Cousins

Back when I was young, it seemed like the idyllic days of my life might go on forever. Everything would stay the same. We didn't live very close to our extended family, so we didn't see them too often. Every other year we took a vacation to Utah where many relatives lived. Sometimes in between, some of them came to visit us in Indiana.

I have lots of cousins...many of whom I didn't know very well. On Mom's side there were 10 cousins and on Dad's side there were about 39 depending on how you count them. Some of the ones on Dad's side were actually just a few years younger than my parents. In any case, I knew some better than others.

For several reasons, there were two cousins I was closer to than the others for various reasons. My cousin Rebecca lived in Ogden. Through our childhood I guess because she was a little younger, she didn't seem as close, but when I went to school at BYU, Rebecca and I became roommates for a few months and had a great time hanging out together and really getting to know each other. Later, when we both were married, I had a chance to spend a couple of days with her at her home in Idaho where my little son enjoyed "helping" Rebecca's husband with the cows and riding in the tractor. It was a sad day for us, indeed, when Rebecca died at the young age of 29, leaving behind her husband and 2 little girls.

The other cousin I spent time with was Scott. He was maybe a year younger than I and lived just through the block from my grandparents. Whenever we went to Brigham City to visit Grandpa and Grandma, he was my playmate. When I was 12, I spent the summer there with my grandparents. Scott graciously invited me to play baseball with his friends, set off firecrackers, and generally showed me around town. We spent many hours together playing in the creek near Mantua, building little dams with rocks and swimming in the deep part where Grandpa had blocked off part of the creek with a little dam made of several boards. It was maybe 2 1/2-3 feet deep...and boy was that water cold! A few days ago, at the age of 60, he unexpectedly passed away.


Scott and Nancy


Even though we didn't see each other often, they are both missed.



Rebecca: on left in front of her dad
Scott: middle front in fancy shorts outfit
Nancy: front row in a dress

Spring has sprung?

I spent a couple of days this week on the other side of the mountains where it is almost always a bit warmer. When I arrived, I walked through snow to get to the flower garden where the little yellow crocus blossoms were in full bloom. By the next day, the snow I walked through had all melted away.



When I returned home to our mountain valley, there was still quite a lot of snow on the lawn although it has diminished quite a bit. Some of the flower beds are snow-free now. I was a little surprised this morning to see daffodil plants protruding from the ground that was so recently snow-covered. I think there is even an errant tulip starting to grow there. I can see that is about time to rake the flower beds and get them ready for warmer weather!

Woodwright Shop sign is up!

In spite of inclement weather, the sign is up! I think it looks rather nice there over the door of the woodwright shop. We are hopeful, in just a month, that all that snow will be gone and everything will be lovely for Baby Animal Days. In a week or two it will be time to go out and wash all the windows and get ready for the season.






The last picture was taken from the visitor's center. If you look closely, the woodwright shop is the red building right in the middle. You can even see the sign from that distance!

Sleepover

Last night we had the opportunity to have a visit from 2 of the grandchildren while their parents celebrated their anniversary. (Please excuse the picture quality!)



This is NOT Miss J's bed. She delights in teasing her big brother by crawling into his place! Fortunately when it was really time to go to bed, she gave up the spot willingly.



Her big brother went willingly so he could have some time to read his book. They did a great job while their parents were away.

Of course any visit with the woodworker means a project in the garage. Since this project involved sanding and painting, wearing old worn out clothing was a necessity. This pair of old, worn out pants were too much for the woodworker I guess, because next thing I knew, the large hole in the knee of the pants was mended.....with duct tape!


The finished project came out looking good I think! It is almost time for the living history museum to open for the year, so it is high time for the new sign for the woodwright shop to be finished. Hopefully we will get it hung outside the building next week so visitors can find the shop when they come to Baby Animal Days.

Sundogs and Snowfall

Last week we spent some time with palm trees and the land of perpetual summer. Before we left for California the weather here seemed like Spring was just around the corner. Now that we are back, winter seems to have returned with a vengeance. Last night we could hear the snow flying against our windows. This morning we awoke to snow covering everything.



Of course, all that snow leaves a lot of ice crystals loose in the air. This morning when the sun was still fairly low in the sky, we were able to observe a beautiful sundog. You can see the sun there in the middle with a large halo surrounding it.

Not in northern Utah anymore -- Palm trees!

One last post from our vacation in not so sunny southern California. In spite of the cool, rainy weather, the palm trees always let us know that the weather is not always like that. After a windstorm one day, we saw lots of palm fronds blown off the trees on the roads. Some are small....




and some are very tall....



Some of the most beautiful we saw were these that line a main road into the city of Fontana. What a lovely way to welcome visitors to the city!



Now we are back home where we have watched the snow gently falling all day long. It was nice to have a little break, even if it did feel like summer in Seward, Alaska when we were there.

Camp Pendleton-Las Flores

by the Woodworker

On our recent trip to California we happened to be passing Camp Pendleton, where I was stationed in 1969 with a USMC tank battalion. I just couldn't resist stopping in to see if anything had changed in the last 42 years. They had somewhat. Many more buildings were on the compound of Las Flores and many had been replaced. Here is a trip through memory lane where I walked as a tough 22 year old Marine.



Here is the modern compound of Las Flores.



Here I am in 1969. A little leaner and a little meaner than today. This was shortly before deploying to Vietnam.



During infantry training we had to climb these hills. Perhaps this doesn't sound too bad but we were wearing boots, helmets, field packs and carrying weapons. Probably between 60 and 80 lbs. There was no stopping to rest until the summit was reached. Apparently the Marines are still using these hills for the toughening up process. I wonder if I could do it today. Actually I don't wonder enough to try it.



Still more trails that we used to hike over. Some things never change.



No tanks are currently at Las Flores, however the tank trails still pass by. Tank trails are unbelievably dusty when you are hiking on them. The dust and sweat mixed together make a nice mud coating on your body. Sometimes only two wet eye sockets could be seen. Whew. It was a great way to earn $135 a month.





I lived in these barracks. It appears they are going to tear them down.



I lived on the upper floor just to the left of the stairwell.



With a little help from a friend I taught myself how to swim in this pool.



The old tank park. The picture of me with the tank at the beginning of this blog was taken here.
It was quite an experience to serve here in 1969 but once is enough. My memories suffice today.