Posted on by Michelle Anderson

It’s Miller Time!

I’m getting ready to take vacation time at work. These photos made me think about what I could do with my time off. A summer day with nothing to do but fish sounds like a great day to me!

Here we have Kermit and friends escaping to fish in the late 1940s to early 1950s. With stringers of fish, likely northern pike or walleye, and vacation clothes, they appear to be having a day that is rare. Where you’re relaxed and glad to have a break from the day-to-day work, which can at times feel so overwhelming. When you go out at the crack of dawn, and you don’t come back until it’s time for a meal, and then you’re back out in a boat or on a dock fishing. Relaxed.

I just love the simple camp cabins. You didn’t go to a fishing camp like this for the cabin. You went for the location and the fish. Most fishing cabins are simple. No insulation or sometimes bathrooms. Just four walls, a bed, a kitchen, and nature. Simple.

These photos feel like this was a fellowship of men. Gathering in nature. With quiet roads, open fields, and a simple cabin. There are no notes of names or locations on these photos. And with the number of lakes a short distance from the Miller farm, it’s hard to say where they might be. This was finally a chance to breathe, to swap stories to feel the sun on their backs and a tug of a fish on the line. It was finally MIller Time.

Posted on by Michelle Anderson

Step Snapshots

I really enjoy black-and-white photographs. I look at many of them when planning blogs or when looking for new photos of family I haven’t seen before. In this one, I find that there’s a quiet beauty on the front steps of the Miller farmhouse in German Valley, Illinois. Perhaps they were just pausing between chores or taking a quick rest outside when the idea of taking a photo came up. Here we have Maye Miller Motter, Wava Miller, and Eunice Kramer Miller sitting together in the soft light of an ordinary day.

In every photo I see of Maye, she reflects a grace and gentleness that you don’t always see. Wava, by being in the middle, bridges the two women together with her youthful energy and curls. Eunice on the right has a smile that reflects the pride she feels in her home and her family. And you can just see into the front porch. When I knew it, there was a couch and chairs, an organ, and other items being stored on it. But it was always open and sunny, allowing a place for us to play, tucked safely away from the adults with toys and books.

In the end, it’s photos like this that remind us how the smallest pauses become the reflections that help hold the Miller family story together. Maye, Wava, and Eunice weren’t posing for history — they were simply sharing a moment on a warm day on the farm. As time moved forward and those steps changed, this photo keeps them alive in a way time cannot erase.

Posted on by Michelle Anderson

The Reunion That ALWAYS Meant More

This is one of my favorite photos of my brother and I. We stand together, as we were a unified front for all of my childhood. I don’t remember a time when it was just me. It’s always been Mark and Michelle, Michelle and Mark. And aren’t we cute? Here we are standing outside of Aunt Alice’s house, with I think Lynne Haren in the background. Barns to me have always been landmarks that I look for. They could tell me where I was or if I was close to my grandma’s house. Aunt Alice’s barns were a grouping that was familiar to me and seeing them we would know instantly that we were finally there.

Each summer, the Kramer family reunion has brought everyone back together. We all know that the last Sunday in June, there were plans. Plans to get together and celebrate being a family. I wasn’t alive yet when the first celebration took place, to celebrate Aunt Alice’s birthday. To me, it just always was. If we were near Cullom, Illinois, on the last Sunday in June, we were at the Kramer Reunion. For many years, we were not close as we were in Kansas or Ohio. But on those years that we could get there, it was a treat indeed.

This is a sight that I was also very familiar with. My dad and uncle grouped with their cousins, sharing the easy conversation that only comes with relatives who’ve known one another their whole lives. Leaning against a car that matches his shirt, we have Galen Haren, holding me is my uncle Wayne Miller, with cousin Bob Fager next to Wayne and my dad Raymond Miller. One the end is Bob’s brother Milton Fager holding a child I couldn’t tell who they were. The photos were developed in March of 1971, so that meant that these photos were taken in June of 1970. All of the men were sporting their Sunday summer best for this day.

Together, these photos remind me of the day we gathered to honor Aunt Alice and the Kramer siblings — a day when every branch of the family came together as one, celebrating the bonds that have always held the Kramer family close. And today, as those able to travel arrive in Cullom, Illinois to celebrate them once more, may those who cannot be there still feel connected to our Kramer kin and to all the times we stood together at this family celebration that has always felt deeper, richer, and more meaningful than an ordinary reunion.

Posted on by Michelle Anderson

Hand In Hand, Beside Their Dad

I love black and white photography. The different shades of gray have a way of connecting a photo and making subjects stand clear. Every expression, shadow, and gesture feels timeless and more visible. No elaborate background is necessary. Just a family posed outside in their Sunday best with nature and natural light around them.

Kermit is taking a protective stance behind his children. Steady. Grounded. There, if they should need him, but showing gentleness and pride too. From left to right, we have the Miller children, Wayne, Raymond, and Wava. I love the way that Wayne is holding Raymond’s hand by the fingertips. While he looks to be independent, he’s safe in knowing that his brother is ready to stand wherever Wayne would need him to be. Behind him, supporting him, or in front of him, protecting him. For me, it’s Raymond in the middle that becomes the visual and emotional center of the group. He shows that he’s already looked upon to be responsible and that he’s expected to look after his siblings when needed. His placement between his siblings connects them all to his father. Wava brings a softness and balance to the group. Her expression and stance add a gentle contrast to her brothers’ more formal posture. I believe that this photo was taken on the walk outside of Kermit and Eunice’s farm. Taken about 1950, give or take a year or two.

This photograph remains unchanged — a simple, steady reminder of a father and his children standing together on an ordinary day, hand in hand, a small piece of the Miller family story that is still speaking long after the shutter clicked.

Posted on by Michelle Anderson

Maye’s Garden of Life

Sometimes are garden grows quietly. You look up and suddenly those little seedlings have blossomed into plants. That is the case here. The garden started with Kermit’s sister Lydia Maye Miller. Maye married Lloyd Motter and they had two girls, June and Lois. Lois married Gordon Grohs and they had two children Tom and Nancy. Not much is known about the Grohs except I believe they are still alive. I’ve found records of both Lois and Gordon still together in Sun Lakes, Arizona just south of Chandler and outside of Phoenix. Lois and Gordon had two children, Tom and Nancy. Unfortunately, I have found out little about the Grohs. But that doesn’t mean I will stop looking.

I just love this photo of them. It’s what I call a stair-step photo. Many times they may occur oldest to youngest, but in this case it’s height with Lois and Maye needing to switch places. But from left to right we have Nancy, Tom, Lois, Maye, Lloyd and Gordon. This photo was taken outside Kermit and Eunice’s home. There’s no date on the photo but a former photo of Eunice’s dated 1960 indicated that Nancy and Tom would be visiting the next summer so we might be looking at a photo taken in 1961.

Both Nancy and Tom are wearing Miller farm appropriate clothes. While Nancy is in a dress I’m sure it didn’t slow her down from finding lots of things to explore. Lois is wearing adorable plaid shorts. I just love plaid. Then we come to Maye. I’ve never seen a photo of her as an adult where she’s not in a dress or skirt. She looks comfortable in her print dress. Lloyd looks formal. Perhaps it was a Sunday and they had gone to church earler or if it was a work day he just came from the office. Gordon looks like he’s on vacation and enjoying the day.

While I know little about Gordon, Lois and their children, I find myself wanting to keep a close watch on them to see what information I can find and what they may do next.

Posted on by Michelle Anderson

Porchside Promises

I don’t know why I never asked to see this photo until now. For me, Kermit and Eunice’s marriage was what was important. Eunice never spoke to me about their wedding day, just that it was also Kermit’s birthday. But she always spoke of their marriage and how she missed him.

Brenton, Kermit’s brother, was the minister at the Brethren Church Eunice attended. Brenton had a son named Walter, who kept asking Eunice if she wanted to meet his Uncle Kermit.  He was just convinced that she would like him.  I can just see Eunice politely thanking Walter for the thought, but also saying she didn’t need to meet his Uncle.

But fate and destiny have a way of working things, and when two people are destined to meet, then they meet.  Kermit’s friend Bob Fager asked Kermit if he would drive him to see a girl that he had met who he was sweet on.  Her name was Oma Kramer, and Bob didn’t have a dependable car to get to Streator, but Kermit did.  Maybe Kermit thought that once he got to Streator, he could see his brother, but once the men arrived, off went Oma and Bob to do something by themselves.  This left Kermit by himself at the Kramer farm.  Eunice said it was a Sunday night when they met.  Once Kermit and Eunice met, their fates were intertwined for the rest of their lives.  Even after Kermit left this earthly home for his heavenly one,  Eunice talked of no other.  For them, they were soul mates, destined to be together and fated to love.

On Sunday June 4, 1939 Kermit and Eunice were united in marriage by the Reverend V. Stroll at the United Brethren parsonage. Kermit wore his best suit and Eunice was in a sweet simple white dress, hat, gloves and shoes. An article ran in the paper proclaiming their union. In error, it reports that Eunice’s parents were from German Valley, however the Kramers resided in Streator. Like their simple wedding, the photo too is a simple reminder of their day where they celebrated not only Kermits birthday but their wedding.

While Kermit and Eunice had just 30 years together, those years produced three children, 9 grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren, and if I’ve counted correctly 5 great great grandchildren so far. So join me in a toast celebrating the Bride and Groom, to Kermit and Eunice! Happy Anniversary!

Posted on by Michelle Anderson

Double Exposure

I don’t think you could get this result on our modern digital cameras if we tried. But back when the only way to get a picture was to use a camera with film it was easy to do. Double exposure was achieved when the same file was exposed multiple times without advancing the film. This resulted in multiple images being superimposed within a single film frame.

This photo is a super cute posing of twins Wayne and Wava on the front yard at the Miller farm. They look to be about 2 years old. Which would place this photo about 1948. I love the contrast of their hair. Wava with her curls and Wayne with his straight bright blonde hair. We have a photo of my dad with the same hairstyle with the cutest curls. Her dress has the cutest cap sleeves, but in the normal photo seem to have either contrasting cap sleeves or she’s wearing a short sleeved sweater. But in the double exposure you can clearly see that’s they are made out of the same fabric as the rest of the dress. Wayne’s just rocking the overall shorts. They seem to be posing so nicely, but you just know they are ready to move on from posing to playing.

I think I was 8 when I got a hand me down camera. It was hard to remember if I’d taken a photo or advanced the film. The first several batches of film that I had developed, had MANY double exposure photographs. But over the years those have become my favorite photos. Lately life is happening so quickly that it seems I have a bunch of double exposures.

Posted on by Michelle Anderson

A Picket Fence Kind of Life

Picket fences symbolize the American lifestyle, the perfect house and way of life that many people still want today. On the farm, though, a fence was important. It separated the house from the rest of the farm buildings and added security. Fences protected the house from any livestock and, I’m sure, added an aesthetic appeal.

Here, a young Kermit Miller stands patiently to get his photo taken. It looks to be a lovely spring day. I would imagine that he was between the ages of 10 and 13. Kermit was born in 1909, so that would place this photo in the early 1920s. I really like his overalls. Overalls were invented by the Levi Strauss Co. in the 1890s. Workers would wear them because they were cheap, durable, and comfortable.

There appears to be an electrical or telephone pole to the left of Kermit. While phones began appearing in stores or communities in the 1880s, it wasn’t until party lines became popular that individuals had phones. And while we like to think that electricity has always been around, it might not have made its way to the Miller farm when this photo was taken.

We know that the Miller family has had far from a white picket fence existence. Each generation has had it’s struggles, but what we have always been able to count on is each other. May we each have our own fences to help us when needed, to keep us secure and safe or just a pretty thing to look at.

Posted on by Michelle Anderson

Lucky

I didn’t use to think I was lucky. I was the only grandchild who remembered Kermit. I felt that there was a lot on my shoulders to hold the scant memories I had of him tight and not think about or talk about them. No one else had them so if I talked about them would it be bragging?

I remember him being tall, but then almost everyone is taller than I am. I wanted to be tall, but I feel I am more Eunice and Lydia then the taller, svelte women on my mothers side of the family. Being short does not make me feel lucky. But then I think about the one strong memory I have of Kermit. While it’s sad, I cling to it as hard as I can.

I was three. I lived in Lexington, Kentucky with my parents, Raymond and Joyce and my younger brother Mark. We got the call that my dad needed to return to illinois quickly if he wanted to say goodbye to his father. Kermit was sick and in the hospital. They felt he would soon die. I remember driving in the car what seemed like a LONG time. Mark and I had just learned how to sing the song Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and I’m sure we must have driven my mother crazy singing it as we drove to pick up my father who was in Indiana working.

I remember being at the hospital, a big thing during those days. Children were not allowed in the hospital, and they had to get special permission for us to visit. Mark and I were supposed to sing our new song for him, but it ended up being a solo when he wouldn’t sing with me. I remember Aunt Wava standing by his bed, a sheepskin lying across his bed. His hands stroked the fleece. Afterward, Eunice took us out into the hallway and peeled an orange for us to share. Sometimes I smell an orange and it takes me back to that time.

So am I lucky? I am blessed beyond measure.

Posted on by Michelle Anderson

A Look Back

Well, 2024 has come and gone. Today, I’m pleased to bring you a look back at all the photos I used last year. This is one of my favorite things to do with our photos. I love picking the music and trying to match it with the spirit of the pictures. The music is by RomanSenykMusic, and I belong to his Patreon group. This way, I can use his music as YouTube limits you regarding music with copyright stuff. But without further ado, here’s this year’s look back. I hope you enjoy it!