What I learned on Wednesday

Wednesday was a busy day and my mind is boggled with all of the news I garnered from each sibling.  Is there a better place to share than on our blog?  So, here is the story.

Yesterday, Elizabeth bought a new computer so she and Ron can have "dueling" computers, even though she has to wait for it to come.  The missing tidbit here, is how will it arrive?  When will it arrive?  Who will set it up?  Will it still play special games or just be limited to Pinterest?

Judy - well, she was going through her fabric and indicated she was amazed at what she was finding.  She mentioned that she was pretty sure the fabric fairy was gifting her with various pieces of fabric because she couldn't remember buying some of it.

Steve - I didn't talk with him but have heard by the grapevine that he needs to see a chiropractor.  Does he need to sleep on the floor?  Or should he take a nice long vacation and come west?  I propose that heading to Florida should be out of the question - they do have sink holes, you know.

Louise - she is in Oregon so I can't report on her.  Hopefully she is enjoying her stay with Diana, but I have this vision of her dragging her quilting frame along.

And then there is Dwight.  He now has a "thingy" that Velna's sisters gave him for his birthday that is an olive oil spritzer, and a salt and pepper shaker all in one.  He was feeling quite smug because he was sure he is the first one to have it, and was very encouraged when I told him I had never seen such a thingy.  However, the Costco non-coupon booklet for October came yesterday and low and behold there was his "thingy" at a reduced price.  Am I tempted?  I just want to know if it takes batteries.

As you can see, in between harvesting stuff from the garden, checking in on the chickens who are in a slow production mode because they are becoming featherless (I think the chicken gurus call it molting), ironing a couple of shirts so it looks as though I did something (I leave them hanging in the doorway just in case evidence is needed), I had a very productive day.  After reading this do you wonder whether there is still a need for the PT?

Happy Thursday - I've gone to DI.

A Teacher, Coach and Friend Remembered

For those of you who attended Powell High School, please take a few minutes and read the article and obituary of Keith Bloom, who was outstanding in all ways.

Harvest Time

With threat of frost in spots tonight, I started digging in the garden.  When I came to this monster, I was impressed with what can grow from a tiny seed.  Do you suppose there is a lesson in there somewhere?

Blog Design

Don't know where else to say it, except here.  This is one of the most outstanding post designs that Dwight has ever done.  It is a lovely dedication to a lovely lady. 

Happy Birthday To Dwight!

   Devoted            Delightful

     Dashing                           Dedicated

   Determined               Decent

 Decisive                  Dear

    Dependable        Diplomat

    Disarming                     Direct

 

With love and best wishes from your brother and 4 sisters!


Add caption

 

My Bag Is DONE!

Elizabeth finished her lovely bag first.  Not only did I see it on the blog, but I saw it with my own eyes.  She had lots of detail and she followed difficult construction instructions with a perfect conclusion.  Then Ann finished her bag with wonderful variations that caught my attention and convinced me that maybe, just maybe I had a fighting chance.
So after Elizabeth left here yesterday....  (Yes, we had a good time together.  No, I did not take one picture).....I got to work and finished my bag.  It is the "other" design and big enough to hold my bold print scriptures for Sunday.  No electronic scriptures for this girl....yet. 
The significant information here is that all three of us chose to do this project and all three of us finished it.  A rarity indeed.

Quilt Time in Preston

Louise and Cheryl came to visit yesterday - This quilt of Cheryl's was the most exciting quilt we shared.  Family visits occur less often as the years go by, but we appreciate all of the family get-togethers that we can manage.

Oh, What Do You Do In The Summertime

It was fun to see Elizabeth's post of the photos from what seems like forever ago.
I thought I would share just a little bit of how our summer has gone.  I think I need to revamp my little family blog so more people have access to it, but for today I will share here.

One of Paul's top priority projects was to solve the water dripping off the roof of the chicken coop so there would not be any ice in front of the door to the coop (do you wonder why??  Not!).  So, note the gutter and the down spout on the coop.  Happy Day!

 I read a book and found the suggestion about building a trellis for the cucumbers.  If fall doesn't come soon, this will climb over the fence and head into the neighbor's yard.  I would say that has been very successful. And the cucumbers hang through the trellis so picking them is much easier than fighting the prickly plant.

 And then there was the door to nowhere.  When Paul leveled the floor in my sewing room that at one time had a major slant to it because that room  was originally an outside porch (long before we bought the house), the north door was about 8 - 10 inches above the original cement steps (as was the south door, but we had already solved that problem long ago).  For the past several years we have talked about one solution after another, and this year was the time to put something into action.  Although this door is never used because I have shelves in the sewing room blocking access, at least now it could be used.  I love the end result.

The garden looking east.

This is how the garden looks, looking west through the grape arbor that I am sure won't work, and Paul is determined to make work.  The flowers in the garden are a Penrose tradition.  Everything has really taken off.  What a fun year it has been, in spite of the intense heat.  If you wonder where the rows are, just know it has become a losing battle.

This photo is just a little blurry, but has to be shared.  The egg on the left is a "normal" egg, the egg on the far right is the size the little red hens normally lay, and the rather large egg next to the ruler from the little desk drawer is a double yolk egg.  What a good day!  May your Saturday find things going well at your house.

Four of Six Siblings

Pictures are still waiting to be sorted into their proper places, but that job has been put on the back burner while I do other things, like harvest zucchini logs.  These pictures represent a time in the fall of 2000 when Dwight, Velna, Ann, and Louise all came to Preston together.  One of the things that we did was to get out Mother's old photograph album and Dwight scanned those pictures and others as fast as he could make his scanner go.  We did take time to pose on the front porch.  The top picture is a winner, but Ann has the most winning smile in the bottom picture - Louise was looking at something else, and I was dreaming or something.  Anyway, I remember this as a very nice time - just missing Judy and Steve.

Ruminations, Advanced Philosophies, and Petrified Wisdom

Here is what I know today:

• I have spent considerable time trying to shrink the size of the heading photo for this blog.  Blogspot, being antiquated, requires that you go in and edit HTML language.  Have you looked at HTML for a Blogger post?  Try as I may, I cannot locate the dimensions of the header so that I can shrink them to less than half a page.  I did try re-sizing the photo, which you see above.  The shrunken Penrose river bridge seems sacrilegious to me, like it is unworthy of even crossing to get to the other side.  So if some genius wants to learn HTML, we can shrink the size of the header.  One would think wouldn't one that Blogger at this stage of their existence would have a few options besides humongous for their header.
• Ann and I discussed the stuff that needs to be done to archive Dad's inlay work.  (I realize that in the latter days his work became more sophisticated and was referred to as marquetry.  I never heard the word marquetry until I was very old).  I was a bit disappointed that hardly anyone wanted the photo book of Dad's pictures that I had printed.  Steve, according to Ann, is investigating possibilities here. It would be nice if we could finish this project before the six of us start going to a better place (as they euphemistically say at one's demise).  Actually, I like the place I am in right now.  
• Roosters are against the law in Orem, although the Anderson family, who lived across the block from us in Orem, surely had a rooster a few years ago because hens definitely do not crow like roosters.
• Somehow I keep getting duplicate references when I post to FaceBook which I do not like except for kid's pictures and the You Know You're From Laramie stuff.  How do I get this extra stuff off of there? (There being an indefinite antecedent but irregardless I am certain you all can tell to what I am referring to)
• Various ones are doing a good job of resurrecting hidden treasures of photos that were squirreled away and are just now coming to light.  I've seen most of these, but have no idea where or when, and I'm really glad to see them again.  Keep them coming.  Keep digging amongst your hidden treasures.
• I must now gird up and hie to WalMart, much as I hate to go.  Have a nice day.

Challenges

As I have been writing on "my story", there have been many obstacles to overcome.  At least The Cat has decided to stretch out between the keyboard and monitor and no longer on the keyboard.
Happy Monday!

Watching the Sugar Beets Grow

We would know that hat anywhere!  Farmer Wasden standing in the beet field.  His legs weren't long so that make the beet leaves look even taller.

Sofe Wasden Johnson

Aunt Sofe with baby. 

 

 

 

Elna, Cindy, and David

Another Wasden photo that I don't think has been previously posted on the blog???
I do love David's hat and Cindy's pigtails.

Lucinda Wasden Sorenson

How stylish!  Our Aunt Cindy.......

Another Penrose Relief Society Picture?

I would have thought this was a family picture, with Grandma Tilda C. Wasden, Great-aunt Minnie Taylor from Gunnison, UT, and Bothilda McBlaine, with Mother (Minnie W. Blood) on the far right.  Okay, historians, tell us about this one.  Certainly the background looks like it might be at the Tvedtness home?  Or?

Random Deep Thoughts and Philosophies

1. I spent an hour trying to reduce the size of the blog heading and so far have not been successful.  Apparently you have to go into HTML editing and find the dimensions which, so help me, I have not been able to find.  Meanwhile, either gaze at the yellow sunflower or figure it out and put something else in.
2. My eggs were not numbered.  For all I knew, I used the newest eggs first, saving the oldest until they were older yet.
3. If Liz had been smart enough to understand "ditto", she could have learned how to read sooner and could have finished all the books in the Powell library two years sooner.  As it is, my conclusion that Liz was too dumb to learn how to read because she could not master the term "ditto" was one of the more egregious mistakes of my life.
4. Judy thinks she has a system in which she will not have to write a word about her life story.
5. She learned it from Ann.
6. I am thinking about extending my life story.  If I write one page a day for 365 days, I will have 365 pages and will then have reached age 21.
7. Louise left out one monumental tidbit from her story which I am too kind to remind her of.  Or about.
8. I am on my way to Costco.  I have to spend a fortune on a new version of Windows 7 since I cannot reload the version I have and a new external hard drive since Seagate didn't take into account the fact that Microsoft would release the egregious Windows 8 and that the Seagate drive I have would not be compatible with Windows 8.  It's all still cheaper than the $3000 a new tooth implant costs.
9. If you haven't watched Longmire on A & E Monday nights, you might want to try it for the yuks.  Father So-and-So from Ballykissangel, maybe, or was it something else, on PBS, is now sheriff of Absoraka County Wyoming, which no one can pronounce, which is filmed in New Mexico, where they fly the Wyoming State Flag in front of the courthouse.

The Wasden Sisters

Can anyone date this picture, taken in Grandma and Grandpa Wasden's yard in Penrose.  This picture probably came from Aunt Cindy's (Lucinda's) photograph album that Uncle Norman gave to me.  Sofe was the oldest sister - looks like she is laughing at something, as are the others.  Our grandmother was just a little below 5' tall - Mother was only 5'3", so you can see the comparative heights.  Anyway, as in most families, these sisters were very diverse in their interests, families, etc.  Both Sofe and Elna married very young - their husbands had been previously married - Alvin's first wife died in the flue epidemic, and Elna's husband was divorced.  Mother married a cowboy, who had to figure out an occupation.  His employment ranged from selling vacuum cleaners in Denver to doing carpenter work on the ranch in Sunlight to cooking for a sheep crew to farming, which was his last occupation.  Aunt Cindy married a returned missionary, and they settled in Lovell, where he farmed and worked at the sugar beet factory.  Mother went to college, and finally graduated in 1959.  (Correct me, Ann and Judy, if that's not right.)

May I Please?

At the cajoling and the encouraging comments from siblings, I have been working on my story.  However, I have come to the conclusion that certain parts of "my" story have already been masterfully written, because they are, after all, "our" story...  So - here is my proposal.  I would like to "borrow" such pieces of writing from Louise's, Dwight's and Elizabeth's stories, that include anything of historical value, such as Louise's writing that includes dates and places on grandparents, Dwight's writing about the early days in Penrose, as well as Elizabeth's accounts of various events. While I realize we all see things just a little differently, things like the genealogical history, when the move to Penrose was made and why, etc., are really only one story.  Besides if I copy from your stories, then we won't have conflicting information floating around.  Doesn't this sound logical?

Now, I realize this sounds as though I am being lazy, however, I think it is making good use of what has already been done.  What would Mother say?  Do we need to reinvent the wheel?  I will happily give credit repeatedly, when each of you are quoted, and will also, happily, embellish any credentials you would like to have applied.

Seriously, please let me know what you think. Hopefully, you will all say this is a WONDERFUL idea.

Listening to Past Good Times

Thank you, Ann.  When Ann sent us the CDs of so many family treasures, including recordings of past family get-togethers at Mother and Daddy's home on 93rd, I decided to put the recordings of family conversations on my ipod.  I had forgotten about them, but had the play-back on random this morning, and came across the riotous conversation that took place after we had our family pictures taken on August 1, 1980.  We were evidently doing dishes, because the constant clink of the tableware is in the background.  What a joy to listen to the banter and laughter that took place at such a serious time.  What a wonderful memory to re-live.  If you haven't listened to yours for a while, find it and enjoy!  Onward and upward.

A PS to Elizabeth's Post

There is one photo missing in Elizabeth's post about our visit to Preston, and here it is.  The Ott Light is still adding some dimension to the photo, but the smiles are indicative of a very good day.  

The Chicken Farmers From Orem

       Actually, Ann and Paul look too citified to be ordinary chicken farmers - they have an elite bunch, which are probably pampered more than any chickens we ever knew about in our youth.  They (Ann and Paul, not the chickens) came bearing gifts - a wonderful bunch of the healthiest eggs we've eaten in a long time.  However, I was absolutely amazed when I opened the box to try one for breakfast to discover that the eggs have numbers on them.  I had to call Ann to discover how efficient she is - the numbers are dates harvested, so that you use the older ones first.  A person does not get service like that from store-bought eggs.  Oh, yes, and there is a clue as to one of our activities fr the day in the picture of Ron and Paul - we had to have some dessert before they left for home.  The visit was delightful!
        In my past, I did folk painting, and thought I would do more on all of the wooden shelves, tissue box covers, house signs, Christmas decorations, etc. that I had collected over the years.  Reality does sink in, and when I suggested to Ann that I would give these things to DI, she intervened, and said that she knew who would use them. So,  I managed to send one very large box and two bankers' boxes, plus a large ark stuffed with animal pairs, and a few miscellaneous things to paint with Ann, hopefully for some offspring to invent wonderful things to do with them.  Now that evidence of my past wishful thinking is gone, and the house feels much lighter - and someone else gets to be creative with those wooden things to be painted.  Thank goodness for family!

P.S.  Oh, dear, I just enlarged these pictures - sorry about the Ott-Lite growing out of Ann'a head.  Otherwise, the picture is pretty good.  Nobody's perfect.

Belated Birthday Wishes for Louise

Where did we all go?  Can't believe that we let the 14th slip by without a mention on the blog of the birthday of our family matriarch.  (Is that what you are, Louise?  At least, you have the most years of all of us.)  Hope your day went well, and that you got to celebrate.  You have cultivated a happy disposition, conquering your fears and forging ahead in life being responsible for yourself.  I love the way you have paved the way for me in so many aspects of my life - from being neater than I was (am?) to teaching school, to making quilts, to writing your story, etc., etc.  We are fortunate to have had you leading the way, so that when we wanted to go pick pears, it wasn't such a shock to our dear parents. (Well, maybe not?)   We did all grow up together, didn't we?  Anyway, I've always felt fortunate and secure to have a "big" sister who has tried to show me what to do in life, even if I didn't always follow. Thank you for your steadfastness.  Much love to you on this day after.

A Video To Check Out

As Steve and I were talking today, we talked about the Grizzly Creek Ranch in Montana, where he had built some of the lights.  Click on this link and watch the video.  When they start showing the interior of the barn, take a real close look at the lights.  Quite amazing - and beautiful.  Steve's work is so amazing - just wanted to share.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3omK9FJ-0j4

BEFORE THE "AFTER" PICTURE

When Ann published the photo of their reunion I called and asked her if it was even legal to have that large a family in America these days.  I had meant to publish this picture of "before" a long time ago but I might have procrastinated a little.

PETERSEN FAMILY REUNION

"Shall we gather at the river....the beautiful, beautiful river......"

The Cowlitz River, full of glacier melt from the hot weather, runs along the front of David and Shannon's cabin at Packwood.  The kids rented extra cabins on either side and we had a splendid time.

At The Grove of the Patriarchs.  Missing in the picture are Kemp's family, Jacob's family and Ross.

On the front porch of the Gala Cabin with the flag that the kids made.



L to R: Phil & Joleen Harlan, Brooke, Ross, Ben, Joel, JoLin, Quinn, Bob, Judy, Shannon, David Kemp, Sonja, (coming down the stair on R) Benjamin, Kerry, Jay (on the left) Elissa, Libby, Natalie, and Grace Gala.

 

Jacob and Lisa had a prior engagement in Rexburg as they brought our first great grandchild into the world......Iris Rae, born July 3.

Memories of My LIfe

What I have learned since I have received and begun reading my sister, Elizabeth’s, beautifully printed book.

1.        To record one’s life is essential to tie the dots together.

2.       To write with a hand of kindness will never be a mistake.

3.       In the tapestry of her cloth, there is, no matter what, one thread that is bright in color and unbreakable:  her faith.

4.       The choice to reclaim blessings is not only possible, but essential.

5.       Love heals.  There is no room for bitterness.

 

  

Perhaps I should have finished reading the book, before making these comments.  As of this morning, I have her arriving in Germany to spend 2 years teaching.  Maybe I will think of more to say, or maybe someone else will have comments as they read.

 

I, for one, am very appreciative for Elizabeth’s hard work.  And I am very thankful that she is our sister.

 

Is This the Chittendon Bridge?

I hated to interrupt the fun flow about the visit to Layton, but this picture is a mystery that needs to be solved.  I found this extremely faded photograph tucked into an old envelope for Craftsman Wood Service Co. in the pile of pictures I'm sorting.  Does anyone know why:  1.  I have this picture?  2.  Why it is tucked into a Craftsman envelope?  3.  Is the significance having to do with road and    in the Park?  I can't tell, but this doesn't look like a concrete bridge????  Remember Grandpa telling the story of how they poured the concrete for the Chittendon Bridge (which no longer exists).They waited until the moon was almost full, and then, mixing the concrete by hand in big wheelbarrows, mixed and poured 24 hours a day around the clock.  It must have been an exhausting endeavor.  

    P.S.  I wrote this and then thought about doing a search for the Chittendon Bridge.  Read about it in Wikipedia - it's quite a story!  Now I know more than I knew before, but I didn't see a picture???

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.  

A Bit of History from Uncle Brooks Wasden

As I'm sorting through boxes and boxes of old pictures and documents (translation, Stuff), I ran across this letter - I know that I have pictures of Uncle Brooks, but you can just use your imagined recollection as you read this descriptive letter of his great adventure, written in his inimitable way.  This is very long, but I thought it worthwhile to share with all of you.

From a letter dated May 9, 1987

Medford, Oregon

From Uncle Brooks Wasden to Russell and Elna Blood.

“....Horace Albright; how very thoughtful that you would enclose his obituary.  Yes, I knew him and darn near attached a little worship to the man.  If I calculate rightly, I was 17 years older then and he had been Park Superintendent for a year.  He was promoting the need for improved roads for the sure-to-come automobile traffic - which Father hated to see come, but had to bow to “Progress”.  Father felt this was the sure sign of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse rampaging through the world, desecrating and destroying all that is good and beautiful.  How near his summary of such things proved true may not be as debatable now as then.  But it was the increased activity in road building that gave Father the opportunity to return to living in the Gardens of the only remaining Eden on earth and feel the limitless wonder of it all.  I can still see him wake up in the morning, go outside the tent, pause long enough to stand erect, raise his chin to bring into focus the heights of the mountains about our camp, and inhale the sublime joy of privilege to live and feel and listen to the solitude his whole person could encompass.

‘Mr. Debs and his brother helped me trail our eight horses from Penrose to the Park.  We drove “4” on a wagon loaded with grain and hay, and our bed rolls plus cooking needs.  The other “4” trailed along behind.  We made it to Cody the first day and camped at the bridge which crossed over to the railroad station.  This was the farthest I had been from home and the only time I had seen the Shoshone River with the city of Cody and its adjacent interests.  We rolled out our beds and slept on the ground.  Think of doing that now.

‘Early the next morning we were on our way.  The only way to travel was the little thin line along the north side of the canyon you can see as you travel the present highway.  Mr. Debs drove the team - thank goodness - because I was so totally enthralled with what my eyes were seeing.  At first it appeared like a solid wall of stone and mountain blocked our way, but as each step forward of the teams revealed a widening crack - maybe, just maybe we might get through and not have to climb over the top.  It was like the jaws of a huge gate slid noiselessly apart to let us through and then closed just as noiselessly behind us locking us in for keeps.

‘An automobile from Texas caught up with us.  At the first chance we pulled our wagon into a side gap to let them pass.  As they pulled up to do so, the trail horse at the rear jumped out and her hind leg hit their fender.  They stopped all right.  The poor lady was terrified.  This was before the days of glassed-in windows and doors - just canvas “pin-ons”.  To the lady it appeared the horse was intending to get in and ride!  Seemed there was a difference of opinions.  I hopped down, went back and shooed the horse back into line.  But the lady’s terror increased:  “We didn’t mean to do it - We didn’t mean to do it,” she babbled hysterically.  Her hands were quivering before her face and her eyes were so pleading - like she expected to be scalped and thrown into the gorge below.  That’s when I learned I had charm!  I rebuked the horse, smiled at the lady, told her we were sorry. Her expression changed like sunshine bursting from behind a cloud.  “You see, Henry, they are not mean; they will not hurt us.”  Such assurance!  And they drove on.

The rest of the trip up the canyon was [a] more and more mind boggling thrill.  The roar of the water, the birds daring to fly up those sheer walls, and then the dam with the water piled up behind it.  This little boy had all that his eyes and mind could behold for all time - he was sure.

We made it to the ”Hanging Rock” for the evening camp.  Real trees ...big!  A place to graze the horses like the story of “The Virginian” by Owen Wister.  Next morning, we passed the rock formation “The Holy City”.  What romance that excited!  And the day continued to expand unlimited beauty and more beauty.

Father met us below Pahaska, on horse-back.  Wondered what took us so long.  Camp was inside the Park just below the steep incline to Sylvan Pass.  About a week later we moved camp down to Pahaska.  It was here that Father put me on a road-grader - very pleased with what he had taught me to maneuver it.  Hoped I would not let him down.  We “bladed” the road from Pahaska to the entrance in time for Mr. Albright’s first visit. The road did look neat and he took time to speak to me.  This excited the other laborers because “officials” did not usually notice them.  The next morning, father kind of shuffled about for a bit and then said,

“Now, don’t get the big head but Mr. Albright said, ‘That son of yours can handle a grader like that?  Tell him he’s always got a job here with me as long as he wants one.‘  Father, I know, hated to tell me that because he knew that it would be hard on hat-bands. But for Mr. Albright to notice me, to give that notice of recognition, did a miracle for my self esteem.  Perhaps, just perhaps I could do something good, worth a compliment. It has ever been a cherished thing.

The next year I did send him an application for work.  When it arrived in the mail box there in Penrose - a big envelope - there was a second big envelope with it.  One envelope said, “Report to Cody, Wyoming, to-------”  The other envelope said, “You are called to fill a Mission ----”