Halloween Memories: Carbondale, Illinois
We lived in Carbondale for my 5th and 6th grades. I was still into trick-or-treating, but the days of store bought costumes was behind me. Instead I would dress as a pirate. In the fifth grade, I was a pirate in a play at school. It was a fun play. There were a couple witches, and in the end they defeat me by taking my neck bone. I had to pretend I had no neck bone, with my head flapping back and forth. At any rate, the pirate costume stuck for Halloween.
This was a year of “watch out for the big kids who will steal your candy.” And so in addition to trick-or-treating, there was the need to be on the lookout for those who were too old to trick-or-treat, but not too old to be out looking for someone who would be easy prey. What a sense of paranoia that caused, because I remember them coming after people and getting them to run and spill candy out of their bags.
The first year we trick-or-treated up and down our street with all the side courts and streets. My second year in Carbondale we lived in an apartment complex. I am sure I went as a pirate again, but don’t remember much of that year. I do remember a branch party we had close to the Branch Garden. This had been a Civil War Battle site. Of course not a big battle, but you could still see bomb craters in the terrain. We set up a haunted hike and took the younger kids on a hike going past the crater and with other scary things. It was sort of a creepy area, with over hanging trees. I helped build a mannequin which we dropped out of a tree at the kids. One of the older kids ruined everything when he tackled the mannequin. It was suppose to be the highlight of the hike, and ended up being the low-light because a mannequin on the ground is not near as scary as one hanging from a tree, swinging back and forth.
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Halloween Memories: Hyrum
Halloween Memories: Hyrum
We lived in Hyrum for three years, second to fourth grades for me, then moved away for a couple of years; and then returned to Hyrum. I don’t remember much about Halloween the first couple years, but I was old enough to go with older siblings the first couple years, and then with friends my fourth grade year. I would go as Casper the Friendly Ghost. Casper was cool.
Halloween in Hyrum, in those days was accompanied by fire. It was a time for burning leaves, and kids would always light up the leaves in the gutters. Sometimes they would also add gas. I remember one year there was a tire rolling down Main Street, which had been doused with gas and then set on fire. Hyrum Main Street has a pretty good hill.
In Hyrum at that time, houses were spaced fairly far apart, so in a block you would hit three or four homes. A block being an eighth of a mile meant to hit a great deal of houses, there was a good deal of walking to be done. If we had been smart, we would have cut over to Main Street where the houses were closer. We would go there sometimes, at least around our own block, but mostly we would stay on our street, 100 South. We would follow that street all the way to Center, and then come back on 200 or 300 South, catching the houses on the East West streets as best we could. By the end of the evening we would collect a goodly amount of candy, but we would be tired as well. I remember there was one house who gave full size candy bars. That was a treat. Families also gave apples and popcorn balls in those days. You don’t see those anymore. Everything is store bought and individually wrapped now.
When we returned to Hyrum I was a seventh grader. I remember some trick-or-treating, but we leaned to the tricking side. We would have a bar of soap, maybe a few rolls of toilet paper, and when I was older we would add a bit of gas to our tricking tools. My cousin went with me one yer. We put gas on top of a stop sign and lit it. It didn't burn long however.
Another year we lit some leaves in a gutter. A police man confronted us. Of course we denied our involvement, he he made us help him put it out all the same.
We lived in Hyrum for three years, second to fourth grades for me, then moved away for a couple of years; and then returned to Hyrum. I don’t remember much about Halloween the first couple years, but I was old enough to go with older siblings the first couple years, and then with friends my fourth grade year. I would go as Casper the Friendly Ghost. Casper was cool.
Halloween in Hyrum, in those days was accompanied by fire. It was a time for burning leaves, and kids would always light up the leaves in the gutters. Sometimes they would also add gas. I remember one year there was a tire rolling down Main Street, which had been doused with gas and then set on fire. Hyrum Main Street has a pretty good hill.
In Hyrum at that time, houses were spaced fairly far apart, so in a block you would hit three or four homes. A block being an eighth of a mile meant to hit a great deal of houses, there was a good deal of walking to be done. If we had been smart, we would have cut over to Main Street where the houses were closer. We would go there sometimes, at least around our own block, but mostly we would stay on our street, 100 South. We would follow that street all the way to Center, and then come back on 200 or 300 South, catching the houses on the East West streets as best we could. By the end of the evening we would collect a goodly amount of candy, but we would be tired as well. I remember there was one house who gave full size candy bars. That was a treat. Families also gave apples and popcorn balls in those days. You don’t see those anymore. Everything is store bought and individually wrapped now.
When we returned to Hyrum I was a seventh grader. I remember some trick-or-treating, but we leaned to the tricking side. We would have a bar of soap, maybe a few rolls of toilet paper, and when I was older we would add a bit of gas to our tricking tools. My cousin went with me one yer. We put gas on top of a stop sign and lit it. It didn't burn long however.
Another year we lit some leaves in a gutter. A police man confronted us. Of course we denied our involvement, he he made us help him put it out all the same.
Halloween Memories: Othello
Halloween Memories: Othello
Othello is of course where I have my first memories of Halloween. I can’t remember my costume, but I know one of my first costumes was as a skeleton. Weldon and I actually had the same costume, but different sizes. Othello was a rural community, and we lived outside of town. I do not remember going into town to trick-or- treat. Maybe my older siblings did that. Instead we would load into the car, and go so particular people who were friends, but lived far away from each other so there were not a lot of stops for us to gather candy. Each stop was more a social visit than today’s trick-or-treating. Some reason, I was always asked to sing. I think I started singing as early as three-years old. I would always sing the same song: “I’m a Little Teapot.” “I’m a little teapot short and stout, Here is my handle and here is my spout. When I get all steamed up then I shout, Tip me over and poor me out.” My brothers and sisters liked for me to sing. It got them off the hook, as it was a common request in Othello to ask trick-or-treaters to sing. Also they liked it as they said it got us more goodies. I guess I was good enough that we were all rewarded.
Othello is of course where I have my first memories of Halloween. I can’t remember my costume, but I know one of my first costumes was as a skeleton. Weldon and I actually had the same costume, but different sizes. Othello was a rural community, and we lived outside of town. I do not remember going into town to trick-or- treat. Maybe my older siblings did that. Instead we would load into the car, and go so particular people who were friends, but lived far away from each other so there were not a lot of stops for us to gather candy. Each stop was more a social visit than today’s trick-or-treating. Some reason, I was always asked to sing. I think I started singing as early as three-years old. I would always sing the same song: “I’m a Little Teapot.” “I’m a little teapot short and stout, Here is my handle and here is my spout. When I get all steamed up then I shout, Tip me over and poor me out.” My brothers and sisters liked for me to sing. It got them off the hook, as it was a common request in Othello to ask trick-or-treaters to sing. Also they liked it as they said it got us more goodies. I guess I was good enough that we were all rewarded.
Monday, October 29, 2012
Skinny Dippin' by Charlie Wardle
“Skinny Dippin’” by: Charlie Wardle
One day while we were at Granma Wardle’s in Rigby, Idaho, Dad decided that he would take us boys and some of our cousins to his old swimming hole for a swim. Since we didn’t have any swimming suits with us, Dad said it would be alright to go skinny dipping. When Uncle Olsen heard this, (he was very strict with his children) he told his two boys that if they even got a little wet, he’d beat them.
Dad assured Mother and Aunt Verna that his swimming hole was where no one could see us. It ended up being about twenty yards away from a busy highway.
Dad’s swimming hole was a great big canal with a small ditch that ran along the side of it. The place where we were swimming had about five great big trees and a rope hanging from one of the trees to swing across. Dad said there used to be a diving board when he used to swim, but it was gone.
The people that ended up going were Dad, Weldon, bill, Charlie, the two Olsen boys and Danny Green. The canal we were swimming in was fairly deep, at least over my head, and it was fairly swift.
We would walk up the ditch about thirty or forty yards, then hurry and jump into the canal and float on down the canal.
We had the Olsen boys at each end of the canal when we were swimming, to watch for cars when we switched from the canal to the ditch; or from the ditch to the canal.
One time when we were moving from the ditch to the canal, Weldon got up on the bridge that went over the canal, to dive in. While Weldon was standing on the bridge a car came by. Weldon didn’t have time to jump in so he just stood there and waved. The funny thing about it was that the people in the car were Sara and Clyde. When Sara noticed that the person standing on the side of the road nude was her brother Weldon, her bottom jaw dropped so far that I thought it was going to fall off.
After we got done swimming and put on our clothes, Weldon, Billy and Danny started swinging across the canal on the rope. The younger Olsen boy [Reed] wanted to try swinging across the canal, but his oldest brother [Ray] told him he better not in case he fell in. To show his oldest brother that he could do it, he grabbed the rope and started across. He just barely reached the bank on the other side with his “tippy-toes”. He was trying to pull himself up with the rope when his grip slipped and in he went. We all started laughing at him. When he pulled himself out, his brother was telling him how he had told him that he shouldn’t have swung across the canal on the rope. He got mad at his brother and pushed him in the canal so they both got wet.
When we got back to Grandma’s their dad was so mad with them they both had to go sit in their van until their family left Grandma’s.
One day while we were at Granma Wardle’s in Rigby, Idaho, Dad decided that he would take us boys and some of our cousins to his old swimming hole for a swim. Since we didn’t have any swimming suits with us, Dad said it would be alright to go skinny dipping. When Uncle Olsen heard this, (he was very strict with his children) he told his two boys that if they even got a little wet, he’d beat them.
Dad assured Mother and Aunt Verna that his swimming hole was where no one could see us. It ended up being about twenty yards away from a busy highway.
Dad’s swimming hole was a great big canal with a small ditch that ran along the side of it. The place where we were swimming had about five great big trees and a rope hanging from one of the trees to swing across. Dad said there used to be a diving board when he used to swim, but it was gone.
The people that ended up going were Dad, Weldon, bill, Charlie, the two Olsen boys and Danny Green. The canal we were swimming in was fairly deep, at least over my head, and it was fairly swift.
We would walk up the ditch about thirty or forty yards, then hurry and jump into the canal and float on down the canal.
We had the Olsen boys at each end of the canal when we were swimming, to watch for cars when we switched from the canal to the ditch; or from the ditch to the canal.
One time when we were moving from the ditch to the canal, Weldon got up on the bridge that went over the canal, to dive in. While Weldon was standing on the bridge a car came by. Weldon didn’t have time to jump in so he just stood there and waved. The funny thing about it was that the people in the car were Sara and Clyde. When Sara noticed that the person standing on the side of the road nude was her brother Weldon, her bottom jaw dropped so far that I thought it was going to fall off.
After we got done swimming and put on our clothes, Weldon, Billy and Danny started swinging across the canal on the rope. The younger Olsen boy [Reed] wanted to try swinging across the canal, but his oldest brother [Ray] told him he better not in case he fell in. To show his oldest brother that he could do it, he grabbed the rope and started across. He just barely reached the bank on the other side with his “tippy-toes”. He was trying to pull himself up with the rope when his grip slipped and in he went. We all started laughing at him. When he pulled himself out, his brother was telling him how he had told him that he shouldn’t have swung across the canal on the rope. He got mad at his brother and pushed him in the canal so they both got wet.
When we got back to Grandma’s their dad was so mad with them they both had to go sit in their van until their family left Grandma’s.
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Malad Baseball Tournament
Malad Baseball Tournament by: Billy Wardle
When we were younger, we like to play baseball, but mostly we coached. Our baseball escapades gave us the opportunity to go to tournaments in Malad every year. We also went to other cities, but it seemed Malad was always our favorite. So much so that the city of Malad always held something magical for me.
The Malad tournament was held in August every year, usually the second weekend. It was about an hour drive from Hyrum. We would go up and camp out. We stayed in placed like the American Legion Hall, the old hospital, camped downtown; and camped by an old church.
The town always bustled with excitement. There was pinball to be played (this was before all the video games came out), a free swim pass to use, a free bowling pass, free movies as well as free prizes from some of the local merchants.
Of course there was the baseball too. Our teams varied in their performance, but we seemed to get better over the years. It was always more fun to win. It allowed you to stay more days at the tournament. It also allowed you to hold your head up high when you ran into kids from any of the other fifteen teams. It was especially good when you were in a championship game—which happened a few times.
When we were younger, we like to play baseball, but mostly we coached. Our baseball escapades gave us the opportunity to go to tournaments in Malad every year. We also went to other cities, but it seemed Malad was always our favorite. So much so that the city of Malad always held something magical for me.
The Malad tournament was held in August every year, usually the second weekend. It was about an hour drive from Hyrum. We would go up and camp out. We stayed in placed like the American Legion Hall, the old hospital, camped downtown; and camped by an old church.
The town always bustled with excitement. There was pinball to be played (this was before all the video games came out), a free swim pass to use, a free bowling pass, free movies as well as free prizes from some of the local merchants.
Of course there was the baseball too. Our teams varied in their performance, but we seemed to get better over the years. It was always more fun to win. It allowed you to stay more days at the tournament. It also allowed you to hold your head up high when you ran into kids from any of the other fifteen teams. It was especially good when you were in a championship game—which happened a few times.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Wolfer by: Charlie Wardle
Although our family had lots of pets over the years, Wolfer was our big family dog. He was almost just like one of the family.
We got Wolfer on my ninth birthday in 1970. Wolfer died in the spring of 1979.
He was the type of dog that you would call a “mutt”, having about ten different breeds in him. He was a very colorful, smart, and a very strong dog.
When Wolf was a pup, the neighbor’s dog, a German shepherd, used to pick on Wolf a lot. One time, the dog put a great big hole in Wolf’s head, just above his eye. He had a scar there the rest of his life. I always felt the Wolf learned how to fight from the dog, because when Wolf grew up, he was always getting into dog fights and won most of them.
There was on time, Wolf was fighting a big, black lab. Wolf was beating that dog up pretty good. The lab’s owner, who was a little boy, was crying, so I went to pull wolf off when the black lab bit me on the leg. When Wolf saw that, he jumped at the dog and got a death bite on the dog’s neck and started swinging the dog back and forth. Wolf finally let go and the dog took off down the street with his tail between his legs.
Wolfer always kept stray dogs and cats away. We never had any problems with dogs getting into our garbage.
Wolf was a very smart dog. If a door wasn’t shut tight, he could open it. You couldn’t tie him up, he would always get away. We went through a lot of chains and ropes that Wolfer broke trying to get away.
One time, Clyde (our brother-in-law) thought that he would out-smart Wolf by putting a choke chain on him (a chain that when you pull it, it gets tighter.) But Wolf out-smarted him. Wolf would just back out, and the chain slipped right over his head.
One time, Buffie (our nephew) wandered off to a barn a couple of blocks away from our house. Wolf, who was watching him, knew he was someplace where he shouldn’t be and came back home, got mom, then lead her to where Buffie was.
Another time we were swimming at our favorite place at Hyrum Dam called Rocky Point. Wolf noticed some birds in the middle of the dam on a “thing” the city had out there trying to clean the dam. Wolf jumped in and started swimming towards those birds. We all followed on our inner-tubes. When Wolf got to the place where the birds were, they all flew away. All of us kept on paddling towards the other side, and Wolf followed. After we got to the other side, we went back to the side where Rocky Point was at, and Wolf followed. (We did give him a chance to rest before we started back.)
Wolf was a very fast runner and loved to run. Whenever we would go in the car over to Sara’s house, Wolfer would race us over. Sara’s house was about three blocks away and Wolfer would usually beat us there.
There was only one person that Wolfer really disliked, and that was our neighbor Marty Smith. He was the only one I knew of that Wolfer had bitten.
On night, Marty and some of his friends were toilet papering our house. Wolfer was locked in our garage. Dad heard them outside and let Wolf out of the garage. The first thing Wolf did was he went and grabbed Marty by and arm and held him there while Dad chased the others away. Marty said that every time he tried to make a move to get away, Wolfer would make his grip tighter and bite down harder.
Wolfer loved to get bumble bees trapped in the garage against the window. He would jump up and lick them until the bees were dead.
Wolf did get into a lot of trouble with the police. One time he went through some people’s fiber glass garage door trying to get to a dog that was in heat. Mom and Dad ended up paying for the door.
Wolfer was the only dog I knew that got tickets from the police. He used to love to chase police cars.
Wolfer was the best dog our family ever had. He’s a dog that no other dog will ever be able to replace.
[Some of my memories of Wolf include my mom chasing him out of the house with a broom. She didn't like him in the house. A few days later for family home evening we were reenacting scenes on treating others with kindness, and a couple us kids pretended to be my mom with the broom and Wolf being chased.
Another memory is the way he use to chase us when we went anyplace. He would often follow us to Hyrum square. Sometimes when we were in the pickup, we would stop and let him jump in the back. He loved the wind in his face. But often he would beat us down to the square which was a mile away.]
Monday, October 22, 2012
Weldon Getting Sick by: Ileen Wardle
This story is probably the scariest experience that happened on the farm. When Weldon was eight he got very sick and almost died. This story is written by Mother.
All the children who were in school had been vaccinated for small pox and they all had good scab on them. We thought they were all healed and Weldon went swimming with some friends and he got his scab knocked off. It seemed to be all right. After church I came home and bathed and put the children to bed. Everyone was fine. My husband and I got up early the next morning as we had to take a tractor into Othello to be worked on. I left him with the tractor at the garage and came on home. It was around nine o’clock in the morning. I went into the boys’ room to get them out of bed. I looked at Weldon, and was horrified. Every muscle in his body was twitching and his eyes were rolled back in his head. I went screaming out the door to our hired man who was Spanish and couldn’t hardly speak English. He came into the house with me and we got a wet sheet and wrapped Weldon in it and took him into the hospital in Othello, Washington. It was a small hospital with only 16 beds. The doctor was afraid that Weldon might have some permanent brain damage.
In the mean time our hired man went and got my husband and our Bishop came and gave Weldon a special blessing. Jim and I then loaded him into our car after the doctor had shown us what to do to keep him from swallowing his tongue. The police escorted us 120 miles to Spokane. When we arrived at the hospital, Weldon started to rally. They took him into the emergency room and tapped his spine. They told us he had an acute virus and it was in his blood stream. I stayed with him for five days in the hospital and he improved every day. The doctor told us that if he had been under eight, he would have died. He is now a strong, healthy man, and has never had a sick day since. He is now a teacher and a coach, and also a father of three children [eventually four].
[Billy’s note: I was the first to see Weldon acting strangely as we shared a bunk bed with me on top. I remember looking at him very early in the morning and he was twitching and spitting up saliva. I asked him if he was playing a game and he didn’t respond. I went back to sleep, but my memory tells me I had gotten up when my mother came home, and I told her Weldon was acting strangely, although I didn’t perceive it as life threatening. It was her reaction that told me there was a problem.
I went through life thinking Weldon had a concussion. My dad had taken us to A&W for root beer on a Sunday. Somehow Weldon had bonked his head against the wall while we were horse playing. My memory must have been wrong and mixed two things together. I was five at the time.]
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Halloween Scare from my Father
Saturday, October 20, 2012
Hyrum: East Park
This is the article from the Hyrum Crusader November 1976:
Salute The President: Political Satire
I don't delve into politics much, but since I saw a commercial from local candidate for congress, accusing the Republicans of an attack on the middle class, I had to respond.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioPxwMOM8Qg&feature=plcp
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioPxwMOM8Qg&feature=plcp
Friday, October 19, 2012
Hyrum T Ball revisited
This is the T Ball article as it appeared in the Hyrum Crusader. It had some pictures that were not in the previous post.
You can link the other pictures I took here.
http://whilhelmsthoughts.blogspot.com/2012/10/t-ball-in-hyrum.html
http://whilhelmsthoughts.blogspot.com/2012/10/t-ball-in-hyrum.html
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Sleeping at the Hyrum Cemetery
When we were teenagers, my brothers and I and a couple of other friends in our neighborhood decided we would test our courage by spending a night in the cemetery. I’m not sure who all went. It seems a friend, David DeBolt was and also a girl, probably our cousin Tammy, buy maybe Connie, and our dog Wolfer.
We selected a site to lay out our sleeping bags at the lower end of the cemetery, past all the gravesites. I remember had had a hard time getting to sleep, and told some appropriate stories.
[We were all just about asleep when my dog Wolfer, who was tied up to the fence by where we were sleeping, started barking his head off and stepping all over us. All of us hurried and put the sleeping bags way over our heads thinking that there was someone coming with an ax to chop our heads off. We were all real scared.]
Weldon and Bill started arguing over who was going to get up to see who or what it was. Weldon said to me, “Charlie, get up and see who it is.” I replied, “No, you get up!” I think Billy was the first one up. By that time Wolfer had quit barking. No one really knew what it was that Wolfer was barking at. Bill thought it was a dog, but I couldn’t see a dog anywhere. ]
We settled back down to bed, and I was sleeping pretty well when Weldon woke me up, announcing we were going home. We all followed him. We packed our gear and started walking home, crossing the fence and quickly getting on the road. On the way home, a strange creature or something come down the road headed straight for us. I was really scared and almost took off running. As if got closer, and entered the light from a street light, it turned out to be a tumble weed blown by an early morning canyon wind.
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Selling light Bulbs from Charlie's book
Selling Light Bulbs by: Charlie Wardle
One summer in Illinois, we had a big project of selling light bulbs to get money for Weldon to go to the Boy Scout National Jamboree.
It seems like we covered the whole town of Carbondale and some of the outside towns as we went door-to-door selling the lights.
Dad, Mom, Sara, and Connie all took turns driving us around while Weldon, Billy and Charlie went around to the houses asking people if they would like to buy some bulbs. One time when Connie was driving, she backed into a parked car. The car she ran into had been wrecked before. The owner of the car was trying to blame all of the damage on Connie. I remember Aunt Audrey arguing with the owner of the car and the police about trying to blame all the damage on Connie’s wreck. I think Aunt Audrey finally convinced the policeman that the owner of the car was lying.
[I remember the experience of going door-to-door, and we did cover almost all of town. Many places we went were rural, with big dogs. I was chased more than once by dogs, and developed a fear of big dogs as a result of this. It seems if you show fear to a dog he is more prone to chase you, so I had a hard time. Also at one point the car tire rolled over my foot as we were selling bulbs. It didn’t do any real damage but left some bruises. This was not the most fun experience of my youth. However Weldon did make it to the Jamboree, which was held at Lake Farragut, Idaho. This is where Dad had gone to boot camp for the Navy.]
One summer in Illinois, we had a big project of selling light bulbs to get money for Weldon to go to the Boy Scout National Jamboree.
It seems like we covered the whole town of Carbondale and some of the outside towns as we went door-to-door selling the lights.
Dad, Mom, Sara, and Connie all took turns driving us around while Weldon, Billy and Charlie went around to the houses asking people if they would like to buy some bulbs. One time when Connie was driving, she backed into a parked car. The car she ran into had been wrecked before. The owner of the car was trying to blame all of the damage on Connie. I remember Aunt Audrey arguing with the owner of the car and the police about trying to blame all the damage on Connie’s wreck. I think Aunt Audrey finally convinced the policeman that the owner of the car was lying.
[I remember the experience of going door-to-door, and we did cover almost all of town. Many places we went were rural, with big dogs. I was chased more than once by dogs, and developed a fear of big dogs as a result of this. It seems if you show fear to a dog he is more prone to chase you, so I had a hard time. Also at one point the car tire rolled over my foot as we were selling bulbs. It didn’t do any real damage but left some bruises. This was not the most fun experience of my youth. However Weldon did make it to the Jamboree, which was held at Lake Farragut, Idaho. This is where Dad had gone to boot camp for the Navy.]
Othello Memories
My Othello Memories
I was born in 1957, and if I’m not mistaken our family left Othello when I was six, First Grade. Some of my memories get distorted, but I am going to use this sheet to write down things as they come, and maybe add more later.
There was gravel around our house, a driveway that went all the way around, and we had access to main roads both to the East and the West. We lived South of Radar Road, just after it passed the canal. It was that canal which brought life to this area; which had been sage brush. With the completion of Grand Coulee Dam; much of Eastern Washington was open to agriculture.
Speaking of the canal, I remember one day going over the canal, and looking down into the water and seeing a dead dog floating along. I think this had been a year of high water. We were never allowed to get close to this canal because it was big, and had steep banks. But it was just north of our house and farm, and created a hill which was also an end.
This was a time when I did not like shoes. I prided myself on being able to run on rocks. My feet were pretty hard. However sometimes not hard enough, because in running on the rocks I often stubbed my toe. By stubbing my toe I mean I would rip the nail off. Then my Dad would have to doctor me. He would use fingernail scissors to cut off what might be remaining. Then there was hydrogen peroxide and all the bubbles. This was usually followed by a band aid.
I learned that there are worse things to run on than gravel however. On one occasion we went with my Dad to help with bailing and gathering the hay. Dad told me to wear shoes, but I didn’t. I was left in a field of fresh cut hay, needing to get back to the truck. Fresh cut hay is much crueler to feet than gravel. It really hurt and I learned my lesson.
My usual chore was to take the scraps out to the cats. There were always lots of cats, and we fed them by the can we had for trash. After a meal, all the scraps would be gathered unto a plate, and then I had the task to walk out and deliver them to the cats. I remembered one time I was just in a mean mood, and put them into the trash barrel. It made me feel bad what I had done, but now I look back, the cats probably just climbed in and got them anyway. At the time however, I remember them looking at me with their big eyes.
We would also tease the dog about food. We would tie a bun to a rope, and then climb up the clothes line poll. While sitting on the clothes line we would dangle the bun down like a fishing line. We would then jerk it up when the dog came to grab it. This was great fun. The dog would eventually win, as the bun would break and fall off and then they would have their treat.
Playing house was a favorite activity. The girls had a play house in a grain elevator. However we would also play in the alfalfa, which field was next to our home. We would smash the alfalfa down when it was tall, and make rooms and hallways in this fashion. (If we got too ambitious in our house making my dad would let us know we were smashing too much of the alfalfa down, but he was OK with a little.) When it was really tall, you could lie down and not be seen.
One year a corn field was planted in this spot. It was again great fun to play in the corn. You couldn’t smash it down, but it was a great place for hiding. (See ___for a story of the corn field.)
I remember our cow, which for some reason we would always notice she had gotten out as we were on our way to church. It was a Sunday ritual to get the cow back in. I have fleeting memories of the church. I mom would help in primary. One day someone accidentally stepped on my hand at church. The chapel was built while we lived there.
There was a park with a pool which was a favorite place. Our mom would often take us to the pool. My dad use to play softball. He could hit the ball a long ways. He would also play at home by our house, using the hill of the canal bank as a backstop. There wasn’t a lot of room, but plenty for us children.
I had a tricycle which I would ride to the bus stop to welcome the kids home from school. I use to get bored at home as mom would iron and watch her soaps. I remember Weldon would often get me to let him ride the trice home.
My favorite activity in the summer was to invade the raspberry patch. My mom would have to keep me away to get enough raspberries for jam. I would also take a turn at the strawberries, but my favorite was the raspberries. We always had a large garden.
We made a potato cellar on a property a few miles away. I remember the scaffolding that we had inside, and the smell. There is nothing like the smell of a potato cellar.
We use to irrigate most of the property with row irrigation. We would get the water out of the ditches and into the rows using siphon tubes. It was a skill to get the siphon tube to work, and I had my experience with putting the tube in the water, shaking it, and then letting onside only out of the water, and if you did it correctly it would draw water. My dad was better than me, but I had some success. (A few years ago while visiting Grandpa Scoresby in Idaho, Grandpa was using siphon tubes and I took a turn. I still had the knack.)
Social activities were limited as we lived outside of town. We would go to people’s houses to visit. I remember we didn’t go to a barber, but to somebody’s house where he had a tall stool chair and he would cut our hair. We would also go to Francis Yorgansen’s home and my dad and he would play chess.
It was while staying home with my mom that I watched the funeral for President Kennedy. Our TV was black and white, but I still was enthralled with the horse-drawn carriage that carried the president, and his son saluting. That was November 1963.
I was born in 1957, and if I’m not mistaken our family left Othello when I was six, First Grade. Some of my memories get distorted, but I am going to use this sheet to write down things as they come, and maybe add more later.
There was gravel around our house, a driveway that went all the way around, and we had access to main roads both to the East and the West. We lived South of Radar Road, just after it passed the canal. It was that canal which brought life to this area; which had been sage brush. With the completion of Grand Coulee Dam; much of Eastern Washington was open to agriculture.
Speaking of the canal, I remember one day going over the canal, and looking down into the water and seeing a dead dog floating along. I think this had been a year of high water. We were never allowed to get close to this canal because it was big, and had steep banks. But it was just north of our house and farm, and created a hill which was also an end.
This was a time when I did not like shoes. I prided myself on being able to run on rocks. My feet were pretty hard. However sometimes not hard enough, because in running on the rocks I often stubbed my toe. By stubbing my toe I mean I would rip the nail off. Then my Dad would have to doctor me. He would use fingernail scissors to cut off what might be remaining. Then there was hydrogen peroxide and all the bubbles. This was usually followed by a band aid.
I learned that there are worse things to run on than gravel however. On one occasion we went with my Dad to help with bailing and gathering the hay. Dad told me to wear shoes, but I didn’t. I was left in a field of fresh cut hay, needing to get back to the truck. Fresh cut hay is much crueler to feet than gravel. It really hurt and I learned my lesson.
My usual chore was to take the scraps out to the cats. There were always lots of cats, and we fed them by the can we had for trash. After a meal, all the scraps would be gathered unto a plate, and then I had the task to walk out and deliver them to the cats. I remembered one time I was just in a mean mood, and put them into the trash barrel. It made me feel bad what I had done, but now I look back, the cats probably just climbed in and got them anyway. At the time however, I remember them looking at me with their big eyes.
We would also tease the dog about food. We would tie a bun to a rope, and then climb up the clothes line poll. While sitting on the clothes line we would dangle the bun down like a fishing line. We would then jerk it up when the dog came to grab it. This was great fun. The dog would eventually win, as the bun would break and fall off and then they would have their treat.
Playing house was a favorite activity. The girls had a play house in a grain elevator. However we would also play in the alfalfa, which field was next to our home. We would smash the alfalfa down when it was tall, and make rooms and hallways in this fashion. (If we got too ambitious in our house making my dad would let us know we were smashing too much of the alfalfa down, but he was OK with a little.) When it was really tall, you could lie down and not be seen.
One year a corn field was planted in this spot. It was again great fun to play in the corn. You couldn’t smash it down, but it was a great place for hiding. (See ___for a story of the corn field.)
I remember our cow, which for some reason we would always notice she had gotten out as we were on our way to church. It was a Sunday ritual to get the cow back in. I have fleeting memories of the church. I mom would help in primary. One day someone accidentally stepped on my hand at church. The chapel was built while we lived there.
There was a park with a pool which was a favorite place. Our mom would often take us to the pool. My dad use to play softball. He could hit the ball a long ways. He would also play at home by our house, using the hill of the canal bank as a backstop. There wasn’t a lot of room, but plenty for us children.
I had a tricycle which I would ride to the bus stop to welcome the kids home from school. I use to get bored at home as mom would iron and watch her soaps. I remember Weldon would often get me to let him ride the trice home.
My favorite activity in the summer was to invade the raspberry patch. My mom would have to keep me away to get enough raspberries for jam. I would also take a turn at the strawberries, but my favorite was the raspberries. We always had a large garden.
We made a potato cellar on a property a few miles away. I remember the scaffolding that we had inside, and the smell. There is nothing like the smell of a potato cellar.
We use to irrigate most of the property with row irrigation. We would get the water out of the ditches and into the rows using siphon tubes. It was a skill to get the siphon tube to work, and I had my experience with putting the tube in the water, shaking it, and then letting onside only out of the water, and if you did it correctly it would draw water. My dad was better than me, but I had some success. (A few years ago while visiting Grandpa Scoresby in Idaho, Grandpa was using siphon tubes and I took a turn. I still had the knack.)
Social activities were limited as we lived outside of town. We would go to people’s houses to visit. I remember we didn’t go to a barber, but to somebody’s house where he had a tall stool chair and he would cut our hair. We would also go to Francis Yorgansen’s home and my dad and he would play chess.
It was while staying home with my mom that I watched the funeral for President Kennedy. Our TV was black and white, but I still was enthralled with the horse-drawn carriage that carried the president, and his son saluting. That was November 1963.
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Poetry I like: There is no medicine like hope
Words and poems I like
No incentive so great
And no tonic so powerful
As expectation of something tomorrow.
Orison Swett Marden
Irrigation Ditches by: Charlie Wardle
The Irrigation Ditches by: Charlie Wardle
Our farm had a lot of dirt irrigation ditches that were always caving in. My dad eventually had concrete ditches put in.
The next two stories are about events that happened around the ditches. They are told by my mother.
One day, my dad had the whole family out irrigating when one of the big ditches caved in. To stop the water from escaping, he grabbed some of the kids and stuck them in the ditch where the ditch had caved in. He then put dirt around the kids to stop the water from leaking out. The kids had to stay there and form a men-made dam until Dad was done irrigating.
[This story is known as the day Connie saved Weldon’s life.]
The next story happened when we had our concrete ditches.
One day, Weldon and Connie were pulling some weeds out of the culvert. (A culvert is a place where the water goes underground.) As Weldon was reaching for a weed, he fell into the water and started going underground. Connie grabbed him by his foot and held on with all the strength she had. Connie yelled for Dad to come help. She was able to hold on until Dad got there to pull Weldon out.
Our farm had a lot of dirt irrigation ditches that were always caving in. My dad eventually had concrete ditches put in.
The next two stories are about events that happened around the ditches. They are told by my mother.
One day, my dad had the whole family out irrigating when one of the big ditches caved in. To stop the water from escaping, he grabbed some of the kids and stuck them in the ditch where the ditch had caved in. He then put dirt around the kids to stop the water from leaking out. The kids had to stay there and form a men-made dam until Dad was done irrigating.
[This story is known as the day Connie saved Weldon’s life.]
The next story happened when we had our concrete ditches.
One day, Weldon and Connie were pulling some weeds out of the culvert. (A culvert is a place where the water goes underground.) As Weldon was reaching for a weed, he fell into the water and started going underground. Connie grabbed him by his foot and held on with all the strength she had. Connie yelled for Dad to come help. She was able to hold on until Dad got there to pull Weldon out.
The Elevator by: Charlie Wardle
The Elevator by: Charlie Wardle
The first couple of days that we were in Carbondale, we stayed in a big sky-scraper hotel.
Connie, Weldon, Billy, Charlie and Dianna were in the love downstairs looking around in the gift shop. After awhile, we decided to go upstairs to our room. Weldon stuck Dianna on the elevator and pushed our floor number and jumped out. You could hear Dianna screaming while the door on the elevator closed. Luckily, Dad was waiting for the elevator on our floor.
[This would have been after our first year in Carbondale. We were moving from a rented house to university apartments. However the apartments were not ready on time, as they were being newly constructed. The high-rise hotels were actually on campus. I think they were used both as a hotel and as student housing. However we had to stay there a couple weeks while waiting for our apartment to be finished. Dianna would have been two years old.]
The first couple of days that we were in Carbondale, we stayed in a big sky-scraper hotel.
Connie, Weldon, Billy, Charlie and Dianna were in the love downstairs looking around in the gift shop. After awhile, we decided to go upstairs to our room. Weldon stuck Dianna on the elevator and pushed our floor number and jumped out. You could hear Dianna screaming while the door on the elevator closed. Luckily, Dad was waiting for the elevator on our floor.
[This would have been after our first year in Carbondale. We were moving from a rented house to university apartments. However the apartments were not ready on time, as they were being newly constructed. The high-rise hotels were actually on campus. I think they were used both as a hotel and as student housing. However we had to stay there a couple weeks while waiting for our apartment to be finished. Dianna would have been two years old.]
Monday, October 15, 2012
The Family Farm by: Charles Wardle
The Family Farm by: Charles Wardle
When my family gets together, we often tell stories about our farm we used to live on.
In 1953 my dad bought 300 acres of land in Othello, Washington to start his farm. When my mom and dad moved there, there was nothing but open land covered with sagebrush. With no buildings or anything, they started out just like the pioneers did.
My mom and dad had two kids when they moved to the farm, Sara and Connie. While they were living on the farm, they had three boys; Weldon, Billy and Charlie. A couple of years after they left the farm, they had their last child, Dianna.
Our biggest crop on the farm was potatoes. We also had corn, alfalfa, wheat, sugar beets, and a big garden. I know we had at least one cow named buttercup, who sometimes gave us rides when dad was around. Weldon often told how he would throw rocks at buttercup to get her out of the field that he was playing ball in.
We had a lot of Mexicans working for us on the farm, probably because they would work for so little.
Our family had a lot of real good experiences, and there are some good family stories that happened on the farm.
I was two when we left the farm in 1963. I can’t remember anything about the farm, so whenever a story is told, I’m very interest in it.
When my family gets together, we often tell stories about our farm we used to live on.
In 1953 my dad bought 300 acres of land in Othello, Washington to start his farm. When my mom and dad moved there, there was nothing but open land covered with sagebrush. With no buildings or anything, they started out just like the pioneers did.
My mom and dad had two kids when they moved to the farm, Sara and Connie. While they were living on the farm, they had three boys; Weldon, Billy and Charlie. A couple of years after they left the farm, they had their last child, Dianna.
Our biggest crop on the farm was potatoes. We also had corn, alfalfa, wheat, sugar beets, and a big garden. I know we had at least one cow named buttercup, who sometimes gave us rides when dad was around. Weldon often told how he would throw rocks at buttercup to get her out of the field that he was playing ball in.
We had a lot of Mexicans working for us on the farm, probably because they would work for so little.
Our family had a lot of real good experiences, and there are some good family stories that happened on the farm.
I was two when we left the farm in 1963. I can’t remember anything about the farm, so whenever a story is told, I’m very interest in it.
Saturday, October 13, 2012
Santa Clara County Mental Health: Access
Although our program closed, its spirit lives on in our hearts. Of this picture we have said goodbye to Dr. Hong Pham. I was able to attend his funeral with Trish.
Of course many were missing. We were pretty much a 24-hour opheration so we could never go out all together. This is a celebration shortly before we closed. A great bunch of co-workers.
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| frnt: Sue, Barbara, Dr Llajavic, Cris, Trish, Dr. Becker, Dr. Hong Rafael bck: Dr Pazdernik, Eladio, Me, Mark. |
Moving Experience by: Charlie Wardle
Moving [Packing] Experience by Charlie Wardle
There’s one moving experience that happened when we had everything loaded and were about ready to leave. [This is Utah to Illinois.] I grabbed Dale’s key (Dale was a friend of Sara’s) [Dale Nelson was Sara’s boyfriend before we moved] out of his truck and threw them into the field next to our house. The worse thing about it was that we couldn’t find them. We had to “hot wire” the truck so Dale could take a load of furniture to the Deseret Industries for us.
I remember that Dad gave me a big spanking for losing Dale’s keys.
There’s one moving experience that happened when we had everything loaded and were about ready to leave. [This is Utah to Illinois.] I grabbed Dale’s key (Dale was a friend of Sara’s) [Dale Nelson was Sara’s boyfriend before we moved] out of his truck and threw them into the field next to our house. The worse thing about it was that we couldn’t find them. We had to “hot wire” the truck so Dale could take a load of furniture to the Deseret Industries for us.
I remember that Dad gave me a big spanking for losing Dale’s keys.
A Moving Experience by: Connie Fornoff
A Moving Experience by: Connie Fornoff
Our family made a move my sophomore year of school from Utah to Illinois. We were all in the car with my dad towing a U-Haul behind the pick-up he was driving. We were crowded and after a few hundred miles, the trip became very boring. My brother and I kept asking my dad if we could get in the U-Haul trailer and ride. He said we really shouldn’t because it was against the law. But after a few hundred more miles he could take us no longer and let us get in the trailer. We took the cat with us. The three of us got up on the top of a mattress. We laid there and talked. We really enjoyed ourselves, traveling with the furniture, boxes, dishes and what not. Dad must have enjoyed us gone as well because he let us stay there for quite awhile. Once when he topped for gas he even opened the door and threw us in a couple of packages of Twinkies.
Our family made a move my sophomore year of school from Utah to Illinois. We were all in the car with my dad towing a U-Haul behind the pick-up he was driving. We were crowded and after a few hundred miles, the trip became very boring. My brother and I kept asking my dad if we could get in the U-Haul trailer and ride. He said we really shouldn’t because it was against the law. But after a few hundred more miles he could take us no longer and let us get in the trailer. We took the cat with us. The three of us got up on the top of a mattress. We laid there and talked. We really enjoyed ourselves, traveling with the furniture, boxes, dishes and what not. Dad must have enjoyed us gone as well because he let us stay there for quite awhile. Once when he topped for gas he even opened the door and threw us in a couple of packages of Twinkies.
Friday, October 12, 2012
The Big Move by: Ileen Wardle
The Big Move by : Mother
After graduating from the University of Denver with a Master’s Degree in Library Science my husband, Jim, returned to our home in Hyrum, Utah where we had been living for the last three years. Jim proudly announced we would be moving to Carbondale, Illinois where he would be a cataloger at the University of Illinois Library. My first reaction is where is Carbondale? He gathered all the family together, got out the Atlas and showed us a map of the State of Illinois; Carbondale was at the southern tip of Illinois. Everyone exclaimed, “It is so far away—halfway across the United States.” We were all glad that Jim had a new job, but hated to leave our beautiful home and many friends.
The day of the big move came on the 28th of August 1967. “Boy,” what a lot of work; we had so much stuff to move—things to sort and throw away—trips to the Deseret Industries. A moving van came and loaded up all the furniture, but we also had a wagon full, the back of the pick-up and the car. I drove the car with sixteen year old Sara, fourteen year old Connie and 18 month old Dianna. We also had with us our Siamese cat Fifi. Jim drove the pick-up with the wagon behind him. He had with him, eleven year old Weldon, nine year old Bill, six year old Charles and the dog.
After going through Denver, I began to get a sick feeling as we were leaving behind the beautiful mountains. We seemed to travel for miles and miles. We started through Kansas as the sun was coming up in the morning and were just leaving the state of Kansas as the sun was going down. The children were very restless all through Kansas as all they could see was farm land and windmills. They made a game out of who could count the most windmills.
When we arrived in St. Louis, Missouri we took a wrong road and ended up on the east side where all the colored people lived. We were all very scared as this was a different color of people than we were used to seeing. All the homes and buildings were so run down and poor looking. We were still 120 miles from Carbondale. We were three days and two nights on the road.
Carbondale was a beautiful place; the trees were so green and moss was growing up the trunks. Squirrels would run from one tree to another and were everywhere. The humidity was very high and something we were not used to. We all felt so sticky and hot. My hair and the girls wouldn’t hold a curl so we all had our hair cut short.
You never needed to water your lawns or gardens because of the high humidity and when it rained it really poured. The most beautiful time of all in Carbondale was in the spring when the red bud and dogwood trees would all com in bloom, with their beautiful red and white blossoms.
It was a new adjustment for all of us. The children met colored boys and girls in their schools for the first time and it was frightening for them and we were there at the time of the civil rights movement.
We were in Carbondale for two years and when it was time to leave we left many choice people and were all grateful for the choice time we had while we were in Carbondale.
After graduating from the University of Denver with a Master’s Degree in Library Science my husband, Jim, returned to our home in Hyrum, Utah where we had been living for the last three years. Jim proudly announced we would be moving to Carbondale, Illinois where he would be a cataloger at the University of Illinois Library. My first reaction is where is Carbondale? He gathered all the family together, got out the Atlas and showed us a map of the State of Illinois; Carbondale was at the southern tip of Illinois. Everyone exclaimed, “It is so far away—halfway across the United States.” We were all glad that Jim had a new job, but hated to leave our beautiful home and many friends.
The day of the big move came on the 28th of August 1967. “Boy,” what a lot of work; we had so much stuff to move—things to sort and throw away—trips to the Deseret Industries. A moving van came and loaded up all the furniture, but we also had a wagon full, the back of the pick-up and the car. I drove the car with sixteen year old Sara, fourteen year old Connie and 18 month old Dianna. We also had with us our Siamese cat Fifi. Jim drove the pick-up with the wagon behind him. He had with him, eleven year old Weldon, nine year old Bill, six year old Charles and the dog.
After going through Denver, I began to get a sick feeling as we were leaving behind the beautiful mountains. We seemed to travel for miles and miles. We started through Kansas as the sun was coming up in the morning and were just leaving the state of Kansas as the sun was going down. The children were very restless all through Kansas as all they could see was farm land and windmills. They made a game out of who could count the most windmills.
When we arrived in St. Louis, Missouri we took a wrong road and ended up on the east side where all the colored people lived. We were all very scared as this was a different color of people than we were used to seeing. All the homes and buildings were so run down and poor looking. We were still 120 miles from Carbondale. We were three days and two nights on the road.
Carbondale was a beautiful place; the trees were so green and moss was growing up the trunks. Squirrels would run from one tree to another and were everywhere. The humidity was very high and something we were not used to. We all felt so sticky and hot. My hair and the girls wouldn’t hold a curl so we all had our hair cut short.
You never needed to water your lawns or gardens because of the high humidity and when it rained it really poured. The most beautiful time of all in Carbondale was in the spring when the red bud and dogwood trees would all com in bloom, with their beautiful red and white blossoms.
It was a new adjustment for all of us. The children met colored boys and girls in their schools for the first time and it was frightening for them and we were there at the time of the civil rights movement.
We were in Carbondale for two years and when it was time to leave we left many choice people and were all grateful for the choice time we had while we were in Carbondale.
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Charlie's Blanket by: my Mom
Charlie’s Blanket by: Ileen Wardle
Charlie’s Grandma Wardle made him a baby blanket for his crib right after he was born. It was blue with little blocks of white lambs. Charlie really loved this blanket and it had one special corner that he liked the feel of. You would hand him his blanket and he would turn it around until he found his special cornet. Then he would rub it with his left hand and suck his thumb on his right hand. It was always a rough day for Charlie when we needed to wash his blanket. He would stand in front of the washer and dryer until his blanket was dried. I guess he was afraid someone would take away his security. Charlie was over three years old when he finally gave the poor worn out blanket a rest. I put it away and when we moved from the farm to Utah, I packed it with some of Jim’s navy uniforms. When he was in the ninth grade he happened to find it. You would have thought he had found his best friend again.
Charlie’s Grandma Wardle made him a baby blanket for his crib right after he was born. It was blue with little blocks of white lambs. Charlie really loved this blanket and it had one special corner that he liked the feel of. You would hand him his blanket and he would turn it around until he found his special cornet. Then he would rub it with his left hand and suck his thumb on his right hand. It was always a rough day for Charlie when we needed to wash his blanket. He would stand in front of the washer and dryer until his blanket was dried. I guess he was afraid someone would take away his security. Charlie was over three years old when he finally gave the poor worn out blanket a rest. I put it away and when we moved from the farm to Utah, I packed it with some of Jim’s navy uniforms. When he was in the ninth grade he happened to find it. You would have thought he had found his best friend again.
Water The Flowers by: Charlie Wardle
Water the Flowers by: Charlie Wardle
On the farm, a lot of times when you were out in the field and had to go to the toilet, you didn’t have time to run all the way back to the house to go. I guess this is one of the ways I got potty trained.
One day after church, as we were walking outside, I had to go to the toilet. Seeing the flowers outside I walked over to them and pulled down my pants and started watering the flowers.
As everyone came out of Church, they had a nice sight of a boy watering the flowers. When Mom saw this she turned about four shades of red. Dad came out of the church and noticed everyone watching me and said, “At least he’s potty trained.”
On the farm, a lot of times when you were out in the field and had to go to the toilet, you didn’t have time to run all the way back to the house to go. I guess this is one of the ways I got potty trained.
One day after church, as we were walking outside, I had to go to the toilet. Seeing the flowers outside I walked over to them and pulled down my pants and started watering the flowers.
As everyone came out of Church, they had a nice sight of a boy watering the flowers. When Mom saw this she turned about four shades of red. Dad came out of the church and noticed everyone watching me and said, “At least he’s potty trained.”
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
The Black Boy, My History with Blackface
The Black Boy told by Ileen Wardle
At the farm the kids would often get into things and make a mess of them. This story is about Weldon. When he was six he tried to change the color of Billy’s skin who was three at the time.
This story was told to me by my mother:
Dad had just finished changing the oil in the tractor, and left the bucket of drained oil in his shop. Weldon, his friend and Billy were playing around in Dad’s shop, and found the bucket of oil. Weldon and his friend got a couple of paint brushes, and began to paint Billy with the oil from his head to his feet. No one knows why Billy just stood there and let them do it.
When I [mother] saw Billy he looked just like a colored boy; with his black hair and face; he was black everywhere. I had to throw his clothes away, and use comet on him to get the oil off.
At the farm the kids would often get into things and make a mess of them. This story is about Weldon. When he was six he tried to change the color of Billy’s skin who was three at the time.
This story was told to me by my mother:
Dad had just finished changing the oil in the tractor, and left the bucket of drained oil in his shop. Weldon, his friend and Billy were playing around in Dad’s shop, and found the bucket of oil. Weldon and his friend got a couple of paint brushes, and began to paint Billy with the oil from his head to his feet. No one knows why Billy just stood there and let them do it.
When I [mother] saw Billy he looked just like a colored boy; with his black hair and face; he was black everywhere. I had to throw his clothes away, and use comet on him to get the oil off.
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Lost Dianna by: Dianna
Lost Dianna by: Dianna Norman From Childhood Experiences of the Wardle Family, editor Charlie Wardle
When I was five years old my family and my sister’s family went to Soda Springs, Idaho to watch my brother Bill play in a Pony League Tournament.
I was very restless watching the game and so I took my nephew, Buffie, and we went to a little park to swing. I came back just as the game was over and went to get in the car with my sister and family; but she told me I couldn’t ride back to Hyrum with them and I was to wait for my folks. I decided I would go back and play on the swings while I was waiting and when I came back I looked everywhere for my folks and couldn’t find them. I started to cry and some older girls came and asked me what was the matter. I told them I couldn’t find my mother and dad. They took hold of my hand and told me not to cry and took me to the police station. The policeman had me get in the police car with me and we drove around Soda Springs looking for my folks. I finally recognized someone from Hyrum (The Lundbergs). They told the policeman they would take me home after we had dinner. I really was glad to have someone take me home but I felt dumb because I didn’t have any money to pay for my dinner.
When my folks got home they were really surprised because I hadn’t come with my sister and family. They called to the police in Soda Springs and they told them they had found me and the Lundbergs were bringing me home. I was so frightened and I never went wondering off again without letting my parents know where I was going.
When I was five years old my family and my sister’s family went to Soda Springs, Idaho to watch my brother Bill play in a Pony League Tournament.
I was very restless watching the game and so I took my nephew, Buffie, and we went to a little park to swing. I came back just as the game was over and went to get in the car with my sister and family; but she told me I couldn’t ride back to Hyrum with them and I was to wait for my folks. I decided I would go back and play on the swings while I was waiting and when I came back I looked everywhere for my folks and couldn’t find them. I started to cry and some older girls came and asked me what was the matter. I told them I couldn’t find my mother and dad. They took hold of my hand and told me not to cry and took me to the police station. The policeman had me get in the police car with me and we drove around Soda Springs looking for my folks. I finally recognized someone from Hyrum (The Lundbergs). They told the policeman they would take me home after we had dinner. I really was glad to have someone take me home but I felt dumb because I didn’t have any money to pay for my dinner.
When my folks got home they were really surprised because I hadn’t come with my sister and family. They called to the police in Soda Springs and they told them they had found me and the Lundbergs were bringing me home. I was so frightened and I never went wondering off again without letting my parents know where I was going.
Sail Boating by: Charlie Wardle
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| Crab Orchard Lake |
One Saturday, one of Dad’s friends from the University [Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Ill] took us boys and Dad sailing.
It was a lot of fun and the boat went pretty fast along the water.
After we were out for about an hour, we stopped to eat lunch. After lunch I told Dad that Ididn’t want to go back out, and that I just wanted to play along the beach. Dad made Bill stay with me to watch over me. Billy was pretty upset about this.
They went back out in the boat. They were out there quite far and the boat tipped over. A guy in a row boat had to row out there from the shore to help them. Everyone was alright. I was really glad that I didn’t go out with them, because I couldn’t swim at that time.
Billy’s addition: I don’t remember being mad, but I remember getting pretty bored because it took them forever to get back. At first there were things to keep my interest along the shore, but after a few hours there wasn’t much new to do. I don’t remember if I had much sense of what was going on, other than thinking maybe they tipped over. I have the idea that they had to hold onto the boat until they could get help to get it righted. I know I had bad dreams about holding onto a boat waiting for someone to save me for a while. Weldon would be able to give more insight on that because he went with them.
Mother Keeping Track of Her Kids
Living on a big farm, a mother had a hard time keeping track of her kids. The next two stories are about mother trying to keep track of her kids. These stories are told by my mother.
One day, Billy came up missing. I looked everywhere for him for hours and couldn’t find him. Usually when Billy was missing, you could find him in the strawberry patch, but he wasn’t there.
I found Jim, my husband, and told him that Billy was missing. He got some of the hired hands and we all went looking for Billy. My biggest worry was that he might have fallen in the canal. After looking for him for awhile we found him fast asleep in the corn patch.
my version of the same story
http://whilhelmsthoughts.blogspot.com/2011/01/othello-make-believe-home.html
There was a time when Sara and Connie came up missing. After looking for them for awhile I found them in the machine shed watching a mother cat have her kittens. The must have been there for hours.
I was so embarrassed when I saw this and they had so many questions about where those kitten were coming from. I really had to do some fast explain about birth.
Monday, October 8, 2012
My Thoughts on Wikileaks
I think we have entered the world of cyber terrorism. WikiLeaks and Julian Assange are hurting our country, and putting those who work for our government at risk. This started with the release of confidential and secret documents. That these documents would have been carried by any news outlet under the guise of news is appalling. Sometimes people need to think before they act. Do you take out everyone's appendix under the guise of medicine?
This terrorism entered a 2nd stage of blackmail earlier this week. (If you do anything to me I will release more documents.) It has now entered a third stage of cyber attacks. The WikiLeaks organization is attacking anyone who is critical of them, or opposes them. They are thwarting free speech, under the presumption that what they are doing is free speech.
The actions of this group have put many more people than Valerie Plame in the cross hairs of terrorists. Islamic terrorist (excuse me President Obama) are seeking destroy our county. They are seeking daily to maim and cripple our interests. In Julian Assange they have found an ally. He has been arrested for sex crimes. Where is the arrest for his crimes against the United States?
Just my opinion on today's news. The Obama administration has got to be focused on stopping this attack.
T Ball in Hyrum
These pictures are from the first T-Ball league in Hyrum. Please let me know if you recognize anyone. I think this is 1976. My brother, Weldon, put the league together as part of his duties running Little League. We didn't play on the dirt infield, but set up bases in the outfield.
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| Wade Olsen |
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| Clyde Buff Jr. in front of the line |
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| Kody Johnson is the coach helper |
Sunday, October 7, 2012
When Weldon and I Played for the Packers; Othello
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| Billy, Weldon, Charlie |
Charlie posted the above picture on the Ileen Family group, and it brought back some fun memories. Weldon and I were big into football during our days in Othello. I am sure Weldon introduced me to the game, but we also attended games with my father at the local high school. A couple boys from our ward played on the team. I remember my dad commented on a play where the other team had a long run, and the player form Othello didn't tackle him from behind, but let him get a few more yards so he could tackle him from the front.
But back to Weldon and I. We were big into the Packers. When we played, we were not Billy and Weldon, but Bart Star and Willie Wood. We would usually be on the same team, playing against imaginary opponents. And like the Packers, we were champions. Oh what fun!
I remember one day Weldon was sick. It was upon me to carry on the games as Weldon watched from the window. It was harder, passing to myself and catching the ball. But that is what I did. It was a glorious victory for the Packers, fighting off many opponents after making the catch. The passes were shorter than usual, because I was catching my own passes. There were more yards after the catch. I had to go in and report to Weldon the result of the play.
Over time, we started playing each other. Charlie would join my team, but he was still very small. We were better at offense than defense, so the games were usually tied. We decided to add goal posts so we could kick extra points. The were make shift poles, with a stick propped up between them. They weren't very high, but they served their purpose. I think Weldon always won after that. I have never been good a kicking. But man could I run.
Scoutmaster: Camp High Sierra 2001
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| Ian, Matt and Kody |
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| Mark |
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| Jeremy and David |
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| Tyler |
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| David |
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| polar bear with yours truly |
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| Tyler |
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| Kody and Tyler |
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| Ian and Matt on the saw |
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| Tyler through the web |
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| Pull |
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| lashing |
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| Tyler Morgan on the wall |
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| Ken representing the scoutmasters |
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| dunked by the lifeguards |
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| David |
Saturday, October 6, 2012
Scriptures I Want to Memorize
During priesthood, these are the scriptures I thought I should memorize.
D&C 121: 41 No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned;
D&C 121: 41 No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned;
42 By kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile—
45 Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul a s the dews from heaven.
46 The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, and thy scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth; and thy dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever.
Moroni 7: 45 And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Moroni 7: 45 And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
46 Wherefore,
my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for
charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the
greatest of all, for all things must fail—
47 But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.
48 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray
unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled
with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.
Argentina, Buenos Aires Temple
I served my mission 1977-78 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. When I was on my mission, the closest temple was in Sao Paolo, Brazil. We prayed hard for a temple in Argentina. At missionary reunions after my mission we donated towards the temple. And then it happened, about five years after my mission.
It was announced that a temple was going to be built close to Ezeiza International Airport. Hermana Rosaura Corsi sent me the program of the ground breaking and dedication of the property. Bruce R. McConkie presided, spoke and offered the prayer. This was in 1983.It was dedicated in in 1986 by Thomas S. Monson. It was recently remodeled and expanded and rededicated in September of this year by Henry B. Eyring.
It was announced that a temple was going to be built close to Ezeiza International Airport. Hermana Rosaura Corsi sent me the program of the ground breaking and dedication of the property. Bruce R. McConkie presided, spoke and offered the prayer. This was in 1983.It was dedicated in in 1986 by Thomas S. Monson. It was recently remodeled and expanded and rededicated in September of this year by Henry B. Eyring.
My Poetry: "I See God"
I think I wrote this as a hymn
When I watch a child play
I See God
When I look at the mountains
I see God.
When I look at the fountains
I see God.
I see God in the flowers and the trees.
I feel God in the wind and the breeze.
When I watch a child play
I see God.
When I hold a kitty, or a puppy stays
I see God.
For God is in the child, and the baby mild.
God is in the animals, tame and wild.
He is the author of all creation.
All things testify of he existence.
For He is my God, my foundation.
He gives live meaning. He gives sustenance.
When I look greenery, at plant life
I see God.
When I see the storm, the air in strife
I see God.
I see God in the flowers and the trees.
I feel God in the wind and the breeze.
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