DEER CAMP

                                               DEER  CAMP

                                          From boy to a Grandpa    

   When I was a boy we did not do “Deer Camp.” The reason for that was because the town where I was raised (Hiawatha, Utah) was a deer camp in itself. We could step out the back door of our home and in about 20 or 30 steps we would be right in the middle of some of the best deer hunting in the state. In fact the deer fed off of our gardens and apricot trees at various times of the year.

   Of course the preparation and getting ready for the big hunt took as much effort and preparation as the hunt itself.

   We usually knew where we were going to hunt long before the time came for “deer camp.” It really did not matter where you were going, as far as preparations to go went. The getting ready seemed to be the same whether the destination was to be Joe’s Valley, The Gentry, Huntington Canyon or occasionally some other spot. Joe’s Valley was always my favorite with The Gentry coming in a close second.

   Getting ready for the hunt was not something that happened all at once. It usually got started in earnest in September when the people in Hiawatha started wearing their red (later hunter orange) sweat shirts and hats. It was also then that I started cleaning my trusty .270 Winchester and to sharpen my hunting knife and round up a few essentials and put them in a powder box to transport them to “deer camp” and to store them in when we got there.

   But I digress---- The first “deer camp” I really remember, when we actually went and camped overnight was when I was about 14 years old. We went to Joe’s Valley for that hunt. Joe’s Valley is in the mountains of Emery County just above the town of Orangeville.

   We left Hiawatha in my Uncle Spencer Day’s car and went to Upper Joe’s Valley. We left Hiawatha about 4:00 AM so we could get to the camp site while the roads were still frozen. This was a trick of my Uncle Spencer’s and I would never have thought of it. If you time it to arrive at the camp site while the roads are still frozen and then leave to come home while they are frozen it does away with a lot of the problems with mud, which is one of the major problems on some deer hunts.

   When we arrived at the camp site we set up our tent, dining fly, Coleman stove, lanterns and food and utensil tables when we first arrived. As soon as we were settled into camp we gathered and chopped firewood and then just sit around the fire waiting for bedtime so we could get a good night’s sleep and then an early start on the opening day of the big hunt.

   As I said this was the first real “deer camp” that I remember.As a youngster (still a kid really) I did not know a lot about camping. As long as we had a tent, a stove, warm clothes and food we were content. Of course the sitting around the fire and telling tales was always a big part of “deer camp.”

  It seems as I got older “deer camp” required a lot more preparation and then when the wife and family started going it required even more but having the family along was a lot more enjoyable also.

   One thing you could count on almost every year was that while in “deer camp” at one time or another you were going to encounter MUD and sometimes dealing with it was not very enjoyable. Now I am not talking about regular mud, I mean mountain clay mud. It was the kind of mud that if you stopped your car or truck on any kind of a grade, even the smallest you could imagine, the mud was so slick that your vehicle would start sliding to the lowest spot, which usually was in the ditch at the side of the road. If you were pulling a utility trailer that could be bad news and of course if you were pulling a trailer house that could turn into a nightmare.

   I guess anyone who has ever hunted deer has heard of “buck fever.” It even happened to me once and at that time I never imagined it could happen to me. I also thought I would never “fess up” to it. However now that it was more than 60 years ago I don’t mind telling the story. It was in 1947 and I probably should not have been hunting because I was not yet quite “legal.”

   The day started with Dad getting his old 30-30 and we hiked up North Fork and the beginning of a beautiful fall morning in the mountains. We had made it about half way up the canyon on the road that run up the bottom of the canyon when we decided to hike up the side of the canyon to some cliffs and sit in the sun and take in some “rays” to warm up a little. I was surprised when Dad handed me the old 30-30 and told me it would be up to me to shoot a deer if we saw one.

   As we were sitting under the ledge and soaking up some heat I kept thinking to myself that we would never see a deer just sitting in one place in the sun. I told Dad I was going to hike up over the ledge and just look around and that I would be back in a short while.

   Just as I broke out on top of the ledge I jumped up two bucks. I started yelling and shooting (I thought). It just took my Dad a few minutes to get up the hill to where I was yelling. The first thing he said was, “Why didn’t you shoot?”

   I told him that I had shot but I run out of bullets. He looked down at all the shells on the ground and none of them had been fired. I had levered them all out of the old 30-30 but not fired a one. I vowed then never to talk about my first and only case of “buck fever.”

Of course half of the fun at “deer camp” is to sit around the campfire and tell tall stories (not all true) about previous camps. You know the kind------The deer you got that was so big that four of you could not lift it off the ground---- The one you got that was not dead when you caught up to it and it got up and charged you---- And the group of hunters from California that you ran into. They were all drunk and had a semi-trailer refrigerated truck that they processed their deer in before they went back to California and then the most famous story of all---The California hunter that shot a farmers mule and as he was taking it through the checking station at the bottom of the canyon he asked the Fish & Game officer, “when did Utah start putting shoes on their deer?” Of course the longer you sit around the fire the bigger the TALES become.

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MEALS IN HEELS

                                   “MEALS ON WHEELS”

There is a division in Salt Lake County Services called “Meals on Wheels” that provides meals to people who are in need of help. Donnie and I used it a couple of times in the past and it was wonderful when you felt like you could not cope any longer.

A lot of people are aware that there were a group of friends that started coming to our home to be with Donnie so I could take care of my calling at the Family History Library. They did crafts, sewing, quilting and I think just a lot if visiting. Donnie really enjoyed it and looked forward to every Wednesday afternoon. She used to say her old “crooked fingers” did not work very well but the company was a life saver.

After Donnie passed away the Wednesday luncheon meals kept showing up as if it was some miracle. When I did not feel like cooking or did not want to make the effort for –one person—I would get a call telling me a meal was on the way to me.

When it first started happening I thought of Meals on Wheels. Then I thought again and I started calling these friends of my wife—MY MEALS IN HEELS. I will never understand why I was so fortunate to have this experience but I have thoroughly enjoyed it.   

I don’t think all of the same people are in that group so I don’t want to mention them by name here for fear of missing one-but here is picture of the original group.

                                          MEALS IN HEELS

      

     MEALS IN HEELS

"OUR DOUGHBOY"

                                   THE DOUGHBOY

   I don’t know how I was lucky enough to live in a town with a “Doughboy Statue” when I was young. I did know I was proud of it although I really did not know a lot about it. One thing I do recall is that if anyone asked about it they usually were told, “Oh that is our Doughboy Statue.” Then we could show them the plaque with the names of those who lost their lives in World War I. Later the names of those lost in World War II were added. There also was a plaque added after “The Doughboy” was moved, to honor our servicemen from Korea and Vietnam.

   I have done a little research on the “Doughboy” and the information I found says there were only about 150 of the actual full size “The Spirit of the American Doughboy” statues made. It was originally designed by E. M. Viquesney. As far as I can find out the statue in Hiawatha was made or placed in Hiawatha in May 1922.

   Since the statue was located near the town amusement hall, the confectionary and the bowling alley, in Hiawatha, it was readily available to play on the base which was surrounded by cement pillars and large link chains. During the winter it made a good place to toss a few “snowball’ Hand Grenades” Just like the soldier on the statue was doing.

   During the Christmas Holiday there were usually a Christmas Tree and lights on the pad with the “Doughboy” which was an attraction in town.

   When the troops started coming home from World War II the “Doughboy” seemed, at least to me, to take on more meaning. As I said earlier I am not sure I really had a serious patriotic feeling about it until I came home from my stint in the U.S. Air Force in 1954.

   When the town of Hiawatha was going to be decommissioned there was quite a bit of talk about what would happen to the “Doughboy.

   There is a plaque attached to the base of the statue that explains how it ended up in Price, Utah: This statue was erected in Hiawatha, Utah by the Henry Holdsworth Post #15 of the American Legion May 1922, to honor five men from Hiawatha who died in World War I. In June 1948 eight names were added for those killed in World War II. In 1989 through the efforts and sole expense of American Legion Price Post #3, this statue was graciously donated to Price City by the mayor and town; council of Hiawatha, Utah. The “Doughboy” now stands in the Peace Garden in Price, Utah.

   In 2004 some person or persons vandalized the “Doughboy” while it stood in the Peace Garden in Price. There were many comments in the whole State of Utah and especially by people with ties to Hiawatha and Price. I also am sure the vandals had no idea what a hornets’ nest they had stirred up when they broke parts from the statue, for what I guess they thought was a thrill.  Mario DiCaro sent an eloquent letter to the editor of The Sun Advocate at the time.

   The statue was repaired and rededicated and again stands in the Peace Garden where I hope he spends many happy years and provides many years of memories.

   There are many write ups about the “Doughboy” on the Internet:

http://doughboysearcher.weebly.com/price-utah.html

The Sun Advocate also has articles in its archives.

The pictures were either taken by me or given to me by friends.

Wally Baldwin May 2014

YARD SALE

They bought this yard pool from one yard
sale and then brought it to Grandpa & Grandmas's
house. The kids played in it until THEIR yard
sale was over.

        YARD SALE/GARAGE SALE/ESTATE SALE

   I had an interesting day today riding around the valley to look at or attend some of my families Garage Sales. Now I am not really into that kind of thing but I thought I would at least get to visit with kids, grandkids and yes even great grandkids. I am not sure if there is a correct name for the sales but it seems they are called Yard Sales, Garage Sales or Estate Sales as well as several others. I get the impression that if they call them estate sales they think they can sell the stuff for more money?

   My memory is not all it used to be but as I recall Yard Sales started becoming popular in the 1960/1970 era.

   A good definition might be to try and sell “something you have no more use for.” Then of course on the other end it might be “something you have been looking for and have never been able to find it.”

   Quite a few years ago someone coined the phrase, “One man’s junk in another’s treasure” and perhaps that is a very good definition of a yard sale.  

   I guess the first word (Yard, Garage, Tag, etc.) more or less describes where all the action is. It is usually in someone’s front yard, unless it is stormy and then it usually moved to the garage. It is interesting that the last few years they have moved out to Church parking lots, parking lots at family stores and the most popular kind now is when a bunch of neighbors get together for a REAL BIG SALE.

   There does not seem to be one type of people that go to yard sales. Today I saw older people, teen agers, and little kids. Some people were driving Cadillac Escalades, A LOT OF SUV’s,       and one Porsche. old pickups ( they ranged all the way from one that did not have a speck of dust on it and looked like it just drove off the showroom floor, to one that had the muffler held on with wire and the spare tied in the bed with a rope.

   The $1.00 items seem to sell the best. In fact one of the kids made the comment you can sell almost anything for $1.00. It was interesting to watch a lady with a couple of little girls. She was haggling over the $1.00 price of a piece of costume jewelry, but turned around and bought one of the girls a bottle of water for $1.00 and the other one a popsicle for $1.00. (Maybe there is a sales strategy there?)

   The variety of items for sale is also interesting. The majority of the items seem to be ladies costume jewelry and ladies clothing. They are followed as a close 2^nd by kid’s toys, kid’s books, clothing and outdoor kid’s toys.

   Then comes the cast off furniture, appliances and Real Antiques? A lot of these items will not fit in the cars, so they pay for them, in advance, and go home to get a truck to haul them off in.

   While I was at one of my daughters “Sales” a guy picked up something up out of a box. He asked how much it was and one of the girls gave him a price and he said OK I want it. Another guy was with him and ask him what it was and he said,”I don’t know for sure but it looks like a carburetor off of a lawn mower. So some guy got rid of some junk and maybe he will buy it back next year from the guy they sold it to this year?

   As I drove around today I decided that yard sales must be one of the biggest draws in town on a hot summer’s day. I also thought to myself that the “die hard’s” would not even mind a little rain or wind. They would probably just move into the garage. (However that could be another story.)   

   As the day wore on I thought to myself, maybe instead of rain last night we might have received a sprinkle of “garage sale moisture.’ This morning they have sprouted up all over the valley. There are all sizes, all kinds, all colors, and anything you can imagine, and some things you can’t that are for sale.

   An interesting thing, at least in Utah, is that when the garage, yard sale or whatever you want to call it, is over---- most of whatever is left is put in a pickup truck or an SUV for its final trip to the D.I..

   Awww,  yes that was my day as an observer in the life of a yard sale. I did not go with the intention of buying anything, but only to observe and to enjoy some time with my family. I did have a fun time observing people and yes B.T.W. I did buy a $1.00 worth of cookies.

Wally Baldwin

17 May 2014

MOTHERS

                          













THE PICTURE ON THE LEFT IS MY WIFE AND THE PICTURE ON RIGHT IS MY MOM.

                  MOTHERS

I am sitting here thinking about MOTHERS and their special Day and as they come to mind I put them here to add to my BLOG. They brought back some fun memories to me—Perhaps- they will to you also. They are not all original and where I could remember I indicated where they come from—the rest were just memories that came to mind---

A Scoutmaster after watching several new scouts in their attempt at outdoor cooking, asked the question, “How are you guys coming along and have any of you forgotten any essential equipment?” “Yes I guess I have” one little guy answered. “Oh what might that be”, asked the Scoutmaster? “MY MOTHER.” He answered.

Mothers Day has been described in many ways, such as, A day set aside to pay tribute to someone that we take for granted the rest of the year.-------or one day that we take over and do the work that Mom does every day all year long.------or one day set aside to thank Mothers for the devotion that they continually show the members of their family.

We sometimes forget that there are Mothers all over the world. There are Mothers in China, England, Japan, Canada and the USA. Also some of our daughters are Mothers and of course all Mothers are someone’s daughters. I don’t know how many countries in the World celebrate Mothers day, but in this country it is celebrated by more people than any other holiday, except Christmas. If it is not celebrated in all countries it certainly should be.

I grew up in a small town and if any of you have had that experience it is a real eye opener. In a small town you do not have just one Mother. You have several Mothers and they all keep an eye on you and have no objections to taking you by the ear and directing you home if you have done something they did not approve of.

I recall one experience when I was young and had done something I should not have I was approached by my “Aunt Lucille” (Not really an Aunt at all) who told me we should perhaps go home and tell my Mom what had happened. I told her, when we got there, I was going to tell my Mom she was picking on me and I will never forget her answer, “Oh I am sure she will believe you?” I was not to happy having so many Moms’ looking after me when I was young but now that I am older I see it was a good thing.

I would like to approach the subject of honoring our Mothers by reminding us of the commandment “Honor thy Father and thy Mother”, which thundered on Sinai centuries ago. It is just as vibrant today as it was when the Lord declared it to Moses. That commandment will live forever, It will not be revoked!

What does it mean to honor our Mothers? What obligations are imposed by the commandment on Sinai? How about some suggestions for a typical family and not only for Mothers Day but for every day.

FATHER---------------Are you as faithful in providing for YOUR MOTHERS needs as she was in providing for you? How long has it been since you visited your Mother, or called her or wrote her a long loving letter. Do you think any of those actions would affect her? Also Father don’t forget your wife’s mother. Remember she gave you the greatest gift she had to give-----HER DAUGHTER!

MOTHER--------------Don’t forget your Mother. The attention you give to your Mothers temporal & spiritual needs mean much more to her than do these benefits coming from any other person on earth. If time has slowed Mom up, or bent her form; do not forget that you may have figured in mightily in those changes. One of my Mom’s comments was that most of her gray hair came one by one, with MY HELP. Your Mother loved you---set up nights-----prayed----wept and worried----hoped and dreamed for you. Your Mom gets her reward in you and your actions.

THE SON--------Son, if occasionally, you discover that you know more than your Mom does, or you think you do, thank her for the great opportunity she gave you to learn. Have respect for your home, ---It is the greatest school you will ever attend and it has been blessed with the greatest teacher you will ever know. ---Your Mom. She would do anything or give anything she could to make you happy.

THE DAUGHTER----- If you could know your Mom’s thoughts. -----Hear her prayers, ----feel her anxiety; you would never say things like “it is none of your business”. Remember you are a part of her. If you do wrong she is offended. ----If you are hurt she is hurt. ---If you are happy she is happy. I think you could say you are your Mothers temple. She expects you to be clean and reverent and to show love to others. She prays every day for YOU. It may take you and the Lord together to answer all her prayers about you, but NEVER forget how much she loves you.

I am sure we can all recount many stories and experiences of mothers but let me recall a couple I am aware of--------------------

Put yourself in the shoes of the mother, who at the expense of clean windows and polished floors at home, stood in the hallway of a school waiting to retrieve the frozen salmon she had rushed from the deep freeze to the school that afternoon (After a frantic call from little Ernie at school) because he did not have anything for show and tell. She could not make an accurate recording of her accomplishments that day because she did not witness the miracle she wrought. Ernie was a child with little confidence, bashful and insecure among his classmates, but that day, as he stood in front of the class, all eyes were on him, for he held in both arms a thirty six inch FROZEN salmon. (Thanks to Mom). His classmates were almost hypnotized when he told them how he and his Dad had caught this great fish in the Columbia River. From that day on it was different for Ernie. The students thought that if he could catch a fish like that he could do anything. So he became part of the group. Everyone wanted to sit by him. Instead of being last he was chosen among the first. A miracle had taken place all because Mom had let her floors go unpolished and her windows unwashed. She probably must have wondered that afternoon if she had really accomplished much that day.

Then I recall the Mother in the Salt Lake area that got a frantic phone call from school and the daughter said, almost in a frenzy, “Mom I forgot my lunch money and I am starving. Can you bring it to me?” Well of course Mom could bring it to her. Isn’t that what Mom’s are all about? ---- and then the final comment—By the way Mom I am in Ogden at the High School--- see you in a few and thanks!!!

It seems Mothers and young children always seem to go together. Children admire their mothers and Mothers have “brag-books” for their children’s pictures. Children love to come home and run in the door and yell, “I’m home mom” and get the response. O.K. dear, I am here in the kitchen.”

Here is a poem that has this as its theme-------------

     Sometimes when I get home from school

     And Mother isn’t there,

     And though I know she’ll be back soon

     And I don’t really care,

     Still all the furniture looks queer,

     The house seems hushed and sad:

     And then I hear her coming in,

     And, oh boy, am I glad!

              Esther Doolittle

It seems another quirk of nature is that the younger the child the more they want to help Mom with her chores. (i.e. the two years old who wants to help with the dishes. The three year old who wants to help make a cake.) It seems that to help Mom out is quite popular with young children. Sometimes the help causes more work for Mom in the long run but the children are usually sincere. It seems however they always want to do a job that is just a little bit to difficult for them to do alone and not the things that they can easily do. So of course at that point the “great teacher” the Mom takes over her task as Mom and teacher.

I am sure most of you have heard the poem Which Loved Best?

I love you Mother, said little John;

Then, forgetting his work his cap went on,

And he was off to the garden swing,

Leaving his mother the wood to bring.

I love you Mother, said rosy Nell;

I love you better than tongue can tell;

Then she teased and pouted full half the day,

Till her Mother rejoiced when she went out to play.

I love you Mother said little Fan;

Today I’ll help you all I can;

How glad I am the school doesn’t keep!

So she rocked the baby till it fell asleep.

Then stepping softly, she took the broom,

And swept the floor, and dusted the room;

Busy and happy all day was she,

Helpful and cheerful as a child could be,

I love you Mother, again they said—

Three young children going to bed;

How do you think the Mother guessed?

Which of them really loved her the best?

          Joy Allison

Several years ago a newspaper did an article by asking several Mothers “What does Mother’s Day mean to you.

I know in our family my Mother loved to just have the family visit and sit around and reminisce. While she was still with us that was still important to my wife, who was also a mother and to my daughters who are also mothers. We love to get together and talk about the growing up years and perhaps some of the things our Mothers did or did not teach us?

I guess one of the best presents we can give our Mothers is a simple “Thank You Mom?”

Some thoughts I run into while reminiscing ---------------(some I have embellished)

Try praising your Mom, even if it does frighten her at first.---- Billy Sunday

There is nothing upon this earth that can be compared to a faithful Mother---

                                  Daniel Webster

A Mother who is old at 40 can turn into a grandmother who is young at 60----

                                      Talmage

Old age is not uncomfortable if a Mother has grandchildren to share it with her—

                                           Scott

The American West would still be an unfenced wilderness if the pioneers had left the mothers at home------------Gray