at1. the file name for this. i like it.

deb at 1 year old, filename i assume chosen by her mother, who scanned this pic from one of her "big books".

...

digby

visited judy there, she had a pet fly that flew around the kitchen. we traveled in a white dodge van from NS to washington. they lost me on the temple grounds, had to call security. i knew where i was, they were lost. i like to move around under my own power. saw gettysburg, beautiful traffic circle in the middle. just like parts of etown. oh, and i stood in the sacred grove. and climbed the hill cumorah. i think we also stopped in bangor, maine.

kitimat

i visited sister linda's home, such memories, touring the alcan plant, too cool for my nerdness, with long crucibles turning bauxite into aluminum. and the song and game lr would play with nathan, riding on her knee,... this is the way that baby rides, baby rides..ends in, this is the way daddy rides, so early in the morning. the knee would go faster for each round of the song, thus exciting the baby. endorphins 70's style. had so much fun there, will never forget it.

post title

thinking of using blog again. story of jimmy, johnny, randy, jeff. we were good friends, some photos of us in moms slides, facebook. all this gun vileness i remember and lament on. my dad had rifles on the basement wall, on a rack. i couldn't even look at them. jimmy and johnnys dad had that too, similar basement. jimmy was my age, johnny was randys age. one day they were playing with the guns in their basement, johnny pointed a gun at jimmys head, and the gun was loaded. changed me a lot. jimmy was my best friend. killed by gun.

mom memory

breakfast table, 7 am, bout '69ish, i'd sit with mom and ask her dumb questions..here's one, 'what would you do with a million dollars'?, response, 'i'd give it away'.


wanna share a remembered moment with unohoo? BLOG is open and willing. (and she get's every comment via email).


HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO ALL THE WONDERFUL MOMS I KNOW!!

again?

Tuesday, August 24
pushy or what?
Tell your mother you love her. As often as you can.

Find good in everything, there's good, and love, in all, as people it's our lot to find it.

When you feel down, give something of yourself to another. It works.

Use your own best judgement. With charity towards others.

Forgive. Love. Give up your pride to help others.

pushy or what?

Tell your mother you love her. As often as you can.

Find good in everything, there's good, and love, in all, as people it's our lot to find it.

When you feel down, give something of yourself to another. It works.

Use your own best judgement. With charity towards others.

Forgive. Love. Give up your pride to help others.




And take time to consider the teachings you've gained. You likely have little less more valuable.

family..mine and yours..

i have always loved these early pictures of family. my mother sent these for the blog this afternoon. from an email discussion 'tween her, aunt Chris, and cousin Jeff Morrison.

Who was Aunt Beatrice?
My mother's Aunt Beatrice was Beatrice Marshall Hardy, who married William Wilson, my grandfather Baillie Wilson's brother, 18 October 1892. They came from Scotland to visit the Wilsons on the farm a couple of times. Probably in the 20s.The rest of the people in this pic are my Granny, Marion Ballantine McLaren Wilson, Baillie and Ken Holte (my cousins).

Left is Auntie Lizzie Scott, next to her is Roderick Macdonald and his (2nd) wife my auntie Mary Morrison. I figure this picture was taken on the occasion of Rod and Mary's wedding, 27 March 1931 in Vancouver, Auntie Lizzie must've travelled from Edmonton out to Vancouver for the occasion, her sister Mary married at age 43. Think it's taken in Stanley Park, Vancouver. I've been working on the Macdonald line over the last coupla months with surprising results, thanks to the new fsbeta data base. And since you brought the Grahams to my mind yesterday, I went on that same site and found three death registrations, for Robert Graham, his wife Elizabeth Young and their son Robert, all in Vancouver. The Grahams lived next door to Mary Morrison and her daughter Millie when they lived on 4th Avenue in Kitsilano.
this is a picture of my mother Chrissie Wilson, as a teenager (2nd from right of the girls, I think) and some of her schoolmates at Preston School, Wildmere. I'm pretty sure the guy is their schoolteacher, don't know his name. About 1911 or 12. I'll send this pic to Christina, maybe she knows more about it than I do, I have a vague memory of having seen it before, but do not have a copy of it myself. So I'm not positive which of the girls is my mother.

I checked with my sister, and it is my mother 2nd from right of the girls, the girl she's talking to is her great friend Gertie Green, whom she exchanged Christmas cards with for many years.




Too easy on this one! That's my grampa Baillie Wilson, his daughter Chrissie (My mother), me and Jack. Three generations.

Mary Morrison at Cummings,this is at the farm at Cummings, AB, which is the name of the rural district where our first farm was located, 22 miles ssw of Vermilion. Taken maybe about 1919. Strange, she must've milked the cow out in the open, we always milked them in the barn.

violas, begonias, in my pirated planter by the west door

whatever

request for granny.

please post your recipe for meatloaf. tyvm. recently saw that on the interthing. means thank you very much.

Judy. In her own words.

Me and mother...granny to some and Marion to others.




Me with my mother and daughter.




Randy and sister Judy

Subject: For Blog, Family Hysterics

How many of my children/grandchildren thought mine was the first generation to join the Mormons? WRONG, WRONG, WRONG! We have connections to Richard Ballantyne, who actually founded the Sunday School in the LDS church, and dates away back to 1817 when he was born to his father, 70 year-old David Ballantyne, and his second wife, Ann Bannerman, a 19 year old Highland lassie who spoke Gaelic. Richard Ballantyne was born in a tiny little village (1 dozen families) in Roxburgh, nearby to Melrose Abbey, where the heart of Robert Bruce was traditionally buried. Shortly after Richard was born, his father David was struck by tragedy, a friend to whom he had loaned a great deal of money defaulted on the loan, and David and Ann were turned out of their home with only a cow and a few sticks of furniture left to their once-prosperous living. Forced to work as a common laborer, David went to work at a nearby farm, lived 11 more years....fathered several more kids, the night before his death in Springhall, Roxburgh, a voice called to him three times, "David, David, come away." Because of grave robbers active at this time, stealing corpses from their graves and selling them as cadavers, the widow Ann purchased a vault to secure David's body.

But our story is really about their son Richard....at age 7, he was herding his father's cows....at age 10, he became a gardener to a wealthy man, working 10 hours daily for 10 cents a day. At age 14, Richard apprenticed to a baker in Earlston, Berwick, (where your Waldie connections lived, my children....not mine! these are your Granny Naylor's ancestors, so this story is a gift to you from her!). After 3 years Richard was promoted to foreman and finally was put in full charge. His boss died, and Richard purchased the bakery from the widow for $25, last of the big-time family bargains!

About this time, Richard had a vision of Jesus Christ, and became very religious. At 21, he became an elder in the Relief Presbyterian church , and even organized a Sunday School in a small farm village a few miles from Earlston, at which 75 boys and girls attended. Rumors of a new prophet in America came to him, culminating with Elder Orson Pratt coming to Edinburgh, proselyting, in 1841. And, despite much opposition, Richard was baptized in the Firth of Forth about 30 miles from Earlston, followed shortly after by the rest of his family, and they stood alone in a sea of hate and distrust. But the notoriety certainly didn't affect his bakery business, in less than a year he had made enough money to afford emigrating the whole family to America, so he sold up his holdings in Earlston and off they went on the Yankee packet ship "Metoka", September 5th, 1843, bound for New Orleans. (By riverboat and stage from then on, joining the Saints and settling in Nauvoo.) Richard accepted the priesthood ordinations coming to him, plural marriage was just starting, and he himself ended up with 3 wives and 22 kids, while his sisters Jane and Annie became plural wives of John Taylor. Moving west with the Saints to Salt Lake, Richard retained his dream of effective teaching of the children of the church, and expanded on his early work in Scotland with the Presbyterian church, officially starting the LDS version of Sunday School in 1849.

Richard Ballantyne died in 1898 and is buried in Ogden City Cemetery.

Now you're saying, where is the connection to us? (you, that is!).....
Well, a cousin of Richard, another David, settled in Earlston, Berwick, as well, and became a merchant in that town, married a girl named Elizabeth Hislop, who just happened to be a sister of Ann Hislop, who married Alexander Waldie. (Dad's grandma Hill was a Waldie, Margaret Jane). Long drawn-out story, right? David Ballantyne's Elizabeth died at a fairly young age, followed within weeks by their only son Robert.....so, when the Waldies and their huge family emigrated to Canada in the late 1850's, they left behind their daughter Jessie in the care of their uncle David, assisted by another sister of Ann Hislop, Isabella, who housekept for them and served as surrogate mother to the little 9 year old girl Jessie. Jessie eventually married a travelling salesman named Hugh Stoddart and had a family of her own, but Isabella continued to live with them, unmarried and still foster mother and grandmother, until she died in Edinburgh at age 80-something.

Want some more claims to fame? some more Ballantyne cousins James and John Ballantyne, built a large publishing house in Scotland, mostly with Sir Walter Scott's money. James had two nephews who were to become famous, Robert Michael sailed for Canada and worked for the Hudson's Bay Company, wrote 80 volumes of stories about wildlife and travel. His brother James Robert, went to the Far East and became a noted Orientalist. (Note to Debbie: ever wonder why Shawn is so hung up on Chinese culture...he's a descendent of this family!).

Now I realize this is straight pure unadulterated genealogy, which I have researched over the last fifteen years, very painstakingly.....strictly for my husband's lines. Some of you are probably bored to tears with all these details, but to me they are completely fascinating, and I can only hope one of my grandchildren will inherit the Spirit of Elijah and someday continue with this research and be responsible for uniting this huge family in the eternity to come.

Letter from Jackie...

Hi Jeff,

If you would please post this on BLOG for me, that would be great! Thanks!
Jackie





Hello, my dear in-law family...

This is probably going to be quite long, so please bear with me! I wanted to write you all, and this is for everyone, Mom N, Randy's brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews, and all of their spouses, children, etc!

I wanted to let you all know about a process I have begun, and that is the step-parent adoption by Russell of Kristen and Karina. The thought process in doing this has been a long time in coming, and for that there are several reasons, but I want to include you all in this each step of the way as Kristen and Karina's daddy's family.

Russell and I have been married now for 10 years, and Kristen is now 17, about to turn 18 in September, and Karina will turn 16 this coming May. We have been talking for years about the probability that someday Russell will adopt the girls, but given their ages now has to be the time if we are going to do it. There is a very real practical reason for an adoption, and it has to do with citizenship and the USCIS-United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.

As you may or may not know, when Russell and I became engaged and planned for the girls and I to move to the States, it began a very long and expensive process. It was a trail of red tape and paperwork that involved forms, consulate visits, medical exams, and waiting. The INS, as it was known back then, had to be very sure that we were not wanting to come into the States for any other reason other than for me to marry Russell and for us to become a family. Then, when we were approved, and we moved south of the border, we had to complete more paperwork immediately upon getting married to "adjust our status" and a few months later, again, after expense and paperwork, became conditional temporary residents. Two years later, the three of us became permanent residents, or legal "aliens", (boy do I love that term- NOT!), but that is the legal term by which they call us here, meaning that we have green cards. We have most of the rights and responsibilites of US Citizens, except for of course the fact that we cannot vote, or serve in the military or other positions that require US citizenship. The green card is issued every 10 years,and ours are up for renewal in 2013, for a fee of I believe $290 per person.

As most of you know about me, I was born in England, and apart from 5 years of my life, lived in Canada after my parents emmigrated in 1969, for most of my life until age 31. That whole time I was a permanent, legal resident of Canada but not a citizen. After I turned 18, I couldn't vote. I finally applied for and became a proud Canadian citizen right before I moved to the US! And now of course, I cannot vote here! It is very frustrating to live in a place where you cannot vote and have a say in the government! At some point in the future I may decide to apply for US Citizenship, as I have experienced living in a country where you are not a citizen twice now, and would like to vote at some point in my life! I would like my daughters to have that opportunity. Most people assume that after this long, the girls and I are automatically US Citizens simply because I married a US citizen, but I'm here to tell you that is not the case! As Kristen rapidly approaches turning 18, and Karina not far behind her, I want them both to have all the opportunities and chances available to them, and since they are probably going to live here for most of their lives now, like me, it will be so much easier for them to obtain their US citizenship this way, and become dual citizens of both Canada and the US.

If a child is adopted by a US citizen before they turn 18, that child automatically becomes a US citizen themselves, without having to go through all the red tape, paperwork and $675 naturalization fee per person. At some point in the future, we will have to still apply for a citizenship certificate for them, at a fee of $420 pp, but that's still a good bit less than the other fee!

Karina has expressed an interest in possibly joining the US National Guard, she is thinking of either going into pediatrics or dentistry, and they have a training program where they put their recruits through all their schooling, in return for a weekend a month of service. Of course, there is the possibility of them being deployed to any of the world's trouble spots,of which we are well aware. Kristen's boyfriend has just joined with them and has begun his journey to be a doctor with them. Karina would be eligible to join them if that's what she decides sometime during her 11th grade school year, as long as she is a US citizen by then.

The process which I have just begun of this step-parent adoption should be quite simple;we can file the paperwork ourselves at our local courthouse and then wait for a date with the judge. Because of the nature of our case and the unfortunate fact that their father has been deceased for some time, we don't forsee any problems, and we will only have a filing fee to pay versus hiring a lawyer to do it for us. It's supposed to take somewhere in the vicinity of 3-4 months to complete.

Kristen and Karina have asked us over the years if we were planning on Russell adopting them ever, and they are both agreeable and excited about it,both for the opportunities becoming able to be a US citizen will give them, and to officially be Russell's daughters as opposed to step-daughters. Although, that distinction has never been an issue or a problem, the girls have always regarded Russell as their dad and them as his daughters. It's just that officially being his daughters will give them citizenship in the easiest, quickest, most economical way. They have expressed however that they do want to keep the last name they have had all their lives, so their names will not be changing, they will still be Naylors, and both Russell and I are perfectly okay with that.In fact, I wouldn't have it any other way.

That being said, I want you all to know, and it is my deepest and most fervent prayer that you do, that Randy is not being dishonored by this process. First and foremost, God blessed Randy and I with Kristen and Karina, and it is through the two of them that he lives on. The three of us all lovingly and fondly remember our dear husband and daddy, and always will. Nobody will ever take his place. All of our 10 years together, Russell has been the most supportive and loving husband to me and daddy to the girls, and has loved them from the beginning of our marriage as his own. People that don't know our situation assume that the girls are his, and are very surprised if they find out , especially if they have known us for a while, because everyone acts and is family. He understands when we have bad days and understands on sad anniversaries when we are missing Randy, and wouldn't have it any other way. The girls love Randy, and he will always be with them, guiding them,and always hold a special place in their hearts. In fact, when Kristen gets married, she is going to carry pansies in her bouquet -she says that way her daddy will be with her, she remembers how those pansies grew wild for 2 or 3 years at the cemetery and how Mom N made those beautiful dried flower pictures with them!

Anyway, I felt like I owe you, as Randy's family, the respect and courtesy of the knowledge of the proceedings down here and the reasonings behind them. Most importantly, I hope you all understand that this step parent adoption in no way takes anything, the title of "daddy" , or the love, away from Randy. We loved him then, now, and forever. If any of you have any thoughts, comments or questions, please do not hesitate to contact me!
,
I'm so glad that Randy has a big family, I just wish we could see you all more often! Or at all! Maybe this summer... I am thinking of doing a driving holiday... but we'll see...

Love,
Jackie, Kristen and Karina

Q + A! yet again. Unohoo.

I've reminded myself lately of my gramma morrison. she's in the only framed pic in my place, nicked it from me mom, looks great in my wall display, with cristmas cards from mom and judy, and all the ribbons and bow's that came with, and the our family book my sis deb and her girls put so much work into, bless their hearts, my camera, and 3 pieces of toffifay left from 12 jude gave me for christmas.


I don't have a direct, easy answer question, (on the q+a idea that i'm sure i'll beat into the ground), but, my dear mother, i would like to know more about your thoughts regarding my dear gramma morrison.

Perhaps i do have a direct question, how and why did i came to love her so dearly, and admire everything about her. You've said little of your connection to your Mother, i'd like a few words about that.

btw, i developed a cold in the last few days....blech...first time in years, i'm planning on 12 hours sleep, so, take your time.

Q AND A!!!!DAMMIT!

WOOHOO, look at me, i'm going to play the only BLOG featured offering, 'ask whatever her name is', a question. you know who. so, unohoo, and you know who you are, speak on all you loved about my father?

my list would start with sense of humour.

don't blame me, you must answer, you signed onto this trainwreck yearishes ago.

secrets from the past. don't expect real entertainment.

my mother once made up a song riff for church, don't know the why and wherefore, but it was 'if i were the bishop, i would do my gene-ene-ene-ene-ology'.(two syllables in each ene, for cadence sake), she might remember the rest of the lyrics she 'adapted' from 'if i were a richman' from fiddler on the roof. good movie. bit retro. we also watched the sound of music every christmas on the 12 inch sony in the tiny bedroom not much bigger than a double bed.

she's not writing much currently, blogwise, so here i am for my rare post occurance. like i said, don't expect entertainment from me. i'm on hiatus.

the k-ster...my bud kristy...i call her that cuz i think it's funny, and her dad was the master at making up nicknames for everybody in the family, well, she's said don't delete posts anymore...there's not much to this one, but i will follow her direction. she's a pretty cool niece.

we're posting recipes now. yaay.

For the Blog:

Whoops! just got back from a cooking demo by our Activities Director, and she featured Choco Squigglies from Jean Pare's Company's Coming series (her specialty book on everything chocolate). These are fun to make and a delicious little treat.

Here's the recipe:

1 large egg
7/8 cup milk
1 cup flour
1/4 cup cocoa, sifted
2 tbsp sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt

Cooking oil, for deep frying

Icing sugar for garnish

Beat egg in medium bowl, add next 7 ingredients. Beat until smooth. Pour batter into plastic squeeze bottle.
(Empty pancake syprup bottle works fine.) Measure cooking oil into electric fry pan to depth of 1 inch. Heat to 375.
Squeeze batter into hot oil making spiral or zigzag pattern within about 3 inch diameter area. Cook for about 2 minutes, turning once, until puffed and browned. Remove with slotted spoon to paper towel. Sprinkle with icing sugar. Serve warm. Makes about 12 squigglies.

YUM! This is sort of a mini-donut type of thing, with like one-enth of the calories. I would like to try it without the cocoa, and maybe put in some almond flavoring instead...maybe some nutmeg, but that, of course, would not belong in a chocolate cook book, would it? By the way, it also says not suitable for freezing, best eaten fresh.

Anybody wanna give it a try? Leland???? Have a rest from banana bread?

My brother Sandy

Rooting around in my bookcase today, I came across a fairly lengthy (100 pages, double-spaced) epistle written by my brother Sandy for the edification of his children and grandchildren, entitled "My Early Life: Growing up on the Canadian Prairies During the Great Depression". Written by Alexander B. Morrison, Bountiful, Utah, January 2002. And let me tell you, it is riotously funny, and oh, so well written, as only the author of a number of books can do, I have been giggling to myself, sometimes bursting into outright laughter, at some of the images he portrays, the whole thing is absolutely hilarious. I feel compelled to share with my family his take on cows! Here goes.....read and enjoy.

"As you would expect on a "mixed" farm, we always milked a half dozen cows. They came and they went, but on the whole they were a sorry lot, who didn't give much milk and didn't drop calves that were good beef producers either. Truth to tell, cows are pretty stupid beasts. There was Peggy, a black brute who would suffer some sort of periodic hormonal fever, and take off across country in search of male companionship. Fences were no deterrent to our Peggy, over or through them she went with abandon, and when the fever subsided she would be brought back unrepentant, having cut her teats to pieces. Attempts to put salve on her to ease the pain and encourage healing were rewarded by serious efforts to kick your head off. She was short both on gratitude and brains. Then there were our only three genuine Jerseys, a great milk-producing breed normally. They were bought at a farm sale someplace, and christened (by me) as Boots, Toots and Snoots. (Not one of my more memorable creative efforts!) The latter two were useless creatures, pretty to look at, but producing little milk. Boots was a good milker, and we had her for several years.

"It was the common habit of cows, some more than others, to periodically stretch while standing in the stall being milked. When they did so, their hind feet would slip off the end of the stall, and they would slide into the gutter, with a great splatter of urine and dung. Then, as they lurched to regain their footing, having come down heavily on the knees of the milker, they not uncommonly kicked the milk bucket, put their dirty foot in it, or knocked the poor milker off his or her stool. When such occurred, the aggrieved milker could be expected to belabor the cow over the back with the milk stool, while deploring the unwed ancestry and canine origins of the brute involved.

"A daily occupational hazard of milking was the likelihood of being slapped across the face by the wet tail of a cow seeking relief from flies. Since the tail certainly was not wet with sterile water, the effect of such a lashing was both pungent and painful. One of our most noteworthy cows, named Pansy (what a contradiction in terms that was!) had had her tail half-frozen off before we bought her. When she hit you with her tail it was as though you'd been poleaxed, or at least hit with a cement-filled sock. There were no long line-ups of those who begged to milk Pansy, as I recall.

"Pansy featured in one of our most enduring farm mysteries. One night as Uncle, Bob and I were milking, Pansy suddenly gave out an anguished moan, followed by a long and painful shudder from head to tail. The cause was a mystery and remained so despite earnest discussions for weeks afterward. Uncle opined that perhaps she had swallowed a nail which somehow had found its way into the hay supply. Others thought she had suffered a heart attack of sorts, or perhaps been bitten by a mouse. Bob remained strangely non-committal through it all. It was fully ten years later, when both of us had left home, that he finally made known the cause of Pansy's discomfiture. He had been forking hay into her manger that fateful night and had inadvertantly (or so he claimed) stuck poor Pansy in the nose with the pitchfork! No wonder she moaned!

"Each spring calves were born, not uncommonly with the help of a rope tied to their front legs as they emerged from their mother's womb. It was the task of small boys to pull when ordered to, but only when ordered to, so as not to risk injuring the mother or the infant. Within a couple of hours, having been licked clean by the mother of blood, plancental fragments and amniotic fluid, the calf would first take a few tottering steps , and then be fully mobile, able to keep up with the others, and bawling for nourishment. Calves were soon weaned from the udder to a pail. That could be a traumatic experience for both man and beast. You straddled the calf's body, with its head between your knees, (and hence controllable), and put your fingers in the milk and into the calf's mouth. In theory, as it sucked your fingers it swallowed milk, and learned to drink from the pail. But while some calves learned quickly, i.e. within a couple of days, others would butt the pail with their heads, usually spilling the milk all over the leg of the poor "teacher" or would gag and splutter and nearly drown. Finally, Father, in total frustration, would say "drink or droon (drown)" and by sheer force of character and brute strength, force the calf to be reasonable, give up and just drink, which they always did. Sooner or later."

WELL, THAT'S THE COW STORY! He goes on to do the pigs, the sheep, the horses, the turkeys, and all sorts of other doings on the farm. Perhaps my children and grandchildren will better relate to what it's like growing up on a farm, and the extent of the things we had to deal with. Certainly a different life from the city-raised experiences of our children and grandchildren. But no doubt they had their own challenges, of a different nature certainly, but all these early experiences still contributed to the characters and personalities of these grown-up actors in the Game of Life.

If you enjoyed this story, please let me know, and I may be persuaded to do another excerpt from Sandy's story of growing up in the dirty thirties.

Love to all,

Mom, Granny

first 'update' on BLOG

Just a bit of an update here. It's an exciting busy time here in Diamond Willow, with families coming and going, carrying gifts and cards for their favorite oldies. The activities person finally showed up today and kept herself busy wrapping gifts for some of the residents that can't handle wrapping anymore. They'll all be under the tree for our party tomorrow night, when Santa Claus comes and there's entertainment. I lucked out on the name I drew, a man whom I've never even said a word to, so I know nothing about him. But his daughter works here as a server and evening staff a couple of times a week, so I appealed to her, and danged if she didn't go out and buy my present for him! chocolates and socks. I was very relieved, all I had to do was pay for it and wrap it, I borrowed some wrapping paper from a friend here, made a pretty bow out of some metallic ribbon which gussied it up very nicely. So it's all ready.

And a first for our bishop! He came here last night and again tonight for tithing settlement. Came to all the individual rooms, sat on my couch and from that point on, put my last tithing cheque for 2009 in his pocket, and from then on it was a barrage of questions:

(His eyes circled my room again and again and again, I'm sure he memorized every single thing in it! Maybe he has to report to his wife, I have no idea! Anyway, it was kinda funny....then followed a barrage of questions.....

1. Who took that picture? (deeply impressed by my beautiful picture of Old Chief from Linda & Stuart for Christmas)...answer:
Clayne Steed. When was it taken? answer: last fall, then I told him what Linda told me, how they drove as far as they wanted, then hiked in to where there's a large pond of water and took the picture with the reflection of Old Chief in the still water of the pond. It really is gorgeous and linda framed it all by herself and made a marvellous job.
2. How are you connected to Clayne? .... answer, the Steeds and my Raymond kids are best friends.
3. When did you get two rooms?.... answer, August. I went away for a week to my other kids' cabin near Kalispell and when I got back it was all finished.
4. Where near Kalispell?..... On Ashley Lake. (further comments from him, he was there once, "what a beautiful location", maybe he's looking for a site there, I dunno).

Closing comments, this is really nice! (referring to my room I guess, he only saw my sitting room). Well, I better run along, I have a few more appointments. Thanks, Sister Naylor, see you later. (Noticeably missing, the golden question "Are you a full tithe payer?" So of course, I didn't have to answer! I am, but maybe he just guessed!) so funny. Maybe he's a better dentist than a bishop. Oops! forget I said that, against the law to badmouth the bishop.

I'm hoping to go to Calgary for Christmas, and would like to get there a few days early, so I can do (help with) the baking for Debbie, etc. Coming back with my friends, the Eden's.....their mom lives here in the lodge and they're taking her up to where they live in NW Calgary for Christmas, returning to Magrath on the Monday after Christmas. She is my secretary and good friend.

Last night I watched the whole four hours of Gone With the Wind, nice movie, Atlanta burning scenes are wonderful. And tonight from 8 to 9 was the Tabernacle Choir broadcast, really wonderful, with bell ringers, dancers, a male soloist, songs that are familiar, altogether a great performance thanks to Mack Wilberg, the conductor, who arranged it all. Several fun songs, as well as a couple of traditional carols.

Went to the adult Christmas party at the church, nice food, lots of turkey and ham and stuffing....only thing I thought was kinda stupid was baked potatoes instead of mashed. The night before, we had our bang-up Christmas supper here, and our cooks excelled themselves, it was just wonderful, turkey, ham, sw potato, dressing, etcetc. and following the program, a simply marvellous buffet and punch. A good time was had by all.

So there we are, off to Lethbridge tomorrow with LR, have to see my denturist and do a few little errands, and we are going to the Swiss for the festive special, so looking forward to that in a big way!

Love to all my children, and if I don't talk to you before, have a Merry Christmas, and take pictures to put on the BLOG!

Mom.

G&G Anniversary Weekend?

Especially this one??? This is what we called fun??

This picture brings back memories of my childhood, when one of my jobs was milking the cows, and one of my fun times was feeding the barn cats the product thereof. Mind you, this was supposed to be strictly verboten, we weren't supposed to be wasting the milk by squirting it at the cats....but dang it, the cats had to eat too, didn't they? Not that some of them deserved it exactly, (like the treacherous feline that snatched my pet bunny rabbit, and dispatched him to bunny heaven before I could catch up to him). Nevertheless, this was a favorite pastime, which disturbed Bossy in no way, and was a source of great delight to both milkER and milkEE. And who misses one squirt? Well, maybe two....or more....

Which brings back other bovine memories ("bovine" is cow-related, grandkids). Did I ever tell you about the time I helped my dad birth a calf that was bent on entering the world the wrong way, feet first? I suppose I was maybe 12 or so, and had gone with Pop to check on the cow, and of course, found her in deep trouble, obviously she needed major help. We were able to assist, since there were two of us, and two feet being presented. Both calf and cow survived this unfortunate event...didn't happen very often, in fact, I don't recall any similar births amongst our farm animals, nature usually takes care of herself.

MILK? one of the finest products available to mankind! (Listen to me, preaching about the advantages of drinking milk, when it's my least favorite beverage in the world, second only to gatorade!) But let me tell you about "saps". This was an old Scottish meal in itself, native to generations of Scotsmen before mine, and often a source of comfort and/or delight to my parents, perhaps even a bit of a necessity when there was nothing else in the larder. (Remember, corn flakes and rice krispies, etc. were not yet invented). Anyhow, here's how to make saps in case any of you are interested. Break up a slice or more of bread into a bowl, sprinkle a little sugar overtop, brown or white, no matter. Then pour warm milk overtop, and prepare to choke it down your thrapple. (That's "throat" in Scots dialect, chilluns). I digress.....they loved this stuff! I suspect the name "saps" started out to be "sops".....and I'm sure it was a favorite food in the olden days in many nations, both bread and milk being readily available throughout the ages of time, or since cows were invented. And flour and yeast. By the way, if you don't know about "sops", look it up in your dictionary, if it's old enough it will be there. Maybe some diligent old-timer even put it on wiki.....

Just a few Sunday afternoon meanderings down memory lane....maybe I should go play "K-k-k-katy, beautiful Katy, you're the only g-g-g-girl that I adore, and when the moon shines over the c-c-c-cow-shed, I'll be waitin' at the k-k-k-kitchen door" for my fans....get this out of my system.

me, food, job, work, ergh.

restaurants typically bake potatoes in foil. that's not baked, it's steamed.in it's own water.

i can't cook fried rice. my mother is a genius at it.

in high school, i would come home at lunch, cook salty spaghetti, a good bunch, eat it straight from the strainer. no sauce.


ten foods i remember my mother making, turkey casserole..soft boiled egg mixed with catsup in a cup..salt and peppered tomato slice on a drive to SLC..smoked cod poached in milk every saturday morning.. roast turkey made in the black enamel roasting pan..turkey rice soup from the turkey stock and various bits of turkey off the carcass..campbells tomato soup, she would make it, with a good amount of milk, i would shred a full slice, or more, of wonder bread into the bowl..home grown boiled peas...chinese fried rice...CINAMMON TOAST...not sure if this was her or me, but, room temp white bread, butter and sugar atop (ok, that was me)..creamed mushrooms..cheddared pearl onion..oohh, boston baked beans, slow baked in our brown clay bean pots..mmmhh, hash, made with leftover mash tato and roast beef..mince, ground beef and onion saute, on mash tato..carrot cake tooo rich for me to eat anymore..tuna casserole, with a can of campbells cream of celery, and cream of mushroom, or cream of chicken, tasted just like turkey,(that crafty old girl), OOOOOHHH, holy shizzing, COLESLAW!!!..MMMM, pasta salad...of course cabbage rolls.. even frozen lasagna on the tinfoil pans, though i'm not usually a lasagna fan..hash browns, scrambled eggs and bacon for breakfast, am i at ten yet?

i've been wanting to talk about food, but i often think i'm thinking nonsense.

my only, and best suggestion, FRESH HERBS!! fresh anything.

the end of 1973 Diary

Don't axe me! I don't know why I quit writing as of March 18, 1973.....and didn't start again until 1981 when I journalled on a weekly basis February to September. From then on, beginning in 1982, a daily full page, which continues to the present day. Grandkids, you will all think this is a dreadful bore, it's mostly written for my children, but if you can stand to read it all, then feel free! And if you sometimes feel like crabbing about the shortage of time, demands of daily life, church jobs, and the like, maybe consider some of the challenges your grandparent(s) had to face. I put that "s" there, because, YES, while Dad was occasionally critical of the church's programs and people, he always, consistently, supported me. He was the best non-member worker in our ward! The only demand he ever made, when I was called to new positions, was that he be contacted by the priesthood to give his consent! (He never failed to give it, I could count on that).

So here goes, the last 18 days of the 1973 attempt to diarize! (made up that word)

March 1: Worked out 3 alternates for E.L.A. (1) Disband immediately. (2) Hire new secretary. (3) Move office to my home, and go on 1/2 time. Getting lots of calls, ELA wondering what meeting is all about. They'll have to be there to find out!
March 2: Made out all accounts and mailed them off. Got my hair cut, shampooed and set. Getting ready to go to Calgary for Regional meetings. Leaving at 3:30 p.m. Dora Bennett going with us, meeting tonight 8 p.m. at Willowpark chapel. Linda phoned, all excited about going to Harrison Hot Springs for weekend. Got away for Calgary about 3:40, went to White Spot for hurried supper, then on to meeting at 8. To Judy and Dave's by 11 p.m. for overnite.
March 3: Regional meetings in Calgary went 8 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Dad drove Judy and I, me to my meetings, Jude to work, then he went on to Robbie's with guitar and TV for Rob. I had Sports Camp meeting after Regionals. Back to J's, left for home about quarter to 4. Good trip.
March 4: Fast Sunday today, didn't have a chance to get groceries this weekend, so we didn't have our usual roast for dinner. Debbie at Sefcik's for their Sunday dinner and family hour.
March 5: Randy to Dr. Rossall, then for ecg and x-rays, he doesn't anticipate any changes. Took R. to A@W on the way home. Went to interview Avis Design in the afternoon for a Beacon story. Doris came over and picked it up, gave me $30 for the last 3 stories. Family Hour at night, starting reading and self-improvement projects, everybody chose something different to work on.
March 6: Red Deer visit for MIA. Leaving from Whyte Ave building at 5 p.m. in Anita's car. Wrote long letters to Linda and Granny and Grampa Naylor. Picked up library card at Idylwylde. Took detailed info over to Charlie Clark, president of ELA, for upcoming meeting. Red Deer ward treated us really royally, had a lovely lunch after meeting for us, sandwiches and punch. They expected the whole board, only Anita and I went! (ed.note...this was the day her son Cy Peterson, fell off the bars and broke his neck back in Edmonton, we rushed back home soon as she got the word. He was paralyzed from then on.)
March 7: Went over to the Stake Center and painted the "house" Karl Sommerfeldt built for House Talk. (Certainly isn't very good, in my opinion). Painted it with fluorescent paint. Then while one side dried, we had our very first Aaronic Priesthood MIA committee meeting, church history in the making with women part of the Priesthood!!
March 8: Dress Rehearsal for House Talk tonight. Did office work all day. Anita called after the rehearsal, they had put up the "house" and it was simply terrible. She says we have to do something about it, I told her I will go over there in the morning and rebuild it with a bunch of lath we have in the garage.
March 9: What a job! Took me 3 hours to rebuild the house, started shortly after 9 with hammer and saw. Anita came at noon and helped me with the painting and between us and Peter (Kabel) we got it up stage rear. Made big crepe paper flowers for all along the top and for the window boxes. Looked pretty good. However House Talk performance was perfectly terrible, complete SNAFU.
March 10: Brother Sandy here overnite, also Barbara. Granny, Jack and Jean, Lori, Bruce, Sandy and Barbara here for a big Chinese dinner which I made. Went over really big! Barb, our three boys, Deb, Steve, and I went to House Talk at night, this time it was excellent, thank goodness after last night's fiasco.
March 11: Took A.B. out to the airport to catch the 9:45 a.m. plane back home. Then took Barbara to her house. I missed Sunday School, but everyone else went, except Deb, she had a cold.
March 12: Wrote Linda. She didn't write last week, they must've had a great weekend in Vancouver. Had FHE at nite, made tithing charts. This seems to be a big problem area for the kids. Sent out letters to management inviting them to the emergency meeting on Tuesday night at the Bonaventure.
March 13: Came up with another possible solution to ELA problems. That of me going on a stand-by status, office in my basement, with honorarium of $600 annually. No regular office hours, for first year to take over the office equipment instead of money, charge $50 a month rent. Evaluated equipment at $600, this is plenty high, actually. The mimeograph broke down today, pencil stuck in it. A.B. Dick guy came and repaired it.
March 14: Didn't visit a ward, since we had A.P./MIA committee meeting again. McMurray, Bennett and Davies were all there, plus Pres. Prince and all us MIA bunch. Things are starting to fall into place. Had executive meeting following. to re-hash Parent and Youth (House Talk) and plan Leadership. Sure ticked off the Production Committee!
March 15: I'm in charge MIA board meeting tonight, so pretty well spent the day planning my agenda, making leadership invitations and written ward visit report forms, large calendars for March, April and May. They worked quite well, I think, we had good attendance and I think the meeting was OK.
March 16: Relief Society Anniversary party! Turkey to cook, a whopper, plus extra dressing and gravy. Loretta McMurray borrowed my big pots for turnips, Marie B. my pink plastic tablecloths for the party. It was terrific, such a nice dinner, and Jean Key's skit was really good. Left about 9:30 p.m.
March 17: Left at 4:30 a.m. for Calgary for Regional Basketball at Lord Beaverbrook High School. Got there at 7:00 a.m., had breakfast. A good day, Marjorie and David Smith were there! Our girls won both Jr. and Sr. trophies.
March 18: We had visited Quintons till after midnight last night, then back to Judy and Dave's to sleep. Robbie there for the weekend. Back to Edmonton about 11 a.m. Debbie had dinner all ready for us! Woo hoo!

Heheh! That's all there is, folks. The rest of the book is EMPTY. Aren't you glad. I hope my kids are reading this.

ermmhh.

From: "Marion"
To: "jeffreynaylor"
Subject: Scans of my apartment
Date: Wednesday, November 04, 2009 6:52 PM

Doing a virtual tour of my new apartment for BLOG.

Most of the rest of the 1973 diary.

May as well finish this up, it goes Feb 1 through March 18, already posted the first month (Jan 1973).

Feb 1: Western Retail Lumbermens Convention, Palliser Hotel, Calgary. Took cab to airport 6:45 a.m. Arrived Calgary 7:35, took airport bus to hotel. Nice room in orange, rust and cream. Mort Shafter seminar in a.m. was fantastic. Canfor lunch of ham, raisin sauce, hashed browns. Luncheon speaker not too hot. Ditto afternoon seminar on credit. Dinner roast beef. Good speaker. Ran into Wilkie Wanless again.
Feb 2: Missing today's seminar by vander Wall, I've heard him three times before. Charlie Clark phoned up to my room about 6, said why not come to the Western reception, so I did, fantastic food. Doug arrived about 8:45, checked in. We attended the dance, good band, with Saunders and Murray and their wives. Lots of fun, left about 12:30 a.m.
Feb 3: Had breakfast at Palliser, then checked out. Got lost trying to find Judy's house. She had all the kids there, incl Robbie, Debbie, Fay (Deb's friend), Steve, and our three boys. What a houseful! They had fun....left for home in a snowstorm at 1 p.m.
Feb. 4: Stake Conference today, 1000 at first session, 800 at second session. Pres Wilde, Prince and Bishop McBride spoke, also of course, the Regional Rep Elder Craven. Institute choir v.g. Rob back to Calgary on 8 a.m. bus.
Feb 5: Wrote Linda Rae. Debbie got her English correspondence course Friday, has to get three textbooks for it. Looks hard, she can't figure out where to work at it, at home or at school.
Feb 6: Made out all the checks today, $50 short again, and that's not even paying Imperial Oil anything! I have to make more money somehow! Visited 4th Ward prayer meeting and opening exercises at night. Sis Reid conducting. Poor attendance at prayer mtg. Two talks, one good with no notes, the other read hers and took 15 minutes! I was the only stake visitor. Talked to Edna Cahoon for quite a while.
Feb 7: 7:30 p.m. Stake MIA executive meeting. My ward is having bake sale Saturday, proceeds to go to contributors for building fund. Talked to John Hender, I have Elders' Quorum banquet (Chinese food), proceeds to me! Get family to help prepare, Helen S. will help dish up. Tom Davies came to our meeting, all were there plus both secretaries! Good meeting, Production Committee responsibilities reviewed.
Feb 8: David's birthday. Bought him a pair of black cowboy boots and a pair of stretch jeans, and assorted small toys, (from the other kids). $2.00 from G and G Naylor.
Feb 9: Appreciation Dinner at Stake Centre. This was quite nice, but I didn't stay for the social afterward. Roast beef dinner, ice cream rolls and strawberries for dessert. The priesthood waited on everybody hand and foot. Weather turning colder and snow forecast for the weekend.
Feb 10: Shopped Queen City, Woodwards and LMart. Linda phoned, wants materials for Primary work. David's birthday party in p.m. Had awful time getting kids to go home.
Feb 11: Went to Sunday School, but stayed home from Sacrament mtg, Randy sick with bad cough. Usual Sunday dinner. Much colder.
Feb 12: 13 below, 2 inches of fresh snow. Did office work pretty well all day. Randy went to school but still has croupy cough. Listened to our new classical recordings most of evening. Sweet & sours and fried rice for supper. Phoned Judy, they're fine, Dave on leave for two weeks, however, can't afford to go anywhere (for two years!).
Feb 13: 20 below this a.m. Went to bank with deposit. Left car running at Stake Centre, no trouble starting it, and wasn't plugged in either. Planned amounts and grocery list for Elders Quorum dinner. Helen S and Joanne Hogg helping (Joanne wants to learn how to cater). Helen and Murray will help with the Labatts' catering on March 31 and April 1.
Feb 14: Did a pile of office work, accounts receivable and two circulars as well. Took it all up to the post office after supper. Then took Randy to MIA, they had a skating party on at Whitemud. I was supposed to have an Aaronic PH committee meeting, but it was cancelled. Anita phoned me at the Stake Centre to tell me there was a production committee mtg at 8:30....too late, I didn't go.
Feb 15: Took Randy to dentist Frank Peterson, $14 poorer, x-rays and cleaning. Says he needs orthodontic treatment, one and possibly two teeth have to come out to make room for permanent teeth. Went to Stake Board meeting at night, inservice was good. Mulloy conducted board mtg. broke into departments after. Over quite early 9:15.
Feb 16: Took Jeff and Randy to optometrist. Jeff getting wires, Randy needs new glasses too. They're to be ready next Thursday. Went shopping at night with Dad at Safeways Ottewell and LMart for our own groceries, plus stuff for Stake Speech Festival tomorrow. Robbie and friend Brian blew in by car at 1:30 a.m.
Feb 17: Up to Queen City by 7:30 a.m. to get meat. Went to 142nd St bldg, made up 200 chiliburgers for lunch. Very good. Home, beat, by 2:30. Just relaxed the rest of the day. Speech Festival was good, only 3 from our ward.
Feb 18: Went to both mtgs, although late for Sacrament. Also went to Relief Society, Jean Key's lesson quite well done. Elders' Quorum gave me check for $240 for dinner Friday. Getting garden plot, Stewart's at Ellerslie.
Feb 19: Went on cleaning spree, did dining room, kitchen and bedroom floors, vacuumed throughout. Starting new cleaning schedule next week to do every room in house every third week. Next week! too busy this week. Letter from Linda today.
Feb 20: Did office work all day, meeting at night at Captains Cabin very poorly attended, only 11 there. Harry Rockett resigned due to leaving A. McBain lumber, what we do from here on is anybody's guess! Doesn't look good, nobody to fill positions on executive.
Feb 21: Office work, plus did 250 programs for Laurel Standards night on Sunday. Went to 3rd Ward Awards Night banquet, roast beef, pie....v.g. Dora Bennett went with me. Anita, Marj and I and Bro. Davies were at the head table.
Eldean, Barton, Dora M. and Martha were also at the banquet. Short program following awards. I thought it was all quite nice, actually.
Feb 22: Wrote Linda. Bank at 10:00, pick up Helen S., go to Canada Packers for button bones and Whipee, then uptown to Chinatown for stuff for Chinese dinner. To Kensington shopping centre at 1:30, interview for Beacon story. Finally meat from Queen City delivered at 10:00 p.m. Shopped in evening for more groceries for Chinese dinner, while Dad and boys at Scout banquet. Teachers' convention today and tomorrow.
Feb 23: Started on dinner prep first thing in a.m. Deb helping me, did 530 chicken balls in 2 hrs. Loaded car and went to Whyte Ave bldg. about 2:00 p.m. Helen came about 4:30 and brought Joyce Holland to help. Doug and Jeff came about the same time, Murray about 6:00. Served 65 plus 40 seconds. Dinner was really good. Huge success.
Feb 24: Robbie here for weekend. Shopped for groceries a.m. Jeff's farewell party for Kenny after Cubs. Sent them bowling, then back here for pizzas, punch and ice cream.
Feb 25: Went to both mtgs plus Laurel Standards night at W.A. bldg. It was nice. I put $110 into Building Fund from Friday night profits. Stringhams put in their $20 too.
Feb 26: Painted the boys bedroom and cleaned up their mess! Now looks fairly presentable. Concocted my resignation from E.L.A. in afternoon, can't hack it any longer. Don't know how we'll manage for money, but it won't hurt family to have to tighten their belts!
Feb 27: Took resignation notice to Charlie Clark. He wants emergency meeting called for next Tuesday night at the Captains' Cabin, switch dates from 3rd Tuesday to 1st Tuesday. Did circular on emergency meeting and sent out. Took mail uptown after supper, then out to World Wide Gifts in Killarney, to do interview for Beacon story. Finished boys room, and got new matching drapes for it from Sears $21.95.
Feb 18: Talked to Judy on phone. She has job in massage parlour! Has been to church and Relief Society this week and quit smoking two weeks ago! Now I'm getting the blessings from paying my tithing. Washed down upper stairway hall and vacuumed stairway thoroughly. Visited 3rd Ward at night, plus had exec mtg following. All but Mulloy Hansen there.

OK, Family! I'm leaving the other coupla weeks to the next time, my back's getting lame from sitting here typing! BIG CHORE! You're probably all bored sick anyway.

Debbi's place. Good time had by all. And then some.

As many of you already know, my sister debbi had a get together friday eve and some part of saturday. A birthday party for my brother steve, and a surprise, in advance, birthday party for mom.
It was great. We all had a wonderful time, it felt very comfortable to have all my siblings there. first time since the 50th anniversary. Also in the mackenzie lake area.
Mom cried like i've never seen before, and i've seen her cry more than a few times, while she read her new favorite book. Bless deb, kris, and dayn for all the work they put into it. The rest of us just had to email messages. They certainly bore the greater share of the task, and will likely treasure doing it for their granny, forever. When kristy starts puttin' up some of them pictures on ANYONE'S blog, you'll see how little we had to do, but all the time we spent on it, lots or less, will please your mother or granny to no end.

And kristy with that big monster cam..what a pro..don't ya love it when people DON'T tell ya you could get paid for something you enjoy doing? Sometimes, for me at least, the money takes the fun out of it. I wonder if there's even a picture of kristy that was taken. It was so funny when she was photo'ing us on the stairs, someone said, "are we in hollywood"?, or some such thing, it was dave, i'm pretty sure. I'm just glad i got to be at the top of the stair picture. As eventually you'll see the same effect on the couch pictures. Jeffy don't like to be in the center of the picture anymore. My how things change.
So i'm thinking kristy could send me some pics to post, or she could post it on her blog. Kris, up to you. And whenev'. Sorry if people don't usually call you kris, i just found myself saying it that way when blathering on to judy and dave on the way back about all that happened. (MAN, they talk a lot. well, they did on the way down. I got a bit blabbymouth on the way back. Must have been in a good mood).

(Now that i think of it, i think that a from your own point of view blog post, with or without pictures, of all the fun would be great from everyone that was there that has a blog. That's me, granny, dayna and kristy. And then everyone else can comment, ad nauseum if you care, on the good times we had. AND, JEFF WAS NOT HIDING IN THE BASEMENT. He was on a time-out.)

I love you all, thank you for everything. (Sorry about the not hugging thing, i don't know why i'm that way. And dave kept touching me. BRAT. lol.)

the new view. just a tree.

we had a blue spruce in the frontyard at the last house our dear mom and we lived in, it came down many a year ago, but i do enjoy the blue spruce, from having one in the frontyard. now there's one in my new view, across the alley, to the north, so, get's much sun, very dense in composition, birds fly in, and disappear into the blue. (more like blue green, don't ya think)? i like to see this one, i suppose which is in my current frontyard, because, blue spruce is pretty, and this is the biggest blue spruce in my new much closer view. and any other view i can remember.don't know if you can see it, but, all from one 3 foot round trunk, 4 early from base-trunk ancilliary trunks, and the two tallest have split this summer into two growth points apeice.
and don't tell granny, but there's several local cats that jump up on the fence and into the tree, looking for sparrow or chickadee, but the resident maggies talk them down and out. so many sounds, the maggies make.

Ancient Gleanings

The other day, while rooting through some of my old stuff, I came across the beginnings of an 8-lines-a-day diary, which I began as a New Year's Resolution on the lst of January 1973. I only carried it out for less than three months, but reading back over that old stuff, was appalled at how much I had to do in those days. Some of my children might be interested to reminisce along with me....

Jan. 1, 1973. New Year's Day! We were at house party at Harvey's until 4:00 a.m. and had lots of fun. Deb and Steve at Chateau Lacombe over the midnight celebration with a bunch of other young people. Spent Monday just lazing around, had roast beef dinner, all very simple. Enjoyed Linda and Nathan's day with us, before leaving to go back to Kitimat.

Jan 2. Terrible storm this day, roads awful. RCMP warning everybody off. Linda tried for a taxi to get to the train station, couldn't, quoting 1-1/2 to 2 hr. wait. I finally braved the alley and treacherous uptown streets and took her and baby Nate to the train. Got home safe and sound, thank goodness. Nathan sick with cold and fever, poor little guy. Doug back to work after 10-day holiday.

Jan 3. Linda arrived back home OK and Stu met the train in Kitimat. Had a tiring, miserable trip in a coach seat. Baby still sick. Glad to be home.

Jan 4. Traffic still not back to normal. Did six write-ups for Doris Hegedus's "Beacon". Kind of interesting work, although not exactly good pay, only $2.50 each. However, quite good practise at free-lance writing, which, who knows? maybe I'll do some day.

Jan 5. Did a full pre-planning of the upcoming Stake Mutual catering...assignments to all board members. Also did new roster. Mailed out copies to everybody on the board.

Jan 6. Did shopping, went to Acme in a.m. to get Deb's Christmas ring sized.

Jan 7. Didn't get to Sunday School and forgot about it being Fast Sunday, so missed both meetings. Deb was the only one of the kids that stayed, others came home after Sunday School.

Jan 8. Cleaned boys' room thoroughly, what a mess! Two bags of discontinued clothes for Judy . Simply have to do their walls first thing in spring cleaning. Also new curtains for them from somewhere!

Jan 9. Went to Devonian Bldg. to Vermilion course. Advisory Council meeting. Not well, attended, but very good meeting. Boggs and Baranyk came up with new and shorter course proposal which was well received. I felt better about ELA education projects which looked pretty dim before this.

Jan 10. MIA executive meeting. Room 15 at Stake Centre. We (YW) went first to Pers. Achievement program put on by 2nd Ward in Relief Society Room. It was really tremendous, teachers all explained about their booklets and part in the program. Rose did fantastic job, as usual.

Jan 11. Stake Board Meeting this evening. I was in charge for inservice portion (good lesson). Bob in charge of the board meeting. He and Derrel and President Wilde set me apart during meeting in my new stake job. I was really impressed, first time my hearing was ever mentioned in a blessing. Had strawberry shortcake left over from Youth Conference. Building fund assessment and budget arrived today, $240.

Jan 12. This was Dickie Van Bruggen's wedding reception, but didn't go. Dad and I and Deb went out to supper, Chinese food at Waikiki, and to Woolco afterward. I bought black slipperettes to wear to Gold and Green.

Jan 13. Shopped in a.m. for groceries. Had hair done at Ottewell Klip n Curl, then busy all aft preparing for dinner party for Laurels and Rovers before Gold and Green Ball. We went with Harvey's. The Brass Trend is a good band! Lousy punch.

Jan 14. All went to both Sunday School and Sacrament meetings. Had family hour at night, talked about catering possibilities to try earn budget and building fund assessments. Elders' Quorum want a dinner soon.

Jan 15. Talked to Judy. Robby doing well at his job for Jack Quinton's outfit. Jack apparently quite sick, high blood pressure, doctor won't let him out of bed. Judy and Dave drove up from Calgary, Dave has 2 days off. Took Judy to visit her old friend Phyllis at night. Dave went after her and they didn't roll in till 2:00 a.m.

Jan 16, Management Council meeting, Captain's Cabin, 5 p.m. Board Meeting 6:30 p.m. then Management Meeting after. Judy and Dave stayed all day, water pump trouble with their truck, which they had to get fixed. Took the rest of Rob's bed, a bunch of old clothes and the aquarium. Swiss steak at Captain's cabin meetings, not bad. Meeting was excellent, only 20 there, but all interested. My report on Vermilion course went over big. They even clapped. ELA outlook is better!

Jan 17. Stake Executive meeting 8:00 p.m. Whyte Ave bldg. (with Parent and Youth committee). Saturday catering is upped to 175 or 180, roads and weather permitting. Changed amounts and ordering accordingly. Had our meeting with Eileen Young at night, and decided on the tentative casting for House Talk. It will be March 9 and 10 at the Stake Centre. David home sick from school.

Jan 18. Deacons' Basketball Final, Stake Centre. 8 p.m. Jeff and I went and watched, Randy didn't get to play since he's 2nd string and the game was too close. 6th Ward won, 13 to 9, our boys suffering from lack of practise. Dad sick in bed today, flu or cold, David too....looking for rash, Day-Day had chicken pox.

Jan 19. Meat and veggie orders coming today for Saturday catering. Cashed $250 stake cheque to pay for it all. Deb may be voted "Miss Personality" for Bonnie Doon year book. She deserves it and more. Had grad pic taken yesterday. Dad and I went to Woodwards Southgate, had supper there, quite good and cheap. Picked up Deb's ring at Acme. Meat never arrived from Queen City!

Jan 20. Robbie up for weekend. High Priests' dinner catering. Started work and 1 p.m., finished at 11:00. Meat was lovely, 106lbs. for 200 people, not a scrap left. Many compliments on dinner. Stake MIA cleared $259.82.

Jan 21. Kids stayed home, while Dad and I went to Vermilion for the day. Granny's 75th birthday! Nice time, Holtes and John Wilsons, Granny at the farm.

Jan 22. Not much doing this day. Talked to Barb Morrison, invited her over for dinner next Sunday. Linda phoned in a.m. again (phoned Sat too, but we were out). They got 42 inches of snow in 24 hours in Kitimat. Total 8 feet on level. Stuart's shopping centre flooded. Fantastic! they took pictures.

Jan 23. David Fredette signed up for the Airborne last Friday, so if he passes the jump test, they may be transferred here to Griesbach. Uncle Jack, Jean and Granny blew in about 2 p.m. Bob coming here on 4:00 o'clock plane for medical convention, J and J stayed until 11 p.m. hoping Bob would show up. He phoned at midnight, had been tied up all evening. Granny stayed with us.

Jan 24. Visit Spruce Grove ward. (I can't go to this, have Ames Bros training program this nite for ELA). Looks like we'll have good turnout, maybe up to 40. Weather fantastic, has been 40 above each day for 2 weeks or more. Had 26 at training meeting, it was excellent, I did coffee. Roger Pullishy from Ames Bros brought doughnuts.

Jan 25. Spent most of this day shopping for a winter coat for Mother, wants blue with fur collar. But we couldn't find anything under $100. She and I had lunch at Bonnie Doon, then Doug went with us again tonight to Southgate, but still no luck. Guess she'll have to keep her $100! (got $100 from Bob for Christmas, $25 for Sandy, $10 each from Chris and Jack).

Jan 26. Took Mother to the bus at 8:30 a.m. Spent most of the day preparing my department for Leadership. Big ear name tages, heart jig saws, 3 page questionnaire, "Think" signs. Theme will be "Ask and Listen". Dad and I went to Northcote Lounge in McCauley Plaza for supper. Vereeee nice.

Jan 27. Went to Romanof Gallery to do Beacon interview. Leadership, 3:30 to 5:30 at 142 St. building. Shopped in a.m. Queen City, L-Mart and Safeways. Leadership opening exercises so-so. Dept was quite good, 8 there.

Jan 28. Family night after Fast Sunday, all went to both meetings. Randy to Priesthood, me to Relief Society right after. Roast beef dinner, just ourselves for a change. Barb had other company arrive.

Jan 29. Cleared up a lot of odds and ends on my desk. Wrote LRF. Questionnaires from Saturday leadership very interesting, should be helpful in planning future departments. Invited to "Appreciation Dinner" on Feb 9th at church for all ladies who participated in chocolate project!

Jan 30. ELA work, make hair appointment for Wednesday. Made out cheques for ELA, expense money for Calgary trip $85. Wrote two very fast stories for Beacon, one on Joey's Pizza Shop, one on Romanov Gallery. The typesetter wanted them on short notice, leaviong town for a few days. Sure easier to write about places I've seen.....

Jan 31. Strathearn Beauty salon, 2 p.m. Go to bank and mailbox first. Visit MIA at 142 St. bldg. tonight. House Talk meeting after. Visitied 3rd ward MIA, stake visitors were Galbraiths, Bea, Marj, Karen and I, Barton, Derrel, Bob, Eileen came later for stake mtg. I'm in charge of stage props. Derrel asking Karl S. to help, House Talk going to be a Big Production.

OK, that's a whole month. If anybody enjoys this epistle, I will do what's left in the diary (through March 18th when I quit!) sometime......

King Edward School

Many posts back, i remember Linda making some comments about trudging up the hill from our first house by the river to King Edward School. Now that it's a block away from me, i thought i'd take a pic of this beautiful old building.

Another pretty old building a block south of King Edward, an Anglican church, don't remember the name, but i like it because the square piece at the front reminds me of the tower of London.
I'm throwing in this one for the pleasure of my dear Mother...LOOK, PANSIES IN OCTOBER.

A tour, by request.

huge kitchen, don't what to do with all the dining space, not like i feed a table of 8 in my own place. about 9' by 18'.

i like to travel on the fly, these are the few memorabilia i have, dad's echo harp, and a gilt frame photo of my grandma, that i did NOT abscond with from mother's old house, when she wasn't looking.


bathroom very retro, probably contemporary to the building's age, from 1969. i love the turquoise. tub's the same, enamel on cast iron, and HUGE. i can float in it, with legs crossed.
nice curio cabinet built in, not many curios to display. sticks, and stones, and a handfull of beets. next one of the two best bathtubs i've lived with. also turquoise.

movin' on up. to the south side. deluxe apartment, six feet off the ground.

Some pics of the recent move..night sky from the old place, with Venus at top of frame, next, the Lacombe, i liked the next one of the two shiny manulife buildings with the very old CIBC building at Jasper and 101, an old brick house in the new neighbourhood, a plain type house i felt like photo'ing, and the back of King Edward school. two blocks away.

Q's. With back yard slide repeats.

Since She's been gallivanting all about Alberta, and I'm bored silly, I'm going to play one of BLOG's least familiar features, Q+A WITH GRANNY.
So here's my FIVE questions about ONE topic, the back yard, at 9257-86 Street. Where I grew up. Well, sort of.

I remember these things about the back yard, in part also the front yard, My only question, (which might seem like five), is, GRANNY, what can you clarify, about my fading memories?

Ice rink, I was very young, couldn't skate yet, but I remember at least a few years where Dad flooded the main part of the back yard to build an ice rink. I would guess it as being before '65. I can only see the image, but it was our back yard.

This one is very easy to remember, for Me at least, because the images are much easier to see...there was a toy in the Seventies called a 'Slip and Slide', Dad made a cheaper version for the back yard, a long strip of yellow heavy plastic, down the back slope of the back yard, and the hose running at the head of the strip, and We (My Brothers and others) would take running starts to slip down the homemade water slide. Was good fun.

The sandbox. I remember the swing set Dad put up, and the sandbox before it had swings. (Two swings, one rocking horse). When We still had the clothesline. On the subject of the clothesline, I remember stepping on a nail, in a loose board at the space near the clothesline, nail went all the way through my foot, I stumbled into the kitchen, My wonderful Granny Morrison, who was looking after us while M and D were somewhere travelling, pulled out the board and nail, washed it out with soap and water, and bandaged it up. No tetanus shots. And I'm still alive. I miss her.


The tent trailer. The two Bros and I would sleep in it all summer long, because our room upstairs was hot as hoot. Even maintained the usual habit of the nightly bowl of vanilla ice cream in bed. Both tent trailers, the soft top, and the hard top, had a zip out screen window facing into the alley, and We loved the clean air coming through the plum, and the apple tree.

NO, I'm not going over there to take any pictures, GRANNY has seen it already, and She's not pleased, but, the two large pines in the front yard, also, I'm not sure, but perhaps also the blue spruce in the front yard, and a few smaller pines in the back yard neighbour side garden, the little seedlings each of us got in elementary school, I think perhaps for graduating from grade whatever....I wonder whose seedlings were the ones to grow big. I know i got one, i don't think it survived the lack of space.


Does any of this make any sense, to anyone? Anyone?


(I haven't moved into my new neighbourhood yet, the lovely old region of Edmonton known as Strathcona, (also went to Strathearn elementary and junior high, coincidence, yes), I move in on Saturday, but I think there might be posts someday on beautiful old houses, gardens, squirrels, and a pleasing lack of squawking magpies, or whatever. Rabbits too. And people walking or biking by seem to smile as they pass. Weird eh?)