Sisters Smiling Sweetly

Four Crane sisters together.  Smiling are we.

Posing, performing and happy as can be.

From oldest to youngest and feeling free.

Glad to be part of a great family.

We were able to attend the wedding of Paula's daughter, Emily, at the Winter Quarters Temple in February.  I just saw this cute photo taken.  It was a great time to be spending time together.  

Weeding, One Wheelbarrow at a Time

Mom was always weeding, her yard or mine.
I do too, filling wheelbarrows.  It's so fine.
See a weed, my body makes a bee-line;
After a storm, they fly out as I dine.

I have lost count of how many wheelbarrow loads sent off to the trash this spring.   The best time to do it, is after a storm when the soil is soft.   The weeds pull out so easily.   If you wait, the weeds soak up the moisture and dry out the soil.   It's hard on our backs.   Those big weeds are stubborn, too.   But in the spring, you can cover a lot of ground in a short amount time.   We know who is BOSS!!   Mom, did too. 

Cruising Amid the Cactus

While cruising amidst the cactus I saw,
This one that stood out, and I was in awe.
I called it the zebra for it's white paw.
Wouldn't want to run into it though. Naw!

This time of year they are growing and have a unique beauty of their own.   This cactus was my favorite and came in all sizes, so did the spikes on them.  

Storm Scaring Snow Shovels

Will snow shovels scare a storm away?

An antidote for bad weather today.

With spring in full bloom, it is okay,

To store them for next year.  Go out & play.

I saw these shovels leaning up against Sandy's house a week ago.  It was a warm spring day.   It looked like they were there to prevent storms.   I had to laugh, when I saw them.   Since then it has snowed three inches.   It all melted within a few hours and there was no need to shovel.   Maybe this is their storage spot.    If you need one for next year, get it now.   Happy Spring!!

4 Wheeling Out West

Four wheeling in Mesquite.  It's a perfect place.
The warm, dry, desert and the sun in your face.
Logandale's red rocks, have beauty and grace.
Go slow, take your time or you can even race.

We enjoyed last weekend in Nevada with our side by side four wheeler.  Discovering the trails east of town, red sand and Joshua trees for miles.   Then took them out to Logandale's red rocks, near the Valley of Fire monument.   

Polaris Razors were abundant and fast.  
It'd be great to have one, with a flag mast.
Don't go too fast and end up in a cast.
The trip was short, but the memories will last.

Two days riding went way to fast.  We want to go back, but the memories will last. 

Wedding Wishes & Weeping

 

Sending a loving couple wedding wishes.

Way past young and glad to find their fishes.

Performed by a brother, who is the Bish's.

Now to open gifts and some new dishes.

 

 

My nephew, Adam, is a bishop.   He was able to perform the ceremony for his brother.  He said,  "He was happy to marry his wife, and now he is marrying his brother."  We all laughed.

We are all so happy this couple who have waited many years to find the perfect person.  Both are amazing people and needed the chance to enjoy married life.   May they have many happy years together.  

Anniversary And Antiques

In March we celebrate deaths and birthdays.

Mom's on the sixth, remembering her always.

Found in her cedar chest treasures and displays.

She saved for special times and come what mays.

I get them out and use because she never did.  Why is it?  We save those special things for a rainy day, then it never comes and we don't ever use it.  After death, these things don't mean as much to our kids.  Who even knows what they were for or from.  Here on the right is Mom's wedding veil.  I  wish I had known, she had it.   I could have worn it for my own wedding.  Instead I borrowed one from a friend.   Some crocheted sweaters and doilies, probably Sandra's.  Who made them, Grandma Crane?  The green and floral table cloth on the left, I use in the spring.   Where did it come from?  Don't know.

Please use your special things now so you can wear them out instead of someone else that doesn't care. 

Days Down on the Crane Farm

In the old days on the farm, we sold eggs.
Daily, we fed and gathered them amongst their legs.
Dad woke us with a holler to get up, sometime he begs.
With a bucket of mash and a pail and we fed the crags.

Pictured is the 'Egg House', a small insulated shed sandwiched between the chicken coops.  It kept the eggs cool and safe until we cleaned them for market.  On the wall Mom wrote the 'Egg prices'.  They were $1 a dozen and sometimes less.  As you can see we had different sizes.  The farm has been sold and now all we have is memories and some pictures of our past. 

My Milk is Much Better

We disagree on which kind of milk is best.
Each has a favorite we've put to the test.
1 and 2 percent have beat out the rest.
Glad we have so much and know we are blessed.

We are a two milk family.  I like 1 percent or skim and Allan like 2 percent.  I wont allow him to buy whole milk.  Although growing up we both drank raw whole milk fresh from the cow.   My brother, Jim, then later Nile, milked the cows twice daily.  We sold it in glass gallon bottles for $1.  I never had to limit how much milk to drink.   I attribute my strong healthy bones to growing up on a farm.

Crazy About Christmas Choirs

Who loves to hear the many Christmas choirs.
The beloved songs remind us of church spires.
Makes us feel cozy and warm like at campfires,
Pinching our hearts like a pair of pliars.

I had the privilege of attending some parties where two choirs performed.  Riverton Madrigals in their lovely lavender vests, ties and dresses were full of energy and smiles.  I loved the catchy songs and choreography.   The exact number of men and women.  These kids are destined to bring joy to the world with their talents for years to come. 

The Mountain Chorale had gorgeous selections and many distinct parts.  One of my favorites was Do You Hear What I Hear.   Their voices blended and floated me along as on a peaceful plane.  The clarinet, violin and recorder added a lovely sound.

Christmas Isn't About Black Friday

Who's sick of the ads about Black Friday? They're like the elections and get in the way. Every day they offer a 'Deal'. Go away! Leave us alone. Let us enjoy our play.

This bird seems to be saying, "Leave me alone! I'll worry about it later, not now!" Businesses greedy to get their share of the goods are bombarding us with Black Friday sales every day. It seems to be more important than the Christmas holiday. No one has even mentioned Christ or Christmas. It makes me want to boycott shopping at any of their stores. I'll do it my way. Fortunately, it was much easier and slower paced when we were young. I'm glad our parents didn't go all out to make Christmas more about the commercial and presents than about family and Christ. I feel so sorry for my children and grand children facing the barrage out there.

Spanking New Spatulas

I got some spatulas, red and spanking new! My old ones were crinkled and dying, too. I had to get red ones instead of blue. Not the right color, but work nice and will do.

I think of my mom when it comes to spatulas. We were always making cakes or goodies. Spatulas were a necessity for those jobs. Hers were always dingy white, just like mine in the photo. After this picture, I tossed them out. Yeah, they were waaaayyy overdue for getting a new set. At least that is what Allan said. I probably, like my mom, could have used them another month or so.

Zucchini Tales

Every year I'm not gonna let one get big. But, overnight they grow into a fat pig. Hiding under the massive leaves acting like a twig. Then I discover them, feeling like a prig.

No matter their size, I cant throw them away. Many of the large ones I have saved for winter. They last for several months. Use them in soups, salads, smoothies or baked goods. They may be used in many forms such as: shredded (my favorite), chunks, sliced and so on. If it's too late to salvage one for this year, do it next year.

Frank About Family Farms

I like to think our family farm is cool. And it was, but not like this one. I'm no fool. It takes lots of work to keep it up, more than a mule? Family spending time together is the best tool.

Oh, that our farm could have looked like this one from the internet. It is a mirage. Buildings weather, animal pens need mucking, weeds grow, implements wear out and if your are not vigilant, a farm can quickly look run down. Ours does. After Dad died it went from bad to worse. But we still own it and dream about the times we worked the land, fixed the breakdowns, milked the cows and now love every minute that we hated it.

Photo Finish Frenzy

Getting a family photo is very rare. To be dressed and ready with well combed hair. Mostly it's a battle to get everyone there. So these folks get a star. I'm glad to share.

Harder than pulling teeth is my experience to have a full family photo. Of course, Paula's gang has a few missing. Beautiful, nonetheless. The larger the family the harder it is to achieve the impossible. Why then did I see a fifty plus group setting, with every person color coded and smiling at a friend's house? Must have bribed them or threatened within an inch of their lives.

Maybe you are more successful than I am.

Quilting the Sacred Grove

Grandma Eugenia Crane was a quilting queen. She could sew up a patchwork quilt so mean. They came in colors of red, blue, and green. This of the Sacred Grove would show her love lean.

At the Springville quilt show, this quilt won honors of the Sacred Grove. The pieces of fabric painted and matched to look like trees in the forest. Grandma would love it. It was my favorite one too.

Kick Back Kids Remembering Past Summers

As kids we roamed the fields of our grandparents farms. But when it came to doing our own chores, we complained like a wining horse. We lived on a small farm of seven acres. Our family had chickens to feed, horses, pigs, cows to milk, fields of hay to bale. Mom always had a big sprawling daily producing garden. It was our job to pick the cukes, beans, squash, tomatoes and such. This time of year we had to help bottle the extra produce. Like any child we would rather be playing. I loved roller skating, riding my Schwinn bike and wasting time watching TV.

Dad made a big A-frame swing set that had tire seats. We loved to swing in. We also had a rusty metal kiddie push-peddle car to drive around. When I spied this car show model, it reminded me of those days when time stood still.

My grandkids have had the bright plastic red and yellow car I bought a few years ago at the DI. It is a kid magnet, as the little ones climb in, out and over it. Their time stands still now and ours races down the track like that old horse. We are still wining.

Classic Crane Car

I saw this water bag at a car show. It's to guarantee a gasket doesn't blow, Heated radiator or some such, You know. When I was a kid, we had one too, just so.

Ours wasn't as new as this one, because it was filled and reused over and over. It hung on the grill of the car catching all the bugs and dirt as we tripped from state to state. We were mostly sitting on the side of the road, broke down, waiting for a Good Samaritan to help us out. This week was my parents anniversary. This reminded me of them when I saw it and wanted to share. Thanks, Mom and Dad for taking us with you everywhere.

Flying on the Ferris Wheel

We rode the big Ferris Wheel at Scheels. We're not afraid of heights. It cost two bills. As a kid with my mom, it held many thrills. Check one more bucket list item it fills.

Every year when the family went to Lagoon, we would always ride the Ferris Wheel. That's because there were a dozen free rides on our company amusement park pass, and this was one of them. I often felt it was my mom's favorite ride. As she was always begging us to ride with her. When the giant Ferris Wheel was built, it was considered one of the scary rides. Ha, ha! Today it pales in comparison to the ones people attempt.

When Scheel's, the new sports store opened a few years ago, it had a giant Ferris Wheel in the center of the store, kids lined up to ride it. I secretly wanted to do it, too. I waited for a few years until the demand dropped. Last week with nothing to do, we visited there and took the leap onto the giant swing. It was super fun and felt like old times.

DUP Did It All - Historical Marker

I belong to the Daughters of Utah Pioneers. These, our ancestors have been here for years. From 1847 to 1867 they came here in tears. Let's give these great DUP women ten cheers!!!

On a trip to East Carbon, Utah, I saw this beehive looking historical marker. We stopped to take a close-up look. How fun to discover it was a Daughters of Utah Pioneers monument. There are hundreds through out the Inter-state Region, built years ago by enterprising women to honor their ancestors. These must have taken years to design, build and pay for.

As a girl when we went on road trips, my parents always wanted to stop and see the historical markers. We often grew tired of it, but know the work these recent ancestors did was remarkable. Now seldom does anyone even notice them. In fact, many have been defaced and damaged. Thanks to these great folks for keeping the memory of our forefathers alive.