Judy's Day

Judy's day has almost come and gone.  All of a sudden there was this memory jolt that said there was one more thing I wanted to do today, so here it is.

The photos below are typical of photos taken of Judy, Steve and me during those early days in Penrose.  If you will note, Judy is holding on to Steve's hand and my hand in the first photo, or sitting in the middle of us, probably to "help" us sit still for the photo.  That tells the story of Judy's role in our lives.

 Thankfully she held on tight and tried to help us be good. I am thankful for Judy and on her special day I just want to tell her how much I love her.  Happy Birthday, sister dear.

Pansies and Purple Iris and Deep Thoughts for April 20 2013

After I did some spring redecorating of our blog, I just sat and looked at the incredible beauty of the multi-colored pansies and the purple iris for a long time.  When I remember Penrose, I tend to think mainly of Penrose in the summer--the smells and sounds of the river, the smells of the green fields and the miracle of the irrigation water that made the crops and gardens grow.  We were gone to the protective custody of the schools all winter, away from the daily activities of home, and arriving home just before dark from the long bus ride twelve miles from town, a ride lengthened into more like 20 miles or more by the time we went up and down all the side roads to take everyone safely home.  Then when summer came we were turned loose in our little protected corner of the world to roam the fields, hoe the beets, go get the cows, stack the hay, watch mother grow incredibly beautiful dahlias and gladiolus, eat fresh corn and peas and beans all summer long, go to sleep to the sounds of orchestras of legions of crickets and frogs.   But I often remember the iris growing along the path to the barn.  I always called them the orchids of the desert--proud and regal and not a bit humble in their beauty.  The iris always were supposed to bloom by Memorial Day to provide some remembrances at the Penrose cemetery, along with a few sprays of purple lilacs.

We have all been through a few challenges this winter.  Ann had to get patched up and put back together again, Liz had to get her twitterpations under control, Judy had to watch 300 hours of BBC videos and get her 200 acre garden ready for spring, Steve was working on his Saigon photo show which we all wish we could see but Buffalo is a long way off, Louise has been doing quilting marathons. We have all been trying to remember how to walk, how to stay optimistic in the face of somewhat terrifying challenges, how to keep the Bosch mixer from dancing to the floor, how to cope with and keep in touch with all of our far flung families and offspring, how to keep our hearing aids from blasting our heads off in the noise, checking our pacemakers, listening to the some times terrifying news and trying to cope with the evils of the world, and waking up each day to new challenges and opportunities.  "Weeping endureth for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." (Proverbs 30).

The greatest blessing of all is that we six Blood children are all still here.  We know that as our lives lengthen and the days shorten, this blessing will not always be realized.  Despite our myriad fraying at the edges and dimming of eyes and loss of petals here and there, we are still here.  And I am thankful every day for this fact and for the conversations we have and the thoughts that we share and the nonsense that we use to gloss over the weariness and aches and pains of father time.  We may not talk to everyone all the time, but we are each in the others thoughts and prayers constantly.  Let each of us cherish the time that we have left to share our lives and love with each other.

Graduation

I suppose there should be a photo to go with this, but - oh, well.

Today is a monumental day.  No more wheelchair, no more knee scooter, no more crutches, just a walker to rescue me and to help build up the strength in my left leg.  Today I fixed lunch, and have dinner in the slow cooker.  Paul isn't quite sure how to handle the situation, but I suspect he will quickly, and thankfully, readjust to the world of just being a professor, chicken handler, egg gatherer, garden preparer, lawn mower and major bill payer.  I am so thankful for him.

I just want to tell all of you thank you for keeping such good tabs on me.  Most days have included a phone call from someone wanting to know how I "really am".  There has been lots of laughter, wonderful sharing of Pickles and gramma elbows, discussions about genealogy, and weather forecasts between here, New York, Olympia and Preston, just to name a few topics that have been covered.  I suspect Dwight is anxiously waiting for me to go to Costco and let him know what he can't do without.  However, I probably won't bother him because he doesn't seem to be responding real well these days. There have been phone calls from each one of you that have meant so much to me.  Then there was a bouquet of beautiful flowers that came from the "Blood Family", for which I am so appreciative.  They have long since departed, but they were beautiful and did lift my spirits on a somewhat gray day.  Please forgive me for not posting a photo - just know they were perfect.

 I hope Steve and Mary Lynn's Vietnam photos have been well received this weekend, that Dwight and Velna will soon come north, that Louise can keep up her cheerful spirits, that Elizabeth can continue going through her stuff and finding treasures she didn't even know she had and that Judy can get our genealogy all straightened out.

Conference has been wonderful - I want to be a better me.  May your Sabbath be a wonderful one.
Love to all,
Ann

What Was Easter Without Easter Eggs?

It seems as if we  dyed Easter eggs every year that I can remember.  Fortunately, on the farm, eggs were usually to be had in abundance.  Mother would hard boil the eggs in her big aluminum kettle, and we would drop the little colored pills into a variety of cups, along with a little vinegar and water, count out the eggs, and then the fun would begin.  I suppose we were not always in harmony in our activities, but I just remember the fun of  it all.  There were little transfers that you could put on the egg before coloring it, or use the little holder that came with the kit for dyeing eggs to dip one end in one color and the other end with another color.  Then, when the eggs were all completed, we would have Easter egg hunts, where one person would hide the eggs, and the rest would hunt for them.  We never needed a prize for the most eggs - it was just the fun of the whole thing.  The picture of Judy and Ann, intently at work, is one of the few Easter-egg dyeing pictures that I have.   You can see the old kettle at the edge of the picture.  But the important thing is that Ann is patiently waiting her turn as Judy contemplates how to do the egg.  Where was Steve?  I do look at the old kitchen table, which had such a hard life.  Mother was confronted with the question of the best finish to resist the depredations of eight people sitting down together to each meal. One time, she glued down vinyl place mats, and then varnished the whole thing so that we could wash the table easily.

Where is Everybody?

The blossoms in the big photo above are truly springlike and lovely - gives the rest of us who may be in a climate that is slower to have anything budding out,  hope that spring will come.  I'm missing the give and take or the little postings with news - are you all on vacation?  (I must have been, too)  However, I'll give you a tidbit of information.  We get many e-mails (I know you do, too), about the unusual use of common things. Ron called my attention to one that said that a gatorade helps cure headaches.  I've been having lots of the blasted things, and am restricted as to what pain meds I can take - an ibiprofin (sp?) once a week doesn't cut it.  I tried the gatorade cure, and nine times out of ten, it works.  Must mean there's something missing in my diet, but I'll take any solution that's out there.  Now, it's your turn!  ;-)

Stop the World From Spinning

This sheet of paper has become very important to me.  Judy tried to explain these exercises to me over the phone, but due to diminished brain capacity, I couldn't quite picture them.  She kindly sent this to me, and it has been a lifesaver.  We have enough problems as we live longer, so we don't need to complicate them with extra spins in our world.  Thank  you, Judy!  Your art work is efficient, and I do love the constant smile on the face of the vertigo sufferer - Keep smiling!

Miracle Baby

Because you have called and asked about an update, I can't resist posting this photo taken today.  I suspect this was a moment of great joy for everyone concerned.  Today is a good day!

The Rest of March 1941 Letters

I know that we have posted these previously, but now you have everything close together.

Praying For Our Miracle

The hands belong to Nathan.  The little tiny body belongs to Gwen Alaina Tanner who decided she needed to come into this world two months early.  She weighs 3# 3oz. and is 17 inches long.

Needless to say it has been a very exhausting day for Nathan's little family.  He woke up this morning, caught a quick flight from Salt Lake City to Oakland but just as he was getting on the plane he received the news that this little tiny baby was born, was driven to Petaluma, got the car at their house, drove to the hospital where Bridget had really been struggling all day, and spent the rest of the day feeling very overwhelmed, but grateful for the day they have had.  Bridget seems to be doing better tonight but will stay in the hospital for the next two to three days.

The Drs. are cautiously optimistic.  Gwen was on a ventilator for the first hour and although she can breath on her own they are taking measures to protect her lungs.

I just wanted to share our miracle of the day and ask for your prayers that in the days ahead she will be able to gain the strength she needs.

Elizabeth's Letter to Mother 1941

 There is so much to be read between the lines here.  Who wants to start?

Dwight's Letter to Mother -- 1941

 

Dwight (and everyone else) wrote letters to cheer Mother while she was in the hospital at Billings.  It was perhaps due to a possible miscarriage.  The story, and illustration, of Dwight's shiner, I'm sure brightened her day.

Rescan of Elizabeth and Louise's Letters- 1943

Elizabeth has previously posted both of these letters, but she asked if I would do a rescan of them to see if we could get a more readable copy.  I am happy to say........mission accomplished!

Another letter from 1943

Dad gave this letter to me when Ron and I lived on Tumwater hill.  I wish I could find the original - it's here in my papers somewhere.  However, I made a very bad copy of it, and with enlarging the letter, it is readable.  As you can tell, my second grade excursion with cursive writing wasn't as successful as it might.  The writing just wouldn't slant in the right direction.  Please remember that there are four years between neat Louise, and myself.  Dad was tickled at the salutation - a little cheeky?  And now we know what we had to do between going to school.  Dumping the ashes was my eternal chore for years. I hated the hot, dry ashy smell as they were added to the ash pile.  Louise, did I help you that much?

Louise's letter from the past

You must click on this letter to enlarge it.  I apologize for the dark parts - when I copied this about 20 years ago, my printer wasn't very good.  Ann may have put this on the CD she gave us last year, but I confess that I haven't checked it for all letters on it.  Dad was gone to Edmonton, Canada with his carpenter's tools to work in a plant to aid in the war effort.  His stay was short-lived - he contracted pneumonia, and came home to recuperate.  We wrote letters - I can only find one page of Dwight's, where he talks about trading off his comic books - hope he has the rest of it.

CHICKEN POWER

In light of Ann's misfortune I think there are questions that need to be asked.

1: Why would she venture out to the barnyard, although small, without spiked shoes.

2: Blue tarps are a hazard to walk on under any circumstance, why was there a blue tarp there?

3:  Do the chickens have any sympathy at all for her?

4:  Were the chickens involved in the plot?

5:  Were they seeking free Carnival cruise tickets knowing that nothing was being cooked?

6:  Was Rod Sterling involved?

Here are some haunting words, "you should eat them."

Not to diminish the trials and tribulations that Liz and Ron have gone through this week for which we are thrilled that they are making a recovery, but we know that our sister Ann when asked, will answer with a smile, "I'm fine."

Welcome Home Liz, Ron, Ann, and All Others Who are Ailing

We have had a rash of ailments lately.  Maybe a purple lilac is just the ticket after the latest tragedy on Downton Abbey.  We wish you all a speedy recovery.

In Your Dreams

Remember when Ron and Elizabeth left the snow shoveling and spent the winters in Arizona?  This is such a good picture of our sister basking in the sunshine.  Note the sunglasses hiding by her hat.  Ahh.........

Ann and Paul Tanner

This is my all time favorite photo of Ann and Paul.  I think this is how they will look in the resurrection.....to perfection with their winning smiles.

Penrose Snowy Winter 1968

 

I just found these photos dated 1968.  Perhaps they are appropriate to post now while many family members have struggled with unusal amounts of snow this winter. Without the aid of snow blowers, Dad cleared the  road  south of the house so the milk truck could reach the milk barn. What a great view across the field to Grandma's house.  How many times did you follow the path there to ginger snaps, apples,  funny papers and Grandma's fun stories? 

The view toward the west, the haystack and the corrals.  The sun shining after the storm!

In front of the shop extension window was the most popular place for icicles to grow.  I think Ann, Steve and I ate plenty of these.  I don't remember the fancy door to the cellar showing on the right of the picture.

Christmas Letter from Great-aunt Rose

Little gems pop up from time to time in old correspondence.  I didn't think that I had anything from our great-aunt Rose, but this was in my papers.  Every year, Mother and Daddy received a hand painted Christmas card from her.  You'll have to enlarge the letter part to really read it, but the information in it does corroborate a couple of things (or maybe three.)  Great Aunt Elsie had died in November of 1971, and this note acts as a third source.  Also, the information to Dad about how Aunt Elsie felt about him was important.  After all, he had spent the ranch money on a new suit so that he could go to Penrose and marry Mother.  All was not perfect, but what counted was that Elsie gave Dad a home and some warmth (and enough food to eat) during his later teen years.
(By the by, I checked on comments on both this Penrose Mornings and my Crystal Prisms blog, and it seems that Judy and Ann are the major followers of these blogs (me, too).  Where are the rest of you?  We miss you.)

Steve's Correspondence circa 1953-54

The date for this letter is a little uncertain.  Please enlarge it so that you can read (deciper?) it.  Steve, it is amazing to me that you wrote letters to me in college.  I recall one that you wrote in a spiral, beginning in the middle and branching out.  Your heart was in the right place, and word from home was very precious.  You'll notice that I did not spend the penny - saved for future needs or wants.  (The penny covers up the word "circus".)

Discussion on Marriage

   When Dorothy was at our home in Preston for a couple of days lsat weekend, we went through boxes of letters from all family members dating back into the early 50's.  I have to quote from this gem from Judy on the occasion of Ann and Paul's marriage which I attended with Mother and Daddy, and Judy was too far away to go, but kept in touch by phone.
   The letter is dated June 15, 1964.
   "Kemp and Jay sure couldn't understand this getting married bit.  They wanted to know if I was married and why.  Then if they were married and why not.  Well why can just big people do it?  I'm big.  See?  Do you have have to be a Daddy to get married?  I've never had so many questions I couldn't answer."
   Judy of today in all of her accumulated wisdom probably wouldn't have been so stumped by these salient questions by two little boys.  Or would she?  Bear in mind that Kemp was not quite four years old, and Jay was three.  Pretty precocious!

Voice From the Past

This is the second time today I've posted this - the first time was a real mess, and I finally figured out what to do about it.  I can't remember if I posted the gist of this letter before, but if not, it truly is a gem. Dorothy and I spent the weekend going through boxes of letters, and she is going to scan them for the family, but this one I kept - it is such a gem.  When I was a senior in the spring of 1953, I was in the senior class play, staying all week with Kells, and going home on the weekends for six weeks.  Ann kept me in the family loop by sending me little messages via Audrey Baxter, also a senior, who rode the school bus.  This letter is a real gem, and deserves to be immortalized.  It wouldn't mean much to those who did not know our family, but it is definitely meaningful in all aspects to us.

Flowers for Solace

These are the beautiful yellow roses that Judy chose for Blood family contribution to Jenny's funeral.  They were a ray of sunshine on a very drab day.  Interestingly enough, Ron chose this bouquet to take to our hosts, and was so pleased when Judy told him that she had picked them because they reminded her of Jenny's smile.  Judy had chosen the spray that we purchased, and proceeded to separate it into multiple bouquets to put around the house.  So, we just exchanged - a very good thing to do on such an occasion.  The funeral itself was beautiful - Ron, Julie and Andrea spoke, and then Judy Frizzell, one of the Home Teachers to Jennifer spoke.  She is a wonderful teacher, and we were so pleased with her talk.  We had so much support in Olympia - very grateful for friends who have not forgotten us in the 17 1/2 years we have lived in Preston.  More about this gathering later on my blog.

The Picture

Ron hasn't seen the birthday wishes in the posting  below as yet, but thank you (for him).  He did have a celebration or two while we were in Olympia.  We stayed with friends the first few nights we were there, and these balloons were on the table waiting for him the morning we were leaving.  (You can't see the top one, which said "Happy Birthday".  Our friend, Stephen, had gotten a speeding ticket the night before, as he left a church meeting and went to Safeway to buy the balloons.  "No good deed will go unpunished."  That made these particular balloons very  expensive.  We went on to have a birthday celebration at Julia and Mike's house with lots of family and friends there - What a blessing!  Ron's 80th came with one of life's more difficult occurences,  but we do go on, and are glad for each other.

Powell’s trash heading to Cowley

Powell’s trash heading to Cowley: Powell’s trash heading to Cowley
Written by Tessa Schweigert
Beginning today, the city of Powell will take all of its trash to the Cowley landfill. On Monday night, the Powell City Council voted 5-2 to accept a proposal from Big Horn County.
The one-year agreement allows Powell to take its trash to the Cowley landfill for $78 per ton. That’s $12 a ton cheaper than the $90 Powell has been paying to take its trash to Cody. Park County commissioners chose to offer Powell no discounts, providing only a list of current landfill rates.
Monday’s meeting became heated at times, as leaders from Park County and the city of Powell rehashed years of landfill debates.
Councilmen’s decision means Park County will lose roughly $450,000 in revenue from Powell’s trash in the coming year, while Big Horn County gains an additional revenue stream. See related story
We’ll have a lot more details about Monday night’s discussion and the potential impacts of the decision in Thursday’s paper.

This shocking news definetely takes Cowley off of the preferred living areas to move.

Another 80th Birthday

Congratulations to Ron on his 80th Birthday 

I went on a hunt for a photo of Ron and realized I need to take a camera and go to Preston.  But in the meantime, it only seems appropriate to at least make note of the fact that today he joins the ranks of the true "senior" members of our family.  

Congratulations on "achieving" this milestone.  

I'm Calling To Warn You

The last couple of days have been full of conversations with kids who are trying to survive in the mountains of snow, while others are fighting the dreaded cold/flu/sick in the foots diseases, and with sisters who call to "warn me" about the delightful opportunities for discussions of who has what and when was it purchased and who knew before whom.  So, here goes.

1.  Dwight bought a new computer - a Dell - because he ran out of memory (oops, not him, but his computer) with all of the photos he has stored on his hard drive.  Yes, I bought a new computer - an HP from Costco - but did not share that with anyone at the time.  However, just last week I did share that bit of information with Dwight, who was somewhat concerned because I had not related that info to him earlier.  He always wants to know how much memory, how fast, and other mundane tidbits.  If Laura isn't around I just fake my answers.  Now, if I had suggested that he save his photos on the "Cloud", would that have saved him the money he spent on the new computer so he could have bought a Panini Press?  I think we all know the answer to that question.

2.  Dwight bought a Shark Steamer to clean his floors with and the grapevine has relayed the info to me that he loves it.  Should I have told him I bought the little Shark shoulder pack vacuum to clean my floors because it is easier to for me to move around with and it only cost me $50.00 at Kohls because I could use my Kohls cash?  Granted, his Shark Steamer has the wet stuff, and my Shark only does the dry stuff, so maybe we both need both?

3.  Judy needed something new to do, so I suggested it might be time to learn about Pinterest.  She has obviously made great progress in that direction because when I opened my email this morning I was informed that she is following ALL of my boards on Pinterest.  Now I have to be really careful what I pin because someone is following me.  So, just to make sure she didn't feel left out, I have decided to follow all of her boards.  Does Dwight know how to use Pinterest?  How about Elizabeth, Louise, Steve?  Does anyone want an invite?

4.  Elizabeth has empty nesters luncheon this next week.  Who knew that? Who is advising her on how to do a minimal cleaning because no one will notice anyway?  She needs our help.

5.  Steve is busy putting photos on my Facebook page (which I visit once in a blue moon, but when he calls me to check it out, I try to be obedient).  So far, he has posted a chicken photo and a photo of a young woman who has a moose for a pet.  Life is good!

6.  Louise must be busy trying to keep warm.  She is probably smarter than all of us, with more of the new fangled things to keep her busy than we can guess.  Maybe she even has a Panini Press.

7.  It has been recommended that I learn how to text via my computer (because my cell phone isn't very fancy???) so I can send texts to our grandchildren, such as "hope your having a good day, etc."  I am concerned that means there is one more thing I will forget to do when I should have done it.  Does Dwight text?  How about Judy, Elizabeth, Steve and Louise.

So, here's the deal.  Life has become very complicated, although I have always thought when I turned 70 it was time to sit back and just be thankful I can remember how to play DVDs and turn up the heat. However, with the impetus to try and keep one step ahead of my siblings, I think I will go check out Costco.  Welcome to Saturday!

Eggs From the North

Strange Happenings in Dixie Part II

In part I, I explained where Dixie is and set the stage for what is to follow.

When I returned home at 4:00 p.m., with a pasty $1.49 junior bacon cheeseburger from Wendy's, since I had not had lunch, the interesting and strange happenings began.  The first thing we noticed was a message to check the front door.  We checked the front door and here is what we found, much to our surprise, and it wasn't a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer:

Note: unfortunately, I cannot post a photo.  Dang Blogspot won't let me search photo files to upload photos, link is defunct.  Spent two miserable hours trying to figure out.  Does anyone know?  I'm about to abandon Blogspot for something that works.  Also, I realize that this post will be on top of post I but there isn't any way I know of to reverse order. 

So anyway, to get on with story while I am in a Fowl mood from dang Blogspot, here we go.  I discovered a carton with a dozen golden eggs in it with a red ribbon tied around it and a message: to wit, "Special Delivery.  This carton contains Real eggs from real Chickens grown in the 'North country". Happy New Year!"

I looked around, expecting to see three French hens who delivered it, but quickly realized that it would take three French hens four days to produce a dozen eggs, assuming each one did one's duty each and every day.  So then I noticed a flock of twelver really strange looking chickens landing on the doorstep claiming credit for the delivery.  I asked the chickens, "How did you get here?"  The lead chicken, whose name I soon discovered, was Botilda, said, "We were in the clutches of the infamous Tanner gang in the frozen north and we were too miserably cold up there so, like magic, we flew down here to escape." 

In querying Botilda further, I she told me that the flock had patterned itself after the Penrose Relief Society in days of yore, and that the names of some of the hens were Botilda, Tilda, Minnie, Jane, Rosie, Lizzy, and VerDean.  Botilda explained that the flock had regular lessons, just like the Penrose Relief Society.  I asked for further information, and here is what I learned:

Lesson 1: How to Lay an Egg.
Lesson 2: What to say when you lay an egg:  The basic formula is "buck buck buck, baguck", with either one or two "buck bucks" acceptable.  That is the signal that the hen has done her duty and can now go socialize and peck around the rest of the day. A hen may need to fake the cackle on occasion just to convince the Tanner Gang that an egg has been laid, just for self preservation.
Lesson 2(a): Ladies, there are no roosters around.  Roosers are noisy because they wake folks up early in the morning, as the rooster did at our Orem neighbor's home.  Roosters go cock a doodle doo, and act like they are the kings of the kingdom.  So forget about roosters.
Lesson 3: What happens if you don't lay an egg.  You may get by with non performance for a few days, but beware, beware, fellow relief society fowls, if you miss for very long.  Do you know what they will do to you?  Oh the fate is horrible, horrible.  They will wring your neck, let you flop around headless on the ground for awhile, then stick your carcass, feathers and all, in a cauldron of boiling water, then pluck your feathers, then singe your pinfeathers with a torch, then throw your cold clammy body into a pot of boiling water and boil you for hours and hours.  Then they will make soup out of you.  They could care less how many eggs you produced during your short life.
Lesson 4:  When you get old and non-performing, you are now an old biddy.  Yes, that's where the term old biddy comes from.  Old biddies can be tough, however, and maybe even too tough for the soup pot.  Be sure you sign up for Medicare Part B to be taken care of in your old biddy stage.
Lesson 5:  Cultural enrichment.  Back in the day.  Learn to peck a peck of pickled peppers along with bugs, worms, grubs, box elder beetles, junebugs, slugs, and whatever else crawls, climbs, and flies.  In the winter time, your captors will provide you with expensive chicken feed, but not very much.  Yes, folks, that's where the expression "that's chicken feed" comes from.
Lesson 6:  When you get too old, your slave drivers will decide it's time for young chicks, just as movie stars do.  So try to escape if you can.

As you can see, feathery friends, your life will be sweet and short.  After you lay a few eggs, your owners will put all of your eggs in one basket.  Yes, that's where the phrase "don't put all your eggs in one basket" comes from.  Your owners will then fry, soft boil, hard boil, poach, scramble, make omelets and quiche, bake cakes and goodies, while you sit out in the cold fluffing your feathers and trying to stay wam in the twenty below zero weather.  Life is not fair, and can be fowl. 

Meanwhile, I am about to proceed with the demolition of my much appreciated egg gift.  The chickens, which so magically appeared, have now vanished, I hope to head further south where it's a bit warmer than nippy St. George.  I discovered the eggs are brown and not gold, so I wonder what color the yolks are.  I'm not so interested in chickens, but I'm thinking about a litter of pigs in my back yard for unlimited bacon and sausage.  Have a nice day.