Mar 12, 2012

Little League Baseball

There are just some things that most people think a young man should do as he is growing up. Well I thought the same thing for a long time but then realized that I was actually wrong and had known it for a long time as well. I speak about Little League Baseball. I think I learned this by participating as a boy myself (for one whole summer), by coaching it for a couple of years and by watching other fathers who believed it a lot more than I did. So now I must explain myself I guess. Here are the lessons that I learned from each of those three things. I played baseball for one summer because I think mom and dad finally gave in to my desire to play. We had played as a family some with other families and I did enjoy it. So as a young man I joined for one summer only to find out that since I hadn’t been involved at an even younger age that I really wasn’t very good at it. So the coach ended up making me an outfielder since I could at least stop the ball and had a pretty good throwing arm. I wasn’t a hitter however and so I seldom got on base. I had enough in just one summer and left it to the other boys after that who had dad’s that had to win through their boy he games that they had not won when they were that age. Well as a coach I did OK because it was for T-ball and the need for winning wasn’t the main objective for the boys that age. We could just have fu and the boys always got on base. I liked the game for that age group. However when they got older and the dad’s suddenly had to win the game or it was the end of life for them and their boys I realized that it really wasn’t for every boy. I still remember however one father who really got it right. He wasn’t actually the father of this one particular boy but he was the coach who wanted him on the team and then did everything to make it fun for that boy, and consequently for the rest of the team, as well as far as the boys were concerned anyway. This was Dave Nemelka who asked Lindsey Ashton (a dow syndrome boy) to play on his team. I don’t think the team won a lot of games but as far as I was concerned as a father of another one of the team  players they didn’t have a losing season at all. Everytime I saw Lindsey hit the ball and all of his team cheering him on as he rounded the bases I knew that they won that game that day for Lindsey despite the score not reflecting it so much. I will always respect Dave because of his understanding of the real need for baseball in the life of some young men. It was quite the opposite for some of the other father’s who would swear at the team players if the struck out or got tagged out on base. I lost respect for mother’s who would swear at the coach for not letting their little boy play every inning or be the only pitcher. Thank you Dave for your understanding the needs of every boy not just the future major leaguer.  

Mar 11, 2012

Mapleton Bi Stake Play/1st High Council Assignment

When I was called into the High Council of the Mapleton Stake it was just after the Stake had been divided into two stakes. Just prior to the split there had been in the planning a stake play that with the spilt became a joint venture between the two stakes. It was my responsibility to pick up as a new member of the High Council and so with a member of their high council we saw it through to completion. It was a lot of fun and required meeting with members of that stake several times as we scheduled practices, determined how to advertise it and then to usher during the event. It was a great success and due to that assignment I still have special friends from that stake that we see every now and the around tow and also for whom we take family pictures. It was a lot of work and I was wondering if I would ever be able to make it as a High Councilor and yet that assignment ended up being one of the highlights of my term in the Mapleton Stake High council.  We ended up having to put it on two or three times so that all of the members form both stakes could see it.

Mar 3, 2012

Leprecon in Stake Road Show as - 1st stave

I have had aa period of time in my life when I have had the opportunity to participate in various activities and hobbies. I have done woodburning, leatherwork, carving, and photography as my main hobbies. I have participated in ward and stake activities such as plays and roadshows. Well, in one of those ward roadshows  I combined activities. I was in a roadshow in the 4^th ward years ago and that was the time when I started playing a lot with staves. I was to be a leprecon in the roadshow and needed a small cane or stave to use in the play. So one day I walked up to where all of the plum trees were growing along the fence by Child’s field. I went into the small cluster of bush sized trees and found a limb that was fairly good sized for what I needed. It was about and inch and a half round and 4 feet  in length to where another large limb grew out of that limb at a right angle. I cut the limb off and then trimmed the smaller one to a few inches long and the removed all of the small twigs. It made a nice little cane and I later used it also as one of my staves at scout camps. It was the first stave I made followed by a 6 foot stave that I cut from a grove of trees about a half mile above Jolley’s Ranch. I cut it while on an outing with the ward held at Jolley’s and in the evening after I got the tent set up I hiked up the hill in search of a worthy tree trunk. I found it and cut it down and discovered that it wa a very hard wood. That particular stave then became my history stick as it made for carving letters that would not easily break or change while I was carving the words on the stave. I have since carved staves for other scout masters at timberline, for leaders at Girl’s camp and for scouts. It has been a lot of fun and vey rewarding as I have been able to give the staves to people who had served hard on various camps and in various activities and it was an easy way for me to show my appreciation.

Feb 27, 2012

High Uintahs camping as a scout, Lost lake, Palisades lake, Pine Island.

In my youth I had some great experiences camping with the scouts. We went to several lakes in the Granddaddy lakes area of the High Unitahs. Ine year we camped at Governor Lake, another two years at Palisades Lake. We hiked to a lot of lakes during each of those years also such as Lost Lake and Pine Island Lake. I remember being scared that I would get lost and so never ventured very far from the trails. I had some very special experiences. The year we hiked to lost lake it became very apparent why it had the name it did since there was no real trail leading to it and it was only because one of the men with us knew how to get to it. I remember thinking from the pattern of where we were catching fish that they had to be swimming around the lake in a large group since those scouts who were walking around the lake seemed to be catching them when I was at a spot where they had just been and wasn’t catching anything except twigs and rocks. I never was a fisherman and that didn’t build my confidence any either.

I remember another time walking for a long time on a trail and not really knowing where I was and seeing a tree that had fallen in a small marsh and I took a picture of it with my little Kodak instamatic camera. Years later as a scoutmaster I found that tree again and took another picture of it and that time I knew where I was.

I loved camping at Palisade lake the most and knew we were almost there as we would pass Brinton Meadows where the forest ranger camp was set up. Later my brother Stan would spend a lot of time there and even Clair and I would go there for four days with him later in my teen age years. I learned to love the beauty of the basin and will always consider it to be one of my favorite spots on this earth.

Feb 26, 2012

It has been a few days since I have posted since I have been spending a lot time trying to learn how to type properly and working some rather long shifts at odd jobs.

Handcart Trek: 14th Ward Rocky Ridge

This trek was made in the time we were first in the 14^th ward. A year later we did the trek again with the stake.

This was a very memorable trek for all of us as it was so difficult for Loren. The first day was OK but the second day was a very memorable one because of what Loren had happen to him.

We started out the first day from Mapleton at Miner's home. We all met there to check in our gear and make sure everyone was properly prepared. We went in four vans that were all alike. All 12passenger white extended vans. We drove up to Heber and then on past Coleville to a rest are there. We got out near a lake and stretched before continuing on. We also stopped near the Wyoming border and the again at a couple of cities in Wyoming. We stayed the first night at 6th crossing campground. We set up our  tents and then cooked our supper meals. We had a campfire program and rent to bed. 

The next morning we went to the actual area of the crossing and talked about some of the experiences that the pioneers had at that crossing, From there we could see where the trail went up the hill toward the area called Rocky Ridge. From thee we went back to the campground and back onto the main highway and traveled on it for a few miles until we went onto a dirt road and traveled 15 miles across the hugh plains to where the trill from the river met the ridge. We unloaded the carts from the trailers and loaded all of our gear. We went down to the historical marker and one of the senior missionaries told us about a few if the experiences that the pioneers had experienced as they crossed this area.

After we had loaded the carts and made a rest (bathroom) stop for the group we started up over Rocky Ridge. We had quite a few carts and it was really fun to see them all lined up and going up the road. I went ahead and then would drop back as needed do that I could get pictures of all of the various groups. It was a long hike up the hill and the youth were quite excited so it went quite fast but as they trekked further the  pace slowed down quite a lot. We had determined not to eat a lot that day and it was because of that decision that we had the experience that was so dramatic for Loren. We had traveled for about 11 of the 14 miles when Loren's blood sugars dropped and he refused to eat anything since the rest if the group wasn't having anything. He struggled for the last three milled and when we got to the campground fir the night and had our tents set up he wandered off. Marie saw him go and was worried abbot him. Sister Wendy Dahle and Bishop Creer came with us and it became obvious that he was not thinking clearly. Finally I went to take him to the ground and Bishop was right there on him with me. He later told me that he knew we would have to force him to stop but he was just waiting for me to make the first move and then he joined in to help. We made Loren eat a few skittle candies and then after a few minutes he was again OK. We were thankful that Wendy was there and had experience with diabetes and told us what had to be done. After Loren was able to eat that night he was OK but it had really scared us and we were a lot more careful for the rest of the trip to be sure he had enough to eat. We stayed there for the night and had another campfire program and did some singing before retiring for the night. 

The next morning we loaded onto the buses and traveled to Martin's Cove and after an orientation agin loaded the carts and pulled the carts to the cove. We had Brother and Sister Scott, who were members of our ward and had recently served a mission there, talk to us about the area and some of their experiences while serving there. We then went on down to the river crossing and pulled the carts to the first campground where we were scheduled to stay for the night. It was after the water crossing that Loren spotted the first of four rattle snakes that he would see while there and at some of the other stops. After we had unloaded the gear some of the youth took the carts back to the main visitors area and they saw another snake, in fact jumped over it since they didn't see it until they were already almost on it as I remember. Loren was agin there for that. We had another campfire program that night when some of the trine apart straw hats were burned. The wind from crossing the plains after rocky ridge had literally torn them to shreds and they were not much for wear after that. It was a great evening and I remember that a storm had also come in for a short period that night while putting up the tents but soon left and made for a great evening.

The next mooning we went to a couple of the other historical spots near Martins's Cove. I cant' think of the names of them right now but remember them to be where Loren saw another snake making it the fourth one of the last two days. We went to a large rock where the pioneers had carved their names into the rock and that last snake was up sunning on that rock. It was fun to climb on that rock again as we had done a few years before when  we had gone there as a part of a wry camping tip. (That was the year Tia had attracted so many ticks to herself.) 

We traveled home that day and ended what would go down in all of our memories as a very special event filled with moments that would effect our testimonies for the rest of our lives. Those of us that went on that trip were Marie and I and Brittany, Loren and one other special person that would later become part of our family Rachelle Morey.

Handcart Trek: Mapleton Stake  Rocky Ridge

 The year after the ward trek we were also blessed to go again with the stake. Marie, Brittany and I went that year. Loren had experienced his trek and knew he didn't need to do it again. I went specifically as the photographer and Marie was with the food group. The trek was different in that we went to Martin's Cove first and then to 6th water and Rocky Ridge. There were some other experiences that we had this time that were different from the year before in that we had a special fireside on the way to the cove where President Allen talked to us from the Stake Presidency. We also had to pull the carts three miles further when we went to Rocky Ridge as the State of Wyoming had put some heavy restrictions onto the treks to prevent as much travel over that area. We still had a very special experience and again I think I walked 25 miles instead of just 17 like everyone else since I would backtrack  lot so I could take pictures of the carts and people with each of them. There were a lot more with the stake trek and thus they became stretched out for over  a half mile or so from the front to the back which meant that I was covering a lot of area just to go back and forth to get images of everyone at the various spots of interest along the trail. It was a great experience and a life changing one for me as a photographer. I was using my A1 Canon camera while also shooting a 60D Canon digital camera that belonged to one of the other stake members. I shot 14 rolls of film through my camera while shooting over 800 images with his digital camera. I came home and ordered my first digital camera the 10D Canon which was the first of three that I have bought since that time. It was so much easier to use and I didn't have to fill my pockets and backpack with rolls of film while shooting an incredible number of shots. We had a great experience that year as well and were able to build our testimonies even more from the additional stories and experiences of that trek. The pioneers truly suffered a lot more than I think I could have and I am thankful for the lessons learned from each of these treks.

Feb 10, 2012

Marie and I drove across Skyline road. Camped overnight

I recently wrote about a trip that Marie and I had taken with Jeff and Ben up onto skyline drive when the roads became so slick I felt like I was on ice as I drove off the mountain. Well Marie and I had taken a similar trip once before when Ben was just a baby and Marie was pregnant with Jeff.

We first went to Duchesne and left Ben with Grandma Berhmann. We then traveled to Moab and spent a little time with Tim and Leesa. He was there with his job for the Utah Highway Patrol. We stayed a day with them and then traveled back to the start of the road that crosses the skyline at the rest stop in Tucker. We drove up onto the skyline and enjoyed the fresh mountain air that was up there. We took it slow so we could enjoy the scenery. We finally drove down off one of the side roads not knowing where it would take us and found a little meadow that was somewhat secluded. We camped there for the night and really enjoyed it. Some deer visited our camp the next morning and it was fun watching them since they were either unaware of our presence or didn’t care.

We spent a good part of the morning up there and then packed up and continued on skyline for the rest of the day eventually dropping down Ephraim canyon and ending up with Lynn and Julie. I believe we stayed with them that night before driving back to Duchesne to pick up Ben who was sorely missing us by then. It was a fun, short, getaway.

Feb 9, 2012

Leesa's wedding and flash bulbs

My photographing weddings began when I was 18 years old. Leesa and Tim were married in June of 1972 just prior to my going on my mission to Texas. (Stan and Nadine were married in July of that same year and Lynn and Julie in November after I was in Texas of that same year. It was a big year for mom and dad.)

Anyway I was asked to take some pictures for Leesa at her reception. I had my old Konica camera, which at the time really wasn’t old because I had only had it for a year. I had a flash unit for it that was one that used flash bulbs. They could be used once and then had to be discarded. I only had a certain number of them so I didn’t take very many pictures. I always was disappointed that only a couple of them turned out from what I could remember, it must have been a bad experience because I forgot a lot about that night. Anyway Leesa tells me now that there were a lot of them that were good. I don’t remember if I took any at the temple that day but I must have in order for her to say that since I only remember two of them that turned out OK from the reception. I really didn’t have the lighting equipment that was needed for that kind of a job.

Feb 8, 2012 Added from the Poulson Pigeon blog

I am adding this to my blog from the Poulson Pigeon blog so that it can be recorded with my history. It is the story of one of my ancestors who was married to Briant Stringham, one of the Prophet Brigham Young's good friends and a prominent man in the history of Utah and the pioneers.

Harriet Maria Ashby Stringham, (my great great grandmother on my Father's side of my family.)

Harriet Maria Ashby was born on April 8, 1834. She is the daughter of Nathaniel Ashby and Susan Hammond Ashby.

Harriet was born in Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts. Her family was converted to the church by Erastus Snow and Parley P Pratt, and moved to Nauvoo, Illinois in 1843.

The family built a home in Navuoo (which is now owned by the church and is called the Ashby-Snow home). It was two blocks north and one block east of the Mansion House where the Prophet lived. In her personal journal she wrote about "often seeing the Prophet riding by on a fine black horse, sitting very erect and looking gentlemanly in a tall beaver hat and circular cape. Once he came to my home and my father loaned him twenty-five dollars, which he returned later."

One of the most poignant stories of the death of the Prophet Joseph Smith is in her personal journal. She wrote:
"Previous to our leaving Nauvoo (they fled when the mob persecution became to strong and said they climbed on a fence on the other side of the river and could see the temple lit up and hear the boom of cannons) I remember the sorrow felt and shown by the people for the martyrdom of the Prophet and his brother, Hyrum. The Prophet had been taken to Carthage, and mother sat through the night at her bedroom window filled with terror for the safety of the people, now their leader was away. So slow are we to comprehend the dealings of the Lord. His work, which is never more to leave the earth, until His Son appears again. No schemes will ever be deep enough or strong enough to prevail against the word of God. (What a beautiful testimony) The dismal howling of dogs with the uncertainty and fear prevailing, made the night most memorable.
In the morning mother came upstairs to our bed saying word had been received of the death of the prophet and his brother. It has always remained in my memory the unusual brightness of the sunshine on this morning.
When the bodies of the prophet and his brother lay in the Mansion House, Mother took us to see them. They were lying on a bench side by side, dressed as in life, the blood dripping from their wounds."

Her father died three days after leaving Nauvoo on the plains of Iowa. The family spent the winter of 1847-48 in Winter Quarters. Her mother continued on with eleven children and arrived in the Salt Lake Valley in September of 1848. She died in 1851 after living in the Valley for only 3 years. She left her family in the trust of Briant Stringham who was married to Harriet's sister.

Harriet married Briant Stringham on April 20, 1852 when she was barely 18 years old. They had eight children. Briant died in August 1871 when she was pregnant with their eighth child.
Harriet's daughter, Elmeda Stringham Johnson is the mother of  Rozilla Johnson Poulson "Nana" my grandmother and mother of my father, Kermit Poulson.

Feb 8, 2012

LD Singers

When Lynn and Leesa were at Snow College they sang in the institute choir called the LD Singers. The following year when I attended I  also tried out for the choir and made it in to sing with them. It was a lot of fun and we traveled all over the upper part of the state singing at different wards especially ones where an LD Singer was one of the ward members. We went to Temple Square and watched one of the Sunday morning session of the choir broadcast. We had some really fun trips. I was also in the group after my mission and they came to my wedding and sang during the reception. I have a lot of good friends from those two years.

We had a theme song “Oh That I Were An Angel” that I still love to this day even though it is seldom sang anymore. I have heard of a few people that have heard it and some that have even sang it but there are really very few.

We had several activities as well as a group and for one of our socials we went on a Sunday morning to the Manti Temple and had a Testimony meeting up on the East side of the temple. It was a very special experience.

Another time we went sledding down Ephraim canyon at midnight. That was the night that as I was going out of the mountain part and onto the flats that a bunch of deer crossed the road at  the same time and a couple of them even jumped over me. I was glad that they could see me because I could barely see them in the darkness of the early morning without the aid of any moonlight. It was a pretty fun experience.