DEAR 'Shel' (or George)

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy birthday to you, 

Happy BIRTHDAY Kimber Casheeeellllyyyy

Happy Birthday tooooo yyyoooooouuuu!

When you were named I thought I might call you by your middle name, Cashel. It never really seemed to fit. I also thought I might just call you K.C. - that never evolved - you just simply were not a 'Kasey'.

Another nickname you had for a while was 'Shel'. When someone, usually me, called you by your full name it often just kept going a bit ... kind of a teasing kind of pet name - KimberCashelllyyy - from which evolved a short and simple 'Shel' because you never liked Shelly. I don't much do nicknames, so it never was used too often. I prefer to call people by their actual name. 

You had an uncle that called you 'George' for a while - I don't really remember who - or why, but it was George that constantly ate cookies. Your other name that superseded George was 'Cookie Monster' just because you could eat a lot of cookies/crackers very swiftly and without caring a lot about crumbs. You made us laugh.

Naturally someone gave you a stuffed 'Cookie Monster' 

And then suddenly we were doing senior pictures.

We were so amazed and proud of our beautiful, and talented daughter

and you graduated from your High School

at the top of your class

saying you had only gotten your feet wet.

You are still gorgeous, talented, and clever, have a family, and much, much more education. Are you swimming in the deep end yet?

Likely not - you always were one to keep your feet on rock solid bottom. However - as nice and realistic as that is, you are also one that dreams of flying like a bird. Be sure to let us know as you soar off to new horizons and vistas. As scary and as dangerous as it can be, there is a freedom and feeling that can not be enjoyed until you float a bit.

Lots of Love Mom and Papa

SWEET !! hearts

finished hor d'oeurves - ready to transport 

As stated previously, "I am not a sugar fan".

I am, however, a fan of 'cute'.
And generally (with a few exceptions) I like holidays.

Someone 'pinned' a yummy kid snack for Valentine's.

It made my brain perk right up.
It was NOT a cookie.
It did NOT have sugar as an ingredient.

I wondered if I could make it into a 'cute'  hor d'oeurve.
Could it be modified to look more grownup?
[But still be cute?]
How could it be bite size?
How could I eliminate the raw pasta?

I thought. I bought. I experimented.

What about ready made dough?
What about cocktail sausages?
What about Lit'l Smokies?
And what if they had a coupon? - Oh sure now they do!

The Lit'l Smokies are a workable idea.  I just cut them in half - more or less - on an angle. Make it a long angle. And if you need to, cut a slice out of the middle.

Each package has abt 39 ish.

Some are long. Some are short. Some are squished. Use them all. Get Creative.

This is art!

Flip one half.
Match cut sides.
Push cuts together.
Viola' - you have a heart!

I hated my first try. I used pre-made canned biscuits. I tried a little knot to hold them in place. The knot slid off. They tasted like - big surprise - biscuits. My husband liked them though.

I made a batch without knots. They still tasted like biscuits. I gave them to my grand-kids.

My daughter suggested a no brainer idea to hold the pieces together. What about frilled toothpicks? Sure enough, you can pick those up at the grocery store.

So I thought about and priced crackers.
Could I just pre-cook the Lit'l Smokies?
No way ... I am too cheap!
Snack Crackers are expensive.

A friend once gave me an excellent Crescent Roll recipe.
Thanks Caye. These are ALWAYS good.
And so easy too.

I made some dough.

I rolled it out and cut out some hearts.
Look at that - works just like making cookies.
Except you need to not stretch them.
Or let them raise too much before placing them.
Just cut out a few at once and then move to the pan.

REMEMBER - this is fun!

Let them be a little this way and that way.

Who said hearts have to be any certain shape?


I enjoyed matching hotdog shapes to dough shapes.

I filled 2 large pans full.
Each pan had about 20 hearts.
The basic recipe made about 80 hearts.

I cut the Lit'l Smokies after placing the dough hearts on the pans. The dough had started to raise a little. I pressed the 'heart' sausage into the centre of the dough heart firmly.

I cut the dough ball  in half, filled 2 pans with dough hearts, added the sausages, then did 2 more with the other half of the dough. Meanwhile the scraps I had kneaded into a ball from the first half had raised.

I rolled them once more. Those tended to 'distort' more and 'shrink' after cutting. No problem - they were just a bit more 'bite size'.

I covered them with a clean damp dishtowel, and put the pans in the cold storage area to raise overnight. It was late. I went to bed. And to sleep!  They raised in the cold about 5 hours.   I got up early. I brought them in the warm kitchen and turned on the oven. I set the timer. Not for the rolls - for me, silly - I went to sleep for half an hour while they both warmed up.

I baked them at about 350 ° F for about 10 minutes - just until golden. [My oven tends to bake a bit unevenly so I turned the pan half way through.] 

After baking I brushed the edges with melted butter (yes it has to be real butter). You can use shortening but that is what they will taste like. I like butter. As they cool the sausage pieces may seperate - do not worry ...

After cooling them I skewered the 'heart' sausage together with the frilled toothpick and put a wedge of cheese on the point.  They now look like Cupid's arrow has struck.

I refuse to tell you how to cut a triangle out of cheese. You can do it. TRY! This is supposed to be ... oh, never mind - just go cut cheese your way.

I shared these with coworkers. They loved them.

They wanted the instructions and recipe.
This is as close as it gets.

One lady is going to use them at a wedding!!

Use any recipe you like for dough.
I like Caye's. [see comments below]

And have a wonderful Valentine's Day.
If you make treats and give them to your 'Valentines' you will.
What - some of you don't think you have any??
How can that be???

Duh - you can go first!
Just do it!
Tell someone you love them.
Seriously!

And if no one sends you a Valentine why not make some for yourself?

Enjoy!

CURL

When I was a kid I was teased about my hair sometimes.

"Fuzzy Wuzzy was a bear ..."

Rhymes that could be chanted were a delight.
NOT TO ME.

Kids at school could chant them ad nauseum.

"Once there was a little girl,
  and she had a little curl ..."

Even my loving and kind parents would quote the curl one.

My mother always 'finger curled' ringlets into my naturally curly hair.  At times she would hug me and perhaps give me a kiss on the forehead and say, "Once there was a little girl, and she had a little curl, right in the middle of  her forehead ..."

My mom loved me AND especially loved my hair. She loved to wrap it around her finger and 'pin' it to dry.

Most pictures show it neat and carefully 'guided'.
I say guided because I never could tolerate curlers.

My father quoted many things.
Scriptures, song lyrics, famous saying, and poetry.
He especially got a kick out of witty rhymes.

Sometimes he would scoop me up, swing around like he was dancing while singsong-ing that rhyme over and over again. He especially delighted in finishing the end of the rhyme,
"... and when she was good she was very, very good and when she was bad she was horrid."

I think he likely did that when I was being horrid.

He might look me straight in the eye.
He might modify the rhyme and repeat it a new way.
'... and when you are good, you are very, very good ...'

And then he might set me down.
I would feel determined to always be very, very good.
I felt loved - never horrid.

Sometimes I was horrid.
I cried buckets of tears about my hair.
I notice in many pictures bangs are VERY short.

this look was achieved by taping my bangs
 to my forehead until dry

The main problem was the curl in the middle of my forehead.
My mother told me often how lucky I was to have a "widow's peak".

my long hair pulled back tightly

That is a nice name for a double 'cowlick', in the front on a girl.

I had 2 ways to wear my hair - short or not.
'NOT' was pulled tightly back into submission.

about age 13 ish

Short always has some variation of a curl on the forehead.

about 15 ish

Styles dictated that hair should be straight and smooth.
I tried. I really tried. I truly really, REALLY tried.
I failed. My hair kept its kinks no matter what!

I still waffle - long  is always fuzzy ... ish ..

It keeps it kinks even now.
I often have a literal 'curl in the middle of my forehead'.
A curl that must always be 'guided'.

Hairspray, gel, and mousse coax it to a wave.
I can live with waves.

The curl changes directions occasionally.

I get out of the shower and towel my hair.
I wait a few minutes and shake it a bit.
Will it be left or right today?
I am never sure ...

Sometimes some of it goes left and some goes right.

One thing I do know.
There will be a curl in the middle of my forehead.

Still.

Always.

I promise to try to be good.
Very, very good.
And never horrid! [Fingers and toes crossed.]

VIOLA MELISSA PEARCE death

On 9 February 1899, in Alpine Arizona, my father's grandmother died tragically. Some family records state that, "Viola died in childbirth, when the midwife tried to rupture her water but punctured her bladder instead. Both mother and baby died."

I am so grateful for the medical miracles, medicines, technology, Doctors, nurses, and midwives that have helped my children arrive safely. So many unexpected things can occur so suddenly as lives hang in the balance during childbirth. 

In a short history, compiled by Mary H. Oviatt and Catherine D Hudson in 1965, I learned additional information about these courageous frontier women - both the expectant mother and the midwife that assisted. Stories and information for the short history were collected from Tom Hatch's children, Chloe, Victor, Norah, Della, Reed, and Grant, and recorded by Marie D Templeman. They also acknowledge the journal of Lorenzo Hill Hatch as a source of information.

" Each time a baby was due, it was Tom's duty to see that the team was ready to be hitched at a moment's notice to get Sister Jepson, who acted as doctor. It is hard to say to which the time seemed longest ... to the ones making the trip, or to the mother at home alone. Once when they entered they were greeted by the cry of the new baby - Victor."

I realized that the midwife was not inexperienced or foolish, and that she was doing the best she could when some unknown [to us] factor occurred. I also realized that a previous baby had been delivered safely before that midwife could come.

"In 1897, Tom embarked on a large business venture [cutting timber for mine props] on the Blue River, so he would have to work there. [ The Blue River arises near Alpine and flows south into the San Francisco River just upstream from Clifton Arizona] ... He had twenty-five six-horse teams working for him, and was doing a business of about three thousand dollars a month. He did very well for a while, but tragedy entered his life when he received word that his wife, Viola, was critically ill at home. He lost no time in returning and obtained a doctor."
-

Special thanks to Tom Todd on Find a Grave for this photo

Viola is buried in Alpine, Apache County, Arizona.

My father's mother, Chloe, was 13 years old. Viola left her husband, Thomas Hatch, with seven children to care for.

about fall 1894

back row l-r : Thomas Hatch, Victor held by 

       Viola Melissa Pearce, Thomas Layfayette [Faye]

front row l-r: Chloe, Catherine [Kate],  Lorenzo[Wren], Mary

-
A journal of her father-in-law, Lorenzo Hill Hatch, records,"Thomas ... and his seven motherless children visited in Woodruff.  My sympathies were touched very much. All of them are bright and as good as could be expected. He [Thomas] was a-going to leave two of them with us, but the oldest girl [Chloe] of thirteen said she could not sleep if she did not have them where she could care for them.”

-

I note in this short passage that the children were 'bright and as good as could be expected' during this visit to their grandparents. I also notice that the oldest child is kindly caring about her siblings. I like to think that she learned such kindness and diligence from her parents.

I attribute much of my desire to be more Christ like to my Grandma Chloe's influence.  She was a very kind, gentle person. Did she learn that from her mother?

What life habits and ways of living did your mother or grandmother teach you? If you could teach an important concept or ideal to your child what would you want them to learn? How would you teach it?

ELNA BOHNE death

Elna Campbell nee Bohne
Died: 9 February 2003.

She is my maternal Grandmother.

She was the mother of 11 children, 5 girls and 6 boys.

Her obituary tells many things about her. She had many hobbies and talents. She gave continual loving service to all around her. She volunteered in the community and the LDS church. She loved her family and the outdoors. The obituary could have filled the entire page.

But there is no way to really describe how hard she worked or her verve.

A memory may illustrate character. When I was 14 I missed my school bus by getting on a bus to another town [Hillspring where Grandma lived] with a friend.  I spent the evening with my friend and then, when her family was ready for a meal and I was not invited, I went to Grandma's. Grandma took me in, and then asked me if my mother knew where I was at. She didn't wait for an answer when I hesitated. She picked up a straw broom and chased me all the way to the store where one of the few phones in town was located and made sure I called mom.

She made sure I knew she loved me enough to smack me with that broom if I did not obey AND I was fed, given a bed for the night and put back on the bus (to school in Cardston) the next morning with some stern instructions regarding appropriate behaviors and future possibilities (and probabilities) if I ever 'ran away' again. My grandfather slipped me a 5 dollar bill when she wasn't looking - for a 'lunch downtown with my friends' he said.

Grandma bound us each to her with an exceptional balance of plain spoken, genuine love. She did it with her unique ability to focus on each as an individual.

When family gathered for a meeting the night prior to her funeral the gymnasium at the Hillspring Church was filled with her posterity - and many were not even able to attend. The next morning the family prayer was held in a full chapel. Friends and associates that came for the service had to be seated in the overflow and gym (after folding doors were opened behind the chapel).

My brother Scott spoke at her funeral. He told about her happiness in living. He talked about the joy she experienced in her love of family and the truths she found in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  He reminded us of her love for each one of us and that because of Jesus Christ we will all live again someday.

She knew that. It gave her great happiness.

She also believed that because of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ her family can be together, even after death. She believed that through the sealing ordinances of the Priesthood that it is possible for families to continue their loving relationships forever.

Her greatest hope was always for her family to be loving and united. Family reunions were not saved for the year everyone could make it. They were held every year in the same location and everyone knew when and where, and that they were welcome to join the family 'camp' anytime that week - hundreds attended!

When 54 grandchildren marry and have families, numbers mount quickly. When they begin to marry, numbers increase exponentially.

One of my favorite pictures of her makes me laugh every time I see it. I wish I had a copy. She is 90 plus years old and getting around camp on a quad. What a role model!

The songs listed on her funeral program speak of her beliefs eloquently. The service opened with "O My Father" telling of God as a loving father and ended with "God Be With You Till We Meet Again".

A poem on the back of the program tells of a life well lived. A painting of Chief Mountain by her daughter, Jean - my mother, was placed on the front. This mountain is a prominent landmark in Southern Alberta. Her husband made oil paintings of it and sold them. It is an icon in the area.

In her family she is an icon. Her pervasive presence and example of determination and fortitude can be seen in  her descendants. I believe we will meet again. In my mind I imagine her bright eye piercing me through and through - sizing me up ... and then she will likely put me to work.

GEORGE JAMES FORSYTH death

Sarah Sophronia (Snow) and George James Forsyth

My father's paternal Grandfather,
George James Forsyth,
died on 6 February 1927 in Bountiful, Utah.

He was 83 years of old when he passed away.
His wife, Sarah Sophronia Snow,
would die just one month later.

They were married for 57 years.
They are buried together in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Forsyth plot looking North East.
Special thanks to Monica Snarr
for generously sharing her photos.

On 27 February my grandfather, Neil Snow Forsyth, recorded in his journal, "I received word that Father had passed away in Bountiful, Utah February 6th. I laid my men [doing carpentry] off until I got back. I phoned John on his farm, and Frank in Magrath [Alberta, Canada] and the 3 of us left for Utah the next morning on the train.

taken by Monica Snarr for 'Find A Grave'

"We attended Father's funeral in Bountiful on February 11th. I left to return home the next morning. Mother was very low with cancer and said she would soon follow father. All seven of their [living] children were there for Father's funeral. We had a good visit with Mother and she said not to come back for her funeral as it would not be long till she would go." **

Interment Book showing Forsyths
buried in Salt Lake City, Utah cemetery

A few years ago while visiting a son and his family in Salt Lake my husband and I visited the cemetery and, with permission, took some digital photographs of the Sexton's records there.

We also photographed some of the pages of the huge books showing the blocks, lots and ownership records.

We  located and again with permission photographed the interment records for George James Forsyth.

When we found the record for George James Forsyth we noticed his mother is also buried in the same lot, in a nearby plot.

Photo taken by Monica Snarr
Headstone of Isabella Donald Forsyth,
 mother of George James Forsyth.

A granddaughter with a keen sense of family history, Ruth Horne (daughter of Neil Snow Forsyth), visited the plot with us and identified the nearby broken and eroded red sandstone marker as Isabelle's grave stone.

photo by Monica Snarr

The Sexton's office also verifies that this location is her grave.

Family had her name and the name of one of her daughter's, Sevela D Forsyth, engraved on the back of the newer marker. We really appreciate Monica Snarr  posting  such pictures on 'Find A Grave' for us all to share.

Photo by Monica Snarr. (Chestnut/Behunin)
Forsyth lot looking south across plots
shows monuments in context.
 Gravestone for Thomas W. Forsyth
on left is a son to George and Sarah Forsyth.

The red sandstone marker near centre of photo  

is for the mother of George James Forsyth, 
Isabella Forsyth nee Donald.

This photo looking South West shows the back of the Forsyth headstone 'in context'  and also shows the back of the red sandstone marker. (We found this photo posted on Find a Grave by Chesunt/Behunin in November 2010)

The death certificate for George shows he had been 'attended' by a doctor for about a month before he died. Journals tell of the tender and loving care he received from his family.

I met some of his descendants at a Forsyth Reunion in Welling, Alberta, Canada in 1987. Some of his grandchildren and great grandchildren and even their children attended. How many of these cousins can you identify?

left to right:  D.R. Forsyth 1910, Alice his wife;
Mar Draper 1917; Ava Jensen 1912 [Elmer];
Wayne Draper [Mar's spouse]; Bell Smith 1914 [Travers];
Rhea Forsyth 1921; Donna Purnell;
Charles Heap Forsyth 1915, Thea his wife;
Glen Purnell [Donna's spouse]

Note: 2013 these are children of John James Forsyth 1881 [Jennie Heaps]

He and his family were well educated, industrious and hard working. Their names are found peppered through the history of the LDS church, the Mormon migration and pioneer settlement stories, and other historical records in the places they lived and worked.

Members of this family wrote personal journals and kept family histories. Many, many records are available to document my great grandfather's life. I am just beginning a quest to learn about him and his family. Reading them and collating the data in them will take a bit of time.

I am willing to share the information our family has.

What about you?
Did you know the Forsyth's or the Snow's?

Do you know of records I might read and research or copy?

**Neil Snow Forsyth History 
Chapter 5 - 1919 to 1940 page 6 compiled 1996 by daughter, Ruth Horne (Robert)

DEAR CLA-LA-LA

You were named after your maternal great grandfathers, Clarence Shelton and William David Campbell. On the pedigree you also have a paternal grandfather,William Henry Ames and many other William ancestors as the generations recede into the obscurities of great great (Charles William Buttars/ Warren William Campbell) and great great great (William Snow/ David William Campbell/ William Augustus Toman/ William Austin / William Stewart/ James William Huckins), and great to the nth power grandfathers.

Imagine our surprise when a good friend of your Grandpa Ames told us his name is William Clarence Bowden. He is your Aunt Jill's father. We just knew him as Bill.

I intended to call you Matt but it just wasn't you.
You WERE Clarence.

Just like your brother was Benjamin - not Ira.

When your Grandma Kit learned what we had decided to call you she was determined that you would be able to say your own name. Many children can not say the letter 'L' or else say it with a lisp. Each time she saw you she would repeat over and over to you, "Cla-la-la-la,  I la-la-la-love you."

Try to say that without your tongue being visible.
Go ahead try it.  You can't do it.
At least not audibly.
And certainly not the way she did.
She wanted you to see and mimic her tongue.

You thought it was a wonderful game and even as a tiny baby loved to stick out your own tongue and try to mimic hers.  As a child you always loved silly and funny games - wait - I don't think you ever grew out of that! You learned to blow 'raspberries' before you could even sit up.

And in spite of your sometimes goofy and 'laid back' attitude

you have always shown that you will 'go far' and accomplish whatever you put your mind to.

Cub Scout Arrow points almost to the hem, all the Weeblos pins,
and notice the 'knot', 'panda', and 'arrow of light'.

Your nickname naturally became Clala - often followed by "I lalalove you". And you were our most demonstrative child.

Thanks for your fun (and funny) loving ways.
We still la-la-la love you and always will.

And enjoy your birthday present.
Even if there is something 'fishy' about it.

You are likely one of the few kids in the world that might think fish is a fantastic birthday dinner. Happy Birthday! How soon do your insurance rates go down?? LOL