NOVEMBER 21, 1973

My 'baby' has a birthday!

She decided to make her appearance when I had a houseful of company for Thanksgiving, three toddlers and a 10 month old.

Thinking back, I don't know how I did it.

Happy birthday Colleen !

STATUE OF LIBERTY

I am sure some of you got the e-mail a while ago that was going around about this. I thought it was a fascinating e-mail.

July 1918. Camp Dodge, Iowa. This is when and where 18,000 soldiers were staged to form the shape of Lady Liberty. The why of this was to promote the sale of war bonds. The photo was never used for that purpose.

Conditions that day were less than ideal. July, temperature was over 100 degrees. These men were wearing wool uniforms. I can't imagine what it must have been like.

Snopes has an article that can tell you about it better than I can. It has a lot of the dimensions and how it was laid out. There is also a photo on this site you need to enlarge and look at. Amazing!

You absolutely must follow this link (don't forget to enlarge them) to similar images that were created, many from this era.

Why am I posting about this? Because the above photo is actually my great uncle, Corey Hartford. Had I never got involved with my project, I would never have known I had a relative who took part in it. The minute I saw this picture, I knew the story behind it. Sorry to say, when I got the book about our family history, I quickly looked at it and went directly to "my" generation to do most of my reading. Then I put the book away. Until Project. (I now consider myself to be an expert on this book.)

I would like to know more about how his photo happened to be taken. What were the circumstances? Did all of those present have individual photos taken in this manner?

I don't think I will ever have any answers to those questions. I don't think there is anyone still living who knows the answers.

DATE NIGHT

Friday night. Date night. Mom and Dad dropped the boys off and we had a sleep over.

The boys have a routine when they come over. They wait until the folks are gone and then declare that they are starving. This night was no different. (I know for a fact that they ate before coming over.) We went through all the cupboards and checked out the top of the fridge. Chocolate Marshmallow Mateys were decided on.

Again I made a huge bed on the living room floor after I brought all of my blankets down. (That means I just dropped them over the railing from upstairs.) They are always impressed by this. At 8:30, lights out and their favorite video started. At 9:30 I turned to the cooking channel thinking that would put them to sleep. Didn't work. Damien held out until 10:30. Raidyn until just before midnight and I have no idea when Peyton fell asleep as I didn't make it much past midnight.

Raidyn. Awake at 6:15. Had Peyton awake soon after and Damien by 7:00. Waffles were the unanimous choice for breakfast. Before you all think I am 'Super Grandma', they were Eggos. Frozen, pop in the toaster and presto! Waffles. The boys thought they were great.

About this time Raidyn decided to give me some hints about monsters. He wanted to know if I knew how to get rid of monsters. I should have seen something coming but I totally was blind sided. I said "no, how?" He said. "Well, Grandma, you just hit them in the balls". I said "WHAT?" He said, "You know Grandma". Right here", while showing me just where he was referring to.

I struggled to keep a serious face and Grandpa sat at the table laughing behind his newspaper. I thought to ask him if that meant that only boys were monsters, but coming from a family of all boys I wasn't sure if he knew about the haves and the have nots. I didn't think I could handle anything too detailed so I went no further on that subject.

About that time everyones favorite, Uncle Casey, came home from work. No more 'quality' time for Grandpa and Grandma. Two hours rough housing and playing with Uncle Casey! By the time Dad got here to pick them up, it was obvious to all that three little boys were in need of naps.

So was Grandma!

CHAPTER SEVEN

As the truck groaned out of sight, Jerry and Bob returned to bed and laid very still. Nothing was said for at least ten minutes.

"Jerry!" ..."Jerry" ..."Jerry !!" ..."The name is Gerald!" ..."yeah, Gerald." "What?" ..."Let's don't dig no more tank traps." ..."Yes, No more tank traps"

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CHAPTER SIX

"Are they leaving, Jerry?" ..."Gerald!" ..."Gerald." ..."Lay low, we ain't safe yet." ... "Shall we make a run for the canal?" ..."If they come this way... Lookit!, They're out!"

The truck pulled a few feet ahead of the hole, and stopped. The driver got out and ordered the men to the rear of the truck.

"Oh, oh, They are going to circle the house!" ... "Shh, Listen!"

The driver addressed the men, ; "Listen, men, and listen good. Not one word of this to anyone. We're on private property, and you all know how the Colonel feels about property damage. Now, brush off your clothes and enjoy the dance like nothing happened. Remember, not one word!"

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(NEXT, CHAPTER SEVEN, THE CONCLUSION)

SUNDAY VISITORS

We had the boys again Sunday morning while Dad went into work for a while. This time they came late enough that we were able to do "happy" meals. With chocolate milk!

Nothing shy about these guys when it comes to food. Not a scrap left when they were done.

CHAPTER FIVE

A beam of light from a flashlight followed along the side of the truck and stopped at the door.

"See that, Bob?" ..."What?" ..."The star on the truck ...Theyre Americans." ..."Oh boy, thats good." ..."Good!, What do ya mean? Did you ever hear of sabotage?" ..."Ohh, noo, now what will they do?" ..."Shoot us at dawn, if they find out who did it." ...

"Would Americans shoot Americans?" ..."How can we prove we are Americans?" ..."We know how to sing 'God Bless America, Jerry."

"Call me 'Gerald' if they catch us." ..."Why?, Jerry" ...Because if they hear you call me 'Jerry', they might think I am a German." "Oh, I see. O.K., Jerry" ..."Gerald!" ..."Yeah, Jerry." ..."Gerald!" ..."Gerald?" ..."Remember, Gerald." ..."I'll remember, Jer--ald."

By this time the soldiers became organized, and were sloping the hole out in front of the truck. In a few minutes the motor was started, the truck rocking in the hole, as four or five soldiers pushed from the rear.

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(Coming next, Chapter Six!)

TO SAVE THEM SIDE BY SIDE

ANOTHER SIDE BY SIDE

MY BACK YARD, 11-08-09

I don't know how or why it is still alive. It's a little worse for wear (multiple freezes and a snow) but still pretty.

CHAPTER FOUR

" "We got 'em!". "Shhh, we got 'EM!"..."Now what?"..."Get theshot gun."..."Dad says we can't touch it."..."Oh, that's right...I know, take your cap gun...They won't know it's atoy...Go down and get their hands up."..."Ain't you coming with me?"..."No, I'll watch from here...Shhh, Theyre climbing out."..."Are they Germans or Japs?"..."Can't tell yet."

One of the soldiers walked around the truck uttering a paragraph of obscenities.

"What did they say, Jerry?"..."It's a foreign language...I don't know."..."Germans or Japs?...Do Germans say 'Suminavich'?"..."I think so."

Jerry and Bob watched in silence as the soldiers groped around the truck with flashlights and spades.

"Shallwe go get 'em?"... "No. Maybe the airplanes will come and blast them out."

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(Stay tuned for chapter five!)

CHAPTER THREE

"Jerry! are they Germans or Japs?", Bob choked. "Shhh, I don't know", choked Jerry. "Lllettts turn on the light." "N-n-n-o, Th-then they would s-see us."..."What-what should we do?"..."Shhh..."Jerry,....I'm scared."..."Me tooo!"

The truck stopped at the side of the house. Jerry and Bob listened but could hear nothing but the chatter of their own teeth. No doors opened, no sound for at least a minute except the idling motor. Gears meshed and the truck again crept ahead.

"The're leaving!"..."Shhh, Theire heading for the PW Camp!"..."The potatoe patch!"..."Shhh, yeah, the potatoe patch...OOH! the POTATOE PATCH!"..."The Ta....

Thump!.groan..Thump!...the motor killed.

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(SOON TO BE IN PRINT - CHAPTER FOUR)

CHAPTER TWO

The two story, flat topped brick house stood as a small fortress at the end of a long graveled lane. The lane followed a row of elms, curved to the right up a small hill xxx to the south side of the house. There the lane ended. To the east spread the potatoe patch for a whole city block where it met a xxxxxxxxxx dead end city street. From there the street ran east past the swimming pool to the American Legion dance hall, and on to the old CCC Camp where a few elite German prisoners of war were housed.

The story unfolds on a dark Thursday night. Jerry and Bob had just settled down after their usual pillow fight and giggle session and were dozing off to sleep. Something was disturbing them as they both tossed and tangled blankets.

Suddenly Bob sat up with a xxxx start. "Jerry! what's that?" Bob yelled in a whisper. "What?"... "That noise!"... "What noise?" ... "Outside!" Both struggled out of the blankets to the window.

There it was, slowly creeping up the lane, a silhouette of a military truck whining in low gear.

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(Coming Soon ---- Chapter 3)

CHAPTER ONE

One skirmish of WW II was fought almost in the middle of the United States.

To Jerry and Bob, the European and Pacific Theatres were somewhere just over the hills that surround the Little Blue valley. They hadn't traveled much farther than that. They knew that the Bruning Army air base wasn't far away, and were sure that all the planes that passed over were heading directly to the front.

Jerry and Bob made all preparations for the emminent battle. The potato patch was selected for the battleground because of its strategic location, and mostly because the potatoes were dug and the rest of the acreage was still in garden.

Obstacles were erected, observation tower constructed, trenches dug, and the tank trap neatly camoflaged.

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( COMING SOON TO YOUR FAVORITE BLOG - CHAPTER 2)

ARTICLE

As I was reading the Sunday morning paper I read an article about a young couple who had been pen pals since elementary school. She a Nebraska farm girl - he a city boy from Maine. They had been writing for 33years, exchanged gifts, were grown, and had families that were almost grown. They finally got to meet.

Pen Pals are almost unheard of now. No time for REAL letters and certainly no time for the US MAIL. Another dying art.

It made me think of a newspaper I came across while working on my "project". A 1935 newspaper to be exact. In it I found a story. I mean chapters of a book. Back then libraries in most parts of Nebraska didn't exist yet. Books were few and far between. Newspapers would publish one or more chapters each week from a book until the book was finished. People looked forward to the stories as much as they did the news. Today's generation probably can't comprehend not having libraries. Most grew up with them right in their own schools.

Anyway, it gave me an idea for a new post and I will be starting it in the next few days. I am going to publish a story and it will be in chapter form. There will be seven chapters. No, I will not do it once a week as even I don't have patience for that. Daily. I haven't decided yet if I will do it in picture format or type it out. It will come as originally written, uncut and never edited. This is why I prefer you read it from a picture as it would be hard to copy and keep it looking the way it was written. I will make my final decision soon.

There are some out there who know this story. Some who knew the author. Some who actually know the main "characters". I can only ask that your comments don't give anything away. I would like those who have never read it to enjoy the suspense and eventual outcome of the story.

Decision made. Story will come in picture AND typed form.

This story never had a title so my beginning will simply be - CHAPTER ONE.

Hope you will enjoy it.

BOOOO !

It was a scary night in our neighborhood! Three tricksters and one set of "really" scary parents managed to invade our home.

Top to bottom:

Damien

Raidyn

Peyton in front of bigger boys

Mom "fixing" her face

You might have been "treated" to a lot more wonderful pictures, but at this point my camera said "Memory stick full".

DARN !