It was early June, of the year 1776, and a happy housewife sat beading a design onto her granddaughter's linen night shirt. The woman's craftiness was known by all who lived in the area. She made jewelry, patched men's pants, and even designed whole suits. Today though, it was all about using some of the porcupine quill beads she had traded for to make a one of a kind night shirt.
Her attention suddenly shifted to the sounds of a commotion going on outside. She was curious as to what it might be, but the lure of the beads soon had her focused back on the beads...at least until there was a knock at the door. She sighed, looking down at her bead project, and then beckoned the knocker in. A tall man strode into the room followed by two other men dress for importance.
The tall man was none other than George Washington, coming to ask her to stitch up the country's first flag. She told the General that she was quite busy, but he kept telling her what he wanted. She finally sighed and told him she could make an all blue flag with four stars by sundown for him, but right now she needed to get back to her beading. The men wouldn't take no for an answer, and kept telling her how important it was to include the stars and the stripes.
The woman finally said, this is way too important to trust it to just anyone... they needed the best...and that would be her neighbor down the road. The two men and General Washington left for the Ross farm. The woman picked up her beading project and smiled from ear to ear. Oh sure she had lied to the men. Fact was, Betsy could sew a bit, but she couldn't string three beads together if the good Lord blessed her with an additional two hands.
Yes, history books will show that Betsy Ross made our country's first flag, but it was another woman who became the true patriarch of beading that day. We all owe an incredible debt of gratitude to....Ester Frankkenbush. Ester showed us all that when it's beading time, it's beading time! By the way, the beaded night shirt is still being passed down through the generations. Meanwhile, other than a flag that looks like a three year old made it, Betsy never made another craft worth a dang.
Her attention suddenly shifted to the sounds of a commotion going on outside. She was curious as to what it might be, but the lure of the beads soon had her focused back on the beads...at least until there was a knock at the door. She sighed, looking down at her bead project, and then beckoned the knocker in. A tall man strode into the room followed by two other men dress for importance.
The tall man was none other than George Washington, coming to ask her to stitch up the country's first flag. She told the General that she was quite busy, but he kept telling her what he wanted. She finally sighed and told him she could make an all blue flag with four stars by sundown for him, but right now she needed to get back to her beading. The men wouldn't take no for an answer, and kept telling her how important it was to include the stars and the stripes.
The woman finally said, this is way too important to trust it to just anyone... they needed the best...and that would be her neighbor down the road. The two men and General Washington left for the Ross farm. The woman picked up her beading project and smiled from ear to ear. Oh sure she had lied to the men. Fact was, Betsy could sew a bit, but she couldn't string three beads together if the good Lord blessed her with an additional two hands.
Yes, history books will show that Betsy Ross made our country's first flag, but it was another woman who became the true patriarch of beading that day. We all owe an incredible debt of gratitude to....Ester Frankkenbush. Ester showed us all that when it's beading time, it's beading time! By the way, the beaded night shirt is still being passed down through the generations. Meanwhile, other than a flag that looks like a three year old made it, Betsy never made another craft worth a dang.
Gary has promise more of his little stories, I hope you got a good giggle out of it like I did. I have to say my Hubby has quite the imagination. You should have heard how he saw me smuggling beads into the USA if they ever made it illegal to bring them in. I laughed until I was in tears.
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