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Archival description
With digital objects
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Manure pressing

Sketch of a family pressing manure into bricks in front of their housebarn, circa 1933.
"Manure Pressing in Spring. Chortitz by Winkler, Manitoba circa 1933"

Goertzen-Armin, Marta, 1923-2009

Church Interior

Sketch of a church service inside a rural Mennonite church
"This church stood in Chortitz and is now in the Mennonite Museum in Steinbach Manitoba
We children sat on the crossbench"

Goertzen-Armin, Marta, 1923-2009

Nobody home

Sketch of a portion of a housebarn in rural Manitoba.
"Driving a long way by horse and buggy to visit some people, no telephones you know, and they weren't home, their door open, we went in, made ourselves some Faspa, thinking they'd be along by the time we were done. When it was time to go we left a sign we'd been there, the way people would to us if they'd come and we were away. This was taken in great good humour and there'd be much slapping on shoulders and laughter next time we'd meet."

Goertzen-Armin, Marta, 1923-2009

Pee before bed

Sketches of children going to the bathroom in the cow barn before going to bed
""Now quick: go and pee and then to bed!" says Greet
In Winter we go behind the cows - big eyed and slow - because of the scary shadows...
At night alone on the pot"

Goertzen-Armin, Marta, 1923-2009

Na jo, Pembina Hills

Sketch of cows in a field with a small shed in the background, on the Manitoba prairies
"Well... the Pembina Hills still rise. Our hen-barn, a few of the many giant poplars, the gate; other cows and heifers stand, and stare at one, and do not see, and do not hear, what I: our former Goertzen stead, bedwelt, betoiled, bewept, beloved..."

Goertzen-Armin, Marta, 1923-2009

Tina and I

Sketch of Marta and her sister as children on a Sunday afternoon walk on their property in rural Manitoba circa 1929
"Chortitz circa 1929
Tina and I going home for Faspa from a Sunday afternoon wakl over the snowdrifts in the cowfence. Fix, our dog, comes to meet us."

Goertzen-Armin, Marta, 1923-2009

Sunday visit

Sketches of a family travelling by horse and wagon to visit relatives in Schanzenfeld on a Sunday circa 1929.
"Dressed in Sunday best, past Wielers fence, we're off to visit grandmother! "TKL," goes father, and Toots trots easily, two miles off to Schanzenfeld... "Come my goslings! Have you missed me already too?" calls Grandmother in greeting"

Goertzen-Armin, Marta, 1923-2009

No rain, watering fields

Sketch of a family watering their crops by hand
""Well, if it doesn't rain soon..." then father hauls a drum of water by stoneboat to the fields. So it won't slop over too much he toes a rope over a piece of canvas that covers it. We children like going the back way through cowfences and woods. We're watering the sunflower and potato patch."

Goertzen-Armin, Marta, 1923-2009

Wash Day in Winter

Sketches of a woman collecting snow to prepare washwater to do laundry with
"Snow gives good soft washwater.
The water-barrel needs busy filling.
For lunch Greet quickly makes noodles and uses the water for starching.
Letting freeze makes white. (bleaches)
Afterwards, in the attic, (to) finish drying."

Goertzen-Armin, Marta, 1923-2009

When the sun is two hands high

Sketch of a girl judging the time of day in order to bring the cows in from the fields
"When the sun is two hands high it's time to bring the cows home."

Goertzen-Armin, Marta, 1923-2009

Large view with text

Sketch of a panoramic view of Marta Goertzen's childhood farm in Chortitz, Manitoba.
"Our Canadian prairie Mennonite village home recalled and drawn from memory of 1930 or so..."

Goertzen-Armin, Marta, 1923-2009

Chick by the stove

Sketches of Marta and another girl playing with baby chicks in front of the stove in their house.
"We enjoy the baby chicks coming out in spring! Lisa and I have to teach them to peck up crumbs and drink water. At first they cheep fearfully! Then, when we cover them in their big cardboard box behind the stove, they nestle together. With now and then a cheep, they sleep... We call them like this: cheep-cheep-cheep!"

Goertzen-Armin, Marta, 1923-2009

First bra

Sketch of Marta and her sister playing dress-up in the pantry of their home
"All Beginnings
Mary beckons me to the pantry, "Close your eyes: Suprise!" She has basted together a "brassiere" for me, of flour sacking, and dyed it pink with beets; I look so funny with it on, we "sneeze" out into laughter."

Goertzen-Armin, Marta, 1923-2009

After supper

Sketches of a family around the dinner table and in the cow barn at night
"After supper
Before bedtime"

Goertzen-Armin, Marta, 1923-2009

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