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My Woman Warrior: Pioneer Mother Catherine Adeline Stewart Murphy Mosier

The impetus for this blog post was my writing challenge to resurrect one of your women warriors. A woman in your tree whose story lies hidden in the names, dates and places. I have spent the last few weeks on Catherine. I offer this as an example of what is possible to resurrect a woman […]

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Life in this Eden takes on a Very Serious Aspect: A Soprano’s Aria Chapter 31

April 1 – Eilene came over to Berkeley and I cut her black silk dress. “ 2 – Wed Morning Choral practice. Called on Mrs Fryer at St Marks Eilene went home. “ 3 – Washed and cleaned house. Spent afternoon sewing on Eilenes dress. “ 4 Fri – Eilene came again to work on […]

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Heirlooms Gone, but not Forgotten

We keep some things so close, that even though we do not own them, they are never far away. The things that are indelible. The things that in a millisecond transport you back to the beginnings of our time, upon this earth. Their texture, fragrance, as close to you now as they were then, a […]

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Music & Dressmaking, Singing as I Sew: A Soprano’s Aria Chapter 30

Sat Feb 1 – Nothing particular to chronicle Sun “ 2 – Mrs Miller Essie & Herbie came over to look at a house and call on us. Lolita and Charlie also came had a very pleasant time. Mon “ 3 – Eilenes birthday J [Jessie] & I were almost ready to go to town […]

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I Love You California: A Soprano’s Aria Chapter 29

[Published January 1 2022 103 years later. Back then it was the Spanish Flu, now it is Covid-19 Omicron] Jan 1 1919 Wed – This ought to prove an easy date to write just two 19’s. Jessie is about well now. We put out the wash I did yesterday and cleaned house sorting magazines for […]

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The Tea Kettle Sings Merrily. All is Calm. All is Bright.: A Soprano’s Aria Chapter 28

Nov 29 – J. did not go to work so we washed the laundry and went down to Oakland. I could not get Milos Christmas box there so we did a little shopping and came home. J. went to S. F., Found Eilene sick in bed. Got Milos sox that Mrs Johanna Wahl knit for […]

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Spanish Flu which is Epidemic: A Soprano’s Aria Chapter 27

Tue Oct 1 – Thinking over music of pageant. Home at Jessies. Usual Housework at Jessies in Sleepy old Berkeley. Wed 2 – Usual Wed morning meeting of the Wed Morning club. I enjoy these immensely. We are working on some lovely music. Thu – Fri – Sat – Just the same old round. No […]

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Sign of a Kind Heart: A Soprano’s Aria Chapter 26

Monday Aug 5 – Up early. Jessie and Sylvester get started about 8 oclock to Hayward for him to Entrain for Fort McDowell where Uncle Sam will make a soldier boy out of him. Eilene and Leo Hoffman came about 2:30. I will cut and fit her gray dress. I dislike the job exceedingly. I […]

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Divorce Decree on Ground’s of Extreme Cruelty: A Soprano’s Aria Chapter 25

June 1 – At Westlunds sewing June 2 – Lolita and Dewey came over to Jessie Millers. Syl, Jes, Dew, Lo. and I went as far as Oakland Lo & I called on the kiddie R’s and I accompanied Lo. as far as the mole? and returned alone to Hayward; walked out at 1-2 in […]

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Happy that the World Still Contains a Little Joy: A Soprano’s Aria Chapter 24

Thursday April 11 Fri 12 – Sat 13 — Helping Jessie with her washing & housework and looking over my diary. Sunday April 14 – Spent most of the day writing. Later in the afternoon Mrs. Miller & I went call on Mrs. Hausenbalg. She is an old woman of German birth and widow of […]

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