Mom is trying to feed the deer in this picture.  It is plain to see that dad loved taking pictures.  So in the picture below she succeeded and dad had her set me beside the deer to take a picture.

This picture was taken when mom and dad were either engaged or they had just married.  Not sure who the little dog is.
 

 

Another picture of mom when she was young.  I am sorry to say it does not have a age or year this picture was take.  What I did find was a few memories that mom wrote down.  She writes:
I remember starting school in the school in Porterville.  We had grades 1 - 6 in one room of this school.  The upper grades was in the other room.  Miss Emma Rich was our teacher there was 7 of us in my class and when we went to Morgan in the fourth grade there was only 4 of us left the other 3 had been held back.  My dad took us to school with a team of horses and a wagon.  When the snow came we went to school in a sleigh.  For lunch we always had a bi bowl of soup, a slice of bread, piece of cake with a glass of milk.  We always had such a good time.  When we went to Morgan to school we had a lunch room where we ate our soup. 

 

 

Mom's graduation picture taken in 1945.  This pictures was found in her genealogy.  Along with this picture was a few hand written pages of mom's life story.  It reads as follows:

     This is Lavell Mikesell Lythgoe the second child of Samuel and Virginia Mikesell.  This is my life on the flat, upper Porterville, or Poverty Flat or Hardscrabble or whatever it is or was called.

     I remember going with daddy and mom up to clean the trees so they could build a house.  They bought a grainery from someone.  It was log and made a two room home for us.

    I helped my dad clean a lot of land so that he could farm.

    My younger brother Wendell and I were born in lower Porterville.  After we moved to the flat Gerald, Carlene, Scott and Peggy were born in this home.

    Many good times were had.  I remember every 4th of July mom and dad, Uncle Joe and Aunt Martha, Uncle Jody and Aunt Pearl and all the families would go up the canyon and stay.  I remember that Betsy had a sunburn on her back.  Bonita, Betsy and I would sleep on a wagon box.  Since Betsy's back was so burnt - every time on of us would turn over her back would get hit.  We never got a lot of sleep but we always had a good time.  We never spent a lot of money.  The baseball games were the best.  We played lots of other games and always had lots of fun.

     To help get money for school I would pick up potatoes for Aaron Creechley.  I remember living down at Aunt Ruth's home (Roy Mortenson later lived there). We slept upstairs and thought we heard footsteps on the stairs.

     I remember when I was in the second or third grade at school my dad would take all of us on the flat down to school in lover Porterville. in a wagon or sled with horses.  Earl and some of the boys acted up and my dad told them to quit or they would have to walk.  Earl got out and walked the rest of the way to school.  He would cut through the fields and when we got to school Earl would be waiting there for us.  Earl was smiling at all of us and said thanks to my dad.  I think dad was a little bit mad but said that it was good for you son.  Earl would then help all the girls out of the wagon or sled and then thank my dad again.

Signing off for today - hope you are enjoying this.

      

 

This picture was given to mom by grandma Martha.  This is a picture of my grandfather Mikesell when he was young.  I love this picture so much and when I found it in mom's genealogy I had to post it!!

 

When I found the above gem I had to post it.  This is a great picture of Uncle Wendell, Uncle Gerald, Aunt Carlene and my sweet mom with grandma and grandpa.  A little torn and tattered but it was just crying to be shared with all of you!!

 

 

This picture was taken at grandma and grandpa's home in July of 1953.  Larry is in the striped shirt, Charlotte is in the box, Georgia is next to Charlotte and I am behind Charlotte.  Love the old washer and this picture of the old home that brings to mind lots of memories.

 

 

This picture was taken the same day and we added Aunt Peggy to the picture!!  We always had more fun when Aunt Peggy was around!!

 

 

Fast forward from 1953 to the present and I had to put a picture of Aunt Peggy and Uncle Scott taken at the cemetery the day of Leatha Rae's funeral.  Love them so much!!!

 

 

I have been thinking a lot about family and extended family today.  As I was going through some old pictures I found these two pictures and decided to post them today.

This is a picture of Larry my brother standing tall.  Right below him our cousin Leatha Rae.  The little guy bent over is Kim (Leatha's brother).  Seated is Sam (another of Leatha's brothers) and my brother Clare.  This picture was taken at our home on 5100 South in Washington Terrace.  The peach tree in the back ground had the best peaches. The windows and other construction material was to be used for remodeling our home but that did not happen because the school board purchased the home and built T.H. Bell Junior High School on the land adjoining ours and they wanted our land for the football field.

 

Another picture like the one above but this time you can see Kim's face and Randy is leaning on the wagon.  Today I am grateful that I found these pictures they bring back many memories.  My cousin Leatha Rae returned to our Father in Heaven on July 2.  Tonight we will attend her viewing and tomorrow the funeral.  So today I thought I would post these pictures - memories of Leatha Rae.

Random Pictures

I know that I posted this on facebook but I thought that it would be fun to post it on my blog.  This picture was taken the first day of school.  My mom is the tall on in the back and Talue Chreechley.  Middle of the row is my mother's brother Gerald, next is Carlene (mom's sister), then Darrell Mikesell, then another brother Wendell, Jack Chreechley standing next to him.  Kneeling is Deeloy Chreechley, then Stanley Mikesell, Della Jean Hill and last but not least is Abbott Mikesell (he is the older brother of Darrell, Richard, and Stanley and Uncle to Della).  Mom talked about this picture often but my Aunt Peggy had to help me figure out who was who and then Aunt Nancy and Uncle Abbott helped with the ones we did not know!  Thanks for all who helped with these corrections.

 

I truly fell in love with this picture of Grandma Martha.  It was taken in 1913 and she was only 15 years old.  I look at this picture and then think of all of the things she accomplished in her life she was truly a great lady.  She is the mother of the Mikesell boys named in the above picture and she raised my father after his parents died when he was nine years old.  Grandma is loved by so many!!

 

 

I found this picture of my sweet grandfather (my mother's father) holding my baby brother Paul on the car.  Oh how we loved this man and his kind a gentle way with everyone.  Fun times to remember!!

 

 

Here is another picture that I put on facebook but have put it on this blog.  Paul is the baby in the picture with Randy next to him holding the bunny and Clare is petting it.  We lived on 5100 South in Washington Terrace and at the time we could have rabbits.  Now T.H. Bell's football field where our home once was.  My how we loved the rabbits that we had when we lived there.

 Better close for now I will have to scan more pictures to post.

 

 

This picture was taken at grandma Martha's and I think she also took the picture. Celica is setting by Aunt Betsy, then Clare is standing by Cindy. Mom is holding Paul, Randy with the cut grin and arms folded. Behind him is Donna and Kami then Larry all smiles doing a model pose. Always fun when Aunt Betsy came to town.

This picture was also taken at grandma Martha's Georgia, Donna, and Judy.

This picture was taken the same day. Between Donna and myself we talked grandma Martha into having her picture taken with us. Grandma always had an apron on and warm hugs and loved to take pictures. I guess this is where daddy got his love for picture taking and they then became his treasures.

This is a special picture for me because this is one picture I have of Della Jean Hill. This picture also has her mother Ella(Grandma Martha's daughter), her father Duane, brother Richard standing in front of her and Allen kneeling. Also mom and dad plus Georgia, Larry and myself. Della was special because she was our first babysitter. She told the best stories, she loved the Gospel. As we grew older she was a very good friend. She had two beautiful daughters who are very dear to me and I love them so much!

Taking five so I thought it is about time get back to posting some fun pictures!!

This picture was taken in grandma and grandpa Mikesell living room Larry is sitting on the floor, On the couch is Aunt Peggy holding Randy, Charlotte in front of Georgia, then Judy holding Susan (Charlotte's sister).

This picture was taken when we lived in Washington Terrace the first time at Q116. This picture is of Judy, Larry in the middle and Georgia on the end doing her topless look.

This picture was taken in Wyoming at the home of friends of mom and dad. The little boy in the picture is their son, Georgia is in the center and then Judy. We had been out playing on the farm so we were not the cleanest kids in town. Mom always put my hair in ringlets and Georgia's hair was just a little different to handle. Mom made all of our clothes. thanks for stopping by more to follow!!!

More Random Pictures

Today has been kind of a busy day so now I am sitting down to relax I decided to post so pictures. This picture was taken on the dirt road going up to grandma Martha's home. Mom was pregnant with me. Just a little tribute to mom. This picture was taken in the old home of grandma and grandpa Mikesell. Back row: Uncle Gerald, Aunt Georgia, Elmer Smith, Uncle Wendell, Dad, Mom, Me, Georgia, and Larry Row 2: Charlotte, Rosemary, Aunt Peggy holding Lynnette, Aunt Dorline holding Annette, Randy Row 3: Uncle Scott holding Michelle, Aunt Denise, Paul, Sam, Scott, Kim, Gene Aunt Carlen holding Kathy, Uncle Otto, Danny Center: Grandma holding Cheri and Grandpa holding Sandy, Seated in front: Russell, Pam, Susan, Tom, Leatha, and Clare. Well better run I have got to prepare a Primary lesson - the sister that was going to teach has a emergency so I told her that I would do it. She has helped me out so may times. I am so blessed to be able to have this calling. Goodnight - have a beautiful Sunday!!

A Special Lady

Today we said goodbye to a very special lady. She was like a sister to mom and they often said that if they had to go into a care center they wanted to be room mates. That of course was so that they could craft together. I remember one of mom's favorite memories of Merle. They had gathered aluminum cans (from along side the roads) to make flowers to make wall hangings. The cans had to be washed and cut so they met at the church to do this. They had the cans stacked on the table in preparation to cut and then spray paint them. Oh by the way many of these cans were beer cans. While they were cutting the cans in walked Bishop Alphin and Ron Stephens - the Bishop simply said do I have cause to be concerned and then they all burst into laughter. Merle would have been so pleased to see her family working together and planning to do as a family. It has been a difficult three weeks for them and they weathered this trial in their lives with grace. I hope our families always remain friends like our mothers were. So I say goodbye to my dear friend Merle. You will be missed.

Day 2

I am kind of excited about this and I hope that all of you are!! I have more pictures to post today - so here goes!!! This is a picture taken on Easter we lived at Q116 in Washington Terrace. Across the street was the LDS Chapel Standing Gerald, Georgia (holding Rosemary) Carlene (holding Susan) Bob Price, Mom, Wendell (holding Leatha),Dorline, Denise and Scott. Seated Judy standing next to grandma (holding Randy), Peggy, Grandpa holding Charlotte), Larry and Georgia. Again we are at Q116 in Washington Terrace. Daddy loved to take pictures, look at picture, relive memories - these were his treasures!! I think that this picture was taken around the 4 or 24 of July. Judy, Mom holding Larry, and Georgia. Again at Q116 - looking at the background my how the Terrace has changed. I look at the fence and think that dad made that fence and that could have been his first project in his woodworking. This picture was taken on Easter. Mom made our dresses and Larry's shirt. This picture was taken in the summer after Randy was born. Randy on the grass, Larry riding his horse and Georgia by the house. Dad loved to take pictures!!! Theres that picket fence again!! Welcome to the world Clare!! Dad was so proud of his boys!! Larry, Randy and mom holding the Rice Cereal and Clare. Mom loved this picture. Well that is all for today. Hope you are enjoying this walk in the past. Got to get busy! Love you all!!

Memories

After much thought and prayer I am thinking that this is the best way to share the pictures that I am finding. To my sister and brothers I have given you the pictures that have only you and your family in them. To my nephews and nieces I hope you have fun as you look at these pictures. The first picture I wanted to put on is one that was taken by Grandma Martha. It was taken in 1955 as you can see the picture has a few pictures so that is the reason that it is being published first. If you would like a copy of this picture and any of the pictures that I am posting please feel free to copy and save them. If I have heard the story behind the picture I will be glad to share it. If any of you know the story behind the pictures that I post I encourage you to share. If you have any suggestions please let me know and I will see what I can do to accomplish what you have suggested. Thank you in advance and always remember that I love each and every one of you.