Remember When: The Bee Tree

I will soon be heading to Washington to visit my daughter and her family.

 

 

One of the things I look forward to most is morning walks with my two grandsons. The most important part of that walk is passing under "The Bee Tree."

This is actually a vine that has grown up around a utility pole. It is gorgeous. It buzzes with bees so we have to approach it cautiously.

 

The boys crouch down and walk very quietly and slowly until they are just past the "tree" and then fairly burst with energy on the other side. We have never been bothered by any bees; they are far to interested in all those blooms.

 

The boys know that when the "bee tree" blooms it is getting to be time for Grammy to visit. When I talked the Alex the other day I asked about the bee tree and he said it is blooming. He also said that that means walks and "YARD SALES!"

 

That's my boy.

 

I'll be doing posts along the way as "Flat Stanley" and I head North.

 

Stay Tuned.

 

Memoir Prompts:

 

 

Do you and your kids or grand kids have a special place or memory?

 

What other country would you like to visit? Why?

 

Who was your Fifth Grade teacher?

 

Do you have any special cards or letters you have saved over the years?

 

What author would you most like to have lunch with?

 

What is your favorite summer pastime?

 

Who was your first television personality crush?

 

 



Remember When: Sorting the Memories

 

 

It's always fun to travel to the coast. There are so many interesting things. And you never know who you might see.

 

A few years ago we were visiting the beach and saw the following scene.

We watched for awhile and then learned the man in the white uniform was Robert Mitchum. We talked to somebody on the crew to get him identified.

I don't remember exactly where we were and I don't know what the movie was but it was great to see such a famous actor in his element.

Another memory is visiting Seaport Village and finding a shop with nothing but clowns. We started a collection of clowns for our daughter after this but I think I was more interested in them than her. There are still a few hanging around.

(I tried to do some online research and verify the photos and the memory of the clown shop but couldn't find anything. I may have things wrong. That's part of the reason I'm writing these memories. To sort them out.)

Memoir Prompts:

What is your favorite cartoon character?

What stories have you been told about your birth?

Tell about a camping trip.

Describe a nearby park and something you like about it.

Have you ever been on a blind date?

Write about a childhood friend. What did you enjoy doing together?

Have you ever written a poem?

Remember When: Cowboys

 I have always loved cowboys. I loved to watch westerns and my heroes were men of the West. My sister was the same way and since she was ten years older her influence was very strong.

We always watched westerns; "Gunsmoke," "Rifleman," "The Legend of Wyatt Earp," "Bat Masterson," "Have Gun, Will Travel." I used to say that I didn't have a choice as my older sister controlled the television. However, if I ever minded I don't remember.

The cowboys in the photo above are cousins. I think in the Covey family. I'll have to find the original and check the back but for now I'm just enjoying the "cowboys."

I few years ago my daughter and I took a trip to the area where all my families finally came together southwestern Kansas.

 

This is a picture of the countryside. No, Kansas isn't that flat.

It is beautiful country.

 

This is my great grandmother's younger brother, Willard Keith. The family left Illinois about 1881 and he was born near Kingman, Kansas in 1885. My great grandmother was born in Illinois in 1878.

 

I remember her and sometimes it really hits me that those times aren't really that long ago. It's kind of scary when you think how much has changed in a relatively short amount of time.

 

The Gunfight at the O.K. Corral occurred in 1881. My great grandmother was three. Wow! Sometimes it is amazing to put things in a different perspective.

 

Memoir Prompts:

 

Make a list of the areas your family has lived. Have you visited any of them?

 

What ethnic foods are your favorites?

 

Do you know of any cowboys in your family?

 

Have you ever kept a journal or diary? Are there any left from other members of your family?

 

What memories do the sound of bells bring to you?

 

Describe your third grade teacher and classroom.

 

What was your high school graduation like?

 

Remember When: Books

How many of you are members of Goodreads?
It is a listing of books where you can mark the ones you have read, want to read or are currently reading.
You can also connect to friends and find out what they are reading.
I get to it through Facebook but there might be other ways.

(Here are some books I read last year. I recommend them all.)

 

This morning I spent some time updating my lists on Goodreads. I just finished A Dangerous Mourning by Anne Perry and I'm currently reading The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher which is the next selection for my book discussion group.

(This was last months book discussion book.

I can't believe I never read it. I loved it.)

 

Sometimes I just enjoy going through their lists of books and adding them to my lists. This morning I came across a bunch of books that brought little memories to surface. The Good Earth reminded me of high school English and my freshman teacher who is still a friend (and a connection on Goodreads). Another was The Far Pavilions which I read in my twenties and I remember our minister at the time talking about it during a sermon. I'm sorry to say I can't remember what he said but I thought it was neat that he was reading a book I enjoyed so much.

(This book has a special memory. I picked it up in the sale room at the Tempe Public Library after giving a talk there last year. It was a fantastic book and made me really think about the history we seldom learn about.)

 

Do you have "memory books" that spur special memories? Have you tried going through lists to see what memories surface?

 

Memoir Prompts:

 

Would you rather read or watch a movie?

 

Describe a favorite aunt or uncle.

 

What do bells remind you of?

 

What was your favorite past-time as a child?

 

How did you spend your summer vacations?

 

Did you ever tease or bully someone else?

 

If you could spend the next five days in any place or time from your past when and where would it be?

 

 

 

 

 



Remember When: More photos

When I began doing family history in 1976 we didn't have computers, scanners or any of the other things that researchers take for granted now.

I had a 35 mm camera and found a set of three micro lenses that I could use in different combinations to take photographs of old family photographs as part of the preservation process.

As I found long-lost and distant cousins they graciously shared their own family photos so I could copy them for my direct family's files.

Now I am having all those negatives put on to cds at Walgreens. They estimate about 300 photos per cd and so far I have two done. I know there are well over 1,000 negatives just in this collection. After they are all done I will go through and identify each of them. I'm also backing them up in both computers and to the cloud. Copies will be made for other family members.

Here's a few of the photos from one of the cds:

 

This photo was sent to me by a distant cousin. I don't have the identities of all the people handy but

the lady on the right is my great great grandmother, Mary McFerran Wilburn. She was married to Samuel Wilburn a Civil War Soldier.

 

Since she was my main interest at the time I zoomed in on just her to take another copy of the photo.

 

I love her expression and so wish I could have known her. She died in 1924.

This is my father's line.

 

 

 

This photo was in the collections of my mother's family. These are unknown children, but because of the research in the family in that area I have possible names for them.

 

F. M. Steele was a famous Kansas photographer and there are whole web sites with his work which specialized in photos of ranches and ranching in the late 1800s.

 

This process is taking a lot of time but will be worth it. One of the goals of my life is to have all the genealogy I can ready for my descendants.

 

Is there a custodian for your family? Do you need to take on that job?

 

Memoir Prompts:

 

What are some eccentricities of some of your older family members?

 



Do you like to stop at historical sites during road trips? What are some of the ones you have seen?

Make a list of the towns or states you have lived in. Some may even go as far as countries. Try to add dates.

Do you prefer boots or flip flops? What other clothes identify who you are?

Write about cafes, restaurants, roadside diners you remember from childhood.

Have you ever been to a county or state fair? What was your favorite part?

What are some things you learned in art classes in elementary school?

Remember When: Old Songs

I don't watch much television or very many movies. I'd rather be on the computer or reading a book. Doug, however, loves movies. He can sit all day and into the night watching one movie after another.

The other evening I was propped up in bed reading a book. We have a small house so Doug in his chair in the living room is about the same distance from me on the bed. Funny, I never noticed that before.

Anyway, I don't know what movie he was watching but suddenly I heard, "Trailer for sale or rent. Room to let 50 cents . . . King of the Road." How many of you remember that song? Well, it took me flying back through time to the kitchen in the house I grew up in.

Mom had a Roger Miller album that she played quite often. She was also dating a guy named Bob who went around singing that song all the time. He was tall, very slender and always dressed nice. I remember liking him.

(Main street in the town I grew up in.)

 

What amazes me is I remember who sang that song and could probably even tell you most of the lyrics. I haven't thought of that song in years. It came out in 1964 (the only part of this post I had to look up). I was eleven.

The point of all of this is you just never know when a memory will come flying in the window. Don't let it get away. Write it down as soon as possible. 

 

Memoir Prompts:

 

What songs bring back memories of your childhood?

 

Write about your parents friends.

 

What did your parents collect or do for hobbies?

 

Did you ever have a Kool-Aid or lemonade stand?

 

Did you ever have watermelon seed spitting contests?

 

What is your favorite fruit?

 

Have you ever travelled abroad?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



M is for . . .

When I was growing up Mom often worked two jobs to support my sister and I. Betty was ten years older and getting on with her own life. I spent many summers with my aunt and uncle and/or grandparents in other towns.

For second grade I spent the entire year with my grandparents. I don't remember a lot except it was a good year. I wasn't teased and tormented as I always was at home. I had friends and enjoyed the rural school. The year stands out in many ways.

I remember going to music class and learning the song from this plaque.

I still remember it very clearly.

Grandma had a doctor's appointment in a nearby larger town and I found this present for my Mom. I don't know if it was for her birthday in March or for Mother's Day.

She always kept it. Now I have it hanging in my hallway.

 

On the back I wrote:

"to Mother I love you from Rita"

 

 

When I became a mother my Mom was on cloud nine.

Here she is with my seven day old daughter.

Every picture I have of them during those first months Mom is just sitting and staring at her.

 

I'd never noticed that before I started looking for a photo for this blog.

Happy Mother's Day Mom and Jessica.

Both great mothers.

Mother

             M is for the million things she gave to me.

                                  O means only that she's getting old.
                                  T is for the tears she shed to save me.
                                  H is for her heart of purest gold.
                                  E is for her eyes with love light shining.
                                  R means right and right she'll always be.

Put them all together they spell

MOTHER

A word that means the world to me.

 

(Garden City, Kansas)

Remember When: Photograph Dilemma

I've been pondering "The Photograph Dilemma."

 

What to do with all these family pictures that I can't identify that were my Mom's or my Grandma's or other family members'.

Friends who are special to me but mean nothing to my extended family.

But also all these animal, flower and other photographs that I love to take.

Do I leave them for my descendants?

Will they care?

Should I just scan them all?

 

For example. There was the trip to the Phoenix Zoo

with my grandson's last year.

The dragon.

And the big cats.

These pictures are cool and they bring back memories

but how many of them do we need?

Of course, there are always the "no question" photos like

this one of my husband and youngest grandson.

 

In this digital age I worry about these photos surviving. Will the computers of the future hold them? Will I loose them all somewhere along the way?

I know all the rules of backups and putting them in different locations. I still worry.

Are you dealing with "The Photograph Dilemma?"

 

Memoir Prompts:

 

Did you enjoy going through family photos as a child?

 

Who is the keeper of the photos in your family? Have scans or copies been shared?

 

Have you ever had a flat tire? Did you change it yourself?

 

What special memories do certain flowers bring back to you?

 

Did you or your kids ever eat the pet food?

 

What is your favorite type of bird?

 

Do you have photos of where you live now? Of the neighborhood that might be changing?

 

 

 

 

 

 



Remembering Mom

 My mother passed away 23 years ago today. I'm finding it harder and harder to remember her. My grandkids never got to meet her. I'm working to save the memories and record them.

This was Mom's cirrus plant. Every year it blooms around Mother's Day. Today the little buds are coming out. It may just bloom by Sunday. Last year I took some "babies" off this plant to my daughter in Washington.

This is my Mom when she worked for the Great Bend, Kansas police department. I always wanted to wear a uniform just like hers.

 

Some more memories:

 

One year while my husband and I were dating Mom hung mistletoe in her hallway. Doug "cornered" her and gave her a big kiss. She turned bright red and took off down the hall.

 

Not long after we moved to Arizona we went ruin hunting out in the desert. Mom found a pile of beans and as she kicked them around with her toe she asked if they could be eaten. My cousin said no as they weren't beans but deer droppings. Every meal we had together he brought up the "beans."

 

Mom had a little brown and tan dish that was always filled with salt. When she cooked she never used a shaker but took a pinch of salt from that bowl.

 

Grandma always told this story about Mom when she was little. One year when they went to visit her Mother, Mom asked what they were having for dinner and was told pot roast. Mom wanted chicken. So she went out to the chicken pen and killed a chicken. They had chicken with the pot roast.

 

Mom loved to garden and could grow anything. She wanted a Bird of Paradise but for some reason couldn't get one to grow. I don't know how many she went through but she finally succeeded and it was beautiful.

 

You never left Mom's house hungry or with empty hands.

 

She loved to watch her "soaps" and my daughter is still addicted.

 

Her favorite singer was Jim Reeves. She wore out many of his records. She also liked Nat King Cole and Bobby Vinton.

 

Her favorite color was orange and her favorite flowers were roses.

 

Miss you, Mom.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Remember When: Inner Critic

Artists, writers and other creative folk are all aware of their Inner Critic, monkey mind, inner editor . . . whatever.

A few years ago I had the thought of coming up with a physical critter. It took about a year to decide on how to do it. The final inspiration came from an Internet class by Tam at Willowing.

This is one of the Inner Critics who has gone to live with somebody else.

The concept is that when you are feeling blocked or getting
down on yourself for some reason just pick up this little
critter and let him know its time to ZIP IT!!

Believe it or not, that physical action can actually break the chatter
and you can get back to what you are doing with a new outlook.

The Inner Critic plays a big part in writing memoir. Not only
are you writing, a creative pursuit, but you are dealing with memories, emotions, confusion, and perhaps guilt.

One way to break through is to just keep writing, don't let those
things get in the way. Keep the pen moving or the keyboard tapping.
If you do get caught up in a negative memory or thought or even just the chatter; write that down, and then get back to the subject of the session.

Or try an Inner Critic.

I was just reminded of something my hairdresser said a few years ago when I was complaining about my hair (paraphrased for the current subject):

Embrace your inner critic.

Keep on writing those memoirs!!

Memoir Prompts:

Write about something you wish you could forget.

 

Did you read pop magazines as a teen?

 

What are some of your favorite words: just because of the way they sound?

 

Write about your least favorite grade school teacher.

 

Have you ever had a garden of your own?

 

What is your favorite bird? Why?

 

What are some things that really irritate you?

 

 

 

 

 

Z = Zane Grey: A to Z Blogging Challenge

  Zane Grey was and is a beloved western history writer who spent many years in the Rim Country of Arizona.
 

I visited the original cabin in about 1981. It was located along the Tonto Creek about 18 miles east of Payson. Beautiful country for camping, fishing and just spending a day in the forest. The cabin was built in the early 1920s and remained until it was burned during the Dude Fire in 1990. It contained one large room with the popular decor of the Old West. A small detached kitchen was behind the cabin.

While there I purchased this paperback of one of his most famous books. It still graces my bookshelves along with this one about the Hashknife brand which I've written about twice during this challenge.

 

From 1918 to 1929 Grey spent most of his time in northern Arizona researching and writing the westerns he became famous for. He was the author of 60 novels, 200 short stories, non-fiction articles and over 100 movies.

 

A replica of the original cabin was opened in Payson's Green Valley Park in 2005. It is part of the Rim Country Museum.

 

 

For more information about the Zane Grey cabin and museum visit Payson.


For those who read my earlier post introducing the Four Cs of Arizona Economy the answer is:

cattle, citrus, copper, cotton and climate

To learn more about the A to Z Blogging Challenge go here.

Y = Yuma: A to Z Blogging Challenge

Yuma, Arizona was, in the 30s and 40s, the marriage mecca for Hollywood stars. Fast and easy marriages were the draw for the stars before Arizona added the pre-marital blood test. The age of consent was only fifteen which also drew its fair share of brides and grooms.  

Loretta Young and Grant Withers jumped on a plane for Yuma and were married on January 26, 1930 by Justice of the Peace Earl A. Freeman who went on to perform so many marriages he  became known as "The Marrying Judge."

In 1931 Mary Astor and Gloria Swanson were both married there.
 

In 1932 Tom Mix married Mabel Hubbell on the courthouse steps in front of a crowd of fans.

Errol Flynn, John Barrymore, Bette Davis and Claudette Colbert were all married in Yuma.

Mary Astor was married again in Yuma in 1937 along with Helen Burgess and Anita Page. Stan Laurel was also married there; three times.

Many still travel to Yuma to be married the the process is slower and must start with the Yuma County Clerk of the Superior Court.

To learn more about the A to Z Blogging Challenge go here.

X = X-Diamond Ranch: A to Z Blogging Challenge

 The X-Diamond Ranch is located near Greer in northeastern Arizona. I visited there a few years ago to do research on my book about the death of Ike Clanton; Arizona outlaw and survivor of the Gunfight at the O. K. Corral.

Besides being a working ranch there are cabin rentals, horseback riding and fishing.

I didn't have time for all of that but I did tour The Little House Museum which was a delight.

 

The museum is filled with treasures, all beautifully displayed.

The buggy John Wayne used on his ranch and in some of his movies. Wayne's ranch is just down the road from the X-Diamond.

The displays show the life of the pioneers who settled that part of Arizona when it was still a territory.

 

The music display includes a Nickelodeon with old saloon music.

 

Visit X-Diamond Ranch to learn more about the history and services of this beautiful setting.

To learn more about the A to Z Blogging Challenge go here.

W = Willcox: A to Z Blogging Challenge

 Willcox, Arizona is in the southeastern part of the state along Interstate 10. It is a quiet town surrounded by cattle ranches, orchards and vineyards.

We used to spend quite a bit of time there as part of the Warren Earp Days. The youngest of the Earp brothers was killed in 1900 in the Headquarters Saloon and is buried in the local cemetery.

Railroad Avenue is the heart of the historic district and is home to the Rex Allen Museum.

Rex Allen was an actor, singer and songwriter. One of my favorite items in the museum was a pair of cowboy boots made into golfing shoes. That's dedication. He was born about 40 miles from Willcox and lived there until he left to tour as a rodeo rider. He later starred in 19 Westerns with his white horse, Koko.

Rex Allen died in Tucson at the age of 78 and his cremains scattered at the Railroad Park in Willcox.

At the time we were going down there on a regular basis the Marty Robbins Museum was in Glendale, Arizona. It has since moved to Willcox.

Marty Robbins was a top singer and songwriter in country and western and pop recordings. He was born in Glendale and lived there until he joined the US Navy in World War II. On his return to the Phoenix area he did local performances until he was discovered and moved to the Grand Ole Opry.
He was also a Nascar race driver and acted in various movies.

The best apple pie I've ever had was from Stout's Cider Farm. Sadly the economy forced them close as it has so many small businesses. I wrote about one of their pies here.

To learn more about the A to Z Blogging Challenge go here.

 

 

 

To learn more about the A to Z Blogging Challenge go here.
 

V = Vortexes: A to Z Blogging Challenge

   Vortexes, or energy centers, have brought an unexpected fame to the beautiful area around Sedona, Arizona. Many people report a strong uplifting experiences among the red rocks; especially Bell Rock.

Vortexes are formed by spiraling spiritual energy. It is believed the strength of the vortexes in Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon are unequaled in the United States if not the world.

Once an Old West town where many of the classic westerns were filmed Sedona took on a new feel with the entrance of New Age stores and numerous retreats. Some of the classic movies filmed here were "Angel and the Badman," "Blood on the Moon," "3:10 to Yuma" and "Stagecoach." Some of the stars who worked in the area were Errol Flynn, John Wayne, Joan Crawford, James Stewart and Elvis Presley.

Events held in the area are the Sedona International Film Festival, the Sedona Bluegrass Festival and the Sedona Jazz on the Rocks Festival.

To learn more about the A to Z Blogging Challenge go here.

 

U = Uncle Sam Steamboat: A to Z Blogging Challenge

 The Uncle Sam Steamboat was the first steamboat to run the lower portion of the Colorado River. It was launched in 1852 by James Turnbull to supply goods to Fort Yuma. Sadly the Uncle Sam sank in May 1853 and it wasn't until 1855 that travel along the river became routine.

Fort Yuma was established after the Mexican-American war in 1848 on the California side of the river, across from Yuma where the Arizona Territorial Prison would later be built. Transportation of troops and supplies through the desert was taxing and dangerous.

The Colorado Steam Navigation Company continued to grow and by 1876 there were several steamers. Sandbars were a constant problem which was solved by Captain Mellon who learned to turn the boat around and use the side paddle-wheel to dig their way through.

Travelers often slept on deck to catch any bit of breeze possible. It took up to fifteen days to make the trip up the river from the Gulf of California to Fort Yuma. That time was cut down as better boats were introduced to the river.

Today canoeing, kayaking and other water sports are popular along the Colorado River including the Colorado King paddleboat sternwheeler.

To learn more about the A to Z Blogging Challenge go here.