What is to Love

Have you ever wondered why some folks are famous authors and others just don't seem to have the drive it takes to achieve? This a.m. as I was outside working in the garden I decided why I do not write but garden instead.

Some folks just get joy from smaller spots in life. I think that I should have been a professional gardener. I am always happy when I am tinkering around with plants. Yes, I would rather be gardening. I think a few of my ancestors have given me the gardening gene.

My Grandmother Smith, a 40-year plus classroom teacher, also loved being outdoors in the summer. She loved flowers and every year she had a flower garden at the front of the house. She always received compliments on how beautiful everything looked. My growing up years, we always had a vegetable garden. My Aunt Renee, who at that time lived in an apartment, and my grandmother planted all sorts of vegetables behind our home on Carbon Avenue in Price. Then, even though our cooking was done on a coal stove, the canned everything that they grew that could be canned. Potatoes, onions and carrots were stored in the fall, as were the pumpkins and squashes. They were dedicated to gardening. Those were the days when everyone had a Victory Garden.

According to Wikipedia: "Victory gardens, also called war gardens or food gardens for defense, were vegetable, fruit and herb gardens planted at private residences and public parks in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Germany during World War I and World War II to reduce the pressure on the public food supply brought on by the war effort. In addition to indirectly aiding the war effort these gardens were also considered a civil "morale booster" — in that gardeners could feel empowered by their contribution of labor and rewarded by the produce grown. This made victory gardens become a part of daily life on the home front."

My Grandfather Tom Pitts was a farmer. He wasn't the most successful farmer I knew but he always had vegetables from his garden, fruit from his own trees, eggs from his chickens, milk from his cows, and raised beef and pork. He was, of course, more successful at the trucking and construction work he did. He was more of a hobbiest farmer but the milk that Grandma Ruth sold was, of course, a nice benefit to the family.

Historically, of course, I come from a long line of farm folk. My English ancestors, on the Smith side of the family, were landowners who ran a farm in England. The Danes were also people who farmed. Several ancestors came to America early to Jamestown and with the Mayflower. There were those who fought in the American Revolution. One was a landowner in Virginia. That family ended up being divided in loyalties because one was converted to the LDS church. They ended up on opposite sides during the Civil War but remained loving brothers.

The upshot of all of this information, of course, is that I seem to have enjoyed a love of gardening that I seem to have come by naturally.

Alligator Farm in Buena Park

This was the park that Aunt Jessie and Uncle Gilbert took Grandmother Smith and I to when we were visiting one summer. We liked to go to California because that was where Grandmother Smith's family had relocated. It wasn't a huge family and so, as all families do, they liked to spend time together. 

Aunt Jessie and Uncle Gilbert lived there and Great-Grandmother Mina lived with them. Uncle Frank and Aunt Menetta Pritchett and Aunt Jessie's only daughter, Betty Fexer and her family, also lived in California. It was a great time when we visited. It was filled with trips to the beach and trips to other sites around the area. This was just one of the places we went.

On an earlier post, there is that photo of me riding the alligator and a little history about the photo. I just found this site and enjoyed reading some of the comments that had been left by people like me. I left one myself.

Alligator Farm in Buena Park
Thursday, February 09, 2006  Buena-Park, Zoos  62 comments
Did you know there was once an alligator farm in Buena Park?

It was adjacent to Knott's Berry Farm on La Palma Ave. The Radisson Suites Hotel now sits on the old spot. I always wanted to go there, but my folks would never take me there. 

We collected a few alligator farm memories from folks during the old days of OCThen, and posted them below...

By: Chrissey, 20 Aug 2002

The alligator farm was fun, but they scared me. The alligators were very quiet and had a harness on and people would sit on the alligator and have their pic taken. Both the Alligator Farm and Knotts seemed so far away from L.A.

By: Pat Swift, 9 Aug 2002

I remember taking my son's there (Alligator Farm). We were amazed at how a snake felt. We were always interested in the alligators but watching how fast a cobra or rattlesnake could strike was the main attraction for us.

By: Ross, 13 June 2002

Being there when I was about 6 or 7. I am now 48, I have had a facination with alligators and crocodiles all my life. I currently live in Boise, Idaho and have 2 pet american alligators (Forest and Bubba). I remember my mom taking me and my brother there it had to be like 1960 or 1961, they had baby gators for sale in the gift shop, and of course I wanted one, but didn't get one. But, I was trying to figure out where a Southern California kid would develop and interest like this. I was talking to my dad and he said he remember the Los Angelos Alligator farm in Lincoln Heights LA, well I did some research and sure enough it started there in like 1905, and then moved to Buena Park, where it was until about 1986. Anyway, I wish I could have gone there as an adult before it closed. Little trivia, they moved all the gators and crocs by private Boeing 707 to an estate in Florida owned by the inventor of Naultilus workout equipment!

By: John Nemeth, 15 Jan 2002

What a great place if you were a herpatologist. They had almost every species of crocodile, many rare species that are seldom seen. The place was always deserted, not well known as a popular tourist attraction. They did snake shows with cobras.

By: Mark Wallace, 31 Dec. 2001

Remember the Alligator Farm across the street from Knott's? This was such a great creepy place that had been there forever. Full of giant alligators, croc's and tortoises, snakes and lizards. I still have dreams about this place eventhough it was torn down years ago.

I have been thinking

I think that Alyssa should be commended for doing such a good job watching Kirsten's children while Kirsten and Jared were gone. I know what a good job she did. The most difficult thing would have been to care for sick kids. I have been there without Dad and there is a lot of driving in addition to the mothering and housework. 

I have been thinking about myself at age 19 and about the 12 children my bishop (A. Dean Wengreen)  and his wife  (Margaret) had. They went on a trip one summer (I don't really remember where) with a group of other seminary teachers and left all of those kids with my friend Venice (also 19). A couple of the kids got really sick and she, because we were friends and because the kid's mom thought it was a good idea, had to call me to come and help. It took both of us to fix simple meals, care for the sick kids and keep a meager semblance of order. Venice had one older brother. I had younger cousins but had no experience whatsoever with tiny tots that needed diaper changes, stories read and constant tending. Both of  us were out of our comfort zone. It was quite an experience. I really do not remember how long we were at it but it did seem forever. The mom had put lots of things in the freezer but the kids only would eat things like mac and cheese and corn. (They loved Brownies.)

As I was thinking about that experience, I was thinking how great it would have been had Megan been out of school and could have gone with Alyssa to help out. It is so nice to have someone to tag team with. Since Dad has retired, and can go with me, we have mostly done the tending together for those who needed us. When Kirsten moved after Ryan was born, however, Dad came back home and I stayed there a week or so without him. (I did get her unpacked and somewhat organized.) I do know that it is easier to have a two-person child-care team.  It is so hard to get up all night long and then take care of everyone during the day. 

So I am proud of Alyssa. I think that she needs to be complimented. Please show this to her and tell her that we love her and we are proud of her for hanging in there.

One Down, One to Go!

LHT had his right eye operated on to remove the cataract this morning. We are home, have had supper and are dozing but I am trying to keep my eyes open. It really is too early to go to bed. I seem to sleep about five hours a night whether I need to or not. I don't know what happened to the girl I used to be who could sleep through anything.

We were in Provo at the surgical center at 5:45 a.m. Yes, I drug myself out of bed at 3:30 a.m. so that we could be ready and drive to the place. It is in the Riverwoods area so we thought we might have some trouble finding it but we printed the directions off of Google and we were able to get there easily. The doctor showed up at 7 a.m. and LHT was all prepped and ready. He went into the operating room shortly thereafter (about 7:10). They do not knock you out but make you a bit "comfortable" with meds. The surgery was done by about 7:45 a.m. because it only takes 30 minutes or so to do. Then he had to wait there for a bit.

I met some nice people my age, Stephensens, who were also waiting. (She had a later appointment. LHT was first.) We chatted about Nauvoo, farming and things old folks like us have in common. Then they called me back and in a short time we were ready to leave.

We were at AnnMarie's by about 9 a.m. I took a short nap (thanks for that Ams--she worked from her front steps so she would be quiet). LHT also had a nap but a bit longer. I then talked AnnMarie to death and had a good visit (for me) but I probably kept her from getting her church calling work done. LHT woke up, we had lunch, and went to the doctor's office at 1:30 p.m. The doctor did an extensive post-op exam and his staff set up appointments and made certain that I understood how to do the medicated eye drops (three kinds three times a day). We left there, stopped and got fuel and came home. We were home about 5 p.m.

All went so very well. Thanks Jim and Brandon for taking time on Mother's Day to give him a blessing because all went as Brandon had pronounced. The surgery was so successful and so easy on LHT that the doctor set up an appointment to do the left eye next Wednesday, on the 22nd. That will be done on Dr. Scott Lohner's day performing the surgery in Nephi at our same-day surgery. He comes here once a month. He and LHT decided to do the first surgery in Provo so that it could be over and done with much more quickly. Doing the surgery in Nephi will be a bit easier on us because we will only have to travel out to our hospital and can come home and then go back. We will not need to be up so early and will not need to crash at AnnMarie's though that was really nice to be able to do.

If all goes as well as it did this time, we will still be able to make Sorina's piano recital that evening at 6 p.m. I will have to drive, of course. By then, neither contact will be usable and LHT will need a new prescription. That will be another two weeks down the road.

I am just thankful that he has not been in pain and has been able to rest (what he is doing now at 6:24 p.m.). There is little swelling and no discomfort though the doctor warned us that everybody is different and that some people do have pain and swelling.

We are blessed.

Letter to the Family

This week, we have several birthdays. David's was on Sunday, AnnMarie and A.J. will celebrate on Tuesday and little Jens will be age two on Friday. Hopefully, everyone has money inside their envelopes. ;) I had Gramps look while I was putting the money inside so, if there is a mistake, it took two of us to make it.

I remember the excitement we felt as we wecomed each new addition to our family. What joy we knew then and that joy has just grown over the years.

Auntie Helen is healing well. Her knee is nearly better and she will be able to have Nanci go home. Nanci has been so good to stay the entire time that Auntie has needed her. As you know, because she writes, Auntie Eva is still doing as well as she can. She does not have a car anymore but she does have a motorized cart that she can use to get around closeby.

Matthew really injured himself Saturday when he crashed and burned on a friend's motor scooter. He has some bad injuries to his knee and elbow. Auntie AnnMarie is doing her best to help him heal with her nursing/doctoring ability.

The other grandchildren are all doing well. You know that Braden is now in Peru. Siovhan was nominiated for an Emmy. Alyssa is going to be in a musical this summer. Donovin's ball team is doing well. Dane and Kyle are graduating. Kyle and his father get to travel Europe this summer because of the TimpView music department. Each grandchild has achieved in all kinds of activities. We see some of the performances, like Emily's and Tyler's via Facebook postings. We just are so proud. We are proud of our missionary grandsons and the work they are doing to aid their fellow beings.

We have been very, very busy at the temple the past two weeks. Of course, we usually are as the universities are out for the summer. That is a time when all of the young people chose to marry so we are accustomed to that. However, this year has been a bit different. We are getting many young men who are soon to graduate from high school and will be leaving on missions in the next few weeks. I can only imagine what that has been like--getting ready for graduation and getting ready for a mission at the same time. Also, I have been over the specail dressing room, as part of my calling, for the women. We have had a great number of young women, age 19, who are now preparing to leave for missions. Each mission, I am certain, benefit from the willingness of the youth in stepping up to serve.

We have also had big sessions at the temple with women filling the sessions as part of the "Dressed in White" program. That has been most helpful and we hope will continue to bring people to the temple. We have seen many people from our youth and folks that used to live near us in Carbon County and also many who lived in Nephi at one time or another.

Some of us sisters were laughing at a time line that one of the sisters had filled out with her personal feelings. There was a large space between birth and age 20. Then, each decade, the space got smaller between the decade marks. Finally, she had drawn age 70 and several letters "s" and had followed that with age 80 and a large "P" which she then explained. It seems that life streateches out before us with lots of time to accomplish our goals when we are young. Then we hit age 70 and the scared age, when we know time will be short. Then comes age 80 and the panic sets in. We know that we will never get our 30-years worth of repenting done in the time we have left. None of us will be here in another 30 years and, if we are, we may not even know who we are. The upshot is, do not wait for deathbed repentence. Do as you should while you are young.

"As we draw near to God, He will draw near to us. And day by day, the hope of God’s light will grow within us, 'brighter and brighter until the perfect day.'" —Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "The Hope of God's Light"

We wish you well. We are praying for your success and for your happiness. Keep up the good work. We love you.

About Dad

That was one LONG day for both of us. The surgery was scheduled for 11 a.m. Just before we left home, they called and scheduled it for an hour and a half later. We still waited and waited. They finally took Dad in at 3 p.m. By the time all was said and done, we did not leave there until dusk. I got to drive home in the dark. :) (You all know how I love that.) But it was not bad. Poor Dad, he had gone without food since 7 p.m. the night before. Thanks to Julie, we came home to roast and brown rice which she had cooked and left in the oven for us. I tried to get Dad to eat a banana on the way but he did not feel like it. (WHAT?? You know how he loves slightly green bananas. He must feel really lousy.)

When I say it was a long day for both of us, that is because I had to impatiently (I was the impatient one, not Dad.) wait with Dad. I was perched on a little doctor's stool. They took us back to the prep room not long after we got there and got Dad ready. Then we waited and waited and waited. Of course, if it had been Dad who was the person needing the extra time we would have been thankful that the doctor gave him the time so we tried to be cheerful.

Dad looks pretty good, considering that they cut out a chunk of his eyelids. They also tightened the muscle that holds the eyes open. He has wide, wide eyes now, even though they are both black. The doctor said that by morning we can expect them to be swollen shut so, for a few more days, no one will be able to see how wide and nice they are. He has to sleep either in a recliner or on top of three pillows. He gets to wear an ice bag over his eyes for the next couple of days off and on. He gets to take extra-strength Tylenol for the next couple of days, as well. I was feeling really sorry for him until they wheeled another patient into the same discharge room we were in. It is sort of a little good-bye room with recliners that they have the patient sit in until they have their sea legs and while the spouse (or whatever) goes to get the car. The woman's whole lower jaw was swathed in an elastic-style brace/bandage and she was complaining about extreme pain. I still feel sorry for Dad, of course, but I am glad he was not in that situation. UGH!

In six weeks we go back to the doctor. And, hopefully, that should be that.

Dad's RN was a person that Auntie Helen had trained in nursing. Her maiden name was Anderson. Her first name was Alys (said Alice). She was so happy to wait on a relative of Auntie's that we got the royal treatment. She was the nurse who got him ready for the surgery and who kept tabs on him while we waited and waited. (The Primary song: "Pioneer Children Sang As They Walked and Walked and Walked" made me think of Dad. "LHT joked as he waited and waited and waited. . .")

I am just thankful that, even though I drove through the rush hour traffic of Salt Lake City, I got us home in one piece and that I did not make any driving mistakes. When they remodeled the freeway, they should have added a fifth and sixth lane I am thinking. We did the bumper to bumper traffic on the way to Provo and I was in the HOV lane. What does that tell you? At least I didn't have to worry about speeding. 

I just gave Dad his last meds of the day and fixed his ice pack so he is tucked in for the night (or until the ice melts). I am heading to bed myself. 

We love you all.

My Own Creation

Myrna's Very Own Jell-O 'N Pudding Cake

I made this cake up for a church award I was working on.

1 small package cherry Jello gelatin

1 large package Jello chocolate pudding mix, regular cook-style

1/2 cup cooking oil

4 egg whites

1 cup milk

1 3/4 cup plus 2 Tablespoons flour

1 teaspoon cream of tartar

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

Stir all dry ingredients together in a large mixing bowl. Add liquid ingredients and blend on low speed of electric mixer. Then beat on high speed for 2 minutes. Pour cake into lightly greased pans (2 8-inch layer pans or 1 9X13 pan). Bake at 375 degrees for 25 minutes for the layer pans and 30 minutes for the 9X13 sized pan. Other flavors of pudding and jello may be used. Vanilla and orange are good but chocolate cherry is the best.

Yummy for Your Tummy Spice Cake

Spice Cake

3/4 c. butter or shortening 

1 c. brown sugar 

1 egg 

1/2 c. raisins 

1/4 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. cloves 

1/4 tsp. nutmeg

1/4 tsp. allspice

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

2 c. flour

1 tsp. baking soda

I c. sour milk

2 tsp. baking powder

Cream together butter, brown sugar and egg until light and fluffy. Stir in raisins salt and spices. Add half the flour. Blend in baking soda and milk. Stir in remaining flour and baking powder.

Pour batter into buttered 8 inch round layer pans or 7 x 12 inch baking dish. Bake in a moderate oven at 375 degrees for 25 minutes or until top springs back when touched. May be served plain or frosted; warm or cooled. Serves 8.

Coconut Topping Ingredients:

1/4 cup butter

2/3 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup shredded coconut (Ground or finely chopped almonds are also good)

1/2 cup chopped pecans (or other chopped nuts)

3 tablespoons light cream

Melt butter in sauce pan. 

Add brown sugar and stir over medium heat until sugar is mostly dissolved. 

Add coconut, pecans, and cream. 

Spread topping over cake and broil cake for 2-3 minutes, until topping is bubbly and browned.

Chocolate Sour Cream Frosting

Chocolate Sour Cream Frosting

Yield: enough to frost tops and sides of two or three 8- or 9-inch cake layers

ingredients

1 12 ounce package (2 cups) semisweet chocolate pieces

1/2 cup butter

1 8 ounce container dairy sour cream

4 1/2 cups sifted powdered sugar (about 1 pound)

In a large saucepan melt semisweet chocolate pieces and butter over low heat, stirring frequently. Cool for 5 minutes. Stir in sour cream. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating with an electric mixer until smooth. This frosts tops and sides of two or three 8- or 9-inch cake layers. (Halve the recipe to frost the top of a 13x9x2-inch cake.) Cover and store frosted cake in the refrigerator.

Pumpkin Molasses Cake

Pumpkin Molasses Cake

2 1/2 cup flour

2 tsp grated orange zest (optional)

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp ground ginger

1/2 cup butter

1 1/2 cups brown sugar

2 eggs

3/4 cup buttermilk or soured milk (add 1 tbsp vinegar to 3/4 cup milk)

1/2 cup canned pumpkin

1/4 cup molasses

Powdered sugar or vanilla frosting

Preheat over to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 9X13 baking pan. Mix the four, zest, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and ginger in a bowl and set aside. Cream the butter and add the brown sugar and continue to cream until light. One at a time and the eggs, beating well after each addition. Add the buttermilk and the four mixture, alternately, a little at a time, to the butter mixture. Be sure to beat the mixture well after each addition. Pour into the prepared baking pan. Bake for about 35 minutes or until done. Cool. Either frost or sprinkle top with powdered sugar.