The Little Girl in the Feed Sack Dress
Christmas message.
To all the boys and girls from age 2-102.
     God has placed a special, special gift deep inside of you. No one has your gift. No one can take it away from you, this gift that's deep inside of you. Some one may steal your pencil at school, they stole mine. They may steal your shoes, they stole mine. When you are an adult, some one can steal your car. They stole my Pink Buick. Someone can steal your business and inheritance. They stole mine. A few years ago, concerning a Noah's Ark coloring book and toys for children, my three business partners tried to to take my copyright by putting their names first and my name last. The copyright office in Washington D.C. called me and said that the copyright belonged to me, the artist. But, God has put this gift deep within me. No one can steal it or even touch it. And your gift is the same!! No one can steal your gift. Everyone's gift is different and is protected by God himself!! So, this Christmas, remember that you are special!! No one is like you, nor has your gift!! Celebrate your gift with Jesus on his Birthday.
    
       Love,
                 From the little girl in the feed sack dress.

                            Mzz Joani

     Some little advice about business adventures that get eliminated. Don't eat your inventory. 
      When I was just a little girl, I had a "Mud Pie Business."Now, in the country, we had all the necessities in dirt; all different colors. Red clay for strawberry pies & cakes, brown dirt for those luscious chocolate pies with icing of seashell dust out of Daddy's driveway , and of course fine sand out of Mother's flower bed for sugar sprinkles. There were all kinds of berries, etc. for decorations.
     I had empty sardine cans and other types of empty cans to press the dirt and a little water from the well, and let the sunshine cook my pies.
     I had so much fun cooking my cakes and pies on my bricks in the back yard with my friend Jeanie, and cousins Lilly, Judy and Bobbie and even Little Billie. But, the little girl across the street was always there playing 'till we caught her eating our mud pastries.
     Then my Mother, in her wisdom, made me close my bakery. The little girl that caused me trouble in later years became my sister-in-law! Go figure! She did however give me three handsome nephews and two beautiful nieces.
     If you are a little girl or know one, don't let them eat mud! They, good or bad, could become part of your family.

             Business advise from the Little girl in the feed sack dress.

               Mzz Joani
  

     Another thought from the little girl in the feed sack dress.

     It's Summer 2008! Stop & smell the roses. Hold on to all those memories. Forget the ugly ones. Your memories only belong to you. Watch out for the bees. There are good ones and mad ones. Share the roses with the good ones, and ignore the bad ones. When some one takes things that should belong to you, remember they are just things. I had mentioned before my  Aunt, my Daddy's  twin, an artist, started me on an art path as soon as I could hold a crayon. She also wanted me to have all her art supplies, paintings, etc. Upon her death, she also wanted me to have my Grandmother's antiques. She died suddenly with a heart attack. My Uncle remarried right away. His new wife sold the antiques and burned the art stuff. Just things, they were. My heavenly Father has replaced everything and more. I have lots of "things" to give all of my children, their children and their children's children.
     I want 100 rose bushes, (have 65,) to share. Come smell the roses at Mzz Joani's house. It's Spring at Mzz Joani's big blue Doll House. It Spring!!
    Signed,
            The little girl in the feed sack dress.

Pearl Harbor

     Late in 08, with campaign speeches, we heard a lot about our boys and girls, dads and moms in Iraq and Afghanistan which made us miss our own family members more. Also we are told we are in a recession. Another disturbing fact; Our new President Elect is "pro choice."

     Today is Pearl Harbor Day. Like "9-11", all of us remember where we were at that moment of destruction.

     I was five years old, sitting under the kitchen table with doll and crayons, coloring on newspapers and brown paper sacks. I was leaning against the wall.  Over my head was a battery radio when the announcer said Pearl Harbor had just been attacked. Mother started screaming, crying and praying. Daddy was cursing, and using words that I had never heard before or again. Mother was shushing him, reminding him that little Joani is in the room. Daddy and big brother were both called to War. Daddy on the front lines. They both, after years returned. My big sister and I didn't miss my brother too much. We got his bedroom!

      Click on picture of Dad below. That's me, The little girl in the Feed sack Dress standing in front of Dad.
      

       To all those little girls and Boys from age 2-102. Merry Christmas to you, especially our new President, Obama, his Wife Michelle and their two beautiful little daughters.
       Our country is in recession, maybe depression, but I'm here alive to tell you God helped us once and He'll do it again.
       On Christmas day my prayer of thanks always goes to a little girl named Mary, (who went through hell,) who did not abort our Lord Jesus Christ and to Mr Joseph, who stood beside her and protected her which is always God's perfect will.

                 Thanks Mary, thanks Joseph.......
                         happy Birthday Jesus!!

             From The Little Girl in the Feed sack Dress,

                                                                                        Joani


     During the depression and World War II, there were no jobs, no money, lines of people waiting for government provisions and stamps, etc. Banks were closing. My Great Grandmother McQueen lost her fortune when the Harrisburg Bank in Houston Tx closed. People of every color were frightened.
     My mother became very ill. It was winter before she was 28 years old and she and Daddy and two children were on relief,  and my Daddy working for groceries. Mother had high fever and chills, broke here teeth from chattering. Dad went to Houston to bring Dr. to mother. Doctor said she had Malaria and prescribed Quinine, which my Grandmother ( a Midwife), administered. Mother got worse, hemorrhaging from the lungs. Daddy and the Channelview Texas iceman took the ice truck, with a mattress in the back and took her to see two doctors in Houston who said Mother had TB in last stages and put her in Jeff Davis Hospital. She had fever for six weeks, even after she came home.  
     Right after coming home she found out that she was pregnant with me. When the school nurse found out about me coming, she reported it to the County Office.They sent mother a card to appear in the County Office at a certain time. She went. It was the "Family Planning Office." Now Planned Parenthood." They told mother they thought two children were enough for her and didn't she want to do something about it. She was there alone. She told them three wouldn't be too many and she was going to have this baby if God would help her.
    I found this letter of Mother's, written Jan 19th 1972, after she had passed away in 1998. I had served as her sole caretaker all her adult life. God still answers prayer!!!
    I never believed in abortion. Someone would have to heavily drug me so I wouldn't know where I was or who I was or what was happening.
   So little girls, remember there is a God who has a plan for you and ever baby that is conceived.  I am alive. I'm still alive!!! Click on "Baby Joani Alive "below. I'm the one in the middle.

              The Little Girl in the Feed Sack Dress

   In my early childhood during the depression; going to downtown Houston on the bus with my  mother and Jane, I saw the little black girls with their mothers going to the back of the bus. I asked mother why. There were vacant seats by us? she said shush., Joani! I noticed the water fountains marked "White and "Colored." I knew there wasn't colored water coming out of it. Who would make a silly sign like that? ..and on the bathroom doors too. I got another shush! from Mom. I thought it was awful that little girls like me couldn't use the same potty! I asked many many  questions about the different "Colored thing," only getting more "shush Joani!"  I personally thought that people with different colors was a brilliant idea of God's! He must have put a lot of thought, wisdom, and artistic consideration with all these colors and different shaped eyes, mouths and noses. I am still in awe of His ideas! Wish He would have given me more hair and wouldn't have skimped so on the eyelashes! He's an awesome God!
                                   The Little girl in the Feed Sack Dress

Now read below the Life Story of "The Little Girl in the Feed Sack Dress

LIFE STORY OF THE LITTLE GIRL IN THE FEED SACK DRESS

Some little advice about business adventures that get eliminated. Pop back!

When I was a very little girl, I had a mud pie business. Now, in the country (Channelview Tx) we had all of the necessities in dirt, all different colors, red clay for strawberry pie and cakes, brown dirt for the luscious chocolate pies, with icing of sea shell dust out of Daddy's driveway and of course, fine sand out of Mother's flower bed for sugar sprinkles. There were all kinds of berries, etc. décor.

I had sardine cans and many others to press dirt in with a little water from the well and let the sunshine cook my pies.

I had so much fun cooking my pies on my bricks in the back yard with my best friend, a little girl on the next street over and cousins, Lillie, Judy, and Bobbie, even Little Billie. But, the little girl across the street was always there too until we caught her eating our pastry. My Mother, in her great wisdom, made me close my Bakery. That little girl, in later years, became my sister-in-law. Go figure! She did however give me three handsome nephews and two beautiful nieces.

If you are a little girl, or know one, don't let them eat mud. They, good or bad, could be become part of your family.

The Little Girl in The Feed Sack Dress

When I graduated High School, I cried and cried because you can't go the college on chicken feed. Another revelation! Oh well!

My Mother and Grandpa Hatter raised chickens. And, the feed sacks were beautiful. Mother made patterns out of newspapers and the dresses out of sacks. The dresses were so cute, especially when hair was done in Shirley Temple curls, topped with large bows .(wonder where Mother got those bows)? She made my cousins dresses too. We thought we were “it.”

A second business; I also taught my dolls and kittens art. “Old Fuzzy” kept me in kittens. They ran away every time, scratching their bows out of their fur.

Some cats, you cannot teach anything. No respect!

I never imagined that we were poor. Except for the “scary outhouse” and taking a bath in a #2 washtub. Well, clean is clean and no one was watching. Once, I caught my nightgown in the apron of the wood stove and it caught fire. I didn't know it until my Daddy, a fireman, tackled me on the kitchen floor. You've never heard a woman scream like my Mother. I guess that's why she could sing soprano and hit the high notes in church.

My sister tried to teach me to ride my horse. His name was Buck, and he did! Here horse's name was Paint, because she was! I should stick with music and art, and I did. Don't laugh!! I have a beautiful Quarter Horse named Wind Prancer. In my old age, I go out and say “good morning Windy.”

I had another brother too. He gave me quarters to get lost. He taught me to dance on roller skates. You see, it was a sin to dance, go to movies, wear Jeans, watch TV, go swimming. “Mixed bathing” they called it. It's not a sin any more, I'm sure.

My brother called my “Punkin.” I thought that was so sweet. He also called me “Heiffer Dust.” I only realized recently, after moving to my country house, that's baby calf poop! Oh well. Life is funny and sometimes it stinks. Keep laughing!

Our country is in recession, maybe going into depression, but I'm here alive to tell you, God helped us then and he'll do it again!

During the depression in WWII, there were no jobs, no money, lines of people, waiting for government provisions and food stamps, etc. Banks were closing, my great Grandmother Mcqueen lost her fortune when the Harrisburg Bank closed. People of every color were frightened.

My mother became very ill. It was the winter before she was 28 years old, and she and Daddy and two children were on relief. My daddy was working for groceries. Mother had high fever and chills, and broke her teeth from chattering. Daddy went to Houston to bring a doctor to mother. The doctor said that she had Malaria and prescribed Quinine, which my Grandmother (a Midwife) administered. Mother got worse, hemorrhaging from the lungs. Daddy and the Channelview Tx iceman took the ice truck with a mattress in the back, and took Mother to see two doctors in Houston who said mother had TB in the last stages and put her in Jeff Davis Hospital. She had fever for six weeks, even after she came home. Right after coming home, she found that she was pregnant with me in 1936. When the school nurse found out about me coming, she reported it to the county office. They sent mother a card to appear in the county office at a certain time. She went. It was the Family Planning Office. They told Mother that they thought two children were enough for her, and didn't she want to do something about it? She was there alone! She told them that three wouldn't be too many. And, she was going to have this baby if God would help her.

I found this letter of mother's to me written January 19 1972 after she had passed away in 1978. I had served as her sole caretaker all of her adult life.

God answered her prayer. I lived!!

I've never believed in abortion. Someone would have to heavily drug me so I would not know where I was, or who I was, or what was happening.

I've spent my life since I was 11 years old protecting children, giving many a roof over their heads, and what little food I could give. I've always had a love for all colors of children, not understanding why people judged me so harshly.

There was a beautiful girl living in my house, a Christian girl. She had a job, and payed the rent. She got pregnant and was not married. She wanted me to pray and give her advice. I took her to my Aunt who was a Minister. We three prayed. This girl went to live with her aunt in another state. On the bus there, she met a Soldier. The rest is wonderful. About six years later, she came to my house with a little boy to meet his Aunt Joani. He asked me why I was crying. I told him, I had waited a long long time to meet him.

In my early childhood, during the Depression, going with my mother and my sister to downtown Houston, on the bus, seeing little brown girls sitting in the back. I asked why. My mother said “shush.” About “Colored drinking fountains:” I knew that it wasn't colored water. I asked why. Mother said “shush.” About “Colored rest room.” I asked why. Mother gave me the same answer, “shush, Joani!” It's a wonder that I didn't think that my first name was “Shush.”

Little did I know, in the 60's, I would be fired as staff organist, my job, of 5-1/2 years, because I answered a question wrong! I had been divorced just a few years, paying for a house, car, utilities, food, letting children stay with us when necessary.

The question was, “would you marry a Black Man?” The boss had asked his secretary to take me into the ladies room and ask me this. I was so surprised at the question, and there was no one to tell me to “shush.” so in my bashful way, I first said, “what!!” You go tell Mr. Boss Man, that it is none of his business whom I marry! Next day, Pink Slip! Oh well! This was a bad time in our nation. The phone calls started. I was threatened by militants who said, “I was an easy target.” “Watch your back!”

Most of my students were Hispanic or African American. One of the parents, a banker, called and said, “don't worry, Mrs. Baldwin, you and your baby girl will never do without.” I cried. I always cry when good things happen. In 1964, my Father had passed away and Mother moved in with me. My sister's three teens had no place to stay and they were with me also. My sister reported me to CPS. She told them that I had stolen her children and that my mother's house was hers. CPS was very upset with me. They said that they would prosecute me. My sister lied. To protect these teens, that I loved so much, I had to ask them to leave. It broke their hearts. I didn't tell them that I had been fired. No job, no paycheck. It broke my heart too! I went into deep deep depression. Just going through the motions of living. Got another job. Called one of my teachers who owned music stores and he payed just commissions.

It wouldn't had been difficult for anyone to locate me. I blended well within any area. I had long blond hair, wore mini skirts, boots, and drove a pink Mustang convertible. Also, I had a good friend, a Nun in her official habit, who always wanted the top down when I picked her up at the Convent or took her home.

May, 1974, I had an ugly knockdown, drag out bout with Cancer. After the yucky surgery, the doctors gave me 16 cobalt treatments, 16 Rads each. I was working at the largest music company in Houston. I took cobalt treatments on my lunch hour. My dear, dear friends at work told me not to worry. I was going to make medical history. My mastectomy would be categorized as minor surgery. If you want to laugh, work with musicians.

After the surgery, cobalt, etc., the doctor told me, “I couldn't afford this disease.” Well, Duh! I sold my land, my inheritance. They got paid. My girl friend had Cancer too. She did some research on health foods, vitamins, minerals, etc. that a doctor in Mexico was using. Guess what? It's mostly the same regimen that my cardiologist, and primary physician are having me use now. Go figure!

Mother made me little smocks to wear because I went back to work on my 11^th day with the cobalt making a Texas Toast out of me. Oh pain! The statistics said that I had a 50-50 chance to live to May '79. Yippee! Years later I learned to make a “Boob Bank” and advised friends that have mastectomies that we can't get a job at Hooter's now! But, the “Boob Bank” is great when traveling.

I had inside information that I would get well. One night in the early '70's, when I was so, so sick, I felt something on my feet. I opened my eyes to see Mother sitting on the foot of my bed holding both of my feet in her hands praying, with big tears splashing on my feet, “Please God, don't let my baby die!” I knew that God would not refuse to answer that prayer. I cry every time that I think of it. In 1977, I went into remission. I won a seven diamond ring from Mary Kay. She called me personally.

I not only lived to see grandchildren, and teach them art, I lived to see my great- grandson, who is the best looking, charming, intelligent child of the universe, and an artist too.

I began teaching again after the Cancer bout in my Houston house, children of every color; music and art. One day a little girl screamed, “Miss Joani, there is a black man coming to your front door. I started laughing and said, “you guys remember Mr. K.” Most of them got excited. I explained, he walked from the school to my house every day till his parents got off work. “K” is a handsome young man born in Guyana, South America.

I said to the children, “you know, there is no such thing as a black person or a white person. There are only different colors of skin, of pinks and browns and yellows.”

"Now, one you get my Portrait Pastel Box and let's make a circle with our chairs”

"Now, take White people, for instance. You all remember my friend from Canada". They said “yes” and laughed. "Now her skin is was so white that I told her that she needed a tan", and we all laughed. I asked them to pick out the colors in Miss Joani's skin. One child screamed “Miss Joani, you have green in your in your hands and you have green in your arms. Oh look, you have green in your face!” We took all the browns, yellows, pink, green and blue etc.... and compared the colors to each others faces. We had the greatest time! The greatest fun! Then we got the picture of my Jamaican friends little boy and he had some purple in his skin. Art is never boring, and neither are children.

Stan and I have traveled extensively. We've seen and actually walked where Dad's World War II weekly magazine portrayed the picture of the battles. I felt like I was walking in my Daddy's footsteps. In London, Paris, Germany, and traveled down the Rhine. Plus, as a bonus, I saw the art museums at every trip that we took. There is more.

Going through the Alps, Stan's asleep, one girlfriend's trying to load her new camera, and another girlfriend is taking a picture of the back of Stan's seat. I'm across the isle of the bus, singing, “I'm living upon the mountain and I'm alright.”

In January '96, Mother fell and bumped a hematoma on her brain. From them to August '98, she was my constant companion. It was tough times, but she and I laughed a lot. And, after I would put her to bed, I would go to my art room and cry and cry. “What a great lady, my Mother, and I couldn't fix her.”

A week after she died, I fell and broke my left arm, in a spiral break. Oh well, now with the rod and screws, I think that I am bionic. Oh yes, and six months later, I had a heart attack. Now I have stints and stints and stints. I know that I qualify as a bionic lady, still doin' what I oughta.

In '89, I had opened a business in downtown Franklin Tx. After 13-1/2 years there and $75,000 or so lost, I decided that it wasn't gonna work out. Oh well.

I black-mailed Stanley to build a house on our land, next to my daughter and son-in-law in 1999. All I said to Stan was, “here are the papers, sign them.” His comment was where is this land?

He built me a Big Blue Doll House. He is an exceptionally fine musician, still plays professionally, and teaches music, and works for a big company that sells “Oil thingees.” He also drives his John Deere tractor all over the land. “Sound like a song.” And, I'm still painting for $'s, and playing music for my own amazement, and planting roses and roses and roses. Stan asked me how many roses bushes that I wanted? Answer: 100. I'm living upon the mountain and I'm all right.

Y'all come!!!

Miss Joani,

The Little Girl in The Feed Sack Dress

And now, the rest of the story.......

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