Chicken Chronicles

After watching Matlock today, I felt inspired to add a comment to the ongoing discussion of poultry.  Matlock was gathering eggs, and a contentious biddy pecked him viciously.  To which attack, Matlock commented, "I hate chickens.  I hate chicken coops.  They stink."  And he gave up gathering the eggs.

I would like to point out, however, with all the modesty of Usain Bolt, that I was a member of the Wyoming State Champion Poultry Judging Team my senior year of high school.  We were awarded a 3-ft. tall trophy for this incredible accomplishment which graced the shelves of the vo-ag classroom for generations as a tribute to our excellence. Judging livestock and all farm critters keeps FFA boys busy by trying to pick and justify rankings of said critters.  We had never judged a chicken in our lives, with my only connection, poultry-wise, being that of scraping the obnoxious residue of their week's labors off the roosts once a week, certain that the little red mites thereon would kill me before the day was over.  But when we were in Laramie for the state judging contests, the livestock judging contest being the epitome of FFA judging, our vo-ag teacher gathered a half dozen of us together in the lobby of the Connor Hotel, graced by a series of Dad's original lamps and lampshades and Molesworth desks, and announced that we were judging chickens the next day.  Moans and groans and do-we-have-tos.  I knew that if you chopped the head off a chicken and flung it on the ground, it would flop around for a bit before reaching the frying pan.  Our teacher taught us how to judge chickens: "Put the one you would most like to eat as number 1, the next best at number 2, etc."  Lo and behold, his coaching worked, and we became the champion chicken judges of Wyoming.

Our reward was an expense paid trip to Waterloo, Iowa to the National FFA Poultry Judging Contest.  Waterloo was our waterloo, however, as our miniscule poultry judging skills and non-existent knowledge ran out on us early.  But we did get to visit the John Deere factory and the Rath Packing Plant where I had the incredible opportunity of watching how they made weinies.  I would elaborate, but some of our dear readers may still like hot dogs and I do not want to ruin their appetites.  Since then, I have been happy to buy eggs in paper cartons without having to worry about which chicken I would rather eat.  The chicken I prefer to eat today is a five buck chicken from Costco, with my set-it-and-forget-it Ronco Rotisserie safely ensconced on my basement storeroom shelf, no more to be labored over for 2 hours to clean up the mess after a lovely rotisseried chicken has been rotisseried.  I will be happy to send it to you, express collect, if you are not near a Costco and like to watch your very own private chicken go through its last rites in the Ronco Rotisserie.

Heart Mountain Story

Has this been posted before?  I am getting ready to go scan journals etc. at BYU and found this clipping in the back of Mother's ledger book.  I thought it might be a fun addition to our history.  I am sure I am not the only one who grew up in our valley and would look to this landmark to make sure I hadn't lost my bearings.
And the few times I have gone back to Penrose, when I would look to the west and Heat Mountain was there, I always felt like "all was well".

(From the Powell Tribune, published on November 21, 1935)

"Heart-Shaped Peak Is Only Reason For Name Says Indian Superintendent of Crow Tribe.

The Tribune is appreciative of the interest taken by R. T. McGaughey, a member of the Powell high school faculty, in helping to solve for us the tradition relative to the name of Heart Mountain, a Park county landmark.
Mr. McGaughey came to us with the suggestion that he would write to Robert Yellowtail, superintendent of the Crow Indian reservation, and inquire of this well educated Indian the history which surrounds the naming of this mountain near Cody and Powell.  He thought, inasmuch as the official records showed that Heart Mountain was named after Crow Heart, tha the history of the Indian tribe might include the identification of this man.
The following correspondence between Mr. McGaughey and Chief Yellowtail is given for the information of Tribune readers:

'Powell, Wyoming, November 13, 1935
Superintendent Robert Yellowtail,
Crow Agency, Montana
My Dear Mr. Yellowtail:
We are having some argument in the Powell locality about the proper spelling of Heart Mountain - whether it is "Heart" or "hart."  A letter from the Bureau of Geographic Names at Washington states that it was named for "Crow Heart," not for "General Heart."  Was "Crow Heart" a person or a tradition connected with the Crow Indians?
Can you give us any information as to the proper spelling of this name and its origin?  As this mountain was at one time in Crow territory, you probably know more of the history of it than we do.
Thank you for anything you can tell us, I am,
Yours very truly,
R. T. MCGAUGHEY

(Response)
CROW INDIAN AGENCY
Crow Agency, Montana
November 16, 1935
Mr. R. T. McGaughey
Powell, Wyoming

Dear Sir:
This acknowledges receipt of your letter concerning the argument over "Heart Mountain."
The name "Heart Mountain" comes from the Crow Indians who named it because it stuck up sharply like a human or animal heart, and means nothing more than that the mountain is heart shaped.  The Indians called it simply Heart Mountain, the proper spelling of it being awasaum dasa, meaning mountain heart.  There is no particular tradition in regard to this name except that a great battle between the Sioux and Crows was fought in which the Crows annihilated a large Sioux force, turning a great many of them into the river Stinking Water at the bend below where the old trading post used to be, which was located near the site of the bridge.

There is also a tradition that runs as follows:  Crow Medicine Man fasted upon the top of Heart Mountain and was supposed to have received revelations from the Great Spirit.  It was revealed to him that whenever Heart Mountain broke and fell down in pieces or if a large portion of it fell, it would mean that he would die. The story goes on that very peculiarly the freezing and thawing of the elements apparently caused a rent in the top of Heart Mountain and a part of it fell and very soon thereafter this seer also died thus in a measure sustaining the truth of the message he received from the Great Spirit on the top of Heart Mountain.  These are the only traditions in connection with Heart Mountain that I happen to know of.
Hope this meets with your approval and will help settle the argument.
Very sincerely yours,
ROBERT YELLOWTAIL,
Superintendent and Special Disbursing Agent."

A Few More Photos from Salem Gathering 1975

A few posts back, Dwight posted a photo from our family gathering when Paul and I lived east of Salem, Utah.  He asked if anyone had any more photos from that time.  Well, as I was going through my "stuff" I found the following treasures.  My biggest regret is Steve wasn't able to be with us.

How I long for the quality of today's cameras.  As you will see these photos are not very clear, but they are fun just the same.  Please note the most important structure in the background of some of the photos, (related to chickens) and ignore the weeds that we hoped would turn into grass.  

Have fun remembering!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liz, Dwight, and the Pitchfork Battle

The title of this picture is "Liz, get your hand off this pitchfork."  The look on my face is one of utter disgust; the look on Liz's face is, "I can if I want to."  This photo remains a classic.

Louise, Dwight in Penrose front Yard, 1933

Horses and an Unidentified Woman at Sunlight Early 1930s

As many countless times as I have seen this photo from Mother's collection, I never noticed until I blew it up that a woman was standing by the horse on the right.

Judy and Bob Petersen come to Utah

Watermelon Picnic at JB Wasdens 1933

I reworked this classic picture the best I could.  Scene on lawn in front of Grandma and Grandpa Wasden's.
Louise, Mom, Elna (can't tell if she's holding a baby), Peggy, Uncle Oscar with watermelon, Grandpa Wasden.  Back, Uncle Orvil, Grandma Wasden holding Dwight.  I especially treasure this picture because it is the only one in existence where I am being held by Grandma Wasden.

Another Classic: Dad, Mom, Louise, Dwight 1933

Dwight (future Economics Professor) in the Melon Patch

Apparently this year (probably 1933) was the first and last year when weather conditions were perfect for growing cantaloupe because I don't remember that we ever succeeded again.

A Flower Garden for Louise's Birthday

Happy Birthday to Louise

Here it is July 14.  Velna told me a week ago to send a card, but my busy itinerary intervened.  Maybe this will do until I get a card sent, and it's always better to string one's birthday out just as long as possible.  Dear oldest sister and sibling, we all share this day with you and send our love and best wishes. Thank you for making grade school so boring by being my teacher.

Carneyville Wyoming

This is for sure Veronika (Sarah).

A Pink Rose To Give Us Hope

Photos of Penrose and Dwight's Two Oldest Boys

 This is a sad lesson in why we shouldn't crop photos.  These are photos I took of Dwight's two oldest boys, Russell and Ron, when they came to Penrose for a visit.  The first photo shows a few more fun things about the living room, (besides two cute, mischievous boys) before the radio died, and the gas heater/stove was replaced with the wall heaters.

 This photo is fun because it shows some of the outbuildings (chicken coop!!!) and a very young Ron.

Note the truck loaded with hay, the garden tractor shed, and the light pole that so often served as home base, or in the case of baseball, first base.  I just thought these showed a few things that were worthwhile to share.  

Penrose Photos

This photo was taken when Uncle Stanley came to visit.

Dad's shop in Penrose.

This is a fun photo that shows the old cellar etc.

Just Something Fun For Sunday

The note on the back of this is unfamiliar handwriting, but it says "Russell M. Blood at Dewey Riddle Ranch about 1930"

There is no note on the back of this photo, but it shows Mother and her cute car (I am assuming that is her car) so well.

Do you think Dad was happy or was he proving a point?  Same car in the background.

Dwight, Dad, Elizabeth in the Bean Field

One of the all-time favorite pictures of early Penrose

More History

This is a photo that is new to me (ok, so it was in my stuff???).  It is a photo of the Dewey S. Riddle Ranch in Painter Wyoming.  The date on the photo is 1931.  Dudes and a/the dudette??  The original is very small and not terribly clear, but once again it shows a part of the ranch house and a really neat car.

These are people we need to know.  From left to right, Rose Kray (Krajicek) Allgeier, Helen Kray (Krajicek) McGinnis, Elsie Kray (Krajicek) Riddle and Ann/Nance Kray (Krajicek) Rice.  These are the sisters of our Grandmother Louise.  Photo was taken in 1955.

This photo was taken in 1949 and is of two of Louise's brothers, Joe and Henry.

Dad often commented about how hard it was to not know much about his family (as in Aunts and Uncles, etc.).  This note from Rose to Mary Quick (she married Roscoe after Louise died) suggests, I think, there was longing on both sides.

This is a tiny photo of Great Grandmother Veronika. Not of great quality, but here you go.

This is a photo Elizabeth shared with me several years ago.  Veronika Mach Kray is in the front and her sisters are behind her.  Elizabeth was not sure who was who, but their names are Antoinette (maybe Greenwald?), Anna and Kathrine "Kate".  Any ideas?  Again a very old and poor photo, but it may be helpful somehow.
I know this is a long post, but I have got to pass on stuff that I should have taken care of years ago.  Hopefully some of this is worthwhile to someone.  

Veronika Krajicek

 

Stairsteps: Dad, Louise, Dwight, Elizabeth

Dad, Dwight, Louise, Liz

Elizabeth and her mud pies in her Sunday dress.

A Faded But Magic Photo: Dad, Liz, Dwight, Louise

Dad, Dwight, Louise, 1933 Penrose

The Shumway house, which was always called "Rosie's", is in the distance.  The mailbox is barely discernible, but was our connection with the world.

Dad, Liz, Dwight, Louise Early Day Penrose

A bit fuzzy.  Amazingly, I remember the skirt Louise is wearing in this photo.  Had we gone to Church?  If so, where?  When did church stop being held in Penrose?  And would all of us have gone to Byron?  Who knows?

Judy, Steve, Ann way back when

Thanks to whoever took this picture.  Liz, maybe?

Penrose porch scene 1956

One of those rare times when someone else took a picture and I was in it.  We had no idea what we were in for when we headed for Ann Arbor a short time later.

Penrose Front Porch Summer 1956

This Penrose visit occured late summer 1956.  Ron was born shortly after and, when he was two weeks old, Velna and I and two kids took off for two years in Ann Arbor at the U of Mich.  No money, no place to stay, brand new baby.  Typical life story.  We figured it out.

Familiar Smells and Other Stuff

Are there childhood smells you sometimes long for?  Fresh baked bread or Mother's fried chicken, the smell of the sagebrush after a rain storm, a bowl of freshly picked strawberries,  or grape Kool-aid in a quart jar on a hot summer day?  There is a smell that has been tugging at my memory senses and today Paul helped me with this one.


Tonight when we crawl into bed, I can bury my face in the sheets and there will be that very fresh smell of sheets that have been dried without anything but the sunshine.  Can life get any better than that?
I know, our blog is coming, but life has been very busy, and so I am sharing on Penrose Mornings one more time (according to Judy, she doesn't think I really will do a blog - should I take that as a challenge, or should I just let her be right?).

Here is an update on the chicks - the photos speak for themselves.  We are at the one month mark and not one casualty.

Scout, the cat, is so intrigued she spends her days laying around the edge of the coop to keep tabs on the chicks' comings and goings.  We may have a rooster, so Laura has named that one "Dinner".

Life is busy and ever so good in our little corner of the world, in spite of forest fires all around us, and turmoil everywhere we turn.  We are very blessed.