Give That Turkey the Axe

Hello Dear Reader,
Many times Grandma (Mary Hall) Carter went with her Francis cousins when they herded turkeys. One time they went clear to Scipio in Millard County. Lila and Mary had the assignment to watch the birds awhile when Lila’s brothers took a break from the dumb birds. All of a sudden the turkeys took off flying.

The girls ran screaming after them trying to get them to stop. When the birds got where they wanted to go they landed and started eating. Mary and Lila had a hard time getting them turned around and back where they were supposed to be.

Sometimes the cousins got so sick of turkeys they kicked one in the head killing the bird. Then they chopped off its head, removed its feathers, cooked, and ate the turkey they had killed. Revenge!
Love,
Aunt Genni

Turkey Trot

Hello Dear Reader,
Sometimes Grandma (Mary Hall) Carter went with her cousin Lila Francis to West Mountain where the Francis family had a house and farm where they raised, mainly, turkeys. Lila had to milk a lot of cows and Mary went along to keep her company—Mary really couldn’t milk. Every two weeks, after the milking was done, they walked and ran to "Center" in Lake Shore. They did what they “thought was some kind of Scout thing where you run ten steps and walk ten steps.”

It was a long way from West Mountain to Center. I measured it once and I can’t remember the exact distance but it was way over two miles. When they got to Center they proceeded to get ready and go to a church dance put on by the Elders’ Quorum. Mary said, “We always thought we were so glamorous. We had to make an entrance after they started.” I’m surprised they had any energy left but they did and loved those dances.
Love,
Aunt Genni

Something Up Her Sleeve

Hello Dear Reader,
Lois and Mary (Grandma Carter) both had chores to do at night. Lois hated to do dishes. Mary hated that chore too but Lois was stronger and could milk the cow—Mary didn’t have any strength in her grip. So Lois milked the cow and Mary did the dishes. Lois had a lot of gear that she wore, supposedly to keep warm while she was milking.

One night Lois was getting ready to go do the milking. She put gear on her head and started to put on an old fur coat that her boyfriend, Gus, had donated to the family to wear to the shed. She put her arm in the sleeve and there was a mouse hiding there. Mary said, “Oh, if you’ve ever seen anybody do a dance around the house that was it.” From then on none of the family ever put their coats on until they checked the sleeves.
Love,
Aunt Genni

Glorious High School

Hello Dear Reader,
By the time Grandma (Mary Hall) Carter started high school she was used to the long bus ride from Lake Shore to Spanish Fork. She loved being a teenager. She said, “I had a glorious time. I loved to dance and all my boy cousins would dance with me at the ward dances. I was always a dancer in any of the road shows that we put on or any other entertainments. “

One year she danced at June Conference in the old Saltair pavilion in Salt Lake. Shavy Argyle, her best friend’s brother was her partner. She always spoke of him fondly. I think she must have had a crush on him—but what a weird name. Do you think he shaved his head?
Love,
Aunt Genni

In Memory of Our Kindred Dead

Hello Dear Reader,
Happy Memorial Day to all of you. I have been working hard to post histories of our ancestors on The Family Thicket to honor our kindred dead on this beautiful day. I know none of the histories I have mention war service but many of these good people sacrificed a lot in order to provide better circumstances for us, their descendants.

When you go to the web site you can access the histories in a couple of different ways. If you don't know the genealogical lines you can go to the site map, expand the view, and click on the history you want to read. The navigation bar provides another way to get to the histories.

If the histories seemed long to me I provided an attachment that you will need to click on. Otherwise, the histories appear on the page of the particular person. If you do need to go to an attachment I have tried to give a brief summary of that person's life on their page.

I still have a couple to finish entering. I will get to them today, if possible. But most are posted. If you find mistakes will you please let me know so everything can be as accurate as possible?
Love,
Aunt Genni

Another Tribute

Hello Dear Reader,
In all of my sorting I came across another poem. This one was written specifically for Grandma (Mary Hall) Carter by Aretta Ricks. Aretta was Grandma's visiting teacher for many years. She wrote this June 3, 1998. It is entitled Mary

Your faith in Our Father shines in your face.
Your actions show kindness and love.
You bring a sweet feeling of gladness and joy
As you share with your gifts from above.
Your husband and family, your grandchildren too
Have cherished the care you have given.
Your home is a haven, a port in life's storms.
You've made it a wee bit of heaven.
The tasks you've accomplished, no matter how large--
The classes, the dresses, the meals--
All show you're a marvel at getting things done.
Your handiwork brings many thrills!

So here's to you, Mary, may all of your days
Bring sweetness and light into living,
For you've truly found God's secret for joy
Through caring and serving and giving.

Love,
Aunt Genni

Back to Grandma's Story

Hello Dear Reader,
Before I return to Grandma (Mary Hall) Carter’s adventures in high school I thought I would share a poem that I came across as I have continued to sort through her papers. She wrote, “Carol, I love this poem! Read it at my funeral. (Just say, ‘This is a poem I gave my mother.’)” Sorry I didn’t find it in time for her funeral. But here it is now:

Family ties somehow don’t seem to mean as much these days—
Most children and their parents seem to go their separate ways,
But we happen to be different in a lot of things we do,
And I will always cherish my special ties with you—
You have a place within my heart that no one else can fill—
I need you and I love you and you know I always will!
Love,
Aunt Genni