Happy Birthday to Steve May 30 2015

Every time one of our siblings was born at home, we children were dispatched up to Aunt Cindy's for the home birth.  Steve's arrival was no different on May 30 1944 when we were in Penrose and we crossed the field up to the home where Aunt Cindy and Uncle Norman lived for a short time.  Dr. Coulston did the honors and, as I recall, mother had made homemade bread with honey for him ahead of time.  I was 12 years old when Steve arrived, who blessedly dwelt in a crib in the living room for the first part of his journey in life.  And then, misery upon horror, the noisy, squally, little nuisance was consigned to my private bedroom.  Oh the injustice!  My life was no longer a luxury while all my sisters were crammed in the girl's dorm next door!  I couldn't help it if they were all girls.  Besides, they liked staying together.  Maybe.  Five years later I left home for good just after turning 17.  Steve was left with the luxury of inhabiting my formerly private bedroom all by his own royal self.  Oh the injustice once more.  Since Steve was so young when I left home, I only became acquainted with him as the years went by and as I returned home sporadically.  Steve was an apt and able pupil.  I taught him the scientific principle of centrifugal force by twirling the slop bucket up over my head without spilling a drop, thus saving Steve the necessity of enrolling in a science course.  I taught Steve music appreciation as he quickly and permanently learned all of the verses of "I won't go huntin' with you Jake" which we both could sing today as a lovely duet for the entertainment of the less fortunate.

So here is what we know about Steve today on his birthday.  Mischievous. Bright. Talented actor. Horrible musician. Consummate artist and creative genius.  Wouldn't Dad be proud of him for his wonderful artistry?  Persevered and never gave up through the tough times.  Never quit trying and never quit working.  Married Mary Lynn, a genius, one of his most outstanding accomplishments. Laughter.  Reminds me of Dad's laughter.  Great sense of humor.  Loves living in 30 ft of snow every winter.  Like Grandpa Wasden, he can create something beautiful and something incredible out of what originally looked like nothing.  Loyal sibling to the five of us and loyal dad to his kids.  Loves his ugly dog.  Remembers everything that he and Ann perpetrated.  Stuffed junk through the hole in the wall from the doorknob in my previously private bedroom.  Knew all the secret hiding places.

I have taken many thousands of pictures over the years but I have never taken any better photos than the two top photos of Steve.  They stand out as gems.  The third photo is from Steve's John Wayne and Clint Eastwood incarnation.

Happy Birthday, Steve, from Dwight, Louise, Elizabeth, Judy, and Ann

Happy Birthday Elizabeth

Happy Birthday Elizabeth.  What do we know about you?  Melodious laugh.  World class fabric stash. Stubborn. Artist, quilter extraordinaire. Beet hoeing companion. Original owner of a doll buggy. Pre-school companion when Louise abandoned us.  Nose in a book. Reading under the covers. Reading when time for dishes.  Reading when supposed to do something else. Reading all the books in the Powell library.  Could not understand ditto marks.  Grammar whiz.  Loyal sibling.  Hand on the pitchfork.  Illegally.  Flowers.  Gullible. (Louise and I did not go to Paris to see Pierre.)  Keeps track of us all.  Smart. Bossy? I can't believe I said that.  Maybe I meant "Bussy", our childhood nickname for her.  Beautiful.  Kind. Friend. Never gave up during the tough times. Our day is always brighter when the telephone from Preston Idaho rings.  So, dear sister, we all wish you a bright and happy day and we wish we were all there to share it with you.  Instead, we send our love.  Dwight, Louise, Judy, Ann, and Steve. 

What Am I?

While I realize the blog hasn't had a lot of activity lately, maybe this is a good place to share these photos.

First,in talking with Elizabeth and trying to describe a flower that was planted last summer, my description wasn't doing any good. Perhaps a photo will help. The seeds sat there until late fall when low mounding leaves showed up before the cold winter set in. Then this summer it went crazy and grew to be over five feet tall and has been loaded with beautiful flowers that have a delicate fragrance and resemble phlox. So, what am I?

Second, about seven weeks ago, before the flowers grew and when we had gone for a long time without any rain/snow, the birds were on a hunt for some place to take a bath or get a drink. We began filling the bird bath and this was the result.  I had the wrong lense on my camera so they aren't as sharp as they should be, but they are still fun.

               Perhaps a fitting caption for these photos should be "Saturday Night Bath time

In Loving Memory of our Mother, Minnie Wasden Blood Mother's Day 2015

From Louise, Dwight, Elizabeth, Judy, Ann and Steve

For Judy and Robert and the Petersen Family

Dear Judy and Robert and Petersen Family, We have got your backs, we are all together, and that is the way we will stay.  With love and humble prayers from all of us.