Anisette Studio

A rainy start to the day. But coffee is coming! Kids are off to school and so the day begins! There is a red headed downy woodpecker at the ready for bird food, OH! A whole crowd has come! A red carnal is trying to get my attention by flying at the window, he has brought his mate! And the redheaded woodpecker and two downy woodpeckers! is out there! And the Juncos are out there as well. I love the amazing color of the birds! They seem to take turns. Red Cardinal’s trying to get your attention means there is a spiritual matter or sign of vitality, renewal, hope, pride, confidence, and courage. Seeing one can indicate these qualities are awakened in you. You need to embrace them. Yes! Thank you, little friends, for your reminders! Bless your day too! Although! That Cardinal may have been saying, “Come on lady dump this water out of this feeder so I can sit and get the food!” I checked and there was a lot of rain in the feeder, so dumped it off so they could get to more of the suet, and seed within it. They do know I feed them, and I think they watch or listen for the door.

Back to listening to Agatha Christie today, as I will meet up with Alice later to discuss the book we are listening to. When we are done here, we will move on to the next book. Both of us are seeing the same kinds of influences in our childhood and later years. I have examined the timeline of my mother and grandmother learning what was happening in their twenties and thirties. That was very interesting to do. I thought about the stories I managed to glean, and it was very telling. Grammie Stone, Edwina Louise Allen, Stone had gone to college, Westbrook Seminary to be a teacher. She also played in the Portland Symphony Orchestra as a young woman. This would have been a rare occurrence. For her to play meant she was educated and well bred. A woman playing in the orchestra was not allowed until the 20th Century. She would have been one of the first along with my first husband’s grandmother Ruth who played in the Boston Symphony Orchestra as a young woman. Grammie Stone played the piano and organ, Ruth the piano and mandolin. They were encouraged to study music, and noted for their abilities, other wise it was for private gatherings. I think it would have been around 1915 when she would have played. the orchestra began in 1923. And there perhaps into 1927. Not sure of her age when she married. Grammie would have been 18 to 20 years old at in 23….about 24? by 27. She would have played in its early days. She would have come from Freeport, Maine into Portland via the train, and switch to the trolly to come into uptown Portland. I will have to see what I can learn. In her wedding photo she has what appears to be short, waved, pressed hair. I would imagine that friends and family would have come to hear her. It was a treat to hear her play! We would ask her to play the William Tell Overture over and over! (Lone Ranger Theme). She taught me and I self-taught myself to read notes and play. Her playing generated my interest in classical music. She had stacks of it sheet music.

She also played women’s soft ball. Was a friend of, knew Adelphia Louis Bissonette who was a well known baseball player, then later as a coach and manager. He played in the major league baseball, known as the Brooklyn Dodgers or Brooklyn Robins in his day. That would have been 1928 to 1933. He was born in Winthrop, Maine. Died in 1972. A batting average of .305, he made 66 home runs. Batted in 391. He managed tge Boston Braves, and Pittsburg Pirates. I had thought my grandmother called in “Delfire” Bissonette. Perhaps a nick name? I was not until I looked him up, I understood why I had thought this. I had not realized her interest in sports until I did her timeline and considered her stories. She had played softball, watched the Olympics, and baseball games on her small black and white tv.

She married Walter Stone, a lumberman, owner of a sawmill. They had many children, and when she married, she could no longer teach school. Someone with children was not allowed to teach in her time. Their lives would have been very different if she could have, instead of being poor. If she could have continued playing in the orchestra! She had a beautiful organ when I was little, bright red velvet on the pedals. There were many pretty things like dishes and tea trays. A fire had destroyed these treasures.

I can imagine what how she felt being such a talented young woman. She was also a great reader, religious, loved flowers. She and her sisters would meet up and go to the Portland Flower Show each year.

She lost a set of twins, and had to put them in shoe boxes in the snow under her home until she could bury them in the spring.

Growing up____ One story about her I loved as it told me she had lots of spirit! When going to school, there was a huge spiral staircase. She was at the top! Looked around and saw no one! In her long waisted, white dress with sash at the waste___ a long auburn braid of hair down her back with a huge bow…she mounted the rail and rode all the way down to the bottom…was straightening her dress, and self…when she heard, “Well! Miss Allen did you have a good ride?” It was the principle. I think that he or she had to have smiled and understood the delight of Miss Allen.

She had been taught how to run a household, do finery such as embroidery, crochet, etc. and others cooking and chores… a modest life as a child with two other sisters. My mother and I went to the Freeport home. It was much smaller than the home I had grown up in. I would have to recall all the names of her children. my aunts and uncles but I believe there were ten.

My mother was the same age as Elvis Presley. My father 11 years older than she was. And she too was affected by it being “a man’s world”. The world should be a blend of masculine and feminine. It should be about being human beings who understand and communicate well with one another. We can still be male and female.

Best wishes! May love and laugher fill your hearts! Pejj Nunes!