A Grandparent's Wish - Clean Your Plate

I remember going to my Grandma Park's or Crane's for special holidays and meals. It seemed their greatest wish was that we eat everything on our plate. Their cooking wasn't quite as delicious as my own mother's was. Their food was heavier, browned more and not as tasty. It was almost as hard for me to eat everything they offered, as it was for them to see me try to do it.

Now my grand children are the same. They won't eat it no way, no how! It is impossible to bribe them. If it looks weird or different their mouths are clamped shut. Famous last words are, "I'm full!" Yeah, right! Within an hour they are starving and crying for food, treats and such. What is the solution? I have to look the other way. It may cause frustration or regret. They aren't the first to not enjoy something I cook. This too shall pass.

The first two meals I prepared for my little guests went down as failures. Fortunately the scones, hash browns, chicken nuggets and pizza were a success. If nothing else, we must try, try again. Eventually and occasionally some child some where will lick their plate clean. Maybe even at my house. Success!!

Choose to be Grateful

Are you caught on the roller coaster of 'Woe is me' or 'wow is me'? It is so easy to get discouraged and think we are being picked-on. We choose to let it get us down or rise above it. "WE" choose!

The Crane family has been blessed with a mighty force of great leaders, ancestors, health, jobs, talents and gifts from God. Being optimistic is a wonderful thing. Look at all the good things that have come into your life this year and thank the Lord.

The Cricket That Came to Visit

yes, we have a cricket in the house. I noticed him a few days ago, early in the morning in the kitchen. It sounded like he was behind the refrigerator then the window. It was the same thing the next day, except he was in the plant by the sink. I thought he was gone, until I heard him down the hall from our bedroom.

I had to close the door, so I could sleep. I do believe he is stalking us. There are probably more thatn one, a family taking over the place. It's better to have a cricket than a mouse or spider, although I am sure we have them, too. O what to do. We are being invaded by critters of all kinds.

Happy Halloween cricket and may the Cranes be with you.

Many Missionaries Mean Mucho Blessings

In less than one week our sixth missionary (three men and three women) of the family will be embarking on her mission entering the MTC (Missionary Training Center). There are three from Paula's family and three from Keri's (serving at the same time). At the MTC young men and women from around the world come together to prepare to serve the Lord.

"Each Wednesday several hundred missionaries enter the Provo MTC and others throughout the world. The eager missionaries enter an exciting world of learning. The MTC curriculum consists of up to 12 weeks of studying doctrine, learning to teach the gospel of Jesus Christ effectively, and developing excellent communication skills." (from website)

Dean, who has been serving the longest is in Florida.

Stephanie is in Arizona. She has helped with a temple open house, had Emily as a companion for one day doing splits and will return in February.

.

Lisa is serving in Arkansas and about half way through with her mission. She has braved tornadoes, storms and bugs

Derrick left in August for Georgia. His apartment is next door to a gentleman that Dean taught in Florida (small world).

Brandon, the youngest of the group, just arrived in Brazil less than twenty-four hours ago. He waited the longest from receiving his call to leaving, and is more than ready to begin.

Emily, the oldest and only one who has a college degree, will leave for Guam after her training at the MTC. She is the last to go.

Your great grandfathers would be so proud you are carrying on the work of the Lord. May His blessings rain down upon you and your families.

Seeing the Past in the Present

I was recently at a museum and took pictures of some things we used to use, such as a butter churn, treadle sewing machine and an old ice box refrigerator. These items take me back to: The days when there was enough sour cream from the cow milking, that Mom got the butter churn out. She filled it with the old sour cream. We were tasked to turn the wheel until it thickened to butter. It seemed to take forever, but everything to a child is a long time. Rinsing the buttermilk out of the butter, adding some yellow dye and salt, was a mother's job. We liked butter until margarine came out. The novelty of it in the rectangular cubes and its salty taste took over until we were adults. Getting a finger full of margarine then sticking it into sugar, then popping it in our mouth was a divine and quick treat. Today, I can't imagine what we were thinking and can't stand margarine.

An abandoned Old Ice Box full of discarded magazines stood in my grandparents yard for years. The cousins and I played house with it, opening and closing the door as the weeds grew and were pulled to make room for our playmaking. Many a child suffocated in old refrigerators after being locked in. We never tried that because it was full of old stuff.

Talk about old stuff, Grandma Crane's Singer treadle sewing machine, was used almost everyday to make dresses, mend overalls and create master pieced quilts. Her size five feet pressed that treadle back and forth, up and down for many years until Grandpa bought her a new electric Singer. She died before it wore out, but many of us wanted to have that faithful machine. I always think of her when I see an old Singer.

We begin to appreciate our past when we see it in the present and know it no longer exists except in our mind.

Memories of Mom

We recently celebrated my mother's birthday. We got together for dinner. It is funny how old, simple items spark your memory of those things we took for granted and don't give another thought to until they are gone.

Mom loved making Chiffon and angel food cakes. We gobbled them up almost faster than it took to bake them. Having an unlimited supply of eggs from the farm, helped because these cakes take eight eggs each.

When the new automatic clothes washers came on the market in the '60's, Mom was too loyal to her Twin Tub Dexter. She wouldn't even consider getting one. "They don't make the clothes as clean," she said.

She was an expert bread maker often telling us the secret was in the kneading of the dough. Without fail, her loaves were trophy pieces on display at the house for the afternoon. In one meal a loaf would be inhaled and enjoyed to the max. Yup, it is wonderful to reflect on what made her special and unique.

Hailing a Hay Baler Near You

Most of first crop hay has been put in the stack or hauled to the barn. Second crop hay is just a week or so away. And wouldn't you know it a storm is threatening. No one is surprised, but the secret is knowing when to cut the alfalfa so it will dry and be baled before or between storms, to avoid mold from the moisture. Dad also did custom cutting and baling, so we were always pushing to finish. If the hay was too dry, we baled at night or early in the morning. This early morning sunrise farm picture with bales in the field, reminded me of the days we marched to the beat of the swather, baler and bales. I can smell the rich, warm grassy odor now, and hear the song of a meadow lark singing. Both take me back to the good ole' days of my youth.