Wonder Woman!!

I hope you are "singing" that title with the appropriate flourishes!!

When the girls were here while Bonny and Ara were at Girls' Camp, Bonny had Amazon.com send the 2nd season of Wonder Woman, the T.V. show. I guess they'd all just finished Season 1!!

So I figured it was time to once again post this 1978 photo of our own Wonder Woman, aka Bonny. And of course, we were a "family" of Super Heroes with our own Batman on the premises!!

Gotta love those Terrill women and their fashion influence!

Agnes was not interested in getting dressed this a.m. I said, "Let's get dressed." And she said "no."

So then I said, "Let's go pick out a cute dress and some leggings." And she said, "Okay!" And raced downstairs to her closet!

She is a charmer - and her mother's daughter. I just hope she gives Phoebe a little of the grief Phoebe always gave me about her clothes - I mean, that only seems fair, doesn't it?

Bonny was very picky - starting with age 3 - but she seems to have worked things out with her girls and there do not seem to be too many battles.

Eliza had real preferences but they all seemed to have to do with comfort. And I can't really fault her for that. And actually, that may have been Bonny and Phoebe's issue too. I wasn't quite as "aware" then.

Now Hannah, she'd wear whatever I suggested - and she'd let me fix her hair too.

I am talking here about the "early" years - pre-1st grade maybe - by the way!!

Henry and Calvin, though they are handsome, well-dressed young men, don't seem to give hoot about what they wear. Although Calvin had some issues about his swimming trunks today - but I think that had more to do with not wanting to wear something that was still wet!

And speaking of males and clothing - and women too for that matter - when I get home and post pics, remind me to tell you Dad's fashion story for this race - it's pretty hilare!!

Doing Grandma duty

We are here in Oregon - Dad has been hanging doors today, and I have been palling around with Phoebe, getting the "lay of the land" as they say.

Phoebe and David are off now on an anniversary getaway - and Dad is getting ready for the Hood to Coast Relay which begins tomorrow.

I will stay with the kidlettes and attempt to work in some sewing - if I can put my book down long enough! (Reading Olive Kitteridge - a Pulitzer Prize winner that I read about. It is quite good - maybe I'd better just finish it. I seem to be getting distracted from the Newbery quest - although I read 5 or 6 Newbery winners this summer.)

On Saturday, I will drive to Seaside/Gearhart to rendezvous with Phoebe and David - who went to Astoria for their little jaunt - at Nebekers' - and also to go down to the beach to see the end of the race.

Hannah and I did that two years ago. It was chilly and cold but also fun. I have been taking photos - will post them when I return.

The "Other" Woman!!

Apparently Dad had a girlfriend named Donna.

Mom said Dad was good friends with her mother - and she thinks Dad had a better relationship with the mother than with the daughter.

And aren't we glad that the only Donna in our family is our own Donna Jean??

fires?

I'm guessing that everyone is doing fine but I just heard about fires in Azusa. What's the skinny?

Jemima Stevens

While working on my talk about Grandma Stevens, I found myself thinking more about her. This is a photo from the 20's I think.

It's not the way I remember her, but I can see the resemblance. Funny how memories stick with us and we assume someone only ever looked one way!

Goodbye :(

We said goodbye to Ara and Ella this morning.


We miss you already! Thanks for a FABULOUS long weekend!

Happy Day to Amy Gray!!

Happy Birthday today to my great counselor - Amy Smith Gray. Shown here in 1980 with her CTR B class - of which I was the teacher!!

Back Row: Stacy Emmons, Chenoa Beesley, Tiffiny Kirby
Front Row: Harry, Timothy Vocelka and Gary Curb

Have a great day Amy!!

Another guessing game!!

This may be way too simple, since I'm giving you all such a great clue!!

This is Grandpa Stevens - Harry Lyndon to be precise.

And this is his graduating class - see if you can find him! You will probably need to click on the picture to make it bigger.

In certain photos, Richard looks a lot like Grandpa Clayton - but he also looks a lot like Grandpa Stevens too!! Funny how that works!

Some good guesses

Naturally Mom got them all right!! The baby picture is Richard - and this is his Eagle Court of Honor picture. Someone out there tell me the date??

The first picture was my mom's brother Steve. This picture is from the early 60's.

And the "old" picture is Billy Wamsley, my Grandma Steven's father.

For the record, this is my Uncle Harry. And I'm sure I don't have any more recent photos of him - he was something of a recluse in his later years. I'm sure there are pictures - but I don't have them.

Note:

I have been sending copies of the talk I gave on Grandma Stevens at Stake Conference - but I may have missed some - let me know your email address and I can forward it.

Guess who?

Here are the clues: 1. They are all males.

2. They are all blood relatives if you are a descendant of Mary Stevens Clayton.

3. They go middle, first, last as far as how old they are.

No fair - Donna and Mary can't ask Mom - no fear of Mom reading this by herself and giving it away!!

Maybe a prize - maybe not - maybe you'll get effusive praise from me and I will feature you on a blog post soon!!

Aren't you excited??

Uncle Byron

I went and visited with Uncle Byron, my dad's youngest brother from my grandpa's marriage to Agnes Busath. He lives with his wife Mercedes in Claremont.

We went through lots of old photos and swapped stories. I must be getting old - since I like to swap stories now!

He gave me this to scan - a photo of him with Grandpa Clayton in the late thirties, in Los Angeles.

I had some stories he didn't know - and he had some I didn't know - I guess I need to write a book!!

Like Granddaughter like Grandmother!

Kelly Shaw posted a comment when she saw my mom's wedding pics. She thought Hannah resembled my mom. So what do you think??

Happy Birthday Hannah!

This would be 1996 - Hannah's 11th b-day. Complete with a Baskin-Robbins cake - the best for an August b-day.

Guess Eliza didn't want her picture taken!!

Happy Day Hannah - I'm trusting everyone to post their own good wishes so that we can see a plethora of photos.

We love you Hannoola Flannigan!!

(I think everyone should post their favorite goofy photo of Hannah. I don't know why she didn't have this on the display at her wedding!!)

Good times at the beach house!

On a serious note, this is my all-time fave photo of Hannah!!

Happy Day to Lyn and David, and Helen and Pop

David left yesterday a.m. for duty, and I don't know if Lyn reads the blog, but Happy Birthday to Lyn and David!

The oldest and youngest Clayton boys share the day. And David's birth made the boy/girl ratio exactly even. Some things just work out right. This photo is from 1966.

This photo said 1966 on the back - which would make David 4. If you look closely, you can see Joan's (blue) Nash Rambler in the background. Sweet!

And this photo said 1955 on the back - which would make Lyn 12. Notice the 501's - which haven't changed much!


I'm sure I post this every year, but there are not too many old photos of Grandma and Grandpa Terrill - and no wedding photos - there is one of Grandma Terrill in her wedding dress.

But I think it was taken after her wedding.

Grandma and Grandpa would be celebrating 70 years together!! They are a great example of love, devotion, and a good marriage.

Vacations

Noah wrote the following at a FHE activity we had in 2002: "In our household, there were two kinds of vacations: family vacations, and individual vacations. While family vacations were mostly just regular vacations with the family, individual vacations could be anywhere from flying somewhere by yourself to going on a young men's trip. Even staying at the house by yourself for a week could be considered a vacation.

Although I loved the family vacations we took toTahoe, St. Geroge, and many other places, I was always very excited to go on an individual vacation. The sense of independence, being able to do most anything you wanted . . . I loved it.

The first individual vacation I can remember was when I was 9 years old. On my 9th birthday, after opening all of my presents, my big brother Harry called to wish me a happy birthday and to tell me my present: a plane ticket to go up to visit him in Utah for a week. I was so excited. I had never flown in a plane before, and I hadn't seen Harry in almost a year. I couldn't wait.

About 3 months later, I left on a plane for the first time ever for Utah. I remember being really happy and excited (which is funny, because I hate flying now) and I remember Dad was with me. He was coming up for the first half of the week to check something on some property we had up there.

I don't remember much about the first half of the week, except that we saw The Fifth Element at the dollar theatre. The second half of the week wasn't too different. We saw about 6 movies while I was up there. I remember we camped out the first night, and we stayed in some of his friends' apartments during the rest of the week. I also remember selling meat door-to-door one of the days. But the one thing I remember that was most important was that it was awesome because I was in Utah with my only brohter who I didn't see very often, watching movies and eating Little Debbies for dinner. I was in heaven.

Finally the week ended. Harry sent me off at the Salt Lake City airport, and I went home. I don't remember too much about the flight, except that I loved it, and I got up to go to the bathroom a lot. (The way the toilets flush is just so cool.) And there was this guy named Chuck who sat next to me. Pretty fun, huh?

I have since taken several individual vacations, and things have changed quite a bit. I often get sick on flights now, and I don't eat Little Debbies for dinner so much. But one thing remains the same: I love the sense of independence."

The above photo was taken on August 18, 1996. So I'm just commemorating the occasion.

Addendum to Anniversary Post

This is a perfectly lovely photo all by itself - in good condition - but it didn't scan well. I guess I will go to my guy and get some computer-friendly copies.

Donna mentioned this particular photo - Paul and Ted are the groomsmen. The bridesmaids don't match - Mom said she told them to wear one of their party dresses. It used to be pretty simple! She couldn't remember what color they were either - or even if the colors matched.

Mom said her mom took care of all the details - she just showed up! And the bridesmaids were friends of hers.

Happy Anniversary!

Happy Anniversary to Mom and Dad - that would be Bob and Mary!!

This photo is in front of the house where Grandpa Clayton lived - and mother had just had Joan - like 2 weeks before!! Note her skinny waist - Scarlett O'Hara would have been proud! (Mother said she was wearing a "housecoat!!" Pretty glamorous housecoat if you ask me!)

They got married on the 17th and drove to SLC where they were sealed on the 19th I believe. They did it that way because it just wouldn't be proper for an unmarried couple to drive that far by themselves!!

They had a good marriage - I appreciate their good example to all of us.

Note:

Lyn called Donna to report that Liesel, Chris' wife, had lost the baby she was carrying. We extend our condolences to all.

The Shop

When you say "The Shop" around our house, you are referring to the place down by the recycling center where Dad has saws, tools, discards, materials, and paint stored. And the adjoining room where you will find the camping equipment, old toys, old suitcases, a number of fans, file cabinets, and Noah's repertoire of musical instruments stored.

But in the Clayton household, when you said "The Shop" you were definitely referring to the machine shop on Haskell Avenue in Van Nuys. I recall the years when Dad worked at Radioplane, came home for dinner, and then headed to his shop to work there at night. This went on for a few years until Dad felt he could support his family on "The Shop" earnings alone.

"The Shop" was a place where sometimes you were in the car with Mom and she had to make a delivery for Dad, so we stopped by to pick it up. And if you were lucky, you got to get out of the car and take a drink from the water cooler - why was that water so desirable? Was it the pointy paper cup?

And if you were really lucky, he shared his refrigerated Snicker bars with you! At Christmas time, no one got near The Shop, because Santa stored presents there. Harry remembers being at the Clayton home for Christmas one year and going with Dad on Christmas Eve to pick up the goods at "The Shop."

One year I had a job near Dad's shop - he took me to work, picked me up after work - and I worked at the shop until it was time for him to leave. I mostly filed stuff. Or even answered the occasional phone call. Or I read a book. Or I finagled a Snicker bar!!

There was a "job" at "The Shop." It was called "Cleaning the Pots." I always wanted to do it because it was good money. But only the boys got to do it. I don't think they were that excited - judging by the number of times Dad had to say, "You need to get down there and clean the pots."

The top photos are from 1969. That photo of Lyn is before 1969, but I think it's after his mission. I could be wrong though.

I don't know the date of the black and white photo - but that is the car that I drove when I was in high school - not to school, but when I got to use a car, that was the one. I ran it into a brick wall at Bates' Market once - didn't hurt the car - messed up the wall though.

I wasn't there when life at The Shop ended, but I know my Dad was sad to dismantle everything and realize that no one was going to carry on the business. I don't think I will ever forget "The Shop" though!

The Beach Saga Continues

So someone was pretty camera-happy that day - at least they wanted to get David in on the action!!

Leslie or Donna will have to weigh in with the years here - but we know David's a kid - so that's a clue.

Friday Night at the Street Fair

Noah performed last night at the Sierra Cup on Myrtle.

We haven't cruised the 'vard in awhile, but we ventured out.

Noah was pretty good - and we saw quite a few people we knew. And the smoothie was very good!!

Once again, we were the oldest people there!!

Happy 10th Year to Erika and Felipe!!

Since I'm pretty sure Erika is busy with baby Victor, I will post the only photo I could lay my hands on commemorating their wedding on August 14, 1999. (There are certainly others - I just couldn't lay my hands on them!!)

Sorry about the eyes being shut Dale!! I remember the day well - seemed like we traversed the Utah freeways many times that day - but it was certainly worth it!!

Congrats to the happy family!!

Happy Anniversary!!

11 years ago it was Friday the 14th!! I dawned cooler and nicer than the days leading up to it!! And we were so happy about that.

And about the fact that Phoebe and David were getting married!!

Hope this Friday the 14th is lovely where you are!! Congrats on the occasion - now and then!

Summer Beach House Days

I'm not sure of the years on these photos - I'm sure Donna or Leslie can tell us .

My girls are especially fond of the red "cover-up" Donna is wearing.

Which I wore for many years as an apron.


In fact, Mom made me one from the same pattern.

And the girls wish I had either the pattern or the aprons so they could have one.

There's no accounting for taste, is there??

Not that they aren't charming and functional - maybe it's their vintage 60's flavor!!

In focus

I just picked up the restored version of the photo I posted last night. It looks great - this is Christian Busath and his family - including Agnes Marietta - my grandmother on my father's side. If you want copies of this restored document, they are $12. Let me know if you are interested.

There are some great stories about Christian - he came to the U.S. from Norway - and came west because he wanted to see the Wild West. Ended up in Provo - not sure how wild that was!

The Busath Family

This is a photo of my paternal grandmother, Agnes Marietta Busath, and her family. We are not sure which of the girls on the back row that she is. I think it's the taller one, because she and Aunt Elsie were 15 months apart in age - but Elsie was short - and I'm suspecting that Agnes was taller - because she was taller than Grandpa Clayton. I have the photo in being restored - when I get it back, it might be easier to see resemblances.

The small boy in front was my dad's Uncle Norman. He was born somewhat crippled, but he was strong in spite of only having one good hand. Dad would often regale us with tales of Norman taking care of the "bullies" who thought he wouldn't be able to stop them!!

For many years, we drove to Hollywood - where Norman lived and worked as the custodian for the Hollywood Ward building - and picked him up to stay with us for Thanksgiving and Christmas. In the photo above, the man in the foreground is Grandpa Clayton - and Uncle Norman is the man with the cane. Anne and my mother are also in the picture. Leslie is standing next to Uncle Norman. This must be the early 60's or late 50's.

There are no dates on these two photos - but they are the same day - and the others with them are from 1938-1941.

My memories of Uncle Norman are fond ones. He used to say that he could and would eat anything - except grapefruit. And he said he loved grapefruit, but it didn't like him! I know my dad was very fond of him and enjoyed his visits very much.

Norman died alone in the church building - apparently of a heart attack - he was found there the next day. My dad commented at the time that he was sure Agnes had come to meet him!