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 NOW WILL THE SUN RISE AS BRIGHTLY AS THO'
NO MISFORTUNE HAD STRUCK IN THE NIGHT.
MISFORTUNE BEFELL ME ALONE.
THE SUN SHINES ALIKE ON US ALL,
SO I'LL NOT LOCK NIGHT INTO MYSELF,
BUT WELCOME LIFE'S ETERNAL LIGHT.
THE FLICKERING FLAME WENT OUT
IN MY SMALL TENT.
ALL HAIL THE JOYOUS EVERLASTING LIGHT!
 WITH FOND MEMORIES
AND LOVE TO YOU
RUBY SHORT McKIM
Written for Grandaddy,1969
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Kim McKim
Son of Ruby Short McKim
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DOWN MEMORY LANE
Written by Kim McKim in 1979
Even though much of the focus of her attention had shifted from quilts and needlework design to the area of antique dolls by the time I was born in 1933, still my childhood memories are filled with a patchwork, if you will, of recollections which relate to her career and activities in the field of quilting and design.
As a small child, I can recall the big hall closet that contained heaping stacks of Mother's own original design patchwork quilts as well as many made in the traditional designs which dated back even then for many generations. My bed in the big old three-story house where I grew up, as well as the beds of my two sisters, always boasted a handmade quilt as the top cover. It is worthy of note that these same quilts have now been passed down in the family, not only to the McKim children, but on, in many cases, to their children, and hopefully they will remain a beloved family heirloom for many generations yet unborn.
As a youngster, I can also remember Mother and Dad working together in the evening at the big table in the library lined with its hundreds of rows of beloved volumes and decorated with Mother's own two beautifully designed hand-painted murals, depicting the McKim family at work and play. The projects over which they lovingly labored encompassed an unbelievably wide range of needlework designs. Mother's imagination and creativity were indeed limitless. And Dad, who was a talented and creative writer, helped her prepare the descriptions and directions for making literally thousands of homemade, handicraft articles.
She was a lady of great charm and gentle wit. Her inquisitive mind and ability to research added greatly to our knowledge of early American quilt patterns. Her willingness to share the fruits of her talents with others is legendary.
As a person, she was artistic, articulate, talented and generous. I remember her as a devoted wife, and loving mother whose high ethical standards have been and will continue to be an inspiration and guideline to me as an individual. |
By Barbara McKim Frohoff
Daughter-in-law
With Grammy and Grandaddy, I learned how to do lavish Christmases, not a good thing probably, because it was hard to do it as well as she did. That meant presents for 6 adults and 10 grandchildren. It was their want to give big presents - like blankets for the grandchildren's beds, coats or a Bill McKim picture for the adults. There were lots of presents for everyone. So wrapping all those was a job and a half! One room was set aside as the "Christmas room" and nobody could go in there, ever - not even adults. Grammy would take a hitch at wrapping after work or in the evening. All that paper was expensive, so she saved what she could, and for name tags she cut the fronts off of old Christmas cards, matching them to the color of the wrapping paper, more or less, and then writing names and maybe a little sentence like, "I hope this keeps you warm" or "treasure this picture now and for the future". How right she was. I still cut the fronts off of old Christmas cards and use them like she did and it makes it a unique package, I think. |
By Christina Fullerton Jones
Eldest Granddaughter
Memories of Grammy…The first one that comes to mind is spending the night. Whether it was just Bill and me or also with the twins, she made it so much fun. We would usually come for supper which might be homemade beef hash or tomato soup or some other concoction she would put together. Then we would play outside until dark if summer time or solitaire in the game nook if winter. She taught us hundreds of variations. If there were several of us we would play Authors or Go Fish. Granddaddy would be reading in his big chair in the corner of the study and she would sit at the library table playing solitaire. Near bedtime she would make us a snack…cream cheese stuffed dates/prunes, dried apricots, nuts, slices of cheese and sometimes fancy crackers. We could have this with milk or iced tea or water…never soda or kool-aid. When we were VERY young, she would make us girls a doll out of a sock and tea towel…drawing on the face with pencils (red for the lips, of course). The next morning these could be washed and put back into more mundane usage.
Going to bed upstairs was also an adventure. I and/or the twins would share the Jenny Lind bed in the room by the attic stairs. It sat between two built in bookcases and faced two watercolor pictures done by Leo Politi, a famous children's book author and artist (I have these in my study now). Bill would sleep in Kim's old room in the funny little built in bed. Before turning in we would have a made up story. We each would pick 1 thing (2 if there were only 2 of us) and she would weave a story around them. Of course we would include a princess, a cowboy, and various animals…as we got older we would try to stump her and include really ridiculous items like the Pacific Ocean and Mars. But she never hesitated and would start right in with a funny tale that would last about 10 minutes. If only we had had a tape recorder back then!
The next morning we would go down for breakfast if she were cooking (usually buttermilk pancakes with corn meal in them), but if it were a weekday, then Anna, the housekeeper, would bring up a breakfast tray to their bedroom with toast points and jam, maybe an egg and bacon, juice and coffee. We would sit on the floor while they would sit in chairs in front of the electric/gas fire and with the tray between them. After eating, Granddaddy would read a chapter or two from whatever book they had going and she would sew on something. We would just sit and listen. Then up and dressing and off to wherever. |
By Jane Mallinson
Daughter of Ellis Short, Grammy's First Cousin
As told to Barbara McKim Frohoff:
When she was a little girl and would be over at Auntie B's with Marilyn (they were nearly the same age) for the afternoon, Ruby would have a project in mind. She always had some art project in mind for them. One time, she gave them material and had them draw stars on it in a repeat pattern. The girls then colored them in with wax crayons and ironed them to set the color. In Kim's bedroom, the little closet didn't have a door, the room was so small it was like a ship's cabin. The material with stars drawn on it was used as a curtain for his closet. |
With Love,
Ron and Wink, Family Friends
Ron and I have been trying to think of some special thing about Ruby we could share with you, but then everything about Ruby was special. She was just a fine lady and so good to everyone. Ron said he was always treated the same as Kim just like he was her child. I remember when Laurie was born and your Mother and Dad were moving out of the studio to the house on Short. Barbara was still in the hospital and I was visiting with her when Ruby came in the room after looking the new house over. She said, "There isn't a cobweb anywhere in the basement, and that is a sign of a very good housekeeper." I have always remembered that and I don't think I have ever allowed a cobweb in my basement. |
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