One more Letter

Dear Donna Rae,

I have been going to write you for ever so long but it just seems as if every day has something one has to do. I do hope you all are well and this snow sure has made a difference to a lot of people, not being able to get out and the hospitals here are full with people falling and breaking arms and legs, so I have not been out in the cold weather and the icy sheets altho our yard is one mass of ice and quite bad getting to the garage or back gate.

Izzette and I have been up to Olds that is 50 miles last Calgary where Lillian lives and Lillian's husband Harry took a heart attack and died very suddenly on March 23rd and was buried iat Olds on Friday. She has Bob and Gail married and live in Calgary and will go out every Friday for the weekend and Kerry goes to college at Red Deer and had a sister there but has given it up and will live with Lillian and ride into Red Deer every morning about an hour, but his school will be out end of April, then he has to find work too. Lillian has as store, ladies ready to wear at Bowden and goes by car every morning until 6:30. Will be better for her to go home and find someone. She was kicking up better when we left. The church was crowded and servers all over the house and people brought ever so much for eats.

I thought you would like to know as Lillian was going to write you when I gave her your address when I got it from you. Izzette has been away in Winnipeg all this week and just got home today. SHe had to go to a meeting of the Interior Designs. I sent the photos of your boy and girl when they came to Lillian and she said how handsome they were. Allan and Vivian did not go to Olds, as both working. I hope your husband feels okay again. I suppose you are glad Spring is almost here has been the worst winter for almost everyplace. Did you find anymore about the relatives? I am no good at that but Izzette is Janet and Foster are still working in Clagary and have not been down lately. Janet went to Vancouver for the weekend last week. I suppose you are very busy now as there will be more people about. Harry was 58 years and had just bought a new Dunster car with 2 beds in it as they had planned to do a lot of camping this summer and had made are their arrangements where to go. Lillian's address is:

I will write again Donna Rae and wishing you lots of luck.

Gran Foster

Letters from Grandma Lillian

Dear Donna Rae,

So pleased to get your letter and photos of the boy and girl. They sure do look grand and should as I remember how you looked and still should. That must be very tiresome work for you altho you get used to ?? and can go right ahead. I think one should work if capable as people are needed everyday altho they say things are going to be tough and hundreds out of work. I meant to write for Valentine's Day but couldn ot go out with snow and ice, walking was awful but today looks better. Had my 2 great-grand-children here today and they are so busy getting into everything and wanting things to eat and the house was sure in a uproar. Have gone now. Their father is Bryce and is not living here.

I sent your letter and photos to Lillian and Harry in Olds as I wanted them to see it and always asking about you. I sent the address too. She will be writing you and telling you different things and knows more about Win as they used to be good companions.

I wrote to Vivian in Vancouver and she is going to write you and said someday on a holiday. Her daughter Rochelle will drive her to see you. She works at the telephone office from 2 until 12 so does not have much time. You will like her as she is very friendly. I have all of Dad's [Wynn] letters while at the war so will keep them for you. That is all I have belonging to him. I will send Allan your address in case they boys and he go to Seattle someday, but they are all working except Win who is back in college as he never finished before and wants to go to university and Leslie started at University but gave it up to work so he could get more money to ?? at University as he is an honor pupil. But of course might change his mind and keep on working. They all might come here in the summer as I won't be going out there again.

I had forgotten I gave you that picture. I gave Wynonna one too and she was offered $100 for it but did not take it. She works in Detroit at hospital. Has not been here for 2 years or more. Used to come if not would write but have not heard from her. She has been taking up art and got ??. Sent her mother some and they were very nice. Her mother lives on a ranch 30 miles from here. Her sister Leslie is in Calgary. Thank you for the photos and writing. I can't find my pen so hope you can read this. Will find it now.

Love,
Gran Foster

Cute Valentine's Day ideas

http://lisa.wumple.com/creations/valentines/center.jpg

Letters from Grandma Lillian

Dear Donna Rae,

What a surprise we got when your letter came today did and know where you were, but you saw Izzette said you were going to Seattle. I never had any mail from you and so glad now and were speaking of you at Christmas. Your children have grown up. I am sure you can tell them alot about your Dad although you were not so old when he went to war. He was very fine ? being and tall and a great reader. Your son Perry is just like him to be a reader. Win would have a book in front of him with nearly all his meals even getting dressed and very clever at school and before exams, open a few books and pass and did not have to study. [He] was a good sport in every way, all kinds of games.

Now your aunts and uncles: Izzette, the eldest, then Lillian married Harry Muir and and lived in Olds and has a shop in Boden, 25 miles from Olds and drives there every day. She has 2 boys, Bob married last year and lives in Calgary. Kerry in Red Deer going to University. Harry has the station at Olds. Box 1234. Mr. and Mrs. H.B. Muir. Allan at Vancouver worked in Hudson's Bay Store 25 years ago and still at Bays Tavoboys. Win 24 Leslie 19. Going to university. Allan's wife died 3 years ago. His address is A.F. Foster. 718 Miller Road. Richmond. B.C. Lines right near the big airport there. Vivian at 404 West 27th St. Her name (Ms. Seth Wilkinson) North Vancouver. B.C. Two girls-Rochelle and Marcia.

Rochelle is Mrs. R.T. Watts (address) She works in a girls school. She teaches at University of Vancouver. Marcia in England, married last year. [Address] That is a long address but all are like that She and Rochelle would love to hear from you.

Izzette has Foster who works in Calgary. Janet works in Calgary at University in the Philosophy Department.

Bonnie married to a ? has 1 girl 4 and 1 boy 2 months. Constable and Mrs. Bert Tricker. Two Hills. Allan Bryce works in Calgary. Leslie Foster had ? in Detroit a nurse. Leslie lived in Santa Monica for years but now living in Calgary. One boy, 7 years.

I will be writing so will let them know about you. We are still in the same place altho I have my own suite and is quite close to Izzette. She still is the Interior Decorator here and keeps her busy. She & Janet went to England for a visit about 2 years ago. Izzette went to Japan and now going somewhere else. I look after the house while [she's] away but have a big black dog so do not mind. I was at Vancouver 2 yrs ago. Drove out by car with Lillian & Harry but I am not thinking of going anywhere just now as the weather is extremely cold 20 or 30 below just one gets used to it. I sure should have to see your family and I am sure they are good looking like you. I still have your photo and all the little gadgets set of tiny cups and saucers and the rabbit sitting in a stump you gave me and wish you could come this way. Last year I am sure or might have been year before, your mother came to see me and I knew her at once. I thought she was going to live here, but never saw her again.

I am 91 years old now but feel fine and do all my own work & go down town & all over every day, cook all my meals, have J.V. & going along as I always have. My hands have arthritis but I can still paint pictures and write. So if you can't read all this, that is the reason. So glad that you wrote and I'll do the same. Tell me all the news. Lots of love. Gran Foster.

The Red-Haired Princess

I love historical fiction. Ann Rinaldi is one of my favorite YA historical fiction authors. She usually writes about US History, but with this book, she broke away from that and explored the time frame before Queen Elizabeth I took the throne. I really liked this book because it was a fantastic introduction to the historical figures. I highly recommend it!

To remember Henry VIII's wives...divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived!

Very helpful breakdown of Henry's wives...
http://www.tudordiscovery.org.uk/wives.html

Genghis Khan

We went to see the Genghis Khan exhibit today at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. It was really interesting, but probably even more so since both Mackay and I read a short overview of him before we went. Pretty basic, but it covered the essentials.

Genghis Khan was either a before-the-times statesman who unified the Mongol tribes, introducing a law system, a written language, and even passports to ensure security and safe passage, or a ruthless war tyrant, wiping out thousands and the mention of his name invoked fear.

Things we thought were interesting:

-His father was poisoned by the Tatar tribe. Since he didn't want to die from poison, he only drank from stainless steel bowls. If there was any acidity in the liquid, the cup would change color. It turns it black. Pretty clever. My rotary cutter blade got shampoo on it, and it turned it black. We couldn't figure out why until now.

-Whistling arrows were used to shoot over the enemies to freak them out. The military steppe warfare used was so far ahead of any competition. It is no wonder that Genghis Khan's warriors easily wiped out everyone. It was the siege warfare that caused them trouble.

-There was a stone tablet with Genghis Khan's name in the left corner. The tablet told of Essunge who hit a target at a distance of 440 yards...that's 1/4 of a mile.

-The Mongols were well known for their archery and their horseback riding. Their bows could shoot 100 yards farther than the English long bows. Also, their saddles were set up so they could shoot backwards and their stirrups were larger and flat on the bottom so they could stand up and rotate in them.

-One of Genghis Khan's generals, Subetai, overtook Russia in winter. That was the downfall of Nazi Germany...and they had tanks!

-Genghis Khan set up the system of paizia, or passports. If you had a bronze, silver, or gold passport, you were guaranteed safe passage throughout the area. Oh yeah, and Marco Polo was given a gold paizia during Kubla Khan's reign.

-Every time Genghis Khan returned from battle, he brought a new wife/concubine. They've done extensive DNA-testing to show that 1 out of every 200 males is a direct male descendant of Genghis Khan.

-He introduced a written language, even though he couldn't read. He also established the rule of law. Before Genghis Khan, the rule was essentially, if you want it and could take it, it was yours. Wife-snatching and child slavery were very common because of this. He created the Yassa, a code. Yasa means order or decree. These were some of our favorites:

Whoever takes goods (on credit) and becomes bankrupt, then again takes goods and again becomes bankrupt, then takes goods again and yet again becomes bankrupt is to be put to death after the third time.

He ordered that all religions were to be respected and that no preference was to be shown to any of them. All this he commanded in order that it might be agreeable to Heaven.

He forbade them to wash their clothes until they were completely worn out.

The Yasa of Chingis Khan forbids lies, theft and adultery and prescribes love of one's neighbor as one's self; it orders men not to hurt each other and to forget offences completely, to spare countries and cities which submit voluntarily, to free from taxes temples consecrated to God, and to respect old people and beggars. Whoever violates these commands is to be put to death.

Obviously the 10 commandments had some kind of influence.

It was REALLY cool. If you are in Denver, come check it out. It's here through the first week of February.

Tis the Season

I've read lots of Christmas books this year...and I highly recommend:

Christmas Lights by Christine Pisera Naman. It's a group of short stories about ordinary women during the Christmas season. The good thing about a Christmas story is how content you feel when the story's over. Does it for me every time.