I helped Mom drive the motor home back from Nevada last month, and we stayed with Allison for several days along the way. Whitney got tickets for Women's Conference, and we met her friend there. There's no fee, but you do have to have a ticket to get in. It was so wonderful to sit in the Conference center and listen to such inspired people speak, and share their testimonies. Thanks Whitney!
On our slow drive home we also stopped at the Barton's, and had a good visit with Sharry and Dave. He is recovering well from his terrible accident. He broke a vertebra in his back, crushed his leg, bruised the brain- when his parachute collapsed in May. It's amazing he survived, and he's already back to work. A little slower than he used to be, his leg is still healing, but an incredible comeback.
While we were traveling, I found peaches! I bought 2 boxes of fresh, yummy Utah peaches, and bottled a case, and made jam with the rest. So tasty! My niece Megan brought some apples by last week; they are from Garland's, in Oak Creek canyon. We made applesauce with them, plus a few were dried with cinnamon-sugar on them.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Happy Canada
We just returned from a trip to Canada, where we visited our friends Marcel and Fran. They live west of Edmonton, in a beautiful forested area. I mean, miles and miles of green, tall trees, deciduous and evergreen. And it rains there, a lot. When I gave blessing on the food, I expressed gratitude for the rain- when their daughter gave the blessing, she expressed gratitude for the sunshine!
We spent a week RVing in Jasper National Park. Right outside of Jasper town limits, I saw a white wolf trotting down the jogging path. During the evenings we heard shotgun blasts, but Fran told me they shoot blanks at bears to keep them out of the camping ares. Surprisingly we didn't see very much wildlife this trip- last time we saw elk, moose, mountain goats and a bear. All of the trash cans are bear-proof, even in the towns. At our campgrounds, it was obvious on several cans that bears had clawed at them, there were big ole scratch marks around the doors.
We took a boat cruise on Maligne Lake, I'll post some pics. The Columbia Ice Fields draped across the tops of the mountains next to the lake, and there were several glaciers dripping off the tops of them, one looks like a big teardrop sliding down the mountain.
Banff is quite a pretty place, but very touristy. Jasper is further north, and while it's very busy, it's less flashy or expensive as Banff. I did find a beautiful jacket there; it's turquoise colored, with an embroidered outline of a wolf on it. The whole thing, including the fabric, is made in Canada. I'm really motivated to buy from this continent as much as I can- preferably American made, but Canada and Mexico are fine too. They are our good neighbors, and I want to support our industry. May I say, it's nearly impossible to find US made fabric???
We spent a week RVing in Jasper National Park. Right outside of Jasper town limits, I saw a white wolf trotting down the jogging path. During the evenings we heard shotgun blasts, but Fran told me they shoot blanks at bears to keep them out of the camping ares. Surprisingly we didn't see very much wildlife this trip- last time we saw elk, moose, mountain goats and a bear. All of the trash cans are bear-proof, even in the towns. At our campgrounds, it was obvious on several cans that bears had clawed at them, there were big ole scratch marks around the doors.
We took a boat cruise on Maligne Lake, I'll post some pics. The Columbia Ice Fields draped across the tops of the mountains next to the lake, and there were several glaciers dripping off the tops of them, one looks like a big teardrop sliding down the mountain.
Banff is quite a pretty place, but very touristy. Jasper is further north, and while it's very busy, it's less flashy or expensive as Banff. I did find a beautiful jacket there; it's turquoise colored, with an embroidered outline of a wolf on it. The whole thing, including the fabric, is made in Canada. I'm really motivated to buy from this continent as much as I can- preferably American made, but Canada and Mexico are fine too. They are our good neighbors, and I want to support our industry. May I say, it's nearly impossible to find US made fabric???
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Jumpin' June n July!
I've been really bad at keeping up my blog, so there's probably very few out there reading this. It's been really busy, I made 3 trips to Mom's in 6 weeks. She's having problems with an eviction, and also has had some doctor appts. When I go down there, I stay for several days at a time, I just can't run to Casa Grande and back like some people do- I have to have some recovery time between drives. Driving through Phoenix makes me crazy- the traffic is awful, and June is so hot. She only has a swamp cooler, so those lovely 110 days are just peachy...
Mom drove up here on her way to Nevada, and the motor home quit just past Sunset Point. Luckily, she has AAA, and was able to get towed to my house. She's so unflappable, she turned on the generator, the AC and took a nap! She was here for several days, got the battery changed and met Shawna in Flagstaff. Shawna drove her on up to her home in Nevada, but they broke down again on the way. She was told it was the fuel pump, so hopefully Mom can get the motor home road-worthy again before we get her back home.
Dakota has been here for the past month, and we've really enjoyed the visit! I've posted a few pictures of her, a couple in the dresses I made, and maybe 1-2 from her swimming classes.
Mom drove up here on her way to Nevada, and the motor home quit just past Sunset Point. Luckily, she has AAA, and was able to get towed to my house. She's so unflappable, she turned on the generator, the AC and took a nap! She was here for several days, got the battery changed and met Shawna in Flagstaff. Shawna drove her on up to her home in Nevada, but they broke down again on the way. She was told it was the fuel pump, so hopefully Mom can get the motor home road-worthy again before we get her back home.
Dakota has been here for the past month, and we've really enjoyed the visit! I've posted a few pictures of her, a couple in the dresses I made, and maybe 1-2 from her swimming classes.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Newsy update
Wow, what a week this has been. Gina's dad was in a terrible paragliding accident last Wednesday, and lived to tell about it. His 'chute collapsed at 300 feet, he fought it and was able to get it open again, until he hit another air pocket that collapsed it again at about 30 feet, I think. He landed hard, crushed a vertabra in his back, broke both bones in one leg, both ankles, and his shoulders are badly bruised from the ordeal. Nic and Gina went to Provo to help the family at the hospital all weekend, and got back yesterday afternoon. Nic had to turn right around and drive to Tempe for a class last night and tonight.
I took the phone the last couple days for Best By Farr, and boy was it busy! This is their busiest time of year, and I was very happy to give it back to Gina today. She's doing pretty good, considering the stress. She hated leaving her dad and mom, but Nic had to be back for class, and they both had to come back to work.
I have now said it out loud, so now I have to put in on the blog to make sure I don't back out- I'm working on the Balmes/Pike book. Hopefully I can go to Missouri this summer or fall and get copies of my Aunt Shirley's writings and information about the family. She has the most about the Pike line, and wrote booklets and poems about her Mom and Dad, my Dad and her husband, Gerald Goodman. I need to get the information gathered, and get my nerve up to start writing. I've received so many pictures and stories from my Dad's Balmes cousins that it's time to put it all together.
I took the phone the last couple days for Best By Farr, and boy was it busy! This is their busiest time of year, and I was very happy to give it back to Gina today. She's doing pretty good, considering the stress. She hated leaving her dad and mom, but Nic had to be back for class, and they both had to come back to work.
I have now said it out loud, so now I have to put in on the blog to make sure I don't back out- I'm working on the Balmes/Pike book. Hopefully I can go to Missouri this summer or fall and get copies of my Aunt Shirley's writings and information about the family. She has the most about the Pike line, and wrote booklets and poems about her Mom and Dad, my Dad and her husband, Gerald Goodman. I need to get the information gathered, and get my nerve up to start writing. I've received so many pictures and stories from my Dad's Balmes cousins that it's time to put it all together.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Pike Genealogy
I've been doing more research on the Pike family, and want to share what I've found. My grandmother is Marie Pike, or Marria Bridget Pike Balmes, as she is recorded in places. Her father is William A. Pike, and his father is Franklin Pike, who served in the Civil War for the Union. Not only did he serve, but he served with the 8th and later the 6th Regiments, Here is a transcript of the information I found about his service, from the website http://www.mosocco.com/newjersey.html.
Frank Pike listed as a veteran in 1890, from Gloucester, Camden, New Jersey.
Corp Franklin W. Pike
Birth: unknown
Death: unknown
Civil War Union Soldier. He was mustered in as a Private in Company H, 4th New Jersey Militia on April 27, 1861. He served through the July 1861 First Bull Run Campaign, and was honorably mustered out on July 31, 1861. He then enlisted in the 6th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry, enrolling on August 9, 1861, and being mustered in as a Corporal in Compnay D on August 26, 1861. He re-enlisted on January 4, 1864, and, when the original enlistments of the regiment expired, he was transferred to Company G, 8th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry in October 1864. Reduced in rank to Private due to there being already enough Corporals in Company G, he served through tthe conclusion of the war, and was honorably mustered out on July 17, 1865.
So, Franklin Pike served from the very beginning of the Civil War to the very end, in fact, his regiment was present at the surrender of General Robert E Lee at Appomatox, Virginia. He participated in an amazing number of battles, including Gettysburg. I know it's long, but I'm going to include here the paragraph from the military records for the New Jersey militia.
Siege of Yorktown, Va., April and May, '62; Williamsburg, Va., May 5, '62; Fair Oaks, Va., June 1 and 2, '62; Seven Pines, Va., June 25, '62; Savage Station, Va., June 29, '62; Glendale, Va., June 30, '62; Malvern Hill, Va., July 1, '62; Malvern Hill, Va., August 5, '62; Bristow Station, Va., August 27, '62; Bull Run, Va., August 29 and 30, '62; Chantilly, Va., Sept. 1, '62; Centreville, Va., Sept. 2, '62; Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13 and 14, '62; Chancellorsville, Va., May 3 and 4, '63; Gettysburg, Pa., July 2 and 3, '63; Wapping Heights, Va.; July 24, '63; McLean's Ford, Va., Oct. 15, '63; Mine Run, Va., Nov. 29, 30 and Dec. 1, '63; Wilderness, Va., May 5 to 7, '64; Spottsylvania, Va., May 8 to 11, '64; Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May 12 to 18, '64; North Anna River, Va., May 23 and 24, '64; Tolopotomy Creek, Va., May 30 and 31, '64; Cold Harbor, Va., June 1 to 5, '64; Before Petersburg, Va., June 16 to 23, '64; Deep Bottom, Va., July 26 and 27, '64; Mine Explosion, Va., July 30, '64; North Bank of James River, Va., August 14 to 18, '64; Fort Sedgwick, Va., Sept. 10, '64; Poplar Spring Church, Va., Oct. 2, '64; Boydton Plank Road, Va., Oct. 27, '64; Fort Morton, Va., Nov. 5, '64; Hatcher's Run, Va., Feb. 5 to 7, '65; Armstrong House, Va., March 25, '65; Boydton Plank Road, Va., (Capture of Petersburg,) April 2, '65; Amelia Springs, Va., April 6, '65; Farmville, Va., April 6 and 7, '65; Lee's Surrender, (Appomattox, Va.,) April 9, '65.
As I read this incredible list, I was sobered at the amount of warfare that Franklin must have endured. It's easy to recognize that by the end of the war, he was a professional and battle-hardened soldier. He entered a hospital for Veterans in Virginia in 1890, which is probably shortly before he died. He left the hospital after several months, and he is not found on any census afterwards. Although I haven't found an exact death date, he is buried in the Cedar Grove cemetery in Gloucester, New Jersey.
Frank Pike listed as a veteran in 1890, from Gloucester, Camden, New Jersey.
Corp Franklin W. Pike
Birth: unknown
Death: unknown
Civil War Union Soldier. He was mustered in as a Private in Company H, 4th New Jersey Militia on April 27, 1861. He served through the July 1861 First Bull Run Campaign, and was honorably mustered out on July 31, 1861. He then enlisted in the 6th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry, enrolling on August 9, 1861, and being mustered in as a Corporal in Compnay D on August 26, 1861. He re-enlisted on January 4, 1864, and, when the original enlistments of the regiment expired, he was transferred to Company G, 8th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry in October 1864. Reduced in rank to Private due to there being already enough Corporals in Company G, he served through tthe conclusion of the war, and was honorably mustered out on July 17, 1865.
So, Franklin Pike served from the very beginning of the Civil War to the very end, in fact, his regiment was present at the surrender of General Robert E Lee at Appomatox, Virginia. He participated in an amazing number of battles, including Gettysburg. I know it's long, but I'm going to include here the paragraph from the military records for the New Jersey militia.
Siege of Yorktown, Va., April and May, '62; Williamsburg, Va., May 5, '62; Fair Oaks, Va., June 1 and 2, '62; Seven Pines, Va., June 25, '62; Savage Station, Va., June 29, '62; Glendale, Va., June 30, '62; Malvern Hill, Va., July 1, '62; Malvern Hill, Va., August 5, '62; Bristow Station, Va., August 27, '62; Bull Run, Va., August 29 and 30, '62; Chantilly, Va., Sept. 1, '62; Centreville, Va., Sept. 2, '62; Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13 and 14, '62; Chancellorsville, Va., May 3 and 4, '63; Gettysburg, Pa., July 2 and 3, '63; Wapping Heights, Va.; July 24, '63; McLean's Ford, Va., Oct. 15, '63; Mine Run, Va., Nov. 29, 30 and Dec. 1, '63; Wilderness, Va., May 5 to 7, '64; Spottsylvania, Va., May 8 to 11, '64; Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May 12 to 18, '64; North Anna River, Va., May 23 and 24, '64; Tolopotomy Creek, Va., May 30 and 31, '64; Cold Harbor, Va., June 1 to 5, '64; Before Petersburg, Va., June 16 to 23, '64; Deep Bottom, Va., July 26 and 27, '64; Mine Explosion, Va., July 30, '64; North Bank of James River, Va., August 14 to 18, '64; Fort Sedgwick, Va., Sept. 10, '64; Poplar Spring Church, Va., Oct. 2, '64; Boydton Plank Road, Va., Oct. 27, '64; Fort Morton, Va., Nov. 5, '64; Hatcher's Run, Va., Feb. 5 to 7, '65; Armstrong House, Va., March 25, '65; Boydton Plank Road, Va., (Capture of Petersburg,) April 2, '65; Amelia Springs, Va., April 6, '65; Farmville, Va., April 6 and 7, '65; Lee's Surrender, (Appomattox, Va.,) April 9, '65.
As I read this incredible list, I was sobered at the amount of warfare that Franklin must have endured. It's easy to recognize that by the end of the war, he was a professional and battle-hardened soldier. He entered a hospital for Veterans in Virginia in 1890, which is probably shortly before he died. He left the hospital after several months, and he is not found on any census afterwards. Although I haven't found an exact death date, he is buried in the Cedar Grove cemetery in Gloucester, New Jersey.
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