Another baby story and update on the fall

My dear children, another story more or less, and updates on my eye and leg.

Once upon a time 64 years ago there was this mother who didn't know any better and thus cause what could now be concered abuse. I was rushed to the doctors office my whole body in one big rash from head to toe. You see my mother wanted to keep me warm. Born July 9, 1945 she had wrapped me in a big wool blanket on the hottest week of the year. My life has never been the same. To this day I don't like covers on the bed. Weird as this ma seem my mother had an interesting hobby when I was very young. Mom bless her soul would enter me in Beauty Shows. Yes, it's true my flesh was pedaled, and yeas I won a couple trophies and framed certificates that proclaimed I was the Most Beautiful Baby.

These pictures are of me as Most Beautiful Baby. I often wondered what caused me to become the way I have become. I guess these two stories have something to do with it.

Now on to the present. Fall is definitely here all our bushes and trees are all orange and red. Everyones' leaves are all over our yard. I have tired to do the yard, but due to leg & eye turning its colors, I can't invest much time. in clean up. It is all I can do to do my shift at the cannery. I am in much pain by the time I get home. I pray daily for a large wind to remove my leaf problem. I have to not get to excited about things. Days at the cannery come to and end Nov. 5th. The supply of pears fell some what short, we were supposed to work till Nov. 30. I guess I can live with that. I got a deal at the cannery 120 cans of cream of mushroom soup for .30 cents a can. I hoping to get a deal on tomato soup when it is produced.
Darlene is sending pictures of my eye and leg. The leg part is not doing so well. Well I've written all I know for now. These phots are one week after the fall we didn't know about the knee until three days after the fall. We appreciate all your blogs, keep it up.

Overalls and Schools

Please refer to picture. This is my first day of school so many years ago. Notice my parents spared no expense in outfitting me for the first day of the res of my life. Also notice my old reliable Radio Flyer wagon in the background. it was often that it was a 3 wheel wagon. I could only imagine that I was the only kid wearing farmer coveralls. I remember that I wore this style clothes when I was 2 or 3 years old. We lived on Woodvine Street. off Boise Ave. in a new subdivision for returning Vets from World War II. It was a 2 bedroom home converted to a 3 bedroom soon thereafter. We planted weeping willows from Grandpa Wood's farm down on Sunny Slope. My father took the missionary discussions and was baptized while we lived on Woodvine. A year later we were sealed at the Idaho Falls Temple. I have fond memories of going down on Broadway helping to build the new 6th ward building. that was back in the days when members participated in a building program to help with service as well as donations. So much for the beginning years of my life. Next time a story about people in the 6th ward that made a difference in our families life.

A side note Judy asked for more stories from your Dad youth, he said he couldn't remember anything. I started mentioning different stories he had told me and now you may have enough for a book!

The Right Hook

Grandpa wanted to send a photo of what a quick right hook can do to you. This happened to him Friday about 1:15 p.m. He loves to tell everyone that I hit him, but of course he did it to himself. Friday he was walking from the cannery to catch the bus home. The walk way goes from pavement or cement to dirt and back the entire walk and he trip on the dirt part and hit the cement part with his head. He broke his glasses (frames) and was bleeding a LOT. He had to take off his shirt to put on his cut to slow down the bleeding. He got to the bus took it down town to trade to the other bus and got home, there he had a neighbor look at it and them he call me a school to say he had fallen and might need stitches, but don't come home early, because I was bringing Pizza home for dinner. I asked if he was bleeding? He said kind of and his head hurt real bad but he was afraid to take anything for the pain. I left school, didn't get the pizza, and got home in time to see him walking home from the Dollar Store with a Coke in hand. I took him into the house to clean up the mess on his face. He had a lot of dried blood and when I cleaned it off it of course started to bleed again. There were a couple of little gashes that we debated about going for stitches or not. We opted to not get stitches and I put on neosporin and a large bandage. In the middle of the night he woke me up because there was blood running down his face (he take a blood thinner). I cleaned him up again and this time just used a dry bandage to try and close it up. The next day we got the butterfly strips to hold everything tight and we woke up to the SHINER.

The Challenge

53,914 Cases
646,968 Cans
34 Semi Truck Loads

That is the challenge between now and November 30th. We at the cannery now go to a 4 day work week to accomplish this goal. I'm sure some records will have to fall to complete the above goal. Boise Cannery is the only cannery that cans pears, thus we can all the pears for the whole world. Recently we bought a fruit orchard on sunny Slope. Much effort is being taken to produce the pears locally as much as possible. You would be surprised to know where around the country that pears come from. This years quota of pears is double that of last year. Much is the need for the food we produce. There is a greater calling for volunteers to work this year. Service is the key to the gospels success. Many people have to work and find it hard to give the time, but I say you must put these projects on your list and serve who and when you can. Other positive aspects you can look at are taking time to buy extra cans of food and donating them to your favorite charity. Also be aware of those who are poor in your ward and open your checkbooks and sharing where you can. This letter is not about me tooting my horn. I am very sold on service when I bless a life my life is blessed, even if it be the good spirit I get from being of help. My letter is to make you aware of that which can be done by a few. Don't over look the service you do everyday, service comes in many forms, it is not all done at the cannery. Well the letter was just to help you think about things.

Love,
Dad

"The Eliminator"

Dear Family,
I recently had a wasp experience, the buggers took up residence right on the doorway to our shed where the beloved lawnmower is stored. I was attacked more than once getting the lawnmower. It even came to be that I just left the lawnmower out for the fear of loss of life. Then Princess Darlene came to the rescue. She went to Wal-Mart and bought a can of the "Eliminator Wasp & Hornet Killer". How fun I now had the weapon. The can says it will spray 20 feet well 20 feet isn't quite enough. There was a whole bunch the other night just daring me to enter the shed. I stood back and sprayed this foaming solution. Just as I did this act of bravery wasp came on the attack, but I hit them right where it hurt. I ran back for the house and safety. Later that night I went back out to survey the damage and low and behold there lay about 25 wasp. The next day the attack squad was back with more bravery exhibited. I gave the survivors another shot. I just went out to look see they were all gone, so Judy and Ryan, Wal-Mart, get the "Eliminator" your new secret weapon, and you won't have to step on the bees to kill them. I would like to go down in history as saver of life too, like Dr. Ryan.
Janet last time you were here we talked about cereal bowls so I went to work at the DI and now have 10 Corella cereal bowls. Will wonders never cease. An item you might look for at your DI is a hand truck, it doesn't have to be professional, but it must be able to haul a load. I found one at our DI but it was mickey mouse. I know there is one out there with my name on it. Keep your eyes open, I want to spend $20.00 or less.
Rod you talked on the blog and said you are coming down to Boise for meetings and talked about having dinner together, we would love to do that. I love the pictures you blog it feels like home when you do.
Tricia, it looks like your in competition with yourself to be the busiest person on the planet. I can't believe how tall Gregg is and how pretty Ali has become. I glad she didn't have diabetes or have to have Thyroid taken out of her thigh.
Carole, congratulation on your new healthier life style! I know it has to be hard, but I am very proud of you and reaching your goals. Keep up the hard work.
Janet and Tate it warms my heart to see the Molly Mormon side of you in action. Loved seeing all the canning on the table the pay off for all your efforts is less stops at Wal-Mart and better tasting too. Next spring we are doing something odd. We are going to cover the whole drive way with top soil and raise green beans (we will see, says Darlene). That's kind of bold we will have to park on the street but we only have one car so not a problem. Again there is a nagging thought that goes through me that I should be slowing down, but then the doctors advice rings in my ears. He said work hard all of your life, never give up, and you will live to be a ripe old age. I was thinking 64 was a ripe old age. I have decided not to take the roses out just yet. I was going to plant green beans there, but the roses look so good in the spring and fall and we get so many compliments on them. I guess I'm going soft, I've always had the motto business is business. We are battling elm trees in our yard every year. They sneak up on you, just when you think things are in control, there they are again. We have a big Rose of Sharon bush with elm trees 23 feet tall growning up through them. Darlene is the spotter and I am the eliminator. Labor Day we took them all to task.
A word about canning Darlene with a little help from me has been canning tomato sauce this past week. She also gets a bi product, tomato juice. She has be slaving every night and all week-end trying to keep up with the ripening tomatoes. As of Sunday we were a head of the game for a few days. but a friend brought a bunch of peaches (2 bushels) Labor Day between the trees and peaches will take the whole day, and yes the tomatoes will be ready to pick again on Tuesday.
We have given tomatoes to neighbors, friends and little old ladies at the retirement center. The ladies at the center couldn't wait to get the salt shakers and to at it. It was like they were addicts ore something. We are getting 200 lbs of potatoes to can this fall it is the best way to deal with potatoes.
Well that's all I have. The cannery starts going to a four day week next week we will can pears for the world world until November 30. We are the only canary that cans pears.
Love you,
Dad

A Good Day

The other day I had to take time to pause. You see I had a good day. I mean a day when things just went my way. I stop and say that for all the bad things that happen there is a plausible reason for them, without the bad experiences of life we can in no way enjoy the elation of the good things of life. Doesn't it feel good, say when you win at something, someone has to lose, hopefully not you.
I had a day a while back that make me feel so good it was just one of those good days. I relate to you the events. I was scheduled to go to the hospital for blood work and various x-rays. My body is slowly falling a part, you see I keep falling down. I have damaged my shoulder, elbow, wrist and back. I can't tell you why I fall I just do. I always get nervous when I have to go the the hospital or doctor. You know they are going to ask questions you don't know the answers to especially since I have no memory, due to the lithium overdose years ago, so I prepare for my day to be BAD. I arise early and decide I would go down to the hospital early, maybe I could be one of the first people for blood work and then it happened. I pulled into the hospital parking lot. I got the first parking stall just inside the lot. Boy, that put a smile on my face. I rushed into the hospital over to the area where they sign you in. It happened again-I was first. I dread the interview, I handed her my insurance cards and zip no questions. It was almost like she new better than to ask questions. She said take this copy over to the lab. so I hurried over to the lab. Yup, it happened again, I was first. They took my blood in five minutes, even the arm sample was a breeze to produce. Then they gave me my orders to go to x-ray. By now my smile was beginning to broaden. I showed up at x-ray, you guessed it, I was 1st again! They took the x-rays of my shoulder, lungs, and knee. They were all so nice, no insurance questions. I went back and thanked them for treating me so well. All together I was at the hospital one hour. I had thoughts of a half a day. I can't tell you how good that felt.
Later that day I checked the mail and got money in the mail I wasn't expecting. All in all its nice to have the really good experience but had I not experienced negative experiences in the past I couldn't have experienced those good feelings of he day.
I thank the Lord looks out for us through our service to him and to our brothers and sisters of this world. I can't express what it is like to give lots of service, thinking that you can somehow payback the Lord for blessing He gives you there is no winning because He blesses you even more. There is no winning this race God is never going to let you pay him back in full He is a much too loving God.
Well I don't have any cute pictures of little kids to put on the blog, even at that I am extremely blessed by your blogs. I am extremely blessed by your love. It was so nice just recently to have a visit from Rob, Emma and family and Janet and 3 kids. I can't believe life could be any better than it is.
Anyway thanks for reading about my good day.
P.S.
I got a double complement at the cannery today. An old man I knew waned to work with me. Sperling (the Foreman) told the man he couldn't work with me. The job requires 2 but Ken works alone. Stering said," I sorry He does the work of 2 people." At age 64 I still got some of it. Nice to be recognized.

Family Letter from Dad

Dear Family,

I sit here in the house and have to respond, the pant job looks so good. Darlene has finished up on the bathroom and she has make some nice curtains to go in the window. Whats next?
I say your pictures of your five pit Rob. I'm impressed with what you did. It was so nice to see the pictures of your very dirty kids camping. Lots of fun all around.
Tate's new look"The Bald Head" Should get you an extra $20,000. a year when school starts.
I have an offer from Mandi to build a chicken coop. There is talk of letting them walk around the yard (the chickens I mean). We would split the eggs she gets the chicken manure no charge. I get to take care of them. This looks like the closest i"ll get to having my own chickens. maybe we could throw in a couple of ducks too.
Darlene is back to another year of school. I have finished my second week at the cannery. Two days ago I was just standing next to a rail, I went to go o my job. I twisted my foot turned and fell 2 feet to a grate. It took 4 guys to pick me up from the grate once on my feet a brother said did it hurt? I said HELL yes it hurt now you will have to excuse me I've got to go to work. I previously fell the day after Mother's Day at the Temple where I had every plan about getting all the tulip bulbs I could haul away. Well that's a whole other story.
We have dad record rain fall here for 3 days. It's the same 3 days I had planned to catch up on the yard work cause the weather was forecast to be cooler. The weather for the whole month was in the high 90's to 104. Well I guess we will be catching up later.
I want you to all know how much I appreciate all the blogs from each of you. I love the blogs of the children and everything they do. Keep it up. It warms my very soul, and makes me want to get up and do what I do.
Tate, Janet and the rest of you who would like to help next year, a good project at our house would be to put a new roof on our patio. Let me know what you think.
I am still not opposed to helping another family.
Well that is all from here. I wish I had pictures of small children to share with you.
Love,
Dad