural Thursday Blog Hop


20 comments:

  1. oh, she looks like a true treasure! a bright soul!

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  2. She is adorable and has a youthful spirit about her!

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  3. She looks to be full of vigor. I love listening to the old folks tell their tales. Sadly, I'm becoming one of the old ones.

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  4. Miss Elizabeth is beautiful and she sure doesn't look her age. How sweet of you and Big Daddy to take her to lunch for her birthday. She looks very happy.

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  5. How wonderful that you have someone with so much wisdom as a friend and neighbor...She is precious and I know you love listening to her stories....I am sure she enjoyed her lunch with you and Big Daddy...

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  6. oh my goodness, what a sweetheart, she looks so happy! i'd sure love to hear some of those stories =)

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  7. She looks amazing and what a treasure of history she must be. Bless your hearts for taking her out for her birthday and thanks for sharing with RT, Nancy!

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  8. A belated Happy Birthday to her. Wonderful stories, I'm sure. ♥

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  9. I love to listen to stories from way back when. She looks fit as a fiddle and full of life!

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  10. I love people with stories! She looks like she has some good ones. I have read about the dust bowl days..and there are many sites on-line of pics from those times. Very harsh living...those who survived!

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  11. she looks so fun spirited, like someone full of stories with the great recollection to tell them!!

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  12. She looks delightful... what a wonderful portrait of her!

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  13. She looks like a lovely woman! My Dad is 90 going on 91 this year...still lives at home by himself. (My Mom passed away in 2001)...hence we moved back to Montana. I want to take a moment and thank you for visiting my blog, and for your kind comments. I'm so glad you enjoy my photo-ops with me!

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  14. What a lovely smile she has. She sure doesn't look like a 91 year-old woman. Thanks for sharing her with me. I love to hear stories from the "older generation", of which I am rapidly approaching. :)

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  15. Good for you, appreciating all Miss Elizabeth has to offer! I see you swung by the porch. I have searched ways to make worm bins just from rubber totes. Mine was built specifically for worms. My sister got it off Amazon or e-bay.

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  16. I agree - she does not look 91 years old, but that's because of the youthful look in her eye! What a beautiful woman to have in your lives. Happy Birthday to her!

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  17. She looks like a lady who knows how to enjoy life! You are lucky to know her. She is like my MIL who is 95 and still living alone and driving all over town.

    You should get down all her stories for posterity.

    Thanks for visiting my blog.

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  18. She looks so young - and spirited! I want to be like her when I am in my 90's!

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