Miz Mick's Place

Just A Sister

2010-03-27T18:47:00.000-07:00

Well I need to explain a little bit about this poem.
Many years ago my sister wrote this poem to me and gave it to me. This was Eva. (the one the rest of the folks call Shikey)
By that time I had married and had gone to live at Camp Hood in Killeen, Texas with my husband, Clarence I'll do more history later but now, I'll get on with the poem.
There's always A memory in my heart, And with it I would never part.
It isn't much, but this I'll say, Its always jolly, always gay,- And when I think of it this way, It brightens life like Christmas day.
It isn't much to think about, Just a freckled face and a nose that's kind of flattened out.
But when you're with her every day, she makes your work seem just like play
You wouldn't know until your near her But she can make the world all fear her.
But you feel so safe from harm, when your cuddled in her arm,
And when the sun is shining bright She makes it shine on through the night.
And when your sorrow you can't right, She makes your load seem, oh, so light.
You might think I'm fooling so But anyhow you wouldn't know,
Just how much patience she can have until you have tried her out ,somehow.
She,s not too heavy, not too light, I guess I'd say that she's just right.
I'm not exaggerating any She's as cute as any penny.
She's like a mother to your soul when your sorrow you can't hold.
(You're always happy she's around) when heavy rains are falling down.
Your heart will feel so sunny and bright because she's there to make things right.
And this is what she'll always be.
A comrade gay, and hard to beat.
And who is she, you're asking me?
She is my precious sister, Mickey.
E.M. Bagley (Approx.64 yrs ago.)
(So one line was on the fold and I couldn't make out the words so I added some)
To my loving sister from someone that thinks of you in this way
all of the time. Though I wrote it, it is from all of us.
If you don't believe this poem ,-
Ask Clarence.

Miz Micks…See Ya…

Still Traveling

2009-08-10T16:47:00.000-07:00

Sometimes you wonder if you'll ever reach the next stop. I guess we did , because mom wasn't in the wagon. Maybe Dad was taking us somewhere. Well, sure enough the wagon stopped and Dad had all of us to get out of the wagon. Dad started walking and we followed him. We went up a mountian side and soon forgot our aches and pains from riding on the hard wagon bed. We walked for a while and Dad finally stopped and picked up a rock,and said , "this is a piece of wood." Now he was turning it all around.
Think we believed that? Of course not. We didn't say anything; those were the days that you didn't contradict grown-ups. He told us to walk around and see what we could find. I walked off by my self and watched the ground as I walked. Then I noticed that the rocks looked odd... well not shaped like rocks, but large limbs off of trees. Dad told us that was the Petrified Forest, and the limbs turned into rock instead of rotting. I stared in wonder to see huge tree trunks, even tried to lift some. I was so excited, now that I look back. You don't forget some thing like that easily.
I started thinking as I washed the dishes and I was remembering this part of our travels and thought I'd write it down. I'm sure I left some things out, such as the markings on the inside of the tree. I'm hoping some of you will get to visit the Petrified Forest or perhaps you already have. If so, you realize how hard it is to describe the striata's? and colors. I feel much better now so I'll get busy and finish the dishes. Take care.

See you next time Miz- Micks

Always Be My Friend...

2009-05-31T20:58:00.000-07:00

Mick, I got right in here so I thought I may as well post a new poem for you to read. I hope you enjoy it. Love 'n stuff...

Always Be My Friend...

I cannot stay beside you,- on such a night as this.
A night when every star is in your eyes,
And beckons me to lie with you, and this I cannot do,
Although my heart does soar up to the skies.

Your blood red lips entice me; they softly call my name
And whisper words of love into my ear,-
But I can find no reason; none that is good enough,
That I forsake the one my heart holds dear.

For we were once two precious friends, (that now seems far away)
And walked together; warm then was your touch
But only then as a true friend, your countenance was fair;
I loved you then enough, but not too much.

I came upon a sight one day, of you and someone else
And when I looked at her my heart was fast.
You told me this girl was your friend; would be forever more!
I knew then I had found my love at last.

You followed close behind us as we two walked down the aisle
And bound our souls together with a vow,
And you were always there with us when'er we needed you.
If love came hard for us, you showed us how.

Then came the time when all was not the same as once it was.
I saw a change come over my sweet girl;
I watched her now and saw her loving eyes begin to dim.
The time had come when she would leave this world.

I just could not admit it,-I'd lose the one I love.
But you were there to help me through the pain.
I wept tears though I tried not to; I couldn't hold them back;
You told me then our loss was Heavens gain.

So now there's just the two of us where three of us had been;
A year has passed since we said our goodbyes
And you could be my lover now instead of just a friend;
You feel that now,-I see it in your eyes.

But I know now that I can never really let her go;
Her love and mem'ry I have locked within.
Say I'm wrong in thinking that you want to take her place;
Promise me you'll always be my friend.

finis...

MORE MEMORIES TO CHERISH

2009-02-05T11:54:00.000-08:00

WELL, HERE I AM BACK AGAIN TO TELL YOU SOME OF THE THINGS I LEFT OUT IN, "A BOYS DREAM."
MY SISTER CALLED ME AND WE TALKED ABOUT CHRISTMAS, AND AS WE TALKED, I KEPT REMEMBERING THE CHRISTMASES WE HAD BEFORE WE CAME TO MODESTO AND JAMES DRAGGED THE SECOND HAND X-MAS TREE ALL THE WAY UP THE HILL.
I REMEMBER WHEN THE TIME (CHRISTMAS) WAS NEAR HOW EXCITED WE WERE! I WOULDN'T DRAW STRAWS ON WHO WAS BEING GOOD, BUT I'M SURE IT WASN'T ME. I TRIED BUT WHEN I GOT A SCOLDING, I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY.
THEN ONE NIGHT MOM AND DAD STARTED GATHERING UP THE SOCKS. OF COURSE, EVA AND JOAN HAD TO BORROW THEIR SOCKS FROM BUDDIE AND ME.
THE SOCKS WERE HUNG ALONG THE FIRE PLACE IN A ROW. WE TRIED TO STAY AWAKE AND SEE SANTA BUT WE COULDN'T.
WE WOKE UP CHRISTMAS MORNING AND RAN TO THE STOCKINGS. WOW!
WE FOUND IN EACH STOCKING AN APPLE, AN ORANGE, A TANGERINE AND, LAST OF ALL, A BIG LONG BANANA. NOW, FOR VERY POOR PEOPLE, THAT WAS A WONDER.
THEN WHEN WE REACHED DEEPER IN THE STOCKING, THERE WERE THE LITTLE PIECES OF CHRISTMAS CANDY. YOU HARDLY EVER SEE THAT KIND OF CANDY ANY MORE.
I TRIED TO FIND SOME ONE YEAR BECAUSE I HAVE TRIED TO KEEP UP THE OLD TRADITIONS. STILL,I NEVER DID REMEMBER SEEING A CHRISTMAS TREE BACK THEN.
IT'S GOOD TO HAVE SOME ONE WHO CAN JAR MY MEMORY SO I CAN TELL IT LIKE IT IS.
MOM AND DAD PROBABLY DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY TO BUY A TREE. THE FRUIT AND FOOD WE HAD WERE MORE IMPORTANT AT THAT TIME.
I'LL GO NOW AND I HOPE I COVERED EVERY THING.
ANYWAY, WE HAVE HAPPY MEMORIES AS WE THINK BACK. BUT, ALSO, WE HAVE SAD ONES AS YOU WILL SEE.

NOW I HAVE TO GO AND FINISH CANNING MY WALNUTS. MIZ MICKS.

SEE YA...

MY GROWING UP YEARS

2009-01-18T22:06:00.000-08:00

WHEN I WAS VERY YOUNG, ONE OF MY FIRST MEMORIES IS RIDING IN A LONG OLD WAGON BEING PULLED BY TWO OLD HORSES. WE TRAVELED TO MY GRANDMOTHERS HOUSE.

GRANDMA'S YOUNGEST GIRL WAS YOUNGER THAN I WAS BUT SHE QUICKLY TURNED INTO, "AUNT MAUDIE." I WAS INFORMED THAT GOAT PILLS WERE MEDICINE AND I WAS SUPPOSED TO TAKE THEM. NOW I NEVER DID TAKE MEDICINE WITHOUT A SWITCH BEING USED OR TO SCARE ME WITH, SO THAT WAS THE END OF THAT.

ONE DAY WE (ALL OF US KIDS) WERE SITTING IN A CIRCLE, PLAYING IN THE DIRT. MAUDIE(I GREW OUT OF THAT 'AUNT MAUDIE' BUSINESS, TOO) HAD AN OLD AXE AND WAS DIGGING AND I WANTED A TURN USING IT SO GRANNY TOLD MAUDIE TO TAKE TURNS. MAUDIE HAD A TEMPER AND SHE GOT MAD AND THREW THE AXE AT ME.
WELL, IT HIT MY TOE AND CHOPPED THE BIG TOE OFF, EXCEPT FOR A TINY PIECE OF SKIN UNDERNEATH.

EVERY ONE WAS SHOCKED AND SCARED, BUT MOM PICKED ME UP AND TOOK ME INTO THE HOUSE. SHE WRAPPED MY TOE WITH A LONG PIECE OF SHEET. I CAN'T REMEMBER IT EVEN HURTING. I WENT ON PLAYING AND RUNNING ABOUT IN MY BARE FEET, HORSE LOT AND ALL.
GRANNY WAS UPSET AND AFRAID OF INFECTION BUT MY TOE HEALED FAST. I BELIEVED THEN AND NOW THAT GOD SENT AN ANGEL TO LOOK OVER ME. DURING THE BAD TIMES,-I REALLY NEEDED ONE. THAT WAS JUST ABOUT THE LAST TIME I GOT TO ENJOY BEING A CHILD.

DAD SHARE CROPPED SOME BUT I CAN'T REMEMBER HAVING MONEY FOR FOOD EXCEPT THE BARE NECESSITIES. WE LEFT GRANDMA'S AND I'M NOT SURE WHERE WE WENT NEXT, BUT WE STILL WENT IN THE OLD WAGON.

DAD STOPPED ABOUT ONE MILE FROM A CREEK. HE TOLD ME I COULD GO WITH HIM THE NEXT MORNING TO CATCH FISH. I WAS SO EXCITED! I GOT TO GO AND BUDDIE DIDN'T. OF COURSE I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE BUDDY WAS, BUT I GOT TO GO!

WELL, THE NEXT MORNING I WOKE UP EXCITED AND WENT TO EAT MY BREAKFAST. I ASKED MOM WHERE DAD WAS AND SHE SAID,"WELL HONEY, YOUR DAD LEFT A LONG TIME AGO."

I FORGOT BREAKFAST AND TOOK OFF RUNNING. I RAN AND RAN, CRYING AND GASPING FOR BREATH. I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED AT DAD BUT HE JUST SAID, "YOU DIDN'T WAKE UP, SO WE WENT ON TO THE CREEK." BUT I DID GET TO FISH ANYHOW.

DAD GOT THE FISHING POLES BY CUTTING SOME LONG LIMBS AND CLEANING THEM. I EVEN GOT A HOOK TO TIE TO MY LINE. WE SAT THERE FOR A LONG TIME WITHOUT GETTING A BITE AND SUDDENLY DAD SAID, "NOW HERE'S WHAT WE'LL DO; FIRST THING IS SPIT IN THE WATER."

SO WE SPIT IN THE WATER AND WAITED AND WAITED. DAD SAID, "HARRUMPH, FIRST I HAVE TO CHEW UP A MOUTH FULL OF TOBACCO." (I THINK HE ONLY DIPPED SNUFF) SO HE CHEWED FOR A WHILE THEN, WHEN HE WAS READY, HE SPIT A BIG GOB OF SNUFF IN THE CREEK.

COURSE MY OPINION DIDN'T COUNT BUT I FELT SURE WE'D NEVER SEE A FISH. STILL, I COULDN'T HELP THINKING THAT THAT SPITTING WOULD REALLY GET US SOME FISH.

GUESS WHAT? I GOT A BITE! IT WAS SO BIG, I KEPT PULLING AND DAD KEPT TELLING ME WHAT TO DO!
I GOT TIRED SO DAD FINALLY PULLED IT IN AND IT WAS A TURTLE! WE WENT HOME AND DAD SAID "WE'LL EAT TONIGHT" WE HAD TURTLE SOUP, AND I WAS REALLY PROUD OF MYSELF!

WE STAYED THERE ABOUT TWO WEEKS, MAYBE MORE, AND DAD TOOK US "EXPLORING." THE TREES WERE BIG AND SOME VERY OLD. (COURSE SOME WERE LITTLE AND STILL GROWING) ANYWAY, DAD EXPLAINED ABOUT THE TREES AND SHOWED US THE MUSCATEL (GRAPE) VINES THAT WRAPPED AROUND THE TREE TRUNKS, GOING WAY UP INTO THE TREES.
SEEMS THAT I GOT TO TASTE ONE BUT I'M NOT SURE BECAUSE, ABOUT THAT TIME WE THOUGHT WE HEARD A WOMAN SCREAM,- VERY LOUD AND SHRILL. WE WERE SO SCARED THAT WE COULDN'T HARDLY TALK!

DAD SAID,"COME ON KIDS, LET'S GO HOME NOW," AND WE DIDN'T NEED COAXING.

WHEN WE GOT HOME, WE STARTED TELLING MOM THAT SOME WOMAN WAS GETTING KILLED DOWN BY THE CREEK AND WE WERE ALMOST CRYING. MOM TOLD US IT WAS A PANTHER AND SAID IT LOOKED LIKE A BIG BLACK CAT.
NEEDLESS TO SAY, WE DIDN'T CARE TO GO DOWN THERE AGAIN.

SO UNTIL WE LEAVE THIS PLACE AND HEAD FOR ANOTHER PLACE WITH THE OLD HORSE AND WAGON, I'LL REST ON MY LAURELS.

'TIL NEXT TIME,- MIZMICKS...

SEE YA'...

A CHILDS DREAM...

2008-10-19T02:24:00.000-07:00

I remember ---well I don't remember exactly how old I was when we started having Christmas.
We lived on South Conejo Ave., straight across from the airport. The area is hard to find now, since there's been so much road work and the name of that part of the street was changed to Tioga.
Anyway, to get back to my story.
You could go straight down the hill to old Uncle Dans' big two story brick house at the bottom of the hill.
A little farther down, at the Tuolumne River, was a pipe that poured water into the river and to the right was Legion Park.
When you hit the river, if you turned left and went along the river, you went into the trees and brush.
One day just after Christmas, my youngest brother, James, took off to the river. After a while I was out in the yard and I saw little James really working hard trying to get up that hill.
I started to go and see about him, but then I saw he was going a little faster so I waited.
When he got to the house, everyone came out to see what was happening.
Believe it or not, he had been pulling a big used Christmas tree behind him!
Mom looked so sad and surprised and she said, "Well, I didn't know it meant that much to him."
I'm sure people saw him dragging that tree up the hill, but I don't think it bothered us any.
I can't remember if we set it up in our little house, but I do know Mom made sure we had a tree from then on!
*From James:
It made such an impression on Mom that, one Christmas when Mom and Pop and James went to Mendota to pick cotton a few days before Christmas, they moved into a tent the grower provided and, when Christmas Eve came, they didn't have a tree. Mom went across the street to a fence that ran along an open field and got a tumbleweed and brought it to the tent.
She tore up pieces of colored paper and tore off pieces of tinfoil from cigarette packs and made popcorn stringers and hung it all on the tumbleweed to make a Christmas Tree.*
I guess the times when you are older, some things are clearer and I'm blessed with all the memories I've kept.

'Till next time----- Miz Micks

Priming the Pump...My Way...

2008-06-10T13:42:00.000-07:00

CA, I READ YOUR BLOG ON PRIMING THE WATER PUMP AND IT WAS PRETTY GOOD!

WELL, THE WAY I GOT THE WATER IN THE BUCKET WAS--- I WOULD GO TO THE HANDLE AND GET THE WATER GOING, THEN, WITH BUCKET IN HAND, I WOULD RUN AROUND TO THE FRONT OF THE PUMP, STICK THE BUCKET UNDER THE WATER AND WATCH AS THE LAST FEW DROPS TRICKLED INTO THE BUCKET.

THEN I WOULD TAKE THE BUCKET WITH ME , BACK TO THE HANDLE AND START PUMPING AGAIN; RUN AROUND TO THE FRONT AND CATCH THE LAST BIT AGAIN.

FINALLY I GOT THE BUCKET FULL ENOUGH THAT I DIDN'T GET IN TROUBLE FOR NOT HAVING ENOUGH WATER IN THE BUCKET. BUT,BOY, WAS I TIRED!

I CAN'T REMEMBER WHO TOLD ME HOW TO DO IT RIGHT, BUT I KNOW I FINALLY GOT ONE OF THE LITTLE KIDS TO HOLD THE BUCKET WHILE I PUMPED THE HANDLE! 'YAY!'

MIZ MICKS...

See ya!...

Welcome Back!!!...

2008-05-26T19:07:00.000-07:00

And It's about time! Happy blogging from JC and Donna Lee!

THE HYDRANT IS RUNNING...

2008-03-12T11:41:00.000-07:00

WHEN I WAS VERY YOUNG, WE HAD A HYDRANT OUT SIDE OUR HOUSE. DAD WAS SITTING A LITTLE DISTANCE AWAY, DOZING. I WAS WANDERING AROUND, LOOKING AT EVERY THING AND, ALL AT ONCE, I SPIED THE HYDRANT. I LOVED WATER! (I WAS A LITTLE younger THAN THIS PICTURE SHOWS ME.)

I WATCHED IT FOR AWHILE THEN MOVED CLOSER. THE WATER WAS COMING OUT IN A SMALL STREAM! 'OH BOY,' I THOUGHT! 'I CAN GET MY HANDS IN IT.'
THE SUN WAS SHINING THROUGH THE WATER AND MADE A SMALL RAINBOW. IT WAS SO PRETTY!

THEN I SAW THE BEE. WAS IT GETTING A DRINK? THE BEE WAS FLITTING THROUGH THE WATER, BACK AND FORTH. GENTLY MY TWO FINGERS WENT TO THE WATER AND REACHED TO GRASP ITS PRETTY WINGS, BUT I MISSED. I PULLED MY HAND BACK AND THE BEE STARTED STINGING ME AND I STARTED CRYING.

DAD WOKE UP AND I TOLD HIM THAT THE BEE WOULDN'T LET ME HOLD HIM. I GUESS DAD SMILED, BUT I DIDN'T SEE IT.

HE SAID,"WELL COME HERE AND I'LL FIX IT." I CRIED MY WAY OVER TO DAD AND HE WORKED HIS MOUTH AROUND THEN TOOK A BIG GOB OF SNUFF AND PUT IT ON MY FINGER. HE TOLD ME TO KEEP IT ON FOR A LONG TIME. IT MUST HAVE WORKED.

WE WENT TO DAD WITH ALL OUR OWIES AFTER THAT.
I DON'T REMEMBER ANY MORE RIGHT NOW. I'LL TELL MORE NEXT TIME.

MIZ MICKS...LATER...

The Church of Christ in Empire, California...

2007-11-06T19:40:00.000-08:00

I found this writing in mothers things, then I remembered we were sitting and talking and Mom got up suddenly and said, "I'm going to write all of this down," and came back with an ink pen and a tablet. She started writing and finished up about the time the church building was finished. I had forgotten all about it.
The first Sunday of service (in the old building) was Aug. 21, 1955. We met at the old building and decided to buy.

Monday, Aug 7, 1955 there were 9 women and 3 men; Bro Scott, Bro Vernon Bue and Bro Brotherton. The ladies were Sis Lewis, Sis Myrah, Aunt Laura, Sis Hise, Sis Georgia Bue, Sis Drig, Sis Gilmore, Sis Scott and Sis Graham.

The history of the church of Christ in Empire.

Empire was a very small town where quite a few widow women lived. They were getting up in years and didn't drive, and some of them didn't even own a car, so they had to get rides with someone who did have a car to the nearest church in Modesto, to worship. So they got together and decided to try to get a church established here in Empire. They knew a Brother preacher that had been a friend as well as a brother in Christ for years.

The church in Modesto was located in the La Loma district at that time and we all met there to worship. Brother Cecil Brotherton was there so they talked to him about starting a congregation out here in Empire. He told us if we could get a place to meet,that he would preach for nothing. So we began to search for a place. They heard that a little house the Pentecost people had had built on Church St. was for sale so they pooled their money and bought the lot and building and, I guess, borrowed some money from the bank. It was so small we called it the Little Cracker Box.
My husband and I heard about it so we started worshiping with the 6 women and 3 men. It wasn't very long until it became too small so the Bro's all got together and bought the corner lot and started the house we have now.

We had quite a few carpenters and electricians in the La Loma Church and they all came out and, with the help of some other men, in no time we had a church house that would hold more than eighty people. Cecil Brotherton was still preaching so we all decided to start paying our preacher and we paid him $25.00 a week and the longer he preached the more people we had. Of course, in the summer it began to be too warm so the Bros. got together and decided to get a cooler. They gave that job to my husband and Bro Sherman Nicklaus. So we went to Turlock to get the fan and finally got it installed.

Then, of course, we wanted to plant some flowers and shrubbery around the house to make it look nice so one of the sisters and I set out some bulbs she had that we thought would be pretty. The men didn't like it because they had planned something else so that's they way it went.

Then Bro Warren Irogrog (?) and family started and he and I were doing the Deacon work. We called ourselves the Deacon and Deaconess. Someone told us about a family over in South Modesto that was in bad need of food. We got a lot of stuff together and went over there and finally found them. They were living in an old bus and it was a mess and they seem to be glad we brought the food. I don't remember what happened to them but I think they left Modesto. So later all the churches received a letter telling of some people that was traveling. I believe if, I remember right, that was just going from town to town and asking for food and clothing.

Of course, that sounded like the people that we helped and since I thought of how we learned about them that we helped; I believe they came to church on Sunday but I'm not sure.

Well, when they started the new building, Bro. Gilmore would be there making coffee for the crew (the Coffee Man). He was one of the 3 men and Bro. Scott and my husband, Vernon Bue. Of course we didn't count our preacher and wife, (and the 6 women and the Brothers were sister Gilmore and Bro and Sister Lewis, Sister Lucy Mirrah, Sister Scott and Bro Scott, Sister Hill, Ruby, Sister Graham and me, Georgia Bue. I guess that make 7. Bro and Sister Black Taylor these names came up and some of them I knew; Nettie Alsup, Lucy Mirrah, Gaudie and Loyd, Georgia and Sherman mNichols, Vernon Bue and me, Georgia Bue.

Cecil preached black board sermons a lot so that morning we all met and there wasn't anything on the black board but a big cross. His sermon was "Please, Purpose and Plain." Then that night he preached on,"A Friend".

Sister Graham taught Bible school behind a curtain we had hung up. some time the kids would be noisy but that was all right. We didn't mind as long as we could worship God. We were so glad to have a place worship. Sister Hise's daughter met with in the new building her name was Janice Ladd. Now I have found that her name is no longer Ladd, but Wagner.

I had a letter from her one day and she was writing about the time when the Bro's were building the new church building. How she and other of the ladies and mother (Sister Hise) would make chicken pies for all the boys for lunch and how they enjoyed every thing could get to eat for they worked pretty hard to get the house built. We needed it so bad for there was beginning to be too many for our little (cracker box) church house.

I remember so well when my uncle Mack Rayburn was baptized. He thought so much of Bro Gilmore. We sure did miss him when he left us to on to his home in Heaven. And now my Uncle has gone on too. How time does fly. My mother and father both left us in '59.

My mother, Sister Lillie Johnson, and my father, Alvha Johnson. Most everyone called him Uncle Ab. I remember when Sister Graham made the Holy Place in the Tabernacle the Bible speaks so much about.

We enjoyed Bro Dan Hopper when he preached for us and his family. Bro and Sister Pack is her parent. Sister Elsie Lively is Sister Packs' sister. For our first bus, it was named the, "While Wheel".

Now that we have a larger one the boys call it the, "Joy Bus," and you would think so when there is a bus full of kids all singing their songs on the way to church.

Above is what Mother wrote. I'll add more later if I find anything else. But for now, I'll close. Miz Micks.

See ya...

Another Happening...

2007-09-02T15:52:00.000-07:00

I was already a very busy girl(at about age 8 or 9) when we moved to a farmers house to pick cotton. We still had Betsy Buick. I guess we were low on money so Dad traded Betsy for an old Star car and a sow with nine little pigs.It sure was tempting to try holding the cute babies but, after the old sow ran at us a few times, we learned to leave them alone!
We lived rent free, I guess. There was an old apricot tree close to the back window and when those apricots got started growing, I started eating. Mom said if I didn't quit eating, there wouldn't be any left by the time they got ripe.
Everyone in the family picked cotton and came in for lunch. I stayed home and baby sat James and Joan and cooked lunch.
One day when it was time to start the beans, I took the caps off the front burners so I could build the fire up. It wouldn't burn so I looked around and found the kerosene and sloshed some in on the wood. The darned thing still wouldn't catch so I looked in to find out why.
When Mom and Dad and the kids got home they found a funny looking, almost bald, black faced kid. Well, my hair grew back but I lost my babysitting job and had to pick cotton. I learned one thing; never use kerosene to start a fire.
Mom said Eva's nose bled to much for her to be out in the heat. I told her that Eva picked it so she could stay home.
That cotton picking was the hardest work I ever did! I guess we needed money more than we needed baby sitting because, when I could finally get my back straight and stand, there was mom pulling a long cotton sack with James on the tail end just happy to get to ride. Some times Dad pulled Joan on his sack. I only got a quick look then dad would see me and yell, "Get to work!"

One day we got to quit early because it looked like rain. We were so tired that it hurt and felt good at the same time to slowly straighten up. We started home running, hopping, doing circles and yelling and Dad looked up and said, "Well, I thought you kids were tired. We'll stay longer tomorrow!"
It's funny how many lessons kids have to learn. We never played on the way home again.
Now it's time for breakfast! Miz Micks.

See ya...

When We Lived In Merced

2007-07-18T10:50:00.000-07:00

ALL OF US LIVED IN A LITTLE HOUSE JUST OUT OF TOWN. WE STILL HAD OLD BETSY. (THE BIG OLD BUICK WE CAME TO CALIFORNIA IN)

MOM GOT 200 WHITE LEGHORN CHICKS AND HAD TO RAISE THEM TO LAYING AGE. I SHOULDN'T SAY,"HAD TO"; SHE REALLY WANTED TO GET THE CHICKS TO PULLET AGE AND HAVE THE PULLETS START LAYING. WE HAD A PRETTY WHITE YARD FOR A WHILE!

WE LIVED ON A PRETTY STEEP LITTLE HILL AND ONE DAY ONE OF DADS FRIENDS CAME TO VISIT. WE HAPPENED TO MEET HIM AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL SO ALL OF US GOT TO RIDE UP THE HILL IN THE BACK OF HIS PICKUP. ABOUT HALF WAY UP, THE TRUCK SWERVED AND I DIDN'T! I FELL OFF AND ROLLED ABOUT HALF WAY DOWN THE HILL! THE OTHER KIDS WERE SCREAMING AS LOUD AS THEY COULD!

WHEN THE MAN FINALLY LOOKED BACK AND SAW I HAD FALLEN OFF, HE CAME BACK FOR ME AND REMINDED US THAT WE HAD PROMISED TO STAY SITTING DOWN. I WAS SITTING DOWN BUT I FORGOT TO HOLD ON. LUCKILY I WASN'T HURT.

ONE DAY BEFORE BUDDIE GOT HIS BIKE PAID FOR, HE WALKED DOWN THE HILL TO A SMALL CAFE AND WENT INTO THE CAFE AND TOLD THE LADY THAT HE HADN'T EATEN FOR 3 OR 4 DAYS. HE WAS REALLY BROWN FROM NOT WEARING A SHIRT AND HAD ON RAGGEDY TORN UP BRITCHES. HE WAS A LITTLE SKINNY FELLER, SO THE LADY FELT SORRY FOR HIM AND STARTED FEEDING HIM. WELL, BUDDY TOOK ADVANTAGE OF HER AND SHE TOLD MOTHER LATER THAT HE ATE MORE THAN MOST GROWN UPS,- LIKE 2 QUARTS OF MILK LOTS OF EGGS AND BACON AND JUST KEPT ON EATING. MOTHER WAS EMBARRASSED BUT THEY BOTH HAD A GOOD LAUGH!

MOM WENT HOME AND ASKED BUDDIE WHY HE WENT DOWN THERE AND TOLD THAT LADY ALL THAT STUFF,- LIKE HE WAS HITCH-HIKING AND DIDN'T HAVE ANY MONEY AND, OF COURSE, HOW LONG IT HAD BEEN SINCE HIS LAST MEAL. BUDDIE LOOKED UP AT MOM AND VERY SOLEMNLY SAID, "WELL, I WAS HUNGRY!"

AFTER THAT, BUDDY WORKED HARD MOWING LAWNS AND DOING ALL KINDS OF YARD WORK TO HURRY AND FINISH PAYING FOR HIS BIKE.

THIS HAS BEEN ANOTHER EPISODE IN OUR LIVES!. MIZ MICKS.

See ya...

A CORRECTION IS NEEDED HERE

2007-05-26T17:50:00.000-07:00

AS YOU KNOW OR NOTICED THERE WAS NO PLACE FOR A COMMENT. MAYBE I CAN PROVIDE A PLACE HERE FOR ANY COMMENTS. MIZ MICKS WELL GUESS THERE NO FIGURING THIS ONE OUT. THE REASONS I LOVED MOM WON'T HAVE COMMENTS , SO YOU ALL PLEASE WRITE TO ME AT MY E-MAIL THANKS. MIZ MICKS P.S. JC, YOU DID FINE

Mom, One of the Reasons I Loved Her...

2007-05-17T19:32:00.000-07:00

I should say, one of many reasons. When mom and dad separated, we were in a tight spot. We didn't have a place to go or to live. Mom had James, Buddy and me to make a living for. Dad took Eva and Joan. It was decided that we would go to Modesto, so this is where we wound up.

Mom found a small one room cabin out on Crowslanding Road. At that time it was called Pates Store, on the corner of Crowslanding and Hatch Roads. Even late at night the music and noise was very loud, but we were so glad to have a place to stay that it didn't bother us much.
Mother found a job in the potato dehydrater. Boy, it sure did stink! They put her to lifting and cleaning slats or flats. Hard work for a man much less a woman. It didn't pay much, either. She started bringing home the slats that the dehydrater didn't want and soon had quite a few.

After a while Mom went to work in the cannery. It was hard work but not nearly as hard as the dehydrater had been.

I can't really remember Buddy being there most of the time but he must have been because our parents decided Bud needed to help Mom make some money when he wasn't going to school, doing yard work and so on. I don't remember it working out that way though.

I had one school dress with a patch on it and some of the kids made fun of me at school. I was supposed to ride the school bus home but I didn't know which one, so I walked each day. I sure was tired. Mom couldn't do any thing about that, but if she could have, she sure would have!

At that time I had developed the cigarette habit smoking grape vines with Buddy. Of course, I couldn't inhale because it burned my throat too badly. I started smoking Chesterfields but Mother made me quit them. She said I could only smoke one of the new brands that had a filter so I started smoking Viceroys. I had one cigarette(Viceroy) a day but, by the time I got home, I was too tired to smoke my cigarette. (well, almost) 'chuckle'

One day Mom had to go to the doctor and later she told me that Dr. Czatt was talking about a lot he knew about near the airport. It had been sold to MR and Mrs Ray by Mr and Mrs Benson and they wanted to sell it so mom said she would buy it. They went down town and fixed up the contract and mom paid $10.00 down and $5.00 a month until the sum of $400.00 dollars was paid off.

The place had a one room structure on it which was sturdy, so mom moved us over there.

It wasn't insulated so mom took card board boxes and lined the whole thing. Then it was snug and warm. This trailer wasn't there until much later (my husband is standing at the trailer door). See that old washing machine? It had no wringer but the washer worked good. I did the washing while mom worked. The wringing by hand was hard. Mom finally found an old wringer and put it on the machine and it worked fine.

Mom got jobs easily but had siezures and when she did have one, she usually got laid off. Then she got a job at tri-valley which lasted until her retirement. She got a medicine called Dilantin,from a doctor and it controlled the siezures. We didn't know that was possible; Dad thought there was no help for it. Thank the Lord that he was wrong.

Mom, also, worked at Hedley Hospital. It was a hospital for mentally retarded people when she first started working there. Later, after the World War II started, it changed to an Army hospital.mom worked for a while helping feed the soldiers,

The thing James remembers most was Mother bringing home cooked turkey from the Hospital kitchen. they meant to throw it away the day after it was cooked. Sometimes that turkey was the only meat we would have all week. It sure was good!

We met the other half of our family when we went to Planada. Our family knew each other years ago but I only remember seeing them at Planada. Well, Mom and Pop met again at California Lands and the next time I remember seeing them, we were in our own house. Pop had five children and Mom had three with her. WEll, the oldest one was named James so we said Big James and Little James. Next was Bobby. He was younger than me and we teased each other about that for years. Then there was Betty Jo. We girls had fun trying to find the boys. They hid from us and fussed because we followed them and eventually found them. They never dreamed that we wouldn't have followed them if they hadn't cared. We girls thought it was so funny!

The last two were Floyd and Joyce. We left those two and Joan out because we thought they were to young to play with us. Kids are so mean sometimes or I should say thoughtless. This was in planada. We didn't play when every one lived there in the little house. I guess we were to old by then.

Mother had a large space at one end of the lot and she spaded that part of the lot up and we had a big garden. It was the prettiest one in that part of town! One reason it was so pretty is because we had built a picket fence around the yard and Mom planted Virginia Climber and Kentucky Wonder green beans at the bottom of the fence and the runners and vines climbed the front garden part of the fence.

We had a grapefruit tree that Aunt Lola (Mom's sister) gave her. She was really proud of that tree from texas. If it got a little chilly, out would come the oldest worn out quilt to wrap the tree up with. Years later, the tree was still thriving. maybe I'll stop here and start another part.I'll call this Part 1 and start on part 2 soon. Miz Micks

See Ya...

Walking

2007-03-19T09:05:00.000-07:00

Thought I'd throw this in. It's my whole family, a long time ago! Guess which is me!

This day was special to us; WE WERE GOING WALKING,-- ALL OF US! WE STARTED OUT NOT FAR FROM THE HOUSE PICKING FLOWERS.(EVA AND I) EVA WAS TALKING ON AND ON, SEEMED THAT SHE WAS NEVER GOING TO STOP BUT IT DIDN'T BOTHER ME. IT JUST SEEMED TO BE A NOISE IN THE BACKGROUND.

THEN I HEARD DAD LAUGH AND THAT BROUGHT ME BACK TO THE PRESENT; I TEND TO DAY DREAM A LOT.
HE SAID,"THATS MY LITTLE RADIO!" 'COURSE SHE WAS TELLING DAD WHAT HAD HAPPENED WHILE SHE AND I WERE ON VACATION AT OUR AUNT EVIES HOUSE. WE HAD BEEN BEFORE, BUT THIS TIME STUCK IN MY MIND.

I NEVER COULD REMEMBER AUNT EVIES HUSBANDS NAME. AUNT EVIE WAS DADS SISTER. WE VISITED A WEEK OR TWO AT A TIME. THE TIME EVA WAS TALKING ABOUT IS; WE HAD JUST COME HOME WITH NEW SHOES AND SOCKS. WHILE WE WERE THERE, AUNT EVIE TRIED TO KEEP US BUSY I GUESS, AND DECIDED THAT WE NEEDED TO LEARN TO SEW. EVA GOT HER NEEDLE THREADED AND WAS DOING FINE.

WELL A LONG TIME LATER I WAS STILL TRYING TO FIND THE LITTLE HOLE TO PUT MY THREAD THRU BUT IT DIDN'T SEEM TO BE THERE. AUNT EVIE LAUGHED AND EVA LAUGHED, TOO. ANY WAY, I WOUND UP IN A CHAIR CRYING. BUT I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I HAD DONE WRONG. I HAD TO sit there until I could straighten up and behave myself. Next time mom asked if we wanted to go visit I said I would never go there again and I never did. I can't remember if eva went or not.

Any way, we still walked until we got to the woods and started playing and picking more flowers. Every thing was quiet and as I looked around no one was there but eva and me. I was so scared and I grabbed her arm and started dragging her and I knew we were lost SO I YELLED, "COME ON SHIKEY! COME ON SHIKEY!" I PROBALY GONE THE WRONG WAY BUT AND THEY HAD TO COME BACK TO FIND US. THEY HEARD ME YELLING AND FROM THEN ON HER NICKNAME WAS SHIKE --SHORT FOR SHIKEY.

THAT IS MORE THAN ENOUGH FOR NOW SO SEE YOU LATER. MIZ MICKS
See ya...

adventure

2007-02-27T11:45:00.000-08:00

After seeing Miss (or Mrs Cameron-I was about 5 years old) Buddie and I decided to run away. I guess dad must have whipped him for something. We seemed to stay in trouble a lot. Well, we had to make plans. I forgot to mention that, if Buddie lied, I swore to it! We were always good friends, especially when we were young.
Any way to get back to where I was.

Buddie knew of a cave close to the creek where we could live and be happy.
NO MORE PROBLEMS WITH GROWN- UPS! We got busy and swiped food from the kitchen,-(what little there was)and stacked our clothes all in a little wagon. Now we were ready to go. The thought never crossed our minds about how little the wagon was or how little we had in it.
Next Buddie said the cave was to small for both of us so we had to dig it out more so we went to the cave and dug with our hands,-it was only sand but hard packed.

We put all our stuff in it and crawled in. After a while Buddie started talking about building a raft so we could go on down the river.(or creek whichever it was) But we would put it off until tomorrow.
So we went home to sleep. What about, 'all good plans of mice and men?'

Ours came to an end 'cause some one told on us and mom had a talk with us. She explained that we might get in the cave and the walls could fall in on us and smother us. We listened and never went back our first adventure place! But we were just getting started.

I'll go now and rest my two fingers; only one on each hand but i'm getting pretty fast! So i'll see you at miz micks place .
See ya'...

A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY

2007-02-20T22:24:00.000-08:00

AS HARD AS IT IS TO START, I HAVE TO DO IT. MY OLDEST BROTHER WILL BE 81 IN NOVEMBER AND I AM 79 THIS YEAR. THE SISTER JUST YOUNGER THAN I AM will be 77 in October.

WHEN THEY (MY BROTHER AND SISTER) WERE VERY YOUNG, BOTH HAD WHITE HAIR. MY HAIR WAS A BROWN SO, OF COURSE, I HATED IT. THEIR HAIR WAS A LITTLE CURLY AND MINE WAS STRAIGHT AS A STRING.

NOW WE HAD A LITTLE SISTER THAT WAS A REDHEAD,- WELL MORE OF A CARROT COLOR,- SO OF COURSE WE TEASED HER AND, OF COURSE, IT PAID OFF. SHE CRIED, YELLED, STOMPED HER FEET AND RAN TO DAD. WE WERE IN TROUBLE AGAIN!

JOAN WAS SPOILED ROTTEN, BUT WE NEVER RESENTED HER WHICH WAS ODD, BECAUSE WE HAD TO LET HER WIN IN GAMES. AFTER A FEW YEARS SHE WON ANYWAY, MOSTLY OVER ME.
SHE DIED IN HER 50'S. THAT SEEMS SO YOUNG TO ME NOW. I GUESS YOU NEVER GET USED TO DEATH, ESPECIALLY IN YOUR IMMEDIATE FAMILY.

NOW FOR THE YOUNGEST OF THE FAMILY. OUR LITTLE BROTHER WAS NAMED AFTER OUR WELFARE WORKER, MOTHER SAID, BECAUSE SHE WAS SO VERY KIND AND GOOD TO US; SO HE WAS JAMES CAMERON. HIS FIRST NAME WAS AFTER DAD, OF COURSE.

HE WAS ABOUT 3 YEARS OLD WHEN WE LIVED BY A PARK. MOM MADE FLOWERS FOR THE OLDEST OF US TO SELL . MAYBE THE MATERIAL COST MORE THAN THE FLOWERS WERE WORTH SO THAT DIDN'T LAST LONG, THANK THE LORD. I HAVE TO ADMIT THAT I WAS EMBARRASSED .
JAMES WAS A LITTLE THING THEN AND CUTE AS A BUTTON. ONE DAY WE WERE HAPPY WITH NOTHING TO DO BUT GO TO THE PARK, AND JAMES STARTED SINGING "GIVE ME BACK MY GREEN BACK DOLLAR." PEOPLE STARTED GIVING HIM MONEY, 'CAUSE HE WAS SO LITTLE AND SANG WELL, YOU KNOW, GOOD TONE, ETC. WELL WE WERE SO TICKLED THAT WE RAN HOME AND SHOWED MOM AND DAD THE MONEY!

THAT WAS MY FAMILY GROWING UP, BUT THAT'S NOT ALL THAT HAPPENED TO US, NOT BY ANY MEANS. I'M TIRED SO I'LL LOOK FOR YOU AT MIZ MICKS PLACE.

see ya...

i'm dropping you a line

2007-02-11T10:43:00.000-08:00

I finally made it to the blog again. This is to let everyone know that I now have a monitor again. The man at the store said mine just died. See for yourself!

This one is really big and I may trade it for a smaller one.

'oops'...

There isn't really room for any thing else on the PC desk. Guess I'll be out of the computer world for a while but watch for me at Miz-Micks place.

See ya...

Reminiscing...

2007-01-29T07:18:00.000-08:00

Good morning . I'm sitting in my room and waiting for my grand daughter to get ready to be taken to school . Its early in the morning so guess I'll try to blog a little. My mind goes every which way because I want to write every thing at once.
Well, I hear my daughter is back O K.
I'll tell you about my family and myself. To start, we were five kids; two boys and three girls . We were very close and played games together. Some times ,well when I think of it , I feel sorry for children who have to be raised alone. Hearing the screaming and laughter as we ran and played makes me feel happy and sad ,but mostly glad that I can have those memories.
We moved a lot so we were blessed to have each other, but all things weren't beds of roses. Dad was always there to dish out our just deserts when we needed to be corrected. Those willow switches sure stung! The good part was,we got to go get our own switch. Well, as the switches got smaller and shorter, dad finally caught on but they got a laugh out of it! Of course the babies only got a couple of licks, but we were older and "should have known better".

Guess I had better go now and start my work and do more next time. I don't like continued things, do you? See you soon at Miz Micks Place!

See ya'...

This blogging is some thing new and puzzling to me, but I'll give it a whirl...

2007-01-28T17:13:00.000-08:00

To start my day, its Sunday so we all went to church to day. Was pot luck and the one that has a birthday that month gets to be in line first; thats at the table,of course. I'm sorry to say it was my turn to be first but we couldn't stay. ITS A LONG STORY. WANT TO HEAR IT?

OUR DRYER QUIT AND FINALLY THE PART ARRIVED AND WE WERE SO HAPPY!FINALLY A GUY CAME OUT TO FIX IT AND MESSED IT UP SO THE DRYER SMELLED LIKE BURNT RUBBER.

NOW THERE WERE HAMPERS AND BASKETS FULL OF WET CLOTHES SO THIS MORNING AFTER CHURCH, THE CLOTHES HAD TO BE TAKEN TO A PUBLIC LAUNDRY (WAIT!... I FORGOT,-ITS A LAUNDRY-MAT) TO DRY EVERYTHING. THEY'RE NOT BACK YET!
THE DRYING COSTS A FORTUNE!

I'M SURE YOU DON'T WANT TO HEAR ALL OF THIS.

SEE YOU LATER; LETTING OFF STEAM. COME TO SEE ME AT MIZ-MICKS PLACE.

See ya...

Now I Need To...

2007-01-27T17:51:00.000-08:00

e-mail my brother and let him know if I like the links on my blog and the new picture. Yeah, OK, I'll do that immediately!

See Ya'...

First Time...

2007-01-18T16:15:00.000-08:00

This is my first time to blog. I think it'll take a while to get used to it and figure what to say whenever I want to post something. Wish me luck!

See Ya'...

Miz Mick's Place

Just A Sister

Still Traveling

Always Be My Friend...

MORE MEMORIES TO CHERISH

MY GROWING UP YEARS

A CHILDS DREAM...

Priming the Pump...My Way...

MORE STORIES WHILE IN MERCED...

Welcome Back!!!...

THE HYDRANT IS RUNNING...

The Church of Christ in Empire, California...

Another Happening...

When We Lived In Merced

A CORRECTION IS NEEDED HERE

Mom, One of the Reasons I Loved Her...

Walking

adventure

A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY

i'm dropping you a line

Reminiscing...

This blogging is some thing new and puzzling to me, but I'll give it a whirl...

Now I Need To...

First Time...