Mother's Memories For My Daughter

 

        When we had lived in Kearns and Jaime was almost three, there was a sister in our ward who had given us a Mother and Daughter scrapbook that she said she had but never used – and yet she had three daughters. 

          I made it a project for the two of us to work on and allowed Jai to pick all the pictures for the album and I would write about whatever the page instructed.  I wrote most of it in cursive not realizing few schools would even teach cursive anymore.  As with shorthand, cursive seems to be an art of the past.

          I never had pretty handwriting.  It’s somewhere between elementary and chicken scratch.  It wasn’t until we had moved here and I was working on some updates that I decided to scan the scrapbook, change some of the pictures, and use a font which Jaime would be able to read.  I don’t know how many pages I created.  There are a few tacked to earlier posts such as the ones found here

          I had hoped that Jaime would share my sentiment in preserving our legacy.  She does not.  At least not at this time.  Perhaps when she is my age it will be more meaningful (that is if it doesn’t get lost in the sauce and forgotten)

          In addition I have 12 binders of journaling from what I believed was her point of view.  After we moved here I continued to create pages but hadn’t printed anything.  There are volumes that will take up less space on a thumb drive than on a shelf.

Collecting Pennies

           When I was younger my grandpa taught me the art of collecting pennies and collecting stamps.  My brother and I each had books to collect pennies made in different years at different mints.  My neighbors across the street were really into it and found pennies made during the war.  I still had several pennies when I married Richard.

          He attempted on getting the boys into penny collecting.  I remember donating a couple of rolls of pennies to his cause – though I didn’t see any value to them.  But the boys were floored.  I had pennies dating as early as 1972.  Wow.  The year my brother was born.  To me they really weren’t that old.  But they were over 15 years older than each of the boys – therefore they were “antiques”

          I think within a week the boys had lost interest and some time later he had tried again with his two oldest girls.   Frances did seem interested, but as we really didn’t see them a whole lot, that didn’t pan out either.  So now he’s trying again with Jaime who tries to show genuine interest but is really not.  Richard keeps offering suggestions on what to do with extra pennies that were minted before this decade.

          I told her perhaps we should just keep them all.  After all the penny making has ceased and one day all of the pennies will be more valuable than they are today.  It’s just a thought.

Mother and Daughter Growing

 

          I am so grateful that Jaime has always had it together moreso than I.  I have been so much happier living in Oregon than I was in Salt Lake.  I have grown more in the last eight years than my entire lifetime in Salt Lake.

          Jaime was apprehensive with starting at Coffenbury Middle School after the summer we moved here, but she loved it.  I think of all her schooling she was happiest at Coffenberry.  I don’t know that she would have endured that same love at Eisenhower Junior High – which is where she would have continued her education if we had stayed.  She has also loved the small town life overall.

          She hasn’t been exposed to many active youth – even in Salt Lake.  I know there are more active youth in our current ward than there had been in our last ward.  Currently she has a boyfriend.  They have talked about marriage and are planning on moving out of state – which has made her apprehensive.  She doesn’t wish to leave us but at the same time she needs to live her life.

          She said she will be moving to a state where he will be closer to his family.  She has two sisters who reside in the same state.  Of course I am aware that the state is larger than Oregon and chances of running into her sisters might be slim.  But there’s the possibility.  I hope that they do make a connection.

          I know she will get growth there living in a larger city.  There are some aspects which she has missed.  I hope she finds it.

          I do know Jai is more comfortable with herself than I had ever been.  I’m fine now, but it has taken so long.  We have been so blessed with her.  I’m certain her growth won’t take as long for her as it has for me.

Being Disconnected

     

          My balance has been off and so I try getting at least 20 minutes of Tai Chi each day. I didn't do any Tai Chi on Sunday as I was feeling under the weather.  I don’t know what time I fell asleep on Sunday night.  I do remember hearing Jai come home after midnight and then she left again.  I had two things on the charger and got up to check on their status and to text Jaime but noticed she had left a note by the TV.

          I have made several references to NOT having the best sleeping habits.  Yesterday morning was no exception.  I had tried returning to my slumber but just wasn’t getting there.  I read a chapter in the Book of Mormon and 10 chapters in the Little Christmas Book.  At 3:00 I finally left my room and played on my tablet for a while.

          I don’t remember what time I returned to bed or how long it took me to finally fall asleep.  I did not wake up until almost 8:00 a.m.  When was the last time I ever slept past 5:30?  I was dumbfounded that I had slept that long.  And yet, when I count the hours I still didn’t get enough.

          I was so groggy. Richard said that he wanted to take some watches down to Ashland but I knew that Jaime would be returning and wanted to be home for her.  I really wasn’t up to spending three hours in the car. Again, I was out of it.

          I did clean the microwave and the yard.  I unloaded the dishwasher and filled it back up again.  I heard the beeping of what sounded like the garbage truck – but the garbage doesn’t get picked up until tomorrow.  And early.  When Jaime was in school the garbage wasn’t collected until after she left for school.  The last two or three years they have been collecting long before the dawn.

          Turned out that a neighbor two houses down had rented a dumpster which the sanitation was either dropping off or collecting.  Okay.  Glad it was an outside sound that didn’t need my attention.

          But then I could hear the sound of a school bell being rung – you know like they had on the set of “Little House on the Prairie”.  Our school bells do not sound like that – nor are any of the schools close enough that I would be able to hear it.  What the heck?

          I finally had that one figured out also.  The sound was coming from the dishwasher.  One of the pans was clinging against the water.  Great.  I was so disoriented for about four hours.  I really don’t like being that out of it. 

Midvale House front room 1963

 

I don’t recall our living room ever looking this spacious before.  I don’t remember the chair but I do remember the ottoman.  I had it (or one similar) when I married Richard.  The original color was green but had torn and I had attempted to reupholster it in a printed flannel.  That didn’t last long.

I remember breaking the tinseled tree – I had been looking for tinsel and not an entire branch.  It was an accident.  I didn’t know.

I don’t remember the painting/print ever hung in the living room. I remember it being upon the wall in my parents room. Corey claimed it before mom had passed.  To the best of my knowledge he still has it (here)

And I remember rabbit ears (referring to the antennas on the TV).  That child on the floor?  That would be me over 60 years ago.

Tiny Food

          How fortunate that Richard and I have small appetites – yes, I finally caught up with him taking two bites of whatever meal and exclaiming, ”I’m full” and actually losing weight.

          We went to Winco to pick up some items – bread, milk, eggs . . . I didn’t realize that everything had shrunk. We’re used to getting eggs marked “large”.  These ones were medium and barely bigger than hummingbird eggs. 

        Every container I picked up was half the size that I have been used to.  What the flip?

          I feel bad for families who have several mouths to feed.  OMIHECK!!!

Perspective

 So there is a method to my madness with the last eight or so posts I have created.  A sister in our ward has challenged us to answer 52 questions (one a week) some of which I've already done through my blog.  But there are some I have come across that I just can't seem to find.  I really thought I had mentioned the following but am not finding.  

47. What is a moment when you surprised yourself — in a good way? I had been driving the Plymouth Duster and had my two youngest siblings in the car with me.  I think we must have been on the way to Grandma’s house.  I don’t know if the car just stopped or if I had stopped at a store on the way.  I can visualize the area – it was 900 south and vine street and I told the kids we would have to walk the rest of the way.  

As we were walking a grandpa-aged man had stopped by to offer us a ride.  I told him where were going and he said he was headed in that direction anyway.  By today’s standards there is no way I would be putting my siblings in the back of a strange man’s car – and yet that is exactly what I did and as I was putting them in had thought to myself ,“What am I doing?  I don’t know this man.” 

It turned out to be a good thing.  He really did take us to grandma’s condominium.  I thanked him and called for someone to assist me with my car.

Another Text Mishap

 

          This time it was Richard’s phone. 

Richard typed the number into the ward directory – puzzled by the area code we had never seen before.  I didn’t think it was anybody we knew.  Why on earth would anyone in the ward want to use our shovel – unless they lived on our same street.  But then – how would they have gotten our number?

I told Richard that I was certain the message had been sent to the wrong number and told him to inquire the sender

We do know an Emily but she would not ask to borrow our shovel because of the distance between us – nor do we contact each other often enough that she wouldn’t have identified herself to begin with.

Richard did not get another text until about 45 minutes later

 

We did learn that both Cindy and Emily currently reside in California. 

Funny.

Who Played the White Rabbit?

         During two months of summer the theatres offered programs for children to view once a week.  I remember seeing the 1972 version of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. My brother Steven was somehow mesmerized by the show.  Years later we had watched it through one of those PBS fundraisers. Steven had asked us to record it for him – especially the credits as he wanted to know if Michael Crawford was the actor who played the white rabbit.

When the end credits started rolling, the viewing size was shrunk from full screen to a postcard size behind those who were making promises to those who would contribute to the station. We kept on recording though it was too small for us to see.  This was in the days before Google though Steven always seemed to figure out a way to find what he was after and did find it in the postcard size credits.  Sure enough it had been Michael Crawford playing the white Rabbit.

When Jaime was about three we had taken her to Toys R Us as we were looking for Christmas gifts.  I found a DVD Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.  I had to purchase it and gave it to Steven for Christmas that year.

Community Dish

     There was one time my family had gone to Lagoon – an amusement park in Farmington, Utah. We had taken some potato salad to eat for lunch and when it came time to eat lunch it was discovered that we hadn’t brought any flatware or paper plates.  We did have potato chips though. I don’t know what else we had. I do remember using potato chips to eat the salad from the large bowl.   It was just our family (six of us - though I don't think all six of us were actually eating the potato salad;  I think Kayla might have just eaten chips) eating the contents. I thought it was a fun solution.

Points for the Auction

 

          There was one ward I attended in which the Relief Society committee decided to have an auction on talents – which I had gone to before to raise money for whatever  needed to be raised. But for this particular activity there was no need for money.  We would be able to bid on talents based upon points.

We earned points according to a survey that was given upon our arrival.  Give yourself five points if you are such and such an age, if you spent time with your grandchildren, if you are single, if you read your scriptures, if you made your bed, if you said your prayers, if you did an act of service, if you visited somebody, if you talked with somebody in your family – and a time frame, last night, this morning, this week, everyday.

I remember our RS president was vocal about some of the credits on the list – like give yourself this many points for making your bed everyday this week.  She said, “Are you kidding? Who makes their bed?  What a waste” It made me laugh.  

Clooney Tunes

 

When I was younger my mom purchased records that we could listen to.  I think the majority of them had  Disneyland labels  I would play them so often that the scratches could be heard.  Not the best quality, but I played them over and over again.

There was one album I recall different from the Disneyland.  I don’t recall what the label read – I just remember the songs:

 

Rosemary Clooney Sings for Children (1950s)

 

·        Little Sally One Shoe

·        The Little Shoemaker

·        Me and My Teddy Bear

·        Betsy, My Paper Doll

·        On the Good Ship Lollipop

·        Willie the Whistling Giraffe

·        Little Red Monkey

·        The Syncopated Clock

·        Kitty Kats' Party

·        The Teddy Bears' Picnic 

When Jaime was a baby she had a teething ring with different animals on it. I would attempt to sing different songs relating to whatever animal it was. Two I had learned from the album.  I remembered most of the words to “Willie the Whistling Giraffe” but wasn’t so great at remembering the lyrics to “Little Red Monkey”

One day Richard surprised me when he brought home a CD of these same tunes as sung by Rosemary Clooney.  How awesome that was to have that. 

That night we played the album loudly and swayed to it as we were fixing dinner or whatever we were doing.  One of my Tony’s friends stopped by.  I’m certain he thought we were nuts getting our kicks dancing to children’s songs.  It is a fun memory.

Filling Spaces and Food Storage

 

The other day Richard said we needed some food storage items and asked what kind of food my mom had in our pantry as I was growing up. Aside from the 200 pounds of wheat (or whatever it was) mom had canned tomatoes, apricots and other bottled products.  She tried so hard to build her RS empire.

It was probably 20 years later when we were told that if wheat is not a household staple, probably it would not be a good storage item.  It was recommended that we store what we already eat.  So Richard purchased a lot of canned products, pasta and beans.  He purchased items on Friday and yesterday we tackled the back room to rotate all new items purchased behind what was already there. 

I think we must have spent three hours or so arranging not only the food itself but the shelving units.  We assigned Jaime to take things to each shed and rearrange the game area.  We also got rid of some glued puzzle pictures and replaced each with a clock that looks like a big key and her graduation photo.

We are finished with the food, I think.  But still have odds and ends on the table that will need a home.  But we had to break for lunch and haven’t returned as we are each exhausted.  But there is no law that says we need to have it all done right now.  There’s always tomorrow.  Why not spread the fun out into this coming week?

Birthdays of the Past

 I don’t recall many of the birthdays that were given in my honor.  I know from picture that mom put a great deal of thought into each birthday celebration.  There was always a ton of kids at each one.  She would make a special cake and we would play games.

I remember one year we played a game called Ghost.  It involved a flour mold, a button, and a knife.  Each player would cut off sides of the mold where the button laid on top.  The object was to keep the button on top of the mold and whoever made the button spill had to retrieve it with his or her teeth.  Reshape and replay until many of us had a turn fishing the button out and getting covered in flour which gave each of us a ghost like appearance.

I remember one time there was a bunch of string webbed throughout the room.  Mom gave each girl an end and we each needed to weave in and out to retrieve whatever was on the other end (they were bracelets). 

I remember one time getting an orange shirt and short outfit from a friend who had missed my party.  I would have rather had her at my party and received no gifts at all.  She was the main one I wanted there that particular year.

Unbearable Food

 

My dad was pretty good about eating whatever was set in front of him.  Mom said the only thing she remembers he truly did not care for (nor would even eat the entire meal) was liver.

Mom said she had also attempted giving my baby brother several pieces of liver which she cut up small enough for him to grab and stuff in his mouth.  Mom praised him for at least trying them all, but it didn’t appear that he had swallowed any of them.  She said when she returned to his high chair it was filled with chewed up liver wads.  I don’t think she ever cooked any liver after that.

She did make a few items that she had learned to cook in Relief Society – one being gluten.  She had prepared a glob that looked like and was supposed to taste like meat.  Bleh.  I preferred the hard “chips” she would make and douse in honey. It was supposed to represent a dessert. It was a food storage thing.  Preparing dishes did not last.  The wheat did.  25 pounds of it.  We ended up throwing it away after several years.

Probably the worse food she made for us was a recipe that for some bizarre reason got printed in the Salt Lake Tribune (or was it the Deseret News? Or both?) I must have posted about this on facebook though it doesn’t come up in my memory feed, but I can’t seem to find it in this blog; I do know that our neighbor made a comment as she also had same recipe so I don’t know if she shared it with mom or if it was the other way around.  My parents subscribed to the Tribune while her family enjoyed the other.

Anyway, this godawful creation was called “Peanut Butter casserole”  Whoever thought it was a good idea for putting onions, tomatoes and peanut butter together?  Dad may have complained about that one as well.  I know my brother did.  I don’t recall any of us finishing the monstrosity.  It was gross.  Perhaps it had been during the 70’s when the nation seemed to be out to lunch. 

Pumpkin Casserole

 

I had always referred to this recipe as pumpkin casserole although 

the only time the pumpkin was included was the first time it was made.  

I don’t even know where mom got the recipe but as I recall the 

casserole itself was prepared in a skillet by browning the meat first while 

the rice is cooking.  

All of the ingredients we added together and the mixture was 

put into a pumpkin which you cooked in the oven.  

We enjoyed it.  

A lot.  

But had decided the pumpkin was not really necessary as the 

majority was cooked before it was put in to said pumpkin.  

After that we would eat the casserole often.  

We would make it in the skillet.  I

t became a family favorite.  It was/is so rare to

have leftovers.

Sometimes I will add pineapple or peppers for variety.

·        1 medium size yellow onion, chopped

·        2 Tablespoons soy sauce

·        1 (8 oz) can sliced chestnuts, drained – you can use diced

·        2 lbs. lean ground beef

·        2 Tablespoons brown sugar

·        2 cup cooked white rice

·        1 can cream of chicken or cream of mushroom soup – I like the chicken better

·        Salt and Pepper to taste

You're Very Late

 

This morning I received a text from a cousin who 

lives in Salt Lake City.  She informed me that she 

was running behind but would show up at 9:45 

this morning.  She had spelled my name incorrectly.  

I don’t recall ever having received a text from her – ever.  

At first I ignored it.  And then I thought of contacts in my 

own phone and how I have multiples of certain names.  I 

texted her back that I was the wrong person unless she’s 

here in Oregon and I just didn’t know.  Jaime said I should 

just wait until 9:45 and text “Where are you?”  She did send 

me one of those laughing with tears emoji.  I wonder if she 

made it to her appointment at 9:45.  I’m guessing she was later.