Sunday, December 25, 2016

Yakima Memories


We lived in three different houses while in Yakima.  The first one had a coal furnace.  The second one was white.  The final house was the house we had built for us and was red brick.  It was a beautiful house with many levels.  The bottom level had a family room with a fireplace, a couple of bedrooms (Ron and Larry had one of these), a bathroom, and a door to the back yard.  The "ground level" had the living room and kitchen.  Then there were stairs up to Tom's blue bedroom, Linda and my aqua bedroom, Mom and Dad's bedroom, and a bathroom.

The elementary school we attended was Whitney Elementary.  There were train tracks running in front of the school yard and I got in trouble for putting rocks on the tracks.  To get to the school from our house, we had to walk next to a large apple orchard.  When it was cold out and the apple flowers were just blooming or apples weren't ready to harvest yet, smudge pots would be lit to keep the fruit and/or flowers warm so they wouldn't freeze.  This meant our noses would get quite black inside from breathing in the smoke.

We also lived next to a golf course and sometimes we would find golf balls outside of the course.  One time I got paid a dime (which was a lot of money to me then) for returning a golf ball from outside the fence to someone inside.

I remember a school fairs (at the junior high I believe) where they had a cake walk.

For Halloween one year, Mom sewed Tom a clown suit.  Dad would take us trick-or-treating when we were young.

Our church building was light pink on the outside and had stained glass windows.


Boise Memories

We moved to Boise from Pocatello the summer (August?) of 1971.

I was in choir from grades 7-12.

Mom harvested grapes off of a concord grape vine in the back yard and made grape juice from them. Some of them may have turned alcoholic as I remember she had to pour some out.

Mom and Dad harvested peaches off of a large peach tree we had in the back yard.  Canning all those peaches seemed to take days and days.  We all helped peel and slice those bushels of peaches while Mom canned them.

We also had a large willow tree in the back yard that was fun to climb.  Eventually, it had to be cut down as it was getting into the telephone wires.  There was a pine tree in the front yard that was considered to be Sharon's.  Eventually, it got so big that Mom and Dad donated it to the City and they replanted it in Ann Morrison park.

I learned to bake while living in Boise.  One time, I made sugar cookies, but didn't look at the recipe closely enough and thought the sugar ingredient was actually salt.  So I added about 2 cups of salt to those cookies.  I thought it seemed strange but was still new to baking so I went ahead and added the salt.  Wow those cookies were bad.

When I was older and was attending BSU, I also attended the church's Institute for religious classes and participated in their summer productions.  We did Now's The Time and Saturday's Warrior's at the Boise State Event Center,  Those were great times.

We enjoyed playing games as a family.  We played Scrabble quite a bit and Mom typically won those games.  We played Sorry too.  We also played a game of Tom's called Milles Bourne (sp?) that was a lot of fun.  The kids played Monopoly and Easy Money.

Mom sewed my dresses when I was a teenager until I learned how to sew.  Linda also learned how to sew and is quite the seamstress!

Pocatello Memories

While living in Pocatello, we took lots of day trips to visit various places nearby.  We went to Lava Hot Springs (Mom didn't know how to swim, but she wore a bright red swim suit and splashed around in the shallow end), Balancing Rock, Craters of the Moon, Twin Falls, Idaho Falls, Scout Mountain, Grand Targee, picnics by the creek, and probably more places that I just don't remember now.

I do remember seeing the water falls and climbing lots of stairs to get to the top of one of the falls.

Mom made sure we learned how to swim and signed us up for swimming lessons at Ross Park.  We carpooled with another family who had a daughter my age named Laura.  When Laura's mom drove, she would make the car dance to the music on the radio by slightly weaving back and forth or slightly applying the brakes to make the car "bounce" in time to the music.  It was a lot of fun and the swimming lessons were great too!

I remember playing hide-and-go-seek in the warm summer evenings, kick the can, red rover, and Truth or Dare during sleepovers in the back yard.  I remember catching lizards on hot summer days and Larry, Ron and Tom catching snakes.

We lived on a hill (1334 El Rancho Blvd) and Dad planted trees and strawberries just over the side of the back yard.  Tom had a bunny rabbit and a rooster in a hutch in the back yard (at separate times of course).  Across the street from us there was a vacant lot with a large billboard size sign.  I liked to climb the sign.

During the wintertime, we went sledding down the side of the hill behind our yard in what was kind of a valley.  One side was very steep and the other side not quite as steep.

I remember flying kites off the back yard over the back yard valley.  One time, I had a kite up so high that I tied it to a pole that formed the car port (we didn't have a garage) while I went inside to eat lunch.  When I was done with lunch, the kite was still high up in the sky.

Mom and Dad enjoyed music and we had a small record player that we could play our 78s on.  I remember listening to Christmas records, a record of Primary music, the Tijuana Brass, the carrot seed (see another post for a YouTube link to the carrot seed song), Snow White and others.

At the bottom of the hill we lived on, on the far side, there was a large canal with big trees growing next to it.  It was a cool place to go play when the summers got really hot.

We used to try to Trick-or-Treat the entire hill we lived on.  I believe Tom actually accomplished that one year.

There was a park on another side of the hill where we could go play.  One summer the city did crafts there.

Syringa was the name of the elementary school we attended.

We had Legos to play with and I liked to build houses with them.  For Christmas one year, I received a Sooper Gooper and Tom received a plastic Thing Maker.  They had metal pieces that we could cook our creations in.  Tom's created plastic spiders, etc., that we could then play with.  Mine created edible food in various shapes, although they were kind of rubbery and strange tasting.  One Christmas, I received a Feeley Mealey game where small plastic toy objects were placed inside a box, you reached in and tried to identify the items by touch.  Whoever had the most correct guesses would win.

Trip to DisneyLand

In 1975, we went to DisneyLand!  We saved for a long time to be able to afford that trip.  We drove from Boise to California and also visited Stanford where Ron was attending college.  While in the Bay Area, we visited San Francisco, Fisherman's Wharf, and ate spaghetti at a fun restaurant (? the Spaghetti Factory??).

The Move From Yakima to Pocatello

We moved from Yakima to Pocatello the summer of (July?) 1967.  Dad had been living in Pocatello for a few months while we children finished the school year, he found a house, and we sold the red brick Yakima house.

On the way to Yakima, the tire blew out on the old green station wagon.  I believe Mom had been driving and she managed to safely and calmly bring the car to a stop.  Dad came back with the moving truck.  I seem to recall Dad complimenting how sensibly the car had been brought to a stop.

The T-Bird Wheel

One Sunday morning while Mom was driving the T-Bird to church, the wheel fell off when she went through the intersection near the Bolander's old house.  Luckily, she had been going slow which helped limit the damage and she was fine.  In fact, she walked the block home to tell Dad about it.

Mom's House, plant hanging

Mom had a plant hanging in the living room and it was approximately 20 years old.  She received it from a friend of Sharon's and the plant hung from the ceiling with some macrame.  Mom carefully tended to the plant all those years!

Pocatello, Mark's golf set

When we lived in Pocatello, Mark received a play golf set (Dad was a golfer).  He was young and called it "gawf", but he sure enjoyed playing golf!

Sunday, October 16, 2016

Pony Boy - Byron Bigelow

Dad used to give us, his children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews, "pony rides" when we were young where he, sitting, would cross his legs, then would put a child on his free swinging leg and bounce us up and down while singing the chorus to the song Pony Boy (or girl!).

Pony Boy, Pony Boy
Won't you be my pony boy
Don't say no
Here we go
Off across the plains
Marry me
Carry me
Ride (sic) away with you
Giddy up, giddy up, giddy up, whoa!
My Pony Boy


As Sharon tells it, 

"I remember he would get really wild when the kids were a little older. In the line giddy up he would almost swing the kids down to the ground and try to "buck" them off while hanging onto their hands. Everyone would laugh and laugh and want to do it again and again and would not stop until Dad got too tired and said the "horse" was worn out and needed a rest."

Good memories!

Here is a recording of the full song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZZ1ItQB76Q


Thursday, July 28, 2016

Family Member Names

Here is a picture of Exit 84 "Byron" on I-15 just north of Las Vegas, Nevada. We took this on our way to Vegas in June 2016 for a mini McNeal reunion with Joseph's parents and his dad's siblings and cousins.



Here is a picture I took with Mom in July of 2015 when she and I were walking downtown in Boise. I pointed out the Barbara Barbara sign to her and she smiled so I decided to take a pic. Unfortunately the clothing store is now closed.

  

Monday, June 20, 2016

Spokane Washington Memories

Tom and I used to play in a field behind the house.  There were yellow wildflowers/flowering weeds that grew there and we used to pluck the blossoms so we could taste the sweetness of the flowers.  We called it nectar and thought the flowers might be goldenrod, primarily because on car rides Mom would exclaim when she saw goldenrod by the side of the road.  Looking back, I doubt it was goldenrod but it was still fun to taste the blossoms that grew behind our house. 

Down the street a few blocks from our house there was a bent over pine tree.  We used to have horsey rides on the tree because it would bend.  It was a lot of prickly fun but required collaboration as someone would have to hold the tree while another got on it. 

I remember warm summer evenings and having to go to bed simply because it was bedtime despite it still being light out and prospects of fun still existed. 

There were a few trees that were planted in our yard.  Once, a few of the children talked about appointing one tree per child. 

I received a Jolly Green Giant stuffed toy while living in Spokane.  Mom may have sent away for it using labels off of Green Giant vegetable cans as Mom and Dad were quite frugal that way.  Mom and Dad may have started saving up green or gold stamps in Spokane as these could be exchanged for various items like waffle irons, etc.

I remember Dad helping to build the new chapel in Spokane.  He would bring home some leftover bits of wood, carpet, and screw shavings for us to play with.  His work on the chapel was impressive to me because it showed what a hard worker he was and how important service to others was. 

The Ashcraft family was friends with our family and our families would occasionally visit each other.  The father was a very fun and friendly man and enjoyed making us laugh.

Mom had an address list from those days where she maintained the names of the Pease family (although perhaps we knew them while we lived in Yakima?).  Their names were:  faither Leonard, Mother Alnora, Harold, Carolyn, Helen, Leonard, Verla, Larry, Rex, Becky, Cheryl, Eric Ricky, Joan and Judy.

Wednesday, June 8, 2016

Music from Mom's Japanese Jewelry Box

Attached is a video of the music from Mom's old Japanese jewelry box.  The background buzz is from the cell phone.  The music box mechanism has been perched on top of a piano so it can act as the sounding board. 

For me, this music and the jewelry box it once was in is another representation of Mom and Dad's love for each other.  I have happy memories of Mom showing me the jewelry box and playing its tune.   

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Mom's House Growing Up

I framed the original watercolor painting of the house that Mom (Marjorie Miller Bigelow) grew up in. Mark found the painting when we were cleaning out Mom's house. On the back of the painting Mom had written it was painted by Marge Lamont about 1985. I will hang the painting in Mom's room at Emerson House.



The address is 1036 E. Wilson Ave, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Monday, May 23, 2016

Mom's Christmas Decorations

Here are photos of some of Mom's Christmas decorations. These photos were taken in 2012.

The kissing angels were made by Aunt Joyce Williams. Pam Bigelow made the nativity scene, the reindeer, the peace blocks. Mom made the pine cone wreath and her Christmas stocking. I remember each of us making our own felt stockings one year. In 1978 I (Sharon Bigelow McNeal) painted the plate with the candle on it. If you know information about other items please add it in the comments.

I remember when we used to have the Christmas tree decorated in gold balls, garland, and lights. Mark Bigelow found a box of the gold balls while we were cleaning out Mom's house on Saturday, May 1, 2016. Brought back memories. It was a big change when Mom and Dad switched to a more traditional tree with multi-colored ornaments with candy canes and muli-colored lights.















Thursday, May 12, 2016

Special Birthday Cakes

I was cleaning out one of the cupboard's in Mom's kitchen the other day and saw a box of recipes and booklets that she saved. Here were some fun ideas for cakes. I remember Mom made me the rocking horse cake one year for my birthday when I was little and think I also remember pictures of the dog cake, but not sure whose birthday it was for.

Does anyone else remember these cakes?

Larry & Pam's family have made the bunny cake for Easter many times as well.




Saturday, April 23, 2016

CU Boulder Library Information on Protecting Books

Sorry - I can't find the URL for this, but it comes from the CU Boulder Library, Special Collections area:

Subject: Special collections Info

13. How can I keep my books in good condition?

Books are damaged by light and by fluctuations and extremes in temperature and humidity. It is best to store them in a cool, comfortably dry, stable environment with low or indirect lighting. Most basements, garages, and attics are too hot, too damp, or too variable to provide good storage conditions. Avoid shelving books where they will be exposed to direct sunlight. Do not wrap books in newspaper or plastic or store them in cardboard boxes. Acid in the cardboard and in newsprint will damage books.

Plastic wrappers, because they restrict air circulation, can promote the growth of mold or mildew. Furthermore, some plastics degrade over time and fuse to the materials they are touching. Store large books, such as atlases, bound newspapers, or art folios, flat on shelves rather than standing vertically. Never use adhesive tape to repair torn pages or a binding because it yellows with age and leaves a nasty residue. You can buy various types of protective enclosures for storing older or fragile books. See question fourteen below, and the Web site appendix, for suggestions on further reading and contact information for distributors of archival supplies.

14. Should I have my books rebound?

It is best to consult an expert before rebinding.  Rebinding can lessen the value of some books, and in other cases, the cost of the work will greatly exceed the monetary value of the book. Conservators will often recommend a less drastic approach.

Properly fitted boxes or wrappers can often be alternatives to repairing or replacing the binding and can help to preserve the item in its original form. For further advice on conservation treatments, please consult the American Institute of Conservation’s Guidelines for Selecting a Conservator.

15. Do I need to insure my books?

Most homeowner’s and renter’s insurance policies cover the loss of books, like other household items. If you own valuable books, consult with your agent to be sure they are adequately covered. Make a list of your books, and store it in a safe place so that you will have a record in case of theft, loss, or damage. Your agent may also suggest that you have your books professionally appraised to document their replacement value.

16. How do I describe my books?

That depends on your purpose in listing your books and the kind of books you own. For insurance purposes or in order to sell your books, digital photographs of the binding and dust jacket (if any), as well as the title page and any other publication information, will be helpful. If you cannot provide photographs, you should make a complete transcription of the main title page and any other publication information given at the beginning or end of the volume, as well as a description of its binding, indicating wear or damage, and other physical features.


Caring and Conserving Historic Works - Books

From The American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works:

http://www.conservation-us.org/about-conservation/caring-for-your-treasures/books#.VxtK0fkrKUk
retrieved April 23, 2016:


Books

The book is an ingenious invention. Compact and portable, it has been the primary means of transmitting and preserving mankind’s accumulated knowledge for hundreds of years.Throughout that time, printers and bookbinders have used a wide variety of materials and structures. Some have proven to be remarkably durable; others have been vulnerable to chemical deterioration and mechanical stress. While these problems can be quite complex, a few simple preventive measures can greatly extend the life of a book.

Environmental Conditions

Books are composed of a variety of materials: paper, cloth, leather, paste, and glue. These, like all organic materials, are vulnerable to conditions and changes in the environment in which they are kept. Key factors are light, temperature, and humidity.

Books should not be exposed to excessive amounts of light. Daylight and fluorescent light, which have high levels of ultraviolet radiation, cause the most rapid deterioration and fading. Normal incandescent house lights are less harmful, although all light causes some damage. Keep lights turned off in rooms that are not in use. Block daylight by using curtains, shades, or plastic filtering films.

Similarly, books should not be exposed to rapid changes or extremes in temperature and humidity. Hot and dry conditions will desiccate and embrittle leather and paper; damp conditions will encourage mold growth. Therefore books should not be kept near sources of heat, such as radiators or fireplaces. Bookshelves should not be placed against outside walls, where pockets of cool damp air can develop. Air conditioners, dehumidifiers, and humidifiers can be used to remove or add moisture or heat. A cool, dry, and stable environment is ideal. Where the book rooms are in regular use, around 70 degrees Fahrenheit and 50 percent relative humidity is recommended.

Shelving

It is extremely important that books stood vertically on shelves are squarely upright and firmly supported by neighboring books or by bookends. Leaning at an angle puts stress on the entire book structure, deforming the spine and the joints where the covers are attached. Bookends must be stable and smooth so as not to damage the covers. Books should not be packed together so tightly,however, that they are difficult to remove without causing damage. Large,over-sized books are best laid horizontally in stacks of no more than two or three high. Protective pads, such as squares of polyester felt, may be placed between stacked books to prevent them from rubbing.

Books on a shelf should be kept an inch or so back from the edge. The bare ledge of shelf will show up dust and droppings signaling insect activity. However books should not be pushed to the back of the shelf. Good air circulation is imperative to prevent stagnant air pockets where condensation will collect and mold will grow.

Important or fragile books may require additional protection. Check with a conservator about the variety of available solutions: polyester book jackets and wrappers, wrappers made of lightweight alkaline paperboard, double-tray boxes, and book shoes.

Storage

When books must be packed away for storage, do not wrap them in common household plastics (plastic kitchen wrap, garbage or cleaner bags) because these emit harmful gases as they degrade. Storage boxes made from alkaline corrugated cardboard designed for the purpose are available from conservation suppliers. Avoid storing boxes of books in attics, garages, or basements, where temperature and humidity fluctuations are great, where pests may be a problem, and where leaks or floods are common. Always allow at least four inches of space between the boxes and the walls, ceilings, and floors.

Many book materials are attractive to pests. Rats and mice, silverfish, and a host of smaller insects are common troublemakers. Watch carefully for signs of their presence. Vigilant housekeeping discourages them. If there is an infestation, consult a conservator.

Handling and Use

Most books are not museum objects: their purpose is to be used and read.The handling of books, however, provides opportunities for accidental damage.

Handle books only with freshly washed hands. Most of the dirt on book covers and pages is accumulated grime from oily fingerprints. While invisible initially, finger grease becomes all too visible as it oxidizes and collects dirt.Wearing white cotton gloves for handling rare bindings is a good preventive measure, but turning fragile or brittle pages with gloves may cause damage and is not advised.

When removing a book from the shelf, do not pull it out by its headcap, which is apt to break. Either push the two neighboring books back in order to grab the spine in the middle, or stretch a finger along the top edge of the book and rock it back in order to grab the spine.

Avoid carrying tall, unstable stacks of books that may fall. If it is necessary to transport more books than can be held securely in two hands, pack them snugly in boxes to prevent shifting and sliding. Never pack or shelve books fore edge down as this position suspends the entire weight of the book from its joints and pulls the text block out of its cover.

A book is designed to be cradled in the reader’s hands or lap; in this position very little stress is put on its spine or joints. Placing a book flat on a table can put tremendous stress on the structure, flattening the spine and stretching the joints. If a book must be opened on a flat surface, protect both covers by placing a support, such as another book, on either side.Alternatively, cradle the book in a towel with the two ends rolled up to support the covers.

Similarly, never place an open book face down onto a flat surface, which forces the book open to a 180-degree angle. If a book must be photocopied, use a photocopier with an edge platform that requires only a 90-degree opening.

Other important tips: Use pencil, never pens (especially ball point and felt tip pens) on books as ink may run, bleed, or transfer onto other pages. Use only paper bookmarks, rather than metal or leather, which will tear or stain the pages.Avoid paper clips and other mechanical fasteners. Do not use the popular self-sticking memo slips as these leave an invisible residue of adhesive on the page to attract dirt.Avoid storing newspaper clippings, flowers, letters, or other miscellaneous material in books as they leave stains and stress the binding. And of course avoid eating, drinking, and smoking around books as the spills and stains are generally permanent.

Cleaning and Maintenance

Books and book collections need to be cleaned regularly to remove accumulations of dust and dirt and to monitor their condition.

When dusting the edge of a book, be sure to wipe away from the headcap toward the fore edge, with a clean cloth or soft brush. Dirt brushed down the spine of the book is trapped there forever.A vacuum cleaner can also be used with the suction reduced. Cheese cloth or soft screening can be tied over the nozzle as an extra precautionary measure to catch any loose bits that might accidentally break off. More difficult dirt often can be removed by rubbing gently with a white plastic drafting eraser. Brush away the crumbs with a soft brush.

In the past, leather books were often oiled to improve their feel and appearance. Unfortunately this can also cause stains, make the leather sticky, and degrade paper. Recent tests have shown that dressings are only cosmetic and do nothing to prolong the life of the leather. Consult a conservator before using dressings on books.

Emergencies and Minor Disasters

If books get wet, the affected material needs to be stabilized as rapidly as possible to avoid further damage. Mold growth is likely if the temperature is over 70 degrees and the relative humidity is over 60 percent for more than 48 hours. Wet books may be frozen to stabilize them; they can be thawed and dried at a later time. Wrap individual books in paper or interleave large numbers of books with paper. Pack each book’s spine down in waterproof containers or cardboard boxes lined with plastic. Freeze the books as rapidly as possible in a commercial freezer, a home freezer (for a few books), or outdoors if conditions are right. There are commercial companies that specialize in the salvage and treatment of books in large-scale
water disasters.

Small numbers of wet books can be air-dried. The books should be stood up, fanned open, alternating spine to fore edge, with sturdy bookends at each end to prevent them from falling over like dominoes. Use fans to circulate the air and increase evaporation. Drop the room temperature as low as practical to discourage mold and use dehumidifiers or air conditioners to reduce the humidity. Books air-dry when they feel warm to the touch. Once dry, place them flat with a weight on top to minimize warping. Most books air dry satisfactorily although some residual staining and distortion is to be expected. Unfortunately, clay-coated (glossy) paper will stick together irreversibly unless the pages are separated while the book is still wet. Interleave every wet page with absorbent paper; repeat the process (exchanging the wet paper for dry) until the pages no longer cling to each other. Stand the book up and fan it open to finish drying completely.

When to Consult a Conservator

Problems that are beyond an owner’s capabilities should be referred to a conservator.

Tuesday, April 5, 2016

Just a very few of the many, many, beautiful things hand made by our mother's mother, Grandma Miller !!   Many of these have already found new homes amongst us and our children.

A sad day to see Dad's pride and joy towed away, his (and Mom's ) Lincoln that they drove many miles to visit each of us around the country over the years.
We chose to have it donated to the Idaho Boys Ranch, just as Dad did with most of his cars.  He donated to others like the Boy Scouts and to various people in the Garden City area who were in need of a car.
Hard at work, going through lots and lots of great old photos and other papers at the kitchen table on the week of March 21Some of which we don't believe we have ever seen before.
Here is the diorama that our daughter Kimberly Bigelow Atchley made of and for her grandma Marjorie with many momentos!!  Linda and Mike Hiett took it with them to Arizona for safe keeping

Monday, April 4, 2016

Sunday, March 27, 2016

Records from the Distant Past - 78 LPs

Growing up, we had a record player and records. Two memorable records are currently available to listen to on YouTube:  

Tchaikovsky's Sleeping Beauty:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8uFRJ4NuNA

The Carrot Seed:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHxLfBSU-9E


Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Bricks on the The Grove Plaza,

Larry and Pam purchased a brick on The Grove Plaza, downtown Boise (Front and Main Streets), for Mom and Dad (incidentally, for Bill and Marcella Weldon too).  It is located in Row 211 South.
http://www.ccdcboise.com/brick-finder/

Music

Mom and Dad went to all of my concerts growing up and afterwards they took me to Delsa's Ice Cream Parlour for a treat.  They kept the programs from the concerts as well.

Shortly before I left home to go to Denver University, I sang Mary's Lullaby during the 11th Ward's Christmas program.  Dad kept the program and even recorded the program.

Monday, March 21, 2016

The T-Bird "Truck"

In 1980, we had some big bushes in front of the garage.  We worked hard to remove them and finally only had the roots left in the ground.  Dad decided that he had had enough shovel work for the day and decided to hook a rope or chain to the back of the T-Bird and use it to pull the roots out of the ground.  Dad was kind of a car guy--he loved the turquoise T-Bird.  It had power and style.  However, he also could be very practical when push came to shove (or in this case, pull) and would use the car as a truck. Here is a photo of the job done.


Tuesday, March 1, 2016