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.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Tornadoes
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.
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.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
The Worst Storm in 27 years.
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.
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.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
FAll IS HERE
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.
Monday, September 6, 2010
Labor Day Activities
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.

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.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
School Days
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.

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.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Fun on the Farm in Canada
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.

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.
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