Second Year in Moscow, Idaho

The second year we moved to a 10 acre parcel with a big house on East F Street just at the edge of town. We had the 10 acres of alfalfa, so we bought a calf and staked it out, and bought some Banty Chickens, and some Rabbits. We cut alfalfa every day to feed the rabbits We bought a bred doe(we thought) and it turned out to be a buck. The other rabbit ate some tar off the cage and died. David lost his glasses in that field and we looked long and hard for them.
That's where we lived when I was babysitting the younger kids and Margie was crawling around playing in the bottom kitchen cupboards with the pans and lids which was o.k., but she found the Roger's Golden Syrup (a special treat from Canada) and got the lid off. Oh what a mess. I bathed  and changed Margie and mopped the floor, but it was still sticky when Mom & Dad got home and I had to mop it again.
We were short on money when we lived in that house and so we moved the couch into our big farm type kitchen and heated that part of the house, putting blankets over the doorways to keep the heat in, but left the front room unheated. However, that is where the piano was and we had to practice 2 half hour sessions a day, so we were anxious for the timer to go off.
Until this time, I did not know that Dad was able to do much carpentry. He and Mom worked hard to make some Christmas presents for the kids. They made a roller toy for Margie out of an empty peach can, beans and two wooden circles glued into the ends of the can with a twisted coat hanger for the handle They also made a bean bag game out of a wooden board with round holes in it and a back attached, where the bean bags would hit and slide down. Mom made the bean bags and painted the numbers on the front with the Artex type Paint. The other toy they made was a ring toss game. Dad cut out a neat shaped board and then screwed cup holders (hooks) into the board and they used Mom's rubber canning rings to throw at the numbered hooks All 3 of the toys were painted a gun metal gray from the Army and Navy Store.
That is where we were living when Uncle Donald came to visit us just before he had his horse accident. We only lived about 15 miles from Pullman where Don & Rosie and family were living while Don Jr. was going to vet school, so we spent time with them while they were close. Uncle DR, Uncle Charles, and Uncle Woodrow lived in Spokane, which was only 88 miles away and so we got to visit with them quite often as well.
That's where we lived when Dad & Mom were asked to sing a duet at Church. Up until that time, I never thought Dad could sing except in Church or at home on Sunday nights, but he and Mom sang a song entitled "In The Garden". It was beautiful and many people cried because it was so touching. 

Bar K 2

When Glen and Donna first got married they live at the Bar K 2.  This is a church ranch outside of Cardston, Alberta. Glen's Dad had worked at the Bar K 2.  At the time that Glen and Donna got married the Bar K 2 was actually owned by McIntire's.  They sold it to the church a couple years later.

 

A few years ago this picture was taken of Glen and Donna in front of a house on the ranch that looks like the house they lived in.  The actual house they lived in was demolished in the 1970's .

Glen's Dad, John "Jack" Purnell bought this wagon that now holds the sign for the Bar K 2 Ranch.  My cousin, Clayton Cox took this picture a couple of years ago.

An interesting side note is that Glen's oldest Grandson, Jarom Purnell now works at the ranch and lives out there with his family.

Hand me down overalls

This is a picture of my Grandma, Mary Donna Forsyth.  Most of the people that would have known anything about where, when or why this picture was taken or the story behind it are not around any more or can't give me any of the details.  

Knowing this, you wouldn't think I would be able to learn anything from this picture.  I posted it on facebook to see if anyone could give me anymore information.  A family friend pointed out the hand me down overalls.  

All of a sudden I could get a lot out of this picture.  My Grandma was the youngest of 11 children.  She had a lot of brothers so it would be very possible that the overalls came from one of her brothers.  

She raised 8 children of her own and I know that she made good use of what she had.  Many of her grandchildren have quilts made by her that have squares made from clothes that her kids used to wear.  She still does not like to throw away anything that she can still get use out of.

She passed the same values of thrift and resourcefulness to her children.  Many of her grandchildren have also been taught these same values.  

I have 20 nieces and nephews. I have noticed that clothes get a lot of use as they get passed from one child and family to another.

I'm not sure if it amounts to much in the large scheme of things but not being wasteful and being resourceful are values that have become a legacy in our family.  

Who would have thought that such a story could come from a picture of little girl in overalls holding a fish.  Pictures really do tell a story even if the people who were there can't tell it. 
I did ask Grandma about this picture and she said that the fact that there are holes in the knees of the overalls could mean that they were worn by her brother, Lavar.  He couldn't walk and went everywhere on his hands and knees.
Grandma says that the fish she is holding are fish her brother's caught.  They didn't have a place on their ranch where they had fish in the water, so they had to go to a near by river to go fishing.  They didn't go very often so this was an unusual event so they wanted to take a picture.

Who is the baby?

I have a bunch of pictures that I got off of Grandma's computer. I love this picture.  I think it is very important that the individuals in the pictures are identified.  The best way I know how to do that is get them out there where people can see them.  If anyone knows who the baby is or anything else about where or when this picture was taken please leave a comment or get a hold of me.
So Mom says the baby might be Uncle Jim.  If anyone knows for sure please let me know.  Could this have been a baby blessing?
I case you are wondering the baby has been identified as Margie Kay.  Please read the comments to find out more.
Aunt Kathy says that Here mom made that dress.  Grandma is a really good seamstress and has passed this hobby and skill down to many of her daughters.
Aunt Kathy told me that when they were living in Moscow Grandpa and Grandma were parents to the Idaho Farm Boys Fraturnity.  They were good wholesome boys and they really enjoyed that position.

Wedding

 I know the landscape and grounds at the Alberta temple have been changed since. 1949.  This picture was taken my Aunt Sue in 2009.













This is My Grandpa and Grandma, Glen Rex Purnell and Mary Donna Forsyth.  As you can see this a picture taken at their wedding reception.  They met in Jr High or High school in Cardston and were married in the Alberta temple in Cardston, Alberta Canada on June 16 1949.





The picture below was also taken at their reception.  I recognize Grandpa's brother Delbert but I don't know who any of the other people are.                                       

Just getting started

I am working on a history for my Grandparents.  I wanted a place where I could upload pictures and stories and people who know Glen and Donna can post comments and get a hold of me.
When I started gathering information for this history I lived in Utah and my Grandparents lived in Alberta, I would email my Grandma questions and she would email me back answers.  It worked really well until her memory got too bad.
I've collected information from their children and others that know them.  I've collected information such as pictures and short histories that they have collected on their computer and I've asked some of their grandchildren to send me stories or memories they have of Grandpa and Grandma Purnell.  I've worked quite a bit with their oldest daughter Glenna to get her to record memories and collect information she has.   I will try to include this information in this blog.