Lillian was a mother of four, grandmother of six, and great-grandmother of three. She was an 86-year-old widow living in a small Ohio town with her oldest daughter and a beagle/dachsund named Addie. She retired as VP of her company after a lifetime of secretarial work. She was a talented cook and won many awards at local and state fair competitions. She was also an enthusiastic quilter and, later, a devoted knitter. She passed away in November, 2018.
LILLIAN'S CUPBOARD 
Thank you for sharing. I am inspired by you.
I wanted to thank you for leaving up your posts on the Civil War blocks. I am in the process of making one and I really have to have someone show me how to do it. Your pictures are making it so much easier for me.
Thank you for letting me know. I hoped the posts might be of value to someone. Lillian
Lillian, I love your style! I am very passionate about the style of antiques and vintage, and anything that is enriched with old-fashion touch. Have you ever considered having a Facebook site with your Cupboard? That would be easy to follow, just a thought 🙂 thank you!
Hi Lillian, I just found your site.I had looked up Windmill Spice Cookies, and I was led to your recipe. And then I saw Anadama Bread, and something about quilting you are noted for. I just wanted to say Hello. I am trying a panel quilt of all applique, but I don’t have the foggiest idea what to do. I just keep reading this Piggy Back Ride instructions, and soon, I will have it done. Thanks
Lillian, I just discovered you site. You remind me so much of my grandmother and I know I will be back often learning and being inspired by you. So glad you have learned the computer so you can share so much. Thank you!
MaryJane
Thank you so much for visiting and for writing. I love the computer – I wish more seniors were able to enjoy it. Lillian
I really enjoy reading your blog. I have made several of your recipes and the fabric gift baskets. You amaze me with your paintings, wall hangings, and horse stories.
I really like reading your blog. I’m new to making food and I’ve found that it’s extremely relaxing and rewarding to do. Especially when you make something you can’t just buy at the store, I recently made mustard pickles and nectarine jam. You really inspire me and thanks for sharing your tips with the world!
How nice of you to write and let me know. The mustard pickles and nectarine jam sound wonderful. Do you have a blog yourself? I find it’s even more fun to cook when you can blog about it. Lillian
I don’t have a blog but I keep a cooking journal. Perhaps some day I’ll have enough good advice to share in the way that you do. I think I need a little more practice. Today I’m trying your anadama bread recipe, some people around tell me any good New Englander should try this bread. Really excited! 🙂
The best thing you can do is keep a journal – for your own sake and for any future use of the recipes. Hope you like the Anadama bread. We enjoy it – I might make some myself next week. Lillian
Are you going to be doing the Grandmothers Choice quilt BOW starting Sept 1, 2012?
Thank you for asking. No, I don’t want to make another big quilt right now. It looks like it will be an interesting one and I’ll definitely be reading the history connected to it. Lillian
I have nominated you for an award. Come check it out!
Hi Lillian,
I just came across your blog. I am a current, very active square dancer and hope to start quilting when I retire (someday). Have to say I’m a bit jealous reading about your daughter’s talent. Mine has no interest in the domestic arts or dancing. Hope you get to still spend some time with your old dancing buddies?
-Cindy
So nice to hear from you. Unfortunately, after my husband passed away in 2004, I lost touch with my dancing friends (a lot of them also passed away or moved to warmer areas). Those years dancing were some of the best of my life – it was so much fun.
I think you have a good plan – to start quilting after you retired (it’s very time consuming) and I hope you can dance until the very end. Lillian
Hi Lillian:
I discovered your blog just now and I can tell that I’m going to like it. I was Googling the best way to stew a chicken and your post was my favorite. Thanks for the no-nonsense and frugal approach. Just my style.
And I too have never been ashamed to call myself a secretary. It’s always great to find another who couldn’t care less about what is or isn’t politically correct these days!
God bless.
Elizabeth
Thank you for those nice words. Hope you’re having a good weekend. Lillian
Glad that I found you! I love pinning recipes which is how I found you and I love the fact your 80+ years young because this tells me I can trust your recipes. I love the bread recipes especially the potato bread one thanks for being here we all love your blog!
Thank you so much for your nice comments and for visiting my blog. I hope you can find some recipes you can use. Lillian
Good morning, Lillian. I have discovered your blog and am thoroughly enjoying it! I am looking forward to trying your recipes – which all look wonderful! I added your blog to my blogroll to make it easier to find you and to introduce others to your delightful blog. Have a great day!
Blessings,
Dianne
http://www.sweetjourneyhome.com
Hello Lillian,
I was searching for an authentic Civil War quilt block to make for a local shop’s contest when I stumbled across your blog. Thank you so very much for explaining so clearly how you made the Yankee Puzzle.
Your recipes remind me of home & my Mom, who would be 90 something if she had not passed on. I have saved several of yours, especially the PIES!
We had cherry trees on our property & I can STILL taste my Mom’s cherry pies & cherry cobbler!
Thanks for the trip down memory lane. Keep on blogging, too, as I just signed up to get your posts via email now, so I won’t miss any.
fondly,
Rett
Thank you so much for checking out my blog and for your nice comments. I’m also following your beautiful blog. Lillian
You must already know that you have done a better job than other websites of this type. Great job Lillian! I am very turned off by most of these type of websites, not the responses but the organization and working of the website and the necessity to give too much personal information. May the Lord Jesus bless and come close to you! In Greek letter the term Lord, means the One God, the Father and the Son (God incarnate) and the exact letters are alpha and omega; just 3 Greek letters. Another known scientist who is a strong believer. Your friend, Billy
Hi Lillian! I can’t believe I didn’t read your About page before now. I have never done any quilting, but I do love cooking and knitting! What area of Ohio do you live in? I lived in Ohio during college – about an hour South of Cleveland in Wooster. I enjoy your blog and look forward to more great posts. 🙂
I live in Loveland, a small town near Cincinnati. We visited Wooster back in 1995 when we went to Cleveland for the opening of the Rock and Roll Museum. Wooster seemed like a beautiful town.
If you are a knitter, I’m in awe. I was never able to master knitting. Thank you so much for visiting my blog and for commenting. Lillian
You have a wonderful blog, I’m so happy to have found it:-)
Hey Lillian! Thanks for stopping by my blog. I hope you have a wonderful day!
I love your site, makes me think of grandmother!
I would be very greatful if you could email the 1940s recipe for molasses cookies and also the accompanying photos of the journal, etc. I could not get my printer to work. They look just like the cookies that my granny kept on her back porch for when I dropped in after school in 1945. I would like it if you could also email a wartime ginger cookie recipe.Thank you for your interesting recipes and I hope to hear from you soon. lMy email is riddells123@yahoo.ca.
These are wonderful! What a fun couple and the perfect setting! They are all really great photos, but my favorite is the one with the blue curvy lines in the bankrgoucd.
Your recipes from wartime era are very interesting.
Like everybody else, I love your blog. But I can’t help but notice that you are not of the generation one would expect to be blogging. Kudos. This is information that deserves to be shared.
Lillian, I’ve never known you to go so long without an update. I pray your doing well and we’ll hear from you soon. As we’ve discussed, I too am widowed. I’m grateful for the delicious recipes, just the right portions and reading of your adventures in sewing and traveling. Thank you for all you do.
Thank you for thinking about me. Actually, I’ve been more active than usual the past week or two. My son and his family (and dog) are coming from St. Louis to visit this week and I’ve been getting ready for them. It takes me twice as long to do things as I age, unfortunately. It’s been two years since they’ve been home because I wasn’t doing well last year, so this is special. Hope everything is well with you.
Hello Lillian
I enjoyed reading your website. I do have a question which I am in the process of searching for an answer in my various old cook books but I have been unsuccessful so far.
I have a 1930’s cream maker (part of my kitchenware collection which I try to use and am wondering how it worked. I have a fair idea but would like to know the correct way. It is a Bel jubilee model. I am throwing a long shot but just in case.
Thank you very much for your interesting site and any help you might be able to provide.
Andrew (Edinburgh UK)
Andrew Lee – I’m not familiar with this piece of equipment, but I searched Google for Bel Jubilee Cream and found this blog post
http://www.recipelink.com/msgbrd/board_27/2004/SEP/300.html
There were some other posts available, too, that might be of some help. This sounds really interesting – I hope you are able to do it successfully.
thank you very much .
This is very helpful and has succeeded where the internet search has failed. Note that in using the google page all I seem to get is either sales of other cream makers or ice cream related sites. not useful at all for me.
Many thanks
Andrew
Glad you found something that helps.
Hi Lillian,
I just found your blog and I absolutely love it! It reminds me of childhood and all the great memories! I can’t wait to try the recipes. Your blog is very easy to follow. Thank you so much and take care!
So happy I stumbled upon your blog! It is super!😙
Just found you on Pinterest, and am happily following you! You are an inspiration! ❤
I like your new look but couldn’t leave a comment on your latest blog post:(
I love your blog!!!! I’m trying to do the mug bag that you post here, but I”m having a problem with the link. Could you send me the pattern to do the mug bag?
Someone reported last week that there was a problem with the link. These individual links for 5 pages of the pattern seem to be working. Let me know if they don’t work for you.
Page 1 http://www.red-brolly.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/1.Mug-Bag.pdf
Page 2 http://www.red-brolly.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/2.Butterfly-Mug-Bag-Outer-Casing.pdf
Page 3 http://www.red-brolly.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/3.Mug-Bag.pdf
Page 4 http://www.red-brolly.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/4.-Butterfly-Mug-Bag-Making-the-Handle-copy.pdf
Page 5 http://www.red-brolly.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/5.-Butterfly-Mug-Bag-Template-Page.pdf
I went to secretarial school and was a secretary for several years until they up cycled the title to administrative assistant. I worked my way to earn a degree and ended my corporate career as an executive vp. Sounds like we both did okay. 🙂
Lillian Illie Applegate Roberts was married to my paternal grandfather, Herbert E. Roberts, and lived in Pawnee, Oklahoma. It is a long story how I found your blog, but I have not seen an image of Grandma Roberts since she passed away 48 years ago. I cannot stress how much I loved her and how important she has been in my life. I would give anything to have a photo of her on our family wall. I hope to be able to speak with you by phone or email.
I was so thrilled to see your comment on my blog. We met your grandfather several times but never had the chance to meet any of his family. My grandma was so happy with him and loved living in Pawnee. I’d be happy to share any pictures I have of Grandma and I also have a few snapshots of your grandfather that I’d be glad to share. Let me know what you are interested in.
So happy to hear from you.
I have Red Brolly’s mug bag pattern that I downloaded from here but forgot to pick up pages 4 and 5, does anyone have it? It appears to not be working now! Thank you, you can email it to me at pgraham@gvtc.com
I am so excited I just found your site! I love everything concerning the Civil War. I want to make your quilt, but where do I purchase the photo material? I go to Ohio often. Do you have a shop? I hope so! You are a blessing! Thank you! Bonita Jones
Bonita, the photo fabric is available in craft/sewing stores like JoAnn’s and Michael’s and also online. Thank you for your nice comments.
Rest easy in the arms of angels.