HAPPY THANKSGIVING

ANOTHER YEAR FULL OF GOD'S MANY BLESSING! May all of you have a great day remembering , and thanking Him for all that God has done for you this year. Also enjoy the meal and fellowship through out the day with family and friends.

Have a Great Day. HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Nov. 2 1894

Today would have been dad's 115th birthday. He died young at the age of 62. He was married when he was 26. Just thought I'd share a few things about him with you.

He was my favorite of the parents. Guess because ,since we were twins, the parents each took care of one of us and he was my care giver. His parents came from VerenProvince, in the Netherlands. They came to America because of Religious persecution. Children were baptized in cow sheds because the fear of using the churches.

They left Holland in 1848-landed in Baltimore-on to Columbia, Pa.--took a canal boat through the Susquehanna and Juniata Rivers---took a box car (drawn by stationary locomotives ) up the Alleghanney's an down a tunnel on the western slope -on to Pittsburgh. ---Continued west on the Ohio River--traveled by steamboat 1000 miles on to the Miss. at St. Louis. This took 3 weeks. His grandparents and 4 other couples moved on the Ia. They homesteaded at Orange City. Land cost $2.50 and acre and they could buy 80 or 160 at that price.

Dad's parents, Isaac, married --lived at Orange City for six years -- moved to Harrison, S. D. and lived there 14 years. Dad was born in S. D. In 1894 they moved back to OC by covered wagon. Isaac bought the homestead of his father. 8 years latter he died and 4 years after that his mother died. Dad was an orphan at an early age. The family stayed together on the homestead.

Dad was always a cut up-got into a lot of trouble- He broke his wrist, showing off, while jumping out of the hay lot.--wiped up spilled milk of his brother Lester and squeezed the milk back into Lester's glass--hid in his sister's trunk in their bedroom , to watch them get ready for bed.---etc.-etc.

At 23 he joined World War 1. Infantry #9 Company B- 2nd Division. He was at Camp Des Moines, Camp Pike in Little Rock , Ar. and France and Germany. He was in 4 of the 5 Drives. He received the Silver Star and the Purple Heart. In 1920 he was in a cast from his foot to his hip because of a knee injury--1926 a binder rod got jabbed into his hip---1934 he had his appendix removed (had to stay flat in bed for 9 days)---1946 he had his 1st heart attack on Thanksgiving day. Had another one in 1947 and had to remain in bed 9 week.

He was a tease, but was well liked. One day after coming home from the sale barn, Mom said-"I smell something" dad said-"Most be your breath" That did not set good. Mom really never had a sense of humor. He had his legs amputated in 1955, but continued to drive a car. He got Sam Zigtama's car, set up for him, because he was an army amputee. We built a new home for them in Maurice. He got the car from Sam-showed us how he could drive it so parked it in his new garage.(Went right through the other end) Backed it up and tried again. THAT WAS DAD.

I liked Dad. He had the longest funeral processions that people can remember--1 1/2 miles. Isn't it funny how you miss your friends. Enjoy the pictures. The top one is dad as Santa Claus--dad feeding the dog at lunch time ,in the field and my favorite--dad coming out of the outhouse.

Vacation

We just had a wonderful couple of days with the whole family. Mike and Belinda drove down to see us, but also enjoy a few days with the family, and some relaxation .

They came in Sat. afternoon. We had supper together and then they went out to Beaver Lake and stayed in one of Kim's cottages. Sunday we went to church and Mike graciously sang a special (had to twist his arm some) "My Redeemer is faithful and True" and it was just beautiful.

Monday Ev. and Gt. came to Rogers with their trailer and crafts and began to set up for the big fall War Eagle craft show which is this week. That evening we all went out to Famous Dave's and had just a wonderful night out together. The food was great and we stayed and chatted for about 2 hours.

They came and went each day, but stayed an hour or so each time. All went well and dad enjoyed it, and did really good. They had time to drive out to Roaring River--see some of the changing leaves--watch the many deer that get fed out by their cottage--play 18 holes of golf-- and go 4 wheeling with Rich and Cindy in Mark Twain Forest. They had a blast. Come again. Maybe the kids would also enjoy 4 wheeling.

Bertha and Marie

Way back in 1935 I went to school, in the third grade, with a very sweet girl ( a little Shirley Temple), by the name of Marie Visser. Her mother was a widow, living on a farm 1 1/4 north of Maurice, on Hwy. 75, with her 5 children. She had another sister, Bertha and 3 brothers.

One night ,after school, we visited Marie and stayed overnight. We were playing in the corn crib (most of us girls had playhouses in one of the cribs after the corn was out.) It was so funny-here came Ivan chasing Bertha with a pail of water. It turned out, it wasn't so funny. The hay stack was on fire. The fire truck came, saved all the buildings but lost the hay stack. In those day we still mixed baking soda in the water to fight the blaze.

The Visser's moved to Orange City a few years latter and I lost contact with them. While in College I met Bertha working in the GOLDEN RULE store. World War 11 was on, Bertha had a boyfriend in Germany. She was always so pleasant, and while working she'd be singing the top song of the day "Mares Eat Oats and Does Eat Oaks and Little Lambs Eat Ivy." Well, her boyfriend got killed. She became the Tulip Queen for the year and latter married a Van Gelder.

Marie married a Rowenhorst and lived on a home farm just out side of OC. I latter saw her in Meza, Az. while visiting Lois and Pete. Never saw her or talked to her otherwise in all that time.

Bertha past away at 88, in May. I, just on impulse, sent Marie a sympathy card and wrote a letter with it about old memories. GUESS WHAT? I got a telephone call yesterday and it was Marie. She appreciated that letter so and we just talked for a long time about old times. Since May she lost her great grandchild of, 8 mons. and she has had a lot of trouble and operations in regards to her gull bladder. She's fine now again.

Just that one telephone call made my day and days to come.

My Friend

Today I thought I'd send a picture of Sentner and Pugsley. They really are getting along fine. I did a bad job of getting a picture that wasn't blurred- but this is it. I took so many, even the dog got tired of it.

We are doing fine. Yesterday it was so cute. We watched an animal show on Halmark. Pugsley just sat like a little kid, about 3 feet from the screen and watched EVERYTHING that was going on. SJ really enjoyed watching him. He thinks he's so nice and likes it by us.

Fall Harvest

I talked to one of my friends from Iowa yesterday. She had been to Lebannon the other day and said the beans were really getting dried and it would not be long until harvest would start.

That brought back memories of the harvest for me. Nothing was automated like it is today, so that meant everything was done by hand. We had to pick our corn that way also. Every year , if you helped your parents do farm work, you could have a week off from school. So in the fall Lois an I got off and picked corn for that week.

We had a triple bang board wagon , hitched up with horses. We had special fleecy cotton gloves with two thumbs used special for picking corn,. When one thumb, and side wore out we would turn it over and use the other side. We had a metal hook on top of the glove on our right hand that would help strip the husk off of the ear, before we threw it on the wagon. Leaving any husk on the ear was a no-no. We would carry our lunch to the field, using gal. and 1/2 gal. syrup pails for our lunch bucket.

Generally we would be out to the field about 7:30. Pick until near noon. Unload our 50 bushels of corn picked that morning--have dinner and go back and pick another 50 in the afternoon.. Harry De Jager always helped dad pick each fall and he bragged about how much Lois and I could pick each day. He could pick 100 bushels a day but the two of us could also.

I remember one morning it was especially cold and damp. We were picking in the back 40 that morning. It wasn't nice. The wet corn stalks were hitting us in the face all the time- We had rubbers on, but our feet were wet and cold. Well-Lois had enough. She walked home about 9 and never did come back.

We picked two rows at a time. The one who picked in the row closest to the wagon would pick ahead of the one in the back row. That way no one got hit with an ear when throwing it on the wagon and the last one double checked if the front one picked EVERY ear. (Course, I never left any behind).

We got paid well, but it still took us 2 1/2 year to save enough to buy a $24.50 Bolovia watch. Isn't that something? My how things have changed.

Promise

I promised to send a poem along the next time I blogged about Sj. Here it is.

DO NOT ASK ME TO REMEMBER, DON'T TRY TO MAKE ME UNDERSTAND. LET ME REST AND KNOW YOU'RE WITH ME, KISS MY CHEEK AND HOLD MY HAND.

I'M CONFUSED BEYOND YOUR CONCEPT, I AM SAD AND SICK AND LOST. ALL I KNOW IS THAT I NEED YOU- TO BE WITH ME AT ALL COST.

DO NOT LOSE YOUR PATIENCE WITH ME, DO NOT SCOLD OR CURSE OR CRY. I CAN'T HELP THE WAY I'M ACTING, CAN'T BE DIFFERENT ' THOUGH I TRY.

JUST REMEMBER THAT I NEED YOU, THAT THE BEST OF ME IS GONE. PLEASE DON'T FAIL TO STAND BESIDE ME, LOVE ME 'TIL MY LIFE IS DONE.

We had a bad day so far today. About 4 am he woke up and wanted to know how I found my way home without getting lost. I knew things were not right. He rambled on and muffled all his words. I said, it wasn't easy, but I made it. "Where is the car now" In the garage. "How long have we been gone?" I think about three weeks. "Where have we been" We just took a little ride and stopped at various places. He went back to sleep.

When he awoke at 7:30, I asked if he wanted to go to church? We have not been going to SS. lately. (Much to confusing). Yes, he wanted to. So when he got out of bed, he didn't even wash up or shower, but I suggested he run the wash rag over his face and shave. He has not been taking a shower for at least 5 days, so will suggest he do so tomorrow. His hair is badly in need of a shampoo.

We had breakfast-he put on his Better shirt but kept the same everyday pants on. (I really didn't care.) He doesn't get dirty anyway and his clothing is all in good repair. Then he was antsie until we left for church at 10:15. Where is my collection--where is my comb--where were we for 3 weeks--do I need my cane--etc.

As people welcomed him at church he had to tell them all we had been traveling for the last 3 weeks. He likes the new minister-but couldn't tell you what he preached on nor can he find books in the Bible or numbers in the hymn book without help any more.

He is very tired today and was asleep before I even had his BLT made up at dinner time. I feel so bad for him--but knew this was coming. He still is so gentle and sweet-I can't help but love him, although some times my patience's get very thin.

Isn't this weather something else. I put a blanket on the bed last night and had it up to my shoulders by morning. Suppose to get colder tonight. Heard Mn. had 39 this morning. On our 50th we went fishing in Mn. over the 1st part of Sept. , with Alan and Hendrene,- and it was so hot yet the fish were still out in the deep water.

See you next time. May you all have a great week.