Christmas recipes and memories

 

December 10, 2023

 

Dear Family:

Enjoy preparing for your Christmas and your Christmas traditions.  Brad tells me that all the Schnell families are coming to Spokane the night of Christmas or the day after.  Great idea.  Megan tells me that Michael's family is coming for Christmas and then a day or so later they are having a Meek family reunion with Marissa/Clark and Megan's sister Marrja's family all coming.  They've rented a house for the special occasion.  

I'm thinking that Chuck will be looking down from heaven and smiling.  I couldn't be happier for them.

I wonder why families started making these or their special recipes for the holidays?  Was it because during the depression there was no money to buy gifts so a mother found a way to acquire the ingredients for these special treats? Was it because the mom wanted to start making special "treat" traditions for her family? Was it because making things for her family was her "Love Language"?

 I don't know, but my mom made fudge, caramels and divinity if there was a clear day.  (Never make divinity when it is raining - it won't set up.)  I do know that I wanted to create wonderful memories for my children so I made these treats.  I added the "Krispie Candy" or Scotch a roos.  There was candy around all month.  My kids didn't like fruitcake, but I did, so I usually made fruitcake, and cookies as well.  (I also included the recipe for  Carmel Corn that Brian brought home from Primary in 1978.  I kept his handwritten version for 50 years and just tossed it a couple years ago.  Actually it was hard to do that.

 You may want these recipes, you may not.  But I thought that you should have the choice.   When I was young, there weren't these fancy especially made "Stocking" to hang from the 

mantle.  First of all, we didn't have a mantle in our small house on the farm.  We put our stockings (we chose one out of our drawer or we begged one from Dad) on the ouch.  In the morning there was an orange  in the toe of the stocking and hard candy, a candy cane and mixed nuts in the shell.  When we lived on the farm, we raised what we ate, or sold what we raised for money to purchase flour, sugar etc.  Mom always got $25 from her father (who lived by himself in an apartment on South Temple) in Salt Lake City.  She found a way to make $25 stretch to buy a turkey and gifts for the 4 little girls.

I remember getting a green wallet with brown acorn nuts on it one year.  Another year I got a skirt that Mom had made from one of her velvet formals when she was a girl.  (I remember she said she sat up all Christmas Eve trying to put a zipper in the velvet skirt.  (And she let me know that she was up all night with it.) When we finally moved to LaGrande and then Portland, Dad had a job and so our Christmases weren't so sparse.

But the thing I remember most is the wonderful smells and the wonderful food; Mom's homemade rolls, candied yams, corn, turkey, and mashed potatoes and gravy with stuffing. She made pie and carrot pudding.  Now that I look at the carrot pudding recipe I see that it made from very common staples that were always on hand.  Canned milk (evaporated milk) was commonly kept in kitchens back then and was used in pumpkin pie and caramel sauce for the pudding.  One thing she did make ahead was a special Christmas bread.  It was white with candied fruit in it and frosted.  Glennda and Judy loved it.

 What surprised me was that mom made all that stuff in one day.  We were all helpers; breaking the homemade bread up into little pieces, peeling potatoes, slicing yams.  She put the pudding on to steam for 3 hours first and then we all worked to help with the rest.  She always made her rolls.  (I'll attach that old recipe.  As you know I started using the Monkey bread recipe instead, but I used Mom's roll recipe for years and made cinnamon rolls with it as well.)  Dad didn't help because he was really busy milking the cows morning and night and feeding them in the shed/barn.  Eggs needed to be gathered as well.  

 I was 12 when we moved to Portland.  Mom made a friend named Lucille Simmers. Lucille gave mom a recipe for GOOD RED PUNCH.  It was made with Kool-aid, Sugar, Pineapple Juice and 7up.  Judy loved it.  But after we girls started putting on the special events with our families we changed the good red punch to Cranberry Juice with 7up.  It tasted just as good.

Next week I'll talk about the Christmas Eve Pageants that we 3 girls started and kept up with for a long time.  I think I even have some of the programs. 

All the time I've been writing this letter I've been smiling.  I loved helping mom with my little sisters.  I loved making wonderful "food" traditions for my family.  I loved getting our 3 families together for Christmas eve.  Some years Mom, Dad and Jay came from out of town or others heard about it and wanted to join.  I think Bill, Sally, Rob, Haley and Mandy came one year.  Good times were had by all.

I will miss getting together with Judy and Glennda to recreate these wonderful goodies like we did a couple years before Judy passed away.  We had so much fun and Don and Scott joined in for tasting and comments.  Glennda and I just don't have the heart to do it without her. 

I will admit that I got a call from Brad and Glennda since Thanksgiving saying that they missed my Monkey Bread at their Thanksgiving Dinner.  Mom’s like those kind of compliments!!

 Have a wonderful week.  Thanks for posting the photos on Facebook and Instagram.  I love them. 

 

Love Mom, Grandma, Great Grandma, Sister and Aunt Suzanne  

 

 

HOME MADE CARAMELS

Easy but follow directions exactly.

 

2 cups cream                                                                                                1 teaspoon vanilla (add at end)

2 cups sugar

1 ½ cup Light Karo syrup

1 Cup butter

 

In cast iron (preferably) or other heavy 6 quart pan, add the above ingredients (except vanilla).  Heat over medium heat to hard ball stage (232 degrees).  STIRRING CONSTANTLY FROM BEGINNING TO END TO PREVENT SKORTCHING.  SKORTCHING MAKES UGLY CARAMELS.   I don’t use a thermometer.  Test frequently in water once it starts turning golden.  Your test dropped into cold water will hold shape and sounds “click” when dropped on the counter.  Add 1 teaspoon vanilla and 1 cup nuts if desired.  Put into 9x13 inch buttered pan.

 

I put chopped nuts in the pan before pouring cooked caramel liquid.  If you want to use whole nuts.  Add them after you have poured caramel mixture in the pan.

 

When cooled, put out of pan onto cutting board.  Cut with large knife into squares and wrap in waxed paper squares.

 

It takes about 45 minutes beginning to end.

 Suzanne Short

Carmel Popcorn (written to edit Brian’s handwritten version from 1978 in a Primary class)

 

Melt one cube butter

Add two cups brown sugar

Add ½ C Karo syrup

Bring all to good boil

Add:  ¼ t cream tartar and ½ t baking soda

Stir and pour all over popcorn

Happy Birthday to Brad

 

October 22, 2023

Dear Family:

I wasn’t going to write this week, but today is Brad’s birthday.  McKay was born on 23^rd, Monday,  (on William Schnell’s -Brad’s grandpa-  birthday (October 23).   Tuesday the 24th is Glennda’s birthday.  Coincidentally my dad, Glenn Short was born on October 21- he would be 104.  Their family moved from Far West Utah (near Ogden) when he was 1 month old, to Heyburn Idaho.  All their possessions were on a rail car.  So many birthdays!!! So much to know!!!

 

So a bit about memories of Brad; I told Brad yesterday that Aunt Judy got a ticket while she was driving to the hospital to see Brad after he was born.  While I was pregnant, I had knitted him a little sweater (it was white and green).  Back then you never knew if you were having a girl or boy, so I thought I was safe with white and green.  It fit him for about 1 week.  So then I knitted him another blue sweater and cap that he wore for a much longer time.  I remember taking a photo of him in the sweater in front of our duplex when we lived on 57^th in the top half of a house when he was just walking.  Brad learned to count after he learned to walk and talk as we climbed the stairs to our home.

Brad was adventurous and fearless.  I had to keep his hand in mine always so that he wouldn’t run away.  His grandmother Schnell gave him a yellow blanket when he was born.  It had yellow satin thick binding around it and he was attached to that and his pacifier.  I had been trying to get him to toss the pacifier.  When he was about 2, we were driving home from Gresham and he spotted cows in the field.  I suggested that he give his pacifier to the cows and he threw it out the window.  That was a tough night, but he never wanted it again.

Aunt Judy bought him a little blue plastic horse with red wheels that he loved to ride around the house on.  He thinks I broke a wooden spoon on him, trying to get him to mind me,  but I really whacked the horse so that it would scare him into minding.  But the spoon broke.  He is convinced to this day that I broke it on him.  I remember he had diarrhea all one summer when we lived across the street from Normandale Park.  The little blue horse got washed frequently. Finally the doctor found something that stopped it and we were all thankful.  Brad had a lot of ear infections and colds.  Back then they put tubes in toddlers’ ears to stop ear infections, but Brad’s doctor wouldn’t do it.  So he has hearing loss now as a result.  Well enough about Brad…… (Except…… you need to know that Brad took his cousin Haley to the Senior Prom.  I thought that was terrific.)

Happy Birthday McKay and Glennda!

Glennda is being held by her dad Glenn Short. I would guess that this is Spring 1952 ? 

Thank you Kenlee….for posting all the photos of your family’s outings.  I love them.  Thanks Riley for posting Cole at the Las Vegas airport.  Thanks Brad for the calls.  Love them.  Thanks Hayden for helping me decide on the right cords for my iPhone to buy on Amazon.  Thanks Glennda and Scott for the wonderful lunch at Spaghetti factory on Friday. 

I love you all.

Family first.

Love Mom, Grandma, Great Grandma, Sister and Aunt Suzanne

 

October 15, 2023

Dear Family:

Birthdays this month:

               McKay 10/23 – I can’t believe he will be 3.  Glennda’s birthday is 10/24 and Brad’ birthday is 10/22.  Happy Birthday you guys.

I’m not going to be writing every week from now on, but maybe every other week or once a month.  I don’t want to grind a good thing into the ground.  But this week I’ve been thinking about something that is worth talking about:  What we pass down to our children or what we learn or inherit from our parents.   The reason this subject came to my mind was all Mike Grubbe’s fault.  He texted me a photo of Amy sewing on her Singer Featherweight Sewing Machine that I got for her when she was 12 or 14??  He thanked me for teaching her skills that benefited her family. 

It touched my heart and got me to thinking about all the things I learned from my parents.  It also got me to thinking about what I’ve passed down or taught my children.  Amy thanks me regularly and so does Mike for the things that I taught her when I was raising her.  I appreciate that so very much.  I know that Brad and Brian view cleanliness and neatness pretty much the same way I do.  (I won’t try to tell you that I don’t let things go sometimes. I do. )  Of course, the gospel and going to church was a big part of our lives.  That in itself makes a huge impact on a child’s life.

But I wish I had told my dad that I cherished the virtue of “Hard Work” that he taught me.  He didn’t set me down and say, “OK I’m going to teach you to work hard.”  It was just our way of life.  It was his way of life.  It was how he was raised – working on a farm. It was what he expected from me.   I wish I had told my mom thank you for helping me learn to sew, teaching me how to clean, can, bake, and to be honest.  They both insisted on complete honesty.  I wish I had told my Grandma Mary Leishman “Thank You” for teaching me to crochet and knit.  I wish I had known my Grandma Short better.  I would have told her that I admired her quilts and her work ethic. 

So, I’m going to ask my grandchildren to think about what you have learned from your parents and thank them. I have noticed little things when I’ve been around you.  I’d be happy to share it with you if you want to know.  You can text or email me or call me and I’ll tell you what I think.  Maybe your parents can see it and will tell you too.

Heavenly Father gave us families.  What a perfect formula if parents are conscientious, care and love their children.  Those wonderful qualities that they got from their parents will continue to be passed on.  I recently picked up my mom’s story.  She gave thanks in words for her grandparents who raised her to: Obey, Go to Church, Not sass back, to be honest, to be an A+ student, to love to read, and to practice the piano.  She had great regrets that she wasn’t around her father to learn from him.  She was afraid of him and didn’t understand him until she got Multiple Sclerosis just like he had. She hopes that he understands now and forgives her.

I don’t have any gems of wisdom to share today.  But I want you to know that I am open and honest in my relationship with you. I enjoy sharing my life with you.  I love you all so very much and I will continue to pass along little things that I think might spark a new thought or action in your life.

I am sharing a photo of a gig that I played this weekend.  I hope I can continue playing for the enjoyment of audiences for a long time yet. It brings me joy and I enjoy the socializing with audiences and band mates.

Have a great week.

Love Mom, Grandma, Great Grandma, Sister, and Aunt Suzanne

 

War in Israel

 October 8 2023

Dear Family:

War has returned to Israel.  This is a worry.  I have friends (Ray and Rene' Summers) on a 2 month cruise.  They are in the Mediterranean and had a tour through the Holy Land started with a tour guide and they were called back to the ship because of the War. 

https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-gaza-attack-10-08-23/index.html

 (I remember a 1960 movie based on the war that happened there in the 40's - EXODUS was the name of a ship that carried Jewish refugees to Palestine.) It's been so long since I've seen it, I would need to watch it again to remember it.

Nothing of note is going on with me.  This entry in my weekly letter project will be a short one.

The Mariners did not make the playoffs.  So I am following the Arizona Diamondbacks.  Mariners traded away their best closing pitcher to Arizona, (Paul Sewald) and he was a star yesterday for Arizona.  So we'll see how long the Diamondbacks last. 

Haley and Steve are official snowbirds now.  I am admiring their adventure - not jealous or envious - been there - done that.  But their style makes me smile.

I told you that I would report about my efforts to take better care of myself.  I'm walking more and longer.  That's a start.

I have two gigs next weekend and we are putting 3 new tunes in our library.  These were from my era:  California Girls, Ko Ko Mo (by the beach boys 1960's) and Mr. Sandman (1954).  That's a start.  I've been working on this project for several months now and after several trials at rehearsals, several revisions to make the sound the same volume and similar rhythms - we are finally close.

I'll leave you with my a note from my favorite prophet, President Hinckley:  "Ye are the light of the world"  Matthew 5:14.  "No man or woman proceeds alone.  All of us are largely the products of the lives which touch upon our lives."

Have a great week.  And I love you

Mom, Grandma, Great Grandma, Sister and Aunt Suzanne

Health is the Greatest of Human blessings - Hippocrates and October General Conference

 

October 1, 2023

Dear Family:

Writing to you after an inspiring General Conference is a little daunting.  I was happy to see Kenlee’s post about enjoying Conference.  I was also happy to receive Brad’s text/photo of their watching conference. Every time I watch President Nelson I am struck with his ability to draw me in to his messages of direction, admonitions, inspiration.  “Think Celestial.”

 While listening to conference yesterday, I remembered a General Conference session that I watched in Granite Bay, CA at my Aunt Margaret’s home.  I was helping her scan photos and text for her big personal history/family history books project. I had been considering how to keep my family connected.  College, missions, and busy families had pulled us into all kinds of different directions as happens in every family.  I really did feel that as the matriarch of my family I had a duty to find a way to keep us connected.  It was while watching conference that I got inspiration to start writing an emailed letter to my family every week.  It would keep them connected to me and in turn maybe they would feel like connecting with me or at least they would understand how much I loved them. It has now turned into a blog, but it's the same in theory.

I’m approaching 80.  My health has become something I think about every day. Glennda and I commiserate occasionally about our new physical
limitations that we don’t like – because of natural aging.  The loss of my sister Judy is still fresh with me and her sudden passing has probably contributed to this mind set.  I’ve also been ministering to a dear sister in my ward, Norma. Two or 3 years ago I requested to have her assigned to me.  I really liked her and we shared a Vale, Oregon connection.  A year ago I started taking her to doctor appointments and on and on.  She recently suffered a serious fall and is now in her second stint at an “acute care” facility in Newberg.  In one year she has given up her home, lost her 4^th of 5 children to death, has become unable to walk, and is in constant pain. She has one living child remaining.  She has become very dear to me. I not only appreciate my health, but I appreciate my children and their active role in my life.

In the past few weeks we have been very concerned about Amy and her recovery since her dangerous fall.  I remember like it was yesterday all the anxiety, concern and care involved in my two little boys’ surgeries.  Of course all three had ear infections, colds, fevers, tummy aches and childhood illnesses, etc. Our heath is so important.

I do feel truly blessed because I have been in good general health most of my life. I have guilt that I don’t eat properly. I’ve mentioned many times that cooking for one isn’t fun or easy. I guess what I’m saying is that I’m going to pay more attention to my general health and I’ll try to remember:

·        “It is health that is real wealth, and not pieces of silver and gold.” Gandhi

·        "Good health is a crown on the head of a well person that only a sick person can see." – Rohit Sharma

·        "So many spend their health gaining wealth, and then have to spend their wealth to regain their health." – A.J. Materi.

·        "Health is like money; we never have a true idea of its value until we lose it." – Josh Billings.

·        "I believe that the greatest gift that you can give your family and the world is a healthy you." '– Joyce Meyer

·        To keep the body in good health is a duty… otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear." – Buddha

 

In addition, I was reminded of something today.  President Eyring said that he hoped he had taught all his posterity what they would need to know to endure trials that would be to come. He said his remarks would be a letter to his family.  I can certainly identify with his concern for his family.  That is one of the reasons that I started these weekly letters.

I thought I’d share a couple sentences that spoke to me yesterday from the afternoon session of conference. 

·        I believe it was Elder Neil Anderson who said,  “……you are doing better than you think.”  I think we are all harder on ourselves than we need to be. I really liked that. My sister tells me I’m doing good.  Maybe I am doing better than I think.

·        I don’t remember who said this, “A gift alone does not a master make.” 

That is true in every endeavor; piano lessons, painting, crafts, sewing, knitting, crocheting, quilting, or a chosen field in college.  I do thank Heavenly Father daily for the gifts and talents that were bestowed on me. After this many years, it’s easy to look back and see how I worked on things to become better.  (As a piano teacher – I try to remind my students that it takes practice.  One lesson doesn’t make allow you to play like an advanced student. It takes years of practice.)  Yesterday Mike sent me a photo of Amy sewing away on her Singer Featherweight Sewing Machine that I had given her as a girl.  She looked intense and happy.  Mike thanked me for teaching her skills that would benefit her family. Wasn’t that a nice gesture!! Thank you Mike!  I’m grateful for my gifts and talents and I’m sure each of you are grateful for your gifts and talents.  I’ve watched each of my children work hard on their careers.  I’ve watched Taylor work hard to become a dentist. (By the way he starts his work in a new area tomorrow.)  I’ve watched Michael put aside his passion for photography for a time while he provides for his family.  I’ve watched all my children and grandchildren work hard.  Bless you!

 

I mentioned to Glennda yesterday that General Conference comes along just when I need my foundation worked on. I am truly grateful for General Conference and all those leaders who work to keep us informed, inspired, motivated and instructed.  It was announced today that a temple in Vancouver, WA will be built.  Wonderful!!

 As a total afterthought, and this means nothing for eternity or to anyone else: The Mariners will not be going to the playoffs.  They have been a nice entertainment for me for the past 6 or 7 months.  Now I’ll find something else.  I don’t know if I can continue being a Blazer fan.  Josef Nurkichek has been traded away. Damian Lillard is now a Milwaukee Buck.  Maybe Damian and Giannis can win the 2023/2024 championship for Milwaukee. I hope so for Damian’s sake.

It looks like Haley and Steve are in Arizona or Southern Utah.  I’m jealous and happy like crazy for them. 

In my mind fall begins today; October 1.  I do enjoy not having to worry about watering my yard.

I love you all.  Have a wonderful week.

Love Mom, Grandma, Great Grandmother, Sister and Aunt Suzanne

Pumpkins and Great Grandchildren

 

September 24, 2023

Dear Family:

I actually had a couple inquiries last week about “I missed your weekly letter.”  I guess that means that someone is reading my letters.  Actually I know you do, but I thought I’d start off with a funny.

I apologize for missing, but we had such a great brunch, visit with Brad, Sheri, Riley, Corbin, Cole, Taylor, Kelsy, Cooper, McKay, Enzo, Amy, Mike Conner and me, that I got a little tired.  It was such a rush and I had so much fun. After everyone left I sat down for a bit, I realized I was exhausted so I went to bed.  I got up at 6 and went back to bed at 8.  But I recovered by the next day.  I worry that one of these days, I’ll stay tired – then what will I do?

Actually I wanted to brag about Cooper and McKay last Sunday.  As you know, I had made a “Fall” tea towel for all my girls and I had grown pumpkins in my yard for the grandchildren.  When everyone was getting ready to go home, I had Cooper and McKay go out to my porch and pick their pumpkins.  They were so excited and Cole even seemed to like them, but he couldn’t take one on the plane.  (Amy did get the tea towel to Haley and pumpkin to Claire – because Tanner and Family were teaching Sunday School and couldn’t come.)

But I want you to see how Cooper and McKay were preparing the pumpkins for travel home.  It warmed my heart.

 

They are wrapping them in Toilet paper that they found in Dad's car to keep the pumpkins safe

If you didn’t see a rare FB post from me Friday, my band had a gig at a posh retirement home (Booneridge) in Salem.  Fancy is the word.  They had an outdoor dinner/dance on the patio for their residents (who couldn’t dance).  But the thought was good.  It was lovely, the people loved my old music and we were actually invited into the restaurant afterwards for steak and shrimp and all the trimmings.  It was a real treat as musicians.  We usually aren’t treated so well.

9/22/23 Salem Oregon

Now a word about passing down traditions, talents, skills learned etc.

One of the reasons that I give gifts that I make to the ones that I love (especially my grandchildren) is as an example.  (Such as the tea towels)  It is in a hope that they will be inspired to carry on some of the domestic arts that their grandmother (me); their great grandmother (my mom); and their great great grandmother (my grandmothers Mary Bankhead Glenn Leishman and Myrtle Campbell Short) loved.  They were an example to me, taught me and inspired me to create things that they loved and that remind me of them.

My grandmother Mary Leishman taught me to crochet, knit and embroider.  She loved embroidered pillow cases and hankies with hand crocheted lace -  and Judy and I decided to love them also.  Mom helped Judy and me embroider and taught us the fine points after grandma Mary got us interested. Grandma Myrtle was a quilter and I have one of her quilts. She gave quilts to Judy and me – one of which was a “Sunbonnet Girl” quilt when we were little.  (That’s why I love sunbonnet girl quilts).  Grandma Mary had two braided rugs in her living room that I always paid close attention to.  I asked her who made them and what they were made of.  I actually have one of them now.  She is the one who inspired me to make two wool hand braided rugs.  Judy gave me the fabric that she got from her mother in law and I went to town.  I used the knitting that grandma taught me to make sweaters for my grandchildren when they were young.  I used the inspiration from Grandma Myrtle to start making quilts.  My mom really taught me to sew after I took a sewing class as a Freshman in high school.  She helped me read patterns and showed me how to make blind hems.  Cleora Summers taught me advanced skills in sewing and between Mom and Cleora I have loved to sew ever since I was a teenager.

So my dear daughter, daughters-in-law, granddaughters, and granddaughters-in-law don’t forget the domestic arts.  It is a foregone conclusion that they are fading away.  You can buy anything now days.  But the wonderful sense of accomplishment is hard to describe. It is a high for me.  It isn’t for everyone.  I’ve run into women who hate to sew.  It made them nervous and mad.  Some people have other talents, like my sister Glennda.  She is an accomplished artist.  Sewing isn’t for her.  But there might be one of you who will decide that the domestic arts are a gratifying, fulfilling and worthwhile endeavor.  I feel hope when I see young women on youtube or tv who have taken it to heart -  quilters, knitters, etc. 

I actually used and honed these arts when I was raising my children to make them clothes, and to feel personal accomplishment while I was raising children.  It made me feel good.  And a side benefit:  Brian learned to sew and he made a Frostline Jacket from a kit; Amy learned to sew and it was all because she saw me sewing and wanted to sew as well;  I believe that Brad even made a Frostline jacket from a kit.

Well enough about the domestic arts.  I love you all and pray for each of you every night.

Have a wonderful week.  I have an Oktoberfest gig tomorrow at “The Stafford of Lake Oswego” tomorrow afternoon. I'll try to remember to take a photo.

Love Mom, Grandma, Great Grandma, Sister and Aunt Suzanne

 

 

September 10, 2023

Dear Family:  We do have one birthday this coming Saturday; Laura Schnell.

I can’t wait to tell you all about my fun weekend.  I was invited down to Long Beach, WA., by my brother Jay and sister-in-law Alena.  Jay has mentioned this weekend after Labor Day to me before and this year he mentioned it a few times.  I am so glad that I finally accepted the invitation.

It was the ROD RUN.  The BEACH BARONS car club in Long Beach for 39  years has sponsored this.  I don’t know what I expected but I was blown away. 

I had a gig at Touchmark in the West Hills  Friday from 11-1pm and I left a bit after and got down there about 5:30.  After dinner we drove to downtown Long Beach and there were a lot of hot rods, restored classic cars, and things that looked like they were a mix of something just driving around – dragging the main street.  

My first car was just like this but light green where the pink is.  55 Chevy (with a post) not a hardtop.

Here is a better photos of a 55 Chevy.

This 55 Chevy is a hard top.  They were much more desirable.

We watched them for a while and then drove on the beach and caught a gorgeous sunset.

The next morning we drove north to a huge field that had been donated to the club by a deceased club member.  The field was huge.  I would guess about 30-40 acres.  There were a few permanent buildings; ticket booth, t-shirt and sweatshirt sales building and probably a cub house for the car club.  At the total back of the field food vendors were set up, but there were rows and rows and rows of restored classic cars, altered hot rods, cars that looked classic but had noisy engines and had lots of things done to them and cars that were all mixed up.  There were even cars and trucks that looked like they had taken off the wheels and they were sitting on the ground.  But Jay told me that they had some kind of hydraulic thing that lifted them up to drive.  There were cars of every shape size and description.  All day long while we were walking the field I kept thinking how Judy would have loved to see this.  She and I were experts on 50’s Fords and Chevys.  We knew everyone and some 60’s ones too.  There were even cars that looked rusty like they needed a paint job, but they were intentionally made that way.  I would guess that there were at least 1000 cars there maybe more. They also had a swap meet on one end of the field for old car parts.  I thought about Brad and his cars and Rich and his car some.  It would have been a lot of fun to see them showing off their cars. This wasn’t a car sale like Barrett Jackson.  It was a place for guys (lots of old guys) to show off what they had done to their favorite car from their youth and how they had modified or restored it.   We walked and stayed for about 2 hours. We didn’t even see half the cars in two hours. Then we went home to rest.

At 4pm we went to the Corral Burger (the only burger place for years on the peninsula until McDonald came 15 or 20 years ago).  We set up chairs on the opposite side of the street.  Jay ordered our food and we waited for about an hour for the food.  But in the meantime and for hours after -  it was entertainment central.  I had a great time watching the cruise of cars – thousands of cars.  I began to think how nice it was that these people are interested in something worthwhile and enjoyable to themselves and others and not criminal activities that we hear about on the news everyday.  These folks have poured their hearts into these cars and have kept busy – many for years and years working on them. The town was jammed with people, cars, RV’s, campers, motorhomes, tents, tables, chairs.  The traffic on the Cruise on Saturday was very slow, like 2 miles an hour and there were regular cars mixed in so they could get a feel for the overall experience. It went on all afternoon and evening probably til midnight.  Sometimes you’d see a particular car again, with the grandpa in the back seat and the grandsons driving this time.  With the price of gas $5.75 a gallon on the peninsula I couldn’t hardly guess the amount of money that was poured into just fuel.  It was like we were in another world for a couple of days. 

I’m going to include a bunch of photos.  I would have been snapping photos for hours, but I had to narrow it down to my favorites and ones that were especially interesting.  So I included cars from my youth, early marriage, Scott’s GTO and lots of beautiful cars.  My favorite at the field was a Volkswagen bus that was part pickup but was restored by experts and had windows in the front that opened out, two banks of seats and the back sides of the pickup part dropped down, not just the rear like a pickup.  It was painted a gorgeous pale green. I forgot to take a photo of it.  Jay knew the make and model and I’ve forgotten, maybe he’ll reply and tell us the model – safari comes to mind, but I don’t think that’s it.  Jay said it won the favorite car at last year’s show.  I voted for it this year.  Tons of money was poured into it I’m sure.

My personal favorite of all the ones I saw was a 55 Chevy (not a hard top) that was painted pink and white. This was the exact same model car as my very first car that I bought when I was about 18 or 19.   You’ll see it.  I almost missed the photo.  I think my car payment was either $37 or $67 for about a year.  I can’t remember for sure.  One thing was kind of funny.  Lots of Corvette’s cruised.  Every single one (except one) had an old gray haired guy driving it.  I guess when they retired they decided to buy their fantasy car and relive their youth.

Enjoy:

What is this?  A woody.....

This had a rumble seat - I dont' know the model

A newer Corvette - ugly

Look how close to the ground this Chevy pickup is

57 Chevy Nomad

I have no idea what this is

Is this a Willys woody?

I loved the paint color

Is this a Mercury? or what

NOW THIS ONE IS A GTO.  Scott Field had one but it was gold.  They sold it for $2000 and now it's worth $95000 restored.

This is a 65 Ford Falcon Sprint.  We sold my Chevy after we had one or two children and Rich wanted to buy this from his sister Chris.  We had it a long time.  But ours was blue.

57 Chevy (not a hardtop)  Not yellow!!!

Better of the 57 Chevy Nomad

This is a 53 Chevy.  Mom's was green and I drove it my Junior and Senior year to school sometimes and to work on Saturday's a Schnapp Jewelry Store in Gresham.

I liked this photo of the 50 Ford in the back.  It's modified but I remember those.

 

This is a Ford hardtop 55 or 56 I think.  I didn't see the tail lights.

I couldn’t help but think of all the years of car talking that went on in our family.  I knew all the 50’s cars and Jay knew all the rest.  It was a really fun weekend and I’ll always remember it.  I hope I get to go again. 

I’m looking forward to next weekend.  Brad, Sheri, Riley, Corbin and Cole are coming to town.  We’ll have a brunch Sunday at 11 ish.  Then they’ll all depart.  But before they do, I’ve raised pumpkins for my great grandchildren and I can’t wait to give them out.

Have a wonderful week.  (And thank you Kenlee, Laura, Haley, Kelsy for posting photos of the kiddos on FB and Instagram.   I love it.)

Enjoy Long Beach at Sunset.

9/8/23 about 8 pm - Longbeach Washington

Love Mom, Grandma, Great Grandma, Sister and Aunt Suzanne

Thunder and Lightning and 1955

 

Saturday night - September 2 2023 - 9:45pm

Dear Family:

It is Saturday night and I was sitting in my soft chair in my bedroom listening to an audio book that Megan recommended to me.  All of a sudden thunder, lightning, hail and rain started making all kinds of noise.  I went to the front door and watched for a moment.  Then all of a sudden a memory flashed into my mind and it was 1955 and I was babysitting my 3 little sisters in our old house in Vale Oregon.  

It was1955 and Mom and Dad were in Nyssa or Ontario at their church meetings.  Mom was in the stake Primary presidency and I don’t remember what Dad was.  But we were having a thunder, lightening and rain storm just like the one tonight.  The lights went out and Judy and Glennda were crying.  Mary was a baby and she started crying too.  I tried to be brave and comfort my sisters.  After a long while I ran across the street and up about 50 feet to the neighbors and asked what I should do.  They said that the phone still worked and that I should call someone to help me. 

I don’t know what I did after that, except that I ran back to the house and held my little sisters until they stopped crying.  I told them that Mom and Dad would be home soon and that everything would be alright.

We lived in a one room house about 12' by 20' (living room and kitchen) with two granaries which were pulled up to the back of the house and attached to form two bedrooms.  We lived there from the time I was 9 until I was 12.  Granaries were little buildings that held harvested wheat until it could be used or sold.  It was about 10x10’ with no windows. One was bigger than the other.  Mom and dad slept in the small one and we girls slept in the big one.)

Funny…..what memories dart back into my mind when something triggers it – like thunder and lightning did tonight.

Now you are going to get the benefit of my research tonight.  I never knew exactly what these granaries were or where they came from until tonight.  I just remember dad telling us that we had granaries for bedrooms.

Granary

From google:  After the end of the Dust Bowl and an extended drought, 1935-45 - Mother Nature relented and the rains came. No one, especially the farmer and the grain storage industry, was prepared for the abundance of grain harvested.

All farm storage filled quickly and grain elevators overflowed. Railroad cars were scarce, scattered across the Great Plains in the northern grain belt. The big 18-wheeler grain vans of today were yet to be invented. Millions of bushels of grain were piled on the ground in long ricks (ie rows) exposed to the elements.

One of President Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal policies offered temporary grain storage in the form of what were called “government granaries.” These were pre-manufactured kits, knocked down for shipment and hauled by rail. Farmers applied for and purchased the buildings through the new agricultural offices set up in each county.   Once the kit was delivered to the farm, farmers built forms and mixed and poured cement blocks on which the granaries rested. Early kit models were crude and ugly but held the surplus grain high and dry until it could be sold. Later kits improved in quality and appearance and eventually became a prairie land improvement on nearly every farm.

Our bedrooms (granaries) were about 1or 1.5 feet off the ground.  There was no insulation under the floor.  There was no door between our bedrooms.  Mother had hung a flowered drape/curtain between the rooms.  We had no indoor bathroom. 

We were dressed for Easter.  Mom had made us new dresses.  This is the front of our house.  We entered right into the living room.

Glenn

This is Easter same day Glennda age 4 on the front steps.  Nice dirt around the front steps.

I include this photo so you can see the yard.  This is the right side of the house.  The canal road is to the right and up the property to the barn that dad built in the far background.  Mary age 1

I remember that Easter hat.  It had cherries on it. Off to the left was the garden and orchard.  It looks like no trees are blooming yet. It must have been warm enough to go outside without sweaters.

This is the same day.  Mom had made our dresses and she had made herself a dress so that she could complete the requirements for her Golden Gleaner award.  She was only 32 here.  This style of dress was very typical with a belt made from the same fabric.

 It is now 11:00 and I have enjoyed learning about granaries and remembering what it was like living on an 80 acre farm on the west bench outside of Vale, Oregon.  Mom and Dad had their hands full providing food and clothes for us.  I remember an upright piano and a rose colored couch and chairs in the living room. From looking at the photos it reminds me of poor farmers in a newsreel.  But I didn't feel poor.  Maybe I was too young to understand.  I did know what I was expected to work hard.  I was tall for my age and so I guess it was natural that I was expected to be able to work from the time I was 8 or 9 years old.  

Working hard has been something that I have always done; when I was a kid; when I was a teenager; when I was a young mother and later.  Now that I'm not young anymore I still feel that I have to be productive.  

For the past couple weeks I've been trying to get Amy to take it easy and not do so much.  I told her that I think I've passed on to her this THING...............When I was younger I would wake in the morning with lots of energy and decide I could do this whole list of things.  I got away with it until lately - getting older changes things.  Now that Amy is recovering and it's supposed to take 3 months - she has my same THING..... waking with energy, thinking she can do all these things, and when she gets them done, she realizes that it was too much.  One day last week I told that I was going to take it back.  Then she said, it's too late. We chuckled over that.

 I do realize now that I have to take life a little easier.  My age is catching up with me. 

President Hinckley said: " Our lives become extremely busy.  We run from one thing to another.  We wear ourselves out in thoughtless pursuit of goals which are largely ephemeral.  We are entitled to spend some time with ourselves in introspection, in development, in thinking, in meditating, pondering things."

I think the reason that I like his quotes so much is that he was President when I was raising my family.  He helped me to see that women were valued by the church.  That we often were too busy.  I thought he knew me and that he was speaking just to me.

Alena's birthday is September 6 - next Wednesday.  Happy Birthday Alena.

Have a nice week family.  

Love Mom, Grandma, Great Grandma, Sister and Aunt Suzanne