The Winter of 1936

The Winter of 36

I was 8 years old in 1936 and I want to tell you some things about that winter.  My oldest  sister Dorothy was married on Dec 28 1935 and that memory stays in my mind after all these years.

We had lost our farm located 3 miles west of Geneva Minnesota  in 1935 and so we were forced to move and rent a farm about 10 miles from where I was born.

That winter we had an unusual amount of snow in Minnesota and my brother Don and I had a ½ mile hike to school.  Don had to break the snow drifts ahead of us as he was 12 and I was 8 years old.  We also skied to schools some days.  We had skies that fastened over our overshoes and we just kind of walked them to school over the snow.

That winter my sister Daisy contacted pneumonia and ran a fever of 105 degrees for quite some time.  The Doctor came out from Ellendale and cupped her on the back every day and he came with a horse and sleigh as they could not get the roads plowed out until we had another storm.

My little brother Dick who was 6 months old and I went over to my sister Dorothys and spent 6 weeks while my Mother was taking care of Daisy.  I missed that much school but did not seem to hurt me any.

Dick was a good baby and I remember teasing him a little and he would get so mad.  He knew I was fooling with him and he was so small.

My brother Lawrence and a neighbor boy and girl went to High School in Geneva and they had to go in a sled driven by one horse.  They parked the sled and hose in a livery stable in Geneva and then had to come on back home.  It was about 3 miles to Geneva and they had one teacher that taught all the subjects.  The students had to go to High School the last year in Ellendale to graduate by state law.

We moved to 2 miles south of Hope Minn in March and the neighbors came with their sleds and horses and moved us.  They had to dig out the last quarter mile so that the Model A Ford could get through.  I remember my Mother holding the mantle to the Alladin lamp in her hand all the way to Hope.

Don and I then started school in our local district and when the spring thaw came about it was another mess.  My Dad met us down by the creek one day and the water was running over the road.  He told Don and I to walk back to the railroad tracks and come through the field.  We had to walk the barb wire fence for about 10 feet as there was quite a bit of water in that field.

We started in the new school and did all right.  I think Lawrence walked across another field and caught the bus into Ellendale.  He was in 10th grade at that time.  The next year my dad bought a Model A Ford and the boys drove to Ellendale and took about 5 other young people going to High School.

That was a very different time and people cooperated more and helped out more with their neighbors than they do now..

Getting to High School in the 20's and 30's (yes, that is 1920s and 1930s folks)

Getting to High School in the 20’s and 30’s

My sister Dorothy  was born in 1930 and she started grade school 3 miles west of Geneva when she was 5 years old.  She would have started High School in 1926.  We lived 5 miles from the nearest High School which was located in Ellendale Minnesota.  So my folks paid Arthur Muri  five dollars a month so that Dorothy  could stay in town and go to High School.  She did help around the house  and would come home on week ends.  I supposed my Dad drove the Model T Ford in and got her on Saturday and they probably did the shopping then.  I do not know if they took the horse and buggy to get her when the weather was bad or if they used the sled and horses in the winter time.  But they probably did as they were still using the sled and horses to go to town when I was a small child in the thirties.  

Dorothy did not get to finish High School as my Mother had TB and she had to leave in her Junior year and come home and take care of the rest of us children  as my Mother went to the TB sanitorium when I was two and a half years old.

My sister Daisy was born in 1918 and she would go to the same grade school and then she would have started High School in  1932.  She did not go to Ellendale for the first 3 years as they had a High School in Geneva which was 3 miles from our farm.  She did not stay at home either and she lived with a Jensen family on a farm about one half mile from the Geneva school.  I do not know what my Father paid them for keeping Daisy but suppose about five dollars a month.  My Mother was home from the TB sanitorium at that time.  

Daisy had to finish her last year at the High School in Ellendale and I do not remember ifshe stayed with some one in Ellendale or if the school bus came close enough to the house that she could catch it.  Geneva just had one teacher and he taught  Latin and English and all the math courses for students for 3 years and then they had to go to Ellendale to get their diploma.  I think that the state had test to see if you had passed your subjects.  Daisy graduated from Ellendale in 1936.

Lawrence  started High School in 1934 and he also went to Geneva for 2 years.  I think he must have either driven the Model T to school or rode horseback when the weather was good.  I do remember in 1936 that he and the oldest Paulson boy and May Vogt took the horse and sled to school in 1936 when we had such a terrible winter and lots of snow.  We moved in 1936 to a farm 2 miles south of Hope and Lawrence and Daisy caught the school bus  across the filed about one half mile south of us. Daisy went an extra year to Ellendale and took the business courses offered at the High School in Ellendale   By that time we had a Model A Ford and I think in 1937 that they drove the car to Ellendale to School.

Don started High School along with Lawrence in 1937.  They drove the car to Ellendale and they took Helen and Violet Olson and Barbara Webb and Robert Bedney to school with them and I think they paid my Dad some money for doing that.  Lawrence graduated in 1938 and he was 4th highest in his class.  Daisy was 3rd highest in her class.

We moved in 1940 to a farm 5 miles south of Owatonna and Don stayed on the farm we left and worked there for 2 years so that he could finish school.  By that time the school bus came about one half mile from the farm and he caught the bus to school .  Donald also went to the school west of Geneva and then we had moved to the school south of Hope.  Don was in 8th grade and I was in 3rd grade when this happened . Don was born in 1923.

I started grade school in the school west of Geneva and we had to walk about a half mile to school.  My Dad lost the farm in 1936 and we moved to the rent farm 2 miles south of Hope.  So I got to start a new school. I started 4th grade the next year and the the teacher skipped me a grade as I was on the same reading level as the fifth graders.  In 8th grade we moved again to a farm 5 miles south of Owatonna and by that time in 1940  we had a New Plymouth car.  The school was located 2 and ½ miles from our house and so  the neighbors took turns taking the kids to school.   There were 7 kids in the car besides the driver. And I was the oldest one.  I probably held one of the younger ones on my lap.  I just went to that school for 3 months and then I was ready for High School.  My folks decided to send me to Ellendale for one year so I stayed with Iver and Dorothy and Warren and went home about once a month.   I caught the school bus right outside  from the house  and went into Ellendale to school.  The next year I went to Owatonna and Lawrence drove 3 of us to Owatonna  every 3 days.  Sometimes Elaine drove the car and we would disconnect the odometer and put some gas in and drive around during the noon hour.

The next 2 years I stayed with the Supt of our High School and did house work for my room and board.  Got to come home every two weeks.  I brought eggs in to sell to Mrs Burt and that was my spending money.  Think I took 3 dozen eggs back every two weeks.  Probably got fifty cents for the eggs.  My Mother had been a school teacher and my folks insisted we all get to High School and at that time we were rent farmers.  Many of the kids whose folks owned farms did not get to High School but my parents valued an education.

My brother Dick started school south of Owatonna and then he went to a school over by Meridan and then he went to Hope school and ended up in Willow river Minnesota where he was a star basketball player.  That is the way we got to school back in the dark ages.

Tall Grass Prarie, near Bartlesville Oklahoma. Telegraph Operator promotion.

Recently I made a trip to the tall grass prairie which starts about 40 miles from Ponca City Okla. A friend and I ate at the senior center in Kaw City Okla and then we drove east to Shidler Okla and north to just south of Foraker Okla.  

We went in the back way as usually you go through Pawhuska Okla to get to the reserve.  This reserve was started in about 1989 when the Barnard Ranch was sold for the reserve.  It was made so that the native grasses of the southern part of the flint Hills would be preserved.  Buffalo were also brought in to the reserve about this time.

     This year the rain has been plentiful and the grass is green all over Osage County.  The reserve starts about 7 miles east of Highway 18 just south of Foraker..In other words you go 7 miles before the reserve starts. There were numerous cattle in the pastures and also a lot of horses.  I think the ranchers are taking care of those horses for the government.  We saw a herd of buffalo going into the headquarters but they were not close to the road.

    We went to the headquarters and two docents were there and they did not have any other people looking that day.  We started talking and the man was related to the people that sold the ranch to the tall grass preserve in 1989. He said that they also had all or part of the Kings Ranch close to Corpus Christi Texas .  Then I started to tell him about how the cattle used to be shipped from many places in Texas to Osage county to be fattened for market.

     The first job I worked after being promoted to telegraph operator was the third trick operators job at Ralston Okla.  The trains came into Ralston from Texas via South Shawnee Okla which was a watering stop for the cattle as they had to be unloaded and watered every 36 hours.  The docent said the ranch in Osage county had a siding where they unloaded the cattle. The railroad had a branch line coming off the Santa Fe old second dist which connected with the main line that went into Tulsa.  This branch also went through Pawhuska and Bowring.  The railroad kept the stock trains off the main line which went from Arkansas City to Ft worth.  They cut off on the second dist from Pauls Valley Okla and then hit the main line again at Newkirk Okla.

   A little more about the stock rush.  In 1946 I was second trick operator at south Shawnee Okla during the stock rush and were we ever busy.  The Fort Worth relay office would send me consists of the trains and where the cattle were going and if they needed to be watered.  The section foreman would be called out and they would unload the cattle to be watered and then load them up again in the same stock car.  After the cattle were taken care of we would call the train crews get the orders ready and send them on the way through Cushing and up the second dist to Ralston or Arkansas City.  We had cattle on the  trains going into the flint hills in Kansas and some of the towns were Burden, Cassoday, Matfield Green, Cottonwood Falls and other stops in Kansas.

    Everything had to be organized so that there would be a crew ready to take these cattle to their destination, so it had to be coordinated by telegraph or message phone.

     Enough about that.  We toured the Ranch headquarters which had been nicely restored and then came on back and visited some more with the docents.

     We then left to go back home and the buffalo were close to the road and there were several calves.  they were close to a pond and some were in the pond.  I have lived in this part of the country for almost 70 years and it is more beautiful this August 2014 than at any time that I can remember.

     Osage County is at the southern end of the flint Hills and I understand that there is no other place like it on earth.  The Flint Hills cover a large amount of ground in south central Kansas and I would encourage you to take a good look at them if you are ever in this part of the United States.

Hot Flashes, Menopause and Yoga

Are you having hot flashes? Heart palpitations? Maybe yoga can help. I know I'm going to start doing this sequence as recommended by De-Stress Yoga with Mimi, and from "The Women's Book of Yoga & Health" by Linda Sparrowe and Patricia Walden, to help me with my issues. Here are the sequences.

1. Bound Angle Pose (Seated Butterfly). May be upon a block or folded blanket. This pose increases circulation to your abdomen and pelvis, toning and improving function in your reproductive organs. Stay in the pose about a minute.
2. Wide-Angle Seated Pose I (Seated Letter "V" Legs). Legs wide apart, flex feet, may be upon a block or folded blanket. This pose helps increase circulation to your pelvis, stimulate and improve circulation to your ovaries, and lift and tone your uterus. Stay in the pose about a minute.
3. Head on Knee Pose. Seated, bring right leg to the inside of the left leg, hinge forward, optional place chair at the end of the right leg, hinge forward, placing forearms on the seat of a chair. Stay in the pose 1-2 minutes, switch sides. This pose helps revitalize your adrenal glands, which can help mitigate hot flashes.
4. Wide-Angle Standing Forward Bend. Standing, bring feet wide, hinge forward, with a blanket folded place your head upon the blanket as you hang upside down. Stay in the pose one minute. Great inversion! This pose helps calm your mind and relieve the stress that can cause hot flashes.
5. Downward Facing Dog. With a folded blanket or block to rest your head upon. Try this pose to relieve anxiety, tone and relax your nervous system, and to relieve hot flashes.
6. Headstand. Only do this one, if it is already a part of your practice and you can so the headstand safely. This pose helps stimulate blood flow to your brain. Many women find standing on their heads helps relieve hot flashes. Do this one caution, especially if you already have neck or back problems.
7. Shoulderstand. Only do this one if it is already a part of your practice.Caution, if you suffer neck or back problems, skip this one. This pose is calming and soothing for your nervous system and excellent for relieving hot flashes.
8. Half-Plough pose. Again, with caution, and no, if you have neck/back issues. This pose helops calm anxiety and nervousness and relieve hot flashes.
9. Bridge Pose with a bolster/folded blanket under the back and hips, and a bolster/folded blanket underneath the feet. This pose is great if you're trying to cool down your hot flashes and re-balance your thyroid and parathyroid glands.
10. Reclined Butterfly (Reclined Bound Angle Pose). Bolsters underneath the low back, running up the spine and past the head. Optionally binding the legs with a yoga strap. This pose is comforting, cooling, and supporting when you have hot flashes.
    
11. Legs Up the Wall Pose. If you experience a jittery feeling with your hot flashes, this pose may be all you need to feel more balanced and in control. Remain in this position, breathing normally for 3 to 5 minutes.
12. Corpse Pose. Final Relaxation. Close your eyes and let everything relax. Visualize heat rising up and out of you with every breath you take. An eyebag draped over your eyes will help quiet external distractions. Remain in this pose for 10 minutes, breathing normally.

1. Bound Angle pose (Butter fly) - Rachel my second oldest.

2. Wide Angle Seated Pose I - Grace my youngest.

3. Seated Forward Bend with a chair.

4. Wide-Angle Standing Forward Bend.
With a block or pillow/blanket to actively rest your head

5. Downward Facing Dog.

7. Shoulderstand in its
traditional format. Can be done
with a chair

8. Half Plough Pose. Can be done
with chairs/bolsters.

9. Bridge Pose. With Bolsters
underneath the hips/legs and feet

10. Reclined Butterfly Pose

11. Legs Up the Wall Pose

12. Corpse Pose.

Yoga for MS, Tuesdays at 10 a.m. at Wesley UMC/Nederland Texas

Adaptive Chair Yoga for MS at Wesley United Methodist Church, 3515 Helena Avenue, Nederland, Texas 77627. Sponsored by the National MS Society, free for attendees and their support people. 10 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.

OM in the Heart of Texas - Texas Yoga Conference 2010

Texas Yoga Conference
Unity Church, 2929 Unity Drive, Houston, TX
February 19-21, 2010

I'm excited about attending

• Freedom Yoga with Carrie Garrett
• Cultivating Extreme with Robert Boustany
• Functional Yoga for Athletes with Julie Downey
• Tracie Brace's Five Effective Qualities of a Yoga Teacher
• Hips, Knees, Ankles & Toes Lotus Workshop with Ricky Tran
• Yoga for Seniors with Gudran Danburg
• Also, Rainbow Kids & Family Yoga with Gopala Yaffe Amir
• and then either American Power Yoga or Anusara Yoga....can't decide

Yoga Kit for Kids -- Cards, Music and Booklet

Yoga Kit for Kids. A set of cards, Music for Yoga in two tracks of 20 minutes. A handbook telling about the poses, the benefit of yoga for kids. This Kit is setup for one to take to a school environment.

I tell you, Grace and I had fun with this. Can't believe she is only 3 years and 10 months old. Take a look!




Here is grace doing Shark Pose (like in the yoga card demo).

And another in Frog Pose...

Then another in Lion.....

And here are a few other poses that Grace enjoyed!!

Butterfly, Candle, Cat, Fish, Cat with raised leg, Flower, but looks like Turtle and Down Dog!