Stories Collected While Living in France
I have. But then ever student in Mrs. Lanzi’s 4-H sewing class did. It was expected. Mrs. Lanzi made sure of it.
Though I think my winning blue ribbons gave her more grey hairs as she had to work twenty thousand times harder to teach me.
I was proud of my hard earned ribbons.
Tell me a story about a ribbon, and I’ll pick two random winners tomorrow, and send them some old ribbons.
I have never won a ribbon. Sigh. Although I did win a certificate in Excellence at a piano competition once. My kids win ribbons constantly at swimming. They fill brown paper bags and get thrown around the house. The ribbons mean nothing to them. Double sigh. They also win medals if they come in the top 3 at a big event. I hang those on the doorknobs of the front and back door so my boys don’t try to sneak out to meet friends after curfew!
Can’t wait to read the other ribbon stories.
Your story of 4H ribbons made me think of our Beaverhead County fair. For several years I was the superintendent and later judge of the rabbit division in livestock.I eventually wanted to pass the job on to someone else,but awarding ribbons to rabbit breeds is so complicated,that it was easier to do it myself than to teach someone else to do it. I did eventually retire,but remember the little bunnies fondly. 🙂
In the 4th grade 4-H cooking competition, I won a red ribbon (second place) for oatmeal raisin cookies…still my favorite cookies to eat and to bake. I still have the measuring cups that my Mother bought especially for the competition!
Although I don’t know where my ribbon is I won in an obedience class for dogs, I remember it well. Probably long lost since I was so young when my beautiful collie won 3rd place. I have the photo, I was only 14 years old.
Surrounded by show dogs in our neighborhood, it was a fun time for me. Watching those dogs so proudly run around that ring with their heads held up high. Every time the Westminster Dog Show comes on, my eyes fill up with tears, I love it so much.
I was in 4-H too in elementary school. I so wanted to win the grand prize for my dresses that I sewed. I would work and work with my mom trying to get it perfectly. One year I came very close to winning the runner up but in the end someone else got it. I did win a blue ribbon though. All of that competition scarred me from sewing and to this day, I shudder at pulling out the sewing machine–although I love to knit and spin.
i won a Ribbon about 18years ago, i was young and a new mum. My husband had been transferred in his job i was young lonely and about seven hours away from my parents. I had always enjoyed stitching and had at the time just completed a cross stitch, wishing to be part of the incredibly small town we had just moved to i entered my cross stitch in the local show….i won, i got a little card which said first in show a blue ribbon and five dollars….there was i believe only three other cross stitches in the show….
I won a ribbon for playing a String Bass Solo at a wind ensemble competition when I was in 9th grade. It’s not a great story except that I was really a lousy musician and I think I got through that solo on a prayer.
C, we live on almost 9 acres in Maryland between DC & Balt. When we moved here the grandparents thought any field certainly deserved a sheep or two and consequently gifted us. Well, the kids thought the sheep were cute for a week or two; but, mom found friends to talk to in the barn that didn’t gripe upon being served dinner. Two years ago, I decided to enter their fleece for competition at the MD Sheep & Wool Festival (some of your readers may be familiar). During and after the festival, I never even checked to see results because surely MY sheep/fleece would never win! Three months later, I rememeber just arriving home from some errand and noticing a car coming up our drive. This sweet festival lady announced that she had been trying to reach me, and that I had won Grand Champion Fleece and Best MD fleece receiving blue ribbons and a pewter cup!
OK . . .now I feel silly telling this story about winning a blue ribbon for the best fleece . . .but, it’s the only time I ever won!
Our local monthly newspaper, the Rehoboth Reporter was advertising a “dog show” as a fund raiser for the town’s animal shelter. Visions of kids with pet hamsters in cages, cats on leashes, and dogs with giant bows around their necks ran through my head as I filled out the paperwork for Rheba, our 12 year old, arthritic, greying bull-mastif.
I was new to the town, though my husband’s family has been here for generations. “What a great way to introduce myself to people” I thought. I’ll be donating to the shelter, getting involved in a festive town event, and giving Rheba and Auntie Edie (our 78 y/o aunt with Alzheimers, who lived with us) something fun to do.
Reba spent most days laying in a patch of sunshine near the back door. She had no desire to “strut” and actually couldn’t strut even if she wanted to because arthiritis had rendered her joints immobile. On the appointed day I loaded Rheba and Auntie Edie into the car and took off for the local elementary school (the show was being held in the schools parking lot.)
I pulled into the school and was shocked to see huge RV’s outfitted with the latest in professional dog grooming paraphernalia. Dog owners sat by with glasses of wine or champagne as the dogs “handlers” readied them for competition.
It was clear that these dogs had experience as the competition got underway. They strutted and posed, sat still-as-a-statue while judges examined their “gait” (bone structure,) and seemed to know instinctively that a nod from the judge meant “jump to attention and run gracefully in a circle!”
About half way through the competition our “turn to show” was announced. All eyes turned toward me as I tried to coax Rheba up and into the circle. She followed me, her “gait” stilted from the arthritis, into the circle and sat, then laid, down. The judge looked at me with one eyebrow raised. I cajoled her into standing and he examined her. Unlike the other dogs, who stood stock still, Rheba jumped and cocked her head at the judge with one of her own eyebrows raised.
Done with the examination he gave us the nod to run the ring. Rheba yawned, stretched a bit and slowly walked around half way round. She noticed Auntie Edie and promptly exited the circle, slumping at Edie’s feet, exhausted.
Performance completed, I figured we might as well stay for the rest of the show, after all, we paid and there was a free lunch coming up.
I didn’t stick around for “best in show” as I was pretty certain were weren’t contenders, but I’m glad we stayed. Because Rheba was the ONLY dog shown in her category she automatically got first place and a blue ribbon.
My friend Wayne and I sang “Country Roads” for the 3rd-grade talent show at Franklin Elementary School. Wayne played the guitar. We won a blue ribbon (it was paper, but it was still cool – I still have it in my old scrapbook). Crazy thing is, Wayne and his family live down the street from me now. We don’t talk much, just smile at each other when I run past.
No wonder I get “Country Roads” stuck in my head when I’m running…
NO ribbons ever won!In fact I have never won anything,except BEST ANTIQUE SHOP OF THE EAST BAY!I have WON that honor five times in ten years!So, I’m deserving of a well worn gorgeous FRENCH crusty,gold or french blue ribbon…YES?OH< Please pick me!
At first I wasn’t sure I had ever received a ribbon. I think my piano teacher use to give us ribbons after a recital, but not sure. I remember my children receiving ribbons, but I am not sure. I think if I would have received a ribbon as a child it would have been for the best tree climber or the best lawn mowing gal. But alas, I don’t remember one. Maybe it is time to make a change and receive one from you.
In elementary school I won a ribbon for some school project; I can’t even remember what it was now. When we got home I took the ribbon off and later wanted to put it back on to show my father when he came home from work. I tried to open the pin but it was stuck and my little fingers couldn’t open it. So I decided to use my teeth to bite it open. Unfortunately it worked, the pin stuck the roof of my mouth, and blood came gushing out. My mother almost had a heart attack because I started screaming and I must have been a sight. I have a feeling I didn’t care so much for the ribbon after that. But I would love one from you to make up for it! 😉
I’ve never won an award, ribbon or trophy for anything. My rewards are the thank yous and compliments of friends and family. I’m constantly trying to do my best and become a better person.
I love this story, Jackie.
I won blue ribbons from Mrs Lanzi, as well! I still think of her when I sew. I also won ribbons for swimming on the Willows Hydrojets. I love your blog!
Oh… jackie’s story brought tears to my eyes.
When I was in the 8 th grade I designed a needlepoint project and entered it into a contest at the local needlework shop. It showed stylized waves, a shore with birds. Although it was quite simple I won a first place ribbon ( I was the only one in the category).
Although I have never won a ribbon again, That was the day I decided to be an Artist.
I won honorable mention ribbons twice for my monotypes at a local art exhibit. I had never won any ribbons as a child, but I had the same feeling as an adult when I got the ribbon. Didn’t even care that it wasn’t for 1st, 2nd or 3rd place. I have them hanging in my studio.
My daughter won a ribbon and bag of candy in 4th grade. I’m taking partial credit because I made the costume and stage prop. She sang a song from “Rosie” called “Mrs. Dracula” (I think). The curtains on stage opened to a black cardboard casket out of which she jumped and sang the song dressed as a vampire. We still laugh about it some 25 years later. As soon as the subject comes up she launches into the song remembering all the words and vamping up the dance. Great memories to share.
One year when my son was 3 years old, a ribbon was absolutely all he wanted for Christmas. Every time I asked him what he wanted Santa to bring him he would answer “I just want a blue ribbon like you win”. I searched and searched and finally found a tiny shop that made them for the fair. I ordered the largest and fanciest blue ribbon they had and on Christmas morning he was delighted to find the ribbon in his stocking. He carried that ribbon around with him for months until it fell to pieces. It turns out that he had no understanding of a ribbon marking a win in something, he just thought fancy blue winning ribbons were the most beautiful things in the world and he wanted to be able to hold that kind of beauty in his own little hands.
Hi Corey – no ribbon story, but I just wanted to say how I enjoyed the tour of your supermarket wines! I have just been posting on Provence markets and food myself – how I miss it all and loved meeting you and Yann!
I don’t mean to brag, but I have won FOUR ribbons in my lifetime. I won two for competing in a clarinet trio in high school. Our band also performed in concert but our band leader wouldn’t let us get the second place ribbons. He said we only deserved a ribbon if we placed first!
I also won two ribbons for a handmade quilt that showed in three different shows. It was second in two categories. The quilt is all hand quilted 60 inches square and a feathered star. Quite the accomplishment for me.
I had a piano recital when I was in the 4th grade. I
had to play the piano as well as the organ. I was so
nervous, and my mother told me I looked so cute in the
“homemade” hot pink taffeta dress she made for me. It
had a very full skirt with a giant bow tied behind my
waist. The piano songs were a breeze and then came the
time to get up and play the organ. I sat on the bench
and started playing, and when it came time to move my
feet way over to the right foot pedals, my shiny, slippery skirt just kept me going to the right….in fact, RIGHT OFF THE BENCH! I stood up, turned to
the audience, with my face the same hot pink color as the dress, and said “I’m sorry”. I got back up to finish the song and it was a blur after that. At the
end of the recital, I did receive a blue ribbon! I was glad it wasn’t hot pink!
P.S. Sad to say, I never wore the dress again.
One of my fondest memories about my grandmother is when as a little girl she would braid my long blonde hair into pigtails, and entwine a lovely ribbon in the braiding. Thank you for reminding me of this gift of love that she shared with me 😉
PS. I won a ribbon for 1st Place for my science project for the Science Fair (in the 60s) ~ I cut open a live bullfrog to show the beating heart!
Oh look at that belt buckle ! I have won a rosette or two for pony riding before i discovered boys. The american reaction to soft boiled eggs is beyond belief ! Jx
What memories this brings back. I never won a ribbon as a child but as an adult I entered some of my knitting in our state fair. I won a couple of ribbons and I was surprised at how much it meant to me – I was so pleased. Thanks for bringing this topic up so we can bring out some old memories and savor them again.
Linda
Vivisection should outlawed. The aren’t many acts more cruel. I’m still haunted be an experiment we had to perform in my zoology class in college. May be one of the reason I switched from a biology major to communication.
I won a ribbon in 5th grade for a pair of baby booties I knit. Julie Nomi won the cash prize ($25) for her crepe paper Mexican flowers. I could not understand how a 6th grader could win with paper flowers while I slaved over those d#*& booties for months. Mom would spot a dropped stitch or too tight tension and I’d have to rip out the stitches and start again. Yellow yarn of the 60’s did not hold up well to my ripping and knitting. My Mom doesn’t knit, but she could spot an error. I wanted to burn the ribbon and the booties with it. I gave them to my newborn cousin. I just wanted them out of my room!!! I think back now and realize, I still know how to knit. I wonder if Julie still makes paper flowers? 😉
When my daughter was 4 I asked her what she wanted for her birthday and she replied ‘a prize’. I thought about it for awhile and then questioned her again the ‘prize’ turned out to be a ‘surprise’. She is about to turn 30 and still likes ‘prises’ for her birthday. And after reading all the stories, I guess that’s part of a prize. No matter how much you hope for it, it’s still a surprise wrapped with a happy feeling.
yes, i won two blue ribbons at the county fair,after we were first married. lived in the big city and then moved to the country. i entered my humungess african violet. it was gorgeous,loaded with blossoms. my hubby had given me an antique beautful bowl with carnations painted inside for a gift that he shopped for in an antique shop. i was never so surprised he had it in him to shop and pick such a lovely bowl. so, i came away with two blue ribbons and i thought i had done pretty good for a city girl. Bestest,Denise
My grandgirlie, Hannah, was born with peachfuzz hair and very curly. It seemed to take forever to grow long enough to put into a ponytail. My darling girl finally grew hair and allowed me to work through her curls and three cowlicks to put up her hair. Then we chose a soft gold ribbon to highlight her golden curls. Every weekend she’d ask me to do her hair. Now that girl is 11 and still likes me to fix her hair.
i’ve had a baby blanket since i was born (that i still sleep with.. and i’ll be 26 in a week), but the satin ribbon edge has long since worn off. i still like the feel of the ribbon sliding under my nails so much that i keep a satin ribbon in my car just for that. it reminds me of when i was a little kid.
I haven’t ever won a ribbon. But my Mom did. I was about 12 years old and in the local 4-H club and didn’t have anything to enter in the annual summer fair. My Mom had made me a dress I absolutely loved, so I entered that and put my name on it. I didn’t tell my Mom until after I had already done it. Boy was I in trouble!! Then the night came to go to the Fair to see who had won. My Mom’s dress took second place. SECOND???? How could that be??? When I returned home and had to tell my Mom her dress didn’t win first place (in a competition between 12-15 year olds or something like that), she was soooooo upset. I felt horrible. I learned my lesson. And it wasn’t because of the lectures I received when my Mom learned what I had done, it was because my sweet Mom was hurt. I grew up a little bit that summer.
When in grade eight,
I won the “religion”
award.The prize
was a bible but
there was a ribbon
in it.
Does that count?
XO
I won a ribbon at our parish fair with the largest pumpkin. I’m in Louisiana so pumpkins do not grow so large. When I saw the look on an old man’s face when he did NOT win, I said, ‘I will nover again enter a pumpkin.’
I made sure when homeschooling that my boys won many “ribbons”, sometimes modified to fit a little boys needs! I remember winning little awards in elementary school, feeling such a sense of accomplishment. When I taught Kindergarden I enjoyed giving little incentives as much as they enjoyed receiving them!
As far as these stories submitted, I absolutely loved reading Kathy Barrick’s , and I think it is a ribbon winner! 🙂
To:
Kathy Barrick
I loved your story. It is lovely to look back upon a moment when we knew we “grew up a little”!
The ribbon I remember most …I was in fourth grade and in a county spelling bee. I didn’t win first prize – I was probably 8th or 10th – but, out of all the ribbons won that day, I loved my ribbon the most because it was the most beautiful soft PINK color I had ever seen – probably something to do with the silky sheen.
When we moved to Chico, CA. many years ago, our son was taken with all of his friends who were in 4 H. Since we didn’t live on a farm, his choice of activities was limited. He joined a “Boys’ Cooking” group and he learned some of the basics, but the group entry into the Silver Dollar Fair was a castle made out of sugar. Since the sponsor was a sugar company, there was a cash prize involved. The boys won first prize and the cash, and a large, shiny blue ribbon. Ordinarily, the ribbon goes to the parent who guided the group and the boys split the money. In this case, my son wanted nothing to do with the money. His heart was set on that big, beautiful blue ribbon. He made a case to the parent, and his argument was so sincere for the ribbon (and none of the other boys wanted it)that he relinquished his share of the cash and she gave him the ribbon.
He is now a married, 34 year-old, wildland firefighter and hestill has that ribbon proudly displayed in his home. And he is an excellent cook!
I won one of the most meaningful ribbons of my life this past weekend. I have a quarter horse, Shy Guy, that I have owned/shown since he was 2 years old….he is now 16. I myself am 29, meaning that he has been around for half of my lifetime. And the most important half too, the half where I’ve done all of my growing up. He was there during my high school years, keeping me out of trouble; my college years, reminding me of the things I could accomplish; my move to Arizona, keeping me rooted to my original home in the midwest; and my latest move to Washington state, where he has been pushing me to the next level, and proving to me that anything is possible. Last weekend’s show was our very last show together. I am retiring him from the show pen, and he is going to spend the remainder of his days getting fat and happy in the pasture, generally being a “real horse.” Our last show went out with a bang…reserve high point overall for our age division. It meant so much to me for us to go out on a positive note. He’s always been there for me, a constant rock for me to cling to through good times and bad. He’s my best friend, and he deserves the best. I suppose it’s just like they say, “There’s something about the outside of a horse, that’s good for the inside of a (wo)man.” I believe there is more to it than that though….our spirits are intertwined.
We had ribbons made for Sports Day at School. As part of our training in Domestic Science, we were responsible for making the ribbons for the Captains of the Sports Teams (a different colour for each “House”)and for the winners of every event. We had to make fancier ones for the Principal and other staff that included the various colours of the teams in them. I used to admire the beautiful “arrangements” and wish I could wear them as well on the annual Sports Day. I did however ended up winning one for being the first one accross the line in the 2000 metre relay! I love the old ribbons you have on your blogg today. My goodness, where did they come from? Now I am on the search for old ribbons like those! Hopefully you will have some for sale in your brocante! Thanks for bringing back memories of old school sport days!
Congratulations to you and your best friend!
C.
Tender to the bone! Bittersweet tale of how children learn that inside every grown up there is a little child too.
C
I’ve only won one ribbon in my entire life, so needless to say I will never forget it. I was in the sixth grade (which then was still part of the elementary school, as my town had a jr high for 7th & 8th grades). There were six elementary schools in my large Boston suburb town. Each spring all the sixth graders in town would compete against each other at field day. I was NOT an athletic person AT ALL… and I dreaded the day. Until I won — a first place blue ribbon! — against all the other schools, for jumproping! lol I still tell my kids that story to this day. For one day, as unathletic as I was, I felt like a reigning athlete! lol
in my country (Switzerland) we didn’t ‘do’ribbons… so no story from me – but it made me chuckle for other reasons.
My teacher wondered how this clean, proper, serious girl could knit whit socks in such a grey tone! I put so much sweat, frustration and luckless work into my knitting that the white yarn turned a sad, mouldy grey and I never liked my otherwise lovely knee socks….
BUT I was a fast knitter and I was rewarded not with a ribbon but was allowed to READ to the class while the others continued their work!! 🙂
OOh.. ribbons, I wish I had my brother’s ribbon he got for something while he attended french school in Orleans. But I have one of my own.. not a pretty one like his was, but a ribbon nontheless. Best of show for a garment entered into the county fair. A long time ago.. it’s probably faded by now. Thanks for the memories!
I have won a few ribbons in my life. A couple for majorette competitions and one as a beauty queen. The ribbon I really want bestowed on me now is a “Brave Girl” ribbon, a special ribbon I can put on my vision board and look at everyday to remind me no matter what comes my way, I am brave, strong, loved and lucky!
I used to show horses when I was in my 30’s. I showed badly, really, never in the ribbons. But during one show, I came away with 2 red ribbons and a blue. I wasn’t sure if I rode that well or if the other contestant were just that bad. I remember how excited I was and my horse picked up on that excitement and after each class we won, he pranced out of the ring with the ribbons attached to his bridle. We were really proud of our accomplishment and we both had spring in our step for a few days afterwards!
i swam competitively in the 5-6th grade in culver city cal. i won many blue ribbons and broke records for my age group. i never thought i was athletic before hitting the water. water was transformational for me, it allowed me to excel and feel self worth. we moved a lot…like constantly. we moved in the middle of the night on night. i never got to say good bye to my coach or team mates…all of the ribbons got left behind…i never swam c competitively again….but every time i get into the water and swim…it brings back fond memories of the freedom, power and self worth i felt when i got into the water as a kid…the ribbons are still very much in my heart…even though i no longer have them in my possession…
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