Sunday, September 25, 2011
New Addition...
Thursday, May 5, 2011
April 23, 2011
Here it is almost May and it is still quite cool. Do we forget or is this Spring similar to the one we had last year? As I listen to the Green House show on KSL it must be about the same. No matter what the weather was or is I see from your news articles life still goes on for you as it does for us.
For us there have been graduations, presentation and operations.
Our
Reed and Natalie were here today and Reed planted me a tomato plant. He said we are going to take a chance. He said just think if it makes it you will have tomatoes before anyone else. To which I said okay let see what happens.
I hope this letter finds everyone doing well
Love, Uncle Neil
Sharon, Charlene and Deward fawns July 4, 1960
June George Ella about 1944
Darrell’s pet Badger
From Anna and Wilmer Murray’s Journal April 18, 2011
Lester came for us at nine o clock. We went for Ruth and were soon on our way to Vernal. I was awake at 4:00 A.M. so I was sleepy but made it fine. We saw Uncle Wills’ family. Thora, Anna, Phillip, Ward and his wife and three of Thora’s Children. We saw Eva at the chapel after we went to the viewing. She looks good. Has lost a lot of weight. Didn’t see Lee.
Lester dropped us off here at home then went on. We tried to get him to stop at Vernal or Roosevelt to eat but he thought he had better go home so he could stay on his diet.
After dinner I went to survey again.
Tuesday, April, 980
Spent the day surveying, people are nice to me. I am finding a lot of strangers but also renewing friendships. Five hours today.
Wednesday April 9, 1980
Iri’s birthday, he would have been 80. I worked on census until time to go to the Doctor. Dad’s blood pressure is still too high. Dr. White gave him some pills to try and said to come back in a couple of weeks. I’m concerned about Dad, he is too tired. I surveyed until 6:15 then worked here at home from 8:30 to 10:30. Six and one half hours.
Uncle Tom, Aunt Han and Grandfather James B Murray
Larry, Perry, Aunt Margaret, Leslie, Lester and Kent Maxfield
Story Time
This last Tuesday, April 19, 2011 while riding with Brian, Sharon and Marie to attend Jason’s graduation exercise where he and several others were certified as Police officers for the correction facility at the point of the mountain, Marie asked me if I had ever been to Marion’s in Roosevelt. It seems that one of her friends is an Eldridge who still have relatives in the Basin. This friend must have been telling her about some of their experiences in the Basin of which included visits to Marion’s. I told Marie that yes I was familiar with Marion’s and then I felt bad that, as a grandparent and on our many trips to the Basin, I had never taken her to Marion’s. It was then that Sharon told about her grandfather Murray taking her and Reed to Marion’s. As she told about her visit there I could remember Reed telling about, I guess, this same visit. At least it was his first time there. I guess at this time they must have ordered a malt. According to Reed they placed this large glass in front of him and filled it to the top from the stainless steel mixing container and set the container on the counter. Reed said he thought he did pretty good being able to drink all of the malt in the glass, then just as he was finishing, the person waiting on them took the stainless steel container and filled his glass up again. Of course grandfather was watching and I’m sure was observing the expressions on Reed’s and Sharon’s faces as their glasses were filled again. Sharon said Grandfather sure laughed. Me, knowing my dad can just hear him and yes see him.
This, of course, brought memory of me experiencing my first banana split. This event, however, did not involve Marion’s, I don’t think Marion’s even existed then but it did take place in Roosevelt at the Huish Drug Store. At that time the Huish Drug store also had a fountain where they sold sandwiches and ice cream treats. Now to set the stage I must tell you that money for our family and a lot of the other families in the Basin was not all that plentiful so looking back on the event LaVora and I, especially LaVora, realized that it was a sacrifice on our folks part to provide this special experience for their children. Myself I could not have been more that five or six years old and that would make LaVora eight or nine. Anyhow Mother and Dad took us two kids into the Huish Drug store and ordered each of us a banana split and left us there alone. Now the banana splits they built in those days were huge and of course had all the toppings and then some that one would see today. Now, I must say, to me, that dish of bananas, ice cream and all the other things placed on it must have looked like a “Kitchen Sink” like they serve at Trolly Square. As I recall LaVora finished her banana split and ended up finishing mine as well.
The rest of the story: LaVora felt that the reason mother and Dad did not stay with us was because they could only afford to buy a treat for their children. Therefore they waited in the car while allowing us to have this unforgettable experience. Interesting the sacrifice a parent will make for a child.
I’m glad that Dad and Mother in later years could provide this same experience for their grandchildren and afford to be present and share the experience.
A Typical Soda Fountain in the 30s This picture, in a way, resembles the interior of the Huish Drug Store. The main difference being that the Huish Store was smaller and I don’t ever remember the Huish being that busy.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
From Anna and Wilmer Murray’s Journal April 2011
I Called Linda Jackson. She said I could get her at 8:00. So I’ll have to get on the ball. When I got back from Lindas we watched conference and I made a batch of bread and ground some flour. Ruth called and said to come over to see President Kimball’s birthday party that was to be rebroadcast at 1:00 o’clock. I went out to tell Dad and forgot to turn the mill off. We took our bread and went to Ruth’s before I thought of the mill. We rushed back to turn it off. I was afraid it would be ruined but it is okay. I threw away the top part off the flour so we would not get any stone. We went back and watched the program, it was great. Ruth baked the bread. We stayed and watched the rest of conference and enjoyed it.
President Tanner had a hard time talking. He had to have some other brother finish his talk. It was very good. He did better conducting the afternoon session. Darrell called. Wanda Larsen called to tell us Harold Ashby passed away and Lila is in the Hospital in Salt Lake.
Sunday. April 6, 1980
Dewey called this morning. We watched conference. It was something outstanding and wonderful to hear the speakers in the Tabernacle then be switched to New York to hear President Kimball speak in the Peter Whitmer home where the Church was organized 150 years ago today, with President Joseph Smith standing in the same place as President Kimball is standing today. Then President Kimball dedicated the home that had been restored for this occasion. We are ever grateful to have such a wonderful experience in our lifetime. Our hearts were touched and it was hard to keep back the tears. Dad was as emotional as I was. We are grateful that we are privileged to live on the earth to witness the great things that have come about in our life time.
President Kimball left Saturday after being at conference in Salt Lake and speaking in the Tabernacle and then flew by jet to New York. We are proud and happy to be members of such a great church and thank our Heavenly Father for the wonderful blessings we receive each day, and each other.
After the first session of conference we went to John and Bonnie Urisks for Barbeque dinner. We took a raspberry and pineapple Jello salad. It was so cold we had to eat in the house. It was crowded but nice. We had a good time. Came home in time for the last session of conference. Thus passed another Easter Sunday.
Life in Myton in the 1930/s
Once in a while I spend some time thinking about the many things that have taken place in my life time. Time line I think they call it. To day I just happened to be thinking about the automobile. When I came along the car was what one might say well perfected. The days of the Model T which made Henry Ford famous was gone and his Model A was probably the going machine at the time and I must admit it was kind of fun to drive. However today it is not so much the car that I want to talk about but the way they started the engine. You see at first there was no electric starter. The car was started by CRANKING it. There was a small opening, under the radiator, in front of each car where the crank could be inserted. When a person wanted to start a car they would of course get everything set, inside the car, like setting the spark, choke, throttle and by all means have the car in neutral. With all of this done the starter, who was the owner, would go in front of the car insert the crank and with the crank and man power, turn the engine over. I understand that there were a lot of hurt, even broken arms resulting from engines backfiring. That is the cranker would be trying to turn the engine clock wise and all at once the engine would want to go counter clock wise. Anyhow when all went well the engine would start and the cranker would then become the driver as he or she hurried into the car and under the steering wheel to quickly set the choke and throttle so that the engine would continue to run. Now with this bit of background there comes my story.
This particular day I happened to be walking home. I was on the sidewalk and approaching the Blaine residence. Mr. Blaine had his car parked on the sidewalk, where he always parked it, with the front end pointing east which of course was the direction that I was walking so that I was behind the car. It just so happened that Mr. Blaine was in the act of cranking his car. Which of course was no big deal because there was people out cranking their cars all the time that is if they wanted to go someplace or maybe just liked to hear it run. You see at that time the price of gas was about eighteen cents. The thing the turned this event into an adventure was the fact that Mr. Blaine forgot just one little thing. His car transmission was not in neutral. It was in reverse and when he gave the crank a mighty yank the engine came to life and here the car came right toward me. I was so close that I did not have time to react and I just knew that the car was going to hit me. As it turned out for some reason just before the car got to me it turned and went out into the street with Mr. Blaine after it. What was interesting was that Mr. Blaine was a heavy set man but it was plain to see that when he needed to he could run because he was able to catch up to his car jump inside and stop it. Amazing!
Me, I went on home, doing as they say, pondering this event in my mind. I knew that I for sure had a very active GUARDIAN ANGEL.
Letter from Neil
Here it is the end of March one forth of 2011 is gone and I’m not sure I have any thing to show for it. But wait that is not true, we have added two great grandsons to the clan. They are Alexander Murray and Benjamin Frampton. There mothers are doing well and so are the boys.
With some warm weather predicted it is time to start thinking about getting out of the house. I did go to the nursery the other day and pick up some seeds and fertilizer. So as soon as the soil dries out enough I will try to get some things planted. I notice that the black currents have already leaved out so I guess the other trees and shrubs will soon follow. I decided to attend the Wards talent night this last Tuesday. It was kind of fun to watch those who were brave enough share their talents. The young people seemed to have fun doing their skits. The Bishop is a Physics Professor at the Y. He did a demonstration with a cone shaped device that created a magnetic field and an aluminum ring. He demonstrated what would happen to the ring at room temperature and then what would happen when the ring was cooled well below 0. At room temperature the ring just went three or so feet in the air where when it was freezing cold the device sent the ring with a bang to the top of the ceiling. It was kind of interesting.
At this time everyone seems to be well and I hope this note finds all of you well
Love,
Neil
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Story Time -- Something different - Food
During the time that I used to visit with my Uncle Lee when he was at the assisted living home in Bountiful I used to take with me the book “To My Children’s Children” and ask Uncle Lee the questions found in this book. I recall one day the questions were about food. When I asked him to tell me about the best meal he ever had he told me this story.
He had been up in the forest, with my mother and Dad, cutting, snaking and loading logs that were needed at the farm. Due to the fact that the length of time they were in the mountains exceeded their food supply they were without food for a day or so. As I recall Lee said Dad had bought a loaf of bread from some other loggers who was in the area. He said this was all the food they had for a day or so. He said the best meal that he ever had was the meal his mother had waiting for them when the got home.
I was just wondering, do you remember a best meal or do you have a favorite food?
Here are some I thought of:
As far as a favorite meal is concerned, it seems that I have had so many that they all kind of run together. Here however are a few of my favorite foods.
1) Grandmother Atta Murray’s carrot pudding.
2) The dry bean soup grandmother Atta Murray used to prepare
3) Mother’s and Ella’s rice and raisin pudding. I guess I remember Mother’s being so good because she was always able to make it with real cream
4) I still remember and like bread pudding.
5) Your cannot beat a good roast and mashed potatoes with lots of gravy.
6) I always liked Mother’s chicken dinners, you know like the one we took with us to Las Vegas
7) I never did like greasy food but I did like Katie’s soup.
8) I always liked “Murray style” milk toast. I must admit I never tried the Winkler or Rogers’ version. I will have to do that the next time I have some home made bread.
9) And Ice cream – The kind we used to make. I think the best part about this was getting the ice and turning the ice cream freezer.
10) The relish mother used to make. Help me find the recipe.
11) Bread and milk with honey.
12) Wilmer Murray style macaroni and cheese
13) Fresh cherries, watermelon, peaches, apricots, peas, corn on the cob, new potatoes and peas and etc.
14) And oh yes Home Made Bread right out of the oven with plenty of butter and honey
Any how I would be interested in your list. I would bet it is similar to mine.
Lavora, Darrell, and ice cream
John Tucker--Trout, etc.
Letter from Neil R
Dear Family
Hi everyone, have you noticed? The days are getting longer. But then before you get too excited about spring and warm weather coming I have notice on the news where it is still 11 degrees below 0 in the Basin. I bet those living out there noticed. It brings back memories of the years we lived in Myton. I remember days of 40 below. I thought we had it bad until John Richards, Ella’s brother in law, told of the days he and his family lived in Myton. After listening to some of his experiences I decided that I had it good. When Ella and I was planning marriage her dad took the opportunity to tell her of a night he spent in Myton. I do remember there was a garage in town where they had a big stove that they kept a fire in all night and for a fee you could park your truck in that garage for the night. I guess George with several others had parked their trucks inside with the hopes that they would be better able to start them the next morning. George told Ella the next morning the only trucks that would start were the ones by the stove. They had to pull all of the others to get them started. You know, in the winter time each time I start my car, I think of my dad. He sure would have appreciated the cars of today where you just have to turn the engine over once and it starts. In that day, however, the ice skating was great. As I remember, on the old ox bows, it seemed you could skate for miles.
Since the big snow storm we had the last of December, up until now, it has been dry. The past week or two we have had one storm coming in after another. It looks like there are a few more lined up to come in this week. One good thing about snow storms this time of the year the snow soon melts. I hope this note finds everyone well and looking forward to a kite flying March.
Love,
Neil
It gets cold in the basin
From Anna and Wilmer Murray’s Journal February 2011
Monday, February 25,1980
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Grandma Anna
I am so grateful for Great-Grandma and Great-Grandpa's faithfulness in this gospel--because of them, my grandfather has a strong testimony of the church and raised my father in that knowledge. Now I am the blessed recipient of knowledge and light and truth.
I am so grateful for the example and faith of my grandparents, and I realize the importance of living a faithful, righteous life, so that I can continue this tradition of faith and my posterity will continue to grow in righteousness.
I love you all and am so grateful we are a family forever!
-Natalie
Monday, February 7, 2011
Dear Murray Family
I just put Jerry on the Airporter so that he could make his way to the Oakland Airport and then on to Salt Lake where Allison will pick him up and take him to our Provo home. Jerry and another friend, John Torrens, are going back to Salt Lake to visit an old friend, a former skiing buddy, bishop and stake president. His health is going downhill pretty fast, so Jerry and John wanted to get in a good visit with him. Also, Jerry and Neil will be finishing up the details on the sale of the Myton House. A BIG thank you to Neil and to members of his family who have had work parties out to the Myton House several times working on the house and yard. We wouldn't have been able to keep the house for as long as we have, without them.
Jerry and I have completed a month of our Church Service Mission at the CA Santa Rosa Mission Office. This certainly is not an MTC Mission, but we do get to live in our home and serve at the same time. We are a bit overwhelmed right now learning our responsibilities, but hopefully, we will feel comfortable with what we are doing soon. Right now, we are going into the Office 3-4 days a week, which makes for 8-9 hours each day, with commute time added in. We just attended an All-Mission Conference last Monday. Elder Kearon, of the 1st Quorum of the Seventy and Pres. Boyd K. Packer's nephew, member of our Area Presidency, were our speakers. We didn't think we were going to have any "perks" with this mission (other than living in our own home), but this certainly was a very spiritual and inspiring conference and good to gather with all the missionaries in this mission. Unfortunately, this doesn't happen very often.
I hate to boast...but...we have had the most spectacular weather here in Northern CA for about two weeks now. Who needs Hawaii, the Caribbean, Florida or Palm Springs when you can go off to work in the morning without even a sweater or jacket? I am just wondering if this will prolong our winter into spring so that we won't have all the beautiful spring weather we usually get from the middle of February through June. It does make us hang our heads a little when we think of those of you who are suffering through the snow and cold of the Midwest and Utah. It might help you to feel a little better when you think of all that we have to put up with to live here in California like higher prices, lots of liberalism, Nancy Pelosi and Barbara Boxer!
As for our family: Lisa and Bob are all moved into their beautiful new home in Morgan Hill. Well, there may be a room stuffed with boxes of things they don't know where to put or they just haven't gotten around to yet. Lyle has a temporary job that will hopefully turn into a full-time job that hopefully will turn into another full-time job that will fully provide for his family. Our family appreciates all those who have been fasting and praying for Lyle. Susannah and Kevin are STILL patiently waiting for a baby to adopt. Jerry and I know how it feels to have to wait so long when you want a baby so much. Please keep them in your prayers and your eyes and ears open to their cause. Jenn is going to the Caribbean this month and we get to granddog sit Nikki for about ten days. She has started another semester and is taking Physics. Allison is away more than she is home. In March she will come back to California for Austin and Michael's baptisms and then be happily on her way to Ireland with a couple of friends. Pretty soon she will have out-traveled her parents!
We surely love and appreciate all of you! We'd love to hear your family news on this blog. We enjoyed Christmas cards from many of you this year and we are still basking in the "warmth" of our Nauvoo Family Reunion last August. Take care and have a good February!
Love,
Marylyn (and Jerry)
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Story Time!
Story Time -- Mt Logan Survey
By Neil R
One responsibility, as an employee of the Soil Conservation Service, was to assist with the snow surveys during the winter months. At that time we had five sites that we were responsible for. This story only involves one, Mt Logan. On this day the task of doing the survey on Mt Logan fell to me and Jim Carly. Jim was one of our Soil Scientists. Our job, whether we wanted to take it or not, was to make the hike to the top of Mt Logan and do the snow survey at the top. Since this was a walk on snow shoes all the way up you had to leave before the sun came up and you knew that you were not going to be home until after dark in the evening. I had been on this survey a number of times before so I was well acquainted with the hike. Everything went quite normally that morning. Jim and I arrived at the trail head at the determined time and began our assault on the mountain. It was generally a nice day for this type of activity. We got to the summit at about
The next day when I went to work and Jim and I related our story, Boswell, my supervisor sent me to our government Doctor. I remember when I went in to see him his nurse was there with him. He told me to show him the problem. I said not with her in here. (She was in our Ward) She left the room and I took down my pants. He had me lay on the table and proceeded to take off Ella’s bandage. I guess she had used a lot of tape to make it stick. The doctor wanted to know who fixed it, I told him my wife. Then he wanted to know what she had against me. Yet to face, were the days of sitting or trying to sit while the wound healed and to write the accident report and tell how I hurt my sit down. All this was very interesting indeed.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Letter from Neil R
Dear Family
This would be a good time to thank everyone for the cards, letters, e-mails and gifts received from you. Thanks so very much. It is always fun to get those cards and letter that have pictures of your family. What beautiful families. I put them in an album and that way by turning the pages fast I can watch your family grow up in kind of motion picture sort of way. For those of you who would remember the “Big Little Books”, well like flipping the pages of the “Big Little Book” and watching the action figure in the corner of the page.
It seems like January is, in many ways, a slow month because, due to the cold we pretty much stay inside and work at keeping warm. I guess if we were wise like the birds we would go south. I would guess the one thing that would be of interest is the process we are in of selling the property in Myton. I must admit it has been and is a hurtful decision but after weighing all of our alternatives we felt it best to move in this direction. While we will not be getting top dollar for the property we can have some peace of mind knowing that it will be in the hands of a family that loved the Myton homestead almost as much as we do and we can be sure they will care for it as we would have done. After all they are the ones that have been taking care of it for the past fifteen years.
So looking at all of our options we felt it best, to do like Mr. Cederquest used to say, cut our losses and move on.
And life will go on with lots and lots of grand memories. And so goes the month of January 2011
Love,
Neil
From Anna and Wilmer Murray’s Journal January 2011
Wednesday, January 9,1980
Finished typing Anna’s history. It doesn’t look much better but will have to do. Picked up Fred to go to town. Dropped off Anna’s history to Shirley Mortensen then went over to renew our certificate at the bank. We added our savings to it making it $1,900.00 and put it on a 2 ½ year with 10.15% interest. There goes our rug or trip to
We don’t have much snow but we really had wind and it’s like summer. Today is John Tucker’s birthday. I intended on calling but waited too long so just went on working on the Mucukluk. Have John’s finished and will soon have LaVora’s done. Now I must get Charlene’s baby’s quilt done. I decided I better get the clover leaf on and send it to