From the eleventh to the fifteenth century the best needlework of every kind was produced by the Nuns, who imparted their knowledge to the high born ladies who were educated in their convents, and from this circumstance each variety, besides being distinguished by a particular name, was classed under the general one of Nuns’ Work. —Sophia Frances Anne Caulfeild and Blanche C. Saward, The Dictionary of Needlework: An Encyclopedia of Artistic, Plain and Fancy Needlework, 1882 The next morning I spent a little quality time with Juno, who was missing Gram and wondering why I wasn’t giving her twenty-four/seven attention. Her immediate wants were satisfied by a round of “find the catnip mouse” and part of a can of sardines. She promised not to tell Gram about the sardines. I called Mary and left a message. Could we get together to talk about her family history? Anything she knew or even vaguely remembered might help. I was especially interested in the people who’d lived in her house, but if she knew anything about connections to Scotland or England (I also threw in France, because the note was in French), that might help.
