Hello Dear Reader,
After Grandpa (Wes) Carter finished remodeling their home, he and Grandma (Mary) bought some property (five acres) in Fairview Canyon close to Gooseberry Resovoir. It was in a beautiful spot next to five acres owned by Uncle Gus and Aunt Lois Black. Grandpa and Grandma's property had two springs and they were excited to begin building a cabin where they could get away from the "rat race." The first order of business was to develop the springs and then the excavation could begin.
Grandpa dug the trench for the springs by hand. The dirt then had to be hauled away in a wheel barrow. He and Grandma both worked very hard all summer. Grandma, not fond of rodents, was a little nervous of the pot guts (prairie dogs) that seemed to be everywhere. There were other small animals as well. There were many beautiful wild flowers and fish were abundant in the resovoir. But when I think of Fairview Canyon, I first think of the pot guts.
Love,
Aunt Genni
P.S. Although my research on Dempsey Hood is not yet perfect, I have added my report to The Family Thicket. You can find it as an attachment under Harriet Bradford Simmons.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Friday, September 23, 2011
Happy Changes
Hello Dear Reader,
In the spring of 1970 Grandpa (Wesley) Carter was given a new assignment. He was now to visit all the stakes in Utah County, south Salt Lake County, and Tooele County, every month. He liked this area better as he didn't have so far to trravel, cutting down on the time he was on the road. He was pleased to have more time to spend on the remodel of his and Grandma's house. Grandma was also pleased and said, ". . . each room turned out to be a masterpiece of skill and individuality."
While they spent time on the house itself, Grandpa and Grandma acquired more property behind their home where they planted an orchard of fruit trees and berries. They also planted a wonderful vegetable garden in an ideal spot.
Grandma was especially happy to be close to Grandma (Caroline) Hall again as Grandma Hall was now in her eighties. The two women spent a lot of time together, visiting, quilting, working, and laughing--lots of laughing. Grandma Carter always loved her mother very much and thought she was one of the most wonderful people on earth. Life seemed full of happy changes for the Carters.
Love,
Aunt Genni
In the spring of 1970 Grandpa (Wesley) Carter was given a new assignment. He was now to visit all the stakes in Utah County, south Salt Lake County, and Tooele County, every month. He liked this area better as he didn't have so far to trravel, cutting down on the time he was on the road. He was pleased to have more time to spend on the remodel of his and Grandma's house. Grandma was also pleased and said, ". . . each room turned out to be a masterpiece of skill and individuality."
While they spent time on the house itself, Grandpa and Grandma acquired more property behind their home where they planted an orchard of fruit trees and berries. They also planted a wonderful vegetable garden in an ideal spot.
Grandma was especially happy to be close to Grandma (Caroline) Hall again as Grandma Hall was now in her eighties. The two women spent a lot of time together, visiting, quilting, working, and laughing--lots of laughing. Grandma Carter always loved her mother very much and thought she was one of the most wonderful people on earth. Life seemed full of happy changes for the Carters.
Love,
Aunt Genni
Thursday, September 22, 2011
A Chicken in Every Pot
Hello Dear Reader,
Dave and Marilyn moved to Utah in the summer of 1969 for Dave to attend BYU. Marilyn preceded Dave by plane as she was expecting her first child and the doctor was concerned about her traveling any closer to her due date. Grandpa (Wes) Carter worked hard to fix up the old farmhouse in the Riverbottoms so the young couple would have a place to live while Dave finished his degree. Grandpa installed new cupboards and fixed up the bathroom along with other improvements to make the old house more liveable. After Marilyn arrived she worked hard too, painting floors and walls. Grandma (Mary) Carter was working at Signetics.
Dave and his dad, Bob, meanwhile, were driving from Washington DC pulling a U-Haul. On the evening they were to arrive, Grandpa and Marilyn were heading home after an exhausting day. But Grandpa said he needed to go check on his rooster. He had given the bird a solid kick earlier when the ornery chichen had attacked him from behind. The workers were tired, sweaty, and dirty but the rooster was dead. There was nothing to do but to stop and pluck it before they could leave the farm.
Marilyn hadn't seen her husband for nearly a month and, needless to say, he and his dad arrived just as she and Grandpa got home. Marilyn headed for the shower and Grandpa, while visiting with Dave and Bob, put the chicken in a pot to cook. He made a wonderful meal of chicken and dumplings and soon Marilyn's humiliation of being sweaty, dirty, paint spattered, and close to nine months pregnant was nearly forgotten.
Love,
Aunt Genni
Dave and Marilyn moved to Utah in the summer of 1969 for Dave to attend BYU. Marilyn preceded Dave by plane as she was expecting her first child and the doctor was concerned about her traveling any closer to her due date. Grandpa (Wes) Carter worked hard to fix up the old farmhouse in the Riverbottoms so the young couple would have a place to live while Dave finished his degree. Grandpa installed new cupboards and fixed up the bathroom along with other improvements to make the old house more liveable. After Marilyn arrived she worked hard too, painting floors and walls. Grandma (Mary) Carter was working at Signetics.
Dave and his dad, Bob, meanwhile, were driving from Washington DC pulling a U-Haul. On the evening they were to arrive, Grandpa and Marilyn were heading home after an exhausting day. But Grandpa said he needed to go check on his rooster. He had given the bird a solid kick earlier when the ornery chichen had attacked him from behind. The workers were tired, sweaty, and dirty but the rooster was dead. There was nothing to do but to stop and pluck it before they could leave the farm.
Marilyn hadn't seen her husband for nearly a month and, needless to say, he and his dad arrived just as she and Grandpa got home. Marilyn headed for the shower and Grandpa, while visiting with Dave and Bob, put the chicken in a pot to cook. He made a wonderful meal of chicken and dumplings and soon Marilyn's humiliation of being sweaty, dirty, paint spattered, and close to nine months pregnant was nearly forgotten.
Love,
Aunt Genni
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
A Painful Experience
Hello Dear Reader,
After the excavation on the addition to Grandpa and Grandma Carter's house was complete, Grandpa carted a wheelbarrow full of debris across the trench when the barrow tipped into the trench pullling Grandpa with it. This accident caused a separation of his shoulder and arm (rotary cuff) and he suffered in a lot of pain for two weeks not knowing the extent of his injury.
When he finally went to the doctor he was told he would have to be operated on which he agreed was necessary. Following the operation he was put into a cast that encircled his upper body and arm, and which held his arm outward and upward. He was in the cast for nine very uncomfortable weeks.
The doctortold him that he would never again be able to raise his arm above his head. But Grandpa was determined that he would be able to use his arm and so, with faith, he proceeded to give himself therapy. He credited help from the Lord, self-determination, and a positive attitude with almost total recovery from a very painful experience.
Love,
Aunt Genni
After the excavation on the addition to Grandpa and Grandma Carter's house was complete, Grandpa carted a wheelbarrow full of debris across the trench when the barrow tipped into the trench pullling Grandpa with it. This accident caused a separation of his shoulder and arm (rotary cuff) and he suffered in a lot of pain for two weeks not knowing the extent of his injury.
When he finally went to the doctor he was told he would have to be operated on which he agreed was necessary. Following the operation he was put into a cast that encircled his upper body and arm, and which held his arm outward and upward. He was in the cast for nine very uncomfortable weeks.
The doctortold him that he would never again be able to raise his arm above his head. But Grandpa was determined that he would be able to use his arm and so, with faith, he proceeded to give himself therapy. He credited help from the Lord, self-determination, and a positive attitude with almost total recovery from a very painful experience.
Love,
Aunt Genni
Monday, September 19, 2011
Really Home
Hello Dear Reader,
By the time spring rolled around, Grandpa, Grandma, and Billy moved back into their home. They were finally really home. Grandpa immediately began remodeling and adding on. Their home was in terrible condition after such a long absence. I don't know how many renters it had seen but renters are notorious for not taking care of a place and the family was disappointed to find many of the treasures they had thought were safe behind locked and boarded up places were either gone or ruined.
Grandpa added a new family room, kitchen, and utility room. Above the addition he constructed another bedroom and bath. He tore out the old kitchen and stairs leading to the girls' room and made a big living room and dining room. The family had fun picking out brick, paint, paper, carpet, lighting, and other materials to show off the antiques they had accumulated in their travels. It was a labor of love. They were truly really home.
Love,
Aunt Genni
By the time spring rolled around, Grandpa, Grandma, and Billy moved back into their home. They were finally really home. Grandpa immediately began remodeling and adding on. Their home was in terrible condition after such a long absence. I don't know how many renters it had seen but renters are notorious for not taking care of a place and the family was disappointed to find many of the treasures they had thought were safe behind locked and boarded up places were either gone or ruined.
Grandpa added a new family room, kitchen, and utility room. Above the addition he constructed another bedroom and bath. He tore out the old kitchen and stairs leading to the girls' room and made a big living room and dining room. The family had fun picking out brick, paint, paper, carpet, lighting, and other materials to show off the antiques they had accumulated in their travels. It was a labor of love. They were truly really home.
Love,
Aunt Genni
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Seven Years Later
Hello Dear Reader,
In October 1968, Grandpa (Wesley) Carter received a telephone call from Salt Lake City. It was Earl Monson, manager of the Operations and Maintenance Department, asking if Grandpa would be interested in returning to Utah to work for Operations and Maintenance. Grandpa and Grandma "were overjoyed," to use Grandpa's words, so they packed their belongings in a church truck and their car, and headed for home. It was nearly seven years since they had left to go on their mission.
Because they still had renters in their house in Provo, they temporarily moved into their duplex at 607 North 750 West. Grandpa's new assignment included the southern part of Utah and Nevada. This area encompassed 34 stakes that he was required to visit every month. It didn't matter! They were home at last.
Love,
Aunt Genni
In October 1968, Grandpa (Wesley) Carter received a telephone call from Salt Lake City. It was Earl Monson, manager of the Operations and Maintenance Department, asking if Grandpa would be interested in returning to Utah to work for Operations and Maintenance. Grandpa and Grandma "were overjoyed," to use Grandpa's words, so they packed their belongings in a church truck and their car, and headed for home. It was nearly seven years since they had left to go on their mission.
Because they still had renters in their house in Provo, they temporarily moved into their duplex at 607 North 750 West. Grandpa's new assignment included the southern part of Utah and Nevada. This area encompassed 34 stakes that he was required to visit every month. It didn't matter! They were home at last.
Love,
Aunt Genni
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Everyday Life--or not
Hello Dear Reader,
Life settled into a routine for Grandpa and Grandma Carter except that they moved from a house in a nice neighborhood into a condo--also in a nice neighborhood, still in McLean. The condo was a townhouse which meant it was pretty much straight up and down. There were a couple of rooms on each floor and stairs, stairs, stairs. I wish I had a picture to show you. It was quite charming, although hard on the knees.
Billy was very active in scouting and made the 50-mile hike he had been training for. The trail was along the Potomac River and Billy was the first from his group to finish. He finished in 20 hours! Quite an accomplishment! We were all very proud of him.
Love,
Aunt Genni
Life settled into a routine for Grandpa and Grandma Carter except that they moved from a house in a nice neighborhood into a condo--also in a nice neighborhood, still in McLean. The condo was a townhouse which meant it was pretty much straight up and down. There were a couple of rooms on each floor and stairs, stairs, stairs. I wish I had a picture to show you. It was quite charming, although hard on the knees.
Billy was very active in scouting and made the 50-mile hike he had been training for. The trail was along the Potomac River and Billy was the first from his group to finish. He finished in 20 hours! Quite an accomplishment! We were all very proud of him.
Love,
Aunt Genni
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