Gold Cube

unanimated

Saturday, December 31, 2011

My granddaughter loves to tease.


One thing Sierra loves to do is tease.  I'm not sure why she does this.  She may want attention, fun or just keeping busy.  Often I believe she does for attention and she believes she is cute.  Of course she is cute even when it is disturbing to you.  She does this in your face.  She will get right up to you.  She has even grabbed my head and turned it to get my attention.  Then when you are ready to yell or you do yell she just smiles and you have to smile back.

Friday, December 30, 2011

My granddaughter dances to music. Not on command.

Very often when my granddaughter Sierra hears music she will start to dance.  Of course she does it because she knows she is cute.  This can happen with music from a TV, cell phone, radio or other source.  Of course she doesn't always do it when you really want her to.  She does it spontaneously when the music starts, not on command.

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Once my granddaughter gets something in her head its hard to change it.

Sierra has a few oddities in her mind that are there now and difficult to change.  I have mentioned a few in my blog posts.  She thinks up is down.  She calls her mother money.  Sierra calls milk, water, orange juice, apple juice and chocolate milk the same thing.  She calls them all milk.  So, when she asks for milk you have to either figure out what she wants or just give her whatever you have.  Usually I have a pretty good ideas of what she wants.  Lately since she has discovered chocolate milk that is what she wants.  Its way up in the cupboard so she will point and say "I want that."  I'm usually fixing it anyway for me so I share with her.  We are working with her to differentiate between milk, water and juice.  No telling how long it will take.  I'm sure many people have taken some of these ideas learned as a child into adulthood.  We want to minimize that as much as possible.  She is still the sweet, kind, adorable and happy Sierra.

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

My granddaughter thinks her mommy is money.

I started to tease my granddaughter.  Well kind of tease.  I would ask her where her mummy is.  Meaning of course her mother.  Well, it kind of backfired on me because now she does it to me.  Only instead of mummy she says money.  So she'll say, "Where's your money?"  This has a few possibilities.  Does she mean where is my mother or where is my money?  Or is she talking about her mother.  When you think that at such a young age she is asking where your money is it sure makes you wonder and is very amusing.

My granddaughter uses the oven door for a mirror.

My granddaughter, Sierra, loves to stand in front of the oven door and talk or look at herself.  She is so cute and likes to see her image in the door.  She also talks on an old used cell phone that doesn't have a battery like she knows what she is doing.  She does have goodbye down pretty good.  Some of the other talk is jibberish.

Monday, December 26, 2011

My granddaughter says down when she means up.

My granddaughter is two and in about 2 1/2 months will be three.  She is at that age when she likes to get up to look at things.  But she has down and up confused.  When she wants to be lifted up she says she wants down.  She likes to look out the window on the door to see outside.  So if I go over and look out the window to see the cats for the dog she also wants to look.  She is a darling.

Friday, December 16, 2011

My granddaughter has my taste buds!

I tend my granddaughter daily and one of the things we do together is eat.  She eats just about anything I do.  And she doesn't complain.  She seems to like whatever I am having.  I do a bit of cooking in butter and sometimes salt.  Eggs and potatoes are a couple of things I usually prepare.  I find it interesting that she eats whatever I eat and likes it.  Apparently she has my taste buds.

Sunday, December 11, 2011

My granddaughter doesn't know what milk is.

My granddaughter asks for milk all the time.  But she doesn't always want milk.  To her milk can be water or juice.  Yes, we are trying to teach her but she is a bit stubborn.  If she even says milk that's what I try to give her and she kind of throws a fit and says, "No".  She is so cute.  But still we are trying to teach her.  So I will say no you want juice.  Or,do you want juice?  She does want juice but she keeps saying milk.  I believe I may be starting to make her think about it.  Now she just loves chocolate milk so if I am having some I will give her some.  She always likes to have what I have.  Sometimes she even gets her helping before I get mine.  Oh, Sierra, more beautiful than the mountains.

Saturday, December 10, 2011

From Paralympian to Olympian.




This is about a 27 year old woman in the Netherlands who had been paralyzed at the age of 13.  It started by an ankle operation that went bad and parayzed her leg.  Then she had an accident that injured her spine and paralyzed her even more.  Finally she started competing in paralympics.  She was very successful.  She won two silver medals and an ironman world championship.  She had found her comfort zone.  Then she had another serious accident a couple of years ago.  That accident caused her to go into spasms.  These spasms may have been beneficial.  Eventually she had feeling in her legs.  Then she could walk.  Then she was riding a bike the normal way.  The normal way being with her feet pedaling rather than her hands.  Now she is on an Olympic team in her country.  She missed competing in the paralympics but it happy to be able to walk.  Here are some links for more information. 

http://bodyodd.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/12/09/9323654-un-paralyzed-by-a-crash-doctors-say-its-unlikely

With audio.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_9647000/9647585.stm

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monique_van_der_Vorst

Images
http://www.google.com/search?q=monique+van+der+vorst&hl=en&client=ms-android-verizon&sky=mrdr&site=webhp&prmd=imvnsu&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=0OjjTsawOeSniALh85WVBg&ved=0CDoQsAQ&biw=369&bih=615#p=0

“Although walking is the best thing you could do in life, I immediately missed the sport, the people and the challenges.”
http://www.inquisitr.com/166646/paralympian-monique-van-der-vorst-starts-walking-after-miracle-crash-eyes-2016-olympics/
Do you think Van Der Vorst will make the 2016 Olympic team?

She’s already won two silver medals from the 2008 Beijing Paralympics, was named the disabled Dutch athlete of the year in 2009, and won the 2009 Ironman world championship in Hawaii… I wouldn’t bet against her.

http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/10493/Monique-Van-Der-Vorst-interview-part-I-From-wheelchair-to-peloton.aspx

Video
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2065790/Paralysed-cyclist-cured-bike-crash-Olympic-hope.html

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

So I went to the doctor.

On November 14 I went to the doctor.  Due to a low red blood cell count he had me go back the next day and gave me a two prescriptions.  He said I likely have or had bleeding ulcers.  He wanted to do a EGD.  A test on my esophagus and stomach.  He wanted it done in a couple of days.  It wasn't scheduled for a week.  Then I figured that I could get it done for free at VA so I cancelled that appointment and made one at VA.  They didn't schedule it for six weeks. 

I had gone to the doctor the first time the year before.  When he was checking me this time he found a scar on the back of my hand.  He didn't know if he had found it before and commented on it.  I told him I got it from my sister who burned me with a poker when I was only three.  He asked if I was still talking to her.  I told him that I had them all mad at me.  It boils down to I got tired of all the negativity.  All the abuse.  All the controlling.  I needed to be treated as a human being.  Not a doorstop, rug or some rock or other object.  They don't get it.  Even if I explained it to them they would not get it.  They are too stuck on themselves.  Amen

Monday, November 21, 2011

Olive Oil Uses

http://ecosalon.com/20-unusual-uses-tips-for-olive-oil-395/

Paint clean-up
When your hands are covered in paint, sap or any other sticky substance that’s hard to remove, try scrubbing them with olive oil and a little salt or sugar. The paint will come right off and your skin will be soft and exfoliated.

Eye makeup remover

Furniture polish

Skin moisturizer
You might think using olive oil as a moisturizer would leave you with oily skin, but that’s not the case. Used in small amounts, it seeps in completely, eliminating dryness and reducing the appearance of wrinkles without clogging pores.

Shoe polish

Hinge lubricant

Bath oil
Add a few drops of your favorite essential oils to 3-4 tablespoons of olive oil and you’ve got a custom bath oil that will gently scent and moisturize your skin.

Stainless steel shine

Smooth shave
Slick and moisturizing, olive oil will help your razor glide along your skin for a super-close, smooth shave with fewer nicks.

Throat soother
Got a big singing performance or speech coming up? Swallow a tablespoon of olive oil just before you step on stage and you won’t have to clear your throat nearly as often. This trick also works to soothe itchy throats and lubricate the back of the mouth and tonsil area, which may lessen snoring.

Hair treatment
Sure, you could buy a fancy commercially-prepared hot oil treatment for your hair – or you could just grab the bottle of olive oil that’s already sitting on a shelf in your kitchen. Apply a few tablespoons of warmed olive oil to damp hair, massage into the scalp and rub through the ends, then leave it on for thirty minutes to an hour. The oil will clean and condition the scalp, soften the hair and help the cuticles lay down flat for a sleek look.

Ear ache relief

Sticker remover

Lice treatment

Hairball prevention

Lamp fuel
A blizzard just hit, the power’s out and you realized that you’re out of batteries and candles. Do you just sit around in the dark? No, you grab that bottle of olive oil – because by now you should know that it’s an absolute essential in your life – and use it to fuel a lamp. You can purchase specially made olive oil lamps, or simply pour it into a glass jar, poke a hole into the jar lid and insert an oil lamp wick.

Chewing gum remover

Leather conditioner
Just as it cleans and restores leather shoes, olive oil can be used to re-condition cracked, dry leather items like baseball gloves, car seats and saddles. It takes a bit longer to fully penetrate the leather than most conventional conditioners, but it works.


Psoriasis and diaper rash treatment

Personal lubricant

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Hay! Alfalfa

I have been posting about Joe Curtis being a ranch hand in Range Creek and showing a better way to get rid of greasewoods with a team of horses to clear land for growing alfalfa.  Hay or alfalfa is important to a farmer or rancher.  It's important if you grow alfalfa and it's important if you use alfalfa to feed livestock.  We most always had hay at the ranch at Woodside.  Even I loaded hay on a pickup to haul to Woodside to feed horses.  My uncle Russel didn't grow alfalfa but he had a hay baler that he had bought I guess at a good price.  He would supplement his income by baling hay for others who raised alfalfa but did not have a baler.  I'm not sure whether he had a rake for hay or not but I'm sure he had a baler.  So alfalfa figures in the lives of many of the descendant's of Joseph the 1st or Joseph B. Curtis who we know as Joseph Augustus Curtis, Sr.  I guess we could say here, "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree". 
Nicholas Curtis
Joseph the 4th.

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

A real treat. Joseph the 1st

I feel those of you who took the time and effort to come to this blog are in for a real treat.  I was able to find the article that mentions Joe Curtis on the net.  Utah Historical Quarterly, Volume 79, number 1, p. 27. (Winter 2011)

First go to http://www.history.utah.gov/

Then click on the Learn & Research tab
It will bring up a drop down menu
Click on Publications
You can now do a search
Search the Utah Historical Quarterly
Search for "Joe Curtis"
It brings up about 182 hits
The first one is the one we want
Just click on it and you are there
You may have to navigate to the article about Range Creek
Joe Curtis is mentioned on page 27.


Here is the paragraph that mentions Joe Curtis.

   When Allen departed, Wing took over managing the ranch as well as overseeing the farming tasks near the ranch headquarters.  His cousin Charley Wing, who arrived in July 186, ran the cattle operation while Joe oversaw the farm near the ranch headquarters.  Besides building a cabin, a corral, a blacksmith shop, and a chicken coop, Joe Wing and his ranch hands were heavily involved in alfalfa farming.  At first the men tried clearing the native greasewood and sagebrush with hoes--backbreaking work--but ranch hand Joe Curtis showed them how to hitch a big roller to a team of horses and break the brush.  The large piles of it were then burned.


Footnote: Joseph B. Curtis testimony, Heirs of Joseph E. Wing.

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Joseph B. Curtis in Range Creek. Joseph the 1st.

Range Creek is where the rancher protected and kept secret for 50 years the location of Native American ruins and petroglyphs.  I have been to Range Creek at least twice.  I have met Waldo Wilcox at least once.  Waldo is the rancher that kept the secret for 50 years about Range Creek.  When it was revealed and sold to the state it made international headlines.

Now the history of Range Creek is told in a recent article in the Utah Historical Quarterly.  I went to the Main Library in Salt Lake City and was looking at the current issue of the Quarterly.  In the back it had an index for the current volume.  Range Creek showed up in the index so after some consideration I thought I would take a look.  There were actually three articles related to that area in the Quarterly.  The issue in question is Volume 79, Number 1.  I believe that is the Winter 2011 issue.  I read the article about Range Creek written by a man whose surname is Gerber whose family lived on Rock Creek but also bought some land at the lower end of Range Creek.  He wrote a concise yet thorough article and I believe very accurate.

In the article he mentioned the character who took part in the history and controversy surrounding Range Creek.  There was some question of ownership and who did what and when they did it.  Preston Nutter apparently used some slight of hand to gain or retain control over the area.  This led to some legal maneuvering by him and others.

Anyway, I remember my father Max, who is Joseph the 3rd, say more than once that John Darioli built the first road in Range Creek.  He had to have gotten this information from Joseph the 1st either directly or indirectly from Joseph the 2nd, who is Dode.  John Darioli was one of the adversaries of Preston Nutter as he homesteaded 160 acres at the lower end of Range Creek and had a lawyer from Helper who was also Italian help him.  I can't go into all the detail right now for space and also memory and I refer you to the article.  I will tell you how Joseph B. Curtis, Joe, figures in Range Creek.

I had met Mr. Gerber at the Main Library before maybe about a year ago when he participated in a seminar about Range Creek.  I talked to him after and he mention an affidavit where there was a Curtis involved.  I figured it must be Joe.  Joe was one of the first settlers of Woodside.  I figured there was a Range Creek connection but I didn't know exactly what it was.  In the article it talks about the manager of the ranch, who was Joseph E. Wing, and his brother getting rid of greasewoods and sagebrush by using a hoe.  Joe Curtis, who was a ranch hand, showed them a better way.. they hooked up a couple of horses to a roller and  made it a lot easier.  They then burned the piles or brush.  One thing that was interesting is that Joseph Wing was a pioneer in growing alfalfa and wrote some articles about it.  Getting rid of the greasewoods and sagebrush was in preparing the land for growing alfalfa.  So a ranch hand had to show the manager how to do a job better.  In a previous post I told about how Joe was one of the best ditch diggers in the west.  It was sure exciting to learn the details of Joe Curtis and his involvement in Range Creek.  I didn't know that he was a ranch hand there.  This was before Preston Nutter came on the scene.

I was also impressed that on the affidavit Joe was referred to as Joseph B. Curtis.  I know that is how it shows up on the Springville LDS Ward records where he was born and lived for awhile.  But we know him as Joseph Augustus Curtis, Sr.  So I don't know where the name Augustus came from or what happened to his initial B.  This is all in a document referred to in the footnotes as Heirs of Joseph E. Wing vs John Darioli. So I'll have to see if I can get hold of that issue of the Quarterly and the document referred to.
Nicholas, Joseph the 4th.

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Mohave Desert blog.

 http://www.mojavedesertblog.com/2011/08/upward.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MojaveDesertBlog+%28Mojave+Desert+Blog%29

Desert Magazine is perhaps my favorite magazine.  At least it's one of my favorite.  Unfortunaely they don't publish it anymore.  It is available on CD.  This blog and a new e-magazine called Dezert Magazine are petty good too.  I have even signed up to follor or like them on Facebook.  I get messages all the time and some of them are really good.  Some of them are even about things in Utah.  I love it.

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Day trip to Utah County

Went down to Utah County west of Utah Lake.  Here are a few pictures that I took.






Saturday, October 15, 2011

October 1, 2011 Trip to Cedar Mountain

I went to Emery County, Castle Dale and finally Cedar Mountain on the first of October.  It was very interesting.  We got there in late afternoon and frankly, I have never seen it so crowded.  There were people camping, rounding up cattle, four wheeling, senior citizens, (who looked like teenagers when they went by in the bus), treasure hunters and whoever else was just out there for a trip.  The view was spectacular.  I had my cousin and his son-in-law with me and I believe the son-in-law, NoWay, was overwhelmed with the view.  He had a better time than any he could ever have in the city.  He wants to go back again. 



Monday, September 26, 2011

15 Foods that Kill Belly Fat

Just go to the following link and click on men or women.  This is a video. 

http://www.bellyfatfree.com/quicktips/index.php?CID=116492&AFID=166596&SID=15foodslrg

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Five Foods that can Trigger a Stroke

Here are the five. 

1. Crackers, chips, and store-bought pastries and baked goods

2. Smoked and processed meats

3. Diet soda

4. Red meat

5. Canned soup and prepared foods

For more information and to read the entire article go to the link below. 

http://health.yahoo.net/caring/5-foods-that-can-trigger-a-stroke

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Fraud Capitals.

This is a work in progress.  Following is some links I have collected about fraud capitals of the US/America and/or world.  I will try to put this information together in an article which I will leave here on this blog and perhaps elsewhere.  It seems that everyone is trying to be the "Fraud Capital".  This is something you don't want people,  HELLO!  Quit competing for this title.  Let someone else have the title. Let's let Florida have it for the US.  Let's let Nigeria have it for the world.  

California (Newport Beach) tries to rip off Fraud Capital of the US from Florida.

http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1989-11-01/news/8902070442_1_newport-beach-fraud-journal
http://articles.dailypilot.com/2008-03-20/news/dpt-recipe032008_1_identity-theft-newport-beach-recreational-drug-users

Champlain, NY Scam Capital of US 2004, 2007.
http://www.fraudwatchers.org/forums/showthread.php?t=10878

Is LA the fraud capital of US for 2011?
http://la.indymedia.org/news/2011/04/245659.php

1974 WSJ says Salt Lake City is fraud capital of US.
http://www.watchman.org/lds/scamlds.htm

2009 Spokane scam capital of US.
http://m.topix.com/forum/city/milford-ut/TF7JNARGV2L1JVJQ1
http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2009/0525/106-investment-guide-09-scam-capital-of-america.html

Spokane denies being scam capital of US.
http://www.thenewstribune.com/2009/05/15/742671/hey-forbes-spokane-isnt-even-fraud.html

Florida relishes being fraud capital of US.
http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1989-11-01/news/8902070442_1_newport-beach-fraud-journal

LA 1995 scam capital of America.
http://articles.latimes.com/1995-05-28/local/me-7087_1_los-angeles

Utah scam capital of the WORLD! Recently! Watch out India!
http://m.standard.net/topics/utah-legislature/2011/03/12/hb-477-shows-why-utah-also-scam-capital-world

Jehovah's Witness scam. But, alas, he is from Florida. So do we give it to JW or FL?
http://www.holysmoke.org/cos/almost-as-bad.htm

WOW! Colorado upsets Utah as scam capital of US for 2007.
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4188/is_20080214/ai_n21416754/

Utah's Reputation as America's "Scam Capital" Grows.  February, 2006
http://www.pyramidschemealert.org/PSAMain/news/UtahScamState.html

Is Nigeria the Fraud/Scam capital of the World
http://www.insidealibaba.com/2011/06/is-nigeria-the-fraudscam-capital-of-the-world/

Welcome to Scam Capital of the World "India".
http://knol.google.com/k/t-n-mishra/welcome-to-scam-capital-of-world-india/323jh2wd7oti6/6#

Top 10 Financial Schemes in India.
http://indianblogger.com/top-10-financial-scams-in-india/

We're, Queensland, the net scam capital of Austrailia
http://www.couriermail.com.au/ipad/were-the-net-scam-capital/story-fn6ck45n-1226049966728

Lugansk - an unofficial scam capitol of Ukraine
http://www.detective-ukraine.com/detective-agency/private-investigator/background-check/anti-scam/ivestigation/lugansk.htm



Thursday, August 11, 2011

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

7 Worst Foods for Your Teeth

The seven worst:

1.  Soft drinks
2.  Sports drinks
3.  Sour candy
4.  Energy drinks
5.  Fruit juices
6.  Fruit
7.  Vinegar

For more information and to read comments go to the following link:

http://shine.yahoo.com/event/vitality/7-worst-foods-for-your-teeth-2516131/#photoViewer=1

Saturday, August 6, 2011

10 Super Foods to Protect Vision

Some of these also help macular degeneration, cataracts, cardiovascular health, high blood pressure, and detoxification.  Orange bell peppers have a lot of vitamin C and more zeaxanthin per mouthful than any food on the planet.  Avocados are one the most nutrient-rich fruits we eat, so it's no wonder they're great for eyes.  

1.  Spinach
2.  Salmon
3.  Walnuts
4.  Berries
5.  Orange Bell Peppers
6.  Broccoli
7.  Tea
8.  Soy
9.  Eggs
10. Avocados

For more information here is a link to the article. 
http://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-01-2011/10_foods_to_help_prevent_eye_disease.html?cmp=NLC-WBLTR-CTRL-080511-FP3-102&USEG_ID=14764280493

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Seven natural endurance boosters.

Nitrates
Quercetin
Resveratol
Caffeine
Raw Honey
Asian Ginseng
Spirulina

Resveratrol

What is it? A quercetin cousin, resveratrol is found in grape skins and red wine, and becomes more concentrated as grapes ferment during the wine-making process. Another potent antioxidant, researchers have linked resveratrol to improvements in longevity, fat-burning, and athletic endurance.


http://fitbie.msn.com/get-fitter/tips/7-natural-endurance-boosters/tip/0?gt1=50014

Monday, July 25, 2011

Eight natural painkillers.

Capsaicin: For arthritis, shingles, or neuropathy
InflaThera or Zyflamend: For arthritis
Arnica: For acute injury or post surgery swelling
Aquamin: For osteoarthritis
SAM-e (S adenosylmethionine): For osteoarthritis
Fish oil: For joint pain from arthritis or autoimmune disorders
Methylsulfonyl-methane (MSM): For osteoarthritis
Counting out loud: For brief "needle stick" pain

For explanations and more information go to the link below.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26136767/ns/health-alternative_medicine/

Thursday, June 30, 2011

Things My Dad Never Told Me About Woodside

In the last few years I have learned some things about Woodside I would never have dreamed.  These are things that I had no clue of when I was a young man spending my summers down there.  These new things I have learned I have tried to share on my other blog.  http://www.wasatchphotos.blogspot.com/  But I will also try to give some explanation here. 

My dad never told me about all the rock "statues" located near Woodside.  He didn't tell me there was a bear, another bear, a penguin, kings, a mummy, a two legged snake, a duck, statues of men, profiles of people or faces in the rocks.  There are many things that I believe are of significant Archaeological value.  In fact I once told the Utah State Archaeologist that I believe this is greater than Range Creek.  I am still trying to get a handle on what culture or people it may have been that left or modified all these rock formations.  They are no accident of nature.  They are man made.  They may have eroded some since they were modified but I do believe they were modified at one time somehow.  In fact I believe they were experts at how they did these "statues." 

I've also seen what looks like a platypus, snail or elephant, numbers, letters and many things that I can't tell what they are but I can tell that they are not natural.  There are tons of these statues.  (Pun)  I have probably only seen a scratch on the surface.  (Pun)  These rock formations are all over Utah and also in other states in the west as well.  States like New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and Wyoming that I know of. 

There is one place where there are four big rocks that seem to have been put in place on purpose.  They don't seem to be there naturally.  Again, I am still trying to get a handle on what they mean.  It seems I do recall my dad at one time pointing these rocks out and making some comment about them or wondering what they mean.  I do believe there is some kind of European influence here.

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Another raccoon story

Last week I started to walk to my daughter's house around the corner.  I didn't even get past my next door neighbor's house when I saw what looked like a dead kitten by the sidewalk.  It was actually between the sidewalk and the neighbor's fence.  It looked like a large kitten and I thought that strange because I hadn't seen any around.  Upon closer inspection I found it to be a young racoon.  I would say the racoon was only two to three months old.  There are some interesting items about finding this racoon. 

First I went and told my neighbor down the street who has had racoons in her attic twice before.  Last year she had them for six weeks.  This is the same neighbor who had a snake in her yard just a few days ago.  She wanted to see the racoon so she and her brother walked down and I showed it to them.  Another neighbor walked up the street and it appeared he didn't even see it.  My other daughter had walked by earlier and did not see it either.  The next door neighbor's daughter thought it was only there recently because she had been gong in and out all day and hadn't seen it.  I assured her that I thought it had been there all day. 

This happened on garbage day, which is Friday.  I had washed out my garbage can because I thought it stunk.  My neighbor across the street washed out two of his garbage containers.  He must have thought his stunk too.  It is apparent to me that it was the raccoon and not the garbage can that was stinking things up.  That leads me to believe that the raccoon may have even been there longer than one night. 

I called the Unified Police Department as they now handle animal control issues.  They weren't sure they handled this type of situation but the dispatcher took the information anyway.  They did not come by til the next day and the raccoon was no longer there.  I suspect my next door neighbor got rid of it somehow as he wasn't sure if or when they were coming.  Snakes and raccoons.  What's next?  These animals must seek out nice people to take advantage of or seek refuge. 

Friday, June 24, 2011

Urban Treasure Hunter

The freelance diamond setter explained that he was sifting through "very valuable" New York City mud for tiny diamond and ruby chips, bits of platinum, white-gold industrial loops for jewelry assembly, and gold earring backs and loops from broken chains, watches, broaches and necklaces -- all carelessly dropped and now his to mine.
. . .
Over six days, he says, he collected enough gold for two sales totaling $819 on 47th Street -- where he first got the idea to mine the sidewalks after finding gold scraps on the floor of a diamond exchange.

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Joseph V Heart Surgeries

Joseph V is of course Eric.  Eric had his first surgery when he was less than six months old.  In fact I believe he was four and a half months old.  His first surgery was the day after Labor Day the year he was born.  His next surgery was when he was six years old.  His next surgery was when he was eighteen years old and his last surgery so far which we hope is his last surgery was on the fifteenth of this month.  This should enable him to play basketball without having to worry about effects from his heart condition.  This is why he was actually looking forward to this surgery.  The last two years he has had a rapid heartbeat from playing basketball and had to go to the emergency room at the hospital and end up being admitted.  He also had a stroke earlier.  All thing considered he is doing good and is a brave man.

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Neighbor's garter snake

I'll start this story with my grandson Sam.  Sam tried to catch a snake in his yard but the snake got away.  Then a few days later my neighbor called and said she and her brother had a snake in their yard.  I said I would come right over.  I went home and got a cultivator rake and headed over to deal with the snake.  The neighbors were just standing watching the snake which wasn't moving at all but was awake though it appeared that it might be asleep. 

So I stood around with them watching the snake and trying to plan a move to catch the snake somehow with the rake.  When I was about to make my move a car went up the street and made quite a bit of noise.  That's when the snake took off across the grass.  I tried to catch it with the rake like someone would a sheep with a shepherd's hook.  It didn't work.  The snake eventually make in into some creeping susans where it had much more cover than the grass.  I'll call my neighbor Jane.  Jane was fit to be tied.  She didn't want the snake around.  We had to get it.  So another neighbor to Jane, who I'll call Joe, came over and we looked for the snake.  We found it coiled up in the bushes.  We tried again to get it and it got away again.  Finally we found it coiled up again.  When it left this time Joe pinned it to the ground with the cultivator rake and I grabbed it behind it's head with my thumb and forefinger.  I put it in a plastic grocery bag and tied it off.  Now what do we do with it.  I had joked with Jane that we could put it in the black tote that she had sitting right there.  She didn't like that idea and said that she would never use the tote again.  I determined that I would take it to the Jordan River and let it go.  Jane had called animal control but they don't do snakes. 

So I went to a street bridge over the river to release it.  There happened to be a couple of homeless guys there so I asked them if it was OK.  The readily agreed it was OK.  So I released it as close to the river as I could.  It went right to the river and got a healthy drink of water.  I was worried that it may be a little hurt when it was pinned to the ground by the cultivator rake but it moved fine.  One of the homeless guys was impressed that it went right to the river and got a drink as well as I was impressed.   

At first we didn't know what kind of snake it was.  After a couple of days I looked in a Boy Scout Handbook and found that it was a common garter snake.  I didn't know a garter snake had the kind of stripes that this snake had.  With further research on the net I learned that garter snake bear their live young but carry them as eggs until they are ready to hatch.  It's called ovoviviparous.  Some snakes do birth their young without carrying them as eggs.  That's called viviparous.  Some snakes lay their eggs and then go on their way.  That's called oviparous. 

Anyway it was quite humorous fun adventure.  Animals must like my neighbors.  Twice they have had raccoons in their attic.  Animals must know nice people when the see them.  Part of the humor is that I was able to catch a snake though I had help and Sam wasn't.  Another part of the humor was all the worry Jane had over a harmless snake.  Bless her.

Saturday, June 18, 2011

The Benjamin Franklin Connection

I was going to do this some time ago but it's not an easy thing to figure the genealogy of the Franklins.  I decided to go ahead with it and call it a "work in progress."  That means that whatever I post at this time will likely be updated in the future. 

The common ancestors for Ruth Franklin and Benjamin Franklin are Thomas Franklin and Jane White.  I will give the line for Benjamin Franklin and then for Ruth Franklin.  I have left the dates off on purpose as that is not my purpose here.  I am just showing the connection.  I have also left off the dates as that is not my purpose here.  It looks like Ruth is a full cousin to Benjamin three times removed. 

For Benjamin Franklin.
Thomas Franklin and Jane White
Josiah Franklin and Abiah Folger
Benjamin Franklin

For Ruth.
Thomas Franklin and Jane White
James Franklin and Eunice Barnes
James Franklin and Martha Ormsby
Uriah Franklin and Abigail Colvin
David Franklin and Hannah Simmons
Ruth Franklin and Enos Curtis

To continue to the four Josephs:
Simmons Philander Curtis and Emaline Buchanan
Joseph Augustus Curtis (Joe) and Delcina Princetta Daley
Joseph Augustus Curtis (Dode) and Estella Olsen
Max Joseph Curtis (Max) and Vesta Isabella Pettersson
Nicholas Joseph Curtis (Nicholas)

Friday, June 10, 2011

7 Foods Most Likely To Make You Sick

5. Peanuts: In moderation, peanuts can be nutritious as they contain heart-healthy monounsaturated fats. However, they can be dangerous or deadly to about one percent of the population.

http://health.yahoo.net/experts/dayinhealth/7-foods-most-likely-make-you-sick

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Eight Foods That'll Make You Look Younger

Tomatoes made the list of eight.

3. Tomatoes

The fruit's red pigment, lycopene, is a potent antioxidant that shields skin from sun damage—like sunscreen, but from the inside out. To best absorb lycopene, eat tomatoes with olive oil.
http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/food/8-foods-thatll-make-you-look-younger-2492695/#photoViewer=1

Monday, June 6, 2011

These mashed potatoes are cold!

Y'all have probably heard this one before.  But I'm going to tell it anyway. 

So this boy was causing quite a lot of concern to his parents because he wouldn't say anything.  They didn't know what was wrong.  They took him to doctors, tried to teach him, pleaded with him but nothing worked.  This went on for years.  Then one day when he was 12 years old he said, "These mashed potatoes are cold."  At first it was just matter of fact but then they realized that these were his first words.  They were amazed, surprised, confused. 

Why Bobby, we didn't know you could talk.  Why didn't you say something before?  It's been so many years.  Why did you wait til now? 

He answered, "Well, every thing's been fine up til now." 

So if you have a child that doesn't say much then that may be a good thing.  Or maybe there's a teenager thing going on. 

Friday, June 3, 2011

Greek and Italian Christmas Party at Woodside, Utah

It was a really a brawl rather than a party that Christmas Day in 1901 at Woodside, but party sounds better.  I'm still not sure if the Italians were cowboys or railroad workers.  I'm not even sure who won the fight/brawl.  The Italians supposedly got the worst of it but the Greeks left the country.  Here is a bunch of newspaper articles telling the story.  I have tried to keep them in chronological order.  The first one actually quotes a newspaper article but is in the history of Emery County. 

     "Poker Pete" Olsen's saloon in Woodside was the scene of a wild brawl on Chrismas Day 1901 between the local cowboys and a group of Greek railroad workers.
Edward A Geary, A History of Emery County, p. 157.

     Several Greek and Italian laborers for the Rio Grande Western Railroad Company came together in a drunken brawl at Woodside yesterday.  The result was that four Italians are pretty badly done up, while the country is rid of its Greek population, the latter hitting the trail, not even waiting for a train. 
Eastern Utah Advocate
December 26, 1901

     Poker Pete Olsen has taken out a saloon  license for his Woodside place of business dating back to December 14th.  The last named period will cover the date of the recent cowboy episode at that point when high jinks were indulged in and a regular old frontier day time experienced. 
Emery County Progress
January 4, 1902
And Eastern Utah Advocate
January 16, 1902

     A very disgraceful affair occurred xmas day which ended in all but a killing of some boys who were holding kangaroo court at Poker Pete's.  A band of Greeks encouraged by the bartender made deadly assault upon the boys with guns and knives ending luckily with nothing worse than a sore head or two and some slight knife cuts.  Some of our self respecting citizens are wondering why the county officials don't take recognizance of the vile doings here.  __A Citizen
Emery County Progress
January 11, 1902

     Woodside and Castle Dale are running a neck and neck race at present for the honor of being the toughest town in Emery County.  Everything goes in both places.
     . . .
     Sheriff Tuttle returned from Woodside early in the week where he spent a few days investigating the Christmas Day racket.  He learned a whole lot but found it difficult to get such information as would secure a conviction against the offending parties.  Most of the citizens are bitter against the Greek railroad element.  An attempt was made to burn Poker Pete's saloon Christmas night by some parties presumably indignant citizens.  The door was broken open and a beer case filled with inflammable matter was set fire to under the bar.  The fire was discovered by the proprietor and Scott Miller who were up at the store about 40 rods west in time to extinguish it before any damage was done.  This was between 9 and 10 o'clock Christmas night.  There had been a racket in the place earlier in the evening and someone shot a hole through the stove pipe. 
Emery County Progress
January 11, 1902

     Sheriff Tuttle has been down at Woodside investigating the troubles there between the Greek and Italians laborers on Christmas day.  He confesses to know but little if any more than before he made the trip.  There have been no arrests..
Eastern Utah Advocate
January 16, 1902

There is also another article which had a few words that I could not make out that I posted on an earlier blog post. Check out the post of May 16 and look at the first article in the post.

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Bee Propolis

Some interesting facts about propolis:

Another medicinal marvel from the beehive.
Has antiseptic, antibiotic, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties. 
Works against harmful bacterial without destroying the friendly bacteria the body needs.
Is a natural antibiotic and has no side effects.
Fights bacterial strains that have become resistant to synthetic antibiotics.
Has all known vitamins except vitamin K.
Has all fourteen minerals required by the body.
Has sixteen amino acids.

For more information about bee propolis and how to obtain it please follow these links:

http://www.draperbee.com/info/propolis.htm

http://www.pureroyaljelly.com/propolis.html

http://www.regenerativenutrition.com/content.asp?id=66

http://www.durhamsbeefarm.com/index.php/bee-products/honeybee-propolis.html#3

http://www.raysahelian.com/propolis.html

http://www.doctormanukashop.com/.

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

9 Foods for Healthy Eating

Avocado is number one.

http://fitbie.msn.com/slideshow/foods-healthy-eaters-can-t-live-without?GT1=50002

Hass Avocado

Touts: Belly-flattening monounsaturated fats (MUFAs) that lower LDL (bad) cholesterol and raise HDL (good) cholesterol

“They're creamy, delicious, and feel like a real splurge, but they're packed with nearly 20 vitamins and minerals, and the good monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. One ounce (3 slices) is just 50 calories.”—Lyssie Lakatos, RD, and Tammy Lakatos Shames, RD, the Nutrition Twins, authors of The Secret to Skinny: Drop a Size and Get Healthier.

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

11 Foods That Can Help You Lose Weight.

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/food/11-foods-for-faster-easier-weight-loss-2489734/#photoViewer=1

Avocado made the list. 

Avocado

This green goddess of heavenly, creamy taste can help you whittle your waist. It's true! Researchers suspect that the unsaturated fat in avocados may ratchet up body levels of the hunger-halting hormone called leptin -- a hormone that lets your brain know that you're full, so you stop eating.

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/food/11-foods-for-faster-easier-weight-loss-2489734/#photoViewer=5

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Who was William A. Clark?

I am not going to answer this question.  It would take to long, there is too much rumor and mystery and I don't really know anyway.  But his daughter died yesterday and prolonged the mystery.  This is a great human interest story if you just follow it a little bit.  A woman dies at age 104 in 2011 and the most recent photo of her was taken in 1933, 78 years ago.  I will put in a paragraph about her father, William A. Clark and then a link to the rest of the story. 

Anna Clark and her daughter Huguette took up residence in the Fifth Avenue apartment in 1927, taking the entire 12th floor, which had been marketed as "the finest apartment in the world." Anna Eugenia La Chappelle had been the teenage ward who became the mistress and then second wife of the widower U.S. senator, who hid her away in Paris. They supposedly married in 1901 in France, though it wasn't announced until 1904 and no record of the marriage has been produced. Anna was 23, younger than the four children from his first marriage, and William was 62, older than his mother-in-law. The couple had two daughters, Andrée in 1902 in Spain, and Huguette in Paris on June 9, 1906.


Here is also a link to some videos where Huguette was featured on the Today Show. 
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/38484280#38484280

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Three room mansion. I was a decade too late.

Per my blog post of May 12, Leon sent me an email with more information about the railroad tie house masquerading as a mansion.  Apparently it was built in the 1950s rather than the 1960s as I guessed.  Here is what Leon said:

Nick,
      In regards to the the three room Mansion at Woodside.  When I was 12 years old, 1954,  Dad and I think Earl and I were going toward Woodside on the Castle Dale road in a one and one half ton stock truck.  I looked out the side when we were in Oil Well Wash and saw someone down in the wash.  Dad stopped and it was James "Shorty" Lanier.  Shorty had taken his family in the family car to see Grandpa Curtis, who had already moved his camp to another location, in Humbug.  Shorty had gotten the car stuck 2 or 3 days previous and was walking out trying to find help.  He had gone down into the wash in hopes of finding a pool of water.
      Dad drove on to Woodside where he had homesteaded 160 acres and left me, and I think a couple or horses, while he, Earl and Shorty went back to Humbug to rescue Shorty's family.  Dad said he had a hard time keeping the children from drinking too much water at once and that when they saw him all they could say was "water, water, water,"  only it was pronounced as a child would say it like "wahtah" or something like that.
      He left me on the side of the hill by the ditch that crosses the road on the way to the house, only back towards Woodside itself.  There was no house.  I think he had made a square ditch to pour the cement into.  This location was anondoned for the present location of the house.  Starting when I was 13, 1955, I spent every summer and most week ends at Woodside and the house was built then.  So it was built between the summer of 1954 and summer of 1955.  The grainery and sheds including chicken coop and all of the corrals were there in the summer of 1955 also.  As you stepped into the house there was a hole in the cement floor and it was said that it was because the cement had frozen when it was laid.  So I assume that the floor was laid that winter sometime.  I don't know this for sure, but I think that Bill Martin helped Dad build the house.  I think sometime after that they had a falling out as Bill Martin never came around anymore after that.
      Verl said that one time after he got his drivers licence he asked Dad if he could go out for the night and Dad said he could go and stay out all night if he wanted, but first thing in the morning they were taking a load of railroad ties to Woodside to start the house.  I think this was when we were living in Carbonville.  Verl got is drivers licence in 1952.  Or at least he turned 16 in 1952.  So that would have been 1953 or 1954
              Leon

image 0

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Friday, May 20, 2011

My dad's mansion was a house built out of railroad ties.

I believe when it came to home construction my dad did have some talent.  I'm not sure when, probably in the 1960s he built a house at Woodside.  Just a simple three room home with one of the rooms being a combination living room, kitchen and bedroom.  Then there were two separate bedrooms.  What is unique is that he built the house out of railroad ties that the railroad let him have.  I don't think he paid anything for them but if someone knows better then I they can correct me.  As it turns out this little simple house is nothing to scoff at.  A house made out of railroad ties is up for sale for over $400,000 and I have provided a link to prove it.  Apparently Max wasn't the only one that made a house out of railroad ties.  It's been done since pioneer times. 

http://realestate.msn.com/blogs/listed.aspx?feat=5dc701ef-e9fb-4020-b55d-9091bb1d8677&GT1=35000

Mother Earth News even has an article about another home made out of railroad ties.  It is 2200 square feet and has three bedrooms. 

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Modern-Homesteading/1971-03-01/Build-Home-From-Railroad-Ties.aspx

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Rheumatism Home Remedies

So my rheumatism is really bothering me and I decide to do a search for a rheumatism cure.  I came across this great site that tells what rheumatism is, why we get it and some great home remedies.  I hope I can find something that works.  Here is what it says and the link which has more information.   

Derived from a Greek word 'rhuema', which means swelling, rheumatism is essentially a condition in which a person experiences severe pain in bone, muscles and joints, along with swelling. It mostly affects people above 45 years of age and is found in both men and women. There are basically two types of rheumatism - muscular rheumatism, which affects the muscles, and articular rheumatism, which affects the joints. Some of the causes of rheumatism are poisoning of blood with acid wastes, physically stressful work, damp weather conditions and acid-alkaline imbalance. Heredity factors, hormonal disorder and infection in teeth are some of the other causes of rheumatism. However, rheumatism can be cured with some natural remedies. In the following lines, we have provided the best home remedies to treat rheumatism.

http://www.iloveindia.com/home-remedies/rheumatism.html

Monday, May 16, 2011

Poker Pete Chronology

This of course is not a complete chronology or time line of the life of Hans Peter Olsen otherwise known as Poker Pete.  This is just a collection of bit and pieces that appeared in the local newspapers that made mention of Pete Olsen.  A couple of items are repeated having appeared in previous posts.  The first item is as complete as I could make it as I couldn't read much of the article.  Apparently I wasn't able to find another more readable source. 


Hans Peter Olsen
"Poker Pete"
____________________


                Down at Woodside there has been _____ board fence built in front of ______ of business of Peter Olsen _____ the officials of the Rio Grande _____ have taken the notion they _____ drive out of the country,____some of the section men _____ known to have drank in _____ conducted by Olsen _____ has the railroad com _____ struct the premises of Olsen _____ the company isn't getting _____ to do its work, it is the _____ fault.

Eastern Utah Advocate
January 11, 1900 
___________________


                Orson Robbins has sold his saloon business at Huntington to Pete Olsen of Woodside. 

Emery Country Progress 
January 12, 1901
____________________


                Peter Olsen of Woodside was in Price last Tuesday and paid his respects to "the great moral and religious" while in town.  He says times are very quiet there now, but thinks they will be better with the coming of spring. 

Eastern Utah Advocate
March 9, 1905
___________________


                The following Emery County citizens drew prizes in the big land drawing at Provo last week. 
                Out of 60 whose names and numbers given below not over a dozen will go onto the reservation to look it over and of this dozen it is likely that more than half will exercise their right to claim a selection: 
                . . .
                48_0  Peter Olsen, Woodside. 

Emery Country Progress 
August 26, 1905 
____________________


                A saloon license was granted to Peter Olsen of Woodside for the ensuing quarter on the payment of $100. 

Emery Country Progress
April 11, 1908  
____________________




MINING ON CEDAR MOUNTAIN

   According to reports someone has started a little mining boom around Cedar Mountain.  Chris Larsen and Ervin Draper of Castle Dale were over in that direction a few days ago delivering a few tons of oats to Peter Olsen at Woodside.  They noticed about a dozen men prospecting and working in the district and ascertained that a few Denver men were in the party for the purpose of examining the territory with the view of prospecting and developing same.  Considerable work has been done there in the past by various parties and ore has been found that runs very high in silver and lead with some gold and copper.  Ex Sheriff Hardy of Sale Lake City and the Hecker Mining Company have also done considerable exploitation work and obtained fairly good results but the distance from the railroad and the heavy freight charges from Desert Switch to a smelter point have discouraged the proposition of mining very extensively.  With some method of treating the ore locally there is enough of it already exposed and of good value to warrant mining operations on an extensive scale. 

____________________


                Peter Olsen of Woodside had a narrow escape from being killed by a train at Price Saturday morning.  Olsen came in on No 7 and while alighting from the train missed his hold and fell under the wheels.  A bystander saw his peril and pulled him out just in time to save him from being run over.  It was a narrow escape and one Olsen does not care to experience again. 

Eastern Utah Advocate 
July 21, 1910 
___________________


                CASTLE DALE, Oct 21.  The following have been appointed judges of election for the election November 8th. 
                Green River - Frank Cook, F. A. |Bricker, T. D. Spalding. 
                Woodside - S. M. Miller, Alfred Peterson, Peter Olsen. 
                Desert Lake - H. G. Mills, Samuel Wells, Joseph Smith .
                Cleveland - Adolph Axelson, W. E. Cowley, Louis P. Oveson. 
                Huntington - District No. 1, William Howard, J. V. Leonard, E. G. Geary.  District No. 2, Christoher Wilcox, Henry Stevensen, Heber Leonard. 

Eastern Utah Advocate 
July 27, 1910 
____________________


OLSEN IS ACQUITTED

Green River Editor Sore On the
Good "Bishop of Woodside"

                After hearing positive proof by direct testimony of three witnesses, who swore that they had bought liquor of "Poker Pete" Olsen at Woodside, the case against Olsen was dismissed last Thursday by T. S. Turner, justice of the peace in this precinct, who sustained the argument of W. H. Frye of Price, attorney for the defendant, who maintained that all evidence not favorable to his client was irrelevant, incompetent and immaterial, says Green River's Dispatch. 
                Prosecuting Attorney Powers could not produce documentary evidence that Woodside is in 'dry' territory and in the absence of this testimony Judge Turner refused to admit the evidence.  Court records showing that Olsen had been convicted for the same offense before were shut out and notwithstanding that the judge had himself assessed the bootlegger a fine only a few weeks previous, he gave credence to the argument of Attorney Frye and took the stand in the matter as stated Counsel for the prosecution attempted to place witnesses on the stand that Olsen himself had admitted that he violated the law, but this too, was overruled and an old offender was set scotfree. 
                Everybody knows that Woodside is in dry territory and by virtue of the state law providing that no liquor shall be sold outside of cities and towns, therefore the Dispatch feels that in justice to the saloon men of this city who are paying a high license, there should have been a conviction in this flagrant case, the testimony being so positive.                 

Eastern Utah Advocate 
June 6, 1912 



___________________


                In the summer of 1899 he took me down there with him.  After a train ride of several hours we landed at the little settlement of Lower Crossing, a station on the Rio Grande Western railroad.  It was called Lower Crossing because it was the last of several times that the railroad crossed Price River.  The name was later changed from the descriptive Lower Crossing to nondescript "Woodside" by order of the Post Office Department. 
                At that time Lower Crossing consisted of a railroad station, section house and a water tank.  Nearby was a farm owned by three Swiss brothers, Louie, Felix and Bert Pressit.  Over on the riverbank was the only commercial establishment in the settlement, operated by a character known as Poker Pete.  In one room of a two-room cabin, Pete lived; in the other room he kept a small stock of overalls, flour, coffee, tobacco and salt, and a large stock of very poor whiskey and beer.  Prominent in this room was a card table, and Pete's aim in life was to get some wandering sheepherder drunk so that he could skin him out of his winter's wages in a poker game.  After some success in this line, Pete would get the idea that he was a real gambler and needed a wider field for his skill.  But he always came back.  Broke. 

Harvey Hardy, A Cabin on Price River, True West 
December 1964, p. 26.
___________________


PETER OLSEN IS DEAD

Well Known Resident of Woodside Is
Buried at Huntington

                Peter Olsen, ranch man, merchant and livestock man died at his home at Woodside last Saturday evening about 7 o'clock of heart and lung troubles after an illness that had kept him practically to his bed for several weeks.  Deceased was in the fifty-sixth year of his age and had resided in this section of Eastern Utah for about thirty years.  He had been in business at Woodside some twenty years. 
                As a child he came to Utah with his parents Mr. and Mrs. Jorgen Olsen from Denmark and located at Ephraim where the father and mother are buried.  He is survived by one brother, Sophus Olsen, and two sisters, Mrs. William Pehrson of Salt Lake City and Mrs. Martin Jensen of Huntington.  The body was brought to Price Sunday evening and taken to Huntington last Monday for the funeral and burial. 
                Decedent was a kindly man and if he ever did anyone an intentional wrong or had a bad hair in his head it is not known.  His charities were numerous and he will be mostly missed by those who knew him best.  In his business dealings he was straight as a string.  He leaves an estate believed to amount to several thousand dollars including a ranch, stock of merchandise, and some cattle and horses. 

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Poker Pete in True West Magazine

I'm going to make this the 2nd of a 3 part installment on Poker Pete.  The next one will be a time line or chronology of Poker Pete.  This one is an excerpt from a True West article called A Cabin on Price River. 

                At that time Lower Crossing consisted of a railroad station, section house and a water tank.  Nearby was a farm owned by three Swiss brothers, Louie, Felix and Bert Pressit.  Over on the riverbank was the only commercial establishment in the settlement, operated by a character known as Poker Pete.  In one room of a two-room cabin, Pete lived; in the other room he kept a small stock of overalls, flour, coffee, tobacco and salt, and a large stock of very poor whiskey and beer.  Prominent in this room was a card table, and Pete's aim in life was to get some wandering sheepherder drunk so that he could skin him out of his winter's wages in a poker game.  After some success in this line, Pete would get the idea that he was a real gambler and needed a wider field for his skill.  But he always came back.  Broke. 
                The section hands were all Chinese--the old-fashioned variety who wore their hair in long queues down their backs, long shirts outside their baggy pants and heelless slippers.  They spoke no English. 
                A few small cattle outfits came in to Lower Crossing for mail and freight, both of which were handled at the station.  Among these were the Range Valley Cattle Company from over on Range Creek, of which Johnnie Downard was foreman, and a small spread over on Green River owned by big good-natured Tom Dilly.  Tom's place could be reached by a pack trail that went down Price River Canyon where it cut through the Book Cliffs and then went off to the northeast, then down to Green River. 
                In later years I have read some uncomplimentary things about Tom Dilly, but when I knew him I always found him to be a pleasant, likeable fellow.  Several times when we happened to be in the settlement at the same time, we got up dances and had a lot of fun.  The dances were held in an abandoned log cabin schoolhouse on the other side of the river.  Candles furnished the illumination and also the "slickum" for the dance floor.  Music came from Felix Pressit's concertina and Tom Dilly's mouth organ.  Most of the dancers came from farms farther up the river, some from twenty miles away, but we had a good time in our simple way.  One dance was held in cold weather, when the mothers thought it was too cold to leave the babies in the wagons--so they took them over to Poker Pete's and parked them in Pete's bed with Pete installed as babysitter! 

A CABIN ON PRICE RIVER
True West, November-December 1964
By HARVEY HARDY