Pinwheel Date Cookies ~ Hope in Uncertain Times (Part 1, Grandma Hulda’s Story)

My maternal grandmother died 30 years ago in 1987, and yet as I did some research and started to write this piece, it felt like she was across the room, moving rhythmically in her rocking chair and sharing her story in her sing songy, Swedish voice that I loved.

If you want to make a cup of tea and join me, pick a comfy chair and I will tell you a bit of her story, a peek into the past, a glimpse of what women 100 years ago experienced.. While daily, we move through our lives, mostly unconscious of their impact, the hardship they endured are etched in our bones forever more.

Hulda Adeline, was born on September 24, 1892 to Matilda (Koping) and August Snickars, (trade Carpenter) in Malox, Vaasa, Finland. She was their first child. Before she was even born, her father left their home to search for a better life in North America, and 6 years later her mother left her with an Aunt and followed her husband to the new country.

 In 1904, when Hulda was only 12 years old she boarded a ship which took her on a long voyage across the Atlantic ocean and then traveled slowly by train across the United States, until she reached California to join her parent.

 

I can’t even imagine how determined and brave she must have been to take that trip. How scared and worried she may have been, not knowing for sure if she would be reunited with her family. The fact that my grandmother spoke Swedish and probably not a lot of English must have made that trip even more daunting.

She did find her family in Albion, California and promptly started working in a nearby hotel to help support their growing family.

Hulda Adeline Snickars~ 15 years old in  1907~

Her mother and father had 4 more children (Rose, Christine, Franz and another boy,) and then her father died. Her mother remarried a man with the last name of Nygard and they had one more child. A daughter, whom they called Violet but everyone called her Babe. Aunt Babe died a few years ago and was the last of that generation of strong and resourceful women.

Grandma met her husband in Albion, CA. August (Gus) Victor Herrling  was born in 1882 in Canada. His father, Charles August Herrling (b 1826) had emigrated from the state of Hungary/Austria in the mid 1800’s and settled a homestead which is now called, “Herrling’s Island.” If you are ever traveling past Hope B.C. on highway number 1, you will see the sign for Herrling Island, across the Fraser River.

While on the homestead, his father had married an indigenous woman, Mary Dora, and had two children. Sadly, she died in childbirth with their child, so common during that time. I don’t know if their third child survived. The two children were raised by their grandparents and Charles then remarried another indigenous woman in 1876. With Mary Caroline Ling, great grandpa Herrling had 8 children and my grandfather Gus,was one of these children.

In 1915 Gus and Hulda married in Elk, California. While in California they had 6 children, Henry (1916), Charles (1918), Stanley (1920) and then they had two more children but I don’t’ know in what order. Harold died at age 2 from an infection and Patricia Anne only lived to 3 months and I think there was talk of her having heart issues.

 Then in 1926 my mother, Ethel May was born in Oakland, California. I now understand why she was raised a bit like a princess with three older brothers watching over her and parents who hovered, probably scared that she too would die. She was followed by two more siblings. Richard (Dick) in 1929 and finally after emigrating to Canada from the States their last child, Rose Marie was born in 1932. Grandma was 40 when her last baby was born.

Hulda’s first husband and my grandfather, August Victor Herrling (Gus)

Gus and Hulda bought a farm in the Abbotsford area but during the depression years they moved to Campbell River where Gus and the older boys worked in the logging camp to earn a living and keep food on the table. The Herrling’s were a kind and generous family and even though times were tough, they always made a place for others at their table. In the late 30’s they returned to the Abbotsford area. Sadly, Gus was kicked by a horse and died of his injuries in 1946.

 In those days it was hard for women to survive without a husband as being a single working woman/mom was not the norm, nor were there jobs to provide a decent living for women on their own and so in 1948, Hulda remarried Carl Brosch. They moved to Coquitlam and then finally together they bought another piece of land in the Abbotsford area. There is now a large mall complex on their land.

 

My grandmother Hulda and her second husband Carl.

Grandma Hulda lived at this location with Carl for many years. I can remember visiting them on their property and recognizing the value of growing your own food, having a compost pile, right in the garden. She taught me the gift of simplicity and using what you have. She would give me an old Sears Robuck Catalogue and a pair of scissors and I would make whole families and play with them for hours.

 

I loved when she would tell stories and act them out using animated expressions and actions. At the end of our visit, as the day darkened and the dinner had been cleared away, I would fall into a deep sleep with my head resting against her heart, listening to the vibration of her voice as she continues to visit with my mom in the kitchen.She didn’t have much money in her lifetime but when she came to visit us in Hope, I can remember her bringing little treats; orange crush pop and candies. Although I have decluttered a lot of my childhood memorabilia, even my precious Suzy and Cindy dolls are long gone,  I kept one of the last birthday cards she gave me with a kitten and her written words, “love gram!”

When grandma was in her early 80’s she and Carl had a car accident and after that she started to age rapidly. In her last 10 years she deteriorated suffering from dementia and was in the Riverview Extended care home/hospital in Coquitlam, B.C.. In the last couple of years of her life she was in the Mission Hospital. The nurses apparently loved her and even though she was unresponsive, she still touched souls with her sweet nature.

Why did I tell you that story?

Well, for one, I don’t want the memory of this incredible woman, my grandmother Hulda to be lost. But another reason is to lift you up. If she could have lived almost 100 years, endured living through two world wars, one great depression, survived the loss of her first husband and two babies, and still retain her faith and hope, then we can do anything. We have more resources as women now. We live in a time when education and careers are possible. We live in a time when we are not pressured to marry or have children.There is a social safety net in Canada and government funded health care. We have come a long way since Grandma was born.

It’s true that the current state of the world is unstable with certain world leaders and ideologies in power but we women now have the right to vote. We are strong and powerful and most important of all, in most families, we still rock the cradle and can impact the next generation.We can teach our children to follow their hearts, listen from within and trust in goodness prevailing.By example, we can teach our children to be honest, live with integrity, take ownership for their choices, be respectful of others, work hard, have faith, but probably the biggest legacy  is to be accepting and loving to all of our fellow humans, no matter their station, race, gender, religion, or colour.

But we still have far to go for not all women in the world are living in peace and freedom.

People, like Grandma Hulda endured so much so their children and grandchildren could have a better life and now it’s our turn to hold that space of respect and pass on the lessons of strength to the next generation on this earth. In 100 years from now, I’m holding the vision that there is peace on earth, (everywhere) that no one goes hungry and everyone is contributing to the world by using their own unique talents and gifts for the betterment of our earth. When you look back at everything Hulda experienced and how the world has changed, I don’t think my vision for the world is too grand. It’s possible….with Hope, anything is possible.

Well, that’s my blog story for today but before I go I wanted to share my family’s recipe for Pinwheel Date Cookies. I think it’s timely as this is a recipe passed down from my mother and I’d like to think it came from Hulda, although I will never know.

The appearance of this cookie has a yummy circle of dates going around and around. Just like a meditative medicine wheel. With each step around the wheel we become more grounded,—perhaps as we munch on our cookies, with each bite we will lay down strength and hope from generations passed. The swirling path of dates reminds us that life is sweet and history doesn’t have to repeat itself.

With conscious thought, we can choose a different path for a healthier world where the strongest vibration is love. Let that be my grandma Hulda’s legacy….and now mine.

 

Old Fashion Pinwheel Date Cookie Recipe 

Ingredients

Filling

3/4 cup finely chopped dates
1/4 sugar
1/3 cup water
2 tbsp finely chopped nuts (we use walnuts)

Cookies

1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup margarine or butter–softened
1 egg
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt

Directions 

In a small saucepan, combine dates, sugar and water. Bring to boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 5 minutes or until thick. Stir in nuts. Cool.

In large bowl, beat brown sugar, margarine and egg until light and fluffy.Stir in flour, baking powder, and salt; mix at low speed until dough forms. Cover with tea towel or parchment paper, refrigerate 1 hour for easier handling.

On lightly floured surface, roll dough into 16×8 inch rectangle; carefully spread with date filling. Starting with 16 inch side, roll up jelly-roll fashion; cut in half to form two 8 inch rolls. Wrap each roll in a tea towel; refrigerate at least 2 hours.

Heat oven to 375 degree F. Cut dough into 1/4 inch slices. Place 2 inches apart on lightly sprayed cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly golden brown. Immediately remove from cookie sheet and cool completely on cookie racks.

Makes about 3 dozen cookies
(We love these cookies so I double the recipe and freeze a container full of them)

(Note, if you like the taste of orange, you can replace the water with orange juice and use some zest….also add a bit of cinnamon to the dry ingredients for a lovely addition)

I like to dust some icing sugar over the tops of the cookies when they are still warm from the oven

 

Thanks for visiting today. I hope something you read lifts you up and helps you on your journey and at the very least, you have added a new cookie recipe to your recipe box. As you know, I think life is more bearable with a jar full of cookies.

Until we meet again, may you be well, happy and peaceful.

Blessings from Hope