RON N BEV

Christ's Birthday

2011-12-26T12:48:00.000-08:00

Mary and baby Jesus

Journey Through the Life of Christ

Jesus as a Baby

Carpenter's Tools

He learned the skill of carpentry

He was a fisherman

Fisherman of Souls

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He loves us and forgives us

His Ministry he healed the sick.

Jesus

I am a Child of God

Crucified in a crown of thorns

In Gethseme

The Second Coming

We celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ December 25. This year we felt the wonderful feeling of Peace and Happiness. At the Festival of The Nativitys in Arlington ,Washington. A special room was dedicated to Christs Life. It was called " Come Unto Christ". It was a spiritual experience to view his life in pictures. This room was so beautiful. I am grateful for my Savior, his greatest gift of the Atonement for all of us.

Festival of Nativitys

2011-12-26T11:22:00.000-08:00

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Bethlehem

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Live Nativity

We enjoyed helping with the Nativity Festival in Arlington, Washington. It was a Missionary event. It lasted four days ending with a beautiful choral concert .

This is one we decorated

Beautiful Poinesettias

Sculture made of wood

African

A Snowman Nativity

Eskimo

Carved from a tree

Black Bears

Shepherds

The Wise Bears

Large Navitity outside Church

South West

Christmas Trees

Mexico

The Three Kings

Childrens Nativity

Mary and Jesus

Mary, Joseph, Babe

Pretty Nativity

Mary, Joseph,Babe

Lamanites

Unto us a Child is Born

Guatemala

Julie and me and Babe

It was put on my the Arlington Stake. Julie and I helped decorate the halls.with gold balls hung on gold ribbon.Then we helped set up the many Nativity sets to display. There were 563 total Nativity sets.There were many Lighted Christmas trees in the background. Many large poinsettias in front of the tables. here are a few of them.
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Deck the Halls

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Nativity in Entrance of the Church

African, notice the Elephant

The primary room was for the Children's Nativitys .The Children could enjoy playing with them. Also they had a coloring craft of Joseph and Mary. Families could get their photo taken dressed in Bibical costumes for the Nativity. The Relief Society room was " Come unto Christ theme." This will be the next blog.

Lights of Christmas Stanwood Washington

2011-12-19T21:46:00.000-08:00

Julie and Me and Bruce the Spruce Tree

Screens of lights create this mountain range.

Frosty the snowman was there too

Overall photo of it.

The Poinsetties

Penquins

We travelled to Stanwood Washington, in Dec. gave a Sister a ride home from Forest Grove, Oregon. She took us to see the wonderful Christmas lights of Stanwood. It was put on by a Christian Church.

This tree was my favorite

There were a million beautiful lights to enjoy

Display of many colorful lights

We enjoyed hot Chocolate and Mini Doughnuts. It was very cold but we were grateful it was not raining.

Ron and I

The Twelve Days of Christmas Cards

Merry-GO-Round

The Polar Express we rode this train.

Marvellous Sunset over the water, all made of lights
Dolphins jumped out of the water made of lights.
But I didn't catch any on my camera.

Sailboat on the water of blue lights

Entrance to the Little Shops

Two Beauties among lights

Joyland

Julie and more lights

My Brother Ron's Birthday

2011-12-19T08:37:00.000-08:00

We travelled to Oregon, to celebrate my brothers birthday. He turned 70 this year. We travelled through lots of thick fog and lots of Thanksgiving traffic, people returning home from Thanksgiving all through California.
We stayed at Ron's brother Tom's home for a week. Enjoyed our stay there.

It was warm and cozy, with their wood stove blazing. There was heavy frost on the ground each morning. This was like snow and the appearance of Christmas approaching.

We picked up the birthday boy and took him and Betty to the Hazelnut Factory in Cornelius, Oregon. It was a beautiful little store. We bought lots of Hazelnuts. There were all kinds and flavors to taste. We bought the Hazelnut Butter Cream and Jalapeno Hazelnuts. It was beautifully decorated for Christmas, so we took photos of us.
The family met at the Home Town Buffet in Beaverton, Oregon, where we all enjoyed, what ever we wanted to eat. We sang Happy Birthday to Ron and gave him our gifts. There were 19 of us to celebrate his 70 birthday together. I had wrote him a poem and a love letter for his Birthday. Also made him a knitted hat to keep his ears warm this cold winter. Dennis and Marianne gave him Sausage. Bryce was helping him get a new laptop.

Ron, Betty Julie, Ron

Bryce ,Aden and Ysebel

Ron, Bev, Betty, Ron, Frank, Julie Marianne, Dennis

A good time and good food was enjoyed by all.
Happy Birthday Ron.

Halloween in Arizona

2011-11-01T07:46:00.000-07:00

Spooky

Halloween lights

Ghosts

Dawson was a Chick Magnet, Carson was a cool Dude, J.J.was a cute Tiger

The Singing Skeleton

The little Tiger

I handed out candy for my daughter. These are her Halloween Decorations. It was a beautiful warm night. The children were excited to dress up in their favorite costumes to collect their goodies. Even J.J. could say Trick or Treat. Everyone had a great time.

The Funeral of Danae Laree Gough

2011-10-29T09:31:00.000-07:00

Authum Scenery

Danae Laree Gough

Funeral Flowers

Volleyball Uniform Framed

We drove to Magrath, Alberta, Canada, it took two days. It was Authum the trees were golden. A memorial was held the night before, for all to show their respect. 2000 family and friends attended, it lasted until 11:30 p.m.The Funeral was at

Deanne, Rob, Brian Gough, his Dad

10 a.m. the next day. It was wonderful. The Stakehouse was overflowing and the rest went to another Church. The Memorial set up at the Stake Center were amazing. Lots of work went into them. The Volleyball team framed her medals and Volleyball uniform and presented to the family. There were lots of beautiful flowers. Melissa her cousin sang "Heaven needed a Hero, so I picked you." a real tear jerker for everyone. A lot of cousins sang "I'm a Child of God." Others songs were "Families can be together forever. "Until we meet again."Trina, Deanne's sister and Teesa her cousin gave highlights of her life.

Charmaine Mickelson, Deanne's Sister gave her biography. Deanne wrote a poem about her feelings about Danae.This was wonderful. The cherry red mahogney casket was covered with Danae's Volleyball Uniform and shoes.

Her casket loaded with white and yellow roses

At the Magrath Cemetery where she was buried the family were given white roses to put on her casket. Her Volleyball team put on yellow roses. It was a chilly windy day . Ron prayed to temper the elements and the wind quit.
The family met at Church for a beautiful Ham dinner after. We will miss our lovely grandaughter. Her cute smile and bubbley personality. We love her.

Lynn and Tim Gough

Sarinah, J.J. Dawson

Deanne and Rob love Sarinah

Sarinah, Deanne,Charmaine,Trina, Shurie

Deanne, Sarinah, Rob

The Lawlors, Deanne's parents

Ron, Bev, Lois and Ed Lawlor

Carson and Devin

Ron, Beverley, Deanne, and Rob

Ron, Bev, Lois and Ed Lawlor

Turkey Dinner on Sunday

Kinley Motiuk gg. daughter

Bed and Breakfast Home where we stayed.

Tribute to our Granddaughter

2011-10-16T15:48:00.000-07:00

    Our sweet beautiful granddaughter was tragically taken from us last night. She had gone out with her 3 friends, two boys and a girl. Her parents expected her home at 11: 30 p.m. but she didn't return. She was always on time. They knew something was terribly wrong. So a search party was sent out. Police and Helicopters searched the area.
     Her Dad was a Volunteer fireman and his friend were searching too. About 5:a.m. they found the car they were in down an enbankment and resting in a creek at the bottom. No one survived the horrific crash. Da Nae Gough was only 14 years old.
   She was lovely young girl, full of life and vitality. She loved Volleyball and her team had won all the tournaments this year. She had lots of friends. She loved her cousins who lived close by. She always had a big smile for everyone. She was strong in the Gospel of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints. She excelled in all she did. Everyone loved her especially her Father. She was his baby and his favorite buddy. They did lots together.

She will be missed dearly by all who knew her.

Our Ward Service Project

2011-10-05T07:12:00.000-07:00

In April, I was assigned to find a six month Service Project for our Relief Society Sisters to do. I phoned around and finally came up with a Pillowcase and Quilt project. I challenged the Sisters to make 350 pillowcases for the Childrens Hospital to give to the sick children.The Young Women wanted to help too, so I told them they could make pillowcases and receiving blankets for the babies. Also the Hospital told me they could use quilts to give to the sick children too. So our challenge was 80 quilts to be finished by September 30, 2011. So I had quilting bees in my backyard until June, until it got too hot to do it outside anymore. Once a week we have potluck and tie quilts at the Church now. We have accomplished our goal of 80 quilts. We already have 185 beautiful childrens quilts.We have have some neat spiritual experiences. On young lady named Ellen about 25 years old had an eye problem and couldn't see very well, at first she couldn't see how to tie a quilt, but she kept trying and learned to do it. Also she learned how to sew the small quilt squares together. Now she is making a making a small baby quilt for her niece for Christmas. Seven, other ladies learned how to sew pillow cases and quilt blocks together. We are still working to make more until the end of September. Then we will deliver them to the Hospitals, where they are needed. We have currently 315 pillowcases finished ready to deliver to the Hospitals and 198 small quilts for children. My friend Elaine Jones helped me deliver the quilts and pillowcases to the County Hospital in Phoenix and the Carden Childrens Hospital in Mesa, Arizona.

Peaches, Oh Yeah!

2011-09-28T19:36:00.000-07:00

Oh, Yeah! Peach season has arrived. Ron and I canned 52 quarts of Utah Peaches.Oh yes, then there came peach cobbler, fresh peach pie. It was to die for. Here is the recipe: for all you cooks out there.

                        Fresh Peach Pie.
           1-3 oz Cream Cheese
            1/2 cup powdered sugar
            1/2 Pint whipping cream
            1 tsp Vanilla
            3 tbsp Corn starch
            3/4 cup Granulated Sugar
            4-5 fresh peaches peeled and sliced
            1 graham cracker crust or baked and cooled pie crust.
   Mix small amount whipping cream with cream cheese to soften.
   Whip in a separate bowl the remaining whipping cream with powdered sugar.
   Add vanilla and cream cheese mixture.
   Pour onto crust and refriderate for 1 hour.
   Mash enough peaches to equal 1 1/2 cups.
   Mix with 3 Tbsp. cornstarch and 3/4 cup of sugar.
   Cook on medium heat stirring until thick.
   Cool.
   Arrange single layer of sliced peaches over the top.

Then top with peach glaze, cool and serve. ENJOY

First Greatgrand Daughter

2011-08-19T11:22:00.000-07:00

Rob and Deanne became Grandparents Aug.10. Deah and Dave had a baby girl named Kinley Grace. Just a cutie. We are the proud Greatgrand parents.

Dave and Deah

Our Trip to Canada

2011-08-05T20:27:00.000-07:00

Our Car

Ron Relaxing
Our long 4250 mile roap trip. We started at 4 a.m. from Gilbert Az. to Salt Lake City, Utah. We arrived there at 6:30 p.m no room at the Inn. So we continued onto Pocatella, Idaho where we found bed at a Hotel. We had driven 16 1/2 hours that day. We were exhausted. The next day we travelled 12 hours to reach our destination at Magrath, Alberta, Canada. Where we stayed at my son's home.

The Grain Elevators
We enjoyed our visit with them. Next day we travelled to Calgary, Alberta, Canada to get my passport renewed. We found out we couldn't get it overnight this time. It would take a week, if we paid more money.

The Beautiful Canadian Clouds

The Canola Fields
So we returned to Magrath to wait. Magrath Days was the next day, we enjoyed the activities the Parade the Antigue Car for Ron and Quilt shows for me.

Watching the Parade

R.C.M.P

Ron and Car Show

Quilt Show

Holly and Craig

We enjoyed a real Barbeque at Craig's place in Lethbridge. He made deer steak and deer sausage and grilled salmon, and Greek salad, delicious. We met his new girl friend.

We arrived back in Magrath in time for the fireworks. We thought they started at 9 p.m. but in Canada the sun doesn't set until 10 p.m or 11p.m We heard a few bangs and climbed into bed as soon as my head hit the pillow I was out. They were only a 1/2 block away from us to go see them.
The roads in Canada are the very best. The roads in the U.S.A. were not so great. The parking lot at Canada Costco was full of big deep pot holes.

Cohen and Kaylee
We had a family time at Tie Lake B.C. where Rob has a Lot with a Cabin or two on it, plus his Fifth Wheel. A Family Reunion Center of sorts.

Old Chief Mt.

Bev and Ron at Cameron Falls, Waterton,

Colorful Cowgirl Boots at Waterton

Waterton Lakes

Deer enjoying the neighbors tree.

Deanne making sand castles

Cameron Lake and Glacier

Tie Lake B.C.

Pancake Breakfast

We went to Reunion with all the Lawlors and Brooks families at Tie Lake B.C. It was great to see everyone again.

The Swimming Hole

Touchdown

DeNae, Austin, Carson ,

Grandkids

Carson and Dawson

Watched the Grand kids knee board and wake board. DeNae on water skis. Everyone got sun burnt it was very hot. I got a sun burn on my cheeks and a blister on my lips.

Pushups anyone

J.J

Whose feet are those???

Picnic at the Lake

Dawson and Carson on Tandum Bike

Me at Tie Lake

Hillbilly Hilton where we stayed

We slept in the Hillbilly Hilton it was the only place with a bathroom. All the teens and kids slept in the bunkhouse.

The Bunkhouse

Camp Kitchen

Shower House and Restroom in Progress

They could make as much noise as they wanted and could play games all night. We had large group around the campfire at night. A few mosquitos attended too. We enjoyed some-mores and campfire popcorn. Campfire popcorn is where you throw the kernals into the campfire and let them pop all over and try to catch them to eat. At least thats what I told the grandkids. Rob used a popcorn popper that worked better.

Catching some Rays

Ron enjoying the quiet
We all enjoyed swimming, making sand castles and playing bocci ball, riding the tandum bike, canoeing, boating and waterskiing. Watching the deer go through our campsite. There were lots of deer. We had the deer whistles on our car to scare the deer off the road. We saw a field of Elk penned in.

Scouts building the Campfire

Field of Elk

Cousins swimming

Rob making Campfire Popcorn

We went to the Alberta Temple one morning and got caught in a terrible rain down por on the way home. Visited my cousin Nedra and Morgan in Cardston. We visited Waterton National Park and saw Cameron Falls and Cameron Lake, Waterton Lake and Prince of Wales Hotel.

We started home to Arizona on Friday morning, took a wrong turn and wasted an hour of driving time.

Jim and Lynda

Steven

Rexburg Temple

Crossed the border at Roosville, B.C. on way to visit Ron's sister at Eureka, Montana. We waited until she came home from her four hour horse ride in the mountains. Had a good visit with her,and her Husband and son Steven. Left at 6.30p.m. for Missoula, Montana. Stayed the night at a Hotel.

Ron, Jay, Me, Dana

Gary Guo

Left early the next morning to visit Jay and Dana in Idaho. We decided to meet them for lunch in Rexburg, Idaho. We travelled to Idaho Falls where we had lunch at the Chuck-a Rama. They had a Chinese Medical Student who was staying with them, one of Dana's Students.
His name was Gary Guo, he was going to California to go to Medical School here in the U. S.

Then we drove to Manti after Lunch to stay with my cousin Marylynn. Arrived about 10 p.m. She was remodeling her kitchen so it was all torn apart. So we ate at the Restaurant and her friends home. Went to Church with her in Manti, she was the speaker that day in Sacrament meeting. Enjoyed the two days with her. We saw her Sister Josie too.

The Manti Temple was beautiful all lit up at night. Stayed two nights and continued our trip home.

Coral Pink Sands

Bridge and Red Rocks of Sedona

Saw the Coral Pink Sand dunes at Kanab. Stopped in Flagstaff, Arizona and stayed at a Hotel. The thunder clouds were spectacular. Drove the scenic route through Sedona and the Red rock country.

Thunder Clouds Flagstaff

Arrived home safe and sound a bit weary at 3 p.m. temperature of 113 degrees. We are back to the Monsoons and the heat of the desert. Glad to be back in our own bed and air conditioning.

Haboob Swallows Phoenix

2011-07-10T21:05:00.000-07:00

July 5 about 6:30-8:30 p.m. we had a Haboob move in to Phoenix area. It was one of the biggest storms of the century, we have had in this area. Haboob is a powerful dust storm with 80 mph winds. It happens when two storms collide and create the wind and wall of dust from the desert. It started at Tucson and gathered desert dust as it crossed the desert. It was a 100 miles wide and 1 mile high. A thick black wall of dust covering the whole Phoenix Valley. It was very scary to watch it come in. Those who got caught driving in it had zero visbility. Their cars were sand blasted. Everything was covered with a layer of desert dust. My garden looked dead cause it was gray from the dust.
Our cars were in the garage but we managed to get dust through the door of our home. We big scare now is getting Valley Fever from the dust spores you breath.

Graduation

2011-05-18T19:33:00.000-07:00

I can't believe our beautiful grandaughter is graduating already. May 20, 2011 Kaylee made her own Grad. invitations via the Internet. She is very Talented. Congratulations Kaylee.

Ron's Birthday

2011-05-18T19:27:00.000-07:00

Ron turned another year older today. The family came over for hotdogs and salads, chips and APPLE PIE and ice cream. His favorite is apple pie, he asks for it every birthday. He recieved phone calls from his two daughters who are in other states, and from his brother in Oregon. Sarinah and the boys brought his favorite Snicker Ice Cream Bars. Tina gave him a new tie and two pair of long shorts to keep cool this summer. I think he enjoyed his special day.

Happy Birthday

2011-05-18T19:20:00.000-07:00

Its my birthday today all the kids phoned me from Canada. The Brooks family sent a dozen beautiful roses and a big can of Macadamia Nut Roca. My Sister sent Sees Chocolates coupons. Ron gave me a box of Chocolates too. I received several darling birthday cards from the family.

Tina took me out to Magraths Fish House for dinner Then we went shopping for a new purse for me.Then went to a movie. Becky her friend was with us. We had a great time. The Movie was " Unknown" a suspense thriller. Went to Sarinah's for Mothers day and birthday cake. It was chocolate and cherry flavoring, delicious. The frosting was wonderful with sparkle dust.

Trip to Pinetop, Arizona

2011-05-01T09:31:00.000-07:00

All of us at the Resort in Pinetop

We are at the Roundhouse Resort

Bev. Putting around

Our Cute little Cabin

Bev. Playing Golf

Ron playing Mini Golf

Thankful for benches to relax on.

Carl and Delores putting around

Delores and Ron

Ron shoots and scores

The Pool and hot tub and Banana trees

The Excerize Room

Our Cabin

Delores

We spent two days with our dear friends the Rays at their timeshare The Round House Resort in Pinetop, Arizona this week. We had a two bedroom with two baths and a T.V. in every room. A large kitchen, I made overnight french toast for breakfast using real french bread, it tasted and smelled just like fresh cinnamon rolls. It was a hit.
The weather was cool, and beautiful, a little breeze, where we live it was 96 degrees, it was 70 here. The fresh mountain air was refreshing too.

We had a lot of fun went swimming, everyday in the lovely heated indoor pool surrounded by Banana trees and ferns. Ron and Carl spent time resting and playing pool. Ron even tried his hand at Basketball. They had an exercize room too. We watched Videos and put puzzles together. We enjoyed around of Mini Golf too. Here are the photos.

Ward Party

2011-05-01T08:58:00.000-07:00

Dessert

Veggies

Bake Sale

We had a Barbeque of Hamburgers and Hotdogs, and raw veggies an American custom.Watermelon, Texas Sheet cake and Ice Cream. Several people came to enjoy the food. The youth had a Bake Sale to earn money for Girls Camp. The younger kids had a game chasing balloons around the park. The playground nearby was big success too.

Easter 2011

2011-05-01T08:45:00.000-07:00

We went to Church in our daughters Ward, because her husband was the main speaker. She was singing in a Quartet and in the special Easter Choir presentation . They did an excellent job. We enjoyed it all. After Church we enjoyed our Easter Feast at their home of ham, potatoes and all the trimmings.

We children had an Easter egg hunt in the back yard. Then we went to see the rest of the family .The grandkids and great grand kids. They jumped on the trampoline and had an Easter Egg Hunt too. The Easter Bunny came to their home. Kristyn flew down from Seattle and surprized everyone.Also her friend Jason drove from Utah to see her. It was wonderful to see them.

Visit from Relatives from the North

2011-04-10T17:13:00.000-07:00

J.J. enjoying the girls attention.

The Gang

Kaylee found her Graduation Dress here.

J.J. and Dawson

DaNae riding our Monkey Bike. Just her size aye !!!!

The Gough Family came in February to visit and get some SUN SHINE. Kaylee shopped for her beautiful Grad. Dress. We enjoyed their short visit. Then they were off to the Races in L.A. for a week. Here are the recent photos.

Baptism

2011-04-10T10:20:00.000-07:00

Tina and Dad

Natalie and Rylee

We attended the baptism of Crew Wendelschafer a Greatgrandson on 4/09/2011. It was an exciting event for him. There were many relatives in attendance. He turned eight years old. We were delighted to attend.His parents are Brooklyn and Eric Wendelschafer. He was baptised by his father.

Blessings from Heaven

2011-03-28T10:03:00.000-07:00

New Air Conditioner

In October we had a big hailstorm . The hail stones were the size of golf balls, with a 70 mile wind smashing them against our home. Our whole area was declared a disaster area. So our home owners insurance paid for a new roof, our old was due to be replaced soon. Our air conditioner on our roof was severely damaged too, all the vents were smashed flat. This had one year warrenty left on it and we needed a new one soon too.
      After many negotations with our Insurance Company, they only wanted to replace the part that was damaged, for 2500 dollars. We found air conditioning company who said they would give us a brand new air conditioner for 2500 dollars, it was a new one they had put on someones roof this week and it was the wrong brand so they gave it to us. Then the roof manufacturing company sent us the wrong tiles for the roof, so we received more expensive tiles. So have a better roof. They also replaced four whirleys on our roof that were damaged.

Our paint on our home was stripped off. So our Insurance Company paid to get our home painted. It is finally finished. It looks great.

Our backyard swing was damaged and they would pay to replace it. Ron fixed it by replacing the fabric with plywood. It works great now and we are enjoying it again.

     Also several pots which had our flowers in, were replaced. We had no windows broken, some of our neigbors did have broken windows. We had new double pane windows put in in August this year.
The paint was destroyed or stripped off our home on two sides. So the Insurance will cover it. This month we will get our home painted.

New Roof

When you pay your tithing the WINDOWS of HEAVEN truly open and pour out lots of blessings.

New Granddaughter

2011-02-13T09:12:00.000-08:00

Natalie and Makaila

Makaila Rose was born Febuary 1, 2011 by C. Section to Bailey and Daniel Wendelschafer. She is adorable, their first baby girl. They have two boys already. So we visited her this week. Here are the photos.

Snowflakes and Happy New Year

2011-01-01T20:10:00.000-08:00

Catch a crystal snowflake
and study it's design.
When it's magnified you'll see
each lovely lacy line.
You'll find that snowflakes differ,
no two are just the same
They're created by the Maker
to glorify His name.
And thus it is with people:
God made each one unique.
He'll guide us in our daily lives
You'll find that He will guide you
tell you what you need to know.
He wants the very best for you
because He loves you so.
Author Unknown

Our Relief Society gave each of the Sisters
a Ceramic Snowflake and this wonderful poem .
Yes, we are enjoying snowflakes in the Land of the SUN this winter.

Merry Christmas 2010

2010-12-25T19:09:00.000-08:00

Santa and Max

Jett Rylee,Natalie,Santa,and Max

Santa and Jett

Playing the Chimes and singing Christmas Carols

The night before Christmas we spent at Daniel's home enjoying our family Christmas traditions. Where we had a visit from Santa, who gave out gifts for the little ones. They were so excited, little Max was hopping up and down, waiting for his turn to see Santa. He said the Reindeer are on the roof,Grandma. We watched the New Christmas Carol,movie with Jim Carry in it.

We dinged the chimes and sang Christmas carols.

Mindy and Family

We enjoyed the hearty soups everyone brought to eat. Then Cheesecake for dessert. Then we exchanged our family gifts.

Kristyn and Jason

Bev and Ron
We exchanged white elephant gifts.and bid our love and goodbyes before leaving. Another successful Christmas Eve with our family,who are all the most precious to us. On Christmas day we slept in, no one to wake us. Then we went to deliver fresh Rolls and Jam to our neighbors and friends. At 3 p.m. it was off to have a family dinner of Baked Ham and Potatoes and Green Bean Casserole at our Grandson's home. We had a great time visiting the family. It was fun watching our Greatgrand children playing with their new toys. The weather was wonderful a mild 65 degrees. We could have had a picnic outside. Another year has passed and we welcome the New Year. Merry Christmas to all and a Happy New Year.

A Night in Bethlehem

2010-12-11T04:15:00.000-08:00

What a gorgeous night with a beautiful sunset, where we took a walk to Bethlehem. As we entered the gate, we signed the register, and paid our Taxes with canned food donations. We were dressed in Biblical attire. We enjoyed feasting at the market place of pita bread and spicy hummus. Then at the Galilee Grill we enjoyed barbecued chicken pieces and grilled veggies on a stick. Then off to Ruth's Orchard to enjoy some mandarin orange pieces and mixed grains salad. Stopped by Jacobs Well for some grape juice to drink. Then off to the Magi's Booth of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh, also rock candy treats. For dessert it was Bath Sheba's Bakery, where we ate white cake with pomegranate seeds on it. The Nativity program was put on by the youth and the Primary children. They used a real donkey. It was a wonderful night the weather was warm. A good time was had by all who attended.

Sign the register for the Census

The Gold Coins given to each person to pay for their food.

Julie Letner and babe

Gabriel Colvin, Trisha Wright, Benjamin Colvin

The Out Door Market Place

Pita Bread and Hummus

Ruth's Orchad Fresh Oranges and Grain Salad

Jacob;s Well

Grape Juice and Pure Water

Gifts of the Magi

Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh

Galilee Grill

Barbequed Chicken and Veggies on a Stick

Jennifer Wilson and baby

Alice Jensen cutting up limes.

Samatha heating the pita breads

Our Home Teacher and Granddaughter

The Ridings and the Courters

A real live Donkey, and Mary and the Baby

The Nativiity and the shepherds and sheep

The Angels

The Three Kings

Happy Thanksgiving 2010

2010-11-25T17:53:00.000-08:00

This year all the family met at the Brooks and we had a wonderful Turkey dinner with all the special trimmings. Everyone pitched in and brought some of their favorite dishes. There were about twenty of us all together. We ate and ate, until we were all stuffed. Then there was dessert of Pecan Pie, Banana Cream pie,and Pumpkin Pie and Strawberry Cream Cheese delight,delicious. After dinner we visited and caught up on all the Family News.While the men watched the Football games on T.V.

A wonderful Thanksgiving Day for all our Family.

Our Scenic Trip through Washington

2010-11-17T20:42:00.000-08:00

We stayed at my Sister Julie and Frank's home for a week following her Surprise Birthday Party. We slept in the guest bedroom upstairs. It was a beautiful king size bed they had just gotten from Kali .It was like the Bed in the Movie "The King and I. "It was 4 feet off the ground and was a challenge for us to crawl into.Finally we got a box to stand on which helped. Still I ended up pulling Ron into the bed.

Ernest LeRon Derricott and wife Betty

Julie and Frank took us to the their new Stanwood Cupcake Shop.There we enjoyed Ice Cream Cones and Cupcakes. It was started by their Bishop and his wife recently. They were yummy. We helped her clean her house. We started to get colds from the wet weather and air. We watched DVD's with them every day to pass the time. We left for home on Thursday Nov .11 th.

Phoned my cousin Erna Derricott Hershey who lives in Vancouver, Washington. She told me a lot of family history about her family. Also that her brother Ernest LeRon Derricott was living in Salem, Oregon. So when we went through Salem I called him and we went and visited him and his wife Betty Anderson Derricott. He is Ron's age 70 now.He had his own Upholstery business, loves to cook and do wood working as a hobby. He made a beautiful patio kitchen with lots of cupboards. Lots of build in seating around the deck.

Ron's Childhood Home in Roseburg,Oregon

They gave us a lot of family photos. Told us about Grandma Hildegarde Thelin who lived with them when they were children. She taught Ron how to sew when he was three years old by hand. Taught him to love green onions as a snack. Grandma died when Ron was seven years old. She had been blind before her death but seems to manage fine. Grandma had diabetes and died peacefully from heart problems.

What BIG Tires we saw.
We continued on our way home through Oregon, met Ron's cousins again, visited Barbara Robertson Elaine ,Don and Betty Reber. Stayed at Barbara's motor home that night. Then went to Grants Pass and stayed at Cheryl and Dave's for a night. We needed to get our car brakes fixed there. There were leaves all over the yards. It was Fall and everyone was complaining about all the work to clean them up. Stopped at the Olive Pit Store and stocked up Olives and oil.

Drove to Kettleman stayed in a Hotel for two days to rest. We needed it.Drove straight home through California on Monday. Saw lots of Windmills in California. We are back to Sunshine and Palm Trees. Arrived home at 7:30 p.m. We were glad to be back in our own bed.

Tacoma,Washington Dome
Our daughters had surprised us again , they had repainted our living room walls beige and the ceiling, and the bedroom ceiling. They had rearranged all the pictures for me, took down the shelves in the living room.

My Sister's 60 th Birthday Nov. 6, 2010

2010-11-17T18:53:00.000-08:00

It was a BIG SURPRISE planned by her two daughters. It was held at the Church Cultural hall in Mill Creek, Washington. Thirty five of her friends came from her town.Thirty five relatives came also. We arrived early and helped the girls in the kitchen with the food. Ron made the punch, and I arranged the fruit trays and ham trays. Ron and Betty, Darcie, Quinn and Jewel arrived later. Kali and Michelle decorated the Hall in her favorite hot pink colors with lots of colorful Pink Balloons. Fresh pink Roses on the tables. A beautiful pink boa around her neck.

When she arrived we all sang Happy Birthday to her.She was really surprised to see her son David who was sick with the flu in Layton, Utah.and her Grandson Parker. And also her Sister from Arizona. Julie was happy to be there.She scooted around the hall with her new scooter. Notice her broken foot in her hot pink cast for the past two months. Due to her bone cancer it is not healing well. She may have to have Surgery later on it. There was lots of delicious food for everyone.

     This is the gift table with the scrapbook of her friends.
Then a short program was enjoyed by all. Her friend Beverly did a Belly dance for her with candles. Two of her Singing students sang solos. Her daughter Kali played two piano solos. Cindy her friend made up a poem especially for her. "Roses are Red Violets are Blue, Julie, you know how much we all Love you. "  She had thought and thought and finally came up with this original poem.

    Then her only Sister told a few Senior Jokes on her turning 60 to lighten the Birthday Party. Like the new Campbell's Soup for Seniors, It is called Large Letter Alphabet Soup. Another one was Julie always wanted a BMW. But now she doesn't care about the W. " One time Frank asked Julie ,what do Old Men wear ?Boxers or Briefs."She thought about it for awhile and said "Its DEPENDS. Now she can sing along with elevator music, eat dinner at 4 p.m. if she wants, and nobody will care.

The Birthday cake was specially made for her .It had her name on it. It was circled by white and black piano keys. On top it had a large black music note. Notice the fresh pink roses.

Halloween in Oregon

2010-11-17T18:05:00.000-08:00

Sunday was Halloween this year, we drove through dense fog to Church. Dennis and his family were there. They had been babysitting the Triplets all weekend and they were both lacking sleep, therefore Zombies.

After Church Dennis toured us through the new home he was building for Justin. It was huge, 5ooo sq.feet.three levels, 5 bedrooms, Theater room,bar, basketball court in the basement, butlers pantry, lots of storage shelves everywhere, a large kitchen with a farm sink and a great Island, a large dining room and living room with a fireplace joining each room,three car garage. Large swimming pool with slide and beautiful large gray rock features. Large patio with a long tube to slide down, from the second floor to the ground for the kids to escape when they are teenagers.

Then we arrived at his home, we ate delicious Venison Stew, Dennis had made. Then the preparations began for the Halloween Party that evening. Marianne made a large Veggie Skeleton, pumpkin pies out of pie crust, little smokie mummies, out of smokie sausages, wrapped with bread dough. Then we took it all to Jeremey's home when all the family met for the Halloween celebration.

The Grandkids all came in costume and were very cute. Of course it was photo time to catch them all in their costumes. JaNae did a little craft with the little kids making plastic candy corns into people. Everyone brought Halloween type food. Bats and ghosts made from tortillas, a brain from Peach Jello with eyeballs, bread dough fingers with red almond fingernails, A spiderweb in avocado dip and salsa. For Desert Ice Cream with Halloween toppings like Frankensteins teeth, chopped walnuts, Zombie Eyes, cherries, vampire's blood, strawberry syrup topping. and spider legs, chocolate sprinkles.

Dennis had made a spook alley in the garage for the kids. It was dark, spooky. Long black strips of plastic garbage bags, hit you in the face as you walked through the spook alley.You stepped on sheets of bubble wrap which popped under your feet. Scary ! It as great and really spooky even had real stuffed mountain goat head in it so the kids could pet it. A fun but a long day for all.
Happy Halloween in Oregon.

Trip to Oregon

2010-11-17T17:36:00.000-08:00

We were on the way to Oregon, it was dark, detours, first we got lost in Los Angeles,California, for two hours. When we finally figured how to work the GPS Gal, she directed us out to I-5 to Redding, California. Stopped there to visit, Aunt Ruth Helton and her family. They showed us the Funeral DVD of Uncle Vernon's Funeral, which was great to see. Then they gave a copy of the DVD of the Funeral.

Then we drove to Grants Pass to visit Ron's cousin Cheryl and Dave Painter. Ron hadn't seen them for 25 years, so spent five hours with them. Drove to Winston, Oregon, visited more Reber cousins for a few more hours. Stayed at Garden Island Palms, in Roseburg,Oregon.

The next day, we drove to Buxton Oregon, to stay with Ron's brother, Tom and Sharon. We stayed with them a week helped Sharon do her Geneology. Spent Sunday going to Church through the dense fog which we had forgotten about in Oregon. Spent the day visiting Dennis and Marianne and their family. Had Halloween dinner with all their family. Visited our daughter Rhonda and grand kids in Lake Oswego one day. Of course Grandpa took them Krispy Kremes.

It took three days to arrive at our destination. It was beautiful driving through the wonderful Autumn colors. The trees were several colors of gold, orange and red. Grants Pass was especially beautiful this time of year. Then travelled to Vancouver,Washington, stopped at looked up the phone number for my cousin who lives there. But was unable to contact her then. So we continued on to Stanwood, Washington.

Tornadoes

2010-10-12T12:28:00.000-07:00

We travelled to the town of Flagstaff this weekend and surveyed the Tornado damage. They had five Tornado's hit around Flagstaff, Arizona in one day. Some were 1 hour apart. We drove 10 miles west of Flagstaff and to the small town of Belmont, which was hit the worst. Two hundred homes were damaged. Twenty eight were destroyed completely. This was new housing community. One home had rowboat stuck in the roof.These residents took shelter at the Circle 6 Motel which was close by the homes.
They were given shelter for free from the Motel. Many back yard wooden fences were torn down.The siding was ripped off many homes, the garage doors and windows were broken. Their car and truck windows were smashed. The Mountain behind the Town had path of destruction, where the tall pine trees were torn down. As we saw the devastation, we realized we were blessed to only the minimal damage we had at our home. Our Mayor visited this area and she said help would come from the Federal Government. Several Damage and Construction trucks were busy helping repair the damage already.

Then we saw the Train which was derailed. Twenty eight train cars were thrown off the tracks. Most were double piggyback cars which we saw laying on the side of the Railroad tracks. They had started building a road to get to them , so they could get them up righted on to the railroad tracks again. There were huge cranes there to help pull up the trains cars.

The Worst Storm in 27 years.

2010-10-05T19:43:00.000-07:00

     Wow !!   We had a MICRO BURST today, we had a violent thunder, lightning, tornado wind, torrents of heavy rain, then came the massive hail stones, the size of ping pong balls. This made a lot of noise, pounding hail stones this size coming down with a 75 mph wind blowing them sideways.

     This storm did a lot of damage in our area. Our Camper was flooded,and all the window screens were destroyed and the clearance lights of the front of it were torn off.  The visibility was very poor during the storm. I was glad we were not out in it.

      North of Phoenix the town of Care Creek had hail stones the size of baseballs. Interesting inside the hail stones, you could see two little hail stones, which I had never seen before.

      The houses around us all who had sky lights, had them all broken. Shingles were ripped off the roofs. Our street turned into river instantly.

      Our truck had the side mirror broken,and another mirror on our other car. Our roof top air conditioner, had the vents dented so bad, that the air couldn't flow out of it. Several large trees toppled over in our neighborhood. Many landing on top of cars or homes. A large tree fell over, and one really large one, fell on a Van parked under it when the Van with a two year old boy and his Dad in it, took refuge, under the tree to get off the road during the storm.

      Even the freeway was flooded so much there was only one lane of traffic getting through. The power lines also came down across the Valley. Some landed across the main freeway. This brought the five o'clock traffic to a complete standstill for two hours.

     The Grand Canyon University, in Phoenix had 6o windows broken, the car lots had all the cars metal damaged by the large hail, plus broken car windows. Power was lost for central Phoenix area for 20,000 homes. The hail bouncing in the swimming pools were making the water jump 2 1/2 feet high from each hail stone which hit. It was very interesting to watch.

     In the Flagstaff area there were 4 Tornadoes, which destroyed several homes and derailed several train cars. We had four waves of wind, rain, and hail today. finally it is over.

FAll IS HERE

2010-09-19T17:59:00.000-07:00

I love FALL, in Arizona, the weather is still 108 and its FALL already. Our is GrassstillGreen, The Swimming Pools are closed.

School has started.

Our Summer Garden is still producing, but its time to plant a Winter GARDEN in OCTOBER. We plant Green Peas, Carrots, Cabbage,Cauliflower, Broccoli, Onions, and String Beans, a colorful Garden. I know that colorful veggies have the most nutrition and are the best for you.

Labor Day Activities

2010-09-06T17:36:00.000-07:00

Brandon's beautiful pool to keep us cool
Natalie doing a flip
Byerlee
Max
Byerlee
Max, Natalie,Riley and Jet
Riley and Natalie, Max and Daniel, Jet{Baby}

Byerlee

Labor Day we went to a Barbecue at our Grandson's Brandon's home. There were lots of their friends and family there. We enjoyed Steak or Chicken and salads. We watched the Great Grand kids show us their swimming skills in their pool. Here are the photos.it was very hot today 108 degrees. I was nice to have different scenery and see the Grand children.

School Days

2010-08-29T20:30:00.000-07:00

The Player Piano
Basketball Uniforms in the 1950's

Fort Macleod Public School and High School
The School I attended in Grade 1 and 2 was the Orton Country School one mile from our home. I walked to School everyday by myself, through all kinds of storms, blizzards, rain, and snow. I was dressed very warm, only my eyes peeked out of my knit hat and scarf around my neck. I lived in Canada the frozen North. One teacher taught Grades 1 through 12 in this Country School. Just like Little House on the Prairie.I was the only one in Grade 1 and 2. There were two or three children in each Grade. We had a small Pot Belly Stove to heat the School.

The Teacher rang an old fashioned School Bell at recess to tell us to come back to class. Some of the children, who lived farther away, rode their Shetland Pony to School. We made an Ice rink at the School in the Winter to Skate on. I had boys skates that my Parents bought at the Thrift Store. One day I fell on the ice, and cut my chin badly and needed stitches. My Brother Ron went to School for the First Grade here too.

Then we rode the School Bus to the nearest seven miles from our home, to the Town of Fort Macleod, for the rest of our School days. We had the Basics, Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic.We had Physical Ed.Classes to keep us healthy and trim and Basketball Sports Program.
We had strict rules to obey, you weren't allowed to chew gum or talk in class. If you did, you were taken out in the Hall and given 3 hits on both hands with a 2 inch wide leather strap by your Teacher. The rest of the class could hear the punishment being given to each child. I was obedient and never got the strap. A lot of boys did get it. If you forgot to do your Homework you had to stay after School and write on the blackboard 100 times, "I will remember to do my homework." or "I will not fight on the playground."
One day I was late for the bus at school and fell on a broken bottle on the sidewalk, cutting a big gash in my knee through my brown cotton stockings. I arrived home and told Mother. Then my parents rushed me back to town to the Doctor, to get stitches in my knee. I was on crutches for awhile until it healed. I had a hard time climbing the stairs at School. Our School in Fort Macleod was brick with two separate entrances on each end of the School. There was a Boys entrance and a Girls entrance. Also they each had their own playground, No mixing boys and girls at recess on the playground. There were about 200 children at this School.

We took our paper bag lunch, which was usually a Peanut Butter and Jam Sandwich and a apple or orange, maybe a cookie sometimes. No Junk food or drinks. We drank from the School's water fountain.

I was very shy and only had a couple of friends. During High School I learned how to play Basketball and loved it I was on the B team which travelled to the surrounding Towns. I played forward on the team. My Mother sewed my Basketball Uniform.

During the Noon Lunch Hour several Farm Students would gather around the Old Player Piano in the Hall and play the old songs, and sing along to them. My favorite was "Bye,Bye Blackbird". The Player Piano, could play my its self, you just put the music roll in and peddle it and it would play wonderful music. I also learned the game of Badminton at the Noon hour.

In High School I was in the Big Drama Production, I was a Mammy, a Black Lady and had my face blackened. We sang a lot of songs.I don't remember the names of them.It gaver me confidence to perform.

I Graduated from High School in 1956. Then I went into Nursing School for next three years.

Fun on the Farm in Canada

2010-08-24T11:02:00.000-07:00

The Fishing Trip, Mom and Ron with their Pike
Laura Thelin,Beverley,and Dad Swimming in the Old Man River
Beverley and Ron sledding
Ron,Dennis Tolley,Jay and Dennis on Peggy
Ron, Dennis and Julie with the 4-Calves
What did we do for fun on the Farm, I dug deep into my memory banks for this blog. We didn't have an I Pod, Video Game, DVD, Video, Computer or even ONE Television set.

The only thing we had, was a battery operated Radio and an upright Piano. My brother Ron and I took Piano lessons once a week, during lunch time we walked downtown to the piano teacher's home for our piano lessons. Her name was Mrs.Christian, and later I had Mr. Henry for my teacher. The lessons cost $1.50 for 1/2 hour. I took six years of Piano Lessons, and two years of theory, my brother took two years of lessons. When I was about 16, I received a Piano Accordion for Christmas which I learned to play pretty good.

Mother played the piano by ear, she never had a lesson. she was very good. She loved to sing and had a beautiful soprano voice. Dad played the mouth organ. Later my brother Jay learned to play the mouth organ. I always wanted to play the Saxophone,I thought, it was so beautiful,the sounds it made.

Some of the children's games we played were, Mister, May I ? Red Light, Green Light, and Red Rover, Red Rover, Anti I Over. We played Marbles in the dirt, and Hopscotch, in the dirt, with a piece of glass. We played Tag, and Hide and Go Seek in the tall Canadian grass in our yard. We used the wide blades of grass to make whistles. Our Dad made wonderful whistles, out of willow trees, which grew along the river. Later my brother Jay, made a business making and selling these same whistles.

Ocasionally we go to the Movies at the Theatre in Ft. Macleod. It was a treat for us. The old movies were wonderful, lots of musicals with dancing and singing in them. Chocolate bars were five cents, and popcorn five cents. Cost of a movie ticket was 25 cents. On Farmers Holiday,once a year,the farm kids, got a day off from school so we went to the movies.

One day before Christmas our family was returning home from getting the Groceries from Lethbridge, when we opened the door, we saw Santa sitting on our kitchen table. He had on Dad's gum boots, and a Santa Clause suit stuffed with newspapers. Mom was so upset because she thought, we wouldn't believe in Santa anymore. We found out later Aunt Nora, had been there and pulled this trick on us. She had found the Santa Suit in a bag, that someone had dropped off, for the Santa for the Primary Christmas Party. Mother was the Primary President.

On year for Christmas my younger brothers, Jay and Dennis received a set of Bow and Arrows each for Christmas. Once outside looking for something, to practise on, they saw one of our many Turkeys, we raised. These were the lucky ones who hadn't been eaten for Christmas Dinner. So Dennis shot his arrow and it struck the poor Turkey right through his head and he dropped over dead. He and Jay were scared what would their Dad think now, they had killed one of his Turkeys. So they both proceeded to try and cover it up, by stomping on it, in a my mud puddle. But this didn't work very well, because the turkey, kept sticking its wing up in the air.
They never told Dad until his 80 th birthday. Dad said" I wondered what had killed that turkey?" We raised 1000 turkeys on our farm, they were free range.

We all worked together planting our big garden each year, we planted all kinds of vegetables and even Popcorn, which we popped in the winter. We would weed, water, and harvest it. We planted lots of Idaho Potatoes which we sold to the restaurants for french fries in the town of Ft. Macleod.

During harvest time in the fall the whole family, would go the wheat fields and work together,and stook the bundles of grain, that was tied with twine. This helped the wheat, weather against rain and snow. We stood the bundles up in a A formation. My younger brothers had fun teasing and chasing my little sister, who was about 4 years old with baby mice, which they found under the grain bundles. She would run and scream in fear or delight, I am not sure. She is not scared of mice today. Ron said" He drove the tractor around the fields, when he was eight years old, and Dad would come and help him turn the corners. I drove the tractor around the fields, when I was twelve years old to help Dad.

We had a couple of riding horses, one was named Old Grey and the other Peggy.I don't remember riding them much.Dad put them on the Indian Reserve to have better grass to eat. Well, we didn't see them again, Dad, said " the Indians stole them.

When our relatives came to visit from Calgary with their family quite often we didn't have a bed for them. So my Mother would put the parents in my bedroom the only one we had in our home. The children would all sleep on a quilt under the kitchen table, with another quilt on top of them. There were about eight of us under the table,all in a row. It was fun of course we talked all night. You know how Josie loves to talk.

We picked lots of wild berries in the summer. They were Saskatoons,which we bottled for winter. Saskatoon pie was the best. Gooseberries, Chokecherries,to make Pancake Syrup. One Summer we were all berry picking by the Old Man River at Ft. Macleod, when a Rattler reared up at me, ready to strike, my Dad heard it and saw it, he was about 30 feet from me. He picked up a rock and threw it at the Snake and he saved my life. I was grateful for him.

In the winter, we went sledding down the big snow drifts, behind our home. We had snow ball fights, with each other and built snowmen. It was very cold. I always wanted to learn to ski but we were too poor to afford ski's.Later we got a toboggan.
We made Homemade Ice Cream in the Winter and Summer usually on a Sunday afternoon when everyone was home. Our family favorite was Maple Walnut.

In the Winter it was sometimes too cold to play outside, so we spent our time listening to the stories, Mother read to us while we were all huddled her and around the big wood stove. We would all put our feet in the oven to keep us warm.

Jay and Dennis made a Skating and Hockey rink by the house, they used the windmill to pump the water on the ground. They used the family dog named Bullet to be their Goalie. He was retriever and they used a ball to play hockey with instead of a puck. Bullet would jump and catch the ball for them. They trained Bullet to stay at the goalie net, then he would catch the ball. He was the best goalie. Bullet was also the back catcher during their baseball games, they played. They loved him and I'm sure Bullet enjoyed the fun too.

Before Christmas my Dad would go to the Mountains in B.C. and cut a truck load of Christmas trees for Ron and I to sell to make out Christmas money.
We sold them for $2.00-$5.00 in our yard, to the neighbors. Later Jay made fancy Candles which he sold for $5.00 each for Christmas money too.

During the spring thaw the ditches would fill up to the top with water. I remember Ron and I built rafts out of any wood we could find. We rafted down the over flowing ditches, using a long stick to navigate us.

I had a girls bike to ride and would often ride it up to the Cemetery.
My brother Jay said" when I left, all that he had, was a girls bike to ride.
Ron said" He had a boys bike to ride."
One of our favorite things to do was slide down, the slanted tin roof, of the barn,landing in the pile of soft hay.One day I did this and I knew I would get the strap for doing it, so I was prepared, I put a tin pie plate in the back of my jeans and when Mom gave it to me, I didn't even cry. The boys would crawl through the tunnels in the hay the pigs had made, but they wouldn't let their little sister follow them.

During the summer hot days we used the water hole for the cows to drink from, to swim in. It was green and slimy.The cows used it as a bathroom too. I would never swim in that water hole. My brothers did. Dennis said" That was probably why he developed Hepatitis C later. It was amazing that they didn't get Polio from it too.We also swam in the Old Man River, in the swimming hole.

My Mom and Dad loved to fish, they used long bamboo poles. On time Mom and my brother Ron, were fishing in the Old Man River, they both caught huge Pike. Ron's was 43" long and Mom's was 45" long. A time to remember, I never fished, I was the babysitter for the younger ones. I still want to learn, how to fish, if my husband would teach me.

Dad wanted the boys to raise 4-H calves to take to the Fair one summer. They were to feed them, brush them, teach them to lead. They didn't win anything at the Fair. The calves weren't fat enough.But it taught responsibity.But they didn't become farmers.

First Day of School

2010-08-11T09:26:00.000-07:00

The Spectacular Sky
The blue sky background
.The Sun was trying to break through the clouds.
California Palm Trees
The First Day of School

Oak Tree School
The Park Play ground

It is the first day of School for all the children, On my early morning walk these are the things I saw. It is 7:30 a.m, it is 85 degrees already. The first thing I saw, was the beautiful sky.

We don't usually see clouds here, when you do, it is spectalular. Today was special, because they were like fluffy white carpet, with a blue showing through them, all over the sky. The sun had not made it through the clouds yet. So I grabbed my camera and decided to document my walk, of what I saw today.
Beautiful California swatty Palm trees, which I love, children walking to school with their parents. The Oak Tree School, ready for School to start today, with the lawns, groomed for all the children to play on. The children walking to school excited for their first day at School.

The Playground at the Park was vacant, no one was swinging on the swings or sliding down the slides. The tire swing at our neighbors house was empty too.

When got finished my walk I watered my garden and the sprinkler head, leaks all over me, and got my camera wet in my pocket, Well I thought I totally lost all these pictures. Well I blew on my camera hoping to dry it out. Scanned it, still no pictures, all were blank. So I tried hooking my camera to the computer and scanning them in, it worked. Yeah!

To BE or NOT TO BE

2010-08-05T11:12:00.000-07:00

My decision to become a Registered Nurse, began when I was five years old. When I came down with Pneumonia at age twelve and spent 2 weeks in the Lethbridge, Alberta Hospital,I loved the Nurses and that was what I wanted to be, when I grew up. When I graduated from High School.

I entered the Nursing profession.I enrolled in the three year Nursing Course at St. Michael's School of Nursing,in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada to become a R.N. We had six hours of book work a day and then were assigned to work on the Hospital floors. This how we learned hands on through watching the older Nurses perform their duties.

I loved my Nurses Uniform, I felt so professional. I lived on the fifth floor of the Nurses Residence. I had to attend Catholic prayers at 6 a.m. each morning. If you were late for prayers you were house bound. So if I slept in,I was usually was found dashing down the five flights of stairs, putting my uniform on while I was running. By the time I reached the bottom I was dressed. We didn't have an elevator in the building.

The Polio epidemic was raging in the 50's,many children came down with it, Penicillin was the new drug of choice, along with hot packs, which we applied continuously on their legs and arms. Also Tuberculosis was very contagious and the patients were sent to the T.B. Sanitarium at Calgary, Alberta, where they were isolated and treated. Pneumonia was very common, many developed it from the harsh cold winter weather in Canada, Treatment was again Penicillin and hot steamer in the room, and linseed poultices which we put on their chests. No antibiotics were available yet. Cancer was just starting very few cases were diagnosed.

On day, my younger Sister age 5 and my Mother came to visit me, she saw the red thing on the wall, which she hadn't seen before, and pulled it, she didn't know it was the fire alarm, she was little,the fire alarm went off and the fire trucks came.After that no visitors were allowed upstairs, in our residence to visit us.

The first year we had a Capping Ceremony where I received my Yellow band on my Nurses hat. Then the second year I received a navy blue band. The Third year I received a Black band, as my Graduation Ceremony. I received a dozen long stemmed roses when I graduated.

My Internship was at the Mental Hospital at Ponoka, Alberta, for three months.The food was all home made by the patients. We had fresh homemade rolls, everyday. Homemade Ice Cream was a favorite.Of course I gained 30 pounds there.
I helped give the electric shock treatments.You tie belts around the patient so they can't move. It erased their memory.

There was a lot of Schizophrenia patients there, some thought they were the Queen of England,or somebody famous.They sat around and smoked and rolled their own cigarettes all day. Man they were crazy!!One day I had to clean the toilets about 20 of them in a row, I found after I had done this I was supposed to wear rubber gloves. These were the toilets the Syphilis patients used.I thought I would get Syphilis for sure. There were rumors that if you worked on the second floor,this crazy lady would throw chairs and tables at you, That scared me to death. I didn't have to work on that floor. The Male interns were fun to be with, I developed a crush on one of them. We dated after work.

My next internship was the Calgary Crippled Children's Hospital,at Calgary, Alberta. While there I lived a Dorum next to the Hospital there were twelve beds for us. I had good experiences while training there. I worked with the Perthe's Children, they had a hip deformity's where there didn't have a hip socket.They were five or six years old.Every morning I would give them a bed bath,make their beds and wrap the tensor bandages around their legs in a splint to keep their legs at the right angle,then their foot of the bed was elevated, so their hip socket could develop.Then they could walk. They stayed in the Hospital for two years. We read to them, gave them games to play etc. They had to stay in bed all day.
There was a sweet young girl I remember about 8 years old, who had Osteomylitis in her legs. Where the bone in her legs,had staphylococcus infection and the infection oozed out of the skin on top of her legs. I had to change her bandages every day.
After I graduated in September 1959,I worked at St.Michael's Hospital for two years on the Medical and Surgical Floors.Then I worked at the Campbell Clinic as a Clinical Nurse for a Pediatrician.

I got married to James Brian Gough after Graduation. Three years later, I got pregnant with my first child.and quit nursing for a short period.
My husband and I moved to Medicine Hat,Alberta, Canada.I worked part time at the Hospital there, on a Surgery floor,for two years. then we moved to Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

I didn't work in Calgary I had two little boys now,and they took all of my time.
We moved back to Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada. Where my Husband was called as Bishop of our Ward. He was a Furniture Salesman, drove a semi truck on weekends for Law Transport to Calgary.

I worked at the Medicine Hat Hospital, on the Labor and delivery floor part time three days a week.I loved this job,new babies coming into this world. Especially on New Years Eve, it was very exciting and busy,seeing who would have the New Years baby for that year. I had another baby boy while we lived there.
I worked for six years at this Hospital then, we sold our home and moved to Raymond,Alberta,Canada.

I worked as an Operating Room Nurse at the Raymond Municipal Hospital. I loved the Operating room, it was so interesting to work there. We did a lot of Gall Bladder and Hysterectomy's, Tonsils, D & C's, Hip replacements, Breast implants,casts on broken limbs. This hospital was a small Community Hospital with only 25 beds. So I was the charge Nurse on other shifts,we had only one Nurse and one Nurses Aide on each shift. You could be in the Obstetrics Dept.helping deliver a new baby or have someone else having a heart attack or diabetic reaction at the same time. Also you had to cover any Emergencies that might come in to the Emergency Dept.

One night our former Bishop came into Emergency, with his wife,he had been in a terrible,snowmobile accident, His wife immediately fainted on me.I had the Aide take care of her. He had driven through a barbwire fence, in the dark,cutting his face from the barbwire,in three places.Across his nose, across his chin and forehead. The Doctor and I worked together stitching him up so his face would not be scarred forever. It took over 200 stitches. He looked really good when it all was healed.

My daughter was born in Lethbridge. She was two years old now. Then we moved to Lethbridge, again I had made full circle and was back where I started.I drove to Raymond Hospital for a few months.One night when I was working there I couldn't drive home to Lethbridge, because there was big blizzard going on and the roads were drifted full. So I spent the night down the basement of the Hospital sleeping on a cot.All night the water heated pipes made such a noise I couldn't get any sleep.

Then my Husband left me,for another woman. I got a job at St. Michael's Hospital, again on the Surgical floor. I worked night shift so I could be home with my family during the day.I worked there for one year, Then I took the Nurses Refresher Course at the Lethbridge Community College.

After that I got a job working as a Nurse at the Lethbridge Correctional Institute{AKA} Jail.There were four Nurses working there. We had our own Health Office. The Dentist came three times a week and I worked as a Dental assistant.The other four days the Doctors took turns visiting the Inmates.We had a lot of drunks, there they would be put in the drunk tank, as it was called, until they were sober. Which was a room with a cement floor with nothing else in the room.Several would be in there at once, they would be lying all over each other in order to keep warm.

This was a great experience for me, one day I got called down to the cell block to give injection of 10 cc.s of Paraldehyde to a drunk who was having Delirium Tremors or D.T.s. He was seeing pink elephants walking on the ceiling. Four Guards held him down while gave my injection in his but.

Another experience, I had while working there was when a inmate set his mattress on fire and the whole cell block was filled with smoke. He was put in solitary confinement.This was a small room with no bed or anything in it.

Another time a inmate had a convulsion or seizure when he was carrying a hot cup of coffee. Which he spilled all over him, I took his vitals and watched him come out of the seizure. He recovered and was okay.

Another incident was when one of the inmates broke his light bulb in his cell and slashed his wrists with several cuts on both arms. Two guards came and held him down so I could clean and bandage his cuts. He was put on 24 hr. watch,and moved to a cell across from the guards.I worked there for about six months.

When you gave out medicines to the Inmates, you sat the small med cup on the cell bars, if you handed it to them, they could grab your arm and pull it in through the bars and break it.The Guards were the ones you had to watch out for then because you had a pitcher of water in one hand and tray of pills in the other. They would escort you across the cell block when you gave medicines, they would try to put their arm around you. At night the Guards would escort you to your car for your protection.If you were taken hostage they told us to swallow our med keys ,they were the keys to drugs.I never had to do this thank goodness.

Then I did Home Care Nursing at Coaldale,ALberta,Canada.I took care of a blind 80 year old man in his home. Then I took Sarinah with me on a day job to care for twin baby girls in a small rural home near Taber,Alberta. I took care of a blind three month old baby, which was very challenging.I couldn't give him his bottle when he lost it in his crib.He had to find it himself, but I so wanted to help him.

I also promoted a Read - A-Thon for School Children in Southern Alberta for the Multiple Sclerosis Society ,where I went to several public Schools with a young girl about 23 years old, who had Multiple Sclerosis and was walking with a cane.I explained what Multiple Sclerosis was and how the kids could help make money for this Organization by reading lots of books during the summer. It was a fun job for a few days.
I went to Beaverton,Oregon, met my Husband, he came to Canada after he finished his work there, We were married soon after in Calgary and proceeded immigration papers.In two months we moved to Beaverton, Oregon. I worked doing Home Care only making $ 4.00 a hour, A big drop from my Canadian wages of @11.00 a hr.My husband was out of work for two years from his construction job.

I did Home care in Lake Oswego, Oregon taking care of a Paralyzed boy about 22 years old. He was put into a vegetative state, when his car he was riding in the back seat was hit by a train. I worked the night shift. I turned him every two hours, keep his oxygen going.His Mother had become an alcoholic, his Dad was in charge of everything, including taking care of his wife.

Then we moved to Gilbert, Arizona, when I worked in Home Care again I took care of a Quadriplegic boy in his 30's for 15 years. He had been hurt in a car accident too. He was the passenger in the front seat.The driver didn't have scratch on him. The car was totaled when they hit a brick wall after drinking all night.His neck was broken at C3. He was seventeen when this happened. I worked for him until my back developed arthritis so bad, I had to quit. For I couldn't lift him any more.
I retired from Nursing to do other things.

My Red Peppers

2010-08-05T11:05:00.000-07:00

Today I have finally accomplished, the art of growing Red Peppers here in Arizona in this heat. I have three red ones today and more green ones which will turn red. I have tried many years but they only burnt up in the summer. This year I covered them with a sheet to keep them from baking in the sun. Well it worked Yeah !! I created my own mini Green House.

Frying Eggs on the Sidewalk

2010-07-18T17:48:00.001-07:00

It so HOT in Arizona you can fry your breakfast on the sidewalk.

The birds use potholders to pull worms out of the ground.

The potatoes cook under ground and all you have to do, is pull one out ,add butter,salt and pepper to have lunch.

The Cows are giving evaporated milk.

The Trees are whistling for the dogs.

You no longer associate Bridges [or rivers} with Water.
It hasn't rained since last October.

You eat hot Chilies to cool your mouth off.

You can make instant Herbal Sun Tea.

You learn that a seat belt makes a pretty good Branding Iron.
Ice bags are put over the Baby car seats to prevent Baby from getting burned from the seat buckles.

We keep a cooler with ice in our trunk to bring Ice Cream home from the Store.

We don't let our children run outside in their bare feet, its takes only 35 seconds to get third degree burns on the bottom of a child's feet.

Swimming pools and Sun Splash Events are the busiest now.

You have nearly beat the Sun up so you can exercise out doors.

You would give anything to be able to splash COLD water on your face.

You have HOT water in both water taps now.

We haven't seen rain since Last October. The sad thing about that is "I wish it would rain-- not so much for me, cuz I've seen it-- but for my grandchild.

In July, It takes only two fingers to drive the car.

You notice that you can get a serious sunburn through the car window.

You notice the best Parking place is determined by the Shade, instead of the distance.

It's noon in July and the kids are on Summer Vacation, and not one person is out on the streets.

You can actually burn your hand trying to open the car door.

The Four Seasons are: Tolerable, HOT, Really HOT, ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!!!

No one, would ever dream of putting Vinyl Seats in your Car, or buying a Car with out Air Conditioning.

Your biggest Bicycle Wreck Fear is, What if I get knocked out and end up lying on the pavement and COOK to death.

You realize that the asphalt has a liquid state.

Our A.C unit stays at 80 degrees day and night. Cost is hordenus.

Frying eggs on the sidewalk makes for great breakfast.
Using the Sun Oven makes lots of sense here too.

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Solar Cooking in Arizona

2010-07-13T09:15:00.000-07:00

It has been very hot and dry here in Arizona. We are waiting for the Monsoon rains to come. The Temperature ranges from 100 to 114 this week. So I decided to use the sun to cook with instead of heating up my house or using any electricity. A ten pound turkey barely fit into my Sun oven. I preheated the oven for two hours, then it roasted for seven hours. By five p.m. it was falling off the bones, as you can see in the photo. Anyway it was delicious.But I missed the smells of a turkey cooking in the oven in the house. This the turkey baked in my solar oven
I decide to make Homemade whole wheat bread today in my sun oven. It didn't rise very much and so was very heavy.It baked an hour.I guess I had the water too hot for the yeast, so it killed the yeast so it didn't rise.My husband says I wish you would learn to make it correctly.You waste so many ingredients when it fails.I tell him I am still learning. The is my failure for today.

Family Reunion in Canada

2010-07-08T10:55:00.000-07:00

Austin Wake Boarding at Tie Lake B.C.
Ready to Play Glow Stick Dodge Ball, in the Dark at Tie Lake
More Glow Stick Dodge Ball
Glow Stick Dodge Ball
Glow Stick Dodge Ball
Brooks Family
Prince Of Wales Hotel,Waterton Nat.Park
Sarinah and Brother Craig
Having Fun Tubing on Tie Lake, B.C.Canada

Devin, celebrating Canada's Birthday
Austin Canada's Birthday
Dawson Canada's Birthday
Canada's Birthday July 1, 2010
Family Reunion
Gough Cousins
Gough Reunion 2010
Up the lake without a paddle. Make your own,using Tennis Rackets covered with plastic bags It worked great.
Dawson Bare foot Skiing
Dawson Wake Boarding
Dawson and Mackenzie Wake Boarding
Cameron Falls,Waterton National Park,Alberta,Canada
Brooks Family, Waterton Lake
Beautiful British Columbia
Beautiful British Columbia
Rob Bare Foot Skiing
Rob and Devin driving the boat

Beautiful scenery in Alberta and British Columbia. The Brooks Family and their adventures in Canada this summer.The grand kids did a lot of water sports,at Tie Lake in British Columbia.They paddled a small dingy boat, using tennis rackets for paddles covered with a plastic bag, because they didn't have any paddles. They water skied, wake boarded, knee boarded, drove the boat, skied bare foot. Watched Uncle Rob do his bare foot skiing. Drove the Quad up mountain trails. When night came they played Glow Stick Dodge Ball in the dark with glow sticks, hanging around their necks and wrists,throwing a lighted ball.They also lit up perimeter's of the field so no one would get hurt.They had a fun time with all their cousins.

My Pitcher Runneth Over

2010-06-18T21:56:00.000-07:00

For an example take a water pitcher and fill it with golf balls. Each ball represents the routine things we do each day. Like: prayer, scripture reading, personal hygiene, cooking, cleaning, buying groceries, preparing meals, caring for children and husbands.

Now you think your pitcher is full. No! You can still add marbles, lots of them. Each marble represents: being a taxi driver, taking children to school, ball practices,piano lessons, dance lessons, soccor practices, swimming lessons, PTA meetings, and Church meetings, Visiting Teaching, Service to others, helping the poor and needy.

So now, you think your pitcher is full. No way! You can add water to make it full and run over. This represents the other fun things, we like to do. Exercise, Crafts, and Hobbies, maybe a full or part time job, education.

Now your pitcher runneth over.
This week I actually said NO!
No, to hemming a Prom dress for someone else, the solution was to buy higher heels,that worked.
No! To Speaking in Relief Society, due to I couldn't see good enough to prepare a lesson. The President did a great job.
No! To teaching a child to sew, because I can't even see well enough to thread a needle yet. I suggested another lady to teach her to sew.
No! To exercise each day, because my hip was out of place.
Yes, I actually said NO! Can you believe it, I finally decided, it didn't hurt me to say No!

Gila Valley Cultural Celebration

2010-05-23T16:37:00.000-07:00

We enjoyed the Satellite Video of the Gila Valley Cultural Celebration at our Stake Center.It was like a BYU Extravaganza. There were over a thousand youth providing a wonderful song and dance numbers. They told the history of Gila Valley with their songs and dance numbers. The area was settled by the pioneers in the 1800's.They cleared the land for crops of corn and alfalfa and cotton. Then they needed water to make them grow so they brought the water down by gravitity from the nearby mountains.
They dug irrigation channels. They mined for gold and copper and silver in those mountains. The youth portrayed the irrigation time, by using shovels and pretending to dig while singing the gals carried picnic baskets to feed the men. Then they did the cotton picking song ,all were dressed with white knit hats with black t-shirts which said 100% cotton on them, lined up in rows, portraying the cotton fields. Meanwhile several large cotton shaped balls, kids dressed like this bounced throughout the cotton field. Then they dressed in Mining Hats with lights on the hard hats.and sang and danced. They told us about the Honeymoon Trail, which was a dirt road which led from Gila Valley to St. George, Utah. If a young couple wanted to get married in the Temple, they would walk, ride in a wagon or horseback to get to the Temple, 650 miles away. It still is called the Honeymoon Trail. Now they will have an Temple close, to get married in. At the end of the program, they showed the Angel Moroni, lifted up into the night sky, with white streamers cascading down from him. That is why, they had a Cultural Celebration.It was a big deal. President Monson and Pres. Eyring were in attendance.President Spencer W. Kimball grew up in this Valley at Thatcher Arizona he owned a Bank and a lot of the town.Back in the 1800's a lady gave $5.00 to help build a Temple here.Pres. Monson said" A lady had given him $500,00 to put some ordinal masterpieces of art in this Temple. We were glad we went to this there were only 15 people to saw this in our Stake Center.They missed out.

Another Year Older

2010-05-16T20:25:00.000-07:00

Grandmas Birthday
Grandmas Birthday
Grandkids
Grandpa turns 72
Grandpa and Andie
Great grand Kids
Grand kids

We celebrated our Birthdays together our daughter and grandkids came over and brought us a NEW 47 inch TV set. Ours had given up the ghost. Then the grandkids came and hooked it for us. They all chipped in to pay for it, plus the ones in Canada. Thanks everyone. We loved it, it was a total surprize for me. Ron was in on picking it out. Sarinah made fresh Strawberry pies, and Tina brought an Apple pie for Ron. We all enjoyed the wonderful pies.

A Newborn's Conversation With God

2010-05-10T18:52:00.000-07:00

A baby asked God,"They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow,but how am I going to live there, being so small and helpless?"

God said,"Your angel will be waiting for you and will take care of you."

The Child further inquired,"But tell me,here in heaven I don't have to do anything but sing and smile to be happy."

God said,"your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you. And you will feel your angel's love and be very happy."

Again the little child asked," And how am I going to be able to understand when people talk to me,if I don't know the language?

God said,"Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words you will ever hear,and with patience and care, your angel will teach you how to speak."

"And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you?

God,said"Your angel will place your hands together and will teach you how to pray."

"Who will protect me?"

God said,"Your angel will protect you, even if it means risking its life."

"But I will always be sad, because I will not see you anymore."

God said,"Your angel will always talk to you about Me and will teach you the way to come back to Me."

At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from Earth could be heard and the child hurriedly asked,"God, if I am to leave now, please tell me my angels name.

God said, "You will simply call her, MOM."

Mothers Day

2010-05-10T18:38:00.000-07:00

What a special Mothers Day I enjoyed. All my wonderful children remembered to phone their Mother and wish her a Happy Mothers Day and express their love to her. I got a Pedicure and my hair done.Then we enjoyed the Olive Garden's wonderful cuisine,on Saturday night. My daughter, Sarinah sent me a wonderful box of several fruit and nut packages. Which I was thrilled to get. My birthday fell on the same day. We will celebrate it together on my husbands birthday. I went to church for three hours and received a large chocolate bar for Mothers Day with the words " God could not be everywhere so he gave us Mothers." Then an other cute box of chocolate candies in R.S. with a nice card which said " There is no way to be a Perfect Mother, but a million ways to be a GOOD one. "After a light lunch of Yummy Lettuce Wraps, we watched the Hallmark Movies. Our special Channels for only Mothers Day weekend. My visiting teacher brought me some oatmeal cookies she had made. My dear friend I visit teach brought me a fresh apple pie she had just baked. Its nice to have dear friends and family.

Thelin Family Anscestors

2010-05-09T15:49:00.000-07:00

John Victor Thelin and Hildegarde Augusta Sophia Eriksson, Fathers Parents
John Franklin Helton and Julia Leavitt Redford, Mothers Parents
Thelin Family Farm, Orton, Alberta, Canada
Thelin Family all dressed up for Stake Conference Lethbridge, Alberta,Canada
Reuben and Myra Thelin
Myra Thelin Won a Basket of Groceries
Myra Thelin when she was young

Quick Trip to the Gila Valley Temple Open House

2010-05-06T10:31:00.000-07:00

The Arizona Gila Valley Temple
Joshua Tree Cactus in bloom
Aloe Vera Plant in bloom
Purple Orchid Tree
Yellow Blooms
Yellow Prickly Pear Cactus
Red Cactus Blooms
Jumping Cholla Red Cactus
At the last moment we decided to travel East to see the new Gila Valley Temple opening in Central Arizona. It was a beautiful small Temple decorated in desert sandy colors. It had two Sealing Rooms and two Ordinance Rooms. The Celestial room was spectacular, with its very large crystal bell shaped chandelier. The Sealing Rooms had a mini version of the same chandelier. The Baptismal font was on the backs of twelve oxen which represented the Twelve Tribes of Israel. After we enjoyed refreshments and the wonderful life size portraits of our Savior and his life beautifully arranged in the nearby meetinghouse. Later that day we drove home enjoying the various kinds of cacti in full bloom. It was an enjoyable trip.

How to Can Butter for Food Storage

2010-04-28T10:53:00.000-07:00

How to Can Butter for Food Storage

In Honour of My Mother

2010-04-25T14:59:00.000-07:00

My Mother, Myra Elizabeth Helton Thelin was born October 24, 1916. She was the only daughter of John Franklin Helton and Julia Leavitt Redford. She had two brothers Delbert Lamont and Franklin Vernon Helton. She was raised by her maternal grandparents until she was married. They had 10 children of their own.
Her mother Julia died at the age of 40 due to a miscarriage. Myra was working for Mary Dickie, my Dad's sister doing housecleaning, when she met my father, Reuben Alfred Thelin. He had just returned from an LDS Mission, in Stockholm Sweden. He was thirty years old, my Mother was eighteen. They were soon married, in the Cardston Alberta Temple in Canada.
They set up homesteading in Grandma Thelin's home.It was a two roomed small home. Located on the Alberta prairies in Canada. Grandma had moved to Seattle to live with her daughter Laura. She took care of her until her death from Diabetes. Grandpa John Victor Thelin died at an early age, from blood posioning,caused from hitting his knee on a piece of coal, when his horse team were spooked and went out of control, while he was hauling a load of coal home.
Myra was a hard worker,she managed the chickens and turkeys and ducks. She made cottage cheese on the coal stove for food, for the baby chicks and turkeys.She fed the chickens and gathered and cleaned the eggs. She would separate the cream from the milk each morning and sell it and eggs, door to door in town. She would churn her own butter haul her own water no running water in her home. There were no indoor bathrooms only a two hole outhouse.Why do you need two holes I don't know. We didn't have toilet paper either,we used the Eaton Catalog,page by page. We kept a pot under the bed, for pottying during the cold winter nights,or if you were sick.
Myra took care of the farm when Dad was away in the spring, doing custom sheep shearing. She milked the ten cows, fed the pigs and herded the sheep. She helped Dad by driving the tractor during harvest time. She cooked for twenty five hungry men, who were on the threshing crew at harvest time too. They would have fried chicken dinner with all the mashed potatoes and vegetables you could eat and fresh homemade bread and butter. She didn't go the KFC to pick up several buckets of chicken. Dad would kill five chickens, she carried the water from our well, heated it on a coal stove, put the chickens with their feathers in the hot water,then she was able to pull the feathers off them. Clean them and fry them for dinner. Nothing was fresher or more delicious than that fried chicken. She had no fridge or deep freeze. No electric lights, no bathrooms. She used an ice box for her fridge, which was a box with a big ice block in it, to keep food cold.
When Friday came Myra spent the day getting ready to go the Alberta Temple, she washed and ironed, with an iron that was heated on the stove {no electic irons} all the temple clothes. Then heated the water from the well to take the weekly bath in a round tin tub. They went to the Temple weekly.
Wash day was Monday, when again she carried large pails, from the well. When the wind wasn't blowing the windmill, she had to pump the water by hand. She used a wringer washer putting all the clothes, through a wringer to get the water out of them. She washed all the families clothes and hung them on the outside clothes line. Even on freezing winter days. The men's and boys jeans all hung on the barbwire fence. In the winter they froze and when brought in the house they stood up like cardboard. Tuesday was ironing day, she ironed all the clothes all day.
She didn't have a Chesterfield {Sofa}to sit on or a T.V. She sat on the bed. In they summer they planted a big garden. they grew all kinds of vegetables, even popcorn, which she picked,and let dry, then popped it in the winter.
All the family helped with the weeding and hoeing and harvesting. She would can a lot of garden vegetables and fruit which my Dad would get from British Columbia each summer. We had family outings, where we would all pick wild saskatoons, or chokecherries. She would preserve them and make sweet chokecherry syrup for our pancakes. During Thanksgivng we would be really busy getting all the turkeys and chickens ready for market. Killing them,taking the feathers off and cleaning them.
She was a great fisherman, I mean woman. My brother Ronald and Mom went fishing,She caught a 43 " pike and it was so big, she had to throw in on the shore with her bare hands. My brother Ron caught a big one too. I was the babysitter to watch the younger ones. We fished in the Old Man River, and swam in it in the summer. In the winter Dad would go cut big blocks of ice from the river for our ice box.
We finally got electricity and a fridge, and a deep freeze in 1955.
Myra wanted to play the piano, so taught herself and learned to play by ear. She wanted to be a Nurse but was unable to do that.
She had five wonderful children three boys and two girls. Beverly Gay, Aubrey Ronald, Jay Dean, Dennis John and Julia Hildegarde. Beverly became the Nurse, Aubrey Ronald started his own Auto body Business, Jay Dean went on a Church Mission to Finland,went to BYU, then he joined the USA Army, Dennis went on a Mission, to Stockholm,Sweden and started his own business, building homes in Oregon. Julia went to BYU and studied music. Now she has her own music students, and teaches them, piano and voice lessons.
She was a loving Mother to all her children, she would read them stories from her rocking chair each day and sing songs. Every night was like Family Home Evening as a family we worked together, played games,sang and were taught gospel principles.
She worked as a Primary President for several years, and was the Homemaking leader in charge of making quilts for the needy, for many years. Her husband was in the Bishopric for twenty years. She was very active in raising a good LDS family.
During the long cold Canadian winters the home was warm and full of Love. They all sat around the kitchen cook stove, with their feet, warming in the oven. Especially when it was cold and wet outside.
She helped me decorated my bike for the July 1, Orton Parade held every year to celebrate Canada's birthday.It was a girls bike,and all the boys rode it too. They didn't have a bike. She loved to make warm quilts for our family, to keep us warm during the cold Canadian winters.She would go to the thrift store and buy old winter coats and create a warm quilt.She had a beutiful singing voice. snd was known for her penmanship. She would help the teacher, at school write on the blackboard for her.
For our birthdays, she always made it special, she made a birthday cake from scatch using a egg beater and invited our cousins over for a party.I remember the wonderful hot dog sweet rolls she would make, only for our birthday party's.
Myra was my best friend all of her life. The last time I saw her, was when she attended the Lethbridge Stake Gold and Green Ball, where I was the Queen of the Ball that year.
Her life ended abruptly at age forty, on 7 March 1957,at the Fort Macleod Hospital, Alberta, Canada. she died suddenly of a pulmonary embolism. She was six months pregnant with her sixth child. She was buried in the small Orton Cemetery, at Orton, Alberta, Canada. She will never be forgotten by her loving Family. Writen by her Daughter, Beverly Thelin Lowe.

Where there is smoke there is fire!

2010-04-11T14:59:00.000-07:00

Today was Sunday I hurried and got ready for Church then put some eggs on the stove on high heat to boil. Then forgot them and dashed off to church. After two hours the spirit reminded me I had forgotten to turn off the stove. So I asked my husband if he remembered to turn it off. "No, he replied." So he hurried home to see if out home had burned to the ground.When he arrived the fire alarms were all blaring and as he went through the Garage door the house was filled with smoke. He turned off the stove and put the burnt offering outside to cool off. Then he proceeded to open all the windows and turn on the fans to get the smoke out. Then he lit candles to clear the smoke odor. He prayed thanking God our home was spared. I had responsibility's of conducting Relief Society so I couldn't leave Church, but I had a calm and peaceful feeling everything was going to be okay. When I arrived home it smelled clearly of lots of smoke. So I cleaned up the stove, where the eggs had exploded all over it and the sauce pan which was still intact, because it was made of stainless steel. Good choice. We are both grateful, we have a Heavenly Father who cares for us and watches over us,and our home, when we are doing his work, and being obedient to his commandments.

Wild Flower Expedition

2010-04-01T18:42:00.000-07:00

Yucca in bloom
Crooked Flowering Yucca
Palo Verde Tree in bloom
Beautiful yellow poppies
Mountains covered with yellow Poppies
Tree in Bloom
Wild Flowers
`Orange Wild Flower
Pink Wild flowers

Agave

Blue Wild FlowersGila River Temple

Copper Mine

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Green Desert
During our Temple break we decided to find the wild flowers in the Arizona Desert.We had heard about them, for many years but we were always too late to see them. So we set off in our car early and close to Gold Canyon, we discovered many beautiful colors of wild flowers growing by both sides of the road.
As we travelled heading East we saw the huge rocks at Globe,Arizona. Then we saw the copper mines at Superior and Miami. Travelling farther East we saw hills covered with beautiful yellow poppies. Finally we came to the Town of Central close to Thatcher, where we saw the new Gila River Temple right next to the road. It was smaller than ours and a tan color. I guess it was that color to blend into the desert landscape.
Driving further East towards the New Mexico border we saw Several Mountains dusted with fields of yellow poppies. My camera would not do them justice. That was very impressive. Then we travelled North to see the worlds largest copper mine at Morenci, Arizona. Then it was only 2:30 p.m. so we continued North on a very winding Mountainous road for 113 miles full of sharp switch backs. Highway 191. Not a good road to take ever in my lifetime. I got very carsick and lost my milkshake and hamburger.
We saw eight deer and two Texas Longhorn cows a squirrel or too. Saw lots of snow from the latest snow storm in the mountains. finally after dark arrived at Springer ville. A small town stayed at a hotel and rested. At Showlow we saw an Historic home. Started out about noon the next day drove to Payson and stayed the night. The fruit trees were in blossom there. Drove to Scottsdale and drove to Care Free and Cave Creek then onto Wickenberg, to find more flowers. There were some, but not like we had seen earlier. They were not as tall as in Gold Canyon.
We arrived home about 6 p.m. and crashed, we were tired of exploring the Southwest, but happy we found the wild flowers.

Call 911

2010-03-11T11:14:00.001-08:00

I had my Cataract Surgery. This is when the cloudy lens of your eye is removed and a new Tri Focal Lens is replaced into your eye by hooks. When I get both cataracts removed I won't have to wear glasses anymore. Yeah!! But I will have the vision of a 10 year old child. I was a bit apprehensive about the Surgery. All went well. Post Op. check up the Technician dilated my eyes and left the office. While waiting for the Eye Doctor to appear, I suddenly felt very hot, sweaty, nauseous and faint all at the same time.
I told my Husband, who was waiting with me, I was going to faint. I couldn't put my head down between my knees, because it would ruin the Eye Surgery. I was sitting up in the office chair, ready to be examined. So I laid my head back in the chair and passed out. My husband came over and held my head so I wouldn't fall out of the chair.
He said " My eyes were wide open and dilated and I was out cold. I had very shallow breathing and he thought he would have to give me mouth to mouth very soon. He was very scared I was going to die right there, in the chair." He called for a Nurse, a Technician came in and saw me and exclaimed "Oh, My God.!" and ran out and had someone call 911. I was passed out for about a minute or more" he said.

When I came back to life there were four Fireman Paramedics were there, two Ambulance girls. They checked my Blood Pressure and it was 88/56 and my Pulse was Bradycardia at 55. An I.V. was started and a bolus of fluid was given to raise my Blood Pressure fast.
I was then rushed by Ambulance to the Emergency Dept at the Local Hospital. Where I spent the next 2 hours undergoing ECG and blood work. Finally the Doctor came in and told me I was the healthiest person He had seen that day. I Blood Pressure and Pulse had returned to Normal. The Doctor said it was a Vagal Reaction. Like a fight or flight reaction. I don't know why I wasn't scared of anything. All is well now I can see much better now. The world is so much brighter and rosier. In a few more weeks, I will get the other eye done too.

Birthday Dinner at Chevy's

2010-02-17T12:00:00.001-08:00

DaNae
Bev
Dawson

Snow Birds from the North

2010-02-17T11:34:00.000-08:00

Austin

Celebrated our grandaughter's birthday. She turned thirteen on the 13 of February. She our cute red head. So our family all enjoyed the night out at Chevy's Restaurent.
The birthday girl gets a free somberro and mexican ice cream sundae. My oldest son and family, flew in from the north. He and his family are enjoying the warm weather we are having here.A fun night. After the dinner we celebrated with ice cream birthday cake

Valentines 2010

2010-02-14T12:10:00.000-08:00

My Valentine was so wonderful, I love him so much. He gave me a dozen beautiful pink roses and a box of Chocolates. He took me out to dinner at the Chinese Panda Restaurent. At Church we were showered with Hersey Chocolate kisses. My daughter gave me a turquoise necklace from Cancoon Mexico. Craig, my son phoned from Canada. My oldest son Rob, and family are arriving from Canada, via DisneyLand tonight. So it will be fun and exciting to see them. My kids are all wonderful kids too.

Arizona Sunshine Pie

2010-02-09T12:19:00.000-08:00

This is a senationally citrus pie and is so easy to make. You just throw five ingredients together in your blender and pour it into a unbaked pie shell.Bake 40 minutes and you have the zestiest sweet-yet-tart lemon pie you ever tasted. It tastes like you worked for hours on it. You don't even squeeze the juice from the lemon. Just throw the whole thing into the blender, peel and all. This recipe came from a Nebraska newspaper.

Arizona Sunshine Lemon Pie

Ingredients
1 large lemon
4 large eggs
1 stick of melted butter
1 tsp.pure vanilla
1 1/2 cups of sugar
1 unbaked pie crust

Directions Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cut lemon into small chunks leaving the rind on,
remove seeds.In a blender or food processer,
blend together lemon chunks, eggs, melted butter,
vanilla and sugar until mixture is smooth and creamy.
{it should be fairly runny} Pour into unbaked piecrust.
Bake at 350 for about 40 minutes.If the crust becomes too
brown cover gently with foil and finish baking. Serve
with a dollop of fresh whipped cream or make a Merigue for the top.

For Merique
Use 2 egg whites beat until stiff peaks form gradually add 2 Tbsp sugar while beating, cover the top of the pie spreading, this to the edges. Put under the oven broiler until lightly browned. Takes a minute or two only. Watch carefully so it doesn't burn the top. Cool and enjoy.

Crust Recipe Easy no roll
Makes 1 crust.
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups of flour
1 tsp salt
2 tsp sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 Tbsp milk

Directions:
In a pie pan, mix together flour,salt and sugar. Make a well in the flour and
add the oil and milk.Mix well with a fork until it forms a ball. With your
hands pat this into your pie pan and up on the sides,forming a crust.

My Darling Grandchildren 09

2010-01-27T13:46:00.001-08:00

Kaylee, Deah, DaNae

Our Family 2010

2010-01-26T09:49:00.000-08:00

This is our beautiful family in Arizona.
Kristyn, Tina, Brandon, Mindy, Holding Max, Riley, Natalie, Brooklynn,
Back row: Zack,Crew, Andie, Eric, Daniel,baby Byerlee.

The Mesa Temple Christmas Lights

2009-12-27T10:29:00.000-08:00

The Native American Dancers performed and the Nativity.
The Grandkids and their Mom.We saw a wonderful musical show too.
Each year we visit the beautiful lights at the Temple. The Nativity scenes and Wiseman on their Camels.Thousands of lights.

Christmas Eve Traditions

2009-12-27T10:07:00.000-08:00

We celebrated with our homemade soups Potato, Tortilla,and Chicken Noodle,fresh rolls, plus lots of goodies. We celebrated Jesus Birthday with a cake made from cupcakes.
We played the DVD Joy to the World, for the Nativity this year and didn't dress up.The first time in all my life time, we didn't act out the Nativity.Then we played the chimes,a wonderful tradition, where everyone holds a lead pipe cut different lengths to make the different notes.We hit the pipe with a really large nail to hear the sounds. Yes,we had music to follow.It was enjoyed by the youngest and oldest.
We played the game Mr.& Mrs.Wright, where I read the story and you pass the gift left or right when you hear it in the story.It was fun the children did it first and did quite well keeping up with the story.Then the Adults tried it. Aftger we did the White Elephant gift exchange.I ended yo with a extra large remote control for the TV.Ron had a set of push up weights.

Our Christmas Photos

2009-12-27T09:48:00.000-08:00

Our Home at Christmas

2009-12-13T05:52:00.000-08:00

We have our Christmas lights up early this year,hoping that my brother Ron and Betty would visit. Our Christmas tree is a Charley Brown Tree,with gorgeous Christmas bulbs
that which depict our Savior made by me. The Santa was at our Ward Christmas Party,and was a highlight for all the children. We also had a beautiful display of 35
Nativity's. A wonderful dinner of Hawaiian Haystacks.

What do we can in Arizona?

2009-11-26T18:38:00.000-08:00

We don't have any berries fruit except Oranges,Grapefruit,Lemons and Limes here to can. We freeze the juices from the fruit in December when they come on.So I bought a Pressure Canner for my daughter for Christmas and we have been canning. I Canned 40 lbs of raw Turkey at 37 cents lb.Produced 10 large quart bottles. Then I canned five bottles of raw chicken breast cut in strips.Here are the photos.They turned out wonderful for food storage.She canned sweet and sour pork dinners and pinto and red beans too with crystallized ginger to prevent the gas when eaten.

Happy Thanksgiving

2009-11-26T18:08:00.000-08:00

The Oreo Turkeys
The Little Pilgrims
On Thanksgiving we went to our Grandsons Brandon for delicious turkey dinner with all the trimmings.They cooked the turkey mashed potatoes and gravy. Tina made green bean casserole.Sarinah made her famous dinner crescent rolls and dressing. I brought homemade cranberries made with frozen cranberries, 2 cups sugar and two chopped apples and two oranges, plus grated orange rind. Delicious.Then I made Sweet Potatoes my favorite I mashed 2 bananas into the cooked sweet potatoes instead of adding sugar. Sprinkled the top with toasted pecans. More of the family liked this, better than last year.After dinner the guys watched the football games while the ladies cleaned up. The grandma's helped the great grand kids make, cute Oreo turkeys, and Pilgrim Hats out of construction paper to wear.They enjoyed the crafts today. The weather was perfect a slight breeze and 81 degrees. No rain or snow.

Carson's Baptism

2009-11-18T19:57:00.001-08:00

It was a wonderful day for our Family, another grandchild was baptised. Carson turned eight years old. His Dad baptised him. All the Family were there, who lived close by. Then we went to Lunch at Pei Wei. After lunch they went Hiking the Superstition Mountains.It was a nice cool day finally, after a long hot summer.

Planting our First Garden

2009-11-14T18:59:00.000-08:00

We went to our Grandsons and helped the Great grand children plant their first little winter garden. They planted peas, green onions, lettuce and carrots. All the vegetables they enjoy eating. They loved planting the little seeds in a nice warm bed of soil, by the side of their home. Two weeks later they have already grown into little green plants, because it has been 90 degrees all week after we planted the garden.
Today it is cooler and cloudy we don't see clouds or rain very often here.It is usually sunny and no clouds.So clouds are great to see here in the South West.

Thelin Reunion 2003

2009-11-04T21:08:00.000-08:00

Thought I would post these photos taken at the 2003 Thelin Family Reunion.Hope you know how much we have all GROWN up.Do you recognize any one your family?

While We We Out !

2009-10-21T22:09:00.000-07:00

New CurtainsWindow treatment

The book shelf
Decor by the doorway
Our new air conitioner and writing on the wall
Our new floor and desk
Our daughter remodeled our office when we were gone on vacation. We had wonderful a surprise when we arrived home. We had a new beautiful wood floor. The walls were painted a desert tan color and the the outdated popcorn ceiling was gone. Also the popcorn was taken off, our living room and bedroom ceilings. We had a gorgeous new computer desk and dresser. A large new five shelf book case to hold all our books. New window treatment, with new wooden blinds and new teal colored valence. New photos and writing on the wall,which said "May our home know joy each room hold laughter every window open to great possibilities."Our air conditioner was removed from our window and installed into our wall permanently. We had beautiful pictures to accent our Valence on the window. It was so nice and clean. I want to live in it all day now. Thanks for doing such a great job daughter.

Senior Social Night

2009-09-12T21:15:00.001-07:00

Our dear friends from the Humanitarian Center the Buttons and us.
The Mexican flowers our table decorations.
He is balancing a table on his chin.He balancing a bicycle on his chin.
This is a wheelbarrow he is balancing on his chin.
He is balancing a six foot ladder on his chin.

We had a fabulous chicken dinner and wonderful live entertainment tonight. A big party for all Seniors 65 and over. I dressed up in my little black dress because it was also our 26 th Wedding Anniversary. Thanked my good Hubby for planning a great evening for our celebration. Here are some photos of some of quartets and young single guy who could balance anything you gave him on his chin. A few pictures are of him ,he started with balancing a tennis racket and a ball on his chin, then a push broom, a vacuum cleaner on his chin, a table, a bicycle, a wheelbarrow and a six foot ladder on his chin. We heard a young female singer who could win American Idol easy. The Colvin Men sang their quartet.Our good friends The Buttons came to celebrate with us.

My Favorite Things

2009-09-09T21:24:00.000-07:00

As we grow older we realize how much our favorite things change. I need more pillows of all sizes, to keep me comfortable. More Vitamins and energizers to keep me going. More time to answer the phone. More time to walk to the store. Softer beds and lots of calicum for my old bones, to help me sleep well at night. My friends are my favorite too, cause they put up with me all these years. My Husband and children who have helped me throughout my life. Plus all of the above {This To the Tune of My Favorie Things from the Sound of Music.}