Birthday Time for Louise - July 14th

 This happy picture was taken last summer when Louise and Cheryl came to Preston for some shared Show 'n Tell to awe and amaze each other with  the quilts we have made, and to enjoy the camaraderie that we also share.  Louise has always been an example for me to follow in so many ways - She taught school, so I knew that I should do so, too.  She made quilts, so I knew that I should do the same.  She continues on with her sense of humor and optimistic outlook on life.  She sets an example for all of us.  The sister bond is very strong, and brings joy into my life.  May this day be a good one, and may you have many more to share with family, Louise dear.

This old picture is a favorite - First day of school.  As I recall, Louise was a freshman and I was in the 5th grade.  Back to Penrose for a minute.

Ann and Dwight Make a Trip to Layton to See Louise June 18 2013

Ann and I went to Layton yesterday to see our sister Louise.  We visited extensively and Louise gave us a tour of her extraordinarily well organized home, with a room for scrapbooking, a room for sewing, a room with the quilting frame and computer, and a living room for watching TV.  Amazing.  She has made dozens of wonderful scrapbooks with photos and writing, and she estimates she has made at least 150 quilts.  We lament that our mobility, or lack thereof, keeps us from more frequent visits but we cherish the time we can spend together.  

Little Louise

Baby Louise Taking a Bath in the Yard 1932?

No remedies existed for this photo.  However, it tells so many stories the way it is--the summer day, the wash on the line, Louise in the washtub in the yard, the orchard trees--this yard was a part of our lives.

Sunday Afternoon in Raymond

I was so happy to see Louise! And that includes Diana's family and Cheryl. There is sorrow for the reason for them to come, but reassuring to watch their family bond together.

Down by the River

We are getting boring and hard up for new things. And I haven't contributed for a long time.

So here is Louise all grown up - pre-marriage, and she and I and Judy went down to the river (Shoshone) in the middle of winter to see what we could see. Was this supposed to be a pin-up pose? I don't really know, but sitting ont he ground in the snow had to be uncomfortable. Enlarge this one.

Birthday Party

The special entertainment was a bagpiper. I was so caught by surprise and loving bagpipe music the second I heard the sound from the hall I broke down and cried. It was so amazing what my kids thought of for me.

As you can tell, I enjoyed it immensely.

Kevan's group, Lattigo, entertained throughout the evening. Here they are playing Happy Birthday.

Kevan getting into Orange Blossom Express. He is amazing. (Does my motherly pride show?)

Birthday Party

Yes, there really were 80 candles, but we were outside and there was a breeze so they didn't all get lit at once, even with the connecting trail. It did make quite a flare-up for a second.

There were some trick candles that wouldn't go out so I was getting some help.

Louise Blood Celebrates 80th Birthday

This beautiful formal portrait of our sister Louise, must be part of our blog record.  Her birthday party was held on Saturday, July 16 with her children honoring her in meaningful detail.  We hope to bribe those who had cameras to share their photos for all to see on the blog.....

Happy Birthday to our Dear Louise: Big Sister, Loyal Friend, and Companion Through Our Shared Adventures

More Carts

There were a couple of photos posted not long ago showing a much more "modern" cart, however, this cart was a true treasure. Home made is always best! And what a great way to keep little ones in one place for a long walk. I am assuming Mother walked from the little house up to Grandma and Grandpa's house. Is that correct? Some of the fun things about this photo are the fact Grandpa made the cart, wheels and all, the great view of the hills in the background, a familiar gate, and is that a garden growing along the path. The cart Grandpa made in later years was patterned after this one.

First Day of School, September 1945

In the days when girls were required to wear dresses to school, Louise and I were prepared for the first day of school. Louise wore her store-bought (hand-me-down?) brown and white dress and her brown and white dress shoes with anklets, and I wore a made-over green plaid dress with my favorite penny loafers. Notice that the main road through downtown Penrose was full of ruts - dried for now, but susceptible to exciting times when the rains fell or the snow melted. The first day of school was still very exciting to us. Who knew what adventures were around the corner?

Happy Birthday Louise

Happy Birthday Day Dear Louise.......Happy birthday to you.

Here's Roy singing Happy Birthday to Louise!  She deserves to have that song sung in tune. 

Louise is everything Ann has said.  And whether she likes it or not she is our matriarch figure in this family in the absence of our mother.  May this be a very happy day and may you be gently reminded of the great love your family has for you.

Happy Birthday to Louise

(How is this for cheating? Elizabeth put this page together and now I am "borrowing" it, because I am too lazy to do my own, and also because I love the photos that are here - I can't do any better. So, after apologizing to Elizabeth, on to the important even of the day.)

Happy Birthday, big sister. What a dear friend you have always been to me. We have talked, laughed and cried together, you have encouraged me when I was sure I couldn't teach my R.S. lessons, you have put up with my silliness, and always been willing to overlook my flaws. Being a big sister can't be easy (having never been one), but the example you have set for me as you have found incredible ways to be happy when life isn't perfect will always be a source of encouragement for me.

I hope you have a wonderful birthday, Louise. Love you lots.

Louise

Our first stop on our way to Orem last Wednesday was at Louise's home in Layton. We had a great, if short visit - She and I can compare quilts and quilting in a minimum of time, because of the wonderful minutes (?) we have spent on the phone keeping up with each other's life. As my older sister, she has been a wonderful example of a mother who has managed to weld her family together in many ways. May you and my other sisters have a day of good remembering tomorrow.

Louise's Turn

Now, we move on to December, 1953. I was home for college, and Louise was getting married. She had been teaching school in Cody that fall. Mileage and costs for the trip to Idaho Falls as follows:
Home, mileage 46,713 Full Tank
Bozeman 46,943 @33 1/2 cents $3.98
Left Bozeman 46,950
Belgrade 46,961
Idaho Falls 47,226 10.3 gal @ 33.9 $3.50
Dillon 1 qt. oil & gas @34 cents - 9 gal. 3.20

We stopped in Bozeman at Dwight and Velna's student housing apartment - very basic, if I remember correctly. We were enchanted with Russell - the first grandchild-nephew. Dwight and Velna with Russell joined us going to Idaho Falls. The weather was terrible, and Dwight was a big help to Mother. When we got there, again, my role was to stay in the motel while everyone went to the temple for the ceremony, and I got to babysit Russell. As I recall, he wasn't any problem at all - in fact, he slept a lot. I don't remember much else, but the trip home from Bozeman on was a real challenge, with very icy roads. Mother finally got so tired, that she let me drive, but I had to creep along at a very slow speed. Fortunately, there wasn't much traffic. We were glad to get back to Penrose.

More from the Orange Notebook - Christmas 1952

This itemized list represents Mother's shopping list for Christmas shopping for 1952.
Pop - O Shoes $3.50
Outing Flannel, 22 yd. $11.00
S. shirting, 3-1/2 yrd. $2.00
pop's bitt (?) .40

Also on the list: Deseret Book - Bibles
Woolworth's - pins
Music book
Was the outing flannel to make pj's? The pajamas I remember so clearly were the zebra pajamas - they were outstanding, but I don't remember the year. The sewing room was in the bedroom where Louise, Judy, and I slept. Mother would disappear into the room, close the door firmly, and we were barred from entering. When she emerged, there would be no evidence of anything - Mother could be very mysterious at times.

And, this must have been a few notes from a trip to take Louise to Provo in 1951: $14.78, my cash on hand; Louise paid at Lander for gas @9 cents - $3.50.
Another page in Louise's handwriting - Provo '51,
Gas (Lander) $3.50
Gas (Evanston) $3.80
Room $3.00
Breakfast (35 cents ea.) $3.00
milk (Mom pd.) .37
gas (Provo) $2.45
Total $13.82
milk .18
dinner 1.10

There were also several addresses and names - Louise was looking for a place to stay. (One comment was that a place was "not exciting". Her address ended up being at Mrs. Wight's.
I remember when we went to pick up Louise the day after Dwight and Velna's wedding, that the weather in Provo seemed warm, and she seemed so grown up. Guess it was bound to happen?

A Look at the Past

I don't want to mess up Dwight's getting us to round up memories about what early mornings in Penrose were like, but I am cleaning out a major catch-all, and came across a small orange spiral notebook of Mother's, which has some interesting things in it. However, this one won't wait - sorry I didn't find it in December when we were talking about Dwight and Velna's wedding. These are the statistics from the trip from Penrose to Laramie, to Salt Lake, Provo, and back home again, as written down in the little notebook in both my handwriting and Mother's:
Mileage at home was 34,895.2
Thermopolis 35,019.7 - 6 gal. $1.82
Douglas 35,212.0 - 9 gal. $2.70
Wheatland 35,228 - 3 gal. .95
Laramie $1.50
Rawlins $2.00 (D)
Rock Springs $2.20
Evanston $2.10 (D)
Salt Lake City 35,808.3 $16.27

Provo 35,890 - $3.20
Evanston 7.7 g $2.25
Rock Springs 5.9 $1.80
Thermopolis 10.8 $3.29
Lovell 5.7 $1.70
30.1 $12.24

And, for expenses: (Obviously, we had packed food for the trip to Laramie and to Salt Lake.)
.53 - apples & ice cream
4.00 - Motel (S.L.)
1.15 - Temple
4.00 - groc. in SLC
4.50 - 1-1/2 bu apples
4.04 - 2 hats
1.10 - Nonsense

Why did we buy two hats? I can't remember - and I love the last item - So typical of Mother.

Happy Birthday Louise 2009