Honeymoon Myrna

Leonard and I went to Bryce and Zions Canyons for our honeymoon. He snapped this on slide film. I have been going through the slides and converting them to digital photos. I can't believe I ever was this young. We were married on September 9, 1961.

That is a long time ago, is it not?

Bake the Ultimate (Healthy) Brownie

Trust me, I know there will be times when you are going to crave some of that ooey, gooey chocolately stuff. So, instead of getting personal with the office vending machine, whip up a batch of these amazing, indulgent, moist fudge brownies. Not only will they be the perfect answer to that cocoa craving, you won't be left with that bitter aftertaste of guilt for derailing your daily calorie limit. So, go ahead and treat yourself. You deserve it!

Fudge Brownies

Ingredients

• olive oil cooking spray
• 2/3 cup mild honey, such as clover or orange blossom
• 1/3 cups natural, unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup white whole-wheat flour
• 1/4 teaspoon aluminum-free baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large egg, at room temperature
• 3/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray an 8-inch square pan with olive oil. Set aside.

Place the honey in a large glass measuring cup. Microwave on high power until the honey is runny and just bubbling, 45 to 60 seconds. Add the cocoa and stir with a fork until well combined. Let cool to room temperature.

Meanwhile, in a small bowl, place the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Whisk until well combined.

In a large bowl, combine the applesauce, oil, egg, and vanilla. Whisk together until well blended. Add the honey-cocoa mixture and whisk until smooth. Add the flour mixture to the liquid mixture and stir until no traces of flour remain. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan.

Bake until the surface looks dry around the edges of the pan and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with moist crumbs clinging to it, about 25 minutes. Do not overbake. Place the pan on a cooling rack and let cool completely before slicing into 16 squares. (Store the brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.)

Makes 16 (2-inch) brownies

Prep Time: 5 mins
Cook Time: 25 mins
Total Time: 30 mins

Contains Wheat/Gluten
Contains Egg
Vegetarian
Good for Leftovers

Nutrition Facts 
Number of Servings: 16
Amount Per Serving
Calories: 86.2
Total Fat: 2.2 g
Sodium: 63.6 mg
Total Carbohydrate: 16 g
Protein: 1.3 g

First Aid Teams Compete on Kenilworth Day

Jens Henry Trauntvein is competing with his mine team. He is the man standing in the foreground who is facing right with his profile showing. He is left of the man with his back to the camera. The competition was an annual event during Kenilworth Day and Henry usually was on the winning team. He was very smart about mine rescue and safety. That was one of the talents that helped him when he became the mine superintendent.

Dad's Shoes

Remember that these are farmer's shoes. They have points that are upward so they can walk in the fields and not get bogged down. They are also elevated with the little clogs on the bottom. Fishermen's shoes have no points so that they do not get caught in the nets.

These are the shoes Leonard bought while he was on his mission in Denmark (May 1957-December 1959). When we went there for the Danish Temple Dedication, wooden shoes were not as easy to buy. Else said that many of them were now exported.

Scripture from Kyle's Talk

Myrna wrote: LHT said that he thought that Kyle did an excellent job of speaking at Seminary graduation. He was very proud. He wanted his memory to be jogged as to the scripture that Kyle said was a favorite. Thanks.

AnnMarie wrote: Remind him that Kyle talked about faith.  He defined faith as the evidence of things hoped for but not seen.  Then he said the lesson from seminary that influenced him the most was the one about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.  They knew that Heavenly Father would answer their prayers, even if it wasn't in the way they thought.  They had faith that Heavenly Father's will would be done.  It revolved around "but if not."  The scripture was Daniel 3:18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.  When the men who cast them in and were covered with hosen and coats etc. still died, the three boys should have died.  But when the king looked in the furnace he saw one like unto the son of man.  Kyle said that when we are exercising faith, we also will never be alone.  Even if our prayers aren't answered the way we wished.  Our Heavenly Father loves us and Jesus Christ sacrificed for every single one of us so that we never are alone.

Myrna wrote: Thank you so very much. We are so proud of that boy/man. We love you!

What is to Love

Have you ever wondered why some folks are famous authors and others just don't seem to have the drive it takes to achieve? This a.m. as I was outside working in the garden I decided why I do not write but garden instead.

Some folks just get joy from smaller spots in life. I think that I should have been a professional gardener. I am always happy when I am tinkering around with plants. Yes, I would rather be gardening. I think a few of my ancestors have given me the gardening gene.

My Grandmother Smith, a 40-year plus classroom teacher, also loved being outdoors in the summer. She loved flowers and every year she had a flower garden at the front of the house. She always received compliments on how beautiful everything looked. My growing up years, we always had a vegetable garden. My Aunt Renee, who at that time lived in an apartment, and my grandmother planted all sorts of vegetables behind our home on Carbon Avenue in Price. Then, even though our cooking was done on a coal stove, the canned everything that they grew that could be canned. Potatoes, onions and carrots were stored in the fall, as were the pumpkins and squashes. They were dedicated to gardening. Those were the days when everyone had a Victory Garden.

According to Wikipedia: "Victory gardens, also called war gardens or food gardens for defense, were vegetable, fruit and herb gardens planted at private residences and public parks in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Germany during World War I and World War II to reduce the pressure on the public food supply brought on by the war effort. In addition to indirectly aiding the war effort these gardens were also considered a civil "morale booster" — in that gardeners could feel empowered by their contribution of labor and rewarded by the produce grown. This made victory gardens become a part of daily life on the home front."

My Grandfather Tom Pitts was a farmer. He wasn't the most successful farmer I knew but he always had vegetables from his garden, fruit from his own trees, eggs from his chickens, milk from his cows, and raised beef and pork. He was, of course, more successful at the trucking and construction work he did. He was more of a hobbiest farmer but the milk that Grandma Ruth sold was, of course, a nice benefit to the family.

Historically, of course, I come from a long line of farm folk. My English ancestors, on the Smith side of the family, were landowners who ran a farm in England. The Danes were also people who farmed. Several ancestors came to America early to Jamestown and with the Mayflower. There were those who fought in the American Revolution. One was a landowner in Virginia. That family ended up being divided in loyalties because one was converted to the LDS church. They ended up on opposite sides during the Civil War but remained loving brothers.

The upshot of all of this information, of course, is that I seem to have enjoyed a love of gardening that I seem to have come by naturally.

To Allen Pitts

Do you remember that when LHT and I married and moved to Provo, you and Connie lived in the same apartment complex. We had Shawn at the time and you did not have kids. We got together and watch television at their house a few times. We provided the popcorn. Then you moved and, a short time later, we moved. When you had a son, Venice Powell Breinholt, a mutual friend of Connie's and mine from Carbon High and Carbon College, babysat him. She had to stop and I took over. At that time we were living in a subdivision near Utah Lake. I watched him for awhile. I think that was about the time that my third child Todd was born.

At any rate, you have been a great cousin. You came to Dad Howard's funeral, even though you had to take time off work to do it, and you called Garth and family, including me, at the Price hospital  when Garth was dying. You are a good man. It is time to tell you thank you.

Love, Myrna

Alligator Farm in Buena Park

This was the park that Aunt Jessie and Uncle Gilbert took Grandmother Smith and I to when we were visiting one summer. We liked to go to California because that was where Grandmother Smith's family had relocated. It wasn't a huge family and so, as all families do, they liked to spend time together. 

Aunt Jessie and Uncle Gilbert lived there and Great-Grandmother Mina lived with them. Uncle Frank and Aunt Menetta Pritchett and Aunt Jessie's only daughter, Betty Fexer and her family, also lived in California. It was a great time when we visited. It was filled with trips to the beach and trips to other sites around the area. This was just one of the places we went.

On an earlier post, there is that photo of me riding the alligator and a little history about the photo. I just found this site and enjoyed reading some of the comments that had been left by people like me. I left one myself.

Alligator Farm in Buena Park

Thursday, February 09, 2006  Buena-Park, Zoos  62 comments

Did you know there was once an alligator farm in Buena Park?

It was adjacent to Knott's Berry Farm on La Palma Ave. The Radisson Suites Hotel now sits on the old spot. I always wanted to go there, but my folks would never take me there. 

We collected a few alligator farm memories from folks during the old days of OCThen, and posted them below...

By: Chrissey, 20 Aug 2002

The alligator farm was fun, but they scared me. The alligators were very quiet and had a harness on and people would sit on the alligator and have their pic taken. Both the Alligator Farm and Knotts seemed so far away from L.A.

By: Pat Swift, 9 Aug 2002

I remember taking my son's there (Alligator Farm). We were amazed at how a snake felt. We were always interested in the alligators but watching how fast a cobra or rattlesnake could strike was the main attraction for us.

By: Ross, 13 June 2002

Being there when I was about 6 or 7. I am now 48, I have had a facination with alligators and crocodiles all my life. I currently live in Boise, Idaho and have 2 pet american alligators (Forest and Bubba). I remember my mom taking me and my brother there it had to be like 1960 or 1961, they had baby gators for sale in the gift shop, and of course I wanted one, but didn't get one. But, I was trying to figure out where a Southern California kid would develop and interest like this. I was talking to my dad and he said he remember the Los Angelos Alligator farm in Lincoln Heights LA, well I did some research and sure enough it started there in like 1905, and then moved to Buena Park, where it was until about 1986. Anyway, I wish I could have gone there as an adult before it closed. Little trivia, they moved all the gators and crocs by private Boeing 707 to an estate in Florida owned by the inventor of Naultilus workout equipment!

By: John Nemeth, 15 Jan 2002

What a great place if you were a herpatologist. They had almost every species of crocodile, many rare species that are seldom seen. The place was always deserted, not well known as a popular tourist attraction. They did snake shows with cobras.

By: Mark Wallace, 31 Dec. 2001

Remember the Alligator Farm across the street from Knott's? This was such a great creepy place that had been there forever. Full of giant alligators, croc's and tortoises, snakes and lizards. I still have dreams about this place eventhough it was torn down years ago.

Roberta and Gordon--Drops are the Worst Part

Hi Myrna & Leonard,  So glad things went well for Leonard.  I (Roberta) had both of my eyes

done in November and December of last year.  The drops are the biggest bother,

just remembering and getting them in the eye.  Gordon was so good to do that for

me.  He had his eyes done last year too.  He had a little more problem to work with.

All was successful for both of us.  It’s the unknown that makes us nervous.  Leonard

will do great, he has an awesome caretaker.  Best wishes and love, Gordon & Roberta

Myrna wrote: Thanks for letting us know about your success stories. You are right, the drops are the biggest bother but we have been on schedule. You are right, it is the unknown that makes us nervous. We do love you both!

 

Overlooking Beauty Written by Melanie Bolton

Melanie Bolton

Sister Hritz

English 106-37

6 May 2013

Overlooking Beauty

            I am clinging to the door handle of my Dad’s truck, eyes shut, as if my grip could keep the vehicle on the bumpy, narrow road. My Dad and Mom have placed us in the truck and camper, for a weekend family camping trip. After several hours (which seems like days), my Dad stops the truck at the top of the last rise of the winding, mountain track.  He breathes deeply and says, “Wow. This view always takes my breath away. Just look at God’s beautiful creations!” I too take a deep breath, but mine is to alleviate the panic I know I am going to feel as soon as I see the steep escarpment, which I silently pray won’t be the reason for our untimely demise. I will myself to look. In front of me is a gray-white mountainside which drops off severely to valleys on both sides of the road. Scrubby looking grass is dotted sparsely across the top of the mountain. My eyes follow the road downward to the right, as it parts the dusty, rocky, mountain. Suddenly, I see magnificence. The valley below me is blanketed in waves of green meadow grass. On one side of the gulley stands a tall army of Ponderosa pine trees, sentinels of this forest island. Lying idle in the sun at the bottom of this valley is a beautiful body of lake, a turquoise jewel.

            While I am admiring the picturesque basin, my Dad points to our left and commands us, “Look there!” I turn my gaze to view yellow-brown and red-clay plateaus, distant purple mountains, and a vast, barren, uninhabitable desert. As I am gazing, my Dad declares, “This is definitely God’s country.” Have I misunderstood him? Here are two contrasting views from one mountain height. Could both be beautiful? To this child, the lake, amid grass dotted with wildflowers of red, purple and yellow, with the pine trees which surround the valley, is the winner of nature’s beauty pageant. Yet, my Dad has called the desert scene beautiful also. In my mind, there could not be two winners. We drive on, and the question in my mind is not settled.

            Many years later, I disembark my car at the same crest on the mountain. I look over both valleys, realizing how much I have missed this panorama, the desert plateaus on one hand, the verdant valley on the other. This viewpoint is magnificent, literally breathtaking. Seeing it through my wiser, adult eyes, I realize this is the most beautiful spot in the world. I declare to my Dad, who is standing with my children, “This is definitely God’s country!”

More comment from Melanie:

I thought maybe you would like to read an creative essay I had to write about Overlooked Beauty. I received high marks and praise for the paper. It was limited to 450 words, so I feel it could have been better if I had been allowed to elaborate a bit more...you know, be more wordy. :)

Mel


Myrna wrote: Oh, Melanie, dear heart. It is perfect as it is. I had an editor once who said that enough words needed to be used to cover the subject but short enough to keep the reader's attention. I think the quote is more like: essays are like skirts--long enough to cover the subject short enough to make it interesting. 

I shed a few tears. I agree with your teacher. You should have high marks and an A+.

I love you. I am so proud of you. 

Dad is napping after mowing the grass. I printed it off for him to read.

Leonard wrote: Thanks for sharing this with us. I am proud of you and your writing brought back many happy memories. I am asking your mother to share this with all of your siblings.