Grandpa's Journal

Sunday May 14, 1911
To S.S. in A. M. To Eby's for dinner. Home to Hillman.

Monday May 15, 1911
Moved telephone. Brown's 1/2 day.

Tuesday May 16, 1911
Rained last night. Rode to lower bridge.

Wednesday May 17, 1911
Took body of Miss Tart to Opal City. Moved up to Troufer house raising.

So many questions I'll never have answered-cc

Thursday May 18, 1911
Detrich and I raised barn. Brown went to Benton's with team. To B.P.

Friday May 19, 1911
Tore down lumber. Hauled load of hay in P.M.

Saturday May 20, 1911
Tore down lumber. Finished up at 4:00. Got water.

Two new projects.

Need help on the first one.

This is a huge space in the grip of my Mossberg 12. It needs to be filled with useful things. My problem is how to cap it. I work with wood so that will be my go to medium. It will be tricky to cut the blank to fit a cover. If anyone has any cool ideas, please feel free to leave a comment.

My second project is an awesome score from the pawn shop. It's an H&R Model 1900 12 gauge. This is going to be my black powder shotgun. Ala Dave Canterbury again. Check the videos Labeled H&R.

Once again any ideas on plugging the end of the pistol grip would be awesome.

Good weekend.

Started with Boys Night sleepover. It didn't last all that long. He had a hard week at the office.

The downside to him passing out early is he woke up at 5am Saturday morning. Oh well, that's the way it goes, sometimes.

We are still dealing with drought dead trees. And will be for a while. We cut down three more Saturday. Most of the trees on our place are 80'+ tall. These were no exception.

It's hard to judge, but this fire is about 8' wide and 4' high. Made for a good place to drink a few beers and rest some weary bones. Thanks to my son-in-law and his dad for all the help.

So I got in tonight and decided to do some maintenance on the .380. Got her all shiny new looking. Then put on a shrimp boil.

Nothing like the smell of Hoppe's #9 and Zatarain's Pro Boil!

And to our niece! Congratulations!

The 

President 

of 

The United States of America

To all who shall see these presents, greeting:

Know ye, that reposing special trust and confidence in the patriotism, valor, fidelity and abilities of

******* *. *********,

I do appoint her Second Lieutenant, Field Artillery, Regular Army in the

United States Army

She earned it well. The first thing she put on facebook was "Salute me!" I did, one finger at a time!  ;)

God bless her and keep her safe.

Hey CoolChange, what's on your IPOD, tonight?

Alabama-My Home's in Alabama

Back in 1979, I was living in Michigan working as a carpenter by day and a broke musician by night. One night on the way home from a bar, in a snowfall,  I heard this song on the local C&W station. The words blew me away and I realized how homesick I was for Texas and family. I spent 2 more years in the frozen north. Two years with a fairly successful Central Michigan country band and the courtship and marriage to my bride of thirty years. I convinced her that she would love Texas. We moved, we're here, and she does!

So yes, this song means a lot. Thank you Randy, Teddy, Jeff, and Mark.

Remind me to tell you the story of sitting on the bus with them on their first tour.

Drinkin' was forbidden in my Christian country home
I learned to play the flattop on them good ol' Gospel songs
Then I heard about the barrooms just across the Georgia line
Where a boy could make a livin' playin' guitar late at night

Had to learn about the ladies, too young to understand
Why the young girls fall in love with the boys in the band
When the boys turn to music, the girls just turn away
To some other guitar picker in some other late night place

Yeah, held on to my music, I let the ladies walk away
Took my songs and dreams to Nashville then I moved on to L.A.
Up to New York City all across the USA
I lost so much of me but there's enough of me to say that my

Home's in Alabama, no matter where I lay my head
My home's in Alabama, Southern born and Southern bred

What keeps me goin' I don't really know
Can't be the money Lord knows I'm always broke
Could it be the satisfaction of bein' understood
When the people really love ya and let you know when it's good

Oh I'll speak my Southern English just as natural as I please
I'm in the heart of Dixie, Dixie's in the heart of me
And someday when I make it, when love finds a way
Somewhere high on Lookout Mountain I'll just smile with pride and say that my

Home's in Alabama, no matter where I lay my head
My home's in Alabama, Southern born and Southern bred
Southern born and Southern bred
Southern born and Southern bred
Southern born and Southern bred

Ya can't make this stuff up.

In my best Gomer Pyle, "Surprise, surprise, surprise!"

Why she eats squirrel.

Read the story then be sure to watch the video. I was amazed by the reaction of the three news readers. Especially the little boy.

Cruise ship captain gets new job

No word as to if he got out before the kids did.

Qotd

If a friend is in trouble, don't annoy him by asking if there is anything you can do. Think up something appropriate and do it.
- Edgar Watson Howe

Closing tabs.

Gary Sinese tells a very moving story at the American Veterans Awards. If this doesn't make the dust in your eyes move around, check the oil in your heart. You may be a quart low.

This will be such a small blip on the protest radar. I've never been to Starbucks, but rest assured, I will be there on Feb. 14th. And I will buy a $5 chocolate mocha mint latte frappe, or whatever they are. And I will smile and tell them why!

Your words Sir, not ours

Thursday morning Texas humor.

March 6, 1836 was the day it all started.

On that fateful day, Davy Crockett woke up and rose from his bunk on the main floor of the Alamo . He then walked up to the observation post along the west wall of the Fort. William B. Travis and Jim Bowie were already there, looking out over the top of the wall. These three great men gazed at the hordes of Mexicans moving toward them.

Suddenly.....with a puzzled look on his face, Crockett turned to Bowie and said,
"Jim..... are we having some yard work done today?"

Storm of the Century!

At least according to the local TV channels who have interrupted everything to better bring you the latest, breakenest, uninterrupted advertisement news. We have one news babe reporter standing in a parking lot  glamorizing reporting the high winds with an umbrella in her hand with the backdrop of 80' trees doing their best"I'm not moving, you can't see me!" impressions.

Trust me, Hurricane Ike threw more at us in one hour than this thing will all day!

But the good news is this will contribute so much to our drought deficit!

Still some sanity in the Supreme Court.

What the hell you mean we can't just slap these things anywhere we want? Can you spell 4th amendment?

Grandpa's Journal

He is still in the big city of Portland

Sunday May 7,1911
To Council Crest and park Y.M.B.A. I went to Almeters's in evening.

Monday May 8, 1911
To Dock, Bank. SW Phillips to shows. Went to The Dalles in PM

Tuesday May 9, 1911
Came home. Got to Opal City on time.

Wednesday May 10, 1911
Straightened things around. Got milk. Wife went to rehearsal.

Thursday May 11, 1911
Got water. Bucked sage brush. To B.P.

Friday May 12, 1911
Pulled trees in Hammond's place. To Scholl house to see Taylor.

Saturday May 13, 1911
To Redmond in P.M.

Sorry. One more.

We'll be butchering rabbits this weekend.

The Forgotten Man.

I  think this will be all I post this weekend.

H/T to pissed.

Hey CoolChange, what's on your IPOD, tonight?

Dire Straits - Sultans of Swing

You get a shiver in the dark
It's raining in the park but meantime
South of the river you stop and you hold everything
A band is blowing Dixie double four time
You feel all right when you hear that music ring

Well now you step inside but you don't see too many faces
Coming in out of the rain to hear the jazz go down
Competition in other places
But the horns, they blowing that sound

Way on down south
Way on down south in London town

You check out Guitar George, he knows all the chords
But it's strictly rhythm he doesn't want to make it cry or sing
Yes then an old guitar is all he can afford
When he gets up under the lights to play his thing

And Harry doesn't mind if he doesn't make the scene
He's got a daytime job, he's doing alright
He can play the honky tonk like anything
Saving it up for Friday night

With the Sultans
With the Sultans of Swing

And a crowd of young boys they're fooling around in the corner
Drunk and dressed in their best brown baggies and their platform soles
They don't give a damn about any trumpet playing band
It ain't what they call rock and roll

And the Sultans
Yeah, the Sultans played Creole, Creole

Then the man, he steps right up to the microphone
And says at last just as the time bell rings
"Goodnight, now it's time to go home"
And he makes it fast with one more thing

"We are the Sultans
We are the Sultans of Swing"

Hell yes, The Nuge!

My pal The Feral Irishman has a video of Ted Nugent singing Stranglehold dedicated to his blog father JayG. This reminded me of one of my favorite Nuge videos. You know. The one about the second amendment.

So it's coming down to this?

That's a smug looking bunch of boys, right there. I guess I would be too if I was entrenched, rich, above the masses, and rolling in the pig pen of politics.

"Top gun? God help us!"

More Doc time today.

Little to no posting today.

Sure hope we made a difference.

We will somehow.

Question time.

Obama goes to a primary school to talk to the kids.After his talk he offers question time. One little boy puts up his hand, and Obama asks him his name.

" Walter," responds the little boy."And what is your question, Walter?""I have four questions: First, Why did the USA Bomb Libya without the support of the Congress? Second, Why do you keep saying you fixed the economy when it's actually gotten worse? Third, Why did you say that Rev. Jeremiah Wright was your mentor, then said that you knew nothing about his preaching and beliefs? Fourth, Why are we lending dollars to Brazil to drill for oil, but America is not allowed to drill for oil?"Just then, the bell rings for recess. Obama informs the kiddies that they will continue after recess. When they resume Obama says, "OK, where were we? Oh, that's right, question time.. Who has a question?"Another little boy puts up his hand. Obama points him out and asks him his name."Steve," he responds."And what is your question, Steve?"Actually, I have two questions.First, Why did the recess bell ring 20 minutes early? Second, What the hell happened to Walter?"

But what if they aren't coming from here?

One more notch in the anti-gun agenda. All of this based on lies and deceptions in the highest places.

H/T to Claire Wolfe

Grandpa's Journal

Sunday April 30, 1911
To our S.S. Fox preached. Came home to dinner. Went to Hall's in P.M.

Monday May 1, 1911
Pulled 53 trees for D. in A.M. Fixed Gerald's wagon in P.M.

Tuesday May 2, 1911
Made closet. Went to freighter.

Wednesday May 3, 1911
Took colts to pasture. Got bill of lumber at Detrich's. To George's.

Thursday May 4, 1911
To Redmond got feed ground. Got ready to go to Portland.

Friday May 5, 1911
Started for Portland at 5:30. Left Opal City on time. Arrived in P. 8:13. To hotel Medford
I have to assume this was by train.

Saturday May 6, 1911
Bought lumber. Spent day looking around. To play in evening.

Guy's sleepover.

Dylan spent the night last night. His first time for a guy only thing. Last night was just hyperness. This morning was hugs followed by horse play for about an hour. Then we got ready for the Texans run on the Ravens.

Three gems that came through the conversation.

Me: Girls, ya can't live with them, can't live without them.
Dylan: Yea and ya can't play Barbies with em either!

I'm proud to have a grandpa like you. Followed by a big neck hug.

I'm so glad I live next door to you.

Yes the Texans lost today. But they played well. Somehow I have played well too. And I have won!

Hey CoolChange, what's on your IPOD, tonight?

Man I think I'm slipping.

George Jones and Merle Haggard: Yesterday's Wine

I hate this when it happens.

My neighbor. She lives next door. I can see her from my kitchen window. Tonight I saw her come home and immediately walk over and knock on my door. I rushed to open it. She stood on my porch and said "I've had a long day and have a sudden urge to get drunk and make love all night long. Are you busy?" I immediately replied, "No! I have no plans at all!" Then she said "Great! In that case could you watch my dog?"

It sucks getting old!

Load bearing vest.

The first post I saw over at Standing Outside Looking In , after Stephan introduced himself was for these LBV's.

I saw a lot of  good uses for these and at the price I couldn't pass them up. I ordered 2 used in very good condition. Both of them looked brand new! No fraying or wear. As a matter of fact I'm thinking about running them through some bleach water to tone down the shine. Mama loves hers. Awesome!

If you can find a use for them, they are most recommended. The fit is very good.
This is a great site with some great prices!

Weather report

Okay now we got winter. 8:45 and it's 31 degrees. My commute consists of 38 steps to the shop. I've tried to make it twice since 7:00. Damn I wish the boys would cooperate but they keep trying to get back in the house!

What is wrong with people?

 Amber Alert issued for child stolen in SUV

The temp was 29 degrees last night. They still haven't found him. She left the children in the vehicle because it was cold. I call BS. She left them there so she could shop without the hindrance. Things like this make my heart sick.

Prayers for that baby. 

8:39 update. The boy has been found. That's all they reported. 

9:00 update. He is alive and at Texas Childrens Hospital

 

Back in the saddle.

Doctors: The human answer to aliens.

The Weather

L-44
H-51
C-cloudy
W-ne9
R-0

Today most of the people I saw in Houston and the 'burbs (bus stop observations as I was driving) were wearing watch caps, hoods, heavy coats and gloves. Yeah, the old cliches kick in: But it's a dry heat! Well where I live it's a wet heat and a wet cold ! Believe me, it was a bitter day at 50 degrees. Especially with that wind.
 
Heh! This coming from a guy who used to frame houses when it was -20 degrees. Yeah but it was a dry cold!

Phases of surrender.

Preparing for Tyranny has a thought provoking article on that subject here.

Please go read 'nuff said.

Survival seeds

Angela over at Food Storage and Survival has a great article on why you shouldn't buy survival seeds.

Last year was a dismal time for our garden. With the drought we just couldn't put enough water to the plants. I haven't really put a pencil to it, but I would guess that production was down by 60%. That's not good if your family is depending on that to survive.

However we have enough of some seeds for this year. Onward and upward!

The Weather

L-59
H-67
C-cloudy
W-se22
R-3 1/4"+

 

It rained more after I took this pick. We had tornadoes and we wish hope and prayers on those folks. No lives lost but scary I'm sure.

Where is Guffaw in AZ?

He last posted according to my sidebar five hours ago. (3:30 CST, 2012-01-09).  When I hit it a while ago blogger said his site had been removed. Sure hope all is well and that is just my pc belching. Let me know if you've seen his blog active.

Solidarity!

There is less than a year until the election, an election that will decide the next President of the United States.

The person elected will be the president of all Americans, not just the Democrats or the Republicans.

To show our solidarity as Americans, let's all get together and show each other our support for the candidate of

our choice. It's time that we come together, Democrats, Independents, and Republicans alike. If you support the

policies and character of the Republican party, please drive with your headlights on during the day. If you support

Obama, please drive with your headlights off at night.

Thank you, may God bless you, and God bless America.

Free cellphones!

I just got this in an email and verified it myself. I'm angry and speechless!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Subject: Obama "FREE" Cell Phone---UNBELIEVABLE

This is just the latest INSANE actions from our congress, and obuma 

This is unbelievable!!

Just when you think you've heard it all, our illustrious Congress

quietly comes up with a new zinger to put their hands in your pockets,

and pick them while you aren't watching. Isn't this just wonderful?

I was standing in line at the checkout counter at Wal Mart and as I

looked at the line behind me, I saw a couple of people talking about

what looked like identical new cell phones, bragging about the fact

that their phones were free and so was the airtime.

The woman in line behind me had heard the same exchange and turned to

the young man behind her and asked, 'Is that a new type of cell phone?'

The young man replied, 'Yes, this is my new Obama phone.' She asked him

what an Obama phone was, and he went on to say that, welfare

Recipients are now eligible to receive what he described as (1) a FREE

New cell phone, and (2) approximately 250 FREE minutes of air time

Every month.

Needless to say, I was a little skeptical about his answer, so when I

Got back home, I Googled it, and lo and behold, he was telling the

Truth. This was what I discovered:

SafeLink Wireless is a government supported program that provides a

Free cell phone and airtime each month for income-eligible customers.

In other words, your tax dollars are being distributed to a wireless

Phone provider to provide welfare recipients with free cell phones and

Airtime. I don't know about you, but as for me, enough is enough. We

Are $14 Trillion in debt, Congress is balking at continuing

Unemployment payments to those who want to work, but keep

Increasing the dole-out to dead beats.

The Ship of State is sinking, and it's sinking fast. The old concept of

Getting ahead through hard work has flown out the window. It has been

Replaced by Obama's and Congress' idea of Hope and Change. The country

Has changed all right, changed to "Why should I work for it, when I can

Get it for free?"
-------=--------------------------------------------------------------------
https://www.safelinkwireless.com/Safelink/home

The weather

L-59
H-75
C-cloudy
W-se3
R-0

Another shout!

To Bullets Beans and Bullion and boilerdoc over at Pitsnipes Gripes. I can't verify if Einstein ever said that, but I believe he should have. Thanks for looking at my BS.

Lighting a candle to prevent violence.

Weer'd Beard started it. I'm only adding my candle.

See? I'm just out there. Grab it all, throw it on the table, grab what you need and go stop some violence! Easy peezy! Oh and be sure to blow the candle out before you go. No need to have to take up the fire departments time. They have better things to do. Practice safe candle burning!

Grandpa's Journal

Disclosure: My great grandfather kept a journal while he was homesteading a ranch in 1911 Oregon. These are the entries as copied from that journal.

Sunday April 23, 1911
To M.E. SS dinner at Thompsons. home in P.M. to see Swansons baby.

Monday April 24, 1911
Started on the sage on Hammonds place. Went to see gates at Davis. worked some on sage P.M.

Tuesday April25,1911
Hauled hay from Bentons. Hauled up feed racks.

Wednesday April 26, 1911
Hauled water. Helped wash. hauled wood.

Thursday April 27, 1911
Pulled 101 trees for Davis. To B.P. at T.

Friday April 28, 1911
Pulled 96 trees for Davis

Saturday April 29,1911
Down in canyon for water, to Redmond to instate ? The journal was crooked in the copier and the last line didn't get copied.
 When my great grandfather speaks of the canyon, he is talking about the Crooked River Canyon.

The canyon was northeast of his ranch.The bridge is still in use.

Cool Christmas gifts.

So I'm thinking at least 1.5 million (1,500,000) people found an awesome gift under the tree on Christmas morning. And of course there were the usual slackers, over 100,000, that waited until the last minute but they are forgiven because they bought the right gift. The cool thing about a gun for Christmas is that you're not bored with it by the next day. Oh hell no!

10,800,000+ guns sold in 2011. Multiply 20 count boxes of ammo by that number. And you know most folks didn't buy just one. Oh and I wouldn't mind pointing out to the young lady in the poster that she is violating rule 3, and shouldn't we go to the range and burn a few rounds. Heh! if Mamma wasn't at work she would have slapped me on the back of the head by now!

Free Americans please keep up the good work. If the folks in D.C. won't listen with our votes they sure can't ignore our spending patterns!

Cudos to the Texans

Cool game. They actually looked very professional. And  the Saints. Drew Brees rocks.

It's 10:55 CST and all is well!

The weather

L-56
H-73
C-PC
W-sw2
R-0

Posting will be slim to none today.

After all it is Go Texans day. Followed by Go Saints day coinciding with Go Lions Day.

Houston is my team, the Saints have always been my underdog favorite, and having lived in Michigan for ten years, looted all the gold(my wife of 30 years), and made my way back to Texas. I have to put the Lions on the list. I see gluttony, smoke of the bbq, hops, highs and lows, ups and downs, and excesses beyond excess on the near horizon.

Hey Pissed guess what we did...

With this pic:

 

A friend pointed out this:

I began to think maybe the dog was just wanting a little female companionship.

Then I got this from a friend in New Zealand:

In that moment, just
before the sun settles
beneath the sea and when
the sky is ablaze with riches,

I wonder if night will capture
these colours. If gold and grey
slip away or stay to lift the dark,
if the waves will still spill over the sand,

if foam will flatten rock. I try
to memorise each salty drop, each
backlit cloud, each moment,
to flourish them forward

flush them through my dreams,
to let them seep their song
deep into my soul. I realise
that there will be other sunsets

I will want to remember. But
this is one I will not forget.

Karen Sweet 2012-01-05

Welcome Duke and Phelan!

I enjoyed my visit at Dukes place today. We think a lot alike and visit a lot of the same blogs.Stop by and visit Down Range Report.

I have to admit that Phelan scared but intrigued  me a bit when I saw her description as a 'death metal homesteader'. But after visiting her at A Homesteading Neophyte, I realized she was good people and putting up with a lot of testosterone from 3 growing boys. Big, Middle, Small. Sounds like a cool country band. Anyway she rides metal and has a link to Girls Gone Trashy. Yeehaw! 

Breast feeding in public. Not sure how I feel about it.

Yes I do. Bacon!

The weather

L-55
H-74
C-PC
W-s7
R-0

About the weather thing.

In southeast Texas weather is an issue and a conversation piece. Here we have Summer followed by two weeks of fall, two weeks of winter, and two weeks of spring. If you noticed only Summer gets capitalized and that's only because it SUCKS! IT'S HOT, THERE IS NO RELIEF AND IT LAST A LONG, LONG TIME!

As you can tell we are in the spring cycle...uhh...I just looked at the calender...we are in the winter cycle...I think.

Anyway, enjoy the adventure as I share our "Daily Weather Reports"

Goodnight!

Weather

L-47
H-74
C-PC
W-0
R-0

No really! They buy these things in Houston!

See what I's gots fom that mofo Santy!

Thank you to my newest followers!

It's crazy how some things happen. I have to thank the following:

Stephan at Standing Outside Looking In
HossBoss at http://womanrunswithhorses.blogspot.com/
SciFiChick at http://baconandeggs-scifichick.blogspot.com/
PISSED at http://theferalirishman.blogspot.com/
kx59 at http://bellsaringing.blogspot.com/

North at  http://northwest1524.blogspot.com

Art at http://saddletrampus.blogspot.com/

One way to tell you're doing it right.

Some times, lately, it seems really hard to find a good subject to post. Then I find it right under my nose. A few days before Christmas we had 4 of the grand kids over to spend the night. We had a flag that needed to be retired. The timing was great. How do I know we are doing it right? These kids needed no coaching in what was needed. And they stepped up as needed. I am very proud of each of them!

 

All I said was "Pledge" and it was on!

The only thing they didn't know how to do was fold the flag. They watched and asked questions. They learned this day. Oldest grandson earned the honor.

About sunset we built a bonfire, said a prayer and talked about the flag as it was burned with respect.

We were close to the tradition and I told them no when the idea of smores was brought up.

Oh, hell! Gotta love grand kids.

Stolen from Pissed.

I just want to put my arm around this guy and finish my beer. Maybe let him sip a little of the dregs.

Weather

L-35
H-72
C-clear
W-SW6
R-0

A mother and a child. A Christmas story.

Big H/T to ASM826 

The link is here.

A young Oklahoma mother shot and killed an intruder to protect her 3-month-old baby on New Year's Eve, less than a week after the baby's father died of cancer.

Sarah McKinley says that a week earlier a man named Justin Martin dropped by on the day of her husband's funeral, claiming that he was a neighbor who wanted to say hello. The 18-year-old Oklahoma City area woman did not let him into her home that day.

On New Year's Eve Martin returned with another man, Dustin Stewart, and this time was armed with a 12-inch hunting knife. The two soon began trying to break into McKinley's home.

As one of the men was going from door to door outside her home trying to gain entry, McKinley called 911 and grabbed her 12-gauge shotgun.

McKinley told ABC News Oklahoma City affiliate KOCO that she quickly got her 12 gauge, went into her bedroom and got a pistol, put the bottle in the baby's mouth and called 911.

"I've got two guns in my hand -- is it okay to shoot him if he comes in this door?" the young mother asked the 911 dispatcher. "I'm here by myself with my infant baby, can I please get a dispatcher out here immediately?"

The 911 dispatcher confirmed with McKinley that the doors to her home were locked as she asked again if it was okay to shoot the intruder if he were to come through her door.

"I can't tell you that you can do that but you do what you have to do to protect your baby," the dispatcher told her. McKinley was on the phone with 911 for a total of 21 minutes.

When Martin kicked in the door and came after her with the knife, the teen mom shot and killed the 24-year-old. Police are calling the shooting justified.

"You're allowed to shoot an unauthorized person that is in your home. The law provides you the remedy, and sanctions the use of deadly force," Det. Dan Huff of the Blanchard police said.

Stewart soon turned himself in to police.

McKinley said that she was at home alone with her newborn that night because her husband just died of cancer on Christmas Day.

"I wouldn't have done it, but it was my son," McKinley told ABC News Oklahoma City affiliate KOCO. "It's not an easy decision to make, but it was either going to be him or my son. And it wasn't going to be my son. There's nothing more dangerous than a woman with a child." 

I thought I had a lot of things to say, but wow, just wow.

Not Seen On TV At Last Sundays Saints/Bears Game

Weather

L-29
H-58
C-clear
W-0
R-0

Okaaaaay....

I admit I've been slacking, but it really hit home when I looked at my inbox and realized I had 53 unread emails. Nothing pressing, but my inbox looks like my desktop(the real one not the virtual one). Time to clear tabs and get on with things. Just wish I could get enthused.

Guess I got the post-partum Christmas season blues. Got to be a song in that somewhere.

Grandpa's Journal

 Disclosure: My great grandfather kept a journal while he was homesteading a ranch in 1911 Oregon. These are the entries as copied from that journal.

Sunday April 9,1911
To S.S. took dinner at Mears. Went to J. Jackson's

Monday April 10, 1911
Benton helped me on fence. to B.P. at ten.

Tuesday April 11, 1911
Went to Redmond. Wife got teeth fixed.

Wednesday April 12, 1911
Benton helped me on fencing.

Thursday April13, 1911
Benton and wife came. Strung wire. Fixed up the house. To W.T. to B.P.

Friday April 14, 1911
Went to Redmond and past Ebys after hay. Got chickens in evening.

Saturday April15, 1911
Got Swanson's note. Bought ca--- lumber. got windows for c----.

Note: I spent over a week trying to cypher ca---. I came to the realization that this is lost to me. Even though I spent a lot of time on the ranch, I was too young to pick up on a lot of the goings on. All of the people that might have been able to answer some of these simple things are gone. Including my mother. She would have known as she made a point to (re)introduce me to great aunts and uncles, 2nd and 3rd cousins, and all sorts of relatives at every family reunion. She knew how important that was. We all lived, for the most part, within 30 miles of each other. But in those days it was a pretty good trip to go visit.

These folks were pioneers. They came from over 2000+ miles away. Risked everything they had to start over in a new place. And I can imaging how happy they were to see family and I know how important the family bond was. I'm in that place now.

Easter Sunday April16, 1911
Went to Redmond to M.E church. dinner at resterant(sic)

No entries for the 17th through the 20th.

Friday April 21, 1911
Started puller on Davises job. Got buggie. Helped wash etc. etc.

Saturday April 22, 1911
Benton took team after sage  mail in Hillman. Planted carrots. went to Redmond

Looking forward in the journal(not to far, I want to be surprised as I post the entries) I can tell that as the spring warms up, the work does also. And Grandpa Davidson's handwriting reflects that. 

Two pictures:

Left to right in the back: Great Uncle Gerald(Jerry), my grandmother Bonnie, Great Uncle Neal. Great Grandpa Riley, Great Grandma Violet, front Great Auntie Arlene. In the front yard.

Uncle Jerry and my grandma. In the garden.

 

Weather

L-46
H-70
C-clear
W-NNW10
R-0