Sunday, December 20, 2009

Where We Grew Up

In our trip to the West, Rich and I had the opportunity to visit the old house on Tyhee Road. My brother Mark and his wife Renee talked with the contractor who is remodeling the house and took us by for a visit. Amazing! So many of the ideas implanted in my heart and brain were nutured there. So many happy memories. Loved that community and everyone who lived there. Tyhee School has been gone for many years -- replaced by a new building. Our house, now completely gutted and changed is very different, but our home none the less.

Wow..............I discovered
I grew up in a time and place that reallydoesn't exist anymore. Mom and Dad operated the Boyd's IGA store in a small farming community outside of Pocatello, Idaho. Across the street from the store was Tyhee Church and our house was up the hill. Across the street from the house wasTyhee Grade School. Everything important very close together. I don't think anyone could have asked for a more secure or a happier place to grow up. The community thrived with everyone taking care of each other. All the families in the community loved each other and depended on one another. That I miss.


Andrea and her charge (Darryl)

Mark, Vicki, Mike and Andrea...................loved those kids.

Mark and Julie -- Mark always had the nifty attire

Andrea's real live dolls. The car was a turquoise blue


The swing (the biggest I have ever seen).....................in the picture below................you could fly over the moon.


The apple trees, the raspberry patch, the horses, and pastures are gone. However, little children hand prints are still there in the cement. My brothers and sister -- forever will live there . My hand prints were from when I was about five. The younger kids were on the sidewalk by the swing. Kenny and I were by the house along with Aunt Carolee.



Above............Christmas dinner, I think. Ham prepared by Boyd Neider. A long time family tradition. Julie, Andrea,Grandma Hansen, Grandpa Hansen, Kenny, Mike, Mark, Donna. Boyd taking the picture and holding Darryl. Look at Grandma's beautiful table with the china from Japan that Uncle Nathan sent. Love it. Mom gave it to me -- I love it so much. Since Julie is about two years old here. I am about age 11.


As I walked through the old house, I could literally feel the memories that were made in that home. Just like the handprints in the cement, the memories are there. Part of the original hardwood floors were still there -- dining room and in Mom and Dad's bedroom. Wow what feelings came back to me. What happy feelings. Thanks Mom and Dad for making our home such a happy place.

Rich commented that it appeared to be a "less than desirable community". How could he have known or felt the love and presence of our humble, but loving community in Tyhee. I didn't know we weren't rich......................we had everything and couldn't have asked for a happier setting. Growing up in the '50s and '60s was very different, but we were the lucky ones. We had so much.

The magic of the home and community lives on in my heart. We were one big happy family. We loved our friends, our neighbors and each other. All my life I have continued to believe in the magic of my childhood community. I am the person I am due to my experiences in Tyhee. It was a special place and time. A real community. I would like to give a big hug to Tyhee and to thank my family, the Davises, the Lewises, the Hatches, the Wards, the Nashes, the McNabbs, the Johnsons, the Miles, the Fitches, the McMinns, the Empeys, the Stingers, the Facers, the Cutlers, the Satos, the Bringhursts and many more for what I was given.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Christmas is Coming

I have to admit that I have had a very nice experience decorating for Christmas this year. Okay, it's the first year in a very long time that the decorations have not had to be thrown up in a hurry. Rich put his iPod on Christmas music -- all 257 songs and I took my time for a week putting up this and that. It was wonderful...............

Most of my decorations have been accumulated for many years and I treasure them. I have a gold and white tree and a red apple tree (very Virginia) with wool plaid bows. I thought I would share my finished product. It feels so good to be relaxed and ready. Some of the pictures are a little out of focus. So,use your imagination.

Close up of the gold and white tree. I bought the white glass ornaments the first year we were married in Idaho in 1967.


Gold and White tree - twelve feet tall


Fireplace mantel


The fireplace is so blurry, I added the angel from the wreath. She is my favorite. Look at her sweet little face.


Dining Room table - our little father Christmas in the middle




Apple/Cranberry Tree in the foyer



We've had this sweetest nativity forever. Jeremy broke the ear on the donkey when he was about five years old. The little cherub angel was on our wedding cake. We're talking old.


I've always included this picture of the Savior in our Christmas. It was in my room growing up and came from Dad's home.


Our Russian Icon of Mary and Baby Jesus. The faces are so sweet. Her gown is shell. You can't even tell that baby Jesus was broken off (Carsen and Charlotte) and glued back on. It's okay.............they are my precious grand kids.


The kneewall between the kitchen and family room. I love the bark trees and cranberries. Oops, Rich's foot and leg are in the picture. Ha Ha.


The decorations are beautiful and feel so good. It makes our home feel so cozy and warm. We have candles in all of the windows (also very Virginia)and some twinkle lights on our cranberry trees on the porch. We are ready to celebrate this magical season.

We have always had a special Christmas FHE with another family and each person has to participate on the program. It's always fun to see what everyone wants to do. My favorite Christmas memories are of these special FHE's. Okay...............once the kids were older it was sometimes under duress, but they came through. So as I said, I'm ready to celebrate.

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Five Guys

One of the fun events of our USA tour was being at the opening of Five Guys in Boise a couple of weeks ago. Before the day of the grand opening Five Guys invites friends and family to eat free for the practice. It's a big party with the greatest fries ever. Yes, we love Five Guys that started in the East, but bro Darryl and partners have franchised Idaho, Utah, Oklahoma and part of Northern CA.

My mom goes to all of the openings and is a big hit with the customers. She loves the openings too. Darryl teasingly tells the customers that he has fired her many times, but she will not leave. Ha Ha


Here's someone to keep you on your toes.


Rich, Andrea, Grandma Donna, and Darryl

Actually we just had dinner tonight at Five Guys........................it's a fun place to eat. Try the vinegar on the fries. We first tried vinegar on fries at Rehoboth beach. Very tasty.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

She's Back!

I can't believe I haven't had time to blog since Mother's Day. Tsk Tsk on me I guess. Well..............in a nut shell.

*I retired in July..............can't say enough good things about this.
*Beach week with the family in July. (I long for the beach with our gang.) Just when we think we can't stand each other another minute, it all ends and we yearn to be there again.
*Reunion in the beautiful mountains above SLC with my brothers, their wives and Mom.
We can still spin our..... how you say..............?? Stories. Love those Neiders.

*Rich retires. Yes, I know this is the second time. We'll see if it sticks.


Part of the Crowley Gang at Rich's retirement party.


***6 week road trip across the country. Started in VA to WV, PA,OH,

First stop in Kirtland Ohio

Kirtland Temple

IL,SD
Second stop was Nauvoo, but alas............no pics from Cool pix.


This is Rich in the beautiful BADLANDS of South Dakota.


Again in the BADLANDS


Loved Rushmore - that Borglund guy - what a genius

,WY,MT,ID,WA,OR,CA,ID,UT,CO,KA,MO,TN,and back to VA. 10,000 miles on the rental car. I will blog about the highlights soon.

Okay, I was in a hurry to leave and left the charger home to the camera battery. No pics until I arrived in CA. Gabe mailed the charger to Jeremy's

So this is our adorable Emery.


Shelly, the fixer with Carsen and Emery


School carnival - Shelly, Carsen, Tanner and Grandpa Rich


*Thanksgiving with the Crowleys except Jeremy's gang and Kara and Drew. Fabulous. Thanks for those rolls and spiced punch Gabey.

Only one pic of Thanksgiving

You can see Andrew, Tricia, Jordan and Matt.

More pics of the trip to come..................