Friends Enrich Our Lives

We are grateful for friends who have enriched our lives, and we always appreciate keeping in touch with those who have shared our fond memories.

Kevan and Terri Clawson have been members of our community for about a year and attended church with us, but Kevan's father's failing health created a change in their plans resulting in their moving from Martin.  We will miss them but will continue to be interested in what they are doing and will certainly continue to treasure our relationship with them.  Terri was a PA in the clinic here and has just recently completed the requirements for her doctoral degree in Global Health.  Kevan is an author primarily of church related books and generously gave us a copy of several of his books.

Terri and Kevan Clawson

We are grateful for the time they lived in our community.

When you have bonded with a friend, it is interesting how that friendship can resume without interruption even though there has been months and even years since you have been together or had much interaction in the intervening time.  

We were delighted that the Moultons included a visit with us on their travel across country from their home in North Carolina on their way to Utah.  We had such a good time reminiscing about our time in Russia while on our missions.  They were humanitarian missionaries in the Yekaterinburg Mission in Siberia.  When they first arrived in Russia, we met them at the airport in Moscow so they could receive some training for the humanitarian service they would be doing during their 18-month mission.  We shared numerous e-mails and phone conversations during those months related to the humanitarian projects, and we were together again at the area conference held in Armenia.

Gloria and Richard Moulton

Our friendship began in Russia, and we were happy to

have them come for a visit this past weekend following

their tour of the Black Hills and Mount Rushmore.

We would have toured the Black Hills with the Moultons on Saturday had we not had a conflict in our schedule.  We were in Bismarck that day attending a temple session and special meeting with the ordinance workers, which was followed by a luncheon.  The new temple presidency was announced, as President and Sister Reese will be completing their service in Bismarck at the end of October.  We have enjoyed serving with them and having this relationship that began when President Reese served as the mission president for the South Dakota Rapid City Mission during 1997-2000.

 Bismarck Temple (back view)

The drive home from Bismarck takes five hours without making any stops, and we got home a couple of hours before the Moultons arrived.  Sunday morning they went with us to Rosebud for church.  That afternoon, we went on a tour of our farm; and they continued on their way Monday morning.

  Sam showing Richard Moulton one of the tractors

explaining the technology involved.

 Richard and Sam by the sprayer, 

with the 120-foot boom folded up.

Our farm tour included seeing the crops, the equipment, and the cattle.  While we were inside the calving barn in the north pasture, I heard a constant buzzing sound that I thought must be something electrical.  I asked a couple of times what that sound was, but no one answered me; so I went up to the window where the hired man sometimes stays during the calving season and looked in to see if there was something making the noise inside the room.  

It turned out that the buzzing was coming from a rattlesnake coiled up in the darkened corner about 36 inches from where I was standing.  Those who know me and my phobia about snakes will be impressed that I kept surprisingly calm, but Gloria and I didn't stay to watch Sam kill the rattlesnake.  I feel blessed that I had a guardian angel watching over me, for I could have easily taken a step in the wrong direction and been bitten.  I hate snakes even those that aren't poisonous! 

Later, on our way back from seeing the sunflower field over east that had gotten hailed, we saw a second rattlesnake in the road, which Sam killed by driving back and forth over it.  This is the time of the year when rattlesnakes are returning to their dens for the winter.  Fortunately, no one has ever been bitten here; although Sam's mother was bitten when she was twelve years old living near the Milesville area. 

We are enjoying the beautiful weather while it lasts.
It is 80 degrees as I write this on September 27th.

We are very grateful for family, friends, and happy times.

We always enjoy hearing from you.

Spring Wheat Harvest Completed

The spring wheat harvest was on while Beth's family was here visiting.  Grandpa Sam and Brent run the combines, and grandson Sam has been the regular grain cart driver; but when football practice started for Sam, Jared was put to work driving the grain cart.  He got a few practice sessions with our hired man, Steve, and was considered ready for the job.  Grandpa Sam was pleased with how well Jared did.

 Jared's job was to bring the grain cart to the

combine so the cut wheat could be transferred from the

combine into the grain cart and then taken to the truck.

Sam in the combine fills the cut wheat into the grain cart.

Jared learned how close to get to the combine for

this operation to take place successfully.

Here is a closeup of the grain going into the grain cart.

The picture was taken from inside the tractor when

Beth was getting a ride with Jared.

Jared driving the tractor that pulls the grain cart.

Ethan and Joshua are going to get a ride with Grandpa Sam

in the combine. 

 Brent is going to give Rebecca and Megan a ride in the 

combine with him.  Rebecca was a little concerned

when Brent started up the steps with her, but once

inside she enjoyed the ride.

  Jared's siblings also got a ride with him.  

In this photo it was Megan and Ethan's turn.

Ethan and Joshua's turn in the combine with Grandpa Sam.

From the combine to the grain cart to the truck,

which takes a full load to the grain bin.

(Joshua)

An auger transfers the wheat from the truck into the grain bin.

Ethan and Joshua have their picture taken

on the big sprayer with its 120-foot boom folded in.

With the wheat harvest finished for another year,

there are other crops still to be harvested.

Since this picture was taken, the sunflowers have lost

their yellow petals but will need several more weeks 
before they are ready to be combined.

(Narene)

A Visit from Beth's Family

We always enjoy having family come for a visit, and the grandchildren have fun with cousins and doing things on the farm.  Beth's family (minus Todd who remained in Utah working) came August 8-19.  

I took advantage of Beth's visit to have her help in sorting through boxes and containers in our storage area in the basement to determine whether items should be kept, given away, or discarded.  The shelves now have fewer containers with new labels, and we have a stack of empty plastic bins.  This sounds like a boring job, but it actually was quite enjoyable as we reminisced when certain items were evaluated and had good mother/daughter conversations.  The grandchildren were super good and kept busy with activities while we were involved with our project.  Of course, we did take time off to attend the county fair, to go shopping for a treat, and to spend time with the grandchildren.

I am posting some of the photos Beth has shared that she took of the children's activities.

Jared giving the grandchildren a ride in the Gator.

(Rachel, Rebecca, Jared, Megan, Amanda, and Ethan) 

A large tractor innertube provided jumping fun for

Amanda, Joshua, and Megan.

Add another tube and a sprinkler for more fun in the sun.

(Megan, Weston, Ethan, Rachel, and Amanda)

Hampton, Brent's family's new puppy, was an added attraction.

(Megan, Rebecca, Rachel, and Amanda)

Ethan kept busy finding "treasures" in nature.

He got to take home some empty bird nests,

but this huge hopper was not invited to go.

Jared did a good job mowing the yards around the farm.

Joshua was pleased he got to go with Seth to the

hayfield and ride around with him in the windrower;

but it was not fun when the windrower stopped by the beehives

and they got out to see what was the problem.

 Joshua got stung three times on the face.

A baking soda paste was the first treatment we tried.

The next day after getting the bee stings, Joshua

could hardly see out of one eye.  It didn't keep

him from having his usual smile, though.

Rachel made a cookie recipe she found in one of my cookbooks, 

and we put the rolled dough in the refrigerator to

wait until Megan and Amanda came to help cut and bake the cookies.

They were good and reminded me of the windmill cookies

Deitrich and Siegrun used to buy when we lived in Ann Arbor.

These cousins always find lots to do whenever they get together.

Amanda, Rachel, and Megan like being creative.

(They wish Maren and Shannon could be with them, 

who were also born the same year,

as was Barbie's granddaughter, Kennedy.)

 Lots of playdough colors and cookie cutters make for

some more creative play time.  Ethan made football

players dressed appropriately in BYU's and Michigan's colors.
(Joshua, Amanda, Megan, and Ethan)

Joshua appreciated Rachel sharing her bike and

liked having a lot of places to ride.

Ethan loves sports and is always up for a game.

The girls like putting together fancy dress-up outfits.

They also sorted and organized the dress-up jewelry.

(Amanda, Rachel, Rebecca, and Megan)

Rebecca didn't stop for the camera, but 
it still caught her cute smile.

We went to town and the kids got to pick out a treat.

This is what Joshua was happy to buy.

This reminds me of the time when Jared was about four years old.  I asked him if he wanted to go to town with me.  While we were there, we went to the hardware store where I bought him a little pickup that pulled a trailer.  The next day, I needed to go to town again to the post office and took Jared with me.  When we returned home, his mom asked him if he went to town with Grandma.  He replied, no, we didn't go to town.  He thought "town" was the name of the store with the toys.  Living in a city, Jared hadn't heard the term "go to town" before.  Another term new for our city grandchildren is "supper" for the evening meal with "dinner" used for the noon meal.

Jared is relaxing with Ginger.

The next post will have pictures of Jared

helping with the wheat harvest by driving the grain cart.

Marla came on August 18 to bring Trevor, who rode back to Utah with Beth the next day on Friday returning to BYU after completing his mission in Uruguay.  Marla stayed until Saturday afternoon, and we spent Friday doing corn (see earlier post). 

Grandchildren at the Fair

It was great having a nice visit from Beth and children in August.  They left their home in Spanish Fork, UT on the morning of the 8th and got to the farm before dark.  They planned their visit to come when our county fair was held (August 11-14).

Brent and Tauna's kids each showed their 4-H steer on Friday at the fair and sold them at the auction that evening.

 Seth getting his 4-H market steer ready to show.

Seth's market steer weighed more than his siblings' calves did,
but all four sold well for close to the same price per pound.

Weston's steer washed, combed and ready to show.

This was the first year for Weston to have a 4-H calf.

I think it is impressive to see these younger 4-Hers showing

market steers so much bigger than they are.

Rachel showing her 4-H steer with a blue-ribbon finish.

 This is Rachel's third year to have a 4-H market steer.

Sam's steer seemed a little reluctant to come into the ring,
but Sam was in charge and the auctioneer began the bidding.
Grandpa Sam bid on this steer and ended up as the highest bidder.
Well, we know this is quality beef!

Ireland Bros. also was the highest bidder for a 4-H pig, which adds pork in the freezer along with the beef.  Another sale ended with Sam as the high bidder on a feeder calf for the "premium," which means the 4-Her got the money and also kept the animal.  This is how all the feeder calves and breeding heifers are handled.  Because there were quite a few of these animals auctioned for premiums only, I wondered if there would be enough businessmen left who would bid on the market steers.  Fortunately, the sale of the market steers went well; although there were several other grandpas who were the highest bidders for their grandchild's 4-H steer.

 Watching the calves up close:

Rebecca, Grandma Narene, Joshua, and Ethan.

Rebecca liked looking at the 4-H steers.

Rachel and Weston also had quite a few craft exhibits entered in the fair that were awarded purple and blue ribbons.

Rachel's purple-ribbon quilt.

Weston's braided lead rope displaying its purple ribbon.

One of the two decorated cakes Sam bought at the cake auction.

This "baby" had rice krispy decorated feet

with a white cake bottom frosted in pink and white.

The second cake we bought was a chocolate cake

decorated to look like a little white lamb.

Half of the proceeds from the cake auction typically go to the 4-Her, and the rest goes toward the Washington DC award trip.  Six of our children were fortunate to win this Washington trip when they were in 4-H.  Rachel and Weston entered decorated cakes in the auction when they were first in 4-H before they had a 4-H market steer to enter.  This year, Rachel and her friend decorated and entered a cake in the auction and donated all of the proceeds toward the Washington trip.  I think it brought about $300.00.  

The cakes we bought were $150 and $50.  One of the cakes was bought by another grandparent for $735.  This seems to have become an expected tradition for those grandparents.  A couple of years ago that grandma and grandpa were not sitting by one another and, unbeknown to them, they each were bidding on their grandchild's decorated cake and driving up the price.  Others in the sale barn realized what was happening and so did the auctioneer, but he didn't let that prevent him from continuing to accept their contending bids.  Of course, that cake had the highest bid of any of the cakes; and this year their granddaughter's cake again had the highest bid.