Family History: The Seamstress

I thought you kids might like to learn a little more about Grandma Applegate.  As you probably know, she is an excellent seamstress.  But you might not know that she learned and developed this talent while in high school. 

Grandma Applegate made this dress with the matching slip as a junior in high school.  She entered the dress in the 1955 Singer Junior Sewing Contest in Oakland, California.  She won first place and was awarded a small set of scissors and a small portable sewing machine, which she ended up giving to her older sister, Joan.

 

Picture taken by Kathy Page in October 2014.

 

The next year, her senior year, Grandma made another dress with a matching slip and entered the same contest.  She won first place again!  The intricate sewing of all the pleats down the front of the dress were amazing.  This time she was awarded a large set of scissors and a Singer sewing machine, which she gave to me many years ago.   This time her dress went to nationals.  It ended up being disqualified because Grandma had altered the pattern.  Her teachers were not aware of that rule and were upset she got disqualified.

 

 Picture taken by Kathy Page in October 2014

 

 

This is a picture of Grandma wearing the dress she made at the competition.

 

 

This is a picture of her on the stage with the other competitors.  The original photo was long and skinny.  So when I scanned the photo, I couldn't get the entire stage in the picture--there were a lot more girls than you can see.  If you look closely, Grandma is the third girl on the left--not counting the head in the background.

 

 

 

This is the sewing machine Grandma won--which I still use. It is a great sturdy machine--they don't make them like this anymore!

 

Trip to Utah and Dad's Birthday

This is a little slow in coming . . . but here are a few pictures from my trip to Utah!

 

I flew over on Saturday, October 11th.

That evening I got to attend the baby blessing of Whitney and Richard's first son, Carter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday I went to Church with my Mom and Dad.

That evening we went to Laura's home for dinner.

Yummy tri-tip, Dustin!  Thank you!

 

Then the first part of the week I helped Mom paint her bathroom.

After buying 5 shower curtains, we finally decided on one that was pretty neutral and painted the bathroom tan, like the rest of the house.

 

 

Jim, Lesha, and the girls came over one evening.

Another evening Bruce and Shaunna came over so Bruce could hang the new shower rod.

 

On Thursday Laura, Jenni, and I headed down to Provo to have lunch with Krissy.

 

 

 

When we took Krissy back to her place, Laura told her it would be fun if we could spend some more time together . . . then she told her to go back a bag and come with us!  We had a hard time convincing Krissy this was for real!

 

Krissy coming down the stairs with her packed bag, with Karlee watching.

 

Krissy has no idea what's going on or where we're going!

 

 

 

We took Krissy back to Mom's house.  In the basement Mom and all the sisters-in-law were waiting and yelled "Surprise!" when Krissy came down.  It was a girls' surprise weekend to celebrate Krissy's 40th birthday! 

 

 

Krissy with all her surprises--mostly gag gifts!

 

 

 

 

 

Hmmmm.  A spa kit made with feminine napkins.  

 

A special bra that Laura gave to Kathy on her 40th birthday.

Now's it's Krissy's turn.  I wonder who will get it next?!

 

 

What?!  Tickets to Thriller tonight?!

 

And a VISA card Krissy can use while we go shopping and out to lunch.

(See, we know how to give good gifts, too!)

 

 

We went to see Thriller that evening.  I think everyone enjoyed it.  It was a little too creepy for me.  When the zombies started walking around before the performance, I knew I was in trouble!

 

But we had a little late-night fun!

All the sisters-in-law went home to sleep.

So the sisters had some fun with some toilet paper.  Bwhaha!

 

Lesha seemed to think we toilet papered her home that night.  So she showed up the next morning with a beautiful TP bow in her hair.  We denied it until the end.

 

We spent most of the day on Friday shopping and going out to eat.

Fun, fun, fun!

 

Dad drove over to Utah on Friday, and Jayna drove down from Rexburg.  Jayna stayed with us girls at Grandma's house and Dad stayed with Jeff and Karla.  On Saturday we all met up at JCWs with Dad's family.  Gladys had gotten Dad a birthday cake to share with everyone.

 

 

 

After lunch we did some shopping for Dad's birthday (he got a new pair of shoes) then headed back to the Applegates where we relaxed and watched the BYU football game.

 

 

Sunday morning we got to go to Allan's homecoming!  He did a great job and it was fun spending time with Dad's family again.

 

 

Then we traded cars with Jayna.  We drove home in her Focus and she drove back to Rexburg in the van.  We're hoping the van will handle the Rexburg snow better until she can get her Jeep.  And we're putting the Focus on Craigs List this weekend.

 

 

Monday, Dad's birthday, was a little crazy since we hadn't gotten back from Utah until about 11:30 p.m. Sunday night, and we were trying to get caught up and organized again.  But Josh took Dad golfing.  And we celebrated by going to Texas Roadhouse.  Yum.

 

The Texas Roadhouse crew sang to Dad and brought him a Sundae!

 

Opening presents at home.

 

A candy bar recipe book and candy dispenser from Ty and Michelle.

Very thoughtful--you know your Dad!

 

 

Tickets to Mannheim Steamrollers Christmas Concert from Mom.

 

Happy Birthday to the best Dad ever!  We love you!

Dallin's Pictures - October 20

Dallin:  "So this is the goat.  He got his head cut off with like a big kitchen knife, and I watched it...it was crazy!"

 

 

Dallin:  "So this is my name badge.  Josh had his in the sand, mine is with a dog and the cerrros haha."

 

 

 

 

Dallin:  "This was a meal that we paid 10 soles for--for a girl here to save some money for her mission! It was way good."

 

 Dallin:  "Also I finally tried the Guarana here.  Its more fruitful, i kinda like it.  I havent tried it yet cause Inca Kola is sooo good and big here haha."

A Day in the Life

Tuesday, October 14th, 2014.

A day in the life of the Pages.

 

 

Brian:  "Where else would I be on a Tuesday night except at the bishop's office?"

 

 

 

Kathy:  "I'm in Utah painting Grandma Applegate's bathroom!"

 

 

 

Ty:  "Making Asian street food for the Nehila's."

 

 

 

Michelle: "Ande and I went shopping at some fancy-pants stores today and found some great deals to dress me up for Ty's pilot training graduation next week."

 

 

 

Afton: "I'm watching Sesame Street because I don't feel good and wondering why Mom is taking a picture."

 

 

 

Eliza: "I'm being cute while trying to rest up and feel better."

 

 

 

 

Josh:  "Round two of golf ball hunting!  Someone has a new favorite hobby!"

 

 

 

Elizabeth:  "I had a late night craving so I gave in and went to McDonalds."

 

 

 

Jayna:  "I chopped off 7 inches of my hair today!"

 

 

 

Dallin:  "I'm in a soccer shirt the President gave us for our zone.  My dad, or trainer, is on the right.  His dad, or trainer, my grandpa, is in the middle."

 

 

 

Dallin's Pictures - Oct 13

Dallin:  "My dad (companion) and my dad's dad (trainer)--so my grandpa."

 

 

 

Dallin:  "Our zone team and our coach.  The zone leaders are to the left of me.

 

 

 

 

Dallin:  "So this is salchi papa, with hot dogs--sooo good.  And the mayo here is sooooooo good!"

 

 

Dallin:  "With Presidente Delgado after the priesthood session."