Out in Gladys' Garden

Out in Gladys' garden picking tomatoes. Dick has done a great job
protecting it from the onslaught of grasshoppers that invaded the
territory this summer. Gladys watched Dick till the soil, plant the seeds,
and pull the weeds from her chair under the Manchurian Apple tree.

Oh how she loved sitting outside. I remember the luninosity of
her skin as the sun kissed her cheeks. She'd smile and tell me
how much she was looking forwards to eating the beets and the tomatoes
when they ripened up.

I think about how much Gladys loved being outside and her love
of plants, rocks and nature. The wind chimes remind me of her
sparkly eyes and the delight she took from the all the beautiful flowers
that Dick planted around the place. Those two spent a life time together
outside taking care of the home place.

Remembering Gladys

Friends and family gathered yesterday to remember and
celebrate Gladys' long and remarkable life. The
funeral was held at Kane's Funeral Home at 11:00 am.
Alan Lloyd prepared the eulogy and encouraged the
sharing of "Gladys" stories. A slide show of her
100 birthday party was accompanied by her favorite music.
She was buried next to her husband Merle at the Elks
Cemetary under the watch of the Big Horns.

The family hosted a luncheon in her honor at the
Holiday Inn.

Gladys leaves a tremendous legacy of hospitality,
humor and a life well lived. She touched the lives
of people around the world
with her kindness, wit and generousity.
She was known as Mom, Grandma Gladys and Aunt Gladys
by so many.

The coffee is always hot at Gladys'.

The Boys Are Back In Town

Gladys' great grandson's Michael Young and Jordon Fletcher are
out at Ted's on Otter Creek to help Ted cut hay.
Currently Gladys is teaching Michael how to play gin.
Jordon just plays cards online so he's no help.
Dick filled the candy dish from his personal stash of
York Peppermint Patties. The York Patties are no being
made.

So far it is Gladys 1, Michael 1.

SKUNK SAGA CONTINUES...

The aroma of skunk is in the air on Otter Creek.

Last week, Dick caught 4 adult skunks and 4
young skunks in the yard. Dick wonders if
the family lives across the road under the culvert
and comes over here for entertainment.

He's hoping that they will go play somewheres
else. Gladys agrees.

Busy Day @ Fletcherville

Dick was out in the shop creating the perfect garden
cart and Gladys was in the kitchen cutting celery.

The garden cart evolved from the abandoned "Otter Cart"
that was left on the place 8-9 years ago. Dick has fitted
it with handle bars, bicycle wheels and is now designing
a trailer hitch so he can pull it behind the riding lawn
mower.

The cottonwood trees are shedding that wicked white
stuff around the Fletcher Place.

This afternoon Dick, Gladys, Dulcie and Olivia loaded
into the Cadillac and motored to Ashland to buy more
gasoline for the riding mower. Dick says it takes
about 5 gallons of gas a week to keep the place mowed.

On the way in Jordon was spotted on the 4 wheeler with
Trouble, the dog, behind him. Dick pulled over and found out that
Jordon was heading home to Billings with his Grandmother
Peggy this evening. Jordon will be back Wednesday to help
his Grandpa Ted with haying.

Peggy, June Persons and Dixie are going to the Glenn Campbell
concert tonight in Billings.

Dancing at Otter

There was a 2 story outfit at Otter where folks used
to dance. Downstairs was a grocery store.
Upstairs was a bar and dance hall.One night an old cowboy,
who was a drunk, was pretty lit up.
So he went and got a lady who was very pious. They went out
to dance, the drunk cowboy fell down at the first
turn of the square, he knocked the lady down. She was
embarrased and just sat there.
Her husband, Burt, was playing with the band. After she got
up she went over and asked him why he didn't go over
and help her up. He said that he thought that she was
just playing marbles. She could have killed him.

Gladys Loves to Dance

"I was at the height of my glory when I used to
dance. My Mom taught all us kids to dance when
we were young. My Dad would play the mouth organ.
He could really play, he made it sound good.
A Suvian, polka, we learned a lot of them that they
don't do anymore. We did the French Minuet, the Rye Waltz,
they were really different.
I love just a plain old fashioned waltz. Its a very
pretty dance.
My Dad built a turning pole for us, we had to learn how to
chin ourselves. We had teeter totters and all kinds of
equipment."

Annual Fort Howes Endurance Ride this weekend...

Gladys and Dick are busy folding up the silverware packets
for the endurance ride this weekend.

Dick will be cooking for the participants again this year.
His beans are always a hit.

Gladys is looking forward to seeing friends from all over
the world. Maybe she will see you there.

Hark There's a Shepherd's Voice I hear....

Gladys was singing this morning in the tub,

this is the song she sang...

"Hark, theres's the shepherds voice I hear,
Out in the desert dark and drear,
Calling the ones who have gone astray,
Far from the shepherds fold away.

Bring them in,
Bring them in,
Bring them in,
Bring them in from the fields of sin.

Bring the wandering ones to Jesus."

This is one of her favorite songs.

Memorial Day

Sam, Dick and Gladys went to the Valley View Cemetary
today to lay flowers on Joyce's grave.

Memorial Weekend Preparation

Gladys and Dick have been busy making arrangements.

Wednesday, Dick and Ted went to the cemetary in Sheridan
to clean up the grave sites of their relatives. It was
a quiet day for Gladys as she thought about her husband
Merle, her sisters and their spouses and her parents.

Dick said that the road up to the Sheridan Municipal
Cemetary was torn up for the second year in a row.
Dick's father, Merle, is buried at the Elks Cemetary
adjacent to the Sheridan Municipal Cemetary.

Thursday, Dick and Gladys went to Willow Crossing Cemetary
on Otter Creek to lay flowers on Gladys' sister Alice 's grave.
Alice was buried next to her husband Calvin Thex and her young son,
Sonny. Dick put a bright bouquet between the graves.

Peggy went to Valley View Cemetary in Broadus Thursday to
clean up the graves. She took the weed eater with her and went
to town.

Gladys went out to Jack's grave in the yard to look at
the flowers that Dick had decorated it with.
"It looks lovely. See the statue that Dick put here, it reminds me of
Jack when he was young. He was a nice boy.
I miss him, I miss my family." Gladys said tearily.

On Sunday, Dick, and Gladys will meet Sam Lei in Ashland. They
will travel together to the cemetary in Broadus to lay flowers
on Joyce's gravesite.

Gladys in Her Garden

Gladys was out in her garden today watching
Dick and Dulcie plant pansies, petunias
and marigolds. She basked in the sun and
enjoyed listening to the birds sing.

A little wren showed up and told Gladys
all about her nest and the goings on
in the garden.

The vegetable garden is progressing. The
radishes are peeking up, the lettuce is
sprouting. The baby bunnies have been
making nightly raids.

100 Year Old Attends School Board Meeting

Last night Gladys attended the School Board Meeting
at Ashland Public School for District 32 J.

Her nephew, Willie Thex said,
"My Aunt is the oldest attendee at a school board
meeting ever."

Dick and Willie were voted in for another term on
the school board.

Gladys got home way past her bed time.

Checking Seeds

Sunny day, slight breeze moving the branches in the Siberian apple
tree as Gladys checks to see if the tomato seeds that Dick planted have
come up.

"Nothing happening here, seems like they have had enough time to do
something. The flowers sure are pretty. Clark and Pam sent me this
basket with the red gerainium in it. Its so nice to hear the birds
singing. OUU, there goes the dryer. We have to head in and fold clothes"
says Gladys.

Dick has planted Patio Zuchini in pots. There are many trays of tomato
(5 varieties), squash, cantaloupe. and watermelon seeds waiting to come up.
Lots of pots of petunias, pansies, dianthus, tomatoes, and peppers are
waiting for the
nights and the soil to warm up.

There are plans for a rototiller to show up next weekend and get the soil
in the garden tilled up, providing it doesn't rain. Dick is going
to put in enough for Jane and Auggie.

Mother's Day 2009

Yesterday, Dick drove Gladys to Ted & Peggy's for a Mother's Day
dinner. They arrived in Dick's new ride, a 93 Cadillac Seville. Gladys has
been wanting to ride around in a Cadillac for some time and she has gotten
her wish.
June Persons was there and gave Gladys a lovely minature pink rose that now sits in Gladys' kitchen window. Clark and Pam sent Gladys a basket planted with
a bright red gerainium, sweet potatoe vines and lantana. Ted and Peggy
gave her a lovely stained glass butterfly candle holder.
Gladys became a great great Grandmother again. Eli Robinson and his wife
Michelle had a baby boy named Timothy James, 8 lbs 12oz, 22 inches long
a few days ago. Timothy was born and then his dad Eli graduated from MSU
that same afternoon.
Gladys says that she's grateful to have such loving family and friends.

*'*'*Its Hailing.....

At 6:25 MST it started thundering,
then down comes the first hail of
the season.

Good thing Dick got all of his
freshly planted seeds covered
up.

The rain is pounding on the roof
as Gladys sits in her chair.

Jenny May Gathers Sweet Peas

"My Mother always had a sweet pea bed next to
the fence. She'd go out and gather sweet peas
in her apron. It was a half apron. She'd come
in the house and put them in a vase. They
smelled so good."

"She liked to do patchwork, she'd crochet rugs
and every time there was a new baby she'd make
a quilt special for them."

"Jenny May Ort, that was her name. She was a
sweet woman. Her picture hangs in my bedroom."
Gladys remembers.

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner??

Gladys was getting ready for lunch and Dick was
coming down the walk...when suddenly she popped
from under the porch. Dick recognized a crisis in
black and white.

She waved her tail at him, then charged, giving
Dick a run for his money. She chased him right up the walk
and down the driveway.

Dick snuck back around the house, gathered his weapons,
and called Ted who offered to
bring his dog Trouble over. The shotgun was poised
next to the door ready
for the next appearance.

Gladys and Dick had dinner, things quieted down.

In the late afternoon Dulcie and Olivia showed up
for a visit.

Just after Dulcie came in the mudroom, Dick
mentioned his visitor. Together they looked out the
window and there she stood next to the fountain.
The skunk took a step and fell over. Dulcie
said shoot it, Dick cautioned her about her car
just behind the skunk in the driveway.

Dick dispensed with the skunk hoe with the while Dulcie,
Olivia and Gladys watched at the windows.

The house filled with Eau de Peu and the
skunk took a dirt nap. Everyone was relieved.

The skunk was apparently rabid.

Dick Holds Zander

Zander's Big Sister, Jozzy Rose

Gladys Holds Baby Zander

This morning our neighbor Annie brought her
one month old baby Zander by to meet Gladys.
Jozzy came to play the piano.

Trouble at the Door

Ted stopped by a couple of weeks ago to play cards
with Gladys. Trouble stayed outside.

Busy Week Planned

Next week is off at a gallop.

Jane and Augie are expected to arrive tomorrow
evening from Colorado. Gladys is concerned because
of the reports of impending snow showers.

Tuesday Sam Lei, Gladys, Dick, Jane and Augie will be traveling
to Miles City to visit Jim Lei at the hospital. Gladys also
has an appointment with Dr Lunde to have her eyes checked.

Gladys' Power Bill Much Much Lower

Gladys' electric bill came in at $290 last week.
Thats a third of what it was in January. Dick has changed
to a propane hotwater heater.

Another Song Pops Out of the Air

"Show me the way to go home
I'm tired and I want to go to bed.
I had a drink just an hour ago and it went right to my cerebellum.
Where ever I may roam,
over land or sea or foam
You can always hear me singing this song,
Show me the way to go home..."

"This song just came popping out of the air to
me this morning. I know I've sung it a lot in the
past. Its such fun walking home after the dances
were over. I didn't walk home, I usually rode
a horse or an old jalopy." Gladys chuckles...

"Dive for the oysters,
now for the clam,
now for the sardines,
take a whole can"

"I bet a lot of people around Sayle remember
that call. There were lots of square dances
there for years."

Happy April Fools Day

"April Fool Fast
Biggest Fool Last
Aprils coming and
Your the biggest Fool
running"

Gladys is grinning widely...

The Elks Club

Brad and Sandy are visiting Gladys this afternoon.
Sandy was reminicing about being a girl. When the family
would go into town for shopping, Their Grandad Calvin,
would give them
each a dollar to go buy comics at the drugstore.
They got to go off on their own. Brad, however, was too
young to be let out on his own. Brad had to stay
at the Elks. Sandy said that she remembers the cherries
and the monkeys in her Roy Rogers. She remembers that one
day, Uncle Jack sent out the drinks with three monkeys
in each drink. It must have been while the Rodeo was
going on. Sandy didn't like the cherries so she'd put them in
a separate glass and save them for her grandfather.
Brad says he still has a box of monkeys somewhere.

DAHLINS & FLETCHERS GATHER - 4 GENERATIONS

Dick has been cooking since last night. The leaves are in the kitchen table, the
extra chairs have been brought out. The prime rib smells wonderful, there are
crab, asparagus, & shrimp in a puff pastry on the counter, and the wine is chilling
The salad is in the fridge, the relish trays are done, Gladys is resting in her chair and Dick is putting the finishing touches on the buffet.

Gladys' nephew, Ed Dahlin and his wife, Flo, are coming out from Sheridan,
followed by thier son, Bill and his wife Rachel. Rachel's nephew, Johnathan,
from Fargo, North Dakota is coming along bringing two friends in tow.

Ted and Peggy will be coming up from their place at Stag Rock. Sam Lei
will be coming in from Ashland. Sam is Gladys' son in law, he was
married to Joyce who died five years ago from cancer.

Ed's mother, Elma, was Gladys' older sister. Aunt Elma was married
to Stride Dahlin. Their homestead was on top of the Divide between Bear Creek
and Otter Creek. It is owned by Eddie Nichols of California and Ted leases
it from him for summer pasture.

The Dahlin family originally came out here from the Sand Hills Nebraska.

Elma and Stride sold out during the Thirties and moved into Sheridan.
Both Ted and Dick lived with them during their high school years at
Sheridan High School.

Wedding Memories

"Merle and I only had $33 dollars to our names
when we got married. He didn't have a ring for
me so we went to the dime store and bought one.
He put it on my finger for the ceremony and then
took it off.
We got married at the First Presbyterian Church in
Miles City. Its the same one that Ted and Peggy,
Penny and Junior, Jack and Vi got married at. Its
a pretty famous church now. I was trying to think of where
Jane and Auggie got married. I think it was in
Billings.
I don't think I had a special dress to get married in.
I didn't wear my high school graduation dress. Just
don't remember now.
Merle was a college graduate, I was a school teacher.
We made for good company.
After we got married we gave our shopping list to
several of the stores in town to bid on. We went with
the cheapest one. It was the Sawyer Store I don't remember
if they loaded our groceries for us or not.
After we picked up our groceries
we went to Otter to Merle's homestead. Merle
had an old car, it was pretty raggedy but it ran.
Merle's homestead was in the hills, it was off by itself,
just a little log cabin. You had to haul water from a spring in a barrel.
Funny way to start out a marraige, we had a good life
together" remembers Gladys.

The New Hot Water Heater is IN!!!!!

Monday night Charlie Lei and Dick finished installing
Gladys' new propane hot water heater. She is still
being wise about her power use. "It feels good to
have a bath again and not worry," says Gladys.

"I'm so glad that Charlie was able to do everything
that needed to be done. He and Dick got it all
figured out. Charlie was a big help."
Gladys is relieved to have the work all done.

New Hot Water Heater @ Gladys'

The wait continues for the installation of
the new propane hot water heater. Gladys is
now conserving power.

Ted and Dick went down to the basement and
dismantled the bottom burner in the
50 year old electric hotwater heater.
Dick's contact at TRECO tells him that their
current electrical consumption is down to
100 KW per day. All the baseboard heaters are
turned off. Gladys is turning off all the
lights as she leaves the room. Conservation
is alive and rampant at the Fletchers.

Charlie Lei is due to come and hook up the new
propane water heater next weekend. Charlie is
Gladys' grandson.

Gladys wants to get her power bill wittled
way down. Since it was $650 last month, which
exceeded her monthly Social Security income.

Dick wrote a letter to the Governor and also to the
Senators and Representatives from our area.
Dulcie will hand deliver them while she is in
Helena this week.

Dick is hoping to raise the public awareness
regarding the elderly, schools and the impact of power
increases in Southern Montana upon those on fixed
incomes. He is a Trustee for the school board at
Ashland Public in Ashland Montana.

Dick has also written letters to the editors of
local papers.

Mirage 2

Sam Lei looked at the mirage pictures.

"When I was a boy we lived up high, I
could see the Big Horns and sometime
we'd see those mirages. Do they know
what makes them?

Junior and Djordge Visit Gladys

Left to right: Junior, Gladys and Djordge

Gladys' pals, Junior Milhailovic and Djorde Vukmirovic, showed up with Ted this
morning. They are on their way to go shoot coyotes and prairie dogs. Junior had
some time off and needed to pick up alfalfa seed for his folks farm, so they decided
to head out our way.

Junior and his dad have been coming out to Ted and Peggy's hunting since 1984.
They will be back again this fall.


Dixie, Gladys' grand-daughter, is visiting too. So we are headed out to Ted and Peggy's to see her. Dixie will be here for a few days. Gladys is looking forwards to
playing cards with her and catching up on all the news from Billings.

Mirage

This photograph, taken by Dick Fletcher,
shows a row of cliffs on top of the hills
that run along the Tongue River Valley.
The cliffs are the mirage.

On February 4th, Ted and Dick were on their
way to town. Dick saw this mirage. Ted was busy
watching the road. When they stopped Dick took
this picture. Dick said that the mirage extended
all across the horizon, it went for miles.

The guys at the Elks Club in Sheridan
didn't believe Ted
when he told them about it.
Now Ted has the proof, he has the picture.

The view is up on the Divide, just after
Pine Butte School on the way to Sheridan.
Its looking over towards Colstrip.

Gladys said, "One day when Merle was on
his way to Arvada he saw a train just a
rolling along with smoke puffing out of
the smoke stack. The locomotive was running
along the top of the hills and he knew that
there were no tracks there."

HOME, HOME ON THE RANGE

"Whens Valentines Day?

Not til Saturday, do I have to wait
that long???" says Gladys.


Gladys burst into song this afternoon.

"Home, home on the range. Where the deer
and the antelope range.
Where seldom is heard a discouraging word
and the skys are not cloudy all day." sings Gladys.

Its grey out Gladys window, the wind is blowing
and the chimes are ringing.

Gladys Has Dinner/Power Increases

When Dick arrived he had a bowl of soup and then
asked MJ what their power bill was. Ernie quickly opened
it and was surprised to see that it was much much higher
than the month before. The increase in power costs
has hit residents of Rosebud and Powder River
counties very hard. Dick had a lot to tell about
his struggle to get answers from TRECO and from
State, Federal and local agencies. TRECO has had
increases of aproximately 23 per cent in the last year.

Unfortunately the economy in this part of Montana
has not increased at the same rate. Especially for those on
Social Security, where the annual increase was
5.8 percent in November.

At the school board meeting the point of discussion
was the tremendous increase in the power costs for
the last months bill.

Gladys Has Dinner at Mary Jane's

Monday night was the monthly Ashland Public School
Board meeting. Dick was dropped off at school and
we headed out Tongue River Road to Mary Jane and
Ernie's.

Mary Jane had made beef soup, with barley on Sunday.
She heated it up and made a great meal.
Lively conversation round the table, Gladys sang
lots of songs, Kyle crumbled crackers in his
soup and we all followed suit.

Dick had bought cookies and cream ice cream with
caramel syrup for dessert. The only stipulation
was that we were done eating by the time Antiques
Road Show was on so that MJ and Grandma could watch it.

Time passed quickly, the phone rang with Dick saying
that the meeting was over.

Gladys, Dick and Sam Lei Reminisce on Sunday

Sam and Joyce would leave their children with
Gladys and Merle when they went to Sayle Hall
dances.
"Charlie and Mary Jane never learned to dance.
I bet its cause they never got to go. Joyce and
I would pick up Jane and Dick and take off to
Sayle Hall"said Sam.
"One time I remember Dad saying he had tried to
put a shirt on Charlie. Charlie was thin as a
match. Dad tried like heck to get his head thru
the sleeve of his shirt. He said that JOyce and
Sam should spend a little money on those kids
and get some clothes that fit.

Gene Autrey Sings...

Gladys says he's got it pretty close but not quite right.

WHEN ITS ROUND UP TIME IN TEXAS...

When the Bloom is on the Sage

For most people there's a spot that lives forever,
Deep within their fondest memories.
Tho' I have been a rover I have never
Seen anyplace that I would rather be than---

When it's roundup time in Texas and the bloom is on the sage
How I long to be in Texas just a ridin' on the range
I can smell the bacon frying, hear it sizzlin' in the pan,
Hear the breakfast horn in the early morn drinkin' coffee from a can.

Just a ridin', rockin', ropin', poundin' leather all day long,
Just a seatin', swearin', smokin', listen to a cowboy song.
Though I know I'll never go there, I would work for any wage,
To be again, be free again, where the bloom is on the sage.

When it's roundup time in Texas and the bloom is on the sage,
How I long to be in Texas just a ridin' on the range.
Those purple hills are calling, calling to me from afar,
I'm back again to the Rio Grande and the lonely Texas star.

How I long to be living where the prairie flowers grow,
I'd be willing to start walking to the place that I love so.
It beacons and I reckon I would work for any wage,
To be again, be free again, where the bloom is on the sage.

Gladys loves to sing this song.

Today Thane and Sandy are coming over for dinner. Dick has made pot roast
salad, lemon marangue pie and is contemplating cinnamon rolls for good measure.
Its a sunny 25 degrees at the moment and Gladys is headed for
her bath.

The View Out Gladys' Window...

Moonlight Bay

Gladys loves to sing this song:



Deanna Durbin singing "Moonlight Bay" in For The Love Of Mary.

She doesn't think that they sing the words right,
"but it's pretty close."



Moonlight Bay

We were sailing along on Moonlight Bay
We could hear the voices ringing they seemed to say
You have stolen my heart now I don't go away
As we sang love's old sweet songs on Moonlight Bay.

Just the girls now (we were sailing along)
Beautiful (on Moonlight Bay)
(We could hear the voices ringing they seemed to say)
Now the boys (you have stolen my heart I don't go away
As we sang love's old sweet songs on Moonlight Bay.)

We were sailing along on Moonlight Bay
We could hear the voices ringing they seemed to say
You have stolen my heart now I don't go away
As we sang love's old sweet songs on Moonlight Bay...

When You Wore a Tulip, a Bright Yellow Tulip...

Gladys was remembering this song today.

Que Sera Sera

This morning Gladys remembered a song
that she hasn't sung
for 50 years.

Doris Day came out with it in 1956.

Que Sera Sera

When I was just a little girl
I asked my mother, what will I be
Will I be pretty, will I be rich
Here's what she said to me.

Que Sera, Sera,
Whatever will be, will be
The future's not ours, to see
Que Sera, Sera
What will be, will be.

When I was young, I fell in love
I asked my sweetheart what lies ahead
Will we have rainbows, day after day
Here's what my sweetheart said.

Que Sera, Sera,
Whatever will be, will be
The future's not ours, to see
Que Sera, Sera
What will be, will be.

Now I have children of my own
They ask their mother, what will I be
Will I be handsome, will I be rich
I tell them tenderly.

Que Sera, Sera,
Whatever will be, will be
The future's not ours, to see
Que Sera, Sera
What will be, will be.

Jim Lei Stories

Jim Lei is in the hospital. He's a good cowboy and
friend to folks up and down Otter Creek. Jim is
Gladys' son in law, Sam Lei's brother.

"Jim used to work for us. He's helped us a lot different
times. He lived with us in 1960-61. He'd work for us
and be braking horses for himself. One time he was over.
He picketed his bronc horse up by the mailbox close
to the road. The rope was tied around a chunk of log.
He was in the house visiting.
Jane was just a girl. She'd walked up to get the mail.
A car was coming down the road, spooked that old bronc.
Jane took off running down the driveway with that horse
chasing after her. The log was just a jumping around.
Jane had to run fast to dodge both the log and the
horse. She was so scared.

I can't remember if he chased after his horse or what he was doing.

Another time he was out doing something and broke his leg.
Ted had to take him to Sheridan to get it casted up.
Jim wouldn't use his crutches much. They put a walking outfit
on his cast and he broke it off. Ted had to take him
back to town to get it recast." remembers Gladys.

Skating on Powder River and Beyond...

When I was in high school we used to skate down
by the bridge on Powder River. We used to make a
fire and roast marshmallows. Oh it was fun.

Old Mr. Culbertson, he wasn't much to look at
but boy could he skate. He came by and took my
hand and did I ever twirl around. He was a fancy
skater. I learned more about skating from him.
I was a good skater. I used to wear overalls
when I skated, they kept me warm.

Later, when I had Jane and the kids we'd all
skate at the Thex place. Then Clifford would
brings Kea and the boys down here for dinner.
Kea was the only girl, she and Jane were good
friends.

I'd make a big batch of fudge. Clifford would sit
down at the table and eat it til it was all gone.

Merle Hunts Pheasants

Gladys recalls:

"One time Merle and Calvin Thex went hunting
pheasants off in South Dakota. I think we
were living up at the Clark place.

Merle had shot a pheasant and saw the grass moving a
ways off. He thought that it was the one
he'd shot so he crept up and fell on it.

He was wearing a new pair of those California
pants. They were wool, tan plaid. All the men were
wearing them in the winter. They were all the rage.

Turns out he fell on a skunk. Well the skunk sprayed
and he got it bad. He took off the pants and was going to
throw them away. Calvin told him to bury them. So Merle
put the pants in a paper bag and tossed it in the trunk.

Merle changed his pants but whenever they'd go into
a resturant the smell would follow him. He said
that folks would just turn around and look.

When he got home he buried the pants on top of the cellar.
Eventually the smell went away and he wore the pants again.

Gladys' High School Memories

I went to school with Cora Forcier. We went
to high school in Broadus together. Cora was
a nice girl.
She lived in Boyce where lots of French
people settled.
Her father spoke broken English.

One time he wanted to make the chicken house warmer so
he put straw up on the roof. Cora was so tickled when
she heard him say, "those son of a beetches turkey,
scratched all da sheet off the roof."

I had a good time at Boyce. We used to go to dances
and parties. The Italian women would make such good
food. We'd go
there quite often.

Gladys is Tired of Christmas

Its the 11th of January. Gladys just announced
that she is tired of Christmas. So tomorrow Dick
and I will take down all the lights, the trees,
the decorations, the Santas, the moose
and the snowmen.

Dick just returned from Jane and Augies across the
way. It was quiet and undisturbed except for some
rather large cat tracks near the back porch.

WHY WE DON'T LIVE IN TOWN...

Gladys said after getting out of her coat:

"Its downright terrible out there
on the road today. Absolutely a glare of ice,
yesterday with the snow then rain
theres a big long sheet of ice out there.
We didn't even get to the old Wash House.
We got just past the big bend in the road
and we went end to end.

Dulcie got us straightened out and we headed back
home slowly. Very slowly.

I'm going to have a cup of coffee and read the paper
to get calmed down. Too much excitement for me.
I still feel the car slipping and going sideways.
I want to just sit in my chair and watch tv and
stay still and be warm."

Dick called Donna to cancel the appointment and
tell her we were staying put at home today.

Its snowing softly.

This is why we don't live in town:

Off to the Hair Dresser

This morning the chimes are ringing outside
Gladys' kitchen window. Its 12 degrees and she's
gearing up for the ride into Ashland to have her
hair done.

Dick called to get the road report from friends
that traveled down 484 on their way to 212 earlier
this morning.

The road is good with some drifted snow.

Its lightly snowing, yesterdays rain has caused
a sheet of ice on the road up to the pavement.

Now if we can just get up the driveway...

Glen Wash Comes A Visitin'

After Gladys had graduated from high school in Broadus she and her girlfriend,
Florabell Harkins decided that they wanted to be teachers. Florabell
thought it would be best to go to Normal School in North Dakota
to get teachers training so she talked Gladys into it.
The standards were lower in North Dakota and they figured
it would be easier to get their credentials there.
Gladys borrowed the money for school and the trip and was about to
set off for North Dakota when she found out from Florabell
that she was engaged and getting married to Johnny Edwards.
So Gladys went on her own to North Dakota.

Gladys said that Johnny died young and then Florabell married Glen's
dad, Pod Wash. They had three boys, Glen, Nick and Warren.

Glen is Florabell's son and lives in Broadus with his wife Diane.
They are in the trucking business and haul bees. Glen used to have the
place down the way from Gladys and Dick that has the big white house on it and
a beautiful old big barn.

Steph and Matt Celebrate First Anniversary

Gladys' grandaughter Stephanie Lopez and her
husband Matt spent the holidays in Cabo San Lucas.
They just celebrated their first wedding anniversary
in their new home in Santa Barbara. They live in a renovated
old barn in the middle of the city.
Matt has started his own wine label. He placed it at a tasting room
and it sold out the first day. Go check it out at www.buscadorwine.com

Jozzy Rose and Nate

Jozzy Rose is seen here with her father, Nate.

Jozzy Rose Arrives Wearing Striped Pink Socks

Miss Jozzy Rose showed up on Gladys' doorstep
this afternoon with her father, Nate, in tow. Her
mother is out of town so she commandeered the truck
and headed out to the Fletcher Place.

Dick served cheese and crackers.

"More" said Jozzy coyly.

"One more" her father replied.

After seven more crackers Jozzy was finally full and went
over to check out to the toy box.

Chili, Frybread & Hot Habenero Jelly

30 degrees by the themometer just outside Gladys' kitchen
window. Dick made Chili and Frybread for lunch. Delicious!
Fran Myers' Hot Habenero Jelly was the perfect touch with the
Frybread.

This morning Ted came up and played cards.
Gladys won of course.

Theres a cold front coming down from Canada, its supposed to
hit later on this afternoon and plunge temperatures back
downwards. The sun is out for now.

Jane and Augie made it home safe yesterday.

*****HAPPY NEW YEAR ***2009*****

Dick, Jane, Augie and Gladys:

Wish you a Prosperous, Happy,
Joyful New Year!

Make It Count!!!