things that make you go hmmmm.....

during the late 1930's and early 40's, a girl, living on a ranch outside of blackfoot idaho, didn't have much of a choice when it came to new fashions. but if she was creative and talented enough she could design and sew her own clothes. gram had what it took. she found some pretty red gingham material and designed a dress that fit tight on her slim torso, with a drop waist that then flared out into two ruffled layers. it had puff sleeves and was trimmed in white lace. her long black hair looked beautiful as it cascaded over her shoulders and the bright colored dress. red is best! she loved that dress and saved it through the years, even though her slim 27in waist grew larger with the birth of her 7 children. she let us play in it. we would pretend and dream that we were as pretty as she was. gram always smiles when that dress is mentioned. even to this day, nearly 70 years since she first made it.

cori has immortalized it in her song "the red gingham dress". and there is still a "lilt" in her sway, although these days it must be expressed in her hands as her legs will no longer carry her. and the "spark in her eye" still catches the glance of any passing guy!

a cherished family photo is of gram, wearing her beloved dress, sitting on top of a 6 ton concrete lion located on the northeast side of the utah state capitol building.(circa 1940.)

this week i learned that those lions are up for sale on ebay. the renovation of the state capitol called for new replacements and they are selling the old, worn out, broken concrete lions. they only weigh 6 tons and are about 6 ft by 6 ft by oh say 12 feet long. a nice addition to the backyard don't you think?!

jordon can get a truck that will move it. our neighbor has access to a crane. gram's birthday is in november. hmmm.........

ebay link to auction site: http://cgi.ebay.com/HISTORIC-CONCRETE-LION-FROM-UTAH-STATE-CAPITOL-NE_W0QQitemZ140348950269QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item20ad7306fd&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14