Monday, June 8, 2009
Water Park Here We Come
I bought the tickets for the water park today all 21 of them so with the 4 little kids there will be 25 of us at the park. I hope no one else in Idaho wants to get on a ride that day, because we can keep them busy ourselves.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Temple Flower Bulbs
Dear Family,
This is a true story that happened the day after Mother's Day this year. For the past 4 years I've been determined to show up at the Boise Temple to get as many bulbs (tulips, daffodils etc.) as I could plant. Well I have forgotten to go and dig up the bulbs around the Temple, but this year I was determined to be there at 6a.m. for the yearly digging of the bulbs. I thought as I arose the morning on the big dig that I should ought to go a little earlier, you know get a good place in line. I showed up at 5:30 instead of 6:00 a.m. To my astonishment there was about 60 people already digging in the DARK! I thought I must hurry so as to get my fair share of the bulbs. I grabbed my buckets and shovel and hurried toward the crowd of people. All of the sudden and with great force I found myself laying out on the sidewalk in much pain. It happened so fast I never saw the step going up. I lay there bucket and shovel still in hand. I was hurting a good deal when a woman a Mormon I supposed asked if I was O.K. and asked me if there was anything she could do. I made my way up I said yes fill this bucket with bulbs if you would be so kind, she laughed and it was then that I knew the exercise was a competition. I shook of the pain and began digging as fast as I could. The fast I went the more people there was that showed up. We the diggers were shoulder to shoulder all over the Temple grounds. Funny I thought as the parking lot was completely full of cars, you can't get the people to drive one mile to do the Temple work but they can all arise and be at the Temple to get free bulbs. Odd don't you think. The story doesn't die here. I did get a lot of bulbs and I left by 7 a.m. to go home to plant them in my special place; my Temple flowers retirement place along the house where I had much rive rock planted. I removed the rock the day before. I with my proud new assortment of bulbs prepared to put them in there new holy home. I picked up my shovel preparing to dig a space to place my bulbs only to find a walkway that was covered by 2 inches of dirt. I now have bulbs planted in various places around the yard. It took a while to know just where the bulbs would fit in. I made a walkway out of different blocks and gravel. I took the river rock and make a nice planter for some of the bulbs. Let this story teach you all to be wise when greed throws things out of balance. The day was a good day much was accomplished but I paid the price of getting something for nothing.
Love Dad
This is a true story that happened the day after Mother's Day this year. For the past 4 years I've been determined to show up at the Boise Temple to get as many bulbs (tulips, daffodils etc.) as I could plant. Well I have forgotten to go and dig up the bulbs around the Temple, but this year I was determined to be there at 6a.m. for the yearly digging of the bulbs. I thought as I arose the morning on the big dig that I should ought to go a little earlier, you know get a good place in line. I showed up at 5:30 instead of 6:00 a.m. To my astonishment there was about 60 people already digging in the DARK! I thought I must hurry so as to get my fair share of the bulbs. I grabbed my buckets and shovel and hurried toward the crowd of people. All of the sudden and with great force I found myself laying out on the sidewalk in much pain. It happened so fast I never saw the step going up. I lay there bucket and shovel still in hand. I was hurting a good deal when a woman a Mormon I supposed asked if I was O.K. and asked me if there was anything she could do. I made my way up I said yes fill this bucket with bulbs if you would be so kind, she laughed and it was then that I knew the exercise was a competition. I shook of the pain and began digging as fast as I could. The fast I went the more people there was that showed up. We the diggers were shoulder to shoulder all over the Temple grounds. Funny I thought as the parking lot was completely full of cars, you can't get the people to drive one mile to do the Temple work but they can all arise and be at the Temple to get free bulbs. Odd don't you think. The story doesn't die here. I did get a lot of bulbs and I left by 7 a.m. to go home to plant them in my special place; my Temple flowers retirement place along the house where I had much rive rock planted. I removed the rock the day before. I with my proud new assortment of bulbs prepared to put them in there new holy home. I picked up my shovel preparing to dig a space to place my bulbs only to find a walkway that was covered by 2 inches of dirt. I now have bulbs planted in various places around the yard. It took a while to know just where the bulbs would fit in. I made a walkway out of different blocks and gravel. I took the river rock and make a nice planter for some of the bulbs. Let this story teach you all to be wise when greed throws things out of balance. The day was a good day much was accomplished but I paid the price of getting something for nothing.
Love Dad
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Sand, Dog, Chickens
Dear Family,
I know I wrote the other day, well it's been raining cats and dogs here all day (Saturday) and much was to be accomplished today. A yard clean up at some older ladies house, followed by a day of working in the back yard well you see... we were going to fence around 1/2 of the front yard and the back would all be gravel for the tomato plans about 40 plants or so. The rest all deep sand for Darlene's day at the beach theme. Wrong! They wanted 2100.00 for a 4 foot chain link fence. Well poor as are it won't happen soon. I have shoveled all the existing sand into one section for Izzy's sand box and climbing toy. Today we were suppose to put a 2 foot fence around said sand to keep the dogs out of the sand. That's the whole point of it all the dogs were going to the front yard where there is grass. So now they will remain in the back yard and the sand continues to be tracked into the house by 16 paws day and night. The remaining sand in the back yard was wheel barrowed over to Mandie's house for her garden. Basically the sand is almost gone. I now have to truck in top soil and sod to make it a nice livable grassy area. It all sounds easy to do but the shoveling out of the yard and shoveling into the yard is hard on my old right elbow and my left arthritic wrist. I do take my share of pain pills. Well since it rained we went to the DI instead and had a fun time buying stuff we don't need or have the money for. Best buy of the day was a BIG pillow for Toby dog, he is the King and refused to sleep with the other dogs in the communal bed I make for them each night.
I went to a skin Doctor the other day I have PRE cancer on my arms and face. I've had this stuff since the days of our sun tan bed. I rub different creams on me at night and I have to absolutely wear a 50 SPF sunscreen at all times when I am out side. I now wear a straw hat at all times when I am working in the yard. I was lucky at the DI I found 3 such hats today so I am set. I guess looking like a dork is better than dying.
This letter is letting you know that life goes on here just like it goes on there. Yesterday when we were at D&B's farm store I found baby chickens and a small chicken coop. I went to a neighborhood picnic last Saturday and we were all discussing chickens. Two neighbors have chickens. All I go to do is convince Darlene of the idea and we are in the chicken business.
If we don't go broke on the backyard project we are going to build a rack situation to grow pole beans. I guess Darlene is geeing too old to be on her hands and knees picking beans. I have the idea in my head, and I have a driveway just suited for the bean rack.
You Know it doesn't get any easier the older you get the projects will always be there we all just want to keep on going having all this fun.
Well talk to you later,
LOVE, Dad
I know I wrote the other day, well it's been raining cats and dogs here all day (Saturday) and much was to be accomplished today. A yard clean up at some older ladies house, followed by a day of working in the back yard well you see... we were going to fence around 1/2 of the front yard and the back would all be gravel for the tomato plans about 40 plants or so. The rest all deep sand for Darlene's day at the beach theme. Wrong! They wanted 2100.00 for a 4 foot chain link fence. Well poor as are it won't happen soon. I have shoveled all the existing sand into one section for Izzy's sand box and climbing toy. Today we were suppose to put a 2 foot fence around said sand to keep the dogs out of the sand. That's the whole point of it all the dogs were going to the front yard where there is grass. So now they will remain in the back yard and the sand continues to be tracked into the house by 16 paws day and night. The remaining sand in the back yard was wheel barrowed over to Mandie's house for her garden. Basically the sand is almost gone. I now have to truck in top soil and sod to make it a nice livable grassy area. It all sounds easy to do but the shoveling out of the yard and shoveling into the yard is hard on my old right elbow and my left arthritic wrist. I do take my share of pain pills. Well since it rained we went to the DI instead and had a fun time buying stuff we don't need or have the money for. Best buy of the day was a BIG pillow for Toby dog, he is the King and refused to sleep with the other dogs in the communal bed I make for them each night.
I went to a skin Doctor the other day I have PRE cancer on my arms and face. I've had this stuff since the days of our sun tan bed. I rub different creams on me at night and I have to absolutely wear a 50 SPF sunscreen at all times when I am out side. I now wear a straw hat at all times when I am working in the yard. I was lucky at the DI I found 3 such hats today so I am set. I guess looking like a dork is better than dying.
This letter is letting you know that life goes on here just like it goes on there. Yesterday when we were at D&B's farm store I found baby chickens and a small chicken coop. I went to a neighborhood picnic last Saturday and we were all discussing chickens. Two neighbors have chickens. All I go to do is convince Darlene of the idea and we are in the chicken business.
If we don't go broke on the backyard project we are going to build a rack situation to grow pole beans. I guess Darlene is geeing too old to be on her hands and knees picking beans. I have the idea in my head, and I have a driveway just suited for the bean rack.
You Know it doesn't get any easier the older you get the projects will always be there we all just want to keep on going having all this fun.
Well talk to you later,
LOVE, Dad
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
dog days
We have been thinking about the Carter house and and all they have going on every day with their six kid. If the weenie dogs come up missing part of the day they might think about putting a note on their collar.An older, tired-looking dog wandered into my yard.I could tell from his collar and well-fed belly that he had a home and was well taken care of.
He calmly came over to me, I gave him a few pats on his head; he then followed me into my house, slowly walked down the hall, curled up in the corner and fell asleep.
An hour later, he went to the door, and I let him out. The next day he was back, greeted me in my yard, walked inside and resumed his spot in the hall and again slept for about an hour.This continued off and on for several weeks. Curious I pinned a note to his collar: 'I would like to find out who the owner of this wonderful sweet dog is and ask if you are aware that almost every afternoon your dog comes to my house for a nap.' The next day he arrived for his nap, with a different note pinned to his collar:'He lives in a home with 6 children, 2 under the age of 3 - he's trying to catch up on his sleep.Can I come with him tomorrow?'
Monday, April 27, 2009
Letter from Dad
Dear Family,
I want you to know that I enjoy all the news via the computer. My life isn’t nearly as packed as you all, but some things I do are interesting mostly to me.
News item of the year was our new grandchild of course to us she looks just like a Wood baby, how I don’t really know, but I suspect there might be a little predigest there. But arrival of weenie dogs ranks up there real high I suspect some day we will have one. Darlene says one dog goes if one dog comes. We have 2 cocker spaniels five years old. Ones the boss and one is just nice. They are a set of brothers.
I heard the good news from the Carter camp. They have a CHICKEN COOP and CHICKENS. Why was I not kept in the loop about this great event. I enjoyed the pictures, but I want MORE. Do you have a rooster that crows at the crack of dawn, how many chickens are there? I want pictures of inside the coop and the chicken yard, that’s right folks I want to live my dream through you. I never got to raise chickens; I came to this earth a generation to late. (Note from Darlene I keep telling him we need to sell the house and buy a house with a little acreage for his Grandpa Farm) As a 7 year old boy wearing coveralls and Grandpa Irrigations boots everywhere, I was a boy farmer. I loved going to the farm in the summers. I FED the chickens in a big chicken yard and coop. Grandpa raised 500 turkeys every year and they were MEAN! They chased after me everywhere. Sometimes Grandpa would pull me behind the tractor on a big tube with 50 turkeys in hot pursuit. I got to hoe weeds, drive the tractor with Grandpa, I cultivated the fields. I could wipe out 6 rows before we could get the tractor under control, somehow Grandpa never seemed to mind and I suspect at this late age that he was doing more tractor driving than I was. When I was 11 I got paid 10cents an hour to drive the tractor and pull the hay wagon. Uncle Ted and a couple of his friends would load the hay and I would get paid more if I didn’t run over the bales. Combined with feeding the chickens it amounted to a whole lot of bubble gun. It’s nice to have those good memories of a loving Grandpa.
On another subject I have some advice for, I have lived it all.
I want you to know that I enjoy all the news via the computer. My life isn’t nearly as packed as you all, but some things I do are interesting mostly to me.
News item of the year was our new grandchild of course to us she looks just like a Wood baby, how I don’t really know, but I suspect there might be a little predigest there. But arrival of weenie dogs ranks up there real high I suspect some day we will have one. Darlene says one dog goes if one dog comes. We have 2 cocker spaniels five years old. Ones the boss and one is just nice. They are a set of brothers.
I heard the good news from the Carter camp. They have a CHICKEN COOP and CHICKENS. Why was I not kept in the loop about this great event. I enjoyed the pictures, but I want MORE. Do you have a rooster that crows at the crack of dawn, how many chickens are there? I want pictures of inside the coop and the chicken yard, that’s right folks I want to live my dream through you. I never got to raise chickens; I came to this earth a generation to late. (Note from Darlene I keep telling him we need to sell the house and buy a house with a little acreage for his Grandpa Farm) As a 7 year old boy wearing coveralls and Grandpa Irrigations boots everywhere, I was a boy farmer. I loved going to the farm in the summers. I FED the chickens in a big chicken yard and coop. Grandpa raised 500 turkeys every year and they were MEAN! They chased after me everywhere. Sometimes Grandpa would pull me behind the tractor on a big tube with 50 turkeys in hot pursuit. I got to hoe weeds, drive the tractor with Grandpa, I cultivated the fields. I could wipe out 6 rows before we could get the tractor under control, somehow Grandpa never seemed to mind and I suspect at this late age that he was doing more tractor driving than I was. When I was 11 I got paid 10cents an hour to drive the tractor and pull the hay wagon. Uncle Ted and a couple of his friends would load the hay and I would get paid more if I didn’t run over the bales. Combined with feeding the chickens it amounted to a whole lot of bubble gun. It’s nice to have those good memories of a loving Grandpa.
On another subject I have some advice for, I have lived it all.
1. Works, that is just work. You need to have so much to eat and a place to live, but the love of a family well; what’s it worth.
2. I have been told 5110 time or more since Darlene and I have been married, sometimes in the middle of the night she wakes me up to tell me she loves me. It’s nice to know that every waking moment you are loved.
3. Remember the gift of the gospel; it is our ticket back home to live together.
I don’t know why I got started with advice you all know what advice is worth.
Home front news: I’ve just spent 2 weeks slaving in the front yard. The back yard looks like one of Iraq’s bomb landed here.
I have fixed a nice area where Darlene can go read a book in the front yard. A chair and nice park bench in a shaded quite area, and I fixed a nice area adjacent to it that will have all kinds of flowers in different size posts. It took a couple of days to put it together and it looks nice from the road also. We plan to grow 50 tomato plants this year so we can can tomato sauce and maybe some juice. We have raspberry plants that should be the year they bear fruit, and we want to of course grow green beans but this year we are going to try pole beans. Between working in the yard and working at the canery I should be able to stay out of trouble.
P.S. Figure this out. I’ve been giving gentiles cookies and just talking to perfect strangers. Darlene wants to know why I’m talking to strangers. I said who do you know that is stranger than ME!
That’s all, Love Dad
Friday, February 20, 2009
Dad and Snakes
Janet with her snake around the arm reminded me of a couple of snake stories, both were traumatic to me. Story 1. When I was a child of 7 years old we lived on Woodvine Street in Sough Boise across Boise Ave. and down the hill near an irrigation ditch lived piles and piles of snakes, baby snake and the like. My friends and I thought it to be bun to take some home and put them in my mother’s dishwater. Not fun at all I got a whipping. One day as we played with the snakes one went up my pant leg all that squirming around led me to believe I was in danger. I couldn't get my clothes off fast enough. This began my big fear of snakes.
Story 2. In the summers when I was young I got to go down on the farm and be with grandpa. Sometimes I got to dive the tractor (well I thought I was) and I had some chores. I got 10cents a day to feed the chickens, I was good at it; it bought me lots of bubble gum. I would get the grain out of the barn. One day as I reached into the sack a big black snake came out. It reminded me of the snake up the pants only he was much bigger. I went screaming bloody murder back up to the house. Uncle Ted (really cousin Ted) said what’s a matter? SNAKE! SNAKE! SNAKE!!! After I calmed down I related my problem. Ted said don't worry I'll take care of it. He got his gun and went to the barn-then the loud sound of a gun. Ted came back to the house and said it was safe to go feed the chickens. Soooo dumb as a little kid could be I ran down to the barn, swung open the door to the barn, and walked face into the dead snake hanging suspended in the air. The horror was beyond anything I could imagine. To this day I can't be around any snake. I HATE SNAKES! I repeat, I HATE SNAKES! KEEPS THOSE SNAKES AWAY FROM ME! True stories.
Story 2. In the summers when I was young I got to go down on the farm and be with grandpa. Sometimes I got to dive the tractor (well I thought I was) and I had some chores. I got 10cents a day to feed the chickens, I was good at it; it bought me lots of bubble gum. I would get the grain out of the barn. One day as I reached into the sack a big black snake came out. It reminded me of the snake up the pants only he was much bigger. I went screaming bloody murder back up to the house. Uncle Ted (really cousin Ted) said what’s a matter? SNAKE! SNAKE! SNAKE!!! After I calmed down I related my problem. Ted said don't worry I'll take care of it. He got his gun and went to the barn-then the loud sound of a gun. Ted came back to the house and said it was safe to go feed the chickens. Soooo dumb as a little kid could be I ran down to the barn, swung open the door to the barn, and walked face into the dead snake hanging suspended in the air. The horror was beyond anything I could imagine. To this day I can't be around any snake. I HATE SNAKES! I repeat, I HATE SNAKES! KEEPS THOSE SNAKES AWAY FROM ME! True stories.
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